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Oct 12, 1492
The Discovery of America by Columbus
Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer sailing under the Spanish flag, landed in the Americas, marking the beginning of European exploration and colonization of the continent. -
The settlement of Jamestown
The English established the first permanent settlement in North America in what is now Virginia, named after King James I. -
The French and Indian War
This conflict was fought between Britain and France in North America, along with their respective indigenous allies, and was part of the larger Seven Years' War. It ended with the Treaty of Paris 1763. -
The Boston Tea Party
American colonists, protesting British taxation without representation, dumped an entire shipment of tea into Boston Harbor. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
These were the first battles of the American Revolutionary War, marking the start of armed conflict between Britain and the American colonies. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Continental Congress adopted this document declaring the American colonies' independence from Britain. -
The Battle of Yorktown
The decisive battle of the American Revolutionary War where British forces under General Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces, leading to the end of the war. -
The Constitution Convention
Delegates gathered in Philadelphia to draft the U.S. Constitution, which established the framework for the federal government. -
The invention of the cotton gin
Eli Whitney invented this machine that greatly accelerated the processing of cotton, significantly impacting the American South's economy and slavery. -
The Alien and Sedition Acts
A series of four laws passed by the Federalist-controlled Congress aimed at restricting the activities of foreign nationals and limiting dissent against the government. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The U.S. acquired approximately 828,000 square miles of French territory, doubling the size of the country and opening up land for westward expansion. -
The War of 1812
A conflict between the United States and Britain over issues such as trade restrictions and impressment of American sailors, ending with the Treaty of Ghent. -
The Missouri Compromise
Legislation that admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, and established a line (36°30′ latitude) dividing future free and slave territories. -
Andrew Jackson's Election
Andrew Jackson was elected as the 7th President of the United States, marking a shift towards greater democracy and populism in American politics. -
The Panic of 1837
A financial crisis characterized by bank failures, high unemployment, and a severe economic depression in the United States. -
The Trial of Tears
The forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation from their ancestral lands in the southeastern U.S. to present-day Oklahoma, resulting in the death of thousands of Cherokee. -
The invention of the telegraph
Samuel Morse developed the telegraph, allowing for rapid long-distance communication via coded electrical signals. -
The Mexican-American War
A conflict between the U.S. and Mexico resulting from the U.S. annexation of Texas and leading to the U.S. acquiring territories in the present-day southwestern U.S. -
The Compromise of 1850
A series of laws aimed at resolving sectional tensions between free and slave states, including the Fugitive Slave Act and admission of California as a free state. -
The Firing on Fort Sumter
The first battle of the American Civil War, where Confederate forces fired on the Union-held Fort Sumter in South Carolina. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
An executive order by President Abraham Lincoln declaring the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory. -
Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Confederate Army to General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the American Civil War. -
Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., and died the following day. -
Andrew Johnson’s Impeachment
President Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives primarily over his violation of the Tenure of Office Act, but was acquitted by the Senate. -
13th, 14th, 15th Amendments
Amendments to the U.S. Constitution abolishing slavery (13th), granting citizenship and equal protection (14th), and voting rights regardless of race (15th). -
The invention of the telephone
Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone, transforming communication by enabling voice transmission over wires. -
The invention of the electric light
Thomas Edison invented a practical electric light bulb, revolutionizing lighting and contributing to the development of modern electrical systems. -
The Organization of Standard Oil Trust
John D. Rockefeller created the Standard Oil Trust, which controlled the majority of the oil industry in the U.S., leading to antitrust actions. -
The Pullman and Homestead Strikes
Major labor strikes in the U.S. protesting poor working conditions and wage cuts, resulting in violent clashes and federal intervention. -
The Spanish-American War
A conflict between the U.S. and Spain resulted in the U.S. gaining territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. -
Theodore Roosevelt becomes president
Theodore Roosevelt assumed the presidency after the assassination of William McKinley, initiating progressive reforms and a vigorous foreign policy. -
The invention of the airplane
Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first powered flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, marking the beginning of the aviation age.