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Jan 1, 1492
Treaty of Tordesillas
Spain secured its claim by the Treaty of Tordesillas. It divided the New World with Portugal. -
Oct 12, 1492
Fouding of the New World
Christopher Columbus and his crew sighted an island in the Bahamas after 6 weeks at sea. -
Jan 1, 1493
Columbus returns to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola
Columbs returns to the island with 17 ships loaded with twelve hundred men along with cattle, swine, and horses. -
Jan 1, 1519
Hernan Cortes set sail from Cuba and landed in Vera Cruz
Hernan Cortes set sail with 11 ships filled with men and fresh horses. He landed in present day Vera Cruz. -
Jun 30, 1520
The Aztecs attacked the Spanish
The Aztecs attacked the Spanish on what was known the 'nochte trsite' or the sad night. They drove the Spanish down the causeways from Tenochtitlan. -
Aug 13, 1521
Hernan Cortes laid seige to the Aztec city
Hernan Cortes laid seige to the Aztec city after the Aztecs attacked the Spanish. The city was then surrendered. -
Jan 1, 1532
Francisco Pizarro crushed the Incas
Francisco fought the Incas of Peru. He added a hoard of 'booty' to Spanish coffers. -
Sir Walter Raleigh's expedition landed
Sir Walter Raleigh landed on North Carolina's Roanoke Island -
The Battle of Acoma
Don Juan de Onate led the Spaniards and abused the Pueblo peoples. In the Battle of Acoma, the Spaniards severed one foot from each survivor. -
English settlers named the land Jamestown
The Virginia Comany's ships landed. The location they chose to disembark was on the banks of the James River. Therefore, they named the land Jamestown. -
Captain John Smith was kidnapped
Smith was subjected to a mock execution by Powhatan. Pocahontas, Powhatan's daughter, saved Captain Smith by putting her head between Smith's and the war clubs. -
The First Angelo-Powhatan War was ended by a peace treaty
A peace treaty ended the First Angelo-Powhatan War. It was done by the marriage of Pocahontas and the colonist John Rolfe. -
A Dutch warship appeared off Jamestown
A Duth warship appeared off Jamestown. The warship sold about 20 Africans. This transaction planted the seeds of the North American slave system. -
Founding of Maryland
Lord Baltimore founded Maryland. It was the fourth English colony to be planted. -
Peace treaty of 1646
The peace treaty of 1646 refused to accept any hope of assimilating the native people into a Virginian scoiety. Also they were not allowed to coexist with them. -
English settlers arrive in Carolina
A group of English settlers from Barbados arrive in Carolina. They brough a few African slaves with them. They also brought the Barbados slave code with them. -
Savannah Indians migrate to Maryland and Pennsylvania
The Savannah Indians ended alliance with the Carolinians and mirgrated. The new colony under William Penn promised better relations between whites and Indians. -
North Carolina officially separated from South Carolina
North and South Carolina were officially separated. Each segement then became a royal colony. -
The Founding of Georgia
Georgia was formally founded in 1733. Georgia was the last of the thirteen colonies to be planted. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening religious revival movement began in Massachusets. It lasted 10 years and eventually spread to all the American colonies. -
England declares war on Spain
England declares war on Spain. Hostilities break out between Florida Spaniards and Georgia and South Carolina colonists. -
The War of Jenkin's Ear
The War of Jenkin's Ear broke out between the British and the Spaniards. It took place around the Caribbean Sea and Georgia. -
The War of the Austrian Succession begins
The War of the Austrian Succession begins due to the death of Emperor Charles VI. It results in France and Spain allied against England. It is known as King George's War in the American colonies. -
Fifty black slaves were hanged in Charleston, South Carolina
Fifty black slaves were hanged in Charleston, South Carolina. This was because plans for another revolt were revealed. -
Peter the Great sponsors expedition by Vitus Bering
Peter the Great, a Russian Tsar, sponsors an expedition by Vitus Bering to explore the coast of Alaska. -
The American Philosophical Society is founded
The American Philosophical Society is founded. Ben Franklin and his associates were the founders. -
The Iron Act was passed by English Parliament
The Iron Act was passed and it limited the growth of the iron industry in America to protect Englands iron industry. -
The Currency Act was passed
The Currency Act was passed by the English Parliament. It banned the issuing of paper money by the New England colonies -
First general hospital
The first general hospital was founded in Philadelphia -
Benjamin Franklin and William Hunter are appointed as Postmasters general
Ben Franklin and William Hunter are appointed as Postmasters general in the American colonies. -
British government summoned an intercolonial congress
British government summoned an intercolonial congress to Albany, New York. The purpose was for the scalping knives of the Iroquois tribes to keep loyal to the British in the spreading war. -
England declares war on France
England declares war on France. The French and Indian War starts to spread to Europe. -
William Pitt becomes Secretary of State
William Pitt becomes Secretary of State. He also established a policy of unlimited warfare and escalated the French and Indian War. -
Devastating defeat for English forces
A devastating defeat for English forces occurs in Lake George, New York. They were defeated by the French forces and nearly 2,000 of their men were lost. -
First Indian Reservation
The first Indian reservation in America was founded in New Jersey. There were 3,000 acres of land. -
The Battle of Quebec
The Battle of Quebec ranks as one of the most significant engagements in British and American history. -
The Ottawa Native Americans begin warfare
The Ottawa Native Americans begin warfare against the British. The leader of this was Chief Pontiac -
The French and Indian War ends
The French and Indian War ended with the Treaty of Paris. The was was also known as the Seven Year's War. -
The Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was signed by King George III of England. It prohibits English settlements west of the Appalachian mountains and requires the ones already living there to move east. -
Stamp Act was passed
The Stamp Act was passed by the British Parliament to pay for British troops. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was passed and it required colonists to house and feed British troops. -
The Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were formed. They are a secret organization opposing the Stamp Act. -
Declaratory Act is passed
The Declaratory Act is passed. It asserted the British right to make laws binding on the colonies -
The Townshend Acts were passed
The Townshend Acts were passed and it imposed taxes on imports. -
Spanish missionaries founded the first of 21 missions
Spanish missionaries led by Father Junipero Serra founded the first 21 missions at San Diego. They then were devoted to Christianize the 300,000 native Californians. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occured. Four workers were shot by British troops in Boston -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act added a 3 cent tax to tea imports. This gave the British East India Company a virutal tea monopoly, -
Thomas Hutchinson orders to make sure taxes are paid on the tea
Thomas Hutchinson, the Royal Governor of Massachusettes, ordered habor officials not to let the ships sail out without paying the tea tax. -
George Washington
George Washington was appointed gerneral and commander-in-chief of the new Continental Army -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation is signed. Congress has sole authority of the new national government. -
Articles of Confederation
Congress is made sole authority of the new national government. -
France signs a treaty of alliance with the U.S.
France signs a treaty of alliance with the U.S. and the American Revolution soon becomes a world war. -
Battle of Monmouth
In New Jersey, the Battle of Monmouth occurs. Washington's and Clinton's troops fight to a standoff. -
Peace plan is approved by Congress.
A Peace Plan is approved by Congress. It stipulates independence and the evacuation of Britain from America -
John Adams
John Adams is appointed to negotiate peace with with England -
Massachusetts constitution is endorsed.
A new Massachusetts constitution is endorsed. It says that "all men are born free and equal". This also includes black slaves. -
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold leads troops that burn downt the port of New London, Connecticut -
British Army surrenders at Yorktown
The British Army surrenders at Yorktown and this is very devastating for the British. -
Battle at Combahee River
The Battle at Combahee River marks the last fighting between American and British forces. -
Final battle of the Revolutionary War
The final battle of the Revolutionary War happened when Americans retaliated. They attacked a Shawnee village in Ohio, -
End to hostilities in America
England declares and end to the hostilities in America officially. -
Massachusetts abolishes slavery
The Supreme Court of Massachusetts abolishes slavery in Massachusetts. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris is signed by Great Britain and the United States -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris is signed by U.S. and Great Britain -
Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts forcibly closes court systems -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was adopted by Continental Congress -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was ratified -
The Judiciary Act
The Judiciary Act specifies the number of Federal Courts and judges -
George Washington
George Washington became the first president of the U.S. -
The cotton gin
The cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney -
Vermont and Kentucky
Vermont and Kentucky were admitted to the U.S. -
Pinckney's Treaty
Pinckney's Treaty with Spain opens navagation on the Mississippi River. -
Washington's Farewell Address
Washington retires and he gives his Farewell Address to the nation -
French Revolution Ends
The French Revolution ends and Napolean becomes ruler of France. -
John Marshall
John Marshall was appointed Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court -
Tripolitan War
The Tripolitan War begins, and ended in 1805. -
Lewis and Clark
Meriwether Lewis and Willaim Clark explored the Louisiana territory -
Embargo Act
The Embargo Act forbids American ships to leave American waters -
Non-Intercourse Act
The Non-Intercourse Act repeals the Embargo Act , but it didn't work -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent ends the War of 1812 -
Andrew Jackson defeats British
Andrew Jackson defeats British at New Orleans, after the war ends -
Second Bank of the U.S.
Second Band of the United States was chartered on April 10, 1818. -
The Erie Canal
Construction begins on the Erie Canal in New York -
Anglo-American Convention
The Anglo-American Convention fixed the 49th parallel as the border with Canada. -
Treaty of Saginaw
Indians give up one sixth of Michigan -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise forbids slavery above 36 degrees 30 minutes latitude -
Michael Faraday
Michael Faraday discovered the electromagnetic rotation. -
Stephen Austin
Stephen Austin founded the colony in Texas. -
John Quincy Adams elected as president
The House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams as president. -
The "American Dictionary of English Language"
Noah Webster publishes the "American Dictionary of English Language". -
The Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act moved eastern Indians west of the Mississippi. -
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) -
Nat Turner
Nat Turner leads slave revolt at Southhampton -
Lincoln enlists in the Illinois militia
Abe Lincoln enlists in the Illinois militia to help fight the Sauk and Fox Indians -
Jackson vetoes the rechartering of the Second Bank
Jackson vetoes the rechartering of the Second Bank, causing the birth of the Whig Party. -
The Alamo
6000 Mexicans defeat 190 Americans in 12 days -
Panic of 1837
Depression starts to begin with the Panic of 1837 -
Osceola dies in prison
Osceola dies in prison after being tricked by a false white flag. -
The Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is when thousands of Indians were forced from their homes and died. -
The Railway Express Company
The Railway Express Company was founded in Boston -
Samuel F.B. Morse
Samuel F.B. Morse designs improved electromagnetic telegraph. -
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison takes oath on March 4th as 9th president. -
Fort Ross
Russia sells Fort Ross in California to John Sutter -
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
The Webster-Ashburton Treaty defines the Candian-U.S. frontier. -
Samuel Morse
Samuel Morse sends first telegraph message from Washington to Baltimore. -
James Polk
James Polk takes oath on March 4th and becomes the 11th president. -
Texas is annexed
Texas is annexed and the war with Mexico is followed -
Santa Anna
Santa Anna's presidency is overthrown in Mexico -
The U.S. Naval Academy
The U.S. Naval Academy opens at Annapolis, Maryland -
The Liberty Bell
The large crack in the liberty bell gets too bad to permit ringing anymore -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was created -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 admits California as a free state -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was published -
President Fillmore dies
President Fillmore dies and is succeeded by Franklin Pierce -
Gadsden Treaty
America and Mexico sign the Gadsden Treaty. -
Dred-Scott Decision
The Dred-Scott slavery case took place. -
John Brown
John Brown raids Harper's Ferry in Virginia -
President Lincoln
Lincoln was inaugurated -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was fired on -
First Battle of Bull Run
The Union loses the First Battle of Bull Run
