History Timeline By DischargerYL 1492 The Discovery of America by Columbus Christopher Colombus sails westbound from Spain in an effort to get to China but found America instead. May 14, 1607 The Settlement of Jamestown Period: 1754 to 1763 The French and Indian War Dec 16, 1773 The Boston Tea Party Apr 19, 1775 The Battle of Lexington and Concord Aug 2, 1776 The Declaration of Independence Sep 28, 1781 The Battle of Yorktown Period: May 25, 1787 to Sep 17, 1787 The Constitutional Convention 1794 The Invention of Cotton Gin 1798 The Alien and Sedition Acts 1803 The Louisiana Purchase Period: Jun 18, 1812 to Feb 18, 1815 The War of 1812 1820 The Missouri Compromise Mar 4, 1829 Andrew Jackson's Election Period: 1831 to 1877 The Trail of Tears 1837 The Panic of 1837 May 24, 1844 The Invention of the Telegraph Period: Apr 25, 1846 to Feb 2, 1848 The Mexican - American War Jan 29, 1850 The Compromise of 1850 Apr 12, 1861 The Firing on Fort Sumter Jan 1, 1863 The Emancipation Proclamation Jan 31, 1865 13th Amendment Apr 9, 1865 Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse Apr 15, 1865 Abraham Lincoln's Assasination Jun 8, 1866 14th Amendment Feb 24, 1868 Andrew Johnson's Impeachment Feb 26, 1869 15th Amendment 1870 The Organization of Standard Oil Trust 1876 The Invention of the Telephone 1879 The Invention of Electric Light 1892 The Pullman and Homestead Strikes Period: Apr 21, 1898 to Dec 10, 1898 The Spanish-American War Sep 14, 1901 Theodore Roosevelt Becomes President Dec 17, 1903 The Invention of the Airplane