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Jamestown Is Established
Jamestown is the first permanent English settlement in America. Located in southern Virginia, it was founded by the London Company. -
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Colonial Era
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First Slaves Arrive in Amerca
In 1619, the first African Slaves arrive at Jamestown, Virginia. This marks the beginning of slavery, and it's eventual repercussions. -
Plymoth Colony Is Founded
In Massachusetts, English Pilgrims disembark from their perilous voyage aboard the ship "Mayflower", and establish the Plymoth Colony. -
Quakers Arrive in America
In search of economic opportunities and a more tolerant environment in which to build religious communities, the Quakers immigrated to America, and established many colonies in the Delware Valley. Pennsylvania is established by Quaker William Penn in 1682. -
Salem Witch Trials
In Salem, Massachusetts over 150 citizens accused of witchcraft are arrested and imprisoned between June and September. Of them, 20 were executed, this included 14 women. The witchunt subsided later that year, and the remaining prisoners were released. -
French and Indian War (1754-1763)
This is the final clash between the French and the British for the control over eastern American and Canada. The British are eventually the victors, and the Treaty of Paris is signed in 1763, ending th war. This grants the British control over Canada and all French Posessions east of the Mississippi River. -
Proclimation of 1763
The Proclimation of 1763 is passed by King George III of England in an attempt to ease tensions with Native Americans.The Act prohibited any English settlement west of the Appalachian mountains, though the Proclimation would eventually dissolve. -
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Pre-Revolutionary America
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Boston Massacre
In Boston Massachusetts, a mob harasses British soldiers who in turn open fire on the crowd, killing five and injuring six. After the incident, the Royal Governor of Massachusetts, withdraws British troops out of Boston to nearby harbor islands. The Boston Massacre helped spark Colonists' desire for Independance from Britain. -
Boston Tea Party
Bostonians are informed that Royal Governor of Massachusetts would not to allow the ships out of the harbor until the tea taxes are paid. In response to this, and in protest of the Tea Act, colonial activists board the ships and dump all 342 containers of tea into the harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
In response to the Boston Tea Party, British Parliament passed a series of laws to punish the Massachusetts colonists for their defiance. Though the acts were intended to make an example of Massachusetts and rope the colonies into order and submission, these acts only intensified colonists outcry for Independance. -
Lexington and Concord
On April 19, 1775 the Revolutionary War begins at Lexington Green as colonists defend their weapon and supply storages from British soldier. Though they succeed in destroying the colonists supply houses, the British are forced to retreat soon after. News of the battles spreads throughout the colonies. -
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American Revolution
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Declaration of Independence
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Continental congress adopts the Declaration of Independance, thus formally declaring their seperation from British rule. -
Articles of Confederation
Congress adopts the first U.S. constitution, the Articles of Confederation. Under the articles, Congress is the sole authority of the national governent. The Articles of Confederation will prove to be flawed. -
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Critical Period
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Revolutionary War Ends
The Revolutionary War is brought to an end with the signing of The Treaty of Paris. Britain formally aknowledges American Independence. -
Shays Rebellion
Led by Daniel Shays, farmers take up arms to protest high state taxes and stiff penalties they faced for the failure to pay them. -
Constitution Drafted
Rather than revise the flawed Articles of Confederation, delegates at the constitutional convention vote to create an entirely new form of national government separated into three branches, thus dispersing power with checks and balances. This proposal forms the Federalist and Anti-Federalist factions. The Constitution is eventually ratified two years later. -
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Federalist Era
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The First President
George Washington is unanimously elected president by state electors. He delivers his inaugural adress in the Senate chamber. -
Bill of Rights
The first 10 ammendments are added to the constitution to further provide a foundation for law and government. These ammendments are known as the Bill of Rights. -
Cotton Gin
The invention of Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin results in a resurgence in slave labor in order to utilize the new technology. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Federalists pass the Alien and Sedition Acts. These four bills allowed the president to imprison or deport those who were considered "dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States". They also restricted speech which was critical of the federal government, the acts are passed in the midst of a conflict France and heightened public criticism of foreign policy. -
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Era of Good Feelings
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Jeffersonian Era
Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated as the third president in Washington, DC. His presidential ideals will serve as an influence for others to follow. -
Marbury v. Madison
Marbury v. Madison was a landmark supreme court decision that upheld that the Supreme Court could declare acts of congress unconstitutional. -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States doubles in size after paying France France $15 million for the Louisiana Territory, which extends west from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. Aquiring about about 830,000 square miles of land. -
War of 1812
U.S. declares war on Britain over British interference with American maritime shipping and westward expansion. The war rages for 2 years and includes the British capture of Washington DC and the burning of the White House. The war is finally ended by the signing of the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814. -
Missouri Compromise
The compromise admittied Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state in order to maintain the balance of free sates and slave states.The compromise also prohibited slavery in the remainder of the Louisiana Purchase north of 36th parallel. This stood until 1854, when the Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise. -
Monroe Doctrine
President Monroe declares that the American continents are henceforth off-limits for further colonization by European powers. The Monroe Doctrine initially called for an end to European intervention in the Americas, but it was later extended to justify U.S. imperialism in the Western Hemisphere. -
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Jacksonian Era
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Jacksonian Era
Andrew Jackson becomes the seventh president of the United States. Like Jefferson, Jackson's policy inspires a following lasting long after his presidency. -
Indian Removal Act
President Jackson passes the Indian Removal Act, which authorized the forced movement of Native Americans to lands west of the Mississippi River. This would result in the notorious "Trail of Tears" -
Panic of 1837
The panic of 1837 was a financial crisis influenced by many negative factors including speculation and a decline in cotton prices. Profits and wages sunk while unemployment rose. The ensuing recession would last into the mid 1840's. -
Trail of Tears
As a result of the Indian Removal act, more than 15,000 Cherokee Indians are forced to march from Georgia to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Thousands die from starvation and disease along the treacherous journey. -
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Antebellum Period
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Manifest Destiny
The term “manifest destiny” is coined by John L. O'Sullivan. The term expressed the belief held by many Americans that the United States was destined to expand across the entire continent. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was an amendment to a bill put before the U.S. House of Representatives during the Mexican War. The original bill provided an appropriation of $2 million to enable President Polk to negotiate a territorial settlement with Mexico. David Wilmot introduced an amendment to the bill which stated that none of the territory acquired in the Mexican War should be open to slavery. However, it was blocked by southerners, as tensions began to build over the issue of slavery. -
Mexican-American War
The U.S. declares war on Mexico primarily in an effort to gain California and other territories in Southwest. After Mexico gets thoroughly thrashed by the U.S. over the next two years, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed in 1848, ending the war. For $15 million, Mexico agrees to cede territory comprising present-day California, Nevada, Utah, most of New Mexico, and Arizona. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe is published. It becomes one of the most influential works of it's time, and stirs anti-slavery feelings in Americans. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Congress passes the Kansas-Nebraska Act, establishing the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, as well as repealing the Missouri Compromise.This heightens tensions between antislavery and proslavery factions, as the Civil War draws closer. -
Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is elected president. South Carolina secedes from the Union a month later. Lincoln shall guide this great nation through it's darkest time like the patriot he is. Give this man a medal. -
The Dawn of the Civil War
Sparked by conflict between the North and the South over the expansion of slavery into western states, the Civil War begins when the Confederates (south) attack Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Four years of bloody conflict will ensue.
