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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Granted rights to Nobles and Freemen. -
Roanoke Colony
"Lost Colony" sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh was founded on Roanoke Island, off North Carolina coast; settlers found to have vanished, 1590 -
Jamestown Colony
Capt. John Smith and 105 cavaliers in 3 ships landed on Virginia Coast, started first permanent English Settlement in New World at Jamestown. -
House of Burgesses
First representative assembly in New World, elected July 30 in Jameston, VA -
Pilgrims on the Maflower
Pilgrims, puritain separists, left Plymouth, England, Sept. 16 on Mayflower; reached Cape Cod on Nov. 19; 103 Passengers landed Dec. 26 on Plymouth. -
Mayflower Compact
Signed Nov. 11 - was an agreement to form self government. Half of the colony died during harsh winter. -
Providence, Rhode Island
Roger Williams founded Providence, RI, in June, as a democratically ruled colony with separation of church and state. Charter granted 1644. -
Navigation Acts
British Parliment passed first Navigation Act Dec.1, regulating colonial commerce to suit English needs. -
Burning of Jamestown
Nathaniel Bacon led planters against aucratic British Gov.Sir William Burkeley, burned Jamestown, VA, Sept. 19. Rebellion collapsed when Bacon died; 23 followers executed. -
Pennsylvannia Founded
William Penn signed treaty with Delaware Indians Apr. 23 and made payment for Pennsylvannia lands. -
Salem Witch Trials
Witchcraft delusion in Salem, MA; 20 alleged witches executed by special court. -
Poor Richard's Almanack
Benjamin Franklin publishes the first Poor Richard's Almanack; published annually until 1757. -
Zenger Trial
Editor John Peter Zenger was aquitted of libel Aug. 5 in New York after criticizing the British Goerner's conduct in office. -
"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"
Famous sermon "Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God", delivered in Enfeild, MA, July 8, by Jonathan Edwards, a major figure in the revivalist Great Awakening. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War began. -
Albany Plan of Union
Delegates from 7 colonies to Albany, NY. Congress, July 19, approved a plan o union by Benjamin Franklin; the plan was rejected by the colonies. -
Proclamation of 1763
Forbade colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Moutains. -
Sugar Act
Placed duties on lumber, foodstaffs, molasses and rum in colonies, to pay French and Indian War debts -
Stamp Act
Enacted by Parliment required revenue stamps to help fund royal troops; repealed March 17, 1766. -
Quartering Act
required colonists to house British troops. -
Townshend Acts
Levied taxes on glass, painter's lead, paper, and tea. In 1770 all duties except on tea were repealed. -
Boston Massacre
British troops fired into Boston mob, killed 5 including Crispus Attucks, a black man, repotedly leader of the group. -
Boston Tea Party
Cargo thrown overboard at Boston Tea Party to protest the tea tax. -
Intolerable Acts
"Intolerable Acts" of Parliment curtailed Massachusetts self rule; barred use of Boston Harbor till tea was paid for. -
First Continetal Congress
Held in Philidelphia Sept. 5- Oct. 26; called for civil disobediance against British. -
"Give me liberty or gie me death!"
Patrick Henry addressed VA convention said, " Give me liberty or give me death!" -
Lexington and Concord
At Lexington, MA Minutemen lost 8. On return from Concord, British took 273 casualties. -
Common Sense
Famous pro-independent pamplet by Thomas Paine was published and quickly sold some 100,000 copies -
Declaration of Independence approved
The Declaration of Independence approved July 4 -
Articles of Confederation
adopted by Continental Congress Nov. 15, took effect Mar. 1, 1781 -
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones on the Bonhomme Richard defeated Serapis in British North Sea waters -
Corwallis Surrendered
Washington and Jean Baptiste joined forces, arrived near Williamsburg, Sept. 26. Siege of Cornwallis began Oct. 6, Cornwallis surrendured Oct. 19 -
Treaty of Paris
Britain, U.S. signed Paris peace treaty, Sept. 3, recognizing American Independance. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion of debt-ridden farmers in MA, failed -
Constitutional Convention
opened in Philidelphia May 25, with Washington presiding. Constitution accepted by delegates Sept. 17 -
Northwest Ordinance
Adopted by Continetal Congress for Northwest Territory, north of Ohio River, west of New York; made rules for statehood. Guaranteed freedom of religion, support for schools, no slavery. -
Federalist Papers
First appeared in NY Independent Journal by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. -
George Washington Elected President
Washington chosen president by all electors voting; John Adams vice president. -
Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights submitted to the states, Sept. 25, 1789, went into effect Sept. 15. -
Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, reviving Southern slavery. -
Whiskey Rebellion
Whiskey Rebellion, western Pennsylvannia farmers protesting liquor tax of 1791, suppressed by federal militia in September. -
Washington's Farewell Address
Warned against permanent alliances with foreign powers, big public debt, military establishment, and devices of "small, artful, enterprising minority." -
Alien and Sedition Acts
passed by Federalists, June-July; intended to silence political opposition. -
Thomas Jefferson Elected President
Thomas Jefferson, who had recieved the same number of electoral votes as Adam Burr in 1800 election, won out over Burr in House vote reached Feb. 17; Burr was named vice president. -
Marbury v. Madison Court Case
Supreme Court in Marbury v. Madison, for the first time overturned a U.S law. -
Lousiana Purchase
Doubled size of U.S; Bought by Thomas Jefferson from France -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark expedition ordered by Pres. Thomas Jefferson to explore what is now Northwest U.S. Started from St. Louis May 14, 1804 & ended Sept. 23, 1806 -
Robert Fulton Invented Steamboat
Robert Fulton made first practical steamboat trip. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 began. There were 3 main causes: British interference with American shipping, British ally with Native Americans and British impressment of U.S. Sailors. -
Battle of Lake Eerie
Oliver H. Perry defeated British fleet at Battle of Lake Eerie. -
"Star Spangled Banner"
Francis Scott Key wrote words to "Star Spangled Banner" -
Spain Ceded Florida
Spain ceded Florida to U.S. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine stopped European colonization in the Americas by Pres. James Mnroe. Made U.S. protector of Latin America and distinguished U.S. as a World Power. -
Indian Removal Act
Pres. Jackson signed Indian Removal Act providing land and some pay to Indians who agree to resettle west. -
Turner Slave Rebellion
Nat Turner, a black slave in VA, led local slave rebellion, starting Aug. 21; 57 whites killed, Troops called in, 100 slaves killed. Turner captured, tried, hanged Nov. 11. -
Trail of Tears
Cherokee Indians forced to walk the "Trail of Tears" from Georgia to Oklahoma. -
First Telegraph Message
First message over first telegraph line sent May 24 by inventor Samuel F.B. Morse from Washington to Baltimore; "What hatn God wrought!" -
Mexican War
Mexican war began after Pres. Polk ordered General Taylor to seize disputed Texan land settled by Mexicans. -
Seneca Falls Convention
Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton led Seneca Falls, NY Women's Rights Convention. -
Compromise of 1850
Sen. Henry Clay's Compromise of 1850 admitted California as 31st state, with slavery forbidden; made Fugitive Slave Law more harsh; ended District of Columbia slave trade. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin published. -
Republican Party Forms
Republican Party forms. Opposed Kansas-Nabraska Act, which left issue of slavery to vote of settlers. Act bacame law May 30. -
Sanford v. Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott decision by Supreme Court held that slaves did not become free in a free state, Congress could not bar slavery in any territory, and blacks could not be citizens. -
Attack on Harper's Ferry
Abolitionist John Brown, with 21 men, seized U.S. Armory at Harpor's Ferry, WV. U.S. Marines captured raiders, killing several, Brown hanged for treason Dec. 2. -
Lincoln Elected President
Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected Pres. in a 4-way race. -
Southern States Secede
7 Southern states set up Confederate States of America with Jefferson Davis as President. -
Civil War Begins
Civil War begins as Confederate Staes fire on Ft. Sumter in Charleston, SC -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam in western Maryland, was the bloddiest one-day battle of the war; each side lost over 2,00 men. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Pes. Lincoln issued Emancipation Proclamation, freeing "all slaves still in rebellion" -
Battle of Gettysburg & Gettysburg Address
Union forces won a major victory in Gettysburg, PA, July 1-3; Lincoln gave Gettysburg Address on Nov. 19. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders
Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendured 27,800 Confederate troops to Gen. Grant at Appatomax Court House, VA -
Lincoln Assasinated
Pres. Licoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theatre in Washinton, D.C.; Lincoln died the following morning. -
13th Amendment
13th Amendment, abolishing slavery, ratified Dec. 6. -
14th Amendment
14th Amenment, providing citizenship for all persons born or naturalized in U.S., ratified July 9. -
15th Amendment
15th Amendment, making race no bar to voting rights ratified Feb. 8. -
American Red Cross Founded
Clara Barton founded American Red Cross.
