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American History Columbus to World War I

By Trevor D
  • Period: 1490 to

    American History, Columbus - WWI

    This timeline is color coded. Red = war/battles, Green = inventions, Light Blue = acts of government, Dark Blue = presidential occasions, Yellow = significant events
  • The discovery of America by Columbus
    Oct 12, 1492

    The discovery of America by Columbus

    The day the lookout on Columbus' fleet first saw American land.
  • The settlement of Jamestown

    The settlement of Jamestown

  • British Revolution -Parlimential supremacy established.

    British Revolution -Parlimential supremacy established.

  • Start of the French & Indian War

    Start of the French & Indian War

  • The Albany Plan of Union

    The Albany Plan of Union

  • End of the French & Indian War

    End of the French & Indian War

    Note 1760 was the end of the French & Indian war, but fighting continued in Europe for 3 more years.
  • The Boston Tea Party

    The Boston Tea Party

  • The battle of Lexington and Concord

    The battle of Lexington and Concord

  • Signing of the Declaration of Independence

    Signing of the Declaration of Independence

    The Declaration of Independence was signed on the second of July, but was read to the people on the fourth. Thus the fourth of July is Independence day.
  • Start of the siege/battle of Yorktown

    Start of the siege/battle of Yorktown

  • End of the siege/battle of Yorktown

    End of the siege/battle of Yorktown

  • Start of the Constitutional Convention

    Start of the Constitutional Convention

    Single most important event of America.
  • End of the Constitutional Convention

    End of the Constitutional Convention

  • Invention of the cotton gin

    Invention of the cotton gin

    The date is the day Eli Whitney applied for a patent
  • The Alien & Sedition acts

    The Alien & Sedition acts

  • The Louisiana Purchase

    The Louisiana Purchase

    Signed April 30 1803; Announced July 4 1803
  • Start of the War of 1812

    Start of the War of 1812

    June
  • End of the War of 1812

    End of the War of 1812

    February
  • The Missouri Compromise

    The Missouri Compromise

    Congress passed it March 9, 1820; The president signed it, making it law, on May 6.
  • Andrew Jackson gets elected

    Andrew Jackson gets elected

  • Beginning of the Trail of Tears

    Beginning of the Trail of Tears

    It went from 1831 - 1850
  • Invention of the telegraph by Samuel Morse

    Invention of the telegraph by Samuel Morse

  • Start of the Mexican-American war

    Start of the Mexican-American war

  • End of the Mexican-American war

    End of the Mexican-American war

  • The Compromise of 1850

    The Compromise of 1850

    September
  • The firing on Fort Sumter

    The firing on Fort Sumter

    The firing lasted through the next day.
  • The Emancipation Proclamation

    The Emancipation Proclamation

  • Surrender at Appomottax Courthouse

    Surrender at Appomottax Courthouse

  • Abraham Lincoln's assassination

    Abraham Lincoln's assassination

  • Andrew Johnson's Impeachment

    Andrew Johnson's Impeachment

    Started March 5, 1868; ended May 26 1868.
  • The 13th Ammendment

    The 13th Ammendment

  • The 14th Ammendment

    The 14th Ammendment

  • The 15th Ammendment

    The 15th Ammendment

  • Invention of the telephone

    Invention of the telephone

    By Alexander Graham Bell
  • The end of the Reconstruction Era

    The end of the Reconstruction Era

  • Invention of the lightbulb

    Invention of the lightbulb

    First successful test by Thomas Edison
  • The Organization of Standard Oil Trust

    The Organization of Standard Oil Trust

    January
  • The Homestead strike

    The Homestead strike

    June 30 - July 6 1892
  • The Pullman Strikes

    The Pullman Strikes

    May 11 - July 20
  • Start of Spanish-American war

    Start of Spanish-American war

  • End of the Spanish-American war

    End of the Spanish-American war

  • Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt becomes president

    Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt becomes president

  • The first flight in an airplane

    The first flight in an airplane

    December