American History: 1492-1877

Date Event
Christopher Columbus arrives in the New World Treaty of Tordesillas John Cabot claims Novia Scotia and Newfoundland for England Spain implements Hatian encomienda Smallpox epidemic reaches North America Hernando Cortes conqures the Aztecs Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigates the globe Francisco Pizarro conquers the Incas Spain establishes first European settlement in North America, St. Augustine Sir Walter Raleigh establishes short-lived British colony on Roanoke British navy defeats the Spanish Armada Jamestown founded Samuel de Champlain founds Quebec, fur trade is established Henry Hudson begins exploration of the Hudson River Tobacco first harvested in Virginia First African slaves brought to the New World House of Burgesses established in Virginia Mayflower Compact drawn, establishing Plymouth Plantation as a colony Powhatan Confederacy massacres Virginians New Amsterdam founded Massachusetts Bay colony founded Maryland founded as a refuge for Catholics Roger Williams founds Rhode Island and promotes religious freedom Conneticut founded Harvard College founded Anne Hutchinson convicted of heresy and expelled from the Massachusetts Bay colony New England slave trade begins in Boston

Discovery and Settlement of the New World: 1492-1650

1492 1494 1497 1503 1520 1521 1522 1530-1536 1565 1585 1588 1607 1608-1615 1609 1612 1619

1620 1622-1644 1626 1630 1634 1635-1636 1636 1637 1638

America and the British Empire: 1651-1753

Date
1664 1670 1675-1676 1676 1677 1682 1689 1689-1697 1692 1695 1701 1704 1705 1709 1712 1718 1728 1734 1739 1740 1744-1748 1748 1749

Event
New Amsterdam is renamed New York Charleston, South Carolina established King Philip's War: British colonists vs. Wampanoag Tribe Bacon's Rebellion Quaker emigrants arrive in New Jersey William Penn establishes Philadelphia as a "holy experiment" of religious tolerance First public school established in Philadelphia King William's War: Indians and French colonists vs. British colonists Salem Witchcraft Trials College of William and Mary founded Yale College founded Deerfield, Massachusetts burned to the ground, killing 50 Massachusetts outlaws interracial marriage Black Code passed in Virginia Wave of German and Swiss immigrants arrive in the Carolinas Slave insurrection in New York City, killing 36 New Orleans founded First synagogue built in New York City Great Awakening led by Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield Stono slave insurrection in South Carolina, killing 65 50 slaves hanged in Charleston to preempt a slave insurrection King George's War: British colonists and Indians vs. French colonists and Indians Treaty of Aix-la Chapelle ends King George's War Ohio Valley land claim confict between French and British

The Road to Revolution: 1754-1774

Date
1754 1755 1757

Event
French expand hold on Ohio Valley, establish Fort Duquesne Fort Necessity establised by George Washington near Fort Duquesne French capture Fort Necessity and expel Washington's forces Benjamin Franklin attempts to push Albany Plan of Union University of Pennsylvania founded, first nonsectarian college in the colonies Street lamps appear in Philadelphia

1758 1763 1767-1766 1764 1765 1766 1767 1768 1770 1772 1773 1774

British take Fort Duquesne and rename it Pittsburgh Treaty of Paris calls for French surrender Ottowa chief Pontiac leads forces against the British in the Ohio Valley Connecticut Courant becomes the first continually publishing newspaper in America Quartering Act Stamp Act Stamp Act Congress meet Sons and Daughters of Liberty founded Stamp Act repealed, Declaratory Act passed Townshend Revenue Act John Dickinson publishes Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer condeming the Townshend Act Samuel Adams circulates a letter in the Massachusetts House of Representatives condemning "taxation without re John Hancock's ship Liberty siezed in Boston Harbour on suspicion of smuggling British troops occupy Boston Boston Massacre Rhode Islanders burn British customs ship Gaspee Tea Act Boston Tea Party destroys East Inda Company cargo in the Boston Harbour Coercive Acts and Quebec Act (known collectively as Intolerable Acts) Ann Lee founds the Shaker Movement First Continental Congress meets

The American Revolution: 1775-1788

Date
1775

Event
Battles of Lexington and Concord begin the American Revolution Battles of Breed's Hill and Bunker Hill Second Continental Congress meets Virginia slave population equal in size to free white population Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense Thomas Jefferson drafts the Declaration of Independence Continental Congress approves term United States in place of United Colonies British forces seize Long Island Battle of Princeton Battle of Saratoga Congress adopts Stars and Stripes as flag Vermont abolishes slavery British sieze Philadelphia Articles on Condederation approved by Congress Continental Army establishes winter quarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania Friedrich von Stuben trains Continental Army at Valley Forge France allies with the Untied States against Britian Britian evacuate Philadelphia New York Militia destroys 40 Iroquois villages on the ground of British alliance Spain joins war against Britian Battle of Camden Pennsylvania passes legislation to gradually abolish slavery Holland joins war against Britian Battle of Yorktown Virginia cedes territory northwest of the Appalachian Mountains to the government States ratify Articles of Confederation Hostilities cease Harvard Medical School founded J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur writes Letters from an American Farmer Massachusetts abolishes slavery Treaty of Paris grants U.S. Independence

1776

1777

1778 1779 1780

1781

1782 1783

The Early Republic: 1784-1802

Date
1784 1785 1786

Event
Spain closes Mississippi River to American naviagation Thomas Jefferson appointed minister to France John Adams appointed minister to England University of Georgia chartered as the first U.S. State university Annapolis Convention Shay's Rebellion Northwest Ordinance passes First cotton factory in New England established Constitution Convention Conneticut Compromise Congress adopts the Constitution Federalist Papers written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison First Congress unter terms of the Constitution convenes in New York

1787

1787-1788

1789

1789-1799

George Washington elected president Tomas Jefferson elected secretary of state, Alexander Hamilton as secretary of the treasury, Henry Knox as secre Judiciary Act of 1789 French Revolution inspires mixed reactions

1790

1791

1792

1793

1794

1795

1796 1797 1798 1799 1800

1801 1802

First session of the Supreme Court Rhode Island ratifies the Constitution Hamilton presents the Report on Public Credit to Congress Jefferson agrees to federal assumption of state debts First census counts the population near 4 million The first Bank of the United States is granted 20-year charter Report on Manufactures issued Forces led by Little Turtle defeat Aurthur St. Clair's battalion of 14,000 in Ohio Valley Bill of Rights ratified Vermont admitted into the Union New York Stock Exchange established National Conscription Act passed Kentucky admitted into the Union Washington reelected France declares war on Britian, Spain, and Holland; Washington issues Proclamation of American Neutrality to keep Union o First Fugitive Slave Law passed Cotton gin invented by Eli Whitney Chisholm v. Georgia French revolutionary Citizen Genet visits U.S, straining neutrality proclamation Canadian Royal Governor disputes American claim to Northwest Territory Washington quells Whiskey Rebellion Jay Treaty resolves maritime trade tensions General Anthony Wayne wins a decisive victory in the Ohio Valley at Battle of Fallen Timbers Lancaster Turnpike constructed 12 Native American tribes sign the Treaty of Greenville, ceding rights to Ohio Territory Pinckney Treaty with Spain allows U.S to navigate the Mississippi Indian Factory System established Tennessee admitted into Union Washington gives farewell address and calls for isolationism in foreign affairs John Adams elected second president XYZ Affair Alien and Sedition Acts Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions written by Jefferson and Madison introduce doctorine of nullification Yellow fever epidemic in New York City, kills 2,000+ U.S and France engage in Quasi-war over shipping and trade regulations Second Great Awakening Treaty of San Ildefonso Thomas Jefferson elected Washington, D.C., becomes the new capital of the U.S. John Marshall becomes chief justice of the Supreme Court John Adams signs the Judiciary Act Jefferson succeeds Adams in first transition of presidental power from one party to another West Point Military Academy established

Westward Expansion and Strained Neutrality: 1803-1811

Date
1803 1804 1806
Maurbury v. Madison establishes judicial review Ohio admitted into Union Louisiana Purchase Lewis and Clark expidetion with Sacagawea Aaron Burr kills Alexander Hamilton in a duel Napoleonic Wars Zebulon Pike surveys the High Plains, Rio Grande, and Rocky Mountains Berlin Decree constricts British and neutral U.S ships to conduct trade Chesapeake-Leopard Affair Chief Justice John Marshall presides over Aaron Burr acquittial trial Orders-in-Council restricts French and neutral ships to trade Embargo Act Britian abolishes slave trade U.S ends slave trade following constitutional mandate James Madison elected fourth president Bayonne Decree calls for seizure of U.S ships in French controlled waters Embargo Act repealed Non-Intercourse Act permits U.S trade with all nations except Britian and France Tecumseh establishes union to resist wesward movement of settlers Madison proclaims annexation of western and northern portions of Florida New York is most populous U.S city Rambouillet Decree authorizes seizure of American property in French ports

Event

1807

1808

1809

1810

1811

Charles Deslandes initiates slave revolt near New Orleans Fletcher v. Peck declares irrevocable contracts between states and individuals Macon's Bill No. 2 Napoleon promises to revoke previous decrees in exchange for a renewed alliance Pacific Fur Company established First American settlement in the Pacific Northwest founded in Astoria, Oregon William Henry Harrison leads attack on Tecumseh and Shawnee tribe at Battle of Tippecanoe Madison renews non-intercorse trade policy Earthquake near New Madrid, Missouri changes the course of the Mississippi Conflicts on Atlantic seaboard lead to American demand that Britian revoke Orders-in-Council

The War of 1812: 1812-1815

Event
Louisiana admitted into Union as 18th state Congress declares war on Britian Parliament suspends Orders-in-Council Congress doubles tariffs on imports in an effort to finance War of 1812 Native Americans attack and massacre American populations at Fort Dearborn Madison reelected president British surrender fleet on Lake Erie Battle of the Thames, Tecumseh dies, crippling resistance Battle of Frenchtown Battle of York Battle of Horseshoe Bend Francis Scott Key writes the words to The Star Spangled Banner Hartford Convention Treaty of Ghent ends War of 1812 Federalist Party dissolves Battle of New Orleans

Date

1812

1813

1814

1815

Nationalism, Sectionalism, and Economic Expansion: 1816-18

Event
Underground Railroad founded Indiana admitted into the Union James Monroe elected Second Bank of the United States opens with 20-year charter Construction begins on the Erie Canal First Seminole War Rush-Bagot Agreement William Cullen Bryant publishes poem Thanatopsis Mississippi admitted to Union Connecticut becomes first state to dispense with property qualification as a voting presiquite Illinois admitted to Union Economic Panic of 1819 Dartmouth College v. Woodward Washington Irving publishes The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle McCulloch v. Maryland Spain cedes claim to Florida Alabama admitted into Union Adams-Onis Treaty Maine admitted into Union Monroe reelected president Missouri Compromise Liberia established in West Africa by American Colonization Society Missouri admitted into Union Mexico wins independence from Spain Stephen F. Austin establishes first U.S settlement in Texas Santa Fe Trail opened Monroe Doctrine claims western hemisphere closed to European intervention Party leaders no longer have exclusive control over nomination process John Quincy Adams elected Gibbons v. Ogden Erie Canal completed Creek Treaty First American railroads completed James Fenimore Cooper publishes The Last of the Mohicans John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both die on the 50th anniversary of Independence Day Britian and U.S sign treaty recognizing joint administration of Oregon Territory John Quincy Adams signs the Tariff of Abominations americ

Date
1816

1817

1818

1819

1820

1821

1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828

The Age of Jackson: 1828-1849

Date
1828 1829

Event

1830

1831

1832

1833

1834

1836

1837 1838 1839

1840

1841 1842 1844

1845

1846

1847

1848

Andrew Jackson elected president Vice President John C. Calhoun issues South Carolina Exposition and Protest essay against Tariff of Abominations Race riot in Cincinnati, more that 1,000 free blacks flee for Canada Jackson tries to offer to purchase Texas from Mexico Balitimore and Ohio Railroad becomes first American railroad company Jackson vetoes Maysville Road Bill Congress passes Indian Removal Act Mexico prohibits Americans from further colonizing Texas Joseph Smith publishes Book of Mormon Nat Turner's slave rebellion causes deaths of 55 whites and 17 blacks Jackson vetoes bill to recharter second Bank of the United States South Carolina nullifies Tariff of Abominations Worcester v. Georgia defends Cherokee sovereignty; Jackson ignores ruling Jackson reelected president Black Hawk War Jackson signs Force Act South Carolina nullifies Force Act, rescinds both nullifications after threat of force Jackson removes federal deposits from second Bank of the Untied States Massachusetts officially completes separation of church and state in the U.S Britian abolishes slavery Cyrus McCormick patents early verson of mechanical reper Female workers and Lowell Mills stage first strike Second Coinage Act fixes silver to gold ratio Congress passes gag rule restricting slavery discussion Texas declares independence from Mexico, resulting in the Alamo Jackson issues Specie Circular Arkansas admitted into Union Ralph Waldo Emerson publishes Nature Samuel Colt invents the revolver Martin Van Buren elected Michigan admitted to Union Economic Panic of 1837 Horace Mann appointed secretary of Massachusetts Board of Education Ellijah Lovejoy, publisher of abolitionist newspaper The Observer , murdered Trail of Tears John Quincy Adams introduces amendments for emancipation of slaves, Van Buren vetoes them Slave rebellion on Spanish ship Amistad Edgar Allen Poe publishes The Fall of the House of Usher First transatlantic steamship service instituted Van Buren signs Independent Treasury Bill William Henry Harrison eleceted Harrison dies one month after inauguration, John Tyler succeeds him D.C court decision sends Amistad slaves back to Africa First Jim Crow law passed in Massachusets Charles Dickens makes five-month tour of the U.S Webster-Ashburton Treaty settles border disputes Senate defeats Tyler's proposal to annex Texas James K. Polk elected Term manifest destiny coined to describe the United States' duty to expand and conquer the West Florida admitted into Union Edgar Allen Poe publishes The Raven U.S offers to purchase California and New Mexico from Mexico, Mexico refuses Refugees from Ireland arrive in large numbers to escape the Irish Potato Famine Texas annexed and admitted into the Union Brigham Young leads Mormons on westward search for homeland U.S declares war on Mexico Wilmont Proviso introduced in Congress to forbid slavery in newly acquired Mexican territory Iowa admitted into Union Mormons establish Salt Lake City, Utah Frederick Douglass begins publishing abolitionist newspaper The North Star Seneca Falls Convention Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends Mexican-American War Wisconsin admitted into the Union California Gold Rush begins First Chinese immigrants arrive in San Francisco Karl Marx and Friedrich Engles publish The Communist Manifesto Zachary Taylor elected

The Road to the Civil War: 1850-1859

Event
Compromise of 1850

Date

1850 1851 1852 1853

1854

1855

1856

1857 1858

1859

Millard Fillmore succeeds Taylor as president Nathaniel Hawthorne publishes The Scarlet Letter Herman Melville publishes Moby Dick Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes Uncle Tom's Cabin Franklin Pierce elected Yellow fever epidemic Gadsden Purchase Henry David Thoreau publishes Walden Kansas-Nebraska Act Ostend Manifesto leaked to press Anti-slavery demonstrations erupt in Boston upon arrest of fugitive slave Walt Whitman publishes Leaves of Grass Henry Wadsworth Longfellow publishes The Song of Hiawatha John Brown leads Bleeding Kansas First bridge to span the Mississippi opens Pro-slavery Senator Preston Brooks beats antislavery Senator Charles Sumner violently on Senate floor Republican Party formed James Buchanan elected Congress outlaws use of foreign coin for legal tender Dred Scott v. Sanford Lecompton Constitution Minnesota admitted into Union Lincoln-Douglas debates, Freeport Doctrine formulated Comstock Lode silver deposit descovered Oregon admitted to Union Raid on Harper's Ferry Harriet E. Wilson publishes Our Nig; Or Sketches in the Life of a Free Black, the first novel published by an African America

The Civil War: 1860-1865

Events
Abraham Lincoln elected South Carolina secedes Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Louisiana seceed Kansas admitted into Union Confederate States of America formed, Jefferson Davis elected their president Texas secedes Battle of Fort Sumter First Battle of Bull Run Lincoln declares "state of insurrection" Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas secede Queen Victoria declares British neutrality Lincoln suspends habeas borpus Congress passes first two Confiscation Acts Henry Wadsworth Longfellow publishes Paul Revere's Ride Karl Marx publishes Writings on the U.S. Civil War Davis introduces Conscription Act for Confederacy Homestead Act Militia Act Battle of New Orleans Seven Days' War Second Battle of Bull Run Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Morrill Land Grant Act Battle of Chancellorsville Battle of Vicksburg Emancipation Proclamation issued Conscription Act for Union National Banking Act West Virginia separates from Virginia and Confederacy, admitted to Union Battle of Gettysburg Gettysburg Address New York Draft Riots Lincoln promotes Ulysses S. Grant to commander of Union forces Congress passes Internal Revenue Act Nevada admitted to Union Battle of Petersberg Sherman's March to the Sea Sherman issues Special Field Order No. 15 Congress passes 13th Amendment, slavery abolished Surrender at Appomattox Court House Lincoln assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre Andrew Johnson succeeds Lincoln as president

Date
1860

1861

1862

1863

1864

1865

Last slaves emancipated on June 19th or Juneteenth

Reconstruction: 1865-1877
Event

Date
1865

1866

1867

1868

1869

1870

1871

1872 1873 1874 1875

1876

1877

Johnson announces moderate restoration to bring South back into the Union Mississippi establishes system of black codes Freedmen's Bureau established Civil Rights Act of 1866 Congress passes 14th Amendment Ku Klux Klan founded in Tennessee Military Reconstruction Acts Nebraska admitted into Union Tenure of Office Act United States Purchases Alaska from Russia under direction of Secretary of State William H. Seward Johnson violates Tenure of Office Act, impeachedin House but acquitted in Senate Ulysses S. Grant elected First railroad pass completed through the High Sierras Eight hour workday becomes law for federal employees First transcontinental railroad completed Financial panic due to unsuccessful attempt to corner U.S. gold market Wyoming grants women's suffrage 15th Amendment protects voting rights for black males Grant proposes annexation of Dominican Republic, Senate rejects Last Southern states admitted into Union Hiram Rhoades Revels becomes first black senator Enforcement Act White v. Flood Union Pacific Railroad hires influx of Chinese workers at extremely low pay rates Indian Appropriations Act Anti-Chinese riot in Los Angeles New York Times exposes corrupt political machine led by Boss Tweed Great Chicago Fire Supreme Court upholds the greenback Grant reelected Amnesty Act Congress establishes Yellowstone National Park as its first national park Slaughterhouse Cases Panic of 1873 Mennonite immigrants revolutionize wheat cultivation in Kansas Tompkins Square Riot Whiskey Ring Scandal Civil Rights Act of 1875 Lakota Sioux ordered to reservations Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse lead Sioux resistance, led to Battle of Little Bighorn Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone Colorado admitted into the Union Rutherford B. Hays elected, ending the Reconstruction Mark Twain publishes The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Hayes-Tilden Compromise Mann v. Illinois Anti-Chinese riots in San Francisco Forced removal of the Nez Perce Desert Land Act