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The Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775, the famous 'shot heard 'round the world', marked the start of the American War of Independence (1775-83). Politically disastrous for the British, it persuaded many Americans to take up arms and support the cause of independence. -
The Winter at Valley Forge
The six-month encampment of General George Washington's Continental Army at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778 was a major turning point in the American Revolutionary War. ... The defeats had led some members of the Continental Congress to want to replace Washington, believing he was incompetent -
Benedict Arnold turns traitor
In 1779, he entered into secret negotiations with the British, agreeing to turn over the U.S. post at West Point in return for money and a command in the British army. The plot was discovered, but Arnold escaped to British lines. His name has since become synonymous with the word “traitor.” -
The Battle of Cowpens
The Battle of Cowpens was a strategically ingenious American victory during the American Revolution over a British force in South Carolina on January 17, 1781. It was a rare win for American forces, and it slowed British efforts to invade North Carolina. -
The USS Constitution defeats the HMS Guerriere
The battle is historically significant in shaping America's reputation as a seapower. The victory over Guerriere represented the young American Navy's first triumph over a Royal Navy ship during the War of 1812, giving a welcome morale boost after setbacks on land. -
The Battle of Baltimore
The failed bombardment of Fort McHenry forced the British to abandon their land assault on the crucial port city of Baltimore. This British defeat was a turning point in the War of 1812, leading both sides to reach a peace agreement later that year. -
The Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was fought on January 8, 1815 between British troops led by General Edward Pakenham and American forces led by General Andrew Jackson. Despite being outnumbered 2:1, the Americans, who had constructed sophisticated earthworks, won a decisive victory against the British assault. -
The Election of Andrew Jackson
Jackson's election is usually called a triumph for the common American. Jackson was the first president to be born to a poor family. Before him, all the presidents had been from the rich elite. This is important because America was becoming more democratic in the 1820s. -
The Battle of the Alamo
In December 1835, in the early stages of Texas' war for independence from Mexico, a group of Texan (or Texian) volunteers led by George Collinsworth and Benjamin Milam overwhelmed the Mexican garrison at the Alamo and captured the fort, seizing control of San Antonio. -
Mexico loses California, New Mexico, and Arizona
This treaty, signed on February 2, 1848, ended the war between the United States and Mexico. By its terms, Mexico ceded 55 percent of its territory, including parts of present-day Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah, to the United States -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President
Lincoln's election thus served as the main catalyst of the American Civil War. The United States had become increasingly sectionally divided during the 1850s, primarily over extending slavery into the Western territorie -
South Carolina Secedes from the United States
The victory of Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 presidential election triggered cries for disunion across the slaveholding South. The secession of South Carolina precipitated the outbreak of the American Civil War in Charleston Harbor on April 12, 1861. -
The First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the Civil War. Although the Union forces outnumbered the Confederates, the experience of the Confederate soldiers proved the difference as the Confederates won the battle. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
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The Battle of Gettysburg fought on July 1–3, 1863, was the turning point of the Civil War for one main reason: Robert E. Lee's plan to invade the North and force an immediate end to the war failed. ... The collision of two great armies at Gettysburg put an end to that audacious plan -
The Treaty at Appomattox Courthouse
Appomattox County, VA | Apr 9, 1865. Trapped by the Federals near Appomattox Court House, Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union general Ulysses S. Grant, precipitating the capitulation of other Confederate forces and leading to the end of the bloodiest conflict in American history. -
The Sinking of the USS Maine
On February 15, 1898, an explosion of unknown origin sank the battleship U.S.S. Maine in the Havana, Cuba harbor, killing 266 of the 354 crew members. The sinking of the Maine incited United States' passions against Spain, eventually leading to a naval blockade of Cuba and a declaration of war. -
The Adoption of the Star Spangled Banner as the National Anthem
During the 19th century, “The Star-Spangled Banner” became one of the nation's best-loved patriotic songs. It gained special significance during the Civil War, a time when many Americans turned to music to express their feelings for the flag and the ideals and values it represented. -
Battle of the Philippines
The Philippines played a critical role in American strategy during World War II. ... After U.S. forces were defeated from the islands, regaining the Philippines became an important goal, especially for General MacArthur, who had been forced to evacuate from his headquarters there in 1942 when the Japanese attacked.