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Aug 26, 1492
Columbus Discovers America
Columbus, seeking a western route to Asia, reaches san Salvador Island in the Caribbean. WHY? He was not trying to prove that the earth is round. Scholars already were aware of this fact. Nor was he trying to discover a New World. Few Europeans dreamed that such a world existed. Columbus, like many people of his time, dreamed of finding a sea route to Asia. Such a route would lead to a wealth of gold, jewels, and spices. Columbus was convinced that he could reach Asia by sailing west. -
Aug 26, 1494
Treat of Tordesillas
Treaty of Tordesillas divides New World between Spain and Portugal WHY? All lands discovered in the Western Zones belonged to Spain, and those in the Eastern Zone belonged to Portugal. The discovery of the West Indies began a period of international dispute between Spain and Portugal. After Columbus first voyage Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand acted quickly to make an international claim to all the lands in the area he had discovered. -
Aug 26, 1540
Coronado Explores the Southwest
Coronado explores southwest U.S.. He believed the rumors that ther were cities of gold to the North In the spring of 1540 Coronado headed north into what is now Northern Mexico and southern Texas with 300 Spanish soldiers and over 1,000 natives. -
The English Civil War
English Civil War, The years before 1640 in England were years of national disillusionment. The gap between the court and Protestant elements widened, the golden age of drama and literature was over, the religion of the court and at Oxford and Cambridge seemed diffused, and scientific ideas, though popular in London and at Oxford and Cambridge, as yet had received no official recognition. -
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War, Known in Europe as the Seven Year's War, ends with the Treaty of Paris. Under the treaty, France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. The Spanish give up east and west Florida to the English in return for Cuba. -
King George III
In March, King George III signs a bill, repealing the Stamp Act after much debate in the English Parliament, which included an appearance by Ben Franklin arguing for repeal and warning of a possible revolution in the American colonies if the Stamp Act was enforced by the British military. -
British Customs Schooner
In June, a British customs schooner, The Gaspee, runs aground off Rhode Island in Narragansett Bay. Colonists from Providence row out to the schooner and attack it, set the British crew ashore, then burn the ship. In September, a 500 pound reward is offered by the English Crown for the capture of those colonists, who would then be sent to England for trial. The announcement that they would be sent to England further upsets many American colonists. -
First Continental Congress
September 5 to October 26, the First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia with 56 delegates, Representing everycolony, except Georgia. Attendants include Patrick Henry, George Washington, Sam Adams and John Hancock. -
War of 1812 with Britain
War of 1812 with Britain, was fought between the United States and Great Britain from June 1812 to the spring of 1815, although the peace treaty ending the war was signed in Europe in December 1814. The main land fighting of the war occurred along the Canadian border, in the Chesapeake Bay region, and along the Gulf of Mexico; extensive action also took place at sea. -
Jefferson Dies
July 4. Jefferson dies shortly after 12 noon, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. He is eighty-three years old. Several hours later John Adams, aged 90, dies in Massachusetts, and the nation is struck by this remarkable coincidence. The last letter Jefferson wrote to Adams was on March 23 requesting that Adams see his grandson, which Adams did. Just before he died, Jefferson wrote the following to be read at the July 4 celebration in Virginia. -
War with Mexico
War with Mexico, Mexico began the war because of the U.S. annexation (1845) of Texas, which Mexico continued to claim despite the establishment of the independent republic of Texas 10 years before. -
WRIGHT BROTHERS FIRST FLIGHT.
Wright brothers first flight was in 1903. In 1899, after Wilbur Wright had written a letter of request to the Smithsonian Institution for information about flight experiments, the Wright Brothers designed their first aircraft: a small, biplane glider flown as a kite to test their solution for controlling the craft by wing warping. Wing warping is a method of arching the wingtips slightly to control the aircraft's rolling motion and balance. -
Clinton Announces First Balanced Budget
Clinton announces first balanced budget in 20 years
Clinton faces sex and perjury charges in inquiry over White House intern Monica Lewinsky. the federal budget surplus for fiscal year 2000 amounted to at least $230 billion, making it the largest in U.S. history and topping last year's record surplus of $122.7 billion. -
Bombing of the USS Cole
Bombing of the USS Cole killing seventeen American sailors. was a suicide attack against the United States Navy destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) on October 12, 2000 while it was harbored and refueled in the Yemeni port of Aden. Seventeen American sailors were killed, and 39 were injured. -
9/11
The world trade center was attacked. Nearly 3,000 victims and the 19 hijackers died in the attacks.Tuesday, September 11, 2001. On that morning, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners. The hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and thousands of those working in the buildings.
