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Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 and discovered America.
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Jamestown the first permanent English settlement
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Before leaving their ship, the Mayflower, 41 male passengers signed theMayflower Compact. It was an agreement that formed the basis of the colony's government.
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Georgia was founded by James Oglethorpe.
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British troops fire into a mob killing five men which lead to intense public protests.
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A group of colonial patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians and boarded three ships at the Boston harbor and dumped more than 300 crates of tea overboard as a protest against the British tea tax.
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first battle that began the American Revolution
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Continental Congress adopts theDeclaration of Independencein Philadelphia.
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Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation, the first U.S. constitution
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Great Britain formally acknowledges American independence in theTreaty of Paris, which officially brings the war to a close.
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Constitutional Convention, made up of delegates from 12 of the original 13 colonies, meets in Philadelphia to draft theU.S. Constitution
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United States agrees to pay France $15 million for the Louisiana Territory, which extends west from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains.
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Lewis and Clark set out from St. Louis, on an expedition to explore the West and find a route to the Pacific Ocean.
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U.S. declares war on Britain over British interference with American maritime shipping and westward expansion.
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In an effort to maintain the balance between free and slave states, Maine (formerly part of Massachusetts) is admitted as a free state so that Missouri can be admitted as a slave state; except for Missouri, slavery is prohibited in the Louisiana Purchase lands north of latitude 36°30'
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In his annual address to Congress, President Monroe declares that the American continents are henceforth off-limits for further colonization by European powers
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Andrew Jackson is inaugurated as seventh president.
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President Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, which authorizes the forced removal of Native Americans living in the eastern part of the country to lands west of the Mississippi River
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Texas declares its independence from Mexico
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U.S. annexes Texas by joint resolution of Congress.
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Mexican War: U.S. declares war on Mexico in effort to gain California and other territory in Southwest.
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Oregon Treaty fixes U.S.-Canadian border at 49th parallel; U.S. acquires Oregon territory
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Gold is discovered at Sutter's Mill in California ; gold rush reaches its height the following year. The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began on January 24, 1848
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War concludes with signing of Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (Feb. 2, 1848).
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Women's rights convention is held at Seneca Falls, N.Y.
