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Library of Congress
Library of Congress founded -
DC becomes new Capital
The capital is moved from Philadelphia to DC -
First Congressional meeting in DC
Congress meets for first time in DC since move. -
John Marshall
John Marshall is appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated for his first term as President of the United States. -
US War with Tripoli
Tripoli declares war against the United States. The United States had refused to pay additional tribute to commerce raiding corsairs from Arabia. -
Marbury vs Madison
The United States Supreme Court overturns its first U.S. law in the case of Marbury versus Madison. This case established the Supreme Court's position as an equal member of the three branches of United States government. -
Ohio
Ohio becomes 17th state -
Louisiana Purchase
US purchases Louisiana for 15 million from France -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark begin their expedition from St. Louis and Camp Dubois. -
Michigan
The Michigan Territory is established. -
Jefferson President
Jefferson is inaugurated for second term -
The National Road
The first federally funded highway is approved by President Thomas Jefferson with the signing of legislation and appropriation of $30,000 -
Act Banning the Importation of Slaves 1807
Congress passes an act that prohibits the importation of slaves into any port within the confines of the United States from any foreign land. -
The American Fur Company
The American Fur Company is incorporated by John Jacob Astor. -
Power of Federal Government
The Supreme Court of the United States rules that the power of the Federal Government is greater than the power of any individual state. -
James Madison
James Madison is inaugurated -
War of 1812
US declares war on Britain over British interference with American maritime shipping and westward expansion. -
James Madison
2nd Inauguration for Madison -
White House Destroyed
The White House is burned by British forces upon the occupation of Washington, D.C. during the War of 1812. -
Star Spangled Banner Written
Francis Scott Key writes the words to the Star Spangled Banner during the twenty-five hour bombardment of Fort McHenry at the head of the river leading to the Baltimore harbor. -
Treaty of Ghent is signed
A peace treaty is signed between the British and American government at Ghent, bringing to an end the War of 1812. -
Railroad Charter
The first American railroad charter is granted by the state of New Jersey to John Stephens. -
2nd Bank of US
Second Bank of the United States is chartered. -
Indiana
The territory of Indiana is admitted into the United States of America as the 19th state. -
James Monroe
James Monroe becomes 5th President -
Mississippi
The United States of America admits its 20th state, Mississippi. -
US Flag
The flag of the United States is officially adopted by Congress with the configuration of thirteen red and white stripes and one star for each state in the union. -
Panic of 1819
The first financial crises in the United States, the Panic of 1819, occurs, leading to foreclosures, bank failures, and unemployment. -
Adams-Onis Treaty
Spain agrees to cede Florida to the US -
McCulloch v Maryland
Case that established necessary and Proper clause -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise bill, sponsored by Henry Clay, passes in the United States Congress. This legislation allows slavery in the Missouri territory, but not in any other location west of the Mississippi River. -
James Monroe
James Monroe second inauguration -
Monroe Doctrine
In a speech before Congress, James Monroe announces the Monroe Doctrine, stating the policy that European intervention anyplace in the Americas is opposed and that he would establish American neutrality in future European wars. -
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams is inaugurated as President -
Erie Canal
Use of the Erie Canal began in Buffalo, New York with the first boat departing for New York City. -
Treaty of Limits
The Senate ratifies the Treaty of Limits that establishes the Sabine River as the Mexican and United States border, in agreement with the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819. -
B and O Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is incorporated, and would become the first railroad in the United States to offer transportation for people and commercial goods. -
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson inaugurated -
Indian Removal Act
The relocation of Indian tribes from east of the Mississippi River. -
Mormon Church
Joseph Smith organizes the Mormon Church, known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in Fayette, New York. -
Nat Turner Revolt
A local slave rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia, led by Nat Turner, a black slave, kills fifty-seven white citizens. -
McCormick invents reap
Cyrus H. McCormick, U.S inventor, invented and demonstrated the first commercially successful reaper. -
Whig Party
The first convention of the American Whig Party is held in Albany, New York. -
Texas Declares its independence from Mexico
Texas independence was declared at a convention of delegates from fifty-seven Texas communities at Washington-on-the-Brazos, making them an independent nation free from Mexican rule. -
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren, as President -
Women Own Property
In Jackson, Mississippi, the first state law allowing women to own property is passed. -
William Henry Harrison
Inaugurated as President -
John Tyler
John Tyler sworn in as President after death of Harrison. -
Treaty of Wanghia
The United States signs the treaty of Wanghia with China. It is the first treaty signed between the two nations. -
James Polk
Inaugurated as 11th president -
Annexation of Texas
US annexes Texas by joint resolution of Congress -
Mexican War
US declares war on Mexico in effort to gain California and other territory in Southwest -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Concluded Mexican War -
Zachary Taylor
Inaugurated as the 12 President -
Millard Fillmore
Inaugurated as 13th President -
Franklin Pierce
Inaugurated as President -
James Buchannan
15th Presidential Inauguration -
'Bleeding Kansas"
Two companies of the 1st Cavalry under Captain Samuel Sturgis arrive at Fort Scott, Kansas to attempt to bring the disorder of "Bleeding Kansas," the slavery versus anti-slavery battle, in check. -
Oregon
Oregon is admitted to the Union as the 33rd state. -
1st Succession in from Union
South Carolina responds to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President by being the first southern state to secede from the Union. -
Abraham Lincoln
Inaugurated to presidency -
Civil War
Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina harbor is bombarded for 34 hours by Confederate forces after the U.S. Army commander failed to evacuate, thus starting the four years of conflict and the U.S. Civil War. -
The Homestead Act
May 20, 1862 - The Homestead Act is approved, granting family farms of 160 acres to settlers, many of which were carved from Indian territories. -
Battle of Gettysberg
The Battle of Gettysburg, on the farm fields of central Pennsylvania, proved to be the "high water mark of the Confederacy" -
The Gettysburg Address
Only 272 words long and taking about two minutes to speak, captured the essence of the Civil War as both sacrifice and inspiration. -
End of Civil War
General Robert E. Lee, as commander in chief of Confederate forces, surrenders his 27,000 man army to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, effectively ending the four years of Civil War conflict. -
The Thirteenth Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery, takes effect. -
Women's Suffrage
In one of the first acts of success in the women's suffrage movement, a Women's Suffrage law passes in the Territory of Wyoming. -
The 15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment to the Constitution is declared ratified by the Secretary of State. It gave the right to vote to black Americans. -
The Great Fire of Chicago
The fire caused $196 million in damages. It burned 1.2 million acres of land, destroyed 17,450 buildings, killed 250 people, and left 90,000 homeless. -
National Parks
The world's first national park is established when President Grant signs legislation enabling the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. -
The Great Depression
An economic depression begins when the New York stock market crashed, setting off a financial panic that caused bank failures. -
The US Greenback Party
The U.S. Greenback Party is organized as a political organization by farmers who had been hurt financially in the Panic of 1873. -
The Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act, giving equal rights to blacks in jury duty and accommodation, is passed by the United States Congress.