U.S. History timeline

  • 1492

    Columbus journeys to the Americas

    Columbus journeys to the Americas
    Columbus sailed to the Americas to find a passageway to India and China. Europe was able to colonize the new world because of this "discovery"
  • Jamestown founded

    Jamestown founded
    English colonists settled along the James River in the new Americas. Encouraged more people to come to the Americas, especially Jamestown.
  • Pilgrims land in Plymouth

    Pilgrims land in Plymouth
    The religious group called Pilgrims landed in Plymouth to have religious freedoms. Made lots of money in tobacco and changed the economy.
  • French and Indian War

    French and Indian War
    The French and Britsh got into an argument about whose land was whose. This changed who owned what land and what happened to Native Americans on the land.
  • Albany Plan of Union

    Albany Plan of Union
    Benjamin Franklin sent out a Join or Die letter to make all the colonies as one. This made the colonists think if they should join as one then later accepted the offer.
  • Treaty of Paris 1763

    Treaty of Paris 1763
    The French surrendered to the Britsh after a long war. This changed who owned the land and what happened to the Native Americans.
  • Proclamation of 1763

    Proclamation of 1763
    The Proclamation of 1763 was a boundary by the Appalachian Mountains. This was important because it prohibited Anglo-American colonists from settling on lands acquired from the French.
  • Stamp Act

    Stamp Act
    The Britsh were in debt, so they decided to put taxes on mostly paper. This got the colonists very mad and led to smuggling.
  • Period: to

    American Revolution

    The American Revolution was a series of battles fought for America's freedom. The importance of the long revolution for America's independence.
  • Quartering Act

    Quartering Act
    The Act was when the colonists had to give the soldiers homes. This did not help the colonists because making homes was a lot of money.
  • Townshend Act

    Townshend Act
    The Act put taxes on imports mostly from Europe. This changed the way the colonists thought about importing goods and thought about doing everything by themselves.
  • Boston Massacre

    Boston Massacre
    The Boston Massacre was a fight where the patriots used sticks and other homemade weapons. This killed multiple people which led to more conflict.
  • Tea Act

    Tea Act
    The tea went down in price to make the colonists buy the tea. The colonists did not want anything to do with the East Indies tea.
  • Boston Tea party

    Boston Tea party
    The demonstrators threw the tea chest on the Boston harbor. This was important because it led to the American Revolution.
  • Intolerable (coercive) Acts

    Intolerable (coercive) Acts
    The Intolerable Acts were made to punish the colonists. this ended up leading to the American Revolution.
  • First Continental Congress

    First Continental Congress
    convened in Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia where 12 of the 13 colonies met. this meeting coordinated their resistance to British rule.
  • Battle of Lexington

    Battle of Lexington
    The Battle of Lexington was a fight between the British and the colonies. The violence turned into a fight for political independence.
  • Battle of Concord

    Battle of Concord
    The Battle of Concord was a significant battle fought during the American Revolutionary War. It marked the first military engagement between the British troops and the American colonists and played a crucial role in the start of the American Revolution.
  • Second Continental Congress

    Second Continental Congress
    The Second Continental Congress was another strategy the Britsh did not repeal. This ended up leading to the Declaration of Independence.
  • Olive Branch Petition

    Olive Branch Petition
    The Olive Branch Petition was to send a last attempt to the king. This was important because it tried to emphasize their rights as British citizens.
  • Common Sense by Thomas Paine

    Common Sense by Thomas Paine
    The Common Sense by Thomas Paine showed the actual opinions of the colonists. This directly attacked the political and economic ways of the British.
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence
    The Declaration of Independence was all 13 colonies declaring independence from British rule. The Declaration of Independence summarized the colonists for seeking independence.
  • Treaty of Paris 1783

    Treaty of Paris 1783
    The Treaty of Paris was a treaty signed between Britain and the Colonies. The Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution and officially gave the colonies independence.
  • Shays's Rebellion

    Shays's Rebellion
    Shays's Rebellion was a violent insurrection in Massachusetts. This showed the weakness of the government led by George Washington.
  • Congress ratifies the U.S. Constitution

    Congress ratifies the U.S. Constitution
    When Congress ratifies the U.S. Constitution, it sets dates for the first federal elections. It led to the establishment of a robust central government with a taxing Congress, a presidential executive, and a national court system.
  • Whiskey Rebellion

    Whiskey Rebellion
    The Whiskey Rebellion marked the initial trial of federal authority in the United States, affirming the government's right to impose a specific tax affecting citizens nationwide.
  • War of 1812

    War of 1812
    The War of 1812 was when Britain did not let America trade with others. This war made sure that no one could take away our ships or do anything else to the United States of America.
  • XYZ Affair

    XYZ Affair
    The XYZ Affairs was a diplomatic dispute between French and U.S. diplomats that led to a restraint. This led to, undeclared conflict referred to as the Quasi-War.