American progress

Westward Expansion

  • 100

    Bering Strait Crossing

    Bering Strait Crossing
    Event actually happened around 26000 BC. The Earth was colder around this time which caused a lot of the ocean to freeze on land and create lower ocean levels. The result was a land bridge called the Bering Strait which connected Russia and Alaska on which the natives crossed.
  • 100

    Anasazi Culture Emerges

    Anasazi Culture Emerges
    In the Southwest, Anasazi culture begins to become present. Evidence from weaved baskets shows this. Simple farming is established and above ground dwellings are made.
  • 500

    Tribal Trading

    Tribal Trading
    Obsidion, pearls, copper, and other materials found in the Ohio Valley suggest an advanced system of trading networks were in use.
  • Jan 1, 1490

    Cultures

    Cultures
    240 tribal groups get formed since the crossing. A total of around 300 different languages are spoken and society's there become more advanced with everything.
  • Jan 1, 1492

    Christopher Columbus

    Christopher Columbus
    Christopher Columbus, funded by the Spanish government, sailed the ocean in search of India but found the Americas. On the Americas, he found natives that thought they were gods and traded with them for new things they have never seen or tasted before like corn.
  • Jan 1, 1519

    Hernan Cortes invades Mexico

    Hernan Cortes invades Mexico
    Cortes and his men easily dismantle the aztec empire with advanced weaponry, diseases and spies, destroying Tenochtitlan and establishing Mexico City in its ruins.
  • Jan 1, 1519

    The Journey of Cabeza De Vaca

    The Journey of Cabeza De Vaca
    Hernan Cortes invades Mexico, completing his conquest of the Aztec empire in 1521 and establishing the colony of New Spain"The Journey of Cabeza De Vaca(1528-1536)
  • Jan 1, 1528

    de Vaca wrecks off Texas coast

    de Vaca wrecks off Texas coast
    After wrecking his ship on the coast of Texas, Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca and his men accidentally become the first Europeans to land in the West. What became an eight year expedition began after de Vaca fails to conquer Florida and the southeast. (1528)
  • Jan 1, 1538

    Cibola

    Cibola
    Fray Marcos de Niza, a Franciscan friar, is sent to explore the lands of North Mexico, guided by Esteban, the Afraican who had accompanied Cabeza de Vaca. Within a year, Marcos returns with news of agreat city called cibola, where Esteban was killed, which from a distance appered to him "bigger than the city of Mexico"
  • Jan 1, 1539

    The Coronada Expedition

    The Coronada Expedition
    Hernando de Soto lands at Tempa Bay Florida to begin his bloody expedition across the South East"The Coronada Expedition"
  • May 1, 1539

    Hernando de Soto lands in Tampa Bay

    Hernando de Soto lands in Tampa Bay
    After leaving spain in April, 1538 with 10 ships and 700 men, de Soto headed toward Tampa Bay in the hopes of finding the extensive riches that were rumored to exist in North America. Instead, he and his men were met with hardship and bloodshed as they pushed through Native American land, killing thousands before de Soto himself dies in 1542. His men were left in the wake of a battle with the natives, and with exhausted resources they headed down the Mississippi toward Mexico. More than half of
  • Jan 1, 1540

    Lopez de Cardenas

    Lopez de Cardenas
    Lopez de Cardenas, an officer in Coronado's Army, he sets off to investigate Hopi reports of a great river to the westof their lands. 20-day trek, Cardenas becomes the first white man to see the Colorado River from the rim of the Grand Canyon
  • Jan 1, 1540

    Mexico Invasion

    Mexico Invasion
    Franciso Vasquez de Coronado leads Mexico invasion of North with an expeditionary force of 300 conquistardors and more than one thousand Indian "allies" when they reached Cibola, they find not the promised metropolis but a little crowed village, looking as if it had crumpled all together. This is the Zuni Pueblo of Hawikah, whose warriors answered with arrows when Coronado demands that they swear loyalty to their king. The Spainards Conquered the other zunis in the region.
  • Feb 1, 1540

    Coronado begins expidition

    Coronado begins expidition
    rancisco Vázquez de Coronado leaves Mexico in search of the fabled Seven Golden Cities in the southwest. Investor’s supply Coronado with 300 Spaniards and 1,000 Indian allies and he sets off along the coast of Mexico. Following the advice of “indians” he meets along the way, he eventually reaches the supposed Seven Golden Cities, where he finds nothing more than a small, crowded pueblo.
  • May 1, 1541

    Coronado moves North

    Coronado moves North
    Coronado and his men continue North toward Quivera, which is described as abundant in riches by a captive native. He continues to capture pueblos he finds along the way, pillaging for resources and brutally burning over 200 men, women and children at the stake. He eventually returns home empty handed, and he dies alone branded an outcast by soceity.
  • Jamestown founded in Virginia

    Jamestown founded in Virginia
    Virginia Company establishes 100 settlers in a small colony called jamestown, which introduced new resources to the agriculturally adept european colonists. They struggled to live through the unforgiving winter with a lack of supplies and knowledge, depending largely on natives until turning to cannibalism. The majority of colonists (roughly 80%) died their first winter in North America, though in 1610 another ship arrived bearing supplies that helped establish a functioning colony.
  • French Traders

    French Traders
    French traders Medard Chouart and Pierre Esprit Radisson become the first Europeans to make contact withvthe tibes of the nothern plains when they venture West and South of lake Superior in search of furs.
  • The Pueblo Revolt

    The Pueblo Revolt
    Louis Joliet and the Jusuit father Jacques Marquette becomes the first Europeans to journey down the Mississippi. The Pueblo Revolt(1680-1692)
  • Mississippi Valley

    Mississippi Valley
    Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, and Henride Tonti complete a four month voyage to the month of Mississippi, claming the entire Mississippi valley for France and naming it Louisiana
  • Mississsippi Valley and Louisiana Are Claimed

    Mississsippi Valley and Louisiana Are Claimed
    Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, and Henri de Tonti complete a four-month voyage to the mouth of the Mississippi, claiming the entire Mississippi Valley for France and naming it Louisiana.
  • Ford St. Louis

    Intending to establish a permanent French settlement in Louisiana, La Salle accidentally sails past the mouth of the Mississippi River and lands in Spainsh territory on the Texas coast, where he founds Fort St. Louis
  • Eusebio Kino

    Eusebio Kino produces a map which finally establishes that Californa is part of North America, not a giant islands.
  • New Orleans is established by the French.

    New Orleans is established by the French.
    New Orleans is established by the French.
  • French and Indian War

    French and Indian War
    this war was fought by Austria, England, France, Great Britain, and Sweden. (also knows as the 7 years war).
    All rose to defeat Prussia
  • Treaty of Paris

    Treaty of Paris
    The treaty of paris ends the French and Indian War. France cedes its Canadian territories to England.
  • Declaration of Independance

    Declaration of Independance
    The Declaration of Independence marks the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
  • End Of American Revolutionary War

    End Of American Revolutionary War
    The British surrender at Yorktown marks the end of the American Revolutionary War.
  • Constitution

    Constitution
    The United States Constitution is approved by the Constitutional Convention and ratified by the states the following year.
  • Russian Orthodox

     Russian Orthodox
    The Russian Orthodox Church begins missionary work in Alaska, establishing a bishopric at Sitka.
  • Louisiana Purchase

    Louisiana Purchase
    The Lousiana Territory was purchased by the United States from Napolean. It would double the size of the U.S. and gain the Mississippi River.
  • Lewis and Clark Expedition

    Lewis and Clark Expedition
    From 1804-1806, Lewis and Clark were on an expedition to explore the newly bought Louisiana Territory, find a good route, and set an American presence before Britain or other powers.
  • Zebulon Pike Expeditions

    Zebulon Pike Expeditions
    While Lewis and Clark were exploring along the Missouri, Zebulon Pike went north along the Mississippi to modern day Minesota. From July, 1806, Pike was told to explore the Southwest border of the territory and make peace with a bunch of Native Americans. He tried to climb a mountain but failed and is now called PIke's Peak.
  • John Jacob Astor's Pacific Fur Company

    John Jacob Astor's Pacific Fur Company
    John Jacob Astor expands his trading company to the Pacific coast. Then it is sold to another company before the fort gets captured by the British in 1813. When the former "astorians" were traveling back, they found the South Pass which would later become part of the Oregon Trail
  • Canada-US border

    Canada-US border
    The 49 degree latitude line was decided as the border between US and Canada from the top of modern day Minnesota to the Pacific Ocean.
  • Indians in virtual slavery

    Indians in virtual slavery
    more than 20,000 Indians lived in almost virtual slavery on the california missions.
  • Mexicans rebel

    Mexicans rebel
    The Mexicans rebel against the Spanish, in hopes of obtaining freedom.
  • Fort Union

    Fort Union
    william Henry Ashley and Andrew Henry employ Jedediah Smith and Mike Fink to establish Fort Henry which would later be known as Fort Union
  • Monroe Doctrine

    Monroe Doctrine
    President James Monroe sets the Monroe Doctrine, which limits European intervention in America
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs

    Bureau of Indian Affairs
    The Bureau of Indian Affairs is established, it's main job is to regulate disputes from trade within Indian tribes
  • Congress passes Pre-emption Act

    Congress passes Pre-emption Act
    Pre-emption Act allows settlesrs to purchase 160 acres of land for $1.25 per acre.
  • The Indian Removal Act

    The Indian Removal Act
    The Indian Removal Act, supported by President Andrew Jackson, gives the federal governemnt aouthority to make treaties with the indians to echange thier land for land in the West. The government provided all costs of migration and financial aid to assist ressettlement. Jackson foreced a treaty for the removal of the Choctaw from Missisippi within the year.
  • Cherokee sign treaty of remvol

    Cherokee sign treaty of remvol
    The Cherokee finally sign a treaty of removal giving up thier land in Georgia, and migrating to Oklahoma.
  • The Texas War for Independance

    The Texas War for Independance
    Santa Anna, tthe Mexican President, sends troops to try to disarm Americans in Tejas, talso to reclaom a canon that has been givin to settlers to protect them against Indian attacks. Americans resist againts an engagement, therefore starting the Texas War for Independance.
  • War Continues after Santa Anna retires

    War Continues after Santa Anna retires
    Mexican President, Santa Anna retires and his agreements to reconize Texas Independence is denounced. For the following ten years, Mexican and Texas troops were at war against eachother, with a seriers of battles along the border.
  • Mexican War Ends with Treaty

    Mexican War Ends with Treaty
    United States negotiates a treaty for Texas, California, New Mexico and other southwest territories.
  • california enters the Union

    california enters the Union
    California enters the Union as a free state
  • Chinese immigrants flood the west coast

    Chinese immigrants flood the west coast
    Spurred by the discovery of gold, chinese immigrants flock to california. Instead of prosperity, most of the immigrants find slave wage jobs working on the continental railroad
  • First buddhist temple in america founded

    First buddhist temple in america founded
    Founded by a group of cantonese immigrants from over five countries, the Kong Chow temple in los angelese was the first buddhist temple established in america
  • End of the "Mormon War"

    End of the "Mormon War"
    Political supporters gain a federal pardon for practicing mormons in Utah, ending tensions between the Mormon community and the us government
  • John Brown dies

    John Brown dies
    Arrested for leading a failed slave rebellion, he is hanged. He becomes a hero of the emancipation movement
  • Start of the Civil War

    Start of the Civil War
    Confederate forces fire in Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina thus starting the Civil War.
  • Emancipation Proclamation

    Emancipation Proclamation
    Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation as the nation approached its third year of bloody civil war because he wanted all slaves to be free.
  • Purchase of Alaska

    Purchase of Alaska
    The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.
  • Immigration Treaty

    Immigration Treaty
    Senate approves a treaty permitting unrestricted immigration from China.
  • Women Voting

    Women Voting
    Wyoming becomes the first place in the United States where women have the right to vote.
  • White vs. Flood

    White vs. Flood
    A California court rules in White vs. Flood, This was the start of school segregatuon, making it a law that black children can't attent a white school.
  • Indian Appropriations Act

    Indian Appropriations Act
    Congress approves the Indian Appropriations Act, ending the sovereignty with Indian tribes. It is stated tht all Indians must be treated as individuals. This act was placed to avoid any misunderstandings in treaty negotiations. Yet, this act can only further the dismanting of American Native life.
  • The Yellowstone Act

    The Yellowstone Act
    The Yellowstone Act was the first time a national government wanted to preserve land for it's beauty. The government set aside more than 2 million acres.
  • Cable cars are introduced in San Francisco.

    Cable cars were introduced to the city of San Francisco.
  • Lakota War

    Lakota War
    The Senate commissioned a meeting with Lakota Cheifs to allow the legal access for miners rushing to the Black Hills in an offer to buy the region for six million. Lakota did not want to change the terms already settled in the Laramie treaty of 1868. They declared they would protect themselves from intruders if the government will not.
  • Repeal Fort Laramie

    Repeal Fort Laramie
    Congress votes to repeal the Fort Laramie Treaty and take the Black Hills along with fourty million more acres of Lakota land.
  • Bureau of Ethnology

    Bureau of Ethnology
    Congress creates the United States Bureau of Ethnology to coorinate the study of the regions native peoples. Frank Hamilton Cushing, an ethonologist, anticipates the methods of 20th century anthropology found in the Zuni community.
  • Wyoming Enters the Union

    Wyoming entered the Union...
  • Sitting Bull Murdered

    Sparked final battle of the Indian War; Chief Big Foot and his 350 warriors battled December 29th, 1890.
  • Ten Year Extension of Chinese Exlusion Act

    Also required all Chinese workers to register of they faced deportation.
  • Great Plains Buffalo Numbers Down to 2,000

    Due to Westward expansion buffalo of the Great Plains drop from over 20 million to under 2,000.
  • Utah Enters the Union

    Utah entered the Union
  • Klondike River Gold Strike

    Spawned Alaska Gold Rush, the final gold rush of the American frontier.
  • U.S Annexes Hawaii

    Hawaii annexed by the US
  • Robert Parker and Harry Longbaugh Rob a String of Trians and Banks

    Robert Parker and Harry Longbaugh Rob a String of Trians and Banks
    Robert Parker and Harry Longbaugh a.k.a "The Sundance Kid" lead their followers, named "The Wild Bunch", in a series of train and bank robberies. They all made off with their wealth to South America in 1901. This marked the end of the Outlaw Era.
  • Bering Strait Crossing

    Bering Strait Crossing
    This event actually happened around 26000 BC. Glaciers froze the water in the ocean when the Earth was colder causing much more land to be around than what is today. As a result water levels were so low that the Bering Strait connected Russia and Alaska and created a land bridge for natives to cross.
  • Spindletop oil fields are created

    Spindletop oil fields are created
    The Spindletop oil gusher opens in Beaumont, Texas. The following century "black gold" is important to the western economy.
  • Newlands Reclamation Act

     Newlands Reclamation Act
    President Theodore Roosevelt passed the Newlands Reclamation Act, it authorized federal construction of dams and reservoirs in the West. These were funded by public land sales. This was to promote settlement in the west.
  • The Virginian is Published

    The Virginian is Published
    Owen Wister publishes the novel The Virginian. The novel adds to the idea that the American West is cattle country with cowboys and "showdowns".
  • The Panama Canal is finished

    The Panama Canal is finished
    The Panama Canal is finished. Pacific water trade is now happning in the West.
  • Tourist Enter Yellowstone

    Tourist Enter Yellowstone
    In this year, it was the first time an automobile had ever entered Yellowstone Park.