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United States Politics
A historical timeline of the United States political landscape from 1784-2017. -
Constitutional Convention
Delegates from the thirteenth original colonies meet to "revise" the Articles of Confederation. At the end of the convention, the delegates emerged with a new document to run the country. -
Federalist Papers are Published
Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison wrote 85 articles on ratifying the Constitution. Jay wrote five, Madison wrote 29, and Hamilton wrote 51. The Federalist papers ultimately allowed the Constitution to be ratified by New York and Virgina. -
George Washington is sworn in as President
George Washington is unanimously chosen to be the first president of the United States. Washington was sworn in on April 30, 1789. -
Bill of Rights is Ratified
The Bill of Rights is added to the Constitution in the first ten amendments. It was highly demanded to have the Constitution ratified by the last few states. -
Vermont becomes a state
Vermont becomes the first state to enter the Union. It is the 14th state. -
Kentucky becomes a state
Kentucky becomes a state on June 1, 1792. Kentucky becomes the 15th state -
Tennessee becomes a state
Tennessee becomes a state on June 1, 1796. Tennessee becomes the 16th state of the United States -
John Adams is sworn in as President
John Adams is elected the second President of the United States after George Washington served two terms. Thomas Jefferson came in second, making him the Vice President. -
Virginia and Kentucky Resolution
In response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, the states of Virginia and Kentucky made laws against the Acts as they believe they were unconstitutional. Due to states rights this was legal for Virginia and Kentucky. -
Alien and Sedation Acts are Passed
In response to French diplomats trying to spy on the United States, and ask Americans to join the French Revolution. This act made it harder to become an American citizen, and limited the rights on non-citizens -
Capital Moves to Washington D.C.
President John Adams signs into law the capital will move to Washington D.C. This was approved by Congress by a long battle of were to move the capital. -
Thomas Jefferson sworn in as President
After a failed campaign in 1797, Thomas Jefferson ran a successful campaign and was elected the third President. His Vice President for his first term was Aaron Burr, and George Clinton for his second term. -
Ohio becomes a state
Ohio becomes a state on March 1, 1803. Ohio is the 17th state of the United States -
John Madison is sworn in as President
John Madison is elected the fourth president of the United States. His Vice Presidents were George Clinton, and Elbridge Gerry -
War of 1812
The United States declares war against Great Britain. The US was upset with Britain's actions, as they would enslave, and force American maritime traders to join the French Revolution, and help fight for the British. -
Louisiana becomes a state
Louisiana becomes a state on April 30, 1812. Louisiana is the 18th state in the United States. -
Indiana becomes a state
Indiana becomes a state on December 11, 1816. Indiana is the 19th state in the United States -
James Monroe is sworn in as President
James Monroe is elected the fifth president of the United States. His Vice President was Daniel D. Tompkins -
Mississippi becomes a state
Mississippi becomes a state on December 10, 1817. Mississippi is the 20th state to enter the United States. -
Illinois becomes a state
Illinois becomes a state on December 3, 1818. Illinois is the 21st state to enter the United State. -
Alabama becomes a state
Alabama becomes a state on December 14, 1819. Alabama is the 22nd state to enter the United States. -
Maine becomes a state
Maine becomes a state on March 15, 1820. Maine is the 23rd state to join the United States -
Missouri becomes a state
Missouri becomes a state on August 10, 1821. Missouri is the 24th state to enter the United States. -
John Quincy Adams is sworn in as President
John Quincy Adams is elected the sixth President of the United States. His Vice President was John C. Calhoun -
Andrew Jackson is sworn in as President
Andrew Jackson is elected the seventh President of the United States. His Vice President was John C. Calhoun and Martin Van Buren. -
Arkansas becomes a state
Arkansas become a state on June 15, 1836. Arkansas is the 25th state to join the United State. -
Michigan becomes a state
Michigan becomes a state on January 26, 1837. Michigan is the 26th state to enter the United States. -
William Henry Harrison is sworn in as President
William Henry Harrison is elected the ninth President of the United States. His Vice President was John Tayler -
Martin Van Buren is sworn in as President
Martin Van Buren is elected the eighth President of the United States. His Vice President was Richard Mentor Johnson. -
John Tyler succeeded to President
After William Henry Harrison died in office John Tayler succeeded his office. Tyler became the tenth president of the United States. -
Florida becomes a state
Florida becomes a state on March 3, 1845. Florida is the 27th state to enter the United States. -
James K. Polk is sworn in as President
James K Polk is elected the eleventh President of the United States. His Vice President is George M. Dallas. -
Texas becomes a state
Texas becomes a state on December 29, 1845. Texas is the 28th state to join the United States. -
Iowa becomes a state
Iowa becomes a state on December 28, 1846. Iowa is the 29th state to join the United States -
Wisconsin becomes a state
Wisconsin becomes a state on May 29, 1848. Wisconsin is the 30th state to enter the United States. -
Zachary Taylor is sworn in as President
Zachary Taylor is elected the 12th president of the United States. He died in office after serving one year -
Millard Fillmore succeeded to the Presidency
Millard Fillmore, succeeded to the Presidency after Zachary Taylor died in office. He served without a Vice President. -
California becomes a state
California becomes a state on September 9, 1850. California is the 31st state to join the United States. -
Franklin Pierce is sworn in as President
Franklin Pierce is elected the 14th President of the United States. His Vice President is William R King, who died in office. -
James Buchanan is sworn in as President
James Buchanan is elected the 15th President of the United States. His Vice President was John C. Breckingride -
Minnesota becomes a state
Minnesota becomes a state on May 11, 1858. Minnesota is the 32nd to join the United States. -
Oregon becomes a state
Oregon becomes a state on February 14, 1859. Oregon is the 33rd state to enter the United States -
Kansas becomes a state
Kansas becomes a state on January 29, 1861. Kansas is the 34th state to join the United States -
Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as President
Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th President of the United States. He was assassinated on April 15, 1865. -
American Civil War
The American Civil War was against the Northern state, or the Union, and the Southern states or the Confederacy. The wars starting point was over slavery, but there were other issues going on in the country that started the war as well. -
West Virginia becomes a state
West Virginia becomes a state on June 20, 1863. West Virginia is the 35th state to enter the United States. -
Nevada becomes a state
Nevada becomes a state on October 31, 1864. Nevada is the 36th state to enter the United States. -
Abraham Lincoln is Assassinated
Abraham Lincoln is assassinated in a theater. He was killed by James Wilkes Booth. -
Andrew Johnson succeeds to President
Andrew Johnson succeeds to President after Abraham Lincoln is assassinated. He served without a Vice President -
Nebraska becomes a state
Nebraska becomes a state on March 1, 1867. Nebraska is the 37th state to join the United States. -
Ulysses S. Grant is sworn in as President
Ulysses S. Grant is elected the 18th President of the United States. His Vice President was Schuyler Colfax, and Henry Wilson. -
Colorado becomes a state
Colorado becomes a state on August 1, 1876. Colorado is the 38th state to join the United States. -
Rutherford B. Hayes is sworn in as President
Rutherford B. Hayes is elected the 19th President of the United States. His Vice President was William A. Wheeler. -
James A. Garfield is sworn in as President
James A. Garfield is elected the 20th President of the United States. His Vice President was Chester A. Arthur. -
James A. Garfield is assassinated
James A. Garfield is assassinated. He was killed by Charles J. Guiteau. -
Chester A. Arthur succeeds to President
Chester A. Arthur succeeds to President after James A. Garfield is assassinated. He served without a Vice President. -
Grover Cleveland is sworn in as President
Grover Cleveland is elected 22nd President of the United States. His Vice President was Thomas A. Hendricks. -
Benjamin Harrison is sworn in as President
Benjamin Harrison is elected the 23rd President of the United States. His Vice President was Levi P. Morton. -
North Dakota becomes a state
North Dakota becomes a state on November 2, 1889. North Dakota is the 39th state to join the United States -
South Dakota becomes a state
South Dakota becomes a state on November 2, 1889. South Dakota is the 40th state to join the United States. -
Montana becomes a state
Montana becomes a state on November 8, 1889. Montana is the 41st state to join the United States. -
Washington becomes a state
Washington becomes a state on November 11, 1889. Washington is the 42nd state to join the United States. -
Idaho becomes a state
Idaho becomes a state on July 3, 1890. Idaho is the 43rd state to enter the United States. -
Wyoming becomes a state
Wyoming becomes a state on July 10, 1890. Wyoming is the 44th state to enter the United States. -
Grover Cleveland is sworn in as President
Grover Cleveland is elected the 24th President of the United States. He served two nonconsecutive terms. -
Utah becomes a state
Utah becomes a state on January 4, 1896. Utah is the 45th state to enter the United States. -
William McKinley is sworn in as President
William McKinley is elected the 25th President of the United States. He was assassinated in office on September 14, 1901. -
Theodore Roosevelt succeeds the Presidency
Theodore Roosevelt succeeds the Presidency after William McKinley was assassinated. He served two terms. -
William McKinley is assassinated
William McKinley is assassinated. He was killed by Leon Czolgosz. -
Oklahoma becomes a state
Oklahoma becomes a state on November 16, 1907. Oklahoma is the 46th state to join the United States. -
William Howard Taft is sworn in as President
William Howard Taft is elected the 27th President of the United States. His Vice President was James S. Sherman -
New Mexico becomes a state
New Mexico becomes a state on January 6, 1912. New Mexico is the 47th state to enter the United States. -
Arizona becomes a state
Arizona becomes a state on February 14, 1912. Arizona is the 48th state to join the United States. -
Woodrow Wilson is sworn in as President
Woodrow Wilson is elected the 28th President of the United States. His Vice President was Thomas R. Marshall -
World War I
The United States declared war on the German Empire. The US joined the war to defeat the German Empire. -
Warren G. Harding is sworn in as President
Warren G. Harding is elected the 29th President of the United States. His Vice President was Calvin Coolidge. -
Calvin Coolidge succeeds the Presidency
Calvin Coolidge succeeded the Presidency after Warren G. Harding dies in office. His Vice President was Charles G. Dawes -
Herbert Hoover is sworn in as President
Herbert Hoover is elected the 31st President of the United States. His Vice President was Charles Curtis -
Franklin D. Roosevelt is sworn in as President
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected the 32nd President of the United States. He served the longest Presidency term to this day. -
World War II
The United States declare war on Japan. The United States declared war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor. -
Harry S. Truman succeeds the Presidency
Harry S. Truman succeeds the Presidency after Franklin D. Roosevelt dies in office. His Vice President was Alben W. Barkley -
Cold War
The political and military tension between the United States and the U.S.S.R. It occured after WWII when the United States and Russia disagreed how to run Germany. -
Korean War
The US acted as an aid to South Korea, after the invasion of North Korea. This was one of the first major wars in the Cold War. -
Dwight D. Eisenhower is sworn in as President
Dwight D. Eisenhower is elected the 34th President of the United States. His Vice President was Richard Nixon. -
Vietnam War
The US declared war on Vietnam. The main purpose of this war was to keep communism out of Vietnam and South East Asia. -
Alaska becomes a state
Alaska becomes a state on January 3, 1959. Alaska is the 49th state to join the United States -
Hawaii becomes a state
Hawaii becomes a state on August 21, 1959. Hawaii is the 50th state to join the United States. -
John F. Kennedy is sworn in as President
John F. Kennedy is elected 35th President of the United States. He was the first Catholic President of the United States. -
Lyndon B. Johnson succeeds the Presidency
Lydon B. Johnson succeeds the Presidency after John F. Kennedy was assassinated. His Vice President was Hubert Humphrey. -
John F. Kennedy is assassinated
John F. Kennedy is assassinated. He was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald. -
Richard Nixon is sworn in as President
Richard Nixon is elected the 37th President of the United States. He is the first President to resign after he was exposed in the Watergate scandal. -
Gerald Ford succeeds the Presidency
Gerald Ford succeeds the Presidency after Richard Nixon resigns from office. His Vice President was Nelson Rockefeller. -
Jimmy Carter is sworn in as President
Jimmy Carter is elected the 39th President of the United States. His Vice President was Walter Mondale. -
Ronald Reagan is sworn in as President
Ronald Reagan is elected President of the United States. His Vice President was George H. W. Bush. -
George H. W. Bush is sworn in as President
George H. W. Bush is elected President of the United States. His Vice President was Dan Quayle. -
Bill Clinton is sworn in as President
Bill Clinton is elected 42nd President of the United States. He is the third President to be put through the impeachment process. -
George W. Bush is sworn in as President
George W. Bush is elected 43rd President of the United States. His Vice President was Dick Cheney -
9/11 Attacks
One of the first major terrorist attacks on the United States homeland. Two planes crashed into the twin towers in New York City, and one plane crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. Another plane was planned to crash into another building but it was stopped and landed in a field in Pennsylvania. -
Barack Obama is sworn in as President
Barack Obama is elected the 44th President of the United States. He is the first African American President of the United States -
Donald J. Trump is sworn in as President
Donald J. Trump is elected the 45th President of the United States. His Vice President is Mike Pence
