American History Timeline

  • Period: to

    Early Republic 🟦

    The Early Republic was a period for nation-building. It established a new government for the colonies under the Constitution. The era developed political parties and emphasized Westward Expansion, giving the foundation of America.
  • Constitutional Convention🟧

    The Constitutional convention took place in Philadelphia in 1787. The objective of the convention was to create a new outline for the new U.S. government. The convention established a system of checks and balances giving powers to 3 branches. Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
  • The Federalist Papers🟧

    The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. They were written to persuade New York in order for the new Constitution to be passed.
  • George Washington

    George Washington
    George was the first president and served from 1789 to 1797 and had no political party.
  • Hamiltons Financial Plan🟩

    Hamilton's financial Plan was made to stabilize the United States economy after the effects of the Revolutionary war. It implemented a plan for a national bank, as well as taxes and tariffs.
  • Period: to

    The Second Great Awakening 🟦

    The Second Great Awakening was a protestant religious movement that emphasized emotional worship, social reform, and different movements like abolitionism and the temperance movement.
  • Period: to

    Whisky Rebellion 🟦

    The Whisky Rebellion was an uprising against the federal tax put on whisky. It started in western Pennsylvania and farmers who relied on whisky protested and was put to an end by federal troops in order to show the power of the new national government at the time.
  • John Adams

    John Adams
    John Adams was the second president and served as a Federalist from 1797 to 1801
  • Thomas Jefferson

    Thomas Jefferson
    Thomas Jefferson was the third president and served as a Democratic - Republican from 1801 to 1809.
  • Louisiana Purchase🟧

    The Louisiana Purchase was the the purchase of Louisiana territory by the United States from France that doubled the size of the U.S. This gave the United States control over the Mississippi river.
  • James Madison

    James Madison
    James Madison was the 4th president and served as a Democratic - Republican from 1809 to 1817.
  • Period: to

    Manifest Destiny/ Westward Expansion 🟦

    Manifest Destiny was a movement of the Americans to settle in the western territories of the U.S. They believed that it was destined by God that they would expand to the west. Driven by new resources, new life, and economic growth.
  • Period: to

    War of 1812🟥

    The war of 1812 was a conflict between the Unites states and Great Britain and it was sparked by British violations of U.S. rights in terms of trading. The war ended in a stalemate and contributed to the development of the new American identity.
  • Period: to

    Era of Good Feelings🟧

    The Era of good feeling was an era characterized by national unity and political matters. The federalist party was at a steady decline while the Democratic-Republican party dominated politics. Tensions rose on account of slavery and sectionalism which led to the end of the era.
  • James Monroe

    James Monroe
    James Monroe was the 5th president and served as a Democratic - Republican from 1817 to 1825.
  • Panic of 1819🟩

    The Panic of 1819 was the first financial crisis the U.S. had experienced. It was caused by land investments, problem with credit from the Bank, and decline for American goods by the Europeans. It led to unemployment, economic hardship and bankruptcies.
  • Period: to

    Temperance Movement 🟦

    The temperance movement was a social movement driven by the concerns of social and economic effects of drinking and alcoholism. It played a role in the way people viewed alcohol and led to the passing of Prohibition in 1920.
  • Missouri Compromise🟧

    The Missouri compromise was an agreement made in 1820 that allowed Missouri into the union as a slave state but Maine as a free state keeping that balance between free and slave states. It also established a line across the Louisiana territory where slavery was prohibited North of the line.
  • Monroe Doctrine🟧

    The Monroe Doctrine was a policy issued by President James Monroe that made American continents no longer open for colonization for the Europeans. The doctrine wanted to protect the U.S. interests and would establish America as a dominant power.
  • John Quincy Adams

    John Quincy Adams
    John Quincy Adams was the 6th president and served for the Whig party from 1825 to 1829.
  • Andrew Jackson

    Andrew Jackson
    Andrew Jackson was the 7th president and served as a Democratic from 1829 to 1837.
  • Period: to

    Jacksonian🟧

    The Jacksonian was a time period that represented the political movement of Andrew Jackson as president. The era advocated for a strong democracy and a strong executive branch making it like a monarchy. It also regarded the issue of slavery and the treatment of Native Americans at that time.
  • Indian Removal Act🟪

    The Indian removal act was a law passed by U.S. Congress that allowed the President to remove all Native Americans from their land to land west of the Mississippi river. They were driven because of the discovery of gold and want for new land where the Indians settled. Eventually led to the trail of Tears.
  • Period: to

    Trail of Tears🟪

    The Trail of Tears was a series of forced migrations where the U.S. government forced Native Americans off their land. The Natives were promised land west of the Mississippi river, much different from their ancestral land. Many died on the trail due to harsh living conditions, that is why it is called the trail of Tears.
  • Period: to

    Nullification Crisis🟧

    The Nullification Crisis was a political stand-off in the United States where South Carolina said it could potentially nullify federal laws, like tariffs that they did not like. Andrew Jackson said they had to follow federal laws almost leading to a heavy conflict.
  • Jackson vetoes the Second National Bank🟩

    President Jackson vetoed the Second National Bank in 1832 due to the threat it had on democracy. He claimed that the bank were on the side of wealthy Northerners at the expense of the average citizen. The veto led to a political battle and the demise of the bank.
  • Martin Van Buren

    Martin Van Buren
    Martin Van Buren was the 8th president and served as Democratic from 1837 to 1841
  • William Henry Harrison

    William Henry Harrison
    William Henry Harrison was the 9th president and served for the Whig party for a couple months in 1841 shortly before dying.
  • John Tyler

    John Tyler
    John Tyler was the 10th president and served in the Whig party from 1841 to 1845
  • The Great Famine and Irish Immigration🟪

    The Great Famine was also known as the Irish potato famine that lasted from 1845 to 1849. The disease led to many deaths as well as to a high increase in migration into the U.S. by the Irish.
  • James K. Polk

    James K. Polk
    James Polk was the 11th president and served as a Democratic from 1845 to 1849
  • Period: to

    Mexican - American War🟥

    The Mexican American War was a battle fought from 1846-1848. America wanted new territory and riches out west especially in Texas. The U.S. annexed Texas and they eventually won the war over the Mexicans.
  • Seneca Falls Convention🟦

    The Seneca falls convention was the first women's rights convention in the U.S., organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. It was aimed to discuss the issue of women's rights leading to the Declaration of Sentiments much like the Declaration of Independence defining equal rights for women.
  • Period: to

    California Gold Rush🟩

    The California Gold Rush was a period in American History where people migrated to California after the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall. There was an influx of people known as the 49ers that changed the region's economy and demographics.
  • Zachary Taylor

    Zachary Taylor
    Zachary Taylor was the 12th president and served in the Whig party from 1849-1850. Served 16 months but suddenly died due to a short illness.
  • Millard Fillmore

    Millard Fillmore
    Millard Fillmore was the 13th president and served in the Whig party from 1850 to 1853
  • Franklin Pierce

    Franklin Pierce
    Franklin Pierce was the 14th president and served in the Democratic party from 1853 to 1857.
  • Kansas-Nebraska Act🟧

    The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed for Kansas and Nebraska to choose if they wanted to be a slave state or free state (through popular sovereignty). The Act overruled the Missouri Compromise and created violence throughout Kansas known as bleeding Kansas due to mixed views.
  • Period: to

    Dred Scott Decision🟧

    The Dred Scott Decision was a supreme court case that justified that slaves were not citizens of the United States and did not have the right to sue federal court for their freedom. The ruling was made in 1857 and it led to an increase in tensions before the civil war.
  • James Buchanan

    James Buchanan
    James Buchanan was the 15th president and served as a Democratic from 1857 to 1861.
  • Abraham Lincoln

    Abraham Lincoln
    Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president and served as a Republican from 1861 to 1865.
  • Period: to

    Civil War🟥

    The American Civil war was a conflict fought between the Northern and Southern states of the U.S. The war was caused by the issue of slavery in weather slavery should be allowed in the United States. The Confederates surrendered in 1865, resulting in the abolition of slavery.
  • Emancipation Proclamation🟧

    The Emancipation Proclamation was an act that was passed by president Abraham Lincoln in 1863. The act declared that all slaves within Southern states could be set free.
  • Period: to

    Progressive Era🟦

    The Progressive Era was a time of social activism in the U.S. as well as a movement of political reconstruction. The idea was to eliminate corruption in the government by improving urban living, reduce inequality, and womens rights
  • Andrew Johnson

    Andrew Johnson
    Andrew Johnson was the 17th president and served for the Democratic (union) party from 1865 to 1869.
  • 13th Amendment🟧

    The 13th Amendment was an Amendment that was passed in 1865. The goal was to abolish slavery and service involuntary unless it was for punishment of crime.
  • Assassination of Abraham Lincoln🟥

    On April 14th, 1865 Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Fords theatre in Washington D.C. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth who was a famous actor and supported the confederates.
  • 14th Amendment🟧

    The 14th amendment was ratifies in 1868 and the objective gave citizenship to all people naturally born in the U.S. This group included former slaves and gave them equal protection under federal law.
  • Period: to

    Reconstruction Acts🟧

    The Reconstruction acts were a series of acts passed by Congress from 1867 to 1868. The acts divided the south into military districts and made states ratify the 14th amendment, guaranteeing citizenship. The goal was to rebuild the south and guarantee rights for slaves.
  • Ulysses S. Grant

    Ulysses S. Grant
    Ulysses Grant was the 18th president and served as a Republican from 1869 to 1877.
  • 15th Amendment🟧

    The 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870 and it allowed for all U.S. citizens to vote in political debates regardless of race, color, gender, or any other aspects. This Amendment could not be infringed upon the federal government.
  • Period: to

    Jim Crow Laws🟧

    Jim Crow Laws were laws that enforced racial segregation throughout the U.S. on different levels that denied equal access to good education, employment, voting rights, and protection to most African Americans.
  • Period: to

    Gilded Age🟩

    The Gilded Age was a period of industrial growth, concentration of wealth, political corruption, as well as economic inequality. Opportunities opened for new investments like industries and railroads.
  • Rutherford B. Hayes

    Rutherford B. Hayes
    Rutherford Hayes was the 19th president and served as a Republican from 1877 to 1881.
  • James A. Garfield

    James A. Garfield
    James Garfield was the 20th president and served as a Republican in 1881. served 4 months and was shot at a railroad station in Washington D.C.
  • Chester A. Arthur

    Chester A. Arthur
    Chester Arthur was the 21st president and served as a Republican from 1881 to 1885.
  • Chinese Exclusion Act🟧

    The Chinese Exclusion act was an act passed in 1882 that prohibited immigration of the Chinese looking for work. The U.S. feared economic problems due to low wages and unemployment.
  • Grover Cleveland

    Grover Cleveland
    Grover Cleveland was the 22nd president and served as a Democratic from 1885 to 1889
  • Period: to

    Settlement House Movement🟦

    The Settlement house movement was a social reform movement that aimed to provide social service as well as education to people living in Urban areas as well as Immigrants. Settlement houses offered education, a place to stay, and healthcare.
  • Benjamin Harrison

    Benjamin Harrison
    Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd president and served as a Republican from 1889 to 1893.
  • Grover Cleveland

    Grover Cleveland
    Grover Cleveland was the 24th president and served as a Democratic from 1893 to 1897.
  • William McKinley

    William McKinley
    William McKinley was the 25th president and served as a Republican from 1897 to 1901.
  • Spanish-American War🟥

    The Spanish-American War was a conflict between Spain and the United States in 1898. It kicked off after the unexpected explosion of the USS Maine in Cuba. The U.S. gained victory in many territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
  • Theodore Roosevelt

    Theodore Roosevelt
    Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president and served as a Republican from 1901 to 1909
  • William Taft

    William Taft
    William Taft was the 27th president and served as a Republican from 1909 to 1913
  • Woodrow Wilson

    Woodrow Wilson
    Woodrow Wilson was the 28th president and served as a Democratic from 1913 to 1921.
  • Period: to

    WW1🟥

    World War 1 was a conflict that started in Europe and lasted from 1914 to 1918. The war was fought between France, Britain, Russia, Italy, U.S. and Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. The U.S. joined in the last year after threats from Germans and economic responsibilities. The War ended with the Treaty of Versailles.
  • Treaty of Versailles🟧

    The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty that ended world war 1 in 1919. It was aimed to blame Germany for the cause of the war and to ensure lasting peace. But it can be viewed as how Hitler came to power and how he led to the outbreak of world war 2.
  • Period: to

    Roaring 20s🟦

    The Roaring 20s was a period marked by a social and cultural change in the United States. A time of Jazz, consumerism and economic prosperity. There was an advancement of technologies like cars, radios but ended with the Wall Street Crash in 1929 which led to the Great Depression.
  • Warren G. Harding

    Warren G. Harding
    Warren Harding was the 29th president and served as a Republican from 1921 to 1923.
  • Tulsa Race Massacre🟥

    The Tulsa Race Massacre happened in 1921 in Oklahoma. A prosperous black community named Black Wall Street were attacked by white residents resulting in hundreds of deaths to the black community and displacement of thousands.
  • Introduction of the ERA🟦

    The Introduction of the Era was a point in American history where America continued economic growth and a shift in their culture. This change also happened in different parts of the world, mostly on the Western side. At this time the Harlem Renaissance flourished making a big opportunity for African American expression.
  • Calvin Coolidge

    Calvin Coolidge
    Calvin Coolidge was the 30th president and served as a Republican from 1923 to 1929.
  • Herbert Hoover

    Herbert Hoover
    Herbert Hoover was the 31st president and served as a Republican from 1929 to 1933
  • Period: to

    The Great Depression🟩

    The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downfall that started in 1929 and went to 1939. It began after the Stock market crash that wiped out so many investors. Companies failed as well as banks and industrial output declined rapidly.
  • The Dust Bowl🟩

    The Dust Bowl was a severe disaster in the 1930s where there was an increase in drought and poor farming which led to huge dust storms across the Great plains of America wiping out agriculture and displacing people.
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Franklin D. Roosevelt
    Franklin Roosevelt was the 32nd president and served as a Democratic from 1933 to 1945.
  • Period: to

    The New Deal🟧

    The New Deal was a series of many programs that enacted in the United States due to the Great Depression. It was enacted by President Franklin D Roosevelt that provided relief to society like the unemployed as well as to rebuild the economy and financial system.
  • Period: to

    Chicano Movement🟦

    The Chicano Movement was a social movement in the 1960s and 1970s that advocated for Mexican American Civil rights. They were motivated by the civil rights movement from the African Americans. Many riots and protests were held to push for equal rights and equal education.
  • Period: to

    WW2🟥

    World War II was a global conflict between Germany, Italy, Japan and Britain, U.S., Soviet Union, China. Adolf Hitler played a key part for Germany in his attempts to take land. He took over France but Britain cut them off, he later committed suicide. Due to pearl harbor, Japan and the U.S. were at conflict. But after the Japanese would not surrender, the U.S. sent 2 atomic bombs to wipe out Japanese civilians. Japanese surrendered leading to end of the war.
  • Japanese Internment🟪

    During WW2, The U.S. forced Japanese Americans to migrate into internment camps within America. The U.S. was afraid of invasion and attacks from Japanese within the U.S. after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
  • Zoot Suit Riots🟥

    The Zoot Suit Riots were a series of violent acts in Los Angeles between some American Servicemen and Mexican Americans who wore Zoot Suits. Zoot Suits were wide, baggy suits that became popular in African American and Mexican cultures. The Servicemen attacked the Mexicans symbolizing racial tensions.
  • Harry S. Truman

    Harry S. Truman
    Harry Truman was the 33rd president and served as a Democratic from 1945 to 1953.
  • Period: to

    The Cold War🟥

    The Cold War was a state of tension after WW2 between the Soviet Union and the United states from being the most powerful countries at the time. It was a stand off between the two but no fighting was actually done. It was a race to see who was more powerful, included the space race.
  • Period: to

    The Korean War🟥

    The Korean War was a conflict between North Korea along with China and the Soviet Union against the United States and support from South Korea. It began in 1950 where North Korea invaded South Korea but ended in 1953 when an armistice restored the boarder between the two.
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Dwight D. Eisenhower
    Dwight Eisenhower was the 34th president and served as a Republican from 1953 to 1961
  • Period: to

    The Vietnam War🟥

    The Vietnam war was a conflict between North and South Vietnam. U.S. supported the south while the Soviet Union and China supported the North. Many Americans were against the Vietnam war but the war ended in 1975 when Vietnam was reunified under communist rule.
  • Period: to

    Red Power Movement🟦

    The Red Power movement was a social movement represented by Native Americans in the 1960s that wanted to advocate for restoration of tribal lands and rights for the Natives. Protests were held to bring attention to the issues Native Americans were facing as well as not as much equal access to rights.
  • John F. Kennedy

    John F. Kennedy
    John Kennedy was the 35th president and served as a Democratic from 1961 to 1963. He was assassinated in an open cab in 1963.
  • Lyndon B. Johnson

    Lyndon B. Johnson
    Lyndon Johnson was the 36th president and served as a Democratic from 1963 to 1969.
  • The Assassination of John F. Kennedy🟥

    On November 22nd, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by being shot in an open motorcade riding through a parade in Dallas Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and charged for the assassination but was shot and killed by Jack Ruby. President Lyndon B. Johnson swore in as president shortly after.
  • Richard M. Nixon

    Richard M. Nixon
    Richard Nixon was the 37th president and served as a Democratic from 1969 to 1974.
  • Stonewall Riots🟥

    Stonewall Riots were a series of riots held at the Stonewall Inn, in New York City. The representatives were members of the LGBTQ+ community in response to a police raid, the riots began early morning on June 28th, 1969. They were considered a turning point for LGBTQ rights today.
  • Roe V. Wade decision🟧

    The Roe V. Wade decision was a decision made by the supreme court in 1973 that protected women's rights to having an abortion. This decision claimed that the abortion could be made without government restriction under the 14th amendment.
  • Gerald R. Ford

    Gerald R. Ford
    Gerald Ford was the 38th president and served as a Republican from 1974 to 1977.
  • Jimmy Carter

    Jimmy Carter
    Jimmy Carter was the 39th president and served as a Democratic from 1977 to 1981.
  • Ronald Reagan

    Ronald Reagan
    Ronald Reagan was the 40th president and served as a Republican from 1981 to 1989.
  • Second National March on Washington🟦

    The Second National March on Washington for Gay rights was a political Rally that took place on October 11th of 1987. It advocated for an end to the discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ community. It ended with participants lobbying their representatives.
  • George Bush

    George Bush
    George Bush was the 41st president and served as a Republican from 1989 to 1993.
  • Period: to

    Contemporary History🟧

    Contemporary history is a period from 1989 to this day and will continue. It's recognized for technological advancements and globalization, shaping our modern world. COVID 19 and an increase in political diversity has made a deep change to this present part of history.
  • Bill Clinton

    Bill Clinton
    Bill Clinton was the 42nd president and served as a Democratic from 1993 to 2001.
  • George W. Bush

    George W. Bush
    George W. Bush was the 43rd president and served as a Republican from 2001 to 2009.
  • 9/11 Attacks🟥

    The 9/11 Attacks occurred on September 11th, 2001. It was a series of coordinated attacks by terrorists where 4 commercial airplanes were hijacked. 2 planes flew into the twin towers in New York City, 1 into the Pentagon, and the 4th crashed into a field in Pennsylvania that was headed to the white house. This event devastated America as an act of terrorism on our country.
  • Barack Obama

    Barack Obama
    Barack Obama was the 44th president and served as a Democratic from 2009 to 2017. First Black President.
  • Donald Trump

    Donald Trump
    Donald Trump was the 45th president and served as a Republican from 2017 to 2021.
  • Joe Biden

    Joe Biden
    Joe Biden was the 46th president and served as a Democratic from 2021 to 2025.
  • Donald Trump

    Donald Trump
    Donald Trump is the 47th president and is serving as a Republican in this year 2025.