U.S History By jakeschott Jul 15, 1215 The Magna Carta is written to limit the power of English rulers Aug 1, 1492 Columbus sets sail to find a route to the East Indies Nov 8, 1519 Hernando Cortes captures Tenochtitlan, beginning the fall of the Aztec Empire. Jan 1, 1607 Virginia founded Jan 1, 1620 Massachusetts was founded Nov 11, 1620 The Mayflower Compact, the first document of self-government in North America, is written by Pilgrim leaders in Plymouth Jan 1, 1624 New York Founded Jan 1, 1632 Maryland founded Jan 1, 1636 Connecticut was founded Jan 1, 1638 Delaware Founded Jan 1, 1663 The Carolinas Founded Jan 1, 1664 New Jersey founded Jan 1, 1682 Pennsylvana was founded Jan 1, 1690 John Locke publishes "Two Treatises on Government" Jan 1, 1712 The Carolinas split into North and South Carolina Jan 1, 1732 Georgia was founded Jan 1, 1748 -Baron de Montesquieu publishes "The Spirit of the Laws," urging that the government power be divided into three branches Apr 1, 1754 French and Indian War begins at the Battle of Fort Necessity Jan 1, 1755 French Troops defeat General Braddock Sep 18, 1759 Quebec surrenders to the British Jan 1, 1760 British a troops take Montreal, ending the French and Indian war fighting in North America Jan 1, 1763 Treaty of Paris is signed between Britian and France ending the French and Indian War Jan 1, 1764 Sugar Act Jan 1, 1765 Stamp Act May 1, 1767 townshend Acts Jul 16, 1769 Father Junipero Serra builds first mission at San Diego Mar 5, 1770 Boston Massacre Jan 1, 1773 Tea Act Dec 16, 1773 Boston Tea Party Jan 1, 1774 Intolerabe Acts Sep 1, 1774 First Continential Congress convenes in Philadelphia Apr 1, 1775 "The shot heard around the world" is fired in Lexington May 16, 1775 Second Continential Congress meets in Philadelphia Jun 16, 1775 Battle at Bunker Hill Nov 1, 1775 American troops seize Montreal Dec 1, 1775 Americans fail to take Quebec Jan 17, 1776 Thomas Paine writes Common Sense Jul 4, 1776 Contiential Congress accepts the Decloration of Independence Jan 1, 1777 Articals of Confederation written Oct 17, 1777 British troops surrender at Saratoga Sep 1, 1780 Benedict Arnold turns traitor to the American cause Oct 7, 1780 American troops capture King's Mountain Jan 1, 1781 Articles of Confederation go into affect Oct 19, 1781 British Troops surrender at Yorktown Jan 1, 1783 The "Empress of China" becomes the first American ship to trade with China Apr 1, 1783 Treaty of Paris is ratified by Congress, ending the Revolutionary War Jan 1, 1785 Land Ordinance of 1785 Jan 1, 1786 Shays Rebellion Jan 1, 1787 Northwest Ordinance May 25, 1787 Constitutional Convention opens in Philadelphia Sep 17, 1787 Constitution approved by Constitutonial Convention Sep 17, 1787 Citizens of Philadelphia celebrate the ratification of the US Constitution with a festival Dec 7, 1787 -Delaware becomes first state to ratify the US Constitution Mar 24, 1788 -Delaware becomes first state to ratify the US Constitution Jun 21, 1788 -New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the US Constitution, allowing it to go into effect Jan 1, 1789 Congress creates the first five executive departments Jan 1, 1789 Congress passes the Judiciary Act to organize the federal court Apr 30, 1789 George Washington is inaugurated as our 1st President in New York City Jul 14, 1789 The French Revolution begins when an angry mob storms the Bastille Sep 1, 1789 -Three fourths of the states ratify the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which become known as the Bill of Rights Sep 25, 1789 The English Bill of rights is written to limit the monarchy and protect the rights of citizens -John Locke publishes "Two Treatises on Government" Jan 1, 1791 Congress creates the first Bank of the United States May 24, 1791 amendment 4- Unlawful search and seizure Dec 15, 1791 amendment 10- Powers not specifically given to the Federal government are reserved to the states or individual Dec 15, 1791 amendment 6- Speedy trial, representation Dec 15, 1791 amendment 1- Speech, religion, assembly, press Dec 15, 1791 amendment 2- Bear arms Dec 15, 1791 amendment 3-Quartering of soldiers Dec 15, 1791 amendment 5 -Habeas Corpus, due process Dec 15, 1791 amendment 7- Trial by jury in federal court Dec 15, 1791 amendment 8-Cruel, unusual punishment Dec 15, 1791 amendment 9 -All individual rights may not be listed Jan 1, 1793 French King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette are beheaded Jan 1, 1793 -Britain seizes American ships trading in the French West Indies Apr 2, 1793 Washington issues the Neutrality Proclamation Jan 1, 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion Jan 23, 1795 Amendment 11-Suits against States Sep 26, 1796 -George Washington publishes his Farewell Address Jan 1, 1797 -France seizes American ships trading in the French West Indies Mar 4, 1797 -John Adams is inaugurated as our 2nd President Jan 1, 1798 -Alien and Sedition Acts passed Jan 1, 1798 -XYZ Affair Dec 14, 1799 -George Washington dies in his Virginia home, Mount Vernon Jan 1, 1800 -Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr receive the same number of electoral votes for President, causing Congress to eventually pass the 12th amendment Mar 4, 1801 Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated the third President of the United States Jan 1, 1803 Thomas Jefferson approves the purchase of Louisiana Jan 1, 1803 -Marbury vs. Madison tried before the Supreme Court, establishing judicial review May 1, 1804 Lewis and Clark set out from St. Louis to explore the American west Jun 15, 1804 Amendment 12-Election of Presidents and Vice President Jul 1, 1804 Federalist leader, Alexander Hamilton, killed in a duel with Republican, Aaron Burr Nov 15, 1805 Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific Ocean Sep 9, 1806 Lewis and Clark return to St. Louis Jan 1, 1807 Congress passes the Non intercourse Act to replace the Embargo Act Apr 18, 1807 Thomas Jefferson persuades Congress to pass the Embargo Act Mar 4, 1809 Congress passes the Non intercourse Act to replace the Embargo Act Jun 1, 1812 President Madison asks Congress to declare war on Britain Aug 1, 1812 The American ship, the Constitution, battles the British ship, Guerriere, in the north Atlantic near the beginning of the War of 1812 Sep 10, 1812 Battle of Lake Erie Jan 1, 1814 Britain defeats France in the war in Europe Mar 27, 1814 Battle of Horseshoe Bend Aug 24, 1814 British troops capture Washington, DC Jan 8, 1815 Battle of New Orleans Dec 24, 1815 Treaty of Ghent signed Jan 1, 1818 US and Britain avoid war over Oregon Country by splitting it with Britain at latitude 49N Jan 1, 1820 Stephen Austin is given a land grant and leads settlers into Texas Jan 1, 1820 Missouri Compromise Jan 1, 1820 Joseph Smith is killed, Mormons choose Brigham Young as their leader Jan 1, 1830 -Joseph Smith founds the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Jan 1, 1831 Nat Turner's Rebellion May 22, 1831 Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes "Uncle Tom's Cabin Jan 1, 1836 General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna comes to power in Mexico Feb 23, 1836 Mexican troops begin a siege of the Alamo Mar 2, 1836 Texans declare independence from Mexico Apr 21, 1836 Battle of San Jacinto is won by Sam Houston Jan 1, 1840 Brigham Young moves the Mormons from Illinois to Utah for safety Jan 1, 1844 Manifest Destiny plays important role in election of James K Polk as President Dec 29, 1845 Congress passes resolution to admit Texas to the Union Jan 1, 1846 US and Britain reach agreement to jointly occupy Oregon May 1, 1846 Fighting at Rio Grande sparks beginning of Mexican War May 13, 1846 President Polk orders troops into disputed area along Rio Grande Jan 24, 1848 The "forty-niners" make the long journey to California in search of gold Feb 2, 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo signed, ending the Mexican War, and forcing Mexico to cede California and New Mexico to the United States May 1, 1848 John Sutter strikes gold at his sawmill on the American River in California Jan 1, 1850 Compromise of 1850 Sep 9, 1850 California is admitted to the Union as a free state Dec 1, 1853 The Gadsden Purchase is made, with the US paying Mexico $10 million for a strip of land to finish building a railroad Jan 1, 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act Jan 1, 1854 "Bleeding Kansas" Mar 6, 1857 Dred Scott Decision Jan 1, 1858 Lincoln-Douglas Debates Jan 1, 1859 John Brown's Raid of Harpers Ferry, Virginia Dec 20, 1860 Secession of South Carolina Apr 12, 1861 Firing on Fort Sumter Apr 16, 1861 Virginia joins the Confederacy Jul 21, 1861 Battle of Bull Run of First Manassas Nov 1, 1861 Lincoln is elected 16th President of the United States Jan 2, 1862 Battle of Murfreesboro Feb 1, 1862 Battles at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson Apr 6, 1862 Battle of Shiloh May 1, 1862 Jackson's Valley Campaign Aug 28, 1862 Second Manassas Sep 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam Oct 8, 1862 Battle of Chaplin Hills Dec 11, 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg Jan 1, 1863 Emancipation Proclamation May 1, 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville May 18, 1863 Siege of Vicksburg May 22, 1863 General Order 143 Jul 1, 1863 Battle of Gettysburg Feb 1, 1864 Reelection of Lincoln May 1, 1864 Atlanta Campaign May 1, 1864 Overland Campaign Jun 1, 1864 Siege of Petersburg Nov 1, 1864 March to the Sea Apr 7, 1865 Lee's Army surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse Apr 14, 1865 -Lincoln is assassinated Apr 26, 1865 Joseph Johnston's Army surrenders Jun 1, 1865 Gettysburg Address Dec 6, 1865 Amendment 13- Abolition of Slavery Jul 9, 1868 Amendment 14 - Rights to Citizen Feb 2, 1870 15th Amendment- Voting Rights Jan 1, 1893 Lewis and Clark return to St. Louis Feb 3, 1913 16th Amendment- The Income Tax Apr 8, 1913 17th Amendment-Direct Election of Senators Jan 16, 1919 -18th Amendment - Prohibition of Alcoholic Beverages Aug 18, 1920 -19th Amendment - Women's Suffrage Jan 23, 1933 -20th Amendment - Presidential Terms; Sessions of Congress Dec 5, 1933 -21st Amendment - Repeal of 18th Amendment (Prohibition) Mar 1, 1951 -22nd Amendment - Limit on number of President's Terms Apr 3, 1961 -23rd Amendment - Presidential Electors for District of Columbia Jan 23, 1964 -24th Amendment - Abolition of Poll Tax in National Elections Feb 11, 1967 -25th Amendment - Presidential Succession and Disability Jul 1, 1971 -26th Amendment - Voting Age May 7, 1992 -27th Amendment - Congressional Pay Increase
