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1492
The Discovery of America by Columbus
The year in which Christopher Columbus of Spain discovered America after attempting to sail around the world to the east indies. -
Aug 3, 1492
The Discovery of America by Columbus
The date on which Columbus, who was leading 3 ships with other crew members, made landfall on American shores, which he assumed to be the shores of the East Indies. -
The Settlement of Jamestown
While the British actually landed earlier than the date provided, I consider this date to be the true settlement of Jamestown, because it's the day they completed and moved into the fort. -
Start of the Seven Years/French Indian War
This is when the Seven Years War officially began with the British declaration of war against the French, although the two sides had been skirmishing over colonial territories in America for years now. -
End of the Seven Years/French Indian War
This marks the end of the Seven Years War with a peace conference held back in Europe, resulting in France (and also Spain) giving several large colonial territories to the British. -
Election of Andrew Jackson
The day Andrew Jackson was elected to the presidency of the United States. -
The Boston Tea Party
On this date, Samuel Adams and the 'Sons of Liberty' boarded a ship from the British owned 'East India Trading Company', and dumped 342 chests of tea overboard in protest of unfair taxation, and being forced to buy British goods at the exemption of all others. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
The first battles of the American Revolutionary War, in which a smaller and relatively untrained militia ultimately defeated 700 British troops who had been sent to confiscate colonial weaons. -
Declaration of Independence is Adopted by Congress
Although the document wasn't officially signed until almost a month later, it was adopted by congress on this date. -
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Battle of Yorktown/Siege of Yorktown
The last major land battle of the American Revolutionary War, resulting in a decisive victory for George Washington and the Continental Army. -
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The Constitutional Convention
About a years worth of meetings discussing the weak central government created by the articles of confederation. These meetings resulted in a stronger federal government with more clearly defined powers. -
The Invention of The Cotton Gin
This is the date Eli Whitney applied for a patent on his design of the cotton gin. Regardless of the fact that this patent remained ungranted for several years, this is generally considered the date that the first version of a cotton gin was finalized and ready to be used. -
The Alien and Sedition Acts
This marks the passing of laws further restricting the ability of immigrants to vote, and to enact harsh punishment against those who spoke out against the government in any way. -
The Invention of The Electric Light
The first electric light was created by Humphrey Davy, although Thomas Edison would later make huge improvements to it. -
The Louisiana Purchase
Although France didn't hand over control of these territories until December of the same year, this is the date that the purchase document was signed, giving The United States control over a large chunk of central North America, including Louisiana, Oklahoma, and several other states. -
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The War of 1812
A war that resulted primarily from British attempts to restrict United States trade, this saw the United States take heavy losses to British, Canadian, and Native American enemy forces. During the course of this conflict, the capital of Washington D.C. was also taken and burned to the ground. The US was eventually able to turn the tide, and push the invaders out. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a bill that allowed certain sections within the Louisiana territory to still keep slaves, while restricting others within that same territory. This was done in an attempt to keep the balance between slave and free states in congress. -
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The Panic of 1837
A financially difficult situation in the United states that marked the beginning of a major recession. This recession lasted until the mid 1840's. -
The Invention of The Telegraph
There's a general uncertainty about a specific date of the telegraphs invention, but Samuel Morse (the inventor) first demonstrated it on this date at the Speedwell Iron Works in New Jersey. -
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The Trail of Tears
An ongoing series of forced evacuations of Native American people from territory that had been originally designated as American Indian territory. -
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The Mexican American War
What started off as a border skirmish near the Rio Grande due to territory expansion by the United States ended up as a full fledged war between them and Mexico. The war resulted in Mexico losing a large part of its territory, allowing the US to claim territory all the way to the Pacific Coast. -
The Compromise of 1850
A collection of several laws passed in an attempt to diffuse growing tensions between slave states and free states. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
The first battle of the American civil war, in which Confederate artillery batteries fired on the sparsely populated Union Fort Sumter. Within about a day, the Union agreed to give up the fort and evacuate. This battle caused both the Union and the Confederacy to push for further military action. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
A proclamation made by United States President Abraham Lincoln that all slaves in rebelling territories would immediately become free on escape from a confederate territory, either by the slaves own doing, or by Union troops advancing and claiming the territory. -
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13th, 14th, 15th Amendments
Also known as the "Civil War Amendments", these were passed in order to gran equality to recently freed slaves after the Union victory of the Civil War. -
Surrender at Appomattox Court House
The final battle between Confederate States Army General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia before they were forced to surrender to the Union Army commanded by Ulysses S. Grant. This resulted in a series of surrenders by other parts of the Confederate Army, and ultimately a Union Victory in the Civil War. -
The Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln
The day President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth for his support of African American suffrage. -
Andrew Johnson's Impeachment
The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson was the first time a US president had been impeached. -
"Standard Oil" company is established
This marks the date of the founding of what was at the time the largest oil refinery and oil corporation in the world. It would grow to become one of the first and largest multinational corporations. -
The Invention of The Telephone
The telephone was invented some time during this year, and we know for a fact that it was first successfully used on March 10, 1876. -
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The Homestead Strikes
A series of strikes by unionized steel and iron workers in an attempt to improve their salary and working conditions. These strikes gathered lots of support, and at times became violent. -
The Pullman Strike
A nationwide Railroad strike in the US that began in Chicago, but spread quickly across the rest of the country. It was considered unsuccessful. -
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The Spanish American War
A conflict between Spain and the US started because of United States involvement in the Cuban revolution. It resulted in the turning over of several previously Spanish territories to the US. -
The Election of Theodore Roosevelt
This marks the election of Mr. Roosevelt to the presidency. He was regarded as a young and physically robust man, and helped present the US as a military superpower to the rest of the world. -
The Invention of The Airplane
Brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright successfully tested their airplane at Kitty Hawk on December 17, 1903