US history timeline 1 By Naomi McGarry Oct 12, 1492 Columbus found america Period: Oct 12, 1492 to 1870 US history timeline 1 May 14, 1607 The settlement of Jamestown 1754 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 Decleration of Independence Sep 28, 1781 The battle of Yorktown May 25, 1787 The Constitutional convention 1793 The invention of cotton gin Jun 25, 1798 Alien and sedition acts Apr 30, 1803 The Lousiana purchase Jun 18, 1812 The war of 1812 Mar 3, 1820 The Missouri compromise Oct 31, 1827 Andrew Jacksons election 1837 The trail of tears May 10, 1837 The panic of 1837 Jan 11, 1838 The invention of the telegraph May 13, 1846 The Mexican-American war Jan 29, 1850 The compromise of 1850 Apr 12, 1861 The firing of Fort Sumpter Jan 1, 1863 The emancipation proclamation Jan 31, 1865 The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments Apr 9, 1865 The surrender at Appomattox courthouse Apr 14, 1865 Abraham Lincolns assassination Feb 24, 1868 Andrew Johnsons impeachment 1870 The invention of the electric light, telephone, and airplane 1880 The organization of standard oil trust 1892 The Homestead strike 1894 The Pullman strike Apr 25, 1898 The Spanish-American war Sep 14, 1901 Theodore Roosevelt became president