US History By hpatrick Jun 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 Tecochtitlan, beginning the fall of the Aztec Empire Jan 1, 1607 Virginia founded Jan 1, 1620 Massachusetts founded Jan 1, 1620 The Mayflower Compact, the first document of self-government in North America, is written by Pilgrim leaders in Plymouth Jan 1, 1622 New Hampshire founded Jan 1, 1624 New York founded Jan 1, 1632 Maryland founded Jan 1, 1636 Connecticut founded Jan 1, 1636 Rhode Island founded Jan 1, 1636 Carolinas founded Jan 1, 1638 Delaware founded Jan 1, 1664 New Jersey founded Jan 1, 1682 Pennsylvania founded Jan 1, 1689 The English Bill of rights is written to limit the monarchy and protect the rights of citizens Jan 1, 1690 John Locke publishes "Two Treatises on Government" Jan 1, 1712 North Carolina founded Jan 1, 1712 South Carolina founded Oct 17, 1717 British troops surrender at Saratoga Jan 1, 1732 Georgia 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 battle of Fort Necessity Jan 17, 1755 French troops defeat General Braddock Sep 18, 1759 Quebec surrenders to the British Jan 1, 1760 British troops take Montreal ending the French and Indian war fighting in North America Jan 1, 1763 Treaty of Paris is signed between Britain and France, ending the French and Indian war Jan 1, 1764 Sugar Act Jan 1, 1765 Stamp act May 1, 1767 Townshend acts Jan 1, 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 Intolerable Acts Sep 1, 1774 First Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia Apr 1, 1775 "The shot heard round the world' is fired in Lexington May 16, 1775 Second continental Congress meets in Philadelphia Jun 16, 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill Nov 1, 1775 Amercian troops seize Montreal Dec 1, 1775 American troops fail to take Quebec Jan 1, 1776 Thomas Paine writes Common Sense Jul 4, 1776 Continental Congress accepts the Declaration of Independence Jan 1, 1777 Articles of Confederation is written Sep 1, 1780 Benedict Arnold turns traitor to the American cause Oct 7, 1780 American troops captures King's mountain Jan 1, 1781 Article of Confederation go into effect Oct 19, 1781 British troops surrender at Yorktown Apr 1, 1783 Treaty of Paris is ratified by Congress, ending the Revolutionary War Jan 1, 1784 The "Empress of China" becomes the first American ship to trade with China Jan 1, 1784 Baron de Montesquieu publishes "The Spirit of the Laws," urging that the government power be divided into three branches Jan 1, 1785 Law 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 Constitutional convention Dec 1, 1787 Delaware becomes first state to ratify the US Constitution Jun 1, 1788 New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the US Constitution, allowing it to go into effect Jul 4, 1788 Citizens of Philadelphia celebrate the ratification of the US Constitution with a festival Jan 1, 1789 Congress creates the first five executive departments Jan 1, 1789 Congress passes the Judiciary Act to organize the federal court system 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 Jan 1, 1791 Congress creates the first Bank of the United States Dec 1, 1791 Three fourths of the states ratify the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which become known as the Bill of Rights 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 1, 1793 Washington issues the Neutrality Proclamation Jan 1, 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion Jan 23, 1795 11th Amendment - Suits against States Jan 1, 1796 George Washington publishes his Farewell Address Jan 1, 1797 John Adams is inaugurated as our 2nd President Jan 1, 1797 France seizes American ships trading in the French West Indies Jan 1, 1798 XYZ Affair Jan 1, 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts passed Jan 1, 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 Jan 1, 1801 Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated the third President of the United States Jan 1, 1803 Marbury v. Madison tried before the Supreme Court, establishing judicial review Jan 1, 1803 Thomas Jefferson approves the purchase of Louisiana Jan 1, 1804 Federalist leader, Alexander Hamilton, killed in a duel with Republican, Aaron Burr Jan 1, 1804 Federalist leader, Alexander Hamilton, killed in a duel with Republican, Aaron Burr May 1, 1804 Lewis and Clark set out from St. Louis to explore the American west Jun 15, 1804 12th Amendment - Election of President and Vice President Nov 7, 1805 Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific Ocean Jan 1, 1806 Lewis and Clark return to St. Louis Nov 1, 1806 Zebulon Pike views a mountain peak rising above the Colorado plains, which becomes known as "Pikes Peak" Jan 1, 1807 Thomas Jefferson persuades Congress to pass the Embargo Act Jan 1, 1808 James Madison wins the election and becomes our fourth President 0 Jan 1, 1809 Congress passes the Nonintercourse 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 1, 1813 Battle of Lake Erie Jan 1, 1814 Battle of Horseshoe Bend Jan 1, 1814 Britain defeats France in the war in Europe Jul 1, 1814 British troops capture Washington, DC Nov 1, 1814 Battle of New Orleans Dec 24, 1814 Treaty of Ghent signed Jan 1, 1818 US and Britain reach agreement to jointly occupy Oregon Jan 1, 1820 Missouri Compromise Jan 1, 1821 Stephen Austin is given a land grant and leads settlers into Texas May 22, 1821 William Becknell leads group of traders from Missouri to New Mexico Jan 1, 1830 Joseph Smith founds the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Jan 1, 1831 Nat Turner's Rebellion Jan 1, 1833 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 Manifest Destiny plays important role in election of James K Polk as President Jan 1, 1840 Brigham Young moves the Mormons from Illinois to Utah for safety Jan 1, 1844 Joseph Smith is killed, Mormons choose Brigham Young as their leader Jan 1, 1845 Congress passes resolution to admit Texas to the Union Jan 1, 1846 US and Britain avoid war over Oregon Country by splitting it with Britain at latitude 49N Jan 1, 1846 President Polk orders troops into disputed area along Rio Grande Apr 1, 1846 Fighting at Rio Grande sparks beginning of Mexican War Jan 1, 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo signed, ending the Mexican War, and forcing Mexico to cede California and New Mexico to the United States Jan 1, 1848 John Sutter strikes gold at his sawmill on the American River in California May 23, 1849 The "forty-niners" make the long journey to California in search of gold Jan 1, 1850 California is admitted to the Union as a free state Jan 1, 1850 Compromise of 1850 Jan 1, 1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes "Uncle Tom's Cabin" Jan 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, 1856 "Bleeding Kansas" Jan 1, 1857 Dred Scott Decision Jan 1, 1858 Lincoln-Douglas Debates Jan 1, 1859 John Brown's Raid of Harpers Ferry, Virginia Nov 6, 1860 Lincoln is elected 16th President of the United States Dec 20, 1860 Secession of South Carolina Apr 12, 1861 Firing on Fort Sumter Apr 17, 1861 Virginia joins the Confederacy Jul 21, 1861 Battle of Bull Run of First Manassas Feb 6, 1862 Battles at Fort Henry and Fort Donels Mar 1, 1862 Jackson's Valley Campaign Apr 6, 1862 Battle of Shiloh Aug 28, 1862 Second Manassas Sep 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam Sep 22, 1862 Emancipation Proclamation Oct 8, 1862 Battle of Chaplin Hills Dec 13, 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg Dec 31, 1862 Battle of Murfreesboro Apr 30, 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville May 18, 1863 Siege of Vicksburg May 22, 1863 General Order 143 Jul 1, 1863 Battle of Gettysburg Nov 19, 1863 Gettysburg Address May 1, 1864 Overland Campaign May 1, 1864 Atlanta Campaign Jul 1, 1864 Siege of Petersburg Sep 1, 1864 March to the Sea Nov 1, 1864 Reelection of Lincoln Apr 9, 1865 Lee's Army surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse Apr 14, 1865 Lincoln is assassinated Apr 26, 1865 Joseph Johnston's Army surrenders Dec 6, 1865 13th Amendment - Abolition of Slavery Jul 9, 1868 14th Amendment - Rights of Citizens Feb 2, 1870 15th Amendment - Voting Rights 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
