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Jan 1, 1492
Christopher Columbus arrives in America
Christopher Columbus was an Italian born explorer. He had an enormous impact on the historical development of the modern Western world. -
Jan 1, 1518
Hernando Cortes
In 1518, Hernando Cortes led a small military expedition against the Aztecs of Mexico, and their powerful emperor Montezuma. Their first assault on the Aztec capital failed; however, he later returned to the Aztec capital. -
British establish Jamestown
Jamestown was founded in 1607 by the London Company. It was the first permanent settlement. -
Birth of American Slavery
The labor needed to grow tobacco for the colony brought on the birth of American Slavery. Slavery during this time was not defined by race. -
Pilgrims found Plymouth Colony
The Plymouth colony was founded by the Puritans. Their voyage set out for Virginia but landed in Massachusetts instead. The Plymouth colony is well known as being the location of the first Thanksgiving. -
"Act Concerning Religion"
The “Act Concerning Religion” was passed in 1649. It is also known as The Maryland Toleration Act. It provided the freedom to worship for all Christians. -
Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were a series of Acts passes by Great Britain regulating trade between Europe and the American colonies. The Acts were the start of problems that alienated the colonists and created a divide between England and the colonies. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon’s Rebellion was led by Nathaniel Bacon. About a thousand Virginians rose because they resented Virginia Governor William Berkeley's friendly policies towards the Native Americans. This rebellion is responsible for the racial component of slavery. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials were trials held for women being accused of witchcraft. During this time, people believed that witchcraft was entirely possible. The witch hunts and Salem Witch Trials were an example of the societal effect that war, disease and poor economic times had on the societies. -
Seven Years War begins
Originally called the French and Indian War, the Seven Years War began over differences in interests between France and Britain. This war was a very significant event for the settlers because it was the first time the colonist found themselves working together. -
British win Seven Years War
The British were successful in the Seven Years War. The Seven Years War is significant because it was the first time that the American Colonists found themselves working together. However, the end of the war left many unresolved issues. British and Americans disagreed over who should pay for the war efforts. -
Proclamation of 1763
The British government, in fear of an escalation of fighting that could affect the western trade, said that settlers were not allowed to advance beyond the Appalachian Mountains. In the end, the Americans did not like being told what to do so they decided to ignore the Proclamation of 1763. -
Sugar and Currency Acts
The enforced tax on molasses caused the almost immediate decline in the rum industry in the colonies. In addition, this tax evidently hurt the trade with other countries. In the end, the colonists vehemently opposed these acts by the British Parliament. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was the first serious attempt to assert government authority over the colonies. Colonists were outraged against this act because they believed that they had fought in a British war and were not responsible for the debt -
Boston Massacre
One of the British soldiers became enraged after being hit by a snowball, The British soldiers fired into the crowd even though they were under orders not to fire. Five colonists were shot and killed in this event. -
Boston Tea Party
Three companies of fifty men disguised as Mohawk Indians climbed aboard the three ships, broke open the chests of tea and threw them into the Boston Harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
Due to the events of the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party, British Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts or Coercive Acts upon the colonists consisting of: the Boston Port Act, the Administration of Justice Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Quartering Act, and the Quebec Act. -
First Continental Congress
Delegates from all 13 colonies met in Philadelphia to discuss responses to the increased British oppression. The Continental Congress prepared a petition to King George III and asking for the king’s help in seeking a solution. -
American Revolution begins
At Concord, the minutemen forced the British to march back to Boston while they the minuteman fired at them the entire way. This ultimately was the beginning of the American Revolution. Nonetheless, the colonists were now at war with the British in order to fight for their independence. -
Declaration of Independence signed
Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on July 2nd, 1776 and was signed on July 4th, 1776. 56 delegates signed this historical document which became the most important document of the United States of America. -
Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
This was the ending to the Revolutionary war with the United States and France declaring victory over the British. -
Treaty of Paris
The Peace talks started in April of 1782 with Richard Oswald representing Great Britain and Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams representing America. Even though Spain and France were also there to do negotiations, Franklin knew that his main objective was to create peace with Great Britain. -
Shay's Rebellion
Daniel Shays was the leader of the uprising of poor Massachusetts farmers demanding relief from their indebtedness. -
United States Constitution written
Meetings were held in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation and decided to create a new document designed to define and separate the powers of the central government, the powers of the states, the rights of the people and how the representatives of the people should be elected. -
First Bank of U.S. chartered
The First Bank's charter was drafted in 1791 by the Congress and signed by George Washington -
George Washington becomes first President
On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated in New York and served two terms. -
Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin
Eli Whitney was an inventor who created a cotton gin that removed the seeds from short-staple cotton. Thus a single operator could clean more cotton in a few hours than a group of workers could do it in a day. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was fuel by angry farmers over an excise tax imposed on whiskey, in 1791 by the federal government, Farmers in western Pennsylvania engaged in a series of attacks on tax collectors. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Signed by President John Adams in 1797, the Alien and Sedition Acts consisted of four laws passed by the Federalist-controlled Congress as America prepared for war with France -
Election of Thomas Jefferson - "The Revolution of 1800"
In the election of 1800, Vice-President Thomas Jefferson defeated the present President John Adams. -
Louisiana Purchase
It is the largest single land purchase in American history which doubled the territory of the US. -
Lewis and Clark expedition
It was the first United States expedition to the Pacific Coast planned by Jefferson and led by Lewis and Clark. -
War of 1812
The War was declared by the president James Madison. It was a military conflict between the United States of America and the British Empire. The reasons included Britain’s seizure of American ships, impressments of American sailors into the British navy, restriction of trade between the United States and France, and British support of American Indian tribes against American expansion. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise ended the dispute over whether Missouri would enter the Union as a fee state or a slave state. -
Monroe Doctrine
The doctrine stated that American continents were no subject for further colonization by Europe. -
Indian Removal Act passes
In 1830, Jackson pushed a new legislation called the “Indian Removal Act”. It was the first major legislation that reversed the U.S. policy of respecting the rights of American Indians. -
Mexican War begins
The Mexican War began over the U.S. annexation of Texas. Mexico still considered the land part of their territory. The American army captured Mexico City, forcing Mexico to agree to the cessation of its northern territories to the U.S. -
California Gold Rush
Forty-niners, California migrants, abandoned their farms, jobs, homes, and families and piled onto to ships and flooded the overland trails. -
Compromise of 1850
Of the laws that were passed under this compromise, the Fugitive Slave Act was the most controversial because it required states to capture fugitive slaves and not let them have a trial by jury -
Civil War begins
With the first shots fired at Ft. Sumter, on April 12th, 1861, the Civil War began with the Confederates winning at Ft. Sumter. -
Homestead Act passes
The Homestead Act of 1862 permitted any citizen or prospective citizen to purchase 160 acres of public land for a small fee after living on it for five years. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War which freed the slaves inside the Confederacy -
13th Amendment outlaws slavery
13th Amendment passed at the end of the Civil War by Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in the U.S. -
First Civil Rights Act
The Congress passed The Civil Rights Act on 9th April 1866 declaring that all persons born in the United States were now citizens, without regard to race, color, or previous condition. It also gave the definition of American citizenship. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Supreme Court held the Louisiana segregation statute constitutional, and that "separate" facilities for blacks and whites were constitutional as long as they were "equal."
