1800-1876

  • President Thomas Jefferson

    Thomas Jefferson became the 3rd president of the United States in 1801.
  • Embargo Act

    The Embargo Act, in December 1807 closed U.S. ports to all exports and restricted imports from Britain. Jefferson announced the Embargo act because British interference with the U.S. shipping increased.
  • Congress Declares War on Britain

    On June 17, 1812, the Senate approved a House-passed resolution declaring war with Great Britain. The United States had many reasons for going to war in 1812: Britain's interference with its trade and impressment of its seamen; Americans' desire to expand settlement into Indian, British, and Spanish territories; aspirations to conquer Canada and end British influence in North America; and upholding the national honor.
  • Creek War

    The Creek War, was a regional conflict between opposing Native American factions, European powers, and the United States during the early 19th century. The Creek War began as a conflict within the tribes of the Muscogee, but the United States quickly became involved.
  • Monroe Doctrine

    President James Monroe's 1823 annual message to Congress contained the Monroe Doctrine, which warned European powers not to interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere.
  • President Andrew Jackson

    Andrew Jackson became the 7th president of the United States in 1829.
  • Irish Potato Famine

    Between 1845-52 Ireland suffered a period of starvation, disease and emigration that became known as the Great Famine. The main cause was a disease which affected the potato crop, which made a third of Ireland's population dependent on food.
  • California Gold Rush

    The gold rush beginning in 1848 brought a flood of workers to California and played an important role in increasing California's economy into that of the eastern United States. The California Gold Rush began with the discovery of significant gold deposits near Sacramento in 1848.
  • President Abraham Lincoln

    Abraham Lincoln became the 16th president of the United States in 1861.
  • Emancipation Proclamation

    President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The proclamation declared all slaves should be freed.
  • Lincoln Is Assassinated

    President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 15, 1865, Washington, D.C. He was the First U.S. president to be assassinated.
  • First Lightbuld

    Thomas Edison invented the first durable incandescent light bulb in 1876. The light bulb changed the way we design buildings, increased the length of the average workday and jump started new businesses.