US History Timeline By croftsusan 1492 The Discovery of America by Columbus May 14, 1607 The Settlement of Jamestown Period: 1754 to 1763 The French and Indian War Dec 16, 1773 The Boston Tea Party Apr 19, 1775 The Battle of Lexington and Concord Jul 4, 1776 The Declaration of Independence Period: Sep 28, 1781 to Oct 19, 1781 The Battle of Yorktown Period: May 25, 1787 to Sep 17, 1787 The Constitutional Convention 1791 The invention of the cotton gin 1798 Passing of the alien act Jul 14, 1798 Passing of the sedition act 1803 The Louisiana Purchase 1809 Invention of the electric light Period: Jun 18, 1812 to Feb 17, 1815 The War of 1812 1820 The Missouri Compromise 1827 Andrew Jackson’s Election Period: 1830 to 1850 The Trail of Tears 1837 The invention of the telegraph 1837 The Panic of 1837 Period: 1846 to 1848 The Mexican-American War 1850 The Compromise of 1850 Period: Mar 12, 1861 to Mar 13, 1861 The Firing on Fort Sumter Jan 1, 1863 The Emancipation Proclamation Jan 31, 1865 Passing of the 13th amendment Apr 9, 1865 Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse Apr 14, 1865 Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination Jun 8, 1866 Passing of the 14th amendment Feb 24, 1868 Andrew Johnson’s Impeachment Feb 26, 1869 Passing of the 15th amendment Mar 7, 1876 Invention of the telephone 1882 The Organization of Standard Oil Trust Period: 1892 to 1894 The Pullman and Homestead Strikes Period: Apr 21, 1898 to Aug 13, 1898 The Spanish-American War Sep 14, 1901 Theodore Roosevelt becomes president Dec 17, 1903 Invention of the airplane