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Oct 12, 1492
The Discovery of America by Columbus
Leaving the Spanish port, Columbus' original intention was to lead his three ships the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria to reach Asia (The Indies) where he would find valuables such as gold, pearls, and spices. -
Period: Oct 12, 1492 to
US History A Timeline
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The Settlement of Jamestown
In east Virginia, Historic Jamestown is known as the home of the first permanent English Settlement in North America. -
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The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War, part of the 7 years war ended with the Treaty of Paris and provided territorial gains for Great Britain in North America. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest in Boston Massachusetts caused by the Tea Act. The Sons of Liberty boarded the ships and threw the chests of tea into the harbor. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the Revolutionary War. -
The Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776, at Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House, the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, severing the colonies' political connections to the British Crown -
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The Battle of Yorktown
Yorktown proved to be the final battle of the American Revolution. -
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The Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was meant to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. -
The Invention of the Cotton Gin
The cotton gin, patented by inventor Eli Whitney in 1794, revolutionized the cotton industry by speeding up the process of removing the seeds and husks from cotton fiber. -
The Alien and Sedition Acts
Signed in 1798 by President Adams The Alien and Sedition Acts created new laws that include power to deport foreigners as well as making it more difficult for immigrants to vote. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The US bought approximately 827,000 square miles of land from the French west of the Mississippi for 15 million dollars. -
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The War of 1812
The war of 1812 was a conflict involving Great Britain and The United States. There was a long conflict between Great Britain and the Napoleon Bonaparte's France. In an attempt to cut off supplies from reaching the enemy, both sides attempted to block the United States from trading with the other. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a law prohibiting slavery in the Louisiana Territory north of the 36° 30´ latitude line. -
The Invention of the Telegraph
Samuel Morse independently developed and patented a recording electric telegraph in 1837 revolutionizing long distance communication. -
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Andrew Jackson's Election
Andrew Jackson first ran for president in 1824 but lost to John Quincy Adams. He ran again in 1828 and assumed more power then any other president before him. Some even gave him the nickname "King Andrew." -
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The Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis in the United States that lasted up until the mid-1840s. Profits, prices, and wages went down while unemployment went up. -
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The Trail of Tears
This was a series of forced relocation's of the Native American people from there homeland in order to make room for white settlements. -
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The Mexican-American War
Texas had been a part of mexico since 1821 when Mexico gained its independence from Spain. The Texans however disagreed with the Mexican Government. They fought several battles including The Alamo, eventually gaining a new state to the U.S. -
The Compromise of 1850
- The north gains California as a free state
- Texas lost territory but was compensated with 10 million dollars for it's debt.
- Slave trade was prohibited in Washington DC, but slavery was not.
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Theodore Roosevelt becomes President
Theodore Roosevelt becomes the 26th president of the United States after the assassination of William McKinley. -
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The Firing of Fort Sumter
The battle that started the American Civil War. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation granted freedom to all slaves residing in Confederate States. Although freedom would only come to the slaves if the Union won the war. -
The Organization of Standard Oil Trust
John D. Rockefeller built up the largest oil refinery firm in the world. In 1870 he decides to buy up all other competition and form one large company known as the Standard Oil Company. -
Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
One of the last battles of The American Civil War. -
Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination
While attending a play at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. -
14th Amendment
This act granted citizenship to everyone born in the United States. This included former slaves recently freed. -
13th Amendment
This act abolished slavery in the United States. -
Andrew Johnson's Impeachment
In 1868 The House of Representatives were in favor of the resolution to impeach Andrew Johnson, adopting eleven articles of impeachment against the President. -
15th Amendment
This act granted African American men the right to vote. -
Invention of the Telephone
The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. -
Invention of the Electric Light
The electric light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison in 1879. -
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The Pullman and Homestead Strikes
Starting in Pennsylvania, The Pullman and Homestead Strikes was a labor dispute at the Carnegie Steel Company resulting in violent battles among steel workers. -
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The Spanish-American War
This war was fought between America and Spain over the Independence of Cuba. The fighting ended three and a half months later with a U.S. victory. -
Invention of the Airplane
The airplane was invented by Wilbur and Orville Wright in 1903.