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The Start of The Great Sioux War
General Sheridan ordered the two Generals George Cook and Alfred Terry to fight against the "hostiles" (Native Americans) starting The Great Sioux War. The U.S. would be fighting against the Indian Chiefs Crazy Horse (Oglala Lakota Tribe), Sitting Bull (Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux), Little Wolf (Cheyenne), Dull Knife (Cheyenne) and all of their warriors. -
The First Telephone Is Invented
Alexander Bell is granted patent 174465, which stated "the method of, and apparatus for, transmitting vocal or other sounds telegraphically ... by causing electrical undulations, similar in form to the vibrations of the air accompanying the said vocal or other sound". By receiving this, he was able to invent the very first telephone. -
Nikolaus August Otto Builds The Improved Four Stroke Internal Combustion Engine
Nikolaus August Otto had previously invented the first Four Stroke Combustion engine in 1861, but he later partnered with Eugen Langen to improve the engine and win a gold medal at the Paris Exposition. The engine included a four stroke cycle, and was found to be relatively quiet which made it become an immediate success. -
Battle of The Little Big Horn
Battle of Little Big Horn was found to be one of the most significant battles in American History due to the fall of General Custer and his troops. The Native American forces led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull received the victory by killing Custer who had terrorized them and their people for such a long time. -
Colorado is admitted as the 38th state of the United States.
Colorado becomes a state in the United States! -
Thomas Edison Receives A Patent To Invent the Mimeograph
Thomas Edison finally receives a patent for "Autographic Printing" which covered the electric pen and flatbed press. This opened up an opportunity to create the Mimeograph. -
The Battle of Wolf Mountain
Crazy Horse and his warriors end up having their last stand against the United States Calvary in Montana. -
The Compromise of 1877
The United States Presidential Election is finally resolved with Samuel B. Hayes as the winner despite the fact that Samuel J. Tilden had won the popular vote. -
Rutherford B. Hayes: 19th President of the United States
Rutherford is sworn in and becomes the 19th President of the United States. -
Crazy Horse Surrenders
Crazy Horse finally surrenders to the US troops in Nebraska -
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877
Riots by Baltimore and Ohio Railroad workers leads to a massive rebellion until Rutherford B. Hayes calls in the armed forces to put a stop to it. -
First Meeting of the Knights of Reliance
This was the Knights of reliance first meeting in Lampasas County Texas, which eventually became the Farmer's Alliance and then the Populist's Party. -
Thomas Edison's Phonograph
Thomas Edison announces his invention of the Phonograph, which is a machine that records sound. -
Mississippi State University is Established
Mississippi State University is created by the Mississippi Legislature. -
Yellow Fever Epidemic Strikes
Yellow fever epidemic begins in New Orleans. It eventually kills 4,500 people total. -
The Wallingford Tornado of 1878
The deadliest tornado in Connecticut history, destroys the town of Wallingford, killing 34 people and injuring 70 or more. -
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Tech opens as Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College. -
Marie Selika Williams
Soprano Marie Selika Williams becomes the first African American artist to perform at the White House. -
Women's Rights/Rutherford B. Hayes
American President Rutherford B. Hayes signs a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. -
Thomas Edison tests the first practical electric light bulb
Using a filament of carbonized thread, Thomas Edison tests the first practical electric light bulb (it lasts thirteen and a half hours before burning out). -
Wabash, Indiana
Wabash, Indiana becomes the first electrically lighted city in the world. -
U.S. presidential election, 1880
James Garfield defeats Winfield S. Hancock. -
Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell
Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell form the Oriental Telephone Company. -
Kansas and Alcohol
Kansas becomes the first U.S. state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages. -
James A. Garfield becomes the 20th U.S. President
James A. Garfield is sworn in as the 20th President of the United States, -
Billy the Kid escapes
Billy the Kid escapes from his two jailers at the Lincoln County Jail in Mesilla, New Mexico, killing James Bell and Robert Ollinger before stealing a horse and riding out of town as quickly as possible. -
The American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is established by Clara Barton. -
Old West outlaw Jesse James is shot
Old West outlaw Jesse James is shot in the back of the head and killed by fellow outlaw Robert Ford in his home at St. Joseph, Missouri for reward. -
1882 Immigration Act.
The U.S. Congress passes the 1882 Immigration Act. -
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show Debuts In Omaha Nebraska -
Mary F. Hoyt
Mary F. Hoyt becomes the first woman appointed to the U.S. federal civil service (and the second person appointed by examination instituted under the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act) when she becomes a clerk in the Bank Redemption Agency of the Department of the Treasury. -
The University of Texas
The University of Texas at Austin opens to students. -
The Supreme Court and The Civil Rights Act of 1875
The Supreme Court of the United States declares part of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 to be unconstitutional, since the Court allows private individuals and corporations to discriminate based on race. -
Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions
The eight-hour workday is first proclaimed by the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions in the United States. May 1, called May Day or Labour Day, is now a holiday recognized in almost every industrialized country. -
Alaska
Alaska becomes a United States territory. -
Mark Twain
Mark Twain publishes Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the United States -
Grover Cleveland becomes the 22nd U.S President
Grover Cleveland is sworn in as the 22nd President of the United States -
The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbor. -
The Dawes Act
The Dawes Act is signed into law by President Grover Cleveland -
Grover Cleveland and The Chinese
President of the United States Grover Cleveland declares the Chinese "impossible of assimilation with our people and dangerous to our peace and welfare" (in a letter accepting renomination for the office of President). -
1888 United States Presidential Election:
Democratic Party incumbent Grover Cleveland wins the popular vote, but loses the Electoral College vote to Republican challenger Benjamin Harrison, therefore losing the election. -
The Enabling Act
President Grover Cleveland signs the Enabling Act admitting North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington as U.S. states. -
Benjamin Harrison becomes the 23rd U.S. President
Benjamin Harrison is sworn in as the 23rd President of the United States, and Levi P. Morton is sworn in as Vice President of the United States. -
Idaho and Wyoming
Idaho is admitted as the 43rd U.S. State, and Wyoming is admitted as the 44th U.S. State -
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Wilford Woodruff issues the "1890 Manifesto" officially advising against any future polygamy in the Church. -
1892 U.S. presidential election:
Grover Cleveland is elected over Benjamin Harrison and James B. Weaver to win the second of his non-consecutive terms.
The four-day New Orleans General Strike begins -
First Motion Picture
Thomas A. Edison finishes construction of the first motion picture studio in West Orange, New Jersey. -
Grover Cleveland, formerly the 22nd U.S. President, becomes the 24th President
Grover Cleveland is sworn in as the 24th President of the United States, -
"The Significance of the Frontier in American History"
Frederick Jackson Turner gives a lecture titled "The Significance of the Frontier in American History" before the American Historical Association in Chicago. -
Utah
Utah is admitted as the 45th U.S. state -
U.S. presidential election, 1896
Republican William McKinley defeats William Jennings Bryan. This is later regarded as a realigning election, starting the Fourth Party System in which Republicans dominate politics until 1913. -
William McKinley becomes the 25th U.S. President
William McKinley is sworn in as the 25th President of the United States, and Garret Hobart is sworn in as Vice President of the United States. -
Spanish–American War
The United States Navy begins a blockade of Cuban ports and USS Nashville captures a Spanish merchant ship. -
Spanish–American War: Battle of San Juan Hill
American forces capture the San Juan Heights near Santiago de Cuba. Theodore Roosevelt memorably leads the charge of the Rough Riders. -
The Treaty of Paris of 1898
The Treaty of Paris is signed, ending the Spanish–American War. -
Gold Standard Act
Established gold as the only standard for redeeming paper money