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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta is written to limit power of English rulers.
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Aug 1, 1492
Columbus sets sail to find a route to the East Indies
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Nov 8, 1519
Hernando Cortes captures Tenochtitlan, beginning the fall of the Aztec Empire.
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The Mayflower Compact, the firs document to self-government in North America is written by Pilgrim leaders in PLymouth.
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Massachusetts found.
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New Hampshire found.
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New York found.
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Maryland found.
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Connecticut found.
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Rhode Island found.
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Delaware found.
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The Carolinas founded.
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New Jersey found.
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Pennsylvania found.
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The English Bill of Rights is written to limit the power of the Monarchy and protect the rights of the citizens.
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John Locke publishes "Two treaties on Government."
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Virginia found.
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The Carolinas split into North and South Carolina.
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Georgia found.
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Baron de Montesquieu publishes "The Spirit of the laws," urging that the government power is divided into three bracnhes.
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French and Indian War begins at battle of Fort Neccessity
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French troops defeat general Braddock
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Quebec surrenders to the British.
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British troops take Montreal, ending the French & Indian War fighting in North America.
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Treaty of Paris signed between British & France, ending the French & Indian War.
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Sugar Act
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Stamp Act
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Townshed Acts
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Father Junipero Serra builds first mission at San Diego
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Boston Massacre.
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Tea Act.
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Boston Tea Party
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Intolerable Acts.
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First Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia.
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"The shot heard 'round the world" is fired at Lexington.
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Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia.
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Battle of Bunker Hill.
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American troops seize Montreal.
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American troops fail to take Quebec.
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Thomas Paine writes Common Sense.
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Articles of Confederation written.
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Continental Congress accepts accepts the Decleration of Independence.
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Articles of Confederation go into effect.
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British troops surrender at Saratoga.
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Benedict Arnold turns traitor to the American cause.
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American troops capture King's Mountain.
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British troops surrender at Yorktown.
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Treaty of Paris is ratified by Congress, ending the Revolutionary War
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The "Empress of China" becomes the first American ship to trade with China
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Land Ordinance of 1785.
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Shay's Rebellion.
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Northwest Ordinance.
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Constituional Convention opens in Philadelphia.
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Constitution approved by Constitutional Convention.
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Delaware becomes first state to rtify U.S. Constituion.
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New Hampshire becomes ninth state to ratify U.S. Constitution, allowing it to go into effect.
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Citizens of Philadelphia celebrate ratification of the U.S. Constitution, which becomes known as the Bill of Rights.
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Congress creates the first five executive departments
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Congress passes the Judiciary Act to organize the federal court system
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George Washington is inaugurated as our 1st President in New York City
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The French Revolution begins when an angry mob storms the Bastille
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Congress creates the first Bank of the United States
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-French King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette are beheaded
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-Britain seizes American ships trading in the French West Indies
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Washington issues the Neutrality Proclamation
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The Whiskey Rebellion
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11th Amendment - Suits against States
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George Washington publishes his Farewell Address
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-Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr receive the same number of electoral votes for President, causing Congress to eventually pass the 12th amendment
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France seizes American ships trading in the French West Indies
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John Adams is inaugurated as our 2nd President
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XYZ Affair
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Alien and Sedition Acts passed
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-George Washington dies in his Virginia home, Mount Vernon
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-Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated the third President of the United States
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Marbury v. Madison tried before the Supreme Court, establishing judicial review
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Federalist leader, Alexander Hamilton, killed in a duel with Republican, Aaron Burr
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Thomas Jefferson approves the purchase of Louisiana
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-Lewis and Clark set out from St. Louis to explore the American west
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12th Amendment - Election of President and Vice President
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Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific Ocean
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Lewis and Clark return to St. Louis
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Zebulon Pike views a mountain peak rising above the Colorado plains, which becomes known as "Pikes Peak"
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-Thomas Jefferson persuades Congress to pass the Embargo Act
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James Madison wins the election and becomes our fourth President
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-Congress passes the Nonintercourse Act to replace the Embargo Act
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President Madison asks Congress to declare war on Britain
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The American ship, the Constitution, battles the British ship, Guerriere, in the north Atlantic near the beginning of the War of 1812
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Battle of Lake Erie
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Battle of Horseshoe Bend
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Britain defeats France in the war in Europe
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British troops capture Washington, DC
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Battle of New Orleans
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Treaty of Ghent signed
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US and Britain reach agreement to jointly occupy Oregon
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Missouri Comprimise
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Stephen Austin is given a land grant and leads settlers into Texas
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William Becknell leads group of traders from Missouri to New Mexico
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Joseph Smith founds the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
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Nat Turner's Rebellion
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General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna comes to power in Mexico
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Mexican troops begin a siege of the Alamo
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Texans declare independence from Mexico
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Battle of San Jacinto is won by Sam Houston
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Manifest Destiny plays important role in election of James K Polk as President
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Joseph Smith is killed, Mormons choose Brigham Young as their leader
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Congress passes resolution to admit Texas to the Union
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US and Britain avoid war over Oregon Country by splitting it with Britain at latitude 49N
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President Polk orders troops into disputed area along Rio Grande
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Fighting at Rio Grande sparks beginning of Mexican War
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Brigham Young moves the Mormons from Illinois to Utah for safety
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Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo signed, ending the Mexican War, and forcing Mexico to cede California and New Mexico to the United States
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John Sutter strikes gold at his sawmill on the American River in California
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The "forty-niners" make the long journey to California in search of gold
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California is admitted to the Union as a free state
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Compromise of 1850
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Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
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The Gadsden Purchase is made, with the US paying Mexico $10 million for a strip of land to finish building a railroad
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Kansas-Nebraska Act
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-"Bleeding Kansas"
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Dred Scott Decision
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Lincoln-Douglas Debates
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John Brown's Raid of Harpers Ferry, Virginia
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Lincoln is elected 16th President of the United States
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Secession of South Carolina
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Virginia joins the Confederacy
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Firing on Fort Sumter
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Battle of Bull Run of First Manassas
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Battles at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson
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Jackson's Valley Campaign
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Battle of Shiloh
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-Second Manassas
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Battle of Antietam
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Emancipation Proclamation
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Battle of Chaplin Hills
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Battle of Fredericksburg
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Battle of Murfreesboro
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Battle of Chancellorsville
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Siege of Vicksburg
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General Order 143
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Battle of Gettysburg
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Gettysburg Address
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Atlanta Campaign
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Overland Campaign
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Siege of Petersburg
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Reelection of Lincoln
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March to the Sea
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Lee's Army surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse
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Lincoln is assassinated
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Joseph Johnston's Army surrenders
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13th Amendment - Abolition of Slavery
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14th Amendment - Rights of Citizens
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15th Amendment - Voting Rights
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16th Amendment - The Income Tax
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17th Amendment - Direct Election of Senators
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18th Amendment - Prohibition of Alcoholic Beverages
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19th Amendment - Women's Suffrage
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20th Amendment - Presidential Terms; Sessions of Congress
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21st Amendment - Repeal of 18th Amendment (Prohibition)
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22nd Amendment - Limit on number of President's Terms
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23rd Amendment - Presidential Electors for District of Columbia
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24th Amendment - Abolition of Poll Tax in National Elections
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25th Amendment - Presidential Succession and Disability
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26th Amendment - Voting Age
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27th Amendment - Congressional Pay Increase
