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New Orleans
New Orleans is founded by the French Mississippi Company. -
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First Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a religious revival that impacted the English colonies in America during the 1730s and 1740s. The movement came at a time when the idea of secular rationalism was being emphasized, and passion for religion had grown stale. Christian leaders often traveled from town to town, preaching about the gospel, emphasizing salvation from sins and promoting enthusiasm for Christianity. -
First American Library
The Library Company of Philadelphia was founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin and a group of friends. This library was the first truly public library. -
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French and Indian War
Final conflict in the ongoing struggle between the British and French for control of eastern North America. The British win a decisive victory over the French on the Plains of Abraham outside Quebec. -
Boston Massacre
British troops fire into a mob, killing five men and leading to intense public protests. -
Boston Tea Party
Group of colonial patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians board three ships in Boston harbor and dump more than 300 crates of tea overboard as a protest against the British tea tax. -
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American Revolution
War of independence fought between Great Britain and the 13 British colonies on the eastern seaboard of North America. Battles of Lexington and Concord, Mass., between the British Army and colonial minutemen, mark the beginning of the war. -
Declaration of Independence
Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. -
First Flag
Continental Congress approves the first official flag of the United States. -
Articles of Confederation
Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation, the first U.S. constitution. -
Shay's Rebellion
rebellion erupts; farmers from New Hampshire to South Carolina take up arms to protest high state taxes and stiff penalties for failure to pay. -
Constitutional Convention
made up of delegates from 12 of the original 13 colonies, meets in Philadelphia to draft the U.S. Constitution. -
George Washington elected 1st President
George Washington is unanimously elected president of the United States in a vote by state electors. -
Constitution goes into effect
U.S. Constitution goes into effect, having been ratified by nine states -
U.S. Supreme Court meets at the Merchants Exchange Building in New York City.
Supreme Court meets for the first time at the Merchants Exchange Building in New York City. The court, made up of one chief justice and five associate justices. -
Bill of Rights
First ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, are ratified. -
Cotton Gin Invented
Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin greatly increases the demand for slave labor. -
John Adams elected 2nd President
John Adams is inaugurated as the second president in Philadelphia.