U.S. History

Christopher Columbus

Oct 11, 1492

After a month a sea, Christopher Columbus landed on what is now called the Bahamas.

Amerigo Vespucci

Jun 8, 1497

America is named after Amerigo Vespucci. He was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the East Indies like others thought including Christopher Columbus. His explorations along the eastern coastline of South America convinced him that a new continent had been discovered.

Jamestown, VA

May 14, 1607

Jamestown was founded by the London Virginia Company when three ships, Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery arrived at Jamestown on May 14, 1607. The crew of 104 men and boys began the first permanent English settlement in North America.

First Thanksgiving

Nov 18, 1621

In Plymouth Massachusetts the pilgrims had a feast after the harvest and invited many to eat . Native Americans definitely were among the invited guests.

Stamp Act

Apr 5, 1764

This Act put a three-cent tax on foreign sugar and increased taxes on coffee, indigo, and certain wines. Banning importation of rum and French wines, these taxes affected merchants because they were raised without the consent of the colonist.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

This was the first British tax on America. It taxed newspapers, pamphlet, and legal documents. They did not agree with the act by demonstrating and creating the Stamp Act Congress. It was repealed in March 1766.

Tea Act

May 10, 1773

East India Company monopolized the tea sales by only allowing Americans to buy from them. Americans felt this was taxation without representation and refused to unload tea from the ships.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

Angry with the tax on tea, the colonists dumped 342 crates of tea into the Boston harbour.

First Contiental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

Two groups of people from all over the 13 Colonies who came together to discuss liberty. The First Continental Congress was a group of 56 delegates from 12 colonies (all except Georgia) who met in Philadelphia in September of 1774. They came together to act together in response to the Intolerable Acts. They met in secret because they didn't want Great Britain to know that they were united.

Independence

Jul 4, 1776

Thomas Jefferson presents the United States Declaration of Independence

Articles of Confederation

Nov 15, 1777

Congress is made sole authority of the new national government.

George Washington

Apr 30, 1789

First President of United States

Bill of Rights Ratified

Sep 25, 1791

John Adams Second President

Apr 21, 1797