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Gabriel Prosser
an enslaved African American blacksmith, organizes a slave revolt intending to march on Richmond, Virginia. The conspiracy is uncovered, and Prosser and a number of the rebels are hanged. Virginia's slave laws are consequently tightened. -
capital
The U.S. capital is moved from Philadelphia to Washington, DC. -
congress
U.S. Congress meets in Washington, DC, for the first time. -
3rd president
Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated as the third president in Washington, DC. -
Marbury v. Madison
Landmark Supreme Court decision greatly expands the power of the Court by establishing its right to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. -
Louisiana Purchase
United States agrees to pay France $15 million for the Louisiana Territory, which extends west from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and comprises about 830,000 sq mi. As a result, the U.S. nearly doubles in size. -
lewis and clark
set out from St. Louis, Mo., on expedition to explore the West and find a route to the Pacific Ocean. -
4th president
James Madison is inaugurated as the fourth president. -
Period: to
war of 1812
U.S. declares war on Britain over British interference with American maritime shipping and westward expansion. -
war of 1812
British capture Washington, DC, and set fire to White House and Capitol -
star spangles banner
Francis Scott Key writes Star-Spangled Banner as he watches British attack on Fort McHenry at Baltimore. -
war of 1812 end
treaty of Ghent is signed, officially ending the war. -
fifth president of us
James Monroe is inaugurated as the fifth president. -
florida
Spain agrees to cede Florida to the United States. -
Missouri compromise
In an effort to maintain the balance between free and slave states, Maine (formerly part of Massachusetts) is admitted as a free state so that Missouri can be admitted as a slave state; except for Missouri, slavery is prohibited in the Louisiana Purchase lands north of latitude 36°30'. -
Denmark Vesey
an enslaved African American carpenter who had purchased his freedom, plans a slave revolt with the intent to lay siege on Charleston, South Carolina. The plot is discovered, and Vesey and 34 coconspirators are hanged. -
Monroe Doctrine
In his annual address to Congress, President Monroe declares that the American continents are henceforth off-limits for further colonization by European powers. -
6th president
John Quincy Adams is inaugurated as the sixth president. -
constitution
U.S. Constitution goes into effect, having been ratified by nine states. -
railroad
Construction is begun on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the first public railroad in the U.S. -
indian removal act
The relocation of Indian tribes from east of the Mississippi River. -
texas
Texas independence was declared at a convention of delegates from fifty-seven Texas communities at Washington-on-the-Brazos, making them an independent nation free from Mexican rule. -
Nat Turner
A local slave rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia, led by Nat Turner, a black slave, kills fifty-seven white citizens. -
reaper
Cyrus H. McCormick, U.S inventor, invented and demonstrated the first commercially successful reaper. -
whig party
The first convention of the American Whig Party is held in Albany, New York. -
Martin van buren
Martin Van Buren, as President -
women
In Jackson, Mississippi, the first state law allowing women to own property is passed. -
William Henry Harrison
Inaugurated as President -
John Tyler
John Tyler sworn in as President after death of Harrison -
James k polk
Inaugurated as 11th president -
texas annexation
US annexes Texas by joint resolution of Congress -
Mexican war
US declares war on Mexico in effort to gain California and other territory in Southwest -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Concluded Mexican War -
Zachary Taylor
Inaugurated as the 12 President -
Millard Fillmore
Inaugurated as 13th President -
Franklin Pierce
Inaugurated as President -
James Buchannan
15th Presidential Inauguration -
Bleeding Kansas
Two companies of the 1st Cavalry under Captain Samuel Sturgis arrive at Fort Scott, Kansas to attempt to bring the disorder of "Bleeding Kansas," the slavery versus anti-slavery battle, in check. -
Oregon
Oregon is admitted to the Union as the 33rd state. -
succesion
South Carolina responds to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President by being the first southern state to secede from the Union. -
Abraham Lincoln
Inaugurated to presidency -
Period: to
civil war
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. -
homestead act
The Homestead Act is approved, granting family farms of 160 acres to settlers, many of which were carved from Indian territories. -
the battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg, on the farm fields of central Pennsylvania, proved to be the "high watermark of the Confederacy" -
Gettysburg adress
Only 272 words long and taking about two minutes to speak, captured the essence of the Civil War as both sacrifice and inspiration. -
13th amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery, takes effect. -
Women's Suffrage
In one of the first acts of success in the women's suffrage movement, a Women's Suffrage law passes in the Territory of Wyoming. -
15th amendment
The 15th Amendment to the Constitution is declared ratified by the Secretary of State. It gave the right to vote to black Americans -
national park
The world's first national park is established when President Grant signs legislation enabling the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. -
the Great Depression
An economic depression begins when the New York stock market crashed, setting off a financial panic that caused bank failures. -
The US Greenback Party
The U.S. Greenback Party is organized as a political organization by farmers who had been hurt financially in the Panic of 1873. -
civil rights act
The Civil Rights Act, giving equal rights to blacks in jury duty and accommodation, is passed by the United States Congress.