US history timeline By bensco 1492 The Discovery of America by Columbus May 14, 1607 The Settlement of Jamestown 1754 The French and Indian War Dec 16, 1773 The Boston Tea Party Apr 15, 1775 The Battle of Lexington and Concord Aug 2, 1776 The Declaration of Independence Sep 28, 1781 The Battle of Yorktown 1787 The Constitutional Convention 1794 The invention of the cotton gin 1798 The Alien and Sedition Acts 1803 The Louisiana Purchase 1812 The War of 1812 Mar 2, 1819 The Missouri Compromise 1828 Andrew Jackson’s Election 1837 The Trail of Tears May 10, 1837 The Panic of 1837 1843 The invention of the telegraph Apr 26, 1846 The Mexican-American War 1850 The Compromise of 1850 Apr 12, 1861 The Firing on Fort Sumter Jan 1, 1863 The Emancipation Proclamation Jan 31, 1865 13th amendment Apr 9, 1865 Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse Apr 15, 1865 Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination Jun 8, 1866 14th amendment Feb 24, 1868 Andrew Johnson’s Impeachment Feb 26, 1869 15th amendment 1876 Invention of telephone 1879 The invention of the electric light 1882 The Organization of Standard Oil Trust 1894 The Pullman and Homestead Strikes 1898 The Spanish-American War 1901 Theodore Roosevelt becomes president Dec 17, 1903 Invention of the airplane