-
The Great Sioux War of 1876 (Black Hills War)
A series of battles and negotiations between the Sioux and Cheyenne, and the United States that occurred between 1876 to 1877. After many Indians ignored President Ulysses S. Grant's ultimatum to return voluntarily to their reservation by January 31, 1876, the Indians were turned over to the War Department on February 8, 1876 to begin campaigns against them, which became known as the start of The Great Sioux War of 1876. -
Invention of the Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. The first call ever made was March 10, 1876, where Bell says, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you." The patent number received was No. 174-466. -
The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876
First official World's Fair in the United States. It was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. -
Battle of the Rosebud
Battle in Big Horn County, Montana (at Rosebud Creek) between the U.S. Army (George R. Crook) and its Crow (Plenty Coups) and Shoshoni (Washakie) allies against 1,500 Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne (led by Crazy Horse). The Lakota and Cheyenne won. -
Battle of Little Bighorn
Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse ( from Cheyenne and Sioux tribes) defeat Lt. Colonel George Custer and the Seventh Calvary -
Patent granted for the invention of the mimeograph
Thomas Edison received U.S. patent No. 180-857 for the invention of the electric pen, more commonly known as the mimeograph thanks to Albert Blake Dick. It was the first relatively safe electric-motor driven appliance to be produced and sold in the U.S. -
Battle of Wolf Mountain
The last battle fought by Crazy Horse and his warriors against the U.S. Cavalry in Montana. -
President Rutherford B. Hayes
The 19th president of the United States. He Opposed Samuel J. Tilden of Ohio. Hayes won election after the creation of a special commission to decide disputed electoral votes. Rutherford Hayes took the oath privately Mar 3, 1877, on a Saturday and took the oath publicly on March 5, 1877. -
Surrender of Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse of the Oglala Sioux surrenders to the United States troops in Nebraska after realizing that his people were struggling from the effects of the cold and their hunger. -
First African American cadet to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy
Henry Ossian Flipper becomes the first African American cadet to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. -
Great Railroad Strike of 1877
Riots by Baltimore and Ohio Railroad railroad workers in Baltimore lead to a sympathy strike and rioting in Pittsburgh. It also led to a full-scale strike and rioting in St. Louis. -
The Battle of White Bird Canyon
The Nez Perce Indians defeat the U.S. Cavalry at White Bird Canyon located in the Idaho Territory. -
The Overthrow of the Molly Maguires
A secret organization of Irish-American and Irish immigrant coal miners supposedly responsible for acts of terrorism in the coalfields of Pennsylvania and West Virginia between 1862-1876. Arrests were made May 6, 1876, followed by trials. Nineteen were hanged and scores more condemned to prison, ending the order of the Molly Maguires. The last hanging of the Molly Maguires took place on June 21, 1877, in the Carbon County prison in Mauch Chunk. -
Battle of Big Hole
A small band of Nez Perce Indians who refused government orders to move to a reservation battle with the U.S. Army near Big Hole River in Montana. The U.S. Army wins the clash. -
Thomas A. Edison invents the Phonograph
Thomas A. Edison invents the "speaking machine" that has the ability to record voices and sounds that could be replayed at a later time. He first announces his invention on November 21, 1877. The patent number received was No. 200-521 and was granted February 19, 1879. -
Lincoln County War
The Lincoln County War begins in Lincoln County, New Mexico. -
Bland-Allison Act
The Act also known as the Grand Bland Plan of 1878, lead to the first minting of the Morgan dollar. -
Posse Comitatus Act
An Act signed into law to limit the powers of the federal government to use the U.S. Army to enforce domestic policy within the United States. -
Yellow Fever Epidemic
The yellow fever epidemic begins in New Orleans and eventually kills over 4,500 people. -
Women's Rights for Female Attorneys
President Rutherford B. Hayes signs a bill that allows female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. -
Completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah
The Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad rails meet at Promontory Summit, Utah on this date. -
Meeker Massacre
Indian agent Nathan Meeker and others are attacked and killed at the White River Ute Indian Reservation in Colorado by Ute Indians -
First electrically lighted city in the world
Wabash, Indiana becomes the first electrically lighted city in the world on this date. -
James Ritty and John Birch invent the cash register
The mechanical cash register was invented following the American Civil War. The motivation was James' desire to stop employees from pilfering his profits from his saloon in Daytona, Ohio. -
President James A. Garfield
James A. Garfield becomes the 20th president after defeating Winfield S. Hancock. He was the first sitting member of Congress to be elected to the presidency. Garfield was assassinated six and a half months later. -
Assassination of James A. Garfield
President Garfield is shot by lawyer Charles J. Guiteau at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C. He ultimately dies on September 19, 1881, from an infection of his wound. -
Vice President Chester A. Arthur becomes 21st President
Chester A. Arthur becomes 21st president after President Garfield dies from an infection of his shot wound. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The first law to restrict immigration into the United States. -
1882 Immigration Act
The Act is passed by Congress to restrict certain classes of people from immigrating to America. -
Part of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 is declared unconstitutional
The Supreme Court of the United States declares part of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 to be unconstitutional because it allows private individuals and corporations to discriminate based on race. -
May Day or Labour Day
May 1, 1884, is the day that Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions in the U.S. proclaimed the eight-hour workday. -
Grover Cleveland becomes 22nd President
Cleveland defeated James G. Blaine in a very close contest on November 4, 1884 -
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbor. President Cleveland dedicates it on October 28, 1886. -
Apache leader Geronimo surrenders
After almost 30 years of fighting, Geronimo surrenders with his warriors to General Nelson Miles at Skeleton Canyon in Arizona -
Dawes Act of 1877 is signed into law
This Act, signed by President Cleveland, allowed for the allotment of tribal lands for individual Native Americans. Those who accepted to live separately would be granted U.S. citizenship. -
President Benjamin Harrison
Grover Cleveland wins the popular vote but loses the Electoral College, making Benjamin Harrison the 23rd President of the United States. -
Wounded Knee Massacre
U.S. 7th Cavalry tries to disarm a Native American camp near Wounded Creek, South Dakota and shooting starts, killing 153 Lakota and 25 soldiers. -
Jesse W. Reno invents the escalator
The escalator is used at the Old Iron Pier, Coney Island, New York. His invention was referred to as the "inclined elevator." The patent is received on March 15, 1892. -
President Grover Cleveland
Cleveland is elected on October 24, 1892, over Benjamin Harrison and James B. Weaver to win his second term as president. He is the 24th President of the United States. -
Panic of 1893
A crash on the New York Stock Exchange starts a serious depression that lasts until 1897. It affects every sector of the economy and it even causes political upheaval that leads to the realigning election of 1896. -
Pullman Strike
Three thousand Pullman Palace Car Company workers go on a strike without the approval of the union to protest lowered wages without the reduction of expenses charged in their town of Pullman, Chicago. -
Ford Quadricycle
Henry Ford's first vehicle is completed. It was a simple frame using a gas-powered engine with four bicycle wheels mounted onto it. -
President William McKinley
McKinley is sworn in as the 25th President of the United States. -
Klondike Gold Rush
100,000 prospectors rushed to the Klondike region between 1897 and 1899 after the news of discovered gold on August 16, 1896, reached Seattle and San Fransisco. -
USS Maine explodes and sinks in Havana harbor
The USS Maine explodes and sinks in Havana harbor, Cuba, killing 266 men. Spain is blamed which helps precipitate the Spanish-American War. -
Spanish-American War
After a declaration of war against Spain is signed by President William McKinley on April 20, 1898, the U.S. officially declares war on Spain five days later. -
Battle of Manila Bay
Also known as the Battle of Cavite. The first major engagement of the Spanish-American War. It is one of the most decisive naval battles under Commodore George Dewey and marked the end of the Spanish colonial period in Philippine history. -
Bombardment of San Juan
The first major action of the Puerto Rico Campaign during the Spanish-American War. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
Also known as the battle for the San Juan Heights was a decisive battle of the Spanish-American War. New commander Theodore Roosevelt memorably leads the charge of the Rough Riders to their so-called "greatest victory." -
Hawaii is annexed
The United States annexes the Hawaiian Islands -
Battle of Santiago Bay
General William R. Shafter's troops take the city of Santiago de Cuba from the Spanish. -
Battle of Sugar Point
Also known as Battle of Leech Lake. The 3rd U.S. Infantry troops are defeated by Ojibwe tribesmen in northern Minnesota after a failed attempt to apprehend Pillager Ojibwe as a result of a dispute with Indian Service officials on the Leech Lake Reservation. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris is signed, ending the Spanish-American War. In the treaty, Spain relinquished all claims of sovereignty over and title to Cuba and ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States. The cession of the Philippines involved a compensation of $20 million from the United States to Spain. The Treaty of Paris went into effect on April 11, 1899. -
Guam transferred to the U.S.
Guam transferred to the United States Navy's control by Executive Order 108-A. -
Philippine-American War
War begins as hostilities break out between the First Philippine Republic and the U.S. in Manila and lasts until July 2, 1902. -
Open Door Policy
Refers to the U.S. policy established to allow for a system of trade in China, open to all countries equally. Secretary of State, John Hay, issues the notes to Britain, France, Russia, and Japan. It was used primarily to mediate the competing interests of different colonial powers in China while preserving the territorial sovereignty of the Chinese Empire. -
Gold Standard Act
Signed into law this day by President McKinley. The U.S. currency is placed on the gold standard which means that gold is the only standard for redeeming money. It placed an end to bimetallism, fixing the value for all money issued or coined by the United States. -
Hawaii becomes U.S. territory
Hawaii becomes an official U.S. territory.
