US History A Timeline By Charlotte Jensen Oct 12, 1492 The Discovery of America by Columbus May 13, 1607 The Settlement of Jamestown Period: 1754 to 1763 The French and Indian War Dec 16, 1773 The Boston Tea Party Apr 19, 1775 The Battle of Lexington and Concord Jul 4, 1776 The Declaration of Independence Period: Sep 28, 1781 to Oct 19, 1881 The Battle of Yorktown Period: May 25, 1787 to Sep 17, 1787 The Constitutional Convention 1793 The Invention of the Cotton Gin 1798 The Alien and Sedition Acts Apr 30, 1803 The Louisiana Purchase Period: Jun 18, 1812 to Feb 18, 1815 The War of 1812 1820 The Missouri Compromise 1828 Andrew Jackson’s Election Period: 1831 to 1877 The Trail of Tears Period: 1837 to 1843 The Panic of 1837 May 24, 1844 The Invention of the Telegraph Period: Apr 25, 1846 to Feb 2, 1848 The Mexican-American War 1849 The Invention of the Telephone 1850 The Compromise of 1850 Period: Apr 12, 1861 to Apr 13, 1861 The Firing on Fort Sumter Jan 1, 1863 The Emancipation Proclamation Jan 13, 1865 The 13th Amendment Apr 9, 1865 Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse Apr 15, 1865 Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination Jun 13, 1866 The 14th Amendment Passed June 13, 1866 Ratified July 9, 1868 Feb 24, 1868 Andrew Johnson’s Impeachment Feb 26, 1869 The 15th Amendment Passed February 26, 1869 Ratified February 3, 1870 1870 The Organization of Standard Oil Trust Nov 18, 1879 The Invention of the Electric Light Jul 1, 1892 The Pullman and Homestead Strikes Period: Apr 21, 1898 to Dec 10, 1898 The Spanish-American War Sep 14, 1901 Theodore Roosevelt becomes president Dec 17, 1903 The Invention of the Airplane