US History Timeline

  • Lost Colony

    Lost Colony
    The Lost Colony was founded on Roanoke Island off the North Carolina coast by Sir Walter Raleigh, but the settlers were later found to have disappeared in 1590.
  • Period: to

    US History

  • Jamestown

    Jamestown
    Jamestown was founded on the Virginia Coast in 1607, and was the first perminant settlement in the New World.
  • House of Burgesses

    House of Burgesses
    The first official assembly, the House of Burgesses, was elected on July 30 at Jamestown, Virginia.
  • The Pilgrims

    The Pilgrims
    The Pilgrims left Plymouth, England on September 16 on the Mayflower to escape religious persecution. 103 Pilgrims landed on December 26, and the Mayflower Compact was signed as the first agreement of self-government.
  • Providence, Rhode Island

    Providence,  Rhode Island
    Providence, RI was founded by Roger Williams as a democtatic colony with the separation of the church and the state.
  • Navigation Act

    Navigation Act
    The Parliment passed the first Navigation Act, which regulated colonial commerce to suit English needs.
  • Rebellion & Bloody War

    Rebellion & Bloody War
    Nathaniel Bacon led farmers against British general, and ended up burning down Jamestown. The Bloody war in New England ended, and Kind Phillip and his followers were killed.
  • Deleware Treaty

    Deleware Treaty
    William Penn signes a treaty with the Deleware Indians and paid for Pennsylvania lands. German colonists then settled near Pennsylvania.
  • Witches & Execution

    Witches & Execution
    Witches were suspected in Salem, and were executed in the Special Court after being found guilty for witchcraftery.
  • Almanack

    Almanack
    Benjamin Franklin wrote and published the first Poor Richard's Almanack, which was published every year after after that until 1757.
  • Libel Controversey

    Libel Controversey
    John Peter Zenger, an editor, was relieved of the charge of libel after criticising a British govenor's edicate in office.
  • Great Awakening

    Great Awakening
    A famous religious speech,"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", was spoken at Enfield, MA by pastor Jonathan Edwards.
  • Plan of Union & French and Indian War

     Plan of Union & French and Indian War
    Delegates from 7 colonies passed the plan of union by Benjamin Franklin, but was rejected by the colonies. The French and Indian war began on Oct. 8, 1775. French lost Canada and the Midwest.
  • Sugar Act

    Sugar Act
    The Sugar Act, an act to tax sugar and other goods, was passed to pay off the French and Indian War debts.
  • Stamp Act & Quartering Act

    Stamp Act & Quartering Act
    The Stamp Act was passed to help fund royal troops. The Stamp Act was eventually repealed in March 17, 1766. The Quartering Act, a law that required citizens to house, care for, and feed British Soldiers, was passed on March 24.
  • Townshend Acts

    Townshend Acts
    The Towshend Acts were passed to tax glass, paiter's lead, paper, and tea.
  • The Boston Massacre

    The Boston Massacre
    British troops fired into a rebelious Boston Mob and killed 5 citizens, in what would later be called the Boston Bassacre.
  • The Boston Tea Party

    The Boston Tea Party
    A rebellion group, called the Sons of Liberty, boarded a British ship and threw crates of their tea overboard as an opposition to the British taxes.
  • Intolerable Acts

    Intolerable Acts
    The Intolerable Acts, made by the British Parliment, took away the fact that Massachusetts was self-rule, and cut off the use of the Boston Harber until the tea was paid for.
  • Liberty or Death & Paul Revere

    Liberty or Death & Paul Revere
    Patrick Henry gave a speech, with a line that would later be known around the world; "Give me liberty or give me death!" Paul Revere rode into the colonies to warn the citizens that the British were on their way, and the british took 273 casualties while the American Minutemen took 8.
  • Common Sense

    Common Sense
    The Republican 'Common Sense' was published and quickly sold 100,000 copies. France and Spain agree to provide arms to America.
  • Cornwallis & Articles of Confederation

    Cornwallis & Articles of Confederation
    Washington beat Lord Cornwallis in Pricetown on Jan 3, and authorized the American Flag. The Articles of Confederation were approved by the Continental Congress.
  • JPJ

    JPJ
    John Paul Jones, known as JPJ, defeacet the boar Serapis in the British sea waters, which would be an important naval victory.
  • Paris Peace Treaty

    Paris Peace Treaty
    The Paris Peace Treaty was signed, which aknowledged American Independence, and was ratified in Congress on January 14. Washington ordered his army to disband and ciese attack.
  • Shay's Rebellion

    Shay's Rebellion
    A group of farmers who were in debt rebelled in what would be known as Shay's Rebellion. The Northwest Ordinance was approved by the Continental Congress, which supported stronger schools and no slavery. The first Contitustional Convention
  • First National Congress, Departments, & Supreme Court

    First National Congress, Departments, & Supreme Court
    The First National Congress met for the first time at the Federal Hall on March 4. The U.S. State Deptartment was established by Congress on July 27, the War Department August 7, and the Treasury Department September 2. The Supreme Court was created my the Judiciary Act, and was confirmed on September 26.
  • Bill Of Rights & First Bank

    Bill Of Rights & First Bank
    The Bill of Rights was sent to the United States, and was passed on December 15. The First Bank of the U.S. was created.
  • Washington's Second Term & Cotton Gin

    Washington's Second Term & Cotton Gin
    Washington was sworn into his second term as President of the United States on March 4, and declared the United States as neutral in the war between Britian and France. Eli Whitney invented the almighty cotton gin which increased slavery in the South.
  • Whiskey Rebellion & John Jay's Treaty

    Whiskey Rebellion & John Jay's Treaty
    The Whiskey Rebellion occured, where rural farmers protested the Liquor Tax of 1791. John Jay passed a treaty that called for a long-term nutrality with Britain.
  • Washington's Farewell

    Washington's Farewell
    Washington gave a goodbye speech after his Presidental term expired, which warned the U.S. to avoid perminant treaties with foreign countries and big public dept.
  • Alien and Sedition Acts & War Threats

    Alien and Sedition Acts & War Threats
    The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by the Federalists which aimed to stop political opposition. The U.S. was threatened by a War with France over the French raiding U.S. cargo ships and the rejection of the U.S. diplomats.
  • Thomas Jefferson & Aaron Burr

    Thomas Jefferson & Aaron Burr
    Thomas Jefferson had recieved the same amount of electoral votes as Burr in the Presidental Election, but Jefferson won the election and Burr was sworn in as Vice President.
  • Marbury v. Madison & Louisiana Purchase

    Marbury v. Madison & Louisiana Purchase
    In the case of Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court overturned a U.S. law for the first time in history. The Louisiana Purchase was sold to the United States for $3,750,000 and nearly doubled the size of the U.S.
  • Lewis and Clark & Hamilton's Death

    Lewis and Clark & Hamilton's Death
    The Lewis and Clark expedition began, which covered the entire Louisiana Purchase and explored the new half of the Nation. Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton after he tried to sabatoge the election against him.
  • Steamboat & Embargo Act

    Steamboat & Embargo Act
    The first realistic steamboat trip was taken, and reached a destination 150mi. away in 32 hours. The Embargo Act was passed and banned all foreign trade, and blockaded all export and import ships from distributing products.
  • War of 1812

    War of 1812
    The War of 1812 began because the United States was not aware that the blockade that Britain had passed was lifted, and tensions grew stronger every day so America declared war on Britain on June 18.
  • Battle of Lake Erie

    Battle of Lake Erie
    The Americans defeated the British in the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10.
  • Burning of the White House & The Star-Spangled Banner

    Burning of the White House & The Star-Spangled Banner
    The British landed in Maryland and burnt down the Capitol and the White House, but the Maryland militia stopped any further British damage. The fights between the British and America inspired Francis Scott Key to write The Star-Spangled Banner.
  • Florida

    Florida
    Spain ceded Florida to the United States, increasing the size of the United States.
  • Monroe doctrine

    Monroe doctrine
    The Moroe Doctrine was approved in the United States, which prevented further European intervention.
  • Webster-Hayne Debate & Indian Removal Act

    Webster-Hayne Debate & Indian Removal Act
    A famous debate between Daniel Webster and Robert Hayne occured ofer the right of nullificaton. Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act, which provided land and pay to Indians who agreed to move West.
  • Slave Rebellion

    Slave Rebellion
    A slave named Nat Turner led a rebellion against white families, killing 57 family members and resulted in all the surviving slaves to be hanged.
  • Trail O' Tears

    Trail O' Tears
    Cherokee Indians were forced to walk West, on which many of them died from famine and disease, on what would later be called the "Trail of Tears" for obvious reasons.
  • First Telegraph

    First Telegraph
    The first telegraph message was sent and recieved on May 24 from Washington to Baltimore.
  • Mexican War & Oregon Territory

    Mexican War & Oregon Territory
    The Mexican War began when the United States tried to reclaim Texan territories which were taken by Mexico, and after border clashes, the U.S. declared War on Mexico. A Treaty with Britain was approved to set the border of Oregon above the 49th parallel.
  • California Gold Rush & Women's Rights Convention

    California Gold Rush & Women's Rights Convention
    Thousands of citizens rushed to California in hopes of riches after gold was found. Lucretia Mott and Wlizabeth Cady Stanton held the Women's Rights Convention.
  • Compromise of 1850

    Compromise of 1850
    The Compromise of 1850 admitted California as a free state, which made the Fugitive Slave Law more harsh.
  • Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Uncle Tom's Cabin
    Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Toms Cabin which talked controversally about slavery.
  • Republican Party & Gadsden Purchase

    Republican Party & Gadsden Purchase
    The Republican Party was formed, which opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The Gadsden Purchase occured, which gave the United States a strip of land from Mexico.
  • Dred Scott

    Dred Scott
    The Case of Dred Scott ended with the outcome that slaves did not become free in a free state and blacks could not be citizens.
  • Harpers Ferry

    Harpers Ferry
    John Brown, along with 21 other followers, seized armory at Harpers Ferry.
  • Abraham Lincoln

    Abraham Lincoln
    Abraham Lincoln was sworn into office out of a 4-way race.
  • Confederate States of America & Transcontinental Telegraph

    Confederate States of America & Transcontinental Telegraph
    The Confederate States of America was created with Jefferson Davis as their president. The First Transcontinental Telegraph Line was put into effect.
  • Battle of Antietam & Homestead Act

    Battle of Antietam & Homestead Act
    The Battle of Antitam occured, and was one of the bloodiest one-day battles in the war, as each side suffered over 2,000 casualties. The Homestead Act, which gave farmers free land, was passed.
  • Gettysburg Address & Thanksgiving

    Gettysburg Address & Thanksgiving
    Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address after a victory at Gettysburg, PA. Thanksgiving was declared a National holiday.
  • Surrender, Lincolns Death, & 13th Amendment

    Surrender, Lincolns Death, & 13th Amendment
    Robert E. Lee surrendered 27,800 Confederate soldiers to Grant at the Appomattox Court House, while Johnston surrendered 31,200 to Sherman. Lincoln was shot by Joh Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theater, and Andrew Johnson was sworn in as president. The 13 amendment was passed, which abolished slavery.
  • 14th Amendment

    14th Amendment
    The 14th Amendment was passed which declared all people born or naturalized in the U.S. as a citizen.
  • 15th Amendment

    15th Amendment
    The 15th Amenment was passed which gave ALL citizens the right to vote.
  • Red Cross

    Red Cross
    The Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton on May 21.