-
-
Columbus sailed from Spain, connecting the Old and New Worlds, initiating European exploration and colonization of the Americas, although Columbus never set foot in what is now the United States. -
The first permanent English settlement in North America was established in Virginia. Despite early hardships, it became the foundation for English colonization of the continent. -
This conflict between Britain and France (with their respective Native American allies) was fought over control of North American territory. Britain's victory gave them dominance over eastern North America but left them heavily in debt. -
American colonists, protesting the Tea Act and taxation without representation, dumped British tea into Boston Harbor. This act of defiance escalated tensions between Britain and the American colonies. -
These were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War between British troops and colonial militia. The "shot heard round the world" marked the beginning of armed rebellion against British rule. -
The Continental Congress formally declared the thirteen American colonies independent from British rule. This document, primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, articulated the philosophical basis for American independence. -
This decisive battle saw British General Cornwallis surrender to American and French forces, effectively ending major combat in the Revolutionary War. It secured American independence from Britain. -
Delegates from twelve states met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation but instead created an entirely new Constitution. This document established the framework for the federal government that still governs the United States today. -
Eli Whitney invented a machine that quickly separated cotton fibers from seeds, revolutionizing cotton production. This invention inadvertently strengthened the institution of slavery by making cotton cultivation highly profitable. -
These four laws, passed during tensions with France, extended residency requirements for citizenship and criminalized criticism of the government. They were controversial and seen by many as violations of First Amendment rights. -
President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million, doubling the size of the United States. This acquisition opened vast territories for westward expansion. -
Often called the "Second War of Independence," this conflict arose from British interference with American shipping and impressment of sailors. The war ended in a draw but boosted American nationalism and confirmed independence. -
This agreement admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state while prohibiting slavery north of the 36°30' line in future territories. It temporarily resolved tensions over slavery's expansion but highlighted growing sectional divisions. -
Jackson's victory marked the rise of the "common man" in American politics and the beginning of the modern Democratic Party. His presidency emphasized populism and expanded presidential power. -
The forced removal of Cherokee and other Native American tribes from their ancestral lands to territories west of the Mississippi River. Thousands died during the brutal journey, making it one of the darkest chapters in American history. -
A severe economic depression caused by speculation, inflation, and banking policies lasted until the mid-1840s. It was one of the worst financial crises in early American history. -
The invention of the telegraph Samuel Morse's telegraph system revolutionized long-distance communication by transmitting messages instantly over wires. This technology transformed business, journalism, and personal communication across the nation. -
This conflict, driven by American expansionism and the annexation of Texas, resulted in U.S. victory and the acquisition of vast southwestern territories. The war fulfilled the concept of Manifest Destiny but intensified debates over slavery in new territories. -
This series of five bills temporarily resolved the slavery question by admitting California as a free state while strengthening fugitive slave laws. It delayed but did not prevent the eventual crisis over slavery. -
The Firing on Fort Sumter Confederate forces attacked this federal fort in South Carolina, marking the beginning of the Civil War. The bombardment ended without casualties but initiated four years of devastating conflict. -
President Lincoln's executive order freed slaves in rebellious states, transforming the Civil War from a conflict about union to one about slavery and freedom. It paved the way for the complete abolition of slavery. -
These Reconstruction amendments abolished slavery, granted citizenship to former slaves, and prohibited voting discrimination based on race. They fundamentally transformed the Constitution and American society. -
Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War. The generous surrender terms helped begin the process of national reconciliation. -
President Lincoln was shot by actor John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre, just days after the war's end. His death martyred him and complicated the Reconstruction process. -
The House impeached President Johnson for violating the Tenure of Office Act during conflicts over Reconstruction policies. The Senate acquitted him by one vote, but the crisis highlighted tensions between executive and legislative branches. -
Alexander Graham Bell revolutionized long-distance communication by transmitting the human voice over electrical wires for the first time. -
Thomas Edison developed the first practical incandescent light bulb, revolutionizing how people lived and worked by extending productive hours beyond daylight. While Edison didn't invent the light bulb itself, he perfected it and created the complete system that brought electric lighting to the world. -
John D. Rockefeller created the first major business trust, controlling about 90% of U.S. oil refining. This monopolistic practice sparked public concern about corporate power and led to antitrust legislation. -
The Homestead Strike at Carnegie Steel and the Pullman Strike at the Pullman railroad car company were major labor disputes that ended in violent government suppression, highlighting the intense conflicts between industrial workers and corporate power during the Gilded Age. -
This brief conflict, sparked by the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, resulted in American victory and acquisition of overseas territories. It marked America's emergence as a global imperial power. -
Following McKinley's assassination, the 42-year-old Roosevelt became the youngest president in American history. His progressive policies and energetic leadership style transformed the presidency and American politics. -
Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first powered, sustained, and controlled airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, launching the age of aviation and transforming transportation forever.