United States History

  • Jun 15, 1215

    Magna Carta

    Granted rights to Nobles and Freemen.
  • Roanoke Colony

    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

    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

    House of Burgesses

    First representative assembly in New World, elected July 30 in Jameston, VA
  • Pilgrims on the Maflower

    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

    Mayflower Compact

    Signed Nov. 11 - was an agreement to form self government. Half of the colony died during harsh winter.
  • Providence, Rhode Island

    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

    Navigation Acts

    British Parliment passed first Navigation Act Dec.1, regulating colonial commerce to suit English needs.
  • Burning of Jamestown

    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

    Pennsylvannia Founded

    William Penn signed treaty with Delaware Indians Apr. 23 and made payment for Pennsylvannia lands.
  • Salem Witch Trials

    Salem Witch Trials

    Witchcraft delusion in Salem, MA; 20 alleged witches executed by special court.
  • Poor Richard's Almanack

    Poor Richard's Almanack

    Benjamin Franklin publishes the first Poor Richard's Almanack; published annually until 1757.
  • Zenger Trial

    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"

    "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

    French and Indian War

    The French and Indian War began.
  • Albany Plan of Union

    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

    Proclamation of 1763

    Forbade colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Moutains.
  • Sugar Act

    Sugar Act

    Placed duties on lumber, foodstaffs, molasses and rum in colonies, to pay French and Indian War debts
  • Stamp Act

    Stamp Act

    Enacted by Parliment required revenue stamps to help fund royal troops; repealed March 17, 1766.
  • Quartering Act

    Quartering Act

    required colonists to house British troops.
  • Townshend Acts

    Townshend Acts

    Levied taxes on glass, painter's lead, paper, and tea. In 1770 all duties except on tea were repealed.
  • Boston Massacre

    Boston Massacre

    British troops fired into Boston mob, killed 5 including Crispus Attucks, a black man, repotedly leader of the group.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party

    Cargo thrown overboard at Boston Tea Party to protest the tea tax.
  • Intolerable Acts

    Intolerable Acts

    "Intolerable Acts" of Parliment curtailed Massachusetts self rule; barred use of Boston Harbor till tea was paid for.
  • First Continetal Congress

    First Continetal Congress

    Held in Philidelphia Sept. 5- Oct. 26; called for civil disobediance against British.
  • "Give me liberty or gie me death!"

    "Give me liberty or gie me death!"

    Patrick Henry addressed VA convention said, " Give me liberty or give me death!"
  • Lexington and Concord

    Lexington and Concord

    At Lexington, MA Minutemen lost 8. On return from Concord, British took 273 casualties.
  • Common Sense

    Common Sense

    Famous pro-independent pamplet by Thomas Paine was published and quickly sold some 100,000 copies
  • Declaration of Independence approved

    Declaration of Independence approved

    The Declaration of Independence approved July 4
  • Articles of Confederation

    Articles of Confederation

    adopted by Continental Congress Nov. 15, took effect Mar. 1, 1781
  • John Paul Jones

    John Paul Jones

    John Paul Jones on the Bonhomme Richard defeated Serapis in British North Sea waters
  • Corwallis Surrendered

    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

    Treaty of Paris

    Britain, U.S. signed Paris peace treaty, Sept. 3, recognizing American Independance.
  • Shay's Rebellion

    Shay's Rebellion

    Shay's Rebellion of debt-ridden farmers in MA, failed
  • Constitutional Convention

    Constitutional Convention

    opened in Philidelphia May 25, with Washington presiding. Constitution accepted by delegates Sept. 17
  • Northwest Ordinance

    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

    Federalist Papers

    First appeared in NY Independent Journal by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison.
  • George Washington Elected President

    George Washington Elected President

    Washington chosen president by all electors voting; John Adams vice president.
  • Bill of Rights

    Bill of Rights

    Bill of Rights submitted to the states, Sept. 25, 1789, went into effect Sept. 15.
  • Cotton Gin

    Cotton Gin

    Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, reviving Southern slavery.
  • Whiskey Rebellion

    Whiskey Rebellion

    Whiskey Rebellion, western Pennsylvannia farmers protesting liquor tax of 1791, suppressed by federal militia in September.
  • Washington's Farewell Address

    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

    Alien and Sedition Acts

    passed by Federalists, June-July; intended to silence political opposition.
  • Thomas Jefferson Elected President

    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

    Marbury v. Madison Court Case

    Supreme Court in Marbury v. Madison, for the first time overturned a U.S law.
  • Lousiana Purchase

    Lousiana Purchase

    Doubled size of U.S; Bought by Thomas Jefferson from France
  • Lewis and Clark Expedition

    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 Invented Steamboat

    Robert Fulton made first practical steamboat trip.
  • War of 1812

    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

    Battle of Lake Eerie

    Oliver H. Perry defeated British fleet at Battle of Lake Eerie.
  • "Star Spangled Banner"

    "Star Spangled Banner"

    Francis Scott Key wrote words to "Star Spangled Banner"
  • Spain Ceded Florida

    Spain Ceded Florida

    Spain ceded Florida to U.S.
  • Monroe Doctrine

    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

    Indian Removal Act

    Pres. Jackson signed Indian Removal Act providing land and some pay to Indians who agree to resettle west.
  • Turner Slave Rebellion

    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

    Trail of Tears

    Cherokee Indians forced to walk the "Trail of Tears" from Georgia to Oklahoma.
  • First Telegraph Message

    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

    Mexican war began after Pres. Polk ordered General Taylor to seize disputed Texan land settled by Mexicans.
  • Seneca Falls Convention

    Seneca Falls Convention

    Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton led Seneca Falls, NY Women's Rights Convention.
  • Compromise of 1850

    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

    Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin published.
  • Republican Party Forms

    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

    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

    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

    Lincoln Elected President

    Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected Pres. in a 4-way race.
  • Southern States Secede

    Southern States Secede

    7 Southern states set up Confederate States of America with Jefferson Davis as President.
  • Civil War Begins

    Civil War Begins

    Civil War begins as Confederate Staes fire on Ft. Sumter in Charleston, SC
  • Battle of Antietam

    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

    Emancipation Proclamation

    Pes. Lincoln issued Emancipation Proclamation, freeing "all slaves still in rebellion"
  • Battle of Gettysburg & Gettysburg Address

    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

    Robert E. Lee Surrenders

    Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendured 27,800 Confederate troops to Gen. Grant at Appatomax Court House, VA
  • Lincoln Assasinated

    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

    13th Amendment, abolishing slavery, ratified Dec. 6.
  • 14th Amendment

    14th Amendment

    14th Amenment, providing citizenship for all persons born or naturalized in U.S., ratified July 9.
  • 15th Amendment

    15th Amendment

    15th Amendment, making race no bar to voting rights ratified Feb. 8.
  • American Red Cross Founded

    American Red Cross Founded

    Clara Barton founded American Red Cross.