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Jamestown-Founded
settlement in the Colony of Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 4, 1607 (O.S., May 14, 1607 N.S.),[2] and considered permanent after brief abandonment in 1610. -
The House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses, the first representative assembly in America, meets for the first time in Virginia (July 30 o.s.). The first African slaves are brought to Jamestown -
Massachusetts-founded.
Before disembarking from their ship, the Mayflower, 41 male passengers sign theMayflower Compact, an agreement that forms the basis of the colony's government. -
Population
Colonial population is estimated at 50,400. -
Rename-to newyork
English seize New Amsterdam (city and colony) from the Dutch and rename it New York ( -
Switch to different calenders
Britain and the British colonies switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar -
French and Indian war
Final conflict in the ongoing struggle between the British and French for control of eastern North America. The British win a decisive victory over the French on thePlains of Abrahamoutside Quebec -
End of French and Indian War
and, by theTreaty of Paris signed Feb. 10, formally gain control of Canada and all the French possessions east of the Mississippi. -
Boston Massacre
British troops fire into a mob, killing five men and leading to intense public protests -
Boston tea party
Group of colonial patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians board three ships in Boston harbor and dump more than 300 crates of tea overboard as a protest against theBritish tea tax -
F.C.C
First Continental Congressmeets in Philadelphia, with 56 delegates representing every colony except Georgia. Delegates includePatrick Henry,George Washington, andSamuel Adams -
Start of American Revolution
War of independence fought between Great Britain and the 13 British colonies on the eastern seaboard of North America. Battles of Lexington and Concord, Mass., between the British Army and colonial minutemen, mark the beginning of the war -
Declaration of independence
Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia -
Approved!
Continental Congress approves the first official flag of the United States (June 14). Continental Congress adopts theArticles of Confederation, the first U.S. constitution -
Articles of confederation
Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation, the first U.S. constitution -
End of American Revolution
Great Britain formally acknowledges American independence in theTreaty of Paris, which officially brings the war to a close. -
Treaty of Paris
which officially brings the war to a close. -
Shay's ebellion
Shays's Rebellion erupts farmers from New Hampshire to South Carolina take up arms to protest high state taxes and stiff penalties for failure to pay. -
Constitutional Convention
Constitutional Convention, made up of delegates from 12 of the original 13 colonies, meets in Philadelphia to draft theU.S. Constitution -
George Washington-President
George Washington is unanimously elected president of the United States in a vote by state electors (Feb. 4). U.S. Constitution goes into effect, having beenratifiedby nine states. U.S. Congress meets for the first time at Federal Hall in New York City. Washington is inaugurated as president at Federal Hall in New York City. -
U.S supreme court
U.S. Supreme Court meets for the first time at the Merchants Exchange Building in New York City (Feb. 2). The court, made up of one chief justice and five associate justices, hears its first case in 1792. The nation's first census shows that the population has climbed to nearly 4 million. -
10 Amendments
First ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, are ratified ( -
Cotton gin
Washington's second inauguration is held in Philadelphia (March 4).Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin greatly increases the demand for slave labor. -
Marbury v. Madison:
Marbury v. Madison: Landmark Supreme Court decision greatly expands the power of the Court by establishing its right to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional (Feb. 24). Louisiana Purchase: United States agrees to pay France $15 million for the Louisiana Territory, which extends west from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and comprises about 830,000 sq mi (treaty signed May 2). As a result, the U.S. nearly doubles in size. -
Lewis-Clark
Lewis and Clark set out from St. Louis, Mo., on expedition to explore the West and find a route to the Pacific Ocean. (May 14).
