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Jamestown
Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America, is established by the London Company in southeast Virginia (May 14 o.s.). Read more: 1600–1799 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0902417.html#ixzz12uj7bzuf -
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 (April 19, 1775).Battle-weary and destitute Continental army spends brutally cold winter and following spring at Valley Forge, British general Charles Cornwallis surrenders to Gen. Washington at Yorktown.Treaty of Paris, officially ends the war (Sept. 3, 1783). -
George Washington elected president
George Washington is unanimously elected president of the United States in a vote by state electors (Feb. 4). U.S. Constitution goes into effect, having been ratified by nine states (March 4). U.S. Congress (Web: clerkweb.house.gov/histrecs/househis/lists/sessions.htm ) meets for the first time at Federal Hall in New York City (March 4). Washington is inaugurated as president at Federal Hall in New York City (April 30). Read more: 1600–1799 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A09024 -
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 (treaty signed May 2). As a result, the U.S. nearly doubles in size. Read more: 1800–1849 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903594.html#ixzz12umZFoiK -
War of 1812
War of 1812: U.S. declares war on Britain over British interference with American maritime shipping and westward expansion (June 18, 1812).British capture Washington, DC, and set fire to White House and Capitol (Aug. 1814).Treaty of Ghent is signed, officially ending the war (Dec. 24, 1814). Read more: 1800–1849 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903594.html#ixzz12un7rPDs -
Mexican War
U.S. declares war on Mexico in effort to gain California and other territory in Southwest (May 13, 1846). War concludes with signing of Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (Feb. 2, 1848). Mexico recognizes Rio Grande as new boundary with Texas and, for $15 million, agrees to cede territory comprising present-day California, Nevada, Utah, most of New Mexico and Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. Read more: 1800–1849 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903594.html#ixzz130VZ4xZN -
Civil War
Conflict between the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy) over the expansion of slavery into western states. Confederates attack Ft. Sumter in Charleston, S.C., marking the start of the war (April 12, 1861). Emancipation Proclamation is issued, freeing slaves in the Confederate states.Gen. Ulysses S. Grant captures Richmond, Va., the capital of the Confederacy. Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Va., (April 9). -
Lincoln is assassinated
Lincoln is assassinated (April 14) by John Wilkes Booth in Washington, DC, and is succeeded by his vice president, Andrew Johnson. Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, prohibiting slavery (Dec. 6). Read more: 1850–1899 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903595.html#ixzz130Z3J9Us -
Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty is dedicated (Oct. 28). American Federation of Labor is organized (Dec.). Read more: 1850–1899 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903595.html#ixzz130a4sknl -
Spanish-American War
USS Maine is blown up in Havana harbor (Feb. 15), prompting U.S. to declare war on Spain (April 25). Treaty of Paris is signed, ending the Spanish-American War (Dec. 10); Spain gives up control of Cuba, which becomes an independent republic, and cedes Puerto Rico, Guam, and (for $20 million) the Philippines to the U.S. Read more: 1850–1899 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903595.html#ixzz130aYAaUF -
Panama Canal Zone
U.S. acquires Panama Canal Zone (treaty signed Nov. 17). Wright brothers make the first controlled, sustained flight in heavier-than-air aircraft at Kitty Hawk, N.C. (Dec. 17). Read more: 1900–1949 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903596.html#ixzz130b7mo34 -
William Howard
William Howard Taft is inaugurated as the 27th president (March 4). Mrs. Taft has 80 Japanese cherry trees planted along the banks of the Potomac River. Read more: 1900–1949 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903596.html#ixzz130bahDkA -
World War I
World War I: U.S. enters World War I, declaring war on Germany (April 6, 1917) and Austria-Hungary (Dec. 7, 1917) three years after conflict began in 1914. Armistice ending World War I is signed (Nov. 11, 1918). Read more: 1900–1949 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903596.html#ixzz130cMFva2 -
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh makes the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in his plane The Spirit of St. Louis (May 20–21). Read more: 1900–1949 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903596.html#ixzz130cyPi7z -
Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner is adopted as the national anthem (March 3). Read more: 1900–1949 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903596.html#ixzz130dXAWWw -
World War II
U.S. declares its neutrality in European conflict (Sept. 5, 1939). Japan attacks Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines. U.S. declares war on Japan. Germany and Italy declare war on the United States; U.S. reciprocates by declaring war on both countries. Allies invade France on D-Day U.S. drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. U.S. drops atomic bomb on Nagasak Japan. Japan agrees to unconditional surrender (Aug. 14). Japanese envoys sign surrender terms aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo harbor sep. 2 -
Vietnam War
Prolonged conflict between Communist forces of North Vietnam, backed by China and the USSR, and non-Communist forces of South Vietnam, backed by the United States. President Truman authorizes $15 million in economic and military aid to the French, who are fighting to retain control of French Indochina, including Vietnam. Last U.S. troops leave Vietnam (March 29). South Vietnamese government surrenders to North Vietnam; U.S. embassy Marine guards and last U.S. civilians are evacuated. -
Korean War
Cold war conflict between Communist and non-Communist forces on Korean Peninsula. North Korean communists invade South Korea (June 25, 1950). President Truman, without the approval of Congress, commits American troops to battle (June 27). President Truman removes Gen. Douglas MacArthur as head of U.S. Far East Command (April 11, 1951). Armistice agreement is signed (July 27, 1953). Read more: 1950–1999 — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903597.html#ixzz13TknHTZB -
911
George W. Bush is inaugurated as the 43rd president. Two hijacked jetliners ram twin towers of World Trade Center in worst terrorist attack against U.S.; a third hijacked plane flies into the Pentagon, and a fourth crashes in rural Pennsylvania. More than 3,000 people die in the attacks. and Britain launch air attacks against targets in Afghanistan after Taliban government fails to hand over Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks. -
Obama Voted President
After months of campaigning and primary races, Barack Obama and John McCain are finally chosen as the presidential nominees for the Democratic and Republican parties. Barack Obama becomes the first African-American to be elected President, with 52.8% of the vote. In Congress, Democrats retain majorities in both the House and the Senate, with 57 Senators and 178 Representatives. Read more: 2000– — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903598.html#ixzz13TpYoEnL
