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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta Adopted
The Magna Carta was a charter that protected the rights of Englishmen. It's premise was that a monarch was not all-powerful, and this ideal is still in place today. -
Roanoke Island Colony Founded
Sir Walter Raleigh founded a colony off the coast of North Carolina. However, when Raleigh came back from a trip to England in 1590, all the settlers had vanished, and the word "Croatoan" was carved into a tree. It is still unknown what happened the the settlers. -
Jamestown Colony Founded
John Smith, an English captain, landed on the coast of Virginia and started the Jamestown colony. Jamestown struggled for a little while, but once everyone started working, the tobacco-based economy began to thrive. -
House of Burgesses Elected
The first representative assembly in the New World- the House of Burgesses- is founded in Jamestown, Virginia. -
Pilgrims Left England for Religious Freedom
When Puritans in England started being persecuted for their beliefs, they knew it was time for a change, so a group of separatists later known as "pilgrims" migrated to the New World. -
Providence, Rhode Island Founded
Roger Williams founded the city of Providence, Rhode Island as a safe place for those under religious persecution. -
Britain Passes First Navigation Act
The Navigation Acts were a series of laws to protect mercantilism and shipping in Great Britain. -
Bacon's Rebellion
In the mid-1600s, when Native Americans began attacking Virginia colonies, planter Nathaniel Bacon and many indentured servants rebelled in anger at the government's friendly policy toward Native Americans. -
William Penn gets Land Grant for Pennsylvania
When King Charles II handed over a wealth of land to William Penn as payment for the debt he owed Penn's father, Penn founded Pennsylvania, a province known for its religious tolerance. -
Salem Witch Trials
20 alleged witches are killed in a delusional rampage in which natural coincidences were thought to have been results of witchcraft. -
Benjamin Franklin Writes the First Poor Richard's Almanac
Benjamin Franklin, a soon-to-be famous scholar and inventor, writes the first copy of an annual book known as "Poor Richard's Almanac", which had information such as the weather, riddles, and jokes. -
Editor John Peter Zenger Acquitted of Libel
When John Peter Zenger writes an article criticizing the British government, he is arrested, jailed, and tried for libel. However, the court finds that he is not guilty, since his words were justified. -
Delegates Approve Benjamin Franklin's Albany Plan
At the Albany Congress, Benjamin Franklin proposes that if the colonies are not united under one government as far as defenses and protection were concerned, there was no way they could survive. -
Sugar Act Enacted
Great Britain puts the Sugar Act into effect, which put a tariff on sugars, molasses, and other food products. This was the first stepping stone to the revolution. -
Stamp Act and Quartering Act
Britain passes two laws: the Stamp Act and the Quartering Act. The Stamp act requires every single written document to have a stamp on it to prove its legality. These stamps would have to be paid for by the writer. The Quartering Act says that British soldiers can take refuge in the house of any colonist at any time for any reason. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a series of laws passed primarily with the purpose of enforcing the authority of Great Britain over the colonies, and to show the colonies that Parliament could tax them at their sole discretion. -
Boston Massacre
When colonies resisted the Townshend acts, British soldiers were sent to occupy Boston and keep the colonists in line. The result was a bloody massacre, which happened when, on March 5, 1770, several colonists began hurling dirt and snow at a group of soldiers, as well as taunting and insulting them. Before long, many other colonists started joining in. After several hours, a soldier fired into the growing crowd. 5 Bostonians were killed in the riot that ensued. -
Boston Tea Party
Several Sons of Liberty sneak onto British ships and dump countless boxes of tea into Boston Harbor to protest the tea tax. This event became known as the "Boston Tea Party". -
Intolerable Acts/First Continental Congress
Britain passes the Intolerable Acts, which, among other things, bar the use of Boston Harbor until the Bostonians pay for the tea they spilled.
Philadelphia holds the first Continental Congress, in which they decide to have mass boycotts of British goods, along with peaceful protest. -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, Battles of Lexington and Concord
Before the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Paul Revere and two other men rode to warn Bostonians of the arrival of the British. Their mission succeeded, and the citizens had enough time to prepare their minutemen to rout the redcoats from Lexington and Concord, -
"Common Sense" Published
Thomas Paine writes "Common Sense", which convinces many Americans that war with Britain is the only option. -
Articles of Confederation Adopted
The first document of US government, the Articles of Confederation, is written and adopted, but the changes do not take effect for four more years. -
John Paul Jones Defeats the Serapis
In the most important naval battle of the American Revolution, American captain John Paul Jones defeats the British ship "Serapis". He is known for what he shouted out in response to the captain of the Serapis asking him to surrender: "I have not yet begun to fight!" -
Cornwallis Surrendered
In the Battle of Yorktown, the final battle of the revolution, Lord Cornwallis, leader of British forces, surrendered to Washington once it was clear that continuing to fight would get them nowhere. This led to the end of the revolution and the signing of the Treaty of Paris. -
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Constitutional Convention
Delegates from each state meet to discuss a form of government. The end result is the US Constitution, the most important document written in American history. After a Bill of Rights was included, all states ratified it. -
George Washington Elected First President
George Washington, former commander of the Continental Army, is elected first president of the United States. To date, Washington was the only president to be unanimously selected. -
Eli Whitney Invents the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney's cotton gin revived slavery in the south, and made cotton plantations even more profitable. -
Washington's Farewell Address
George Washington wrote a letter to all citizens of the United States, in which he warned against many dangers and explained why he was stepping down from the presidency. During his presidency, Washington set many precedents that are still followed today. -
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Lewis and Clark Expedition
Meriweather Lewis and William Clark went on a journey through the mostly-uncharted Louisiana Territory to discover what it was all about. On their trip, they discovered many things. -
Congress Declares War on Great Britain
Congress, unaware that Britain had lifted the blockade on France, declares war on Great Britiain. Thus, the War of 1812 begins. -
Bombardment of Fort McHenry
During a 25-hour siege of Fort McHenry, the valiant fighting soul of the American forces inspires Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner" -
Missourri Compromise
Henry Clay's Missourri Compromise bans slavery above the 39th parallel. -
Monroe Doctrine
During the "Era of Good Feelings", James Monroe enacted the Monroe Doctrine, which prevented further colonization of the Americas, and put Latin America under US protection. -
South Carolina Imposes the Doctrine of Nullification
In response to the "tariff of abominations", South Carolina says that according to the Doctrine of Nullification, they can declare any federal law unconstitutional and nullify it within the state. -
Texas Admitted into the Union
After being independent for 9 years, Texas had gone several million dollars in debt, so they had voted to be annexed into the Union. In December, their wish was granted. -
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Mexican War
When Andrew Jackson orders Zachary Taylor to seize disputed territory in Texas, the Mexican government declares war. The Mexican War lasts two years, after which Mexican ceded claims to Texas, California and other territories. -
Compromise of 1850
Henry Clay propses the Compromise of 1850, which admits California as a slave state, bans the slave trade in DC, and makes the Fugitive Slave Law more harsh. -
Lawrence, Kansas Sacked by Proslavery Group
Hoping to gain some momentum in Bleeding Kansas, a proslavery group sacks the capital city. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
A slave sues, claiming he is free because his owner took him to a free state. The court rules that blacks are not citizens. -
Southern States Secede and Form the Confederacy
Seven southern states secede from the Union and form the Confederate States of America, naming Jefferson Davis their president. Civil War begins. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam is fought in Antietam, Maryland, and is the single worst battle of the war, with over 2,000 deaths on both sides in just 24 hours. -
Battle of Gettysburg Won
The Union wins the Battle of Gettysburg, which nets them control of the Mississippi River and turns the tide of the entire war. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders
At Appomatox Courthouse in Virginia, General Robert E. Lee finds himself surrounded by Union forces. He surrenders 27,800 Confederate troops to Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War. -
Abraham Lincoln Assassinated
As President Lincoln watches a play at Ford Theatre, John Wilkes Boothe sneaks up behind him and shoots him in the back of the head. Arguably the greatest president in the history of the United States dies slowly.
