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Period: 1492 to
AP US History Timeline
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Jul 3, 1492
Columbus arrived in America
Christopher Columbus arrived in what he thought was America with his three ships, La Niña, La Pinta and Santa Maria. Columbus actually landed in San Salvador. -
Jun 24, 1497
King Henry VII hires John Cabot to explore for England
Taking a crew of only 18 men, John Cabot sails over to the New World under the instruction of King Henry VII of England. His voyage ended when he landed off the coast of America by present-day Maine and even Canada. Just like many explorers before him and even after him, Cabot was in search of a shorter route to Asia. Cabot unfortunately mistook Canada for Asia as he landed in the New World. -
Apr 2, 1513
Juan Ponce de Leon explores Florida
After being inspired by Christopher Columbus's voyages to the New World, Juan Ponce de Leon sets sail for the New World. With the help of the Spanish crown, Ponce de Leon lands in St. Augustine, Florida searching for the fountain of youth. -
Apr 17, 1524
Giovanni de Verranzo asked to explore Atlantic coast for the French
Hired by King Francis I, Giovanni de Verranzo sets out on an expedition to explore the Atlantic Coast. His expedition was for the purpose of finding a new route extended all the way to Asia. Verranzo ended up landing in a harbor in New York. -
John Smith and the Virginia Company found Jamestown
With 105 men, John Smith and the Virginia company are tasked with, again, finding a shortcut to Asia, build new settlements and find many riches. Though it seemed easy, the founding of Jamestown was a disastrous endeavor. Examples of this would be the settlers uneasy alliance with the Powhatans and the starving time of 1609-1610. -
King Charles I loses his head during England's Civil War
As the tensions continued to rise in England, it was inevitable that the King would lose his head. The Protestants were offended with many actions of King Charles I during his reign. After the King was executed for "treason against the realm of England," Oliver Cromwell and his Protestant companions took control of the throne. Eventually, the King's successor, Charles II, took over in place of Cromwell. -
Bacon's Rebellion. No, not that Bacon.
During this time, there were many attacks from the Native Americans across Virginia. Governor Berkeley of Virginia did not attack the Native Americans back in retaliation. Governor Berkeley's disapproval of attacking the Natives went unheard with young Nathaniel Bacon who led a militia against the Natives. During this Civil War that broke out between both sides, the indentured servants on Bacon's militia struck fear in many of the citizens not just in Virginia but in the surrounding states. -
The Creation of Pennsylvania
Founded by William Penn, Pennsylvania was created as a haven for Penn's fellow Quakers. Though the capital of the US is Washington D.C., originally the capital was set as the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia has had documents like the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution signed there. Named after William Penn's father, the other half, "Sylvania" was added because of the many wooded areas in the colony. -
The Salem Trials
These infamous trials began with a simple accusation of witch craft by three young girls who also claimed to be possessed by the devil. The fear during the Salem witch trials quickly spread because of a few underlying causes like the new roles women were playing during this time, fear of indian attacks and jealousy between the poor and the rich. After the numbers were totaled, the Salem trials took 20 lives of so-called witches. -
John Peter Zenger speaks his mind for Freedom of Press
The first high profile libel case was that of John Peter Zenger who was being sued for merely printing articles about a corrupt governor. This case against Zenger spurred the conversation about more newspapers and freedom of press among all of the colonies in America. Because of this case, Zenger gained the right of free press for all of the colonies. -
Stono's Rebellion in South Carolina
Fear struck South Carolina as the Stono Rebellion claimed up to 60 lives. This uprising, lead by a slave named Jemmy, started in the slaves because of their deplorable conditions on the many plantations across South Carolina. The result of this uprising was a tighter control on anything and everything the slaves did on the plantations. -
Pontiac's Rebellion in the Ohio Territory
Towards the end of the French and Indian War, the Indians were finally starting to get back their territories that many white settlers claimed for their own. Under the leadership of Pontiac, the Indian's goal was to drive the white settlers out of the forts in the Ohio Territory. However, the British did not like this and issued the statement "death to all Indians" along with giving them small pox blankets. -
The First Continental Congress
Meeting in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, the First Continental Congress was held to share complaints and grievances against the British tyranny. This meeting, which included only 12 of the 13 colonies, was held from September 1774-October 1774. The decision was made to put a ban on the British tea imports, but there was no real conversation on a war for our independence. At the end of their meeting, the attendees decided to reconvene if the situation did not improve. -
The Second Continental Congress
Meeting again in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, the Second Continental Congress convened during the American Revolutionary War. The reason for convening this congress again was to form the Continental Army. The Continental Army's purpose was to gain independence from the British. George Washington, who eventually becomes our first president, was put in charge of this army. The formation of this army was apart of a long battle for America's independence. -
The Constitutional Convention
Including all of the representatives except for the ones of Rhode Island, this convention was assembled to create the Constitution that we have today. Out of the 70 delegates that were invited to this convention only 55 of them were able to attend the convention. After many fierce debates over many of the plans and rules that were already set in place, the representatives at the convention concluded on creating the Constitution. -
Back to the Ohio and Northwest Territory
England's loss of these territories was an opportunity for white settlers to make their new settlements. As the settlers continued to make their homes, the Congress passed a few ordinances which allowed more settlers to settle further into the Northwest Territories. The further settlement of this area allowed for the formation of about five new states. -
The First Election
After many victories and many loses, the formation of a nation was starting to be seen in America. The election for the president was a very simple election because everyone agreed unanimously voted on a single person. The person that was elected to be the first president of the United States of America was George Washington. Along with the first president, or "Mr. President," the first vice president elected was John Adams. -
Alexander Hamilton has a plan
After the Revolutionary War, the United States was deep in debt. Alexander Hamilton came up with a plan to help lessen those debts, but Thomas Jefferson just would not allow it. These two men had completely opposite arguments about how to get out of the war debts. For example, one believed that we should follow the Constitution strictly but the other pursued not following the Constitution as strictly. Washington eventually signed the bill agreed with Alexander Hamilton. -
Benjamin Banneker fights for the slaves
Though the presence of slavery had shrunk in some places of America, the newly signed Declaration of Independence did not explicitly state that slavery was abolished for good. A free African American by the name of Benjamin Banneker took notice and immediately wrote to Thomas Jefferson. No permanent decision was mad during this time regarding slavery, but the presence of slavery in the North began to diminish as the presence of slavery in the South began to flourish. -
Elections in 1796
Before there was the Democrats and Republicans, there was the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. At the end of George Washington's term for president, the election for the next president began with John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. The vote was final and John Adams became the second president of the United States of America. The candidate who ran against Adams, Thomas Jefferson, ended up becoming the second vice president of the United States of America. -
Jefferson's Presidency
After being vice president, Thomas Jefferson became the third president of the United States of America. His ideals about having a limited government made their way throughout the United States. A controversy from his presidency which is still apparent in present day would be the debate over Sally Hemings. This debate was about whether or not her children were fathered by Thomas himself. -
The Second Great Awakening
During the debate about the separation of church and state, the Second Great Awakening began in Kentucky. The site most remembered from Kentucky's awakening is Cane RIdge. The Second Great Awakening allowed for the Baptist and Methodist to become the biggest Protestants denominations during this time. This Great Awakening also reached the slaves on the plantations. Many other religions spread throughout the country as well as the Free Blacks who formed their own churches in the North. -
The Louisiana Purchase
New Orleans and the land west of the Mississippi river was controlled by the Spanish, but the Americans had access to the port of New Orleans. The Spanish eventually ceded the land to France. The president at the time, Jefferson, wanted to buy New Orleans to gain full access to the port. James Monroe and Robert Livingston went to France to buy the land from Napoleon, and bought it for $15 million. This purchase doubled the size of the United States and added a vital port to the current economy. -
Here comes the Cotton Gin
The invention which spurred the production of cotton as the common crop was created by Eli Whitney. In addition to increasing the production of cotton, the creation of the cotton gin helped increase production of textiles in the North. Among some of the states which produced cotton were Alabama, parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and parts of Georgia. Finally, the increase in the production of cotton also increased the use of slaves in many southern states where slavery might have ended for good. -
Transportation Changes
From the Erie Canal to the steamboat to the National Road, the transportation systems in America changed rapidly. First, the formation of the Erie Canal allowed New York City access to the Ohio Valley. Next, the creation of the steamboat, or the Clermont, by Robert Fulton allowed for shipping in both directions and an increased speed of shipping. Finally, the creation of the National Road allowed for better transportation to a new national market for the United States. -
Missouri Compromise in the year 1820
There was already problems regarding the balance of slave states versus the free states. This compromise that was created was in regards to entering Missouri as a state in America. Because of the debate over the rise in abolition as well as tilting the balance of power, Missouri was deemed a slave state while the state of Maine was deemed a free state. -
Time to get rid of the Indians
Andrew Jackson became increasingly frustrated when 5 of the civilized Indian tribes were in the way of expansion of the United States. The main tribe he focused on removing was the Cherokee, but the Cherokee would not go down without a fight. They brought the Supreme Court and Chief Justice Marshall into the issue and won the support of the Supreme Court. Jackson ignored the Supreme Court's ruling and ended up signing the Indian Removal Act to force the Cherokee to Oklahoma. -
The Nullification Crisis
The vice president from South Carolina, John C. Calhoun, rivaled Andrew Jackson in the position where he supported states' rights. A position he supported was that the states had the right to nullify any rule or federal law. Because of this, the next few acts that came to pass, South Carolina decided to nullify, or not follow, these rules to the point where the president threatened to use federal force against them. -
Oh, my friend, "Remember the Alamo"
The leaders who helped with the attack on the Alamo would be Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and William Travis. The purpose of this attack on the Alamo in Texas was to gain independence for Texas from Mexico's forces. Though the three leaders fought bravely to defend the fort they took over, they were eventually taken over and executed by Mexican general Santa Anna. -
It is time for the School
From grade school to college, the education system began a reform to better educate it's students. For example, Mount Holyoke college was a teaching school for women. Next, Horace Mann established the state board of education and school standards in Massachusetts with some disapproval from Andrew Jackson and the Catholics. Finally, McGuffey's Reader was created as the handbook for reading in schools. -
Election of 1840
This election was between the Democrat's candidate Martin Van Buren and the Whig candidate William Henry Harrison. The victory for William Henry Harrison was short lived because he becomes sickly. He becomes so sick that he dies of pneumonia one month into his presidency. He is succeeded by his running mate John Tyler. -
Election of 1844
In this election, the Whig candidate was Henry Clay and the Democrat candidate was James K. Polk. A close race resulted in James K. Polk defeating Henry Clay on the topics of slavery and the Republic of Texas. Polk's main campaign point was the point of Manifest Destiny which quickly played into his victory in the polls. However, some of the actions that Polk did during his presidency had unforeseen consequences. -
Early Immigration
The population grew rapidly in America in the span of a few years. The early immigrants that came to America were mainly from Germany, Ireland and China. Immigrants from China migrated to the state of California because of the job opportunities that were available. The immigrants from Ireland mainly moved to America, specifically Boston and NYC, because of the horrible failure of the potato crop. Finally, the immigrants from Germany moved to the Midwest as farmers because of economic hardship. -
Women needed: Seneca Falls Convention
The beginning of the women's rights movement started at a convention in Seneca Falls. Famous women like Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were among those who came to this very convention. The whole premise of the convention was to stress the equality for both men and women in America. The main points in the convention were about education for women, property rights for women and the right to obtain a divorce. -
The continuation of Slavery
Because of the famous cotton gin, slavery was made an important requirement in the southern states. The slave owners always taught their children that the institution of slavery was a "necessary evil" because of the black's inferiority. Many believed that the slave's deplorable conditions continued as the requirement for slaves increased but in fact it helped the slaves conditions on the plantations. The slave owners took better care of the slaves which included food and living conditions. -
The Compromise of 1850
In addition of this compromise added California as a free state and New Mexico and Utah becoming territories, The Compromise of 1850 included the fugitive slave act. The Fugitive Slave Act was against the slaves who ran away from their cruel slave owners. The Fugitive Slave Act faced opposition in both the North and the South. During this time, Uncle Tom's Cabin was written and it brought a clearer image of how slavery actually occurred in many states. -
Lecompton Constitution in 1857
In a divided Kansas, the Lecompton Constitution just added fuel to the fire. This constitution was for the side of Kansas which supported slavery. Because of this constitution being passed, the violence which was already in Kansas exploded quickly. Eventually, with the repeal of this constitution, the animosity in Kansas subsided so Kansas could become a free state in 1861. -
Harper's Ferry
There were abolitionists, and then there were extreme abolitionists. One of those extreme abolitionists was John Brown who tried to lead a slave revolt in the Virginia area. This uprising was quickly ended by the US Army. Though this revolt was ended, John Brown became a martyr for the abolitionists trying to end slavery. -
The Beginning of the Civil War
The famous Civil War began at Ft. Sumter which is located in Charleston, South Carolina. The attack on this fort happened a short time after South Carolina succeeded from the Union. However, after a few days attack on the fort, the Union's attempt at reclaiming South Carolina's fort was unsuccessful. -
The Fight at Gettysburg
The biggest turning point of the war was that of the fight at Gettysburg. Battle after battle occurred over the span of just three days in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Deaths occurred at every battle or skirmish in the Gettysburg area. Because of all the losses during these battles, general Lee retreated from Gettysburg area which resulted in a victory for the Union. -
Freedmen's Bureau
Before Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, he created the Freedmen's Bureau. The purpose of the Freedmen's Bureau was to aid the newly freed slaves in America. Some of the things that the Freedmen's Bureau assisted the newly freed slaves with was medical assistance, education, temporary shelter, provisions, clothing, and buying land. However when Andrew Johnson becomes president, the abilities of the Freedmen's Bureau becomes limited and almost nonexistent. -
The Death of Honest Abe
Just a few days before, general Lee surrendered to general Grant at the Appomattox courthouse. Believing America was beginning to heal, Abraham Lincoln order that the southern states were to be under control as military districts until complete reconstruction could be done for the South. Days later, while Lincoln was enjoying a production at the theater, he was shot and killed by John Wilkes Booth. He did not die immediately, but died early the next morning. -
Tenure of Office Act
President Andrew Johnson's actions during his presidency sparked a lot of controversy within the Senate among others. Because of his controversial decisions, the senate decided to pass the Tenure of Office Act. The Tenure of Office Act stated that the president cannot make a decision without the approval of the Senate. Also, because of these actions that Johnson made, his impeachment fell one vote short of removal. -
Cowboys and Cattle Towns
With cattle herding becoming an increasingly popular job, there was a need for a town to house all of the men doing the job. Abilene, Kansas became America's first cattle town. This town was founded by Joseph McCoy to help transport all the cattle on the trains. With the creation of this cattle town, there was a creation of cowboys. These cowboys were from many different backgrounds such as former slaves, former confederates and indians. -
Battle at Little Bighorn
General Custer led an attack on the area of Little Bighorn after receiving resistance from many of the indian tribes of the area. The tension between the indian tribes and General Custer about the gold in the area grew to a boiling point and eventually led to this battle. Unfortunately, during this battle General Custer was killed. The Indian's victory in this battle just gave the Americans who did not like the Indians more ammunition to say that the Indian tribes were just crazy monsters. -
Election of 1876
The election of 1876 was between Samuel J. Tilden and Rutherford B. Hayes. The winner of this election was Rutherford B. Hayes after the other party gave him the disputed votes from four states. The main selling point for Hayes was that he agreed to end the reconstruction of the South and remove the federal troops from those states. Because of Hayes's win, African Americans would disappear from the state's senate and the Jim Crow laws would be enacted to segregate the South. -
The Dawes Act
In addition to the Homestead Act, the Dawes Act was created for the Indians. The Dawes Act transformed the reservations for the Indians into individual plots that the Indians could own themselves. These individual plots of the land could be sold in 25 years for some money. Though it was an interesting proposition, the Indian tribes believed in a communal area instead of individual plots. -
Election of 1888
This presidential election was between Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland. Grandson to WIlliam Henry Harrison, Benjamin Harrison wins this election and becomes America's 23rd president. Because of his war record, views and popularity among the veterans, Harrison was chosen to lead America. -
Immigration in the 1890s
Like the spike in immigration with the Germans, Irish and Chinese, in the 1890s the main immigrants that were arriving in America were the Jewish and Catholic immigrants. Each of these groups came to America because of poverty and religious persecution back home. With the spike in immigration, Ellis Island and Angel Island were created in NYC and San Francisco. Along with these islands, the Chinese Exclusion Act was placed until after WWII which stopped the immigration of the Chinese. -
The First Flight
After many other inventions, the Wright brothers came up with a invention which is still used to this day. These brothers created the first airplane which also created more opportunities for the second Industrial Revolution. The creation of this airplane and many other inventions made life for Americans easier along with an increase in business.
