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The Natchez Trace post route, following an old trail running from Nashville, Tennessee to Natchez, Mississippi, is established by an Act of Congress.
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The United States Library of Congress is founded.
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Thomas Jefferson wins the Election of 1800
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Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated for his first term as President of the United States.
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Tripoli Declares War on the United States.
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West Point, New York is established. Four months later, the United States Military Academy opens on July 4.
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Thomas Jefferson gives his Second State of the Nation address to the House and Senate, focusing on peace in the European conflict and payment of the public debt.
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Ohio is admitted to the Union as the 17th U.S. state.
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President Jefferson doubles the size of the U.S. with the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon which was $15 million and paved the way for eastward expansion.
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New Jersey becomes the last northern state to abolish slavery.
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Louis and Clark begin their expedition.
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Thomas Jefferson wins reelection over Charles Pinckney with 162 to 14 Electoral College votes.
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The Michigan Territory is established.
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Members of the Lewis and Clark expedition build Fort Clatsop, a log fort near the mouth of the Columbia River in present-day Oregon.
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A second exploratory expedition led by U.S. Army Lieutenant Zebulon Pike begins from Fort Bellefountaine near St. Louis.
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The Lewis and Clark Expedition to map the northwest United States ends.
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Congress passes an act that prohibits the importation of slaves into any port within the confines of the United States from any foreign land. It was to take effect on the 1st of January 1808.
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The first practical steamboat journey was made by Robert Fulton in the steamboat Clermont, who navigated the Hudson River from New York City to Albany in thirty-two hours, a trip of 150 miles. This becomes the first commercial steamboat service in the world.
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The importation of Slaves is outlawed, although people will continue to illegally bring them to America.
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John Jacob Astor incorporates the American Fur Company.
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James Madison is elected as the 4th President of the United States, defeating Charles C. Pinckney.
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James Madison is inaugurated, succeeding Thomas Jefferson as President of the United States.
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The Pacific Fur Company is formed by John Jacob Astor.
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The contract for the construction of Cumberland Road is designed or The National Road, as it would later be called, and now known as Rt. 40, measured 128 miles from Cumberland, Maryland to Wheeling, West Virginia.
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Indian warriors under the command of Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa, are defeated by William Henry Harrison.
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James Madison asks Congress to declare war on the United Kingdom.
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Before the vote about declaring war could be approved, British ships raise a blockade against the United States.
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Unaware of the blockade at the time, Madison signs the declaration after congress narrowly approves the war. While most Western states approve of the war, New England States don’t, including Rhode Island, which does not participate in the War of 1812.
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James Madison defeats De Witt Clinton in the U.S. presidential election, securing a second term as the United States engages in the War of 1812 by an Electoral College margin of 128 votes to 89.
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During the Battle of York, American Troops raid and destroy the city but do not occupy it.
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Americans lose the Battle of Stoney Creek to the British
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Upon the occupation of Washington D.C., British forces burn down the White House
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The American Navy win the abattle of Lake Eerie. This victory allows U.S. forces to take control of the majority of the Old Northwest and lake region.
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Winning the Battle of Thames, Ontario allows American forces to break the Indian allies of the English and secure the frontier of Detroit.
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The U.S. Navy wins the Battle of Lake Champlain
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During the 25 hour bombardment of Fort Mchenry, Francis Scott Key writes the national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner.
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A peace treaty is signed between the British and American government at Ghent, bringing to an end the War of 1812.
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On the Chalmette plantation at New Orleans, British Troops, unaware of the Peace Treaty signed two weeks earlier, attack American forces in the last battle of the War of 1812.
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The first American railroad charter is granted by the state of New Jersey to John Stephens.
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The territory of Indiana is admitted into the United States of America as the 19th state.
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James Monroe is inaugurated as the President of the United States, succeeding James Madison.
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The Rush-Bagot treaty is signed which limits the amount of armaments allowed on the Great Lakes by British and American forces.
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The construction of the Eerie Canal begins at Rome, New York.
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The United States of America admits its 20th state, Mississippi.
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Andrew Jackson and his American army invade Florida in the Seminole War
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The northern boundary of the United States and Canada is established between the U.S.A. and the United Kingdom.
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The state of Illinois is admitted to the Union as the 21 state.
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the Panic of 1819, occurs, leading to foreclosures, bank failures, and unemployment.
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The Tallmadge Amendment is passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, stating that slaves would be barred in the new state of Missouri
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The territory of Florida is ceded to the United States by Spain in the Adams-Onis Treaty.
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The Missouri Compromise bill, passes in the United States Congress. This legislation allows slavery in the Missouri territory, but not in any other location west of the Mississippi River
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James Monroe wins in the election against John Quincy Adams by a rally of 231-1
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Possession of the territory of Florida is taken by the United States after its purchase is completed with Spain.
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Florida becomes an official territory of the United States.
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Arikara Indian War begins as the U.S. Army engages in the first conflict with an Indian tribe in the western territories after the tribe had attacked a trapping party on June 1.
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James Monroe announces the Monroe Doctrine, stating the policy that European intervention anyplace in the Americas is opposed and that he would establish American neutrality in future European wars, in a speech before congress
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The Republican Party is founded to oppose the Kansas-Nebraska act.
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The Bureau of Indian Affairs is established by the United States War Department.
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In the state of Georgia, the Creek Indian tribe give up their last lands to the United States government and move west.
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John quincy Adams is Inaugurated as president of the United States
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The internal combustion engine named the "Gas Or Vapor Engine" is patented by American Samuel Morey.
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Group of Texas settlers make first attempt to secede from Mexico in the Fredonian Republic. Republic of Fredonia lasts one month, causes Mexican government to curb immigration from U.S. to region and increased dissatisfaction that leads to eventual Texas Revolution.
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The Senate ratifies the Treaty of Limits that establishes the Sabine River as the Mexican and United States border, in agreement with the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819.
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The Treaty of Limits with Mexico goes into effect.
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The first passenger railroad in the United States, the Baltimore and Ohio, begins.
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Andrew Jackson, now in the Democratic party, is inaugurated as President,
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William Austin Burt, of the United States, invents and patents the typewriter, at the time called the typographer.
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Joseph Smith organizes the Mormon Church
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The United States Congress approves the Indian Removal Act which leads to the Trail of Tears.
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Nat Turner, a black slave, leads a slave rebellion in Southampton county, Virginia wheee he kills 57 white citizens.
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The trail of tears begins.
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The United States Congress passed a compromise tariff act in response to South Carolina's objections.
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The Force Bill is signed by President Andrew Jackson Which authorizes the use of troops to enforce the federal law in South Carolina if necessary.
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Democrat James K. Polk defeats Henry Clay for president with 170 Electoral College votes to 105 for Clay.
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P.T. Barnum begins his first circus tour of the United States.
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The Revolution of Texas begins with the Battle of Gonzales when Mexican soldiers try to disarm the people of Gonzales, but are resisted by local militia.
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The first convention of the American Whig Party is held in Albany, New York.
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After a 13 day siege, Texans lose the Battle of the Alamo.
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Sam Houston leads the Texans to victory against Santa Anna and his army at the Battle of San Jacinto.
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The Specie Act is issued by executive order of President Andrew Jackson.
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Martin Van Buren wins the Presidential election of 1836 against William Henry Harrison
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Martin Van Buren, as President, and Richard M. Johnson, Vice President, are inaugurated into office
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The global economic crises known as the Panic of 1837 begins with the failure of New York City banks and unemployment which would reach record levels.
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In Jackson, Mississippi, the first state law allowing women to own property is passed.
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Martin Van Buren is defeated by William Henry Harrison in the Election of 1840
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William Henry Harrison dies after being sworn into office only a month before
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The first major wagon train headed for the northwest via the Oregon Trail begins with one thousand pioneers from Elm Grove, Missouri.
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The first major conflict of the Mexican War occurs north of the Rio Grande River at Palo Alto, Texas when United States troops under the command of Major General Zachary Taylor rout a larger Mexican force.
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The United States declares war on Mexico
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The Republic of California declares independence from Mexico.
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Twelve thousand American troops under the command of General Winfield Scott take Vera Cruz, Mexico after a siege.
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James W. Marshall Discovers gold at Sutter's Mill in the town of Colona, California
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The Declaration of Sentiments calling for equal rights for women and men is signed by 100 men and women in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Seneca Falls, New York at the 1st Women's Rights Convention led by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
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Zachary Taylor wins the presidential election of 1848. The first election held on the same date in every state.
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After the death of Zackary Taylor, Millard Fillmore is sworn into office.
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The Compromise of 1850 admits California as the 31st state, without slavery, and adds Utah and New Mexico as territories
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The United States of America participates in the opening ceremony of the first World's Fair in history
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Uncle Toms Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, is published.
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The Kansas-Nebraska act becomes law, allowing the issue of slavery to be decided by a vote of settlers. This established the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and would breed much of the rancor that culminated in the actions of the next years of "Bleeding Kansas."
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Quinault River Treaty between the United States and the Quinault and Quileute tribes of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington Territory cedes their lands to the United States.
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The United States Supreme Court rules in the Dred Scott decision, 6-3, that a slave did not become free when transported into a free state.
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James Buchanan is sworn into office as the 15th President of the United States.
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Oregon is admitted to the Union as the 33rd state.
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Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln is Elected as President
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In response to the election, South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union.
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Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as president of the United States with Hannibal Hamlin as Vice President.
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Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina harbor is bombarded for 34 hours by Confederate forces after the U.S. Army commander failed to evacuate, thus starting the four years of conflict and the U.S. Civil War.
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The first Battle of Bull Run at Manassas, Virginia occurs with the repulsion of Union forces by the Confederacy.
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The Homestead Act is approved, granting family farms of 160 acres (65 hectares) to settlers
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President Lincoln issues the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, stating that all slaves in places of rebellion against the Federal Government would be free as of January 1, 1863.
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General Ambrose Burnside begins the Battle of Fredericksburg when Union troops cross the Rappahannock River on pontoons
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The Dakota war that began in August between bands of Sioux and the U.S. government over late payments of annuities culminates in the jailing in Minnesota of over one thousand Dakota Sioux, and the hanging of thirty-eight in Mankato. It was the largest mass execution in U.S. history.
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The Battle of Gettysburg ends after three days and proves to be the "high water mark of the Confederacy" and the last major push of Confederate forces into Union territory.
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The city of Vicksburg surrenders to General Grant after a two month siege.
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The New York draft riots kill about 1,000 people. Rioters protested the draft provision that allowed for money to be paid to get out of service. These payments would cease in 1864.
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President Lincoln gives the Gettysburg Address in Gettysburg.
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Union forces, including black Union soldiers, capture the Confederate Fort Harrison, south of Richmond. This caused a Confederate realignment of their southern defenses.
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Abraham Lincoln is re-elected
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General Robert E. Lee, surrenders his 27,000 man army to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, effectively ending the four years of Civil War conflict.
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Abraham Lincoln is Assassinated at Fords Theater by John Wilkes Booth.
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The Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery, takes effect.
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The Civil Rights Act of 1866 is passed by Congress, the first federal law protecting the rights of African Americans. It is vetoed by President Johnson, but the veto overridden by Congress.
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The Klu Klux Klan forms secretly to discourage blacks from voting, issuing in a brutal and shameful era of terror and crime amid southern states
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Secretary of State William H. Seward consummates the sale of Alaska to the United States from Russia for $7.2 million dollars, approximately two cents per acre, by signing the Treaty of Cession of Russian America to the United States.
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The impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson begins in the Senate. Johnson was charged with violating the Tenure of Office Act by trying to remove the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. The President is acquitted by one vote.
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Republican Ulysses S Grant Becomes the 18th president of the United States
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The first African-American to be sworn into office in the United States Congress, Hiram Rhodes Revels, a Republican from Mississippi takes his place in the United States Senate.
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The great Chicago Fire Starts. The fire caused $196 million in damages. It burned 1.2 million acres of land, destroyed 17,450 buildings, killed 250 people, and left 90,000 homeless.
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Civil rights are restored to citizens of the South, except for five hundred Confederate leaders, with the passage of the Amnesty Act of 1872 and its signing by President Ulysses S. Grant.
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Susan B. Anthony illegally casts a ballot at Rochester, New York in the presidential election to publicize the cause of a woman's right to vote.
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Jesse James and the James-Younger Gang engage in the first successful train robbery in the American West, taking three thousand dollars from the Rock Island Express at Adair, Iowa.
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The Women's Crusade of 1873-74 is started when women in Fredonia, New York march against retail liquor dealers, leading to the creation of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
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The Bronx is annexed by New York City.
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The Civil Rights Act, giving equal rights to blacks in jury duty and accommodation, is passed by the United States Congress. It would be overturned in 1883 by the U.S. Supreme Court.
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The Black Hawk War begins and would rage from Illinois to Wisconsin through September. It would consequently lead to the removal of Sauk and Fox Indians west, across the Mississippi River.
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South Carolina convention passed the Ordinance of Nullification, which was against the institution of permanent tariffs. The state also, on this issue, threatened to withdraw from the union of the United States of America.
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The Cherokee tribe is forced to cede lands in Georgia and cross the Mississippi River after gold is found on their land in Georgia, which results in the Treaty of New Echota.