U.S History Timeline

  • 1492

    Columbus Lands in the Americas

    Columbus Lands in the Americas
    Columbus tried to sail to India but landed in the Americas. There was more land for Europe to inhabit.
  • Jamestown

    Jamestown
    English settlers who settled in Jamestown, went through a harsh environment with harsh obstacles which ended up being the first successful settlement in the New World which sparked people to want to start settling in the Americas.
  • Pilgrims Land in Plymouth

    Pilgrims Land in Plymouth
    The Mayflower which brought the Pilgrims to the New World landed off track, but due to chancing more days at sea, the Pilgrims decided to land. The pilgrims elect John Carver as the governor of the colony who later gets replaced by William Bradford.
  • French and Indian War

    French and Indian War
    The seven year war was a war that was fought for territory all around the world. The war was called the French Indian war in the Americas because the French and the Indians where fighting with each other against the British.
  • Albany Plan of Union

    Albany Plan of Union
    Benjamin Franklin led the Albany Plan of Union to unite the colonies under one government, but the colonies declined.
  • 1763 Treaty of Paris

    1763 Treaty of Paris
    The Treaty of Paris ended the American revolution and made the United States an independent nation
  • Proclamation of 1763

    Proclamation of 1763
    The Proclamation of 1763 stated that the colonists could not settle west of the appalachians, but the colonists resented the law
  • Stamp Act

    Stamp Act
    The stamp act was created so that the British could pay off the debt of the seven year war. The Stamp Act required colonists to pay taxes on paper goods such as letters, newspapers, etc. This act was later cancelled as colonists protested and refused to pay the taxes.
  • Quartering Act

    Quartering Act
    The Quartering Act was created because the British needed housing for their soldiers in the colonies. They decided that the colonists should take care and house the soldiers. But that didn't last long because the colonists protested and refused to house the soldiers, so the British suspended their assembly's until they agreed to obey the act.
  • Townshend Act

    Townshend Act
    The British needed money for defraying expenses in the colonies. The Townshend Act made the colonies pay taxes on imports. The colonists protested and boycotted the Townshend act which led to the British removing the assembly's until they agreed to pay.
  • Boston Masscare

    Boston Masscare
    four thousand Soldiers were sent to a town of 15,000 inhabitants, many which were rebelious and violent. After the colonists began threatining the soldiers and pelting them with ice and sticks, the soldiers lost their patcience and began firing into the crowd of civillians
  • Tea Act

    Tea Act
    The Tea Act was passed to only allow taxed British tea in the colonies which the colonists did not like.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party
    A group of men dressed in costumes of those of the natives snuck onto the ships carrying taxed British tea, and they destroyed the crates full of tea and dumped them into the ocean.
  • Intolerable (Coercive) Acts

    Intolerable (Coercive) Acts
    There were many intolerable acts that the colonists refused to follow. For example the Quartering Act was intended to make the colonists house the soldiers but the colonists denied and refused to do so. The Administration of Justice Act was to stop the colonists from meeting up and discussing rebelious plans against the British which was pretty similar to the Massachusetts Government Act. The Boston Tea Act was intended to make the colonists pay for their damage and show authority.
  • First Continental Congress

    First Continental Congress
    The Colonists met up in Pennsylvania to discuss future steps they are going to take with war. They hoped to avoid war.
  • Olive Branch Petition

    Olive Branch Petition
    The Olive Branch Petition gave the English the choice if they wanted peace or if they wanted to go through with fighting. The King ignored the petition which meant there was going to be a revolution
  • Battle of Concord

    Battle of Concord
    The Battle of Concord was fought against the British and the Colonist because of the Intolerable Acts. The British fired first but the battle got pushed back after the colonists started firing back.
  • Battle of Lexington

    Battle of Lexington
    Smith's expedition was able to take a few weapons but to do that they had to fight which was the opposite of their goal. This and many other battles led to the craving of independence for the colonists.
  • Period: to

    American Revolution

    The American Revolution was a result of the coercive and intolerable acts that the British placed on the colonists. In this timespan many battles were fought between the Americans and the British, which even led to the French joining in to help the Americans. All these battles led to the Treaty of Paris which marked the end of the fighting and officially made America free.
  • Second Continental Congress

    Second Continental Congress
    At this point war was bound to happen so the Colonists needed defense. They created the Continental army that was led by George Washington.
  • Common Sense

    Common Sense
    Common sense was a pamphlet printed by Thomas Paine that stated that "independence was just common sense." Thomas stated many reasons why the colonies should be free.
  • Declaration of independence

    Declaration of independence
    on the fourth of July, 56 representatives from America came together to sign a contract that would hopefully end the conflict between the British and the American and make America independent.
  • Treaty of Paris

    Treaty of Paris
    The Treaty of Paris was signed by two American reps and two British reps. This was the contract that officially made America free.
  • Shays rebellion

    Shays rebellion
    Violent attacks in Massachusetts. Shay led this rebellion because of the high taxes.
  • Congress ratifies the U.S constitution

    Congress ratifies the U.S constitution
    The constitution was passed which formed a government with three different branches, Judicial, Executive, and Legislative, dividing the power between the government and the states.
  • Whiskey Rebellion

    Whiskey Rebellion
    In order to not waste corn that went bad farmers began fermenting it which made it turn to whiskey. Whiskey was sold every so when the government decided to put a tax on it, many people became angry and joined together to swarm a tax collectors house. After the soldiers guarding the house surrendered the growing mob started marching toward the city, where George Washington had to make a decision. George offered peace and then sent an army which stoped the rebels.
  • XYZ Affair

    XYZ Affair
    The US were in a bad spot and as a result asked France for peace. Upon arrival the diplomats were met with X, Y, and Z who were agents from France told the US the minister will only discuss with them if they pay $250,000.
  • War of 1812

    War of 1812
    The British were capturing American sea men and forcing them to fight in the royal navy. America was fed up and decided to declare war. After two years of fighting, the war was deemed a tie with neither Britain of America winning.