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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus -Spain
Christopher Columbus discovers the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas. Columbus had discovered America. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
The Treaty of Tordesillas was signed between Spain and Portugal dividing the New World between the two countries. -
Jun 24, 1497
John Cabot - England
Cabot sails West to find a sea route to Asia, instead he discovers the east coast of North America. -
May 20, 1498
Vasco da Gama - India
Vasco da Gama reached India and returned home with jewels and spices. -
Mar 4, 1513
Ponce De Leone - Spain
Ponce de Leon sets sail from Peurto Rico and discovers present-day Florida and searchs for the fabled "Fountain of Youth". -
Sep 29, 1513
Balboa and the Pacific
Vasco Nunez de Balboa claims all of the lands touched by the Pacific Ocean for Spain. -
Feb 18, 1519
Hernan Cortes - Spain
Cortes sets sail from Cuba lands in Mexico and conquers the Aztec Empire. -
Sep 20, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan - Spain
Magellan begins first circumnavigation of the globe, the voyage takes 3 years to complete with Magellan himself being klled in the Philipenes. -
Jan 17, 1524
Giovanni de Verrazzano - France
Verranzzo, an Italian sailor, sets sail in the service of France to find the Northwest Passage to Asia; instead he explores the North American east coast from the Carolinas to Newfoundland. -
Sep 13, 1524
Francisco Pizarro - Spain
Pizarro sets sail from Panama on the first of three expeditions to explore South America, he eventually defeats the mighty Inca Empire in 1522. -
Apr 20, 1534
Jacques Cartier - France
Cartier is commissioned by the King of France to find the Northwest Passage to Asia, he lands in Newfoundland and explores the St. Lawrence seaway. -
May 18, 1539
Hernando De Soto - Spain
De Soto begins expedition in Florida to explore the present-day southern United States, he become the first European to see the Mississippi River. -
Apr 22, 1540
Francisco Vázquez de Coronado - Spain
Coronado had heard rumors of the fabled "Cities of Gold" in the American Southwest, these "cities" turned out to be only pueblos dwellings; his expedition became the first Europeans to see vast herds of buffalo on the Great Plains and the Grand Canyon. -
Jun 27, 1542
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo - Spain
The first European to navigate and explore the coast of California. -
Sep 8, 1565
St. Augustine - Spain
The Spanish establish the first permanent European settlement in the present-day United States. -
Dec 13, 1577
Francis Drake - England
Sir Francis Drake begins voyage in which he bacame the first Englishmen to circumnavigate the globe. -
First English Colony in North America
Sir Walter Raleigh establishes the first English colony on Roanoake Island in present-day Virginia; the settlement abandoned with no trace of the colonists. -
Battle of Gravelines
English defeat the Spanish at a crucial naval battle that would establish England as the supreme naval power. -
Don Juan de Onate - Spain
Spainish explorer of northern Mexico, he crossed the Rio Grande River and claimed present-day New Mexico for Spain. -
Rene-Robert de La Salle - France
La Salle became the first European to sail down the Mississippi River from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. -
King William's War
King William’s War was a colonial conflict between France and England for power in North America. Another main goal was for control of the fur trade. -
Board of Trades
The Board of Trade assumes the governance of the colonies. -
Queen Anne's War
The second war fought in a series of French and Indian wars fought between England and France. It was also known as The War of Spanish Sucession. -
Founding of New Orleans
This is the day that New Orleans was founded by the French. -
War of Jenkins Ear
War that was started because of the removal of a British general's ear. -
King Georges War
This war known in America as King Georges War was also known as the War of Austrian Succession in Europe. -
French and Indian War
Also known as the Seven Years' War. The war was fought primarily between British America and New France. -
Braddoks Defeat
A failed British military expedition which attempted to capture the French Fort Duquesne. -
Battle of Qubec
British leaders planed a strike against Quebec they were led by James Wolfe who was killed in battle. -
Treaty of Paris
It ended the French and Indian War, it also removed France from America. -
Proclamation of 1763
This proclamation prohibited settelment in the area beyond the Appalachians. -
Sugar Act
This Act marked the start of sugar being taxed in the colonies. -
Quartering Act
This Act required people in the colonies to feed, supply, and house the British troops. -
Declaratory Act
This declaration stated that Parliament's authority was the same in America as in Britain. It gave Parliment control over the colonies. -
Townshend Act passed
The Townshend Act put a light import duty on glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea. -
British troops occupy Boston
The British troops land in Boston to enforce the Townshend duties; the taxes on paint, paper, tea, etc. -
Boston Massacre
This is when the British soldiers open fire on the colonists. -
Committees Correspondence of formed
Colonies formed these committies to exchange ideas and information with other colonies. -
The Boston Tea Party
When a group of Bostonians, disguised as Indians boarded the docked tea ships and smashed open 342 chests of tea and dumped it into the Boston harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
A series of laws passed by Britian that eventually led to the Boston Tea Party. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the twelve Colonies that started meeting in Philadelphia, soon after battles in the American Revolutionary War had begun. -
Ticonderoga and Crown Point
Americans Captured British Garrisons at Ticonderoga and Crown Point. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The first important battle of the American War of Independence. -
Invasion of Canda
The Invasion of Canada was the first major military initiative by the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, but it failed. -
King George III
The King formally proclaimed collonies in rebellion. -
Paine's Common Sense
Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. -
Battle of Brandywine
Battle fought between the Americans and the British. The British defeated the Americans and forced them to withdraw toward Philadelphia. -
Battle of Germantown
A battke of the American Continental Army against the British and Hessian forces. The British won the battle. -
Battle of Saratoga
Decided the fate of British General John Burgoyne's army. -
XYZ Affair
An incident in Franco-American relations, when a bribery attempt by French agents led the US to war with France. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were put into effect, they were or country's first atempt at a stron central government. -
Treaty of Paris
This treaty ended the Revolutionarw War. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
The goal of the ordinance was to raise money through the sale of land in the unmapped territory west of the original states. -
Shay's Rebellion
A rebellion of poor farmers. -
United States Constitution
The Constitution is ratified by 9 staes. -
Judiciary Act
A Supreme Court is established. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was passed guaranteeing the people certain rights. -
Whiskey Rebellion
Farmers in South Western Pennsylvania refuse to pay the whiskey taxes. -
Convention of 1800
A treaty between France and the United States stating the end of any American alliance with foreign countries. -
Jefferson Reelected
President Jefferson was reelected as president. -
Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark Expedition across the Louisiana territory begins. -
Impeachment
Impeachment of Justice Chase. -
Peace Treaty
The peace treaty with Tripoli and the united states is made. -
Aaron Burr
The treason trial of Aaron Burr. -
Pikes Explorations
Zebulon Pikes explorations in the southern portion of the Louisiana territory. -
President Madison
James Madison was elected president. -
Non-Intercourse Act
the Non-Intercourse replaces the Embargo Act. -
Fletcher v. Peck
The Fletcher v. peck ruling asserts the right of the Supreme Court to invalidate state laws deemed unconstitutional. -
Macon's Bill No. 2
Macon's Bill No. 2 restored American trade with the rest of the world, but stated that if either Britain or France repealed its commerce restrictions, America would revive nonimportation against that country. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
A battle fought between the United States, led by William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory and Native American warriors associated with the Shawnee leader Tecumseh. -
Reelection
President Madison was reelected as President. -
Battle of Lake Erie
An American victory over British ships. -
Battle of Thames
Battle of Thames was a decisive American victory in the War of 1812. -
Hartford Convention
A gathering of New England representatives to discuss the grieviances against American Governent. -
Battle of New Orleans
This Battle was the final major battle of the War of 1812. -
President Monroe
James Monroe was elected as President. -
Veto Bonus Bill
James Madison vetoes Calhoun's Bonus Bill. -
Treaty of 1818
The Treaty of 1818 settles disputes between the United States and Britain. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
A Supreme Court case that rulled that only congress has the authority to contrll interstate congress. -
New Harmony
The New Harmony commune is estabilshed. -
American Temperance Society
The American Temperance Socety is Established. -
Noah Webster
Noah Webster publishes his dictionary. -
American Peace Society
The American Peace Society was founded. -
Mormon Church
Joseph Smith founds the Mormon Church. -
Lyceum Movement
The Lyceum Movement florishes. -
The American Scholar
Emerson deliveres "The American Scholar" address. -
Brook Farm
The Brook Farm commune is established. -
Dorthea Dix
Dorthea Dix petitions the Massachusetts legislature on the behalf of the insane. -
Texas
The United States annex Texas because the British are thinking about helping Texas. -
The Oregon Dispute
The United States acquires the land up to the 49th paralell. -
Mexican War
The Mexican War begins. Polk wanted to have this war to acquire California. -
Walker Tariff
Despite lowering tariff rates thislegislation proved to be an excelent revenue producer. -
Utah
There is a Mormon migration to Utah. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo
The United States win the war and pays Mexico for California. -
Seneca Falls
The Seneca Falls Women's Rights Convention is held. -
Free Soil Party
The Free Soil Party is created. It is a political party that opposes slavery. -
Onieda
The Oniedea Community is established. -
Gold Rush
There is a Gold Rush in California, and many people head there in search of gold. -
The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter is published by Hawthorne. -
Buchanan
Buchanan defeats Fremont and Filmore for presidency. -
William Walker
William Walker becomes president of Nicaragua and legalizes slavery. -
Pottawatomie
Brown's Pottawatomie Massacre takes place. -
Dred Scott decision
The United States Supreme court made the Dred Scott Decision that shocked the nation. -
Lecompton
The Lecompton Constitution is rejected. -
Lincoln-Dougas Debates
A series of seven debates between Lincoln and Douglas. -
Harpers Ferry
Brown raids Harpers Ferry. -
Lincoln as President
Lincoln wins a four-way race for president. -
South Carolina
South Carolina secedes from the Union. -
Seven States
Seven seceding states from the Confederate States of America. -
Merimack vs. the Monitor
This naval battle that made wooden warships useless. -
The Seven Days Battle
The leader of this victory against the South was Robert E. Lee. -
Northern Army seizes New Orleans
In this Battle the Northern Army seizes New Orleans and the south looses a huge trading port. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Union faced another loss here. -
The Emancipation Prcamation
This Porclamation by Lincoln "frees" the slaves in southern states -
10 Percent
Lincoln announces the 10% Reconstruction plan. -
Battle of Gettysburg
A huge turning point battle won by the union. -
The Fall of Port Hudson
The Confederate garrison of Port Hudson surrendered. -
Wade-Davis Bill
Lincoln vetoes the Wade-Davis Bill. -
The Election of 1864
McClellan is defeated by Lincoln. -
The Freedman's Bureau
On March 3, 1865, Congress established the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, more commonly known as the Freedmen's Bureau. -
Lincoln Assassinated
Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. -
The Thirteeneth Amendment
The Thirteeneth Amendment is ratified ending the institution of slavery. -
Civil Rights Bill
Congress passed the Civil Rights Bill over Johnson's veto. -
Fourteenth Amendment
The 14th Amendment was passed by Congress. -
Andrew Johnson
President Andrew Johnson was impeached and acquitted. -
Fifteenth Amendment
The 15th Amendment is ratified guaranteeing blacks the right to vote. -
Force Acts
The Force Acts are several groups of acts passed by the United States Congress. -
An End to the Freedmens Bureau
The Freedmens Bureau was ended. -
Reconstruction Ends
The Reconstruction was ended in the U.S.
