US History timeline through 1750 and 1887

By Exh0678

  • treaty of Paris

    treaty of Paris
    Great Britain formally acknowledges American independence in the Treaty of Paris, which officially brings the war to a close.

  • Constitutional Convention

    Constitutional Convention
    Took place in the old Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia to discuss ways to strengthen the national government.

  • Capital Washington, DC.

    Capital Washington, DC.
    The U.S. capital is moved from Philadelphia to Washington, DC. Because in 1783, Congress decided the country should have a permanent center of government.

  • Louisiana purchase

    Louisiana purchase
    United States agrees to pay France $15 million for the Louisiana Territory, which extends west from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and comprises about 830,000 sq mi. As a result, the U.S. nearly doubles in size.

  • War of 1812

    War of 1812
    U.S. declares war on Britain over British interference with American maritime shipping and westward expansion.

  • Missouri compromise

    Missouri compromise
    In an effort to maintain the balance between free and slave states, Maine is admitted as a free state so that Missouri can be admitted as a slave state.

  • Continental Congress

    Continental Congress
    adopts the Articles of Confederation, the first U.S. constitution.

  • Washington

    Washington
    Washington is inaugurated as president at Federal Hall in New York City.

  • Indian removal act

    Indian removal act
    President Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, which authorizes the forced removal of Native Americans living in the eastern part of the country to lands west of the Mississippi River.

  • Alamo

    Alamo
    Texan defenders of the Alamo are all killed during siege by the Mexican Army.

  • Texas

    Texas
    Texas declares its independence from Mexico.

  • Cherokee Indians (Trail of Tears)

    Cherokee Indians (Trail of Tears)
    More than 15,000 Cherokee Indians are forced to march from Georgia to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. Approximately 4,000 die from starvation and disease along the “Trail of Tears.”

  • Mexican war

    Mexican war
    U.S. declares war on Mexico in effort to gain California and other territory in Southwest

  • Sutter’s mill

    Sutter’s mill
    Gold is discovered at Sutter's Mill in California. The gold rush reaches its height the following year.

  • Women's rights

    Women's rights
    Women's rights convention is held at Seneca Falls, N.Y.