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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Lands on San Salvador and thinks he is in the Indies (the islands off the east coast of Asia). Unknown to him, he had "discovered" a "new" continent -
Period: Oct 12, 1492 to
American History to 1877
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The Jamestown settlement begins
Three ships of the London Company arrive in Virginia and name the settlement after their King James. -
Pilgrims establish Plymouth
Signing the Mayflower Compact before they left the ship in order to create laws "thought most 'fitting' and convenient for the good of the colony", the Pilgrims establish a European colony in present day Massachusetts -
Mercantilism and Triangular Trade
Triangular Trade and Mercantilsm continue on the Atlantic Ocean with promises of bringing profit to the business class that participates in it. -
Treaty of Paris of 1763
This Treaty gave all French lands east of the Mississippi River to the British thus setting the stage for future British hegemony (dominance) in North America -
Declaration of Independence
After being taxed without representation, having troops quartered in the colonies during peacetime, and other complaints including having fought the British for about a year, the colonists formally declare independence from Great Britain -
Yorktown
Cornwallis, the British General surrenders to George Washington basically ending the Revolutionary War. Two years later the Treaty of Paris of 1783 is signed formally ending the war. -
U.S. Constitution ratified
The U.S. Constitution is declared in force when New Hampshire becomes the 9th state to ratify it. -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States acquires Louisiana from France for $15 Million dollars. Thus doubles the present size of the U.S. -
Republic of Texas
After defeating Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, Texas declares itself independent of Mexico and sets up its own Republic of Texas. This paves the way for Texas to become a U.S. state 9 years later. -
Civil War until 9 Apr 1865
From the Battle of Ft. Sumter until Appomatox, the bloodiest war the United States has ever fought was waged. It was fought to preserve the Union and for State's rights. -
Fifteenth Amendment
The fifteenth amendment is ratified stating that if you are a citizen---you may vote. This of course follows the 13th amendment that abolished slavery and the 14th amendment that said if you were born in the United States you are a citizen. All three amendments are knows as the Civil War Amendments because they came out soon after the Civil War was over
