Exploration through the US Constitution By nicoletrice Jun 15, 1215 The Magna Carta is written to limit the power of English rulers Aug 1, 1492 Columbus set sail to find a route to the east indies Nov 8, 1519 Hernando Cortes captures Tenochtitlan Jan 1, 1607 Virginia founded Jan 1, 1622 New Hampshire founded Jan 1, 1624 New York founded Jan 1, 1630 Massachusetts founded Jan 1, 1632 Maryland founded Jan 1, 1636 Connecticut founded Jan 1, 1636 Rhode island founded Jan 1, 1663 Carolinas founded Jan 1, 1664 Delaware Jan 1, 1682 Pennsylvania founded Jan 1, 1712 The Carolinas split into North and South Carolina Jan 1, 1732 Georgia founded Jan 1, 1755 French troops defeat General Braddock Sep 18, 1759 Quebec surrenders to the British Jan 1, 1760 British troops take Montreal, ending the French & Indian War fighting in North America Jan 1, 1763 Treaty of Paris is signed between Britain & France, ending the French & Indian War Jan 1, 1764 Sugar Act Jan 1, 1765 Stamp Act May 1, 1767 Townshend Acts Mar 5, 1770 Boston Massacre Jan 1, 1773 Tea Act Nov 1, 1773 Boston Tea Party Jan 1, 1774 Intolerable Acts Sep 1, 1774 First Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia Apr 19, 1775 "The shot heard round the world" is fired in Lexington May 10, 1775 Second Continenetal Congress meets in Philadelphia Jun 10, 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill Nov 1, 1775 American troops seize Montreal Dec 31, 1775 Americans troops fail to take Quebec Jan 1, 1776 Thomas Paine writes Common Sense Jul 4, 1776 Continental Congress accepts the Declaration of Independence Jan 1, 1777 Articles of Confederation Written Oct 17, 1777 British troops surrender at Saratoga Sep 1, 1780 Benedict Arnold turns traitor to the American cause Oct 7, 1780 American troops capture King's Mountain Jan 1, 1781 Articles of Confederation go into Effect Oct 19, 1781 British troops surrender at Yorktown Apr 15, 1783 Treaty of Paris is ratified by Congress, ending the Revolutionary War Jan 1, 1784 The "Empress of China" becomes the first American ship to trade with China Apr 1, 1784 French and Indian War begins at Battle of Fort Nesessity Jan 1, 1785 Land Ordinance of 1785 Jan 1, 1786 Shay's Rebellion Jan 1, 1787 Northwest Ordinance May 25, 1787 Constitutional Convention opens in Philadelphia Sep 17, 1787 Constitution approved by Constitutional Convention Jan 1, 1789 Congress creates the first five executive departments Jan 1, 1789 Congress passes the Judiciary Act to organize the federal court system Jan 1, 1789 Marbury v. Madison tried before the Supreme Court, establishing judicial review Apr 30, 1789 George Washington is inaugurated as our first president Jan 1, 1791 Congress creates the first Bank of the United States Jan 1, 1793 The French Revolution begins when an angry mob storms the Bastille Jan 1, 1793 French King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette are beheaded Jan 1, 1793 Britain seizes American ships trading in the French West Indies Apr 1, 1793 Washington issues the Neutrality Proclamation Jan 1, 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion Mar 23, 1795 11th Admendment-suits against states Jan 1, 1796 George Washington publishes his Farewell Address Jan 1, 1796 Father Junipero Serra builds first mission at San Diego Jan 1, 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts passed Jan 1, 1800 Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr receive the same number of electoral votes for President, causing Congress to eventually pass the 12th amendment Mar 4, 1801 Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated the third President of the United States Jan 1, 1803 Thomas Jefferson approves the purchase of Louisiana Jan 1, 1804 Federalist leader, Alexander Hamilton, killed in a duel with Republican, Aaron Burr May 1, 1804 Lewis and Clark set out from St. Louis to explore the American west Jun 15, 1804 Election of president and vice president Nov 7, 1805 Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific Ocean Jan 1, 1806 Lewis and Clark return to St. Louis Nov 1, 1806 Zebulon Pike views a mountain peak rising above the Colorado plains, which becomes known as "Pikes Peak" Jan 1, 1807 Thomas Jefferson persuades Congress to pass the Embargo Act Jan 1, 1808 James Madison wins the election and becomes our fourth President Jan 1, 1809 Congress passes the Nonintercourse Act to replace the Embargo Act Jun 1, 1812 President Madison asks Congress to declare war on Britain Aug 1, 1812 The American ship, the Constitution, battles the British ship, Guerriere, in the north Atlantic near the beginning of the War of 1812 Sep 1, 1813 Battle of Lake Erie Jan 1, 1814 Battle of Horseshoe Bend Jan 1, 1814 Britain defeats France in the war in Europe Jan 1, 1814 Battle of New Orleans Jun 1, 1814 British troops capture Washington, DC Dec 24, 1814 Treaty of Ghent signed Jan 1, 1818 US and Britain reach agreement to jointly occupy Oregon Jan 1, 1820 Missouri Compromise Jan 1, 1821 Stephen Austin is given a land grant and leads settlers into Texas Jan 1, 1821 William Becknell leads group of traders from Missouri to New Mexico Jan 1, 1828 Tariff of 1828 Jan 1, 1832 The Tariff of 1832 Jan 1, 1833 General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna comes to power in Mexico Feb 23, 1836 Mexican troops begin a siege of the Alamo Mar 2, 1836 Texans declare independence from Mexico Apr 21, 1836 Battle of San Jacinto is won by Sam Houston Jan 1, 1844 Manifest Destiny plays important role in election of James K Polk as Presidentf Jan 1, 1850 Compromise of 1850 Jan 1, 1856 Bleeding Kansas Dec 6, 1865 13th admendment-Abolition of Slavery Jul 9, 1868 14th admendment- rights of citizens Feb 2, 1870 15th amendment- voting rights Feb 3, 1913 16th amendment-the income tax Apr 8, 1913 17th amendment- direct election of senators Jan 16, 1919 18th amendment- prohibition of alcoholic beverages Aug 18, 1920 19th amendment- womans suffrage Jan 23, 1933 20th amendment- presidential terms; sessions of congress Dec 5, 1933 21st amendment- repeal of prohibition Mar 1, 1951 22nd amendment- limit on number of president's terms Apr 3, 1961 23rd amendment- presidential electors for district of columbia Jan 23, 1964 24th amendment- abolition of poll tax in National Elections Feb 11, 1967 25th amendment- presidential succession and disability Jul 1, 1971 26th amendment- voting age May 7, 1992 27th amendment- Congressional pay increase