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Oct 13, 1492
Columbus Discovers American
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Jamestown is Established
Jamestown was the first permanent settlement in North America. 13 years later, the Pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower and founded Plymouth. -
French and Indian War
A seven year war between New France and British America. It began when France expanded into the Ohio river valley, encroaching on the British colonies. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty dump 342 chests of imported British tea into the ocean. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The first battle of the American Revolutionary war. -
Declaration of Independence Signed
The American colonies declare their separation from England. -
Battle of Yorktown
The last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Joint French and American armies defeat the British armies at Yorktown, Virginia. -
Constitutional Convention
After having been together for five months, the Constitution is finally signed September 17th. -
Invention of the Cotton Gin
This invention revolutionized and sped up the production of cotton. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
A series of laws signed into law by President Adams making it easier for the government to deport foreigners. -
The Louisiana Purchase
A land deal overseen by President Jefferson in which the US acquires 827,000 sq. miles of land from France for the sum of fifteen million dollars. -
The War of 1812
War breaks out again because of British violations of America ships. It ends three years later in 1815. -
The Missouri Compromise
A compromise between the North and South that allowed the addition of a slave state for every free state emitted to the Union. -
Andrew Jackson Elected President
Democrat Andrew Jackson defeats Republican John Quincy Adams. -
Panic of 1837
A major recession that spread widespread panic and lasted into the 1840s. -
Trail of Tears
Multiple Native American tribes are forced to relocate from their homeland to "Indian Territory". At least 4000 Cherokee die along the way. -
"What hath God wrought?"
Samuel F. B. Morse transmits his famous message via telegraph, forever changing communication. -
The Mexican-American War
The U.S. claims Texas, causing Mexico and the U.S. to go to war over a dispute of where Texas ended. The U.S. acquires over 500,000 sq. miles. -
Compromise of 1850
A series of bills passed by Congress splitting up the land gained in the Mexican-American war into slave and non-slave areas. Importantly, it overturned the Missouri Compromise and required that northerners return runaway slaves to their owners. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter, officially starting the Civil War, which would continue for four more years. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln declares that "all persons held as slaves...are, and henceforth shall be free." -
Battle of Appomattox
Confederate General Lee surrenders to General Grant, in effect ending the civil war. -
Abraham Lincoln Assassinated
President Lincoln is killed by hit man John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C. -
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
The first President impeached in U.S. history, his impeachment was caused by tensions after the civil war, and more specifically, Johnson's attempt to remove Republican members of his cabinet. -
Standard Oil Organized
Owned by John D. Rockefeller, Standard Oil monopolized almost all of the processing, transportation and marketing of oil in the U.S. until 1911 when it was closed. -
The Civil War Amendments
The 13th Amendment banned slavery and involuntary servitude. The 14th Amendment overturned the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision, allowing blacks to claim citizenship, among other things.The 15th Amendment said that the right to vote could not be denied based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude". -
Alexander Graham Bell's Telephone
When Bell got his first patent for the telephone in 1876, there were hundreds of lawsuits challenging his claim of invention, but none were successful. -
Edison Invents the Light Bulb
Although many different inventors worked on the light bulb, Edison and his team tested thousands of designs before finding a design that worked. -
Pullman and Homestead Strikes
Two major labor strikes in Pennsylvania in which strikers refused to work because Andrew Carnegie refused to increase wages. In the end, it resulted in lower wages. -
The Spanish-American War
This six-week war resulted in the U.S. acquisition of Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. Cuba gained formal independence from the U.S. in 1902. -
Theodore Roosevelt Becomes President
Roosevelt unexpectedly becomes President after the assassination of William McKinley. -
Wright Brothers Invent the Airplane
Wilbur and Orville Wright make four successful flights at Kitty Hawk, marking the first successful airplane.
