US History Timeline From Columbus to The Great War

  • 1492

    Columbus Lands

  • Jamestown

    I'm assuming that they mean founded but I'm too lazy to do more than copy paste this date off the internet and there isn't actually much time today.
  • Period: to

    The seven year's/French Indian war

    Colonies of British America vs. colonies of New France, both sides had some Native American allies
  • Boston tea party

    You know what sucks? Having a war & then having to pay taxes afterward! Yeah, you're right man! How about we... not pay the government taxes without a seat at the table? Oh yeah! And, get this, I just got an idea: how about we dress up as natives and make a huge cup of salty tea in the harbor? YEAH BRO THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA! pan to the friend who still wants to make up with Britain, facepalming
  • Battle of lexington and concord

    Wait, can we actually win this war against this global superpower?
  • Declaration of independence

  • Battle of yorktown

    Last big battle of revolutionary war, British surrendered
  • Constitutional Convention

    Officially just to revise Articles of Confederation, but became effort to draft a constitution
  • Invention of cotton gin

    Drastically increased the efficiency of cotton production and processing, leading to a huge demand for the fluffy flower that echoed down for quite a ways in the south.
  • Alien and Sedition Acts

    Prompted by fear of France, four laws aimed at deporting foreigners and making it harder for new immigrants to vote. One law made opposition to the government illegal--clearly unconstitutional.
  • Louisiana Purchase

  • Period: to

    War of 1812

    We mostly lost. Tried to take over Canada, didn’t work. Native Americans lost the most, though. So that's something.
  • Missouri Compromise

    Missouri admitted as slave state, Maine separated from Massachusetts to become a free state
  • Election of Andrew Jackson

    start of two-party system and presidential campaigning
  • Period: to

    Telegraph invented

  • Andrew Jackson Begins The Trail of tears

    I think I get why people were trying to take his face off $20 now...
  • Panic of 1837

    financial crisis leading to a major depression
    Crop failures, economic policies of Andrew Jackson, and depression in England
  • Period: to

    Mexican-American war

    We annexed Texas!
    Yayy....
  • Telephone

  • Compromise of 1850

    CA admitted as free state, slave trade outlawed in D.C., but fugitive slave act meant that northerners had to help capture & return escaped slaves (It's a whole thing, don't worry about it just yet).
  • Firing on Fort Sumter

    South Carolina seceded, told U.S. army to abandon its forts. Fired on re-supply ship, so fort not re-supplied. Lincoln tried again to re-supply; South Carolina forces laid siege to the fort. Fort had to surrender (no food, out-gunned). (Ok, NOW you can worry about the civil war)
  • Surrender at Appomattox courthouse

    final battle of civil war when Lee surrendered to Grant
  • Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

    Actors be angry sometimes!
  • 13th amendment

    We finally get around to abolishing slavery
  • 14th Amendment

    defines citizenship, due process
  • Andrew Johnson’s impeachment

    for opposing reconstruction and firing someone
  • 15th Amendment

    guarantees right to vote for all races (males only)
  • Organization of Standard Oil Trust

  • Invention of The Electric Light

    Figuring out exactly who could be said to have invented electric lights is... something of a ride that I am NOT going into right now. It's a whole thing, so I'm just going to go with "Edison invented the light" and call it a day. Good night.
  • Pullman and Homestead strikes

    1892 Homestead strike against Carnegie Steel, all workers fired and beaten back by private security guards
    1894 Pullman strike was a railroad strike, broken up by federal troops
  • Spanish American War

    Ship exploded in Cuban harbor, U.S. got involved in Cuban war for independence
  • Theodore Roosevelt becomes president

  • The Wright Brothers invent the Airplane

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