U.S History Timeline

  • Christopher Columbus
    1492

    Christopher Columbus

    An Italian explorer sailing for Spain who believed that Asia (India) could be reached by sailing west from Europe. His first voyage was in 1492, wherein he discovered North America (Caribbean islands) and named it the West Indies. He will make four voyages to the new world without fully realizing what he had discovered.
  • Period: 1492 to

    Time

  • Jamestown Colony

    Jamestown Colony

    Jamestown was the first permanent English Settlement in North American. I was established on May 14, 1607 and is located in Williamsburg, Virginia. It was organized by the Virginia company
  • Plymouth Colony

    Plymouth Colony

    A group of 100 men and woman known as the pilgrims sailed to the New World on a boat called the Mayflower. They landed at Plymouth Rock and formed the first settlement of Europeans in New England. More than half the settlers died during the winter and the survivors were able to make peace with nearby Native Americans.
  • Massachusetts Bay Colony

    Massachusetts Bay Colony

    The Massachusetts Bay was settled in what is now Massachusetts in 1630 by about a group of 1,000 puritan refugees They settled for religious freedom.
  • Middle Colonies

    Middle Colonies

    King Charles II gave away territory between New England and Virginia to his brother. Dutch traders that lived in that territory stayed and made it one of the diverse colonies in the world. It is known for it's fertile soil for farming.
  • Southern Colonies

    Southern Colonies

    A territory stretched out to South Virginia and Florida. Slavery played a big role in the Southern colonies because they were very involved with agriculture.
  • Great Awakening

    Great Awakening

    The Great Awakening was a "revival" or a movement of belief that impacted the English Colony. A lot of religions were born during this time.
  • French and Indian War

    French and Indian War

    The Seven Years war was a conflict between Britain and France because France had expanded their territory into the Ohio River.
  • Stamp Act

    Stamp Act

    The Stamp Act was passed to help with finances from the Seven Years War. This was to maintain peace with Native Americans and Colonist.
  • Boston Massacare

    Boston Massacare

    A mob of "patriots" were harassing a squad of British soldiers. This was when British soldiers opened fire and killed several people. This was an important event because it brought the desire for American Independence. The king than raises taxes...
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party

    Americans were protesting against taxes for tea. This caused an uproar and protesters dumped 342 chests of tea overboard and into the sea. King gets really mad...
  • Battle of Lexington and Concord

    Battle of Lexington and Concord

    The British Army set out to destroy American ammunition and weapons and to capture rebel leaders. The Americans hid a lot of it before the British could reach it and they had to withdraw. The British marched back and the Americans fired at them from behind objects as a defensive strategy.
  • American Revolutionary War

    American Revolutionary War

    This was when the 13 Colonies fought against the British for control over the colonies. This war was lead by George Washington.
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence

    A document that was approved by the Continental Congress. It announced the separation of the 13 colonies from Great Britain.
  • Valley Forge

    Valley Forge

    Valley Forger was where George Washington lead 11,000 regulars to march through the winter. Many suffered because they didn't have enough supplies.
  • Battle of Yorktown

    Battle of Yorktown

    The Battle of Yorktown was known for the surrender of the British army by General Lord Charles Cornwallis. This marked the end of th battle of the American Revolution.
  • Articles of Confederation

    Articles of Confederation

    The articles of Confederation were written to establish the functions and "rules" for the United States after a victory against the British. We become a country.
  • Constitutional Convention

    Constitutional Convention

    This event decided how America was going to be governed. It was also established to revise the Articles of Confederation because of political concerns.
  • Bill of Rights

    Bill of Rights

    Bill of Rights was added to the constitution. It was the 10 Amendments which were "rules" to value our rights.
  • Louisiana Purchase

    Louisiana Purchase

    Thomas Jefferson purchases a large amount of land from France for $15 million. This make up about a third of what is now the United States.
  • Lewis and Clark Expedition

    Lewis and Clark Expedition

    Lewis and Clark were sent by Thomas Jefferson to explore what he had just purchased. They mapped and traveled though the Pacific Northwest. They returned with a lot of valuable information.
  • War of 1812

    War of 1812

    The British really didn't like us so we go into a conflict. There were several reasons for the cause of the war. We eventually came out victorious.
  • Missouri Compromise

    Missouri Compromise

    This was the beginning of which states could and couldn't have slaves. Missouri could have slaves and Maine couldn't.
  • Election of 1824

    Election of 1824

    It was very controversial. 4 candidates ran for president. John Quincy Adams was elected by Congress as President even though he didn't get the most votes.
  • Indistriual Revoluiton

    Indistriual Revoluiton

    This is when we started going from farming to factory. We started getting inventions and many more "products" and time goes on.
  • Indian Removal Act

    Indian Removal Act

    A lot of Native Americans were forced to move and travel to a reservation. Many died on the journey and was known as The Trail of Tears.
  • Battle of the Alamo

    Battle of the Alamo

    A small group of Native Americans faced a large amount of Texans. Even thought they lost, they were recognized for being brave. Even though they didn't win this battle, they eventually won.
  • Mexico-American War

    Mexico-American War

    The Americans basically won a war against the Mexicans and took they part of land for themselves. This was 1/4 of America.
  • California Gold Rush

    California Gold Rush

    California had a lot of gold hotpots where a lot of people moved to after gold was found at Sutter's Mill. About 300,000 people traveled to the territory during this time.
  • Underground Railroad/ Harriet Tubman

    Underground Railroad/ Harriet Tubman

    Harriet Tubman who was a free slaved helped free many slaves to get to the south and be free. She used series of different spots to hide and lead slaves to freedom.
  • Compromise of 1850

    Compromise of 1850

    America adds the California territory. Other states were trying to get the Mexican and Utah territory and fitting them to American territory.
  • Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Uncle Tom's Cabin

    After reading this book, alot of northerners jouned the abolisonist and joined the movement. This really made slavery come to life and many people got to understand what slavery really was.
  • Bleeding Kansas

    Bleeding Kansas

    This was when slave owners and anti-slavery forces shot and used force to fight against what they thought about slavery. This took place in the new territory which is known as Kansas.
  • Dred Scott Decision

    Dred Scott Decision

    He was a free slave that didn't agree that he didn't have any of the same rights of others. He had a conflict with the Supreme Court of the United States.
  • Lincoln Douglas Debates

    Lincoln Douglas Debates

    Lincoln wasn't known much until his debates. He got into politics and become a senator. Lincoln was a good debater and went up against Douglas. He made it clear that slavery was bad and that we need to be together. He later became president
  • Confederate States of America

    Confederate States of America

    A couple states left and became there own nations. They didn't want to be part of the United States and fought against them during the civil war.
  • Manifest Destiny

    Manifest Destiny

    This was a migration of people. It was sort of a religious movement. They were willing to take the risks to make the journey. They thought it was their destiny to have land in the West.
  • Fort Sumter

    Fort Sumter

    11 states had broken away from slavery and others stayed. Fort Sumter was the first battle of the civil war. This was where the North and South blew shots at each other.
  • Emancipation Proclamation

    Emancipation Proclamation

    This was an important event that Lincoln did. He proclaimed that all slaves be free from all states. He basically ended slavery.
  • Battle of Gettysburg

    Battle of Gettysburg

    This was the turning point of the Civil war. The North was winning but after Gettysburg, the South started to win.
  • Gettysburg Address

    Gettysburg Address

    Lincoln went to the Gettysburg where the war happen and gave a speech for all the people that died.
  • Civil War

    Civil War

    This was when Americans fought themselves. It was the Union vs. the confederacy. Many people died not only of gunshots but of diseases and injuries.
  • Appomattox

    Appomattox

    This was the end of the Civil War. Grant Lee signs papers to end the war.
  • Abolitionism

    Abolitionism

    The Abolition movement was a group of people was really tried to "abolish" slavery. They were willing to sacrifice a lot to end slavery and have equal rights.