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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
This document gauranteed liberties to Engligh people, and proclaimed basic rights and procedures which later became the foundation of modern democracy. -
Jan 1, 1492
Columbus sailed the ocean blue!
He sailed over with three vessals. The Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Without knowledge of where he actually was Columbus called the natives to the land, "Indians." Mostly because he thought he was in India. -
Jan 1, 1507
America
The name "America" is first used in a geography book referring to the New World with Amerigo Vespucci getting credit for the discovery of the continent. -
Jan 1, 1541
Mississppi River
Hernando de Soto of Spain discovers the Mississippi River. -
Jamestown
The English found Jamestown. -
Ivy League
In July, The French establish a settlement at Detroit. In October, Yale College is founded in Connecticut. -
Birthday Boy!
Benjamin Franklin is born in Boston. -
Slave Days!
The first group of black slaves is brought to the Louisiana territory. -
New Orleans
New Orleans is founded by the French. -
Living Large...
The population of American colonists reaches 475,000. Boston (pop. 12,000) is the largest city, followed by Philadelphia (pop. 10,000) and New York (pop. 7000). -
Reading Is Fundamental!
The first American public library is founded in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin. -
French and Indian War
Known in Europe as the Seven Years war. Also associated with this war would be the "Treaty of Paris." This treaty gave England all French territory East of the mississippi river except New Orleans. -
Money Probs...
The Currency Act prohibits the colonists from issuing any legal tender paper money. This act threatens to destabilize the entire colonial economy of both the industrial North and agricultural South, thus uniting the colonists against it. -
Expanding...
The population of the American colonies reaches 2,210,000 persons -
The American Revolution
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Peace!
England officially declares an end to hostilities in America. -
Good Deeds...
The Supreme Court of Massachusetts abolishes slavery in that state. -
Economic Depression...
During the summer of 1786, Americans suffer from post-war economic depression including a shortage of currency, high taxes, nagging creditors, farm foreclosures and bankruptcies. -
Money, Money, Money
In New Hampshire, an armed mob marches on the state assembly and demands enactment of an issue of paper money. -
B.Franklin
Benjamin Franklin dies in Philadelphia at age 84. His funeral four days later draws over 20,000 mourners. -
Louisiana...
U.S. negotiates Louisiana Purchase from France: for $15 million, U.S. doubles its domain, increasing its territory by 827,000 sq mi (2,144,500 sq km), from Mississippi River to Rockies and from Gulf of Mexico to British North America. -
Last but not Least!
New Jersey becomes the last northern state to abolish slavery -
Congress/Slaves
The U.S. Congress passes an act to "prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States ... from any foreign kingdom, place, or country." -
Bigger is better!
Third national census records 7,239,881 people -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a 32-month military conflict between the United States on one side, and on the other Great Britain, its colonies and its Indian allies in North America. -
13 Stripes
Congress limits the number of stripes on the flag to 13 for the original colonies -
Growth
U. S. population: 9,638,453 -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a policy of the United States that stated that further efforts by European nations to colonize land or interfere with states in North or South America would be viewed as acts of aggression, requiring U.S. intervention. -
Railroads
First American railroad completed in Quincy, Massachusetts -
Happy Birthday!
American poet, Emily Dickinson, is born. -
Crises
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. -
Rights for Women
In Jackson, Mississippi, the first state law allowing women to own property is passed. -
Power Trip
Congress overrides a presidential veto. President Tyler's veto of a military appropriation was overturned -
Conquerers
Twelve thousand American troops under the command of General Winfield Scott take Vera Cruz, Mexico after a siege. -
Lucky Lady
The first woman doctor in the United States, Elizabeth Blackwell, is granted her degree by the Medical Institute of Geneva, New York. -
The Navy...
The United States Naval Academy graduates its first class at Annapolis, Maryland. -
Black History
Booker T. Washington was born in slavery on a tobacco farm in Franklin County, Virginia, and would later emerge as one of the foremost black leaders and educators of the 20th century. -
Going Up!
The first elevator is installed by Elisha Otis on Broadway in New York City. -
Fed UP!!
Twenty thousand New England shoe workers strike and subsequently win higher wages. -
Penny Man
Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as president of the United States with Hannibal Hamlin as Vice President. -
Black Friday
Prompted by an attempt to corner the gold market, the financial Black Friday occurs in New York City. -
Oily
Standard Oil Company is incorporated by John D. Rockefeller. -
ChiTown
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about 3.3 square miles (9 km2) in Chicago, Illinois. -
Native Americans
The United States government issues a decree ordering all Native Americans onto a system of reservations throughout the western lands of the United States. -
Ring. Ring!
Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell form the Oriental Telephone Company. -
Teaching
The Tuskegee Institute for black students training to be teachers was opened under the tutelage of Booker T. Washington as instructor in Tuskegee, Alabama. -
Lady Liberty
The Statue of Liberty arrived for the first time in New York harbor -
Nature kills
The eastern section of the United States undergoes a great snow storm, killing four hundred people. -
Wall Street
The first issue of the Wall Street Journal is published. -
Peace, Love, and Music
Carnegie Hall, then known as Music Hall, opens its doors in New York with its first public performance under the guest conductor, Tchaikovsky. -
I pledge allegiance to the flag...
The first recital of the Pledge of Allegiance in U.S. public schools is done to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. -
Panic!!
The New York Stock Exchange collapses, starting the financial panic of 1893. It would lead to a four year period of depression. -
Woman's rights.
Women in Colorado are granted the right to vote. -
Plessy Vs. Ferguson
Plessy versus Ferguson decision by the Supreme Court states that racial segregation is approved under the "separate but equal" doctrine. -
BIG money!
CARNEGIE SELLS CARNEGIE STEEL COMPANY FOR $225 MIL -
Take Off!
Wright Brothers first flight... -
Shake, Shake, Shake...
San Francisco earthquake! The earthquake was felt from southern Oregon to south of Los Angeles and inland as far as central Nevada. -
Taffy.
Taft elected President... -
Built Ford Tough!
Ford introduces the Mdoel T. It is generaly regarded as the first affordable automobile, and the car that opened travel to common middle-class Americans. -
Oreoooo's
Nabisco had a new idea for a cookie - two chocolate disks with a creme filling in between. The first Oreo cookie looked very similar to the Oreo cookie of today, with only a slight difference in the design on the chocolate disks. -
"I won't let go..."
The Titanic sinks.. -
The First World War
World War 1 begins in Europe... -
Tragic Deaths..
Worldwide influenza epidemic strikes; by 1920, nearly 20 million are dead. In U.S., 500,000 perish. -
WWI
World War I ends!
