History timeline 1 By Justinstimetoast Oct 12, 1492 Discovery of America by Columbus Period: Oct 12, 1492 to Dec 17, 1903 History Timeline May 13, 1606 Settlement of Jamestown May 28, 1754 French and Indian War Dec 16, 1773 Boston Tea Party Apr 19, 1775 The Battle of Lexington and Concord Jul 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence Sep 28, 1781 Battle of Yorktown May 25, 1787 The Constitutional Convention Mar 14, 1794 Invention of the Cotton Gin Jun 25, 1798 The Alien and Sedition Acts Jun 18, 1802 The War of 1812 Apr 30, 1803 The Louisiana Purchase 1809 Invention of the Electric Light Mar 6, 1820 The Missouri Compromise 1828 Andrew Jacksons Election 1830 Invention of the Telegraph 1831 The Trail of Tears May 10, 1836 The Panic of 1837 Apr 25, 1845 Mexican American War Jan 29, 1850 The Compromise of 1850 Apr 12, 1859 The Firing on Fort Sumter Jan 1, 1862 The Emancipation Proclamation Apr 9, 1864 Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse Jan 31, 1865 13th 14th and 15th Amendments Apr 15, 1865 Abraham Lincolns Assassination Feb 25, 1868 Andrew Johnsons Impeachment 1876 Invention of the Telephone Jan 2, 1882 The Organization of Standard Oil Trust May 11, 1894 The Pullman and Homestead Strikes Apr 21, 1898 Spanish American War 1903 Invention of the Airplane 1932 Theodore Roosevelt becomes President