-
Slave Revolt
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 meets
U.S. Congress meets in Washington, DC, for the first time -
Thomas Jefferson's inauguration
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
The 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 -
Louis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark set out from St. Louis, Mo., on an expedition to explore the West and find a route to the Pacific Ocean. -
Thomas Jefferson's second inauguration
Jefferson's second inauguration. -
Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific Ocean -
James Madison inauguration
James Madison is inaugurated as the fourth president. -
War of 1812
The U.S. declares war on Britain over British interference with American maritime shipping and westward expansion. -
James Madison second inauguration
Madison's second inauguration. -
British Capture
British capture Washington, DC, and set fire to White House and Capitol in August -
Star Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key writes Star-Spangled Banner as he watches British attack on Fort McHenry in Baltimore. -
Treaty of Ghent
Treaty of Ghent is signed, officially ending the war. -
James Monroe inauguration
James Monroe is inaugurated as the fifth president. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
Landmark Supreme Court decision upholds the right of Congress to establish a national bank, a power implied but not specifically enumerated by the Constitution. -
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 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'. -
James Monroe second inauguration
Monroe's second inauguration. -
Slave Revolt
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 -
Articles of Confederation
Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation, the first U.S. constitution. -
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. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
Landmark Supreme Court decision broadly defines Congress's right to regulate interstate commerce -
John Quincy Adams inauguration
John Quincy Adams is inaugurated as the sixth president. -
U.S. Constitution
U.S. Constitution goes into effect, having been ratified by nine states. -
public railroad
Construction is begun on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the first public railroad in the U.S. -
Andrew Jackson inaugurated
Andrew Jackson is inaugurated as the seventh president. -
Indian Removal act
President Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, which authorizes the forced removal of Native Americans living in the eastern part of the country to lands west of the Mississippi River -
The Liberator
William Lloyd Garrison begins publishing the Liberator, a weekly paper that advocates the complete abolition of slavery. He becomes one of the most famous figures in the abolitionist movement. -
Andrew Jackson's second inauguration.
Jackson's second inauguration. -
Period: to
Alamo
Texan defenders of the Alamo are all killed during a siege by the Mexican Army. -
Texas Independence
Texas declares its independence from Mexico. -
Martin Van Buren inauguration
Martin Van Buren is inaugurated as the eighth president. -
Trail of Tears
More than 15,000 Cherokee Indians are forced to march from Georgia to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. Approximately 4,000 die from starvation and disease along the “Trail of Tears.” -
William Henry Harrison inauguration
William Henry Harrison is inaugurated as the ninth president. -
John Tyler
William Henry Harrison dies one month later and is succeeded in office by his vice president, John Tyler. -
Manifest Destiny
The term “manifest destiny” appears for the first time in a magazine article by John L. O'Sullivan. It expresses the belief held by many white Americans that the United States is destined to expand across the continent. -
Annexation of Texas
The U.S. annexes Texas by a joint resolution of Congress -
James Polk is inaugurated
James Polk is inaugurated as the 11th president -
Mexican War
The U.S. declares war on Mexico in an effort to gain California and other territories in Southwest. -
Mexican Texan border
Mexico recognizes Rio Grande as new boundary with Texas and, for $15 million, agrees to cede territory comprising present-day California, Nevada, Utah, most of New Mexico and Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin is published. It becomes one of the most influential works to stir anti-slavery sentiments. -
Gold rush
Gold is discovered at Sutter's Mill in California. The gold rush reaches its height the following year. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
War concludes with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
women's rights
Women's rights convention is held at Seneca Falls, N.Y. -
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery and becomes one of the most effective and celebrated members of the Underground Railroad. -
Zachary Taylor is inaugurated
Zachary Taylor is inaugurated as the 12th president. -
president millard fillmore
President Taylor dies and is succeeded by his vice president, Millard Fillmore. -
Franklin Pierce is inaugurated
Franklin Pierce is inaugurated as the 14th president. -
repeal Missouri compromise
The legislation repeals the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and renews tensions between anti- and proslavery factions. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
Congress passes the Kansas-Nebraska Act, establishing the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Landmark Supreme Court decision holds that Congress does not have the right to ban slavery in states and, furthermore, that slaves are not citizens. -
James Buchanan is inaugurated
James Buchanan is inaugurated as the 15th president. -
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Abraham Lincoln comes to national attention in a series of seven debates with Sen. Stephen A. Douglas during the Illinois state election campaign. -
Start of the war
Confederates attack Ft. Sumter in Charleston, S.C., marking the start of the war. -
Abraham Lincoln is elected
Abraham Lincoln is elected president. -
South Carolina secedes
South Carolina secedes from the Union. -
Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana secede.
Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana secede. -
Civil War
The conflict between the North (the Union) and the South (the Confederacy) over the expansion of slavery into western states. -
Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee secede.
Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee seceded. -
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America are established. -
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis is elected president of the Confederacy. -
Texas secedes.
Texas secedes. -
Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated
Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated as the 16th president. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation Proclamation is issued, freeing slaves in the Confederate states. -
homestead act
Homestead Act becomes law, allowing settlers to claim land (160 acres) after they have lived on it for five years. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg is fought. -
Gettysburg Address.
President Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address. -
Lincoln's second inauguration.
Lincoln's second inauguration. -
Lincoln Assassination
Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in Washington, DC, and is succeeded by his vice president, Andrew Johnson. -
Thirteenth Amendment
Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, prohibiting slavery. -
President Johnson is impeached
President Johnson is impeached by the House of Representatives. -
Johnson acquitted
Johnson is acquitted at his trial in the Senate. -
Fourteenth Amendment
Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, defining citizenship. -
Ulysses S. Grant is inaugurated
Ulysses S. Grant is inaugurated as the 18th president. -
Fifteenth Amendment
Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, giving blacks the right to vote. -
Ulysses Grant's second inauguration
Grant's second inauguration.
