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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
A charter of liberty and political rights from King John of England. It was the first known form of government. -
Period: Jun 15, 1215 to
U.S. History Timeline
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"Lost Colony"
The "Lost Colony" sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh was founded on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present- day North Carolina. The settlers have believed to vanish in 1590. -
Jamestown
Captain John Smith and 105 men in 3 ships landed on the Virginia coast, and started the first permanant English settlement in the New World in Jamestown, Virginia. -
Virginia House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses was the first representative assembly in the New World, was elected on July 30 in Jamestown, Virginia. -
Pilgrims and the Mayflower
Pilgrims, Puritain seperatists, left England, on September 1620 on the Mayflower. They reached Cape Cod on November 19, and 103 passengers landed on December 26, at Plymouth. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first agreement to form a self-government in the New World. -
Providence, Rhode Island
Rodger Williams founded Providence, Rhode Island, in June as a democratically ruled colony with seperation of church and state. The charter was granted in 1644. -
Navigation Act
British Parliment passed the first Navigation Act December 1, regulating colonial trade to benifit England. -
Rebellion and the Indian War
Nathaniel Bacon led planters against the British Governor Sir William Berkley, burning Jamestown, Virginia. The rebellion collapsed when Baccon died; 23 of his followers executed.
Bloody Indian War in New England ended August 12. King Philip, Wampanoag chief, and Narragansett Indians were killed. -
William Penn and Pennsylvania
William Penn signed a treaty with Deleware Indians April 23, and bought Pennsylvania lands. The first German colonists settled near Philadelphia. -
Salem Witch Trials
Witchcraft delusion at Salem, Massachusetts. Twenty alleged witches were executed by special court. -
Poor Richard's Almanack
Benjamin Franklin published the first Poor Richards Almanack's. It was published until 1757. -
John Peter Zenger
Editor John Peter Zenger was found innocent of libel on August 5. in New York after he critized the British governor's conduct in office. -
Great Awakening
Jonathan Edwards delivered his famous sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' in Enfiled Massachusetts. He was a major figure in the revivalist Great Awakening. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War began when French occupied Pittsburg. The British moved the Acadian French from Nova Scotia to Louisiana on October 8, 1754. On September 18, 1759, the British captured Quebec. The Peace Pact was signed Feb. 10, 1763; French lost Canada and the Midwest. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act, put into effect of April 5, placed a tax on lumber, foodstuffs, molasses, and rum in the colonies in order to pay for the French and Indian War. -
Stamp and Quartering Acts
The Stamp Act was enacted by Parliment on March 22. It required revenue stamps to help fund royal troops. It was repealed in March 17, 1776.
The Quartering Act required colonists to house British troops, and went into effect March 24. -
Townshed Acts
The Townshed Acts levied taxes on glass, painter's lead, paper, and tea. In 1770 all taxes except for the the tax on tea was repealed. -
Boston Massacre
On March 5, British troops fired into a Boston mob, killing five. This included Crispus Attucks, a black man, reportedly a leader of the mob; later called the Boston Massacre. -
Boston Tea Party
East Inida Co. tea ships were turned back in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia in May. On October 14,a cargo ship burned in Annapolis, Maryland. On December 16, Patroits dressed as Indians threw tea over the side of a tea ship to protest the tax on it. -
"Intolerable Acts" and First Continental Congress
The "Intolerable Acts" passed by Parliment, banned use of the Boston Harbor until the tea was paid for.
The First Continental Congress held in Philadelphia on Septermber 5- October 26. It called for civil disobedience against the British. -
Lexington and Concord
On April 18, Paul Revere and William Dawes rode to alert Patriots the the British were on the way to Concord to destroy arms; the British did. On April 19, in Lexington, Massachusetts, the British won as well. These were the first battles of the Revolutioinary War. -
Common Sense and The Declaration of Independence
In January, Thomas Paine published the pro-indepence pamphelt Common Sense. Then on June 7 the Continental Congress declared the united colonies had a right to be free and independant staes. -
Washington Defeats Cornwallis & Articles of Confederation
Washington defetaed Cornwallis in Princeton on January 3. Later that year, in Novemeber, the Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress. -
John Paul Jones
In the British North Sea, John Paul Jones, on the Bonhome Richard, defeats the British ship Serapis. -
Cornwallis Surrenders
The Battle of Yorktown began, and in 2 weeks Cornwallis surrendered to Washington. This was the final battle of the Revolution. -
Treaty of Paris
The US and Britan recognized American Independence by signing the Paris Peace Treaty. It was ratified By Congress on Jan. 14, 1784. -
Northwest Ordinance, Shays 's Rebellion, Federalist Papers, Constitutional Convention
The Northweest Ordinace was adopted by the Continntal Congress. The ordinance included rules for statehood, support for schools, no slavery and guarenteed the freedom of religion.
On Jan. 25 debt-ridden famers in Massachusets rebelled; known as Shays's Rebellion, but it failed.
The Constitutional Convention opened Philadelphia, Penn. with Washington as president. The Constitution was ratified Septermber 17.
The Federalist Papers were published. -
George Washington Elected President & Supreme Court Created
Geogre Washinton was elected President when the First Congress met in New York City on March 4. They also declared the Constitution in effect.
Then in September the Supreme Court was created and the first chief justice was named. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights were submitted to the states in September, and went into effect in December. -
Washington Re-Elected & Cotton Gin Invented
Waashington was re-elected for a second term as President with John Adams as his vice-President.
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, which led to reviving slavery in the South. -
John Jay's Treaty & Whiskey Rebellion
John Jay introduced a treaty with Britain to settle long standing issues, it was signed in 1795. Whiskey Rebellion occured when Pennsylvania farmers protested the liquor tax of 1791. -
Washington's Farewll
Washington delivered a farewell address as he left the presiendency. He warned aganist things such as big public debt, alliances with foreign powers, the spirit of partry, and a large military establishment. -
Allen & Sedition Acts
These acts were passed by Federalists to attempt to silence political opposition. A war with France ws threatened because of French raids on US shipping and France rejecting US diplomats. Napolean stopped these raids. -
Thomas Jeffereson & John Marshall
Thomas Jefferson became President and Aaron Burr vice President after a tie breaking vote in the House. John Marshall was named Supreme Court chief justice. -
Marbury vs. Madison and the Louisana Purchase
The US purchased from Napolean all of Louisana stretching to the Canadian border. This purchase doubled the size of the US.
The Supreme Court case of Marbury vs. Madison established judicial review. -
Lewis & Clark
President Thomas Jefferson ordered the expedition of Lewis and Clark to explore the Northwest portion of the US. It lasted from May until September. -
Steamboat & Embargo Act
Robert Fulton made the first practical steamboat trip. They left New York City on August, 17 an reached Albany in 32 hours.
The Embargo Act banned all trade with foregin countries, and forbid ships to set sail for foregin ports. -
War of 1812
The 3 main causes of the Cicil War were:
Britain seized U.S. ships,
impressment of American sailors,
and Britian's realations with the Native Americans.
Congress declared war on June 18. -
Oliver H. Perry
Oliver H. Perry defeated the British Navy at the Battle of Lake Eerie on September 10. -
"Star Spangled Banner" and Treaty of Ghent
British landed in Maryland in August, and burned the Capitol and White House.
Francis Scott Key wrote the "Star-Spangled Banner." during the Bonbardment of of Ft. McHenry as a prisnor of war on a British ship.
The U.S. won the naval Battle of Lake Champlain on September 11. The Treaty of Ghent was signed Dec. 24. -
Spanish Secesion of Florida
On Feb. 22 Spain ceded Florida to the United States. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine, which opposed European intervention in the Americas, was enunciated by President Monroe on Dec. 22. -
Indian Removal Act and Webster Hayne Debate
The Webster Hayne debate occured on Feb. 27. The debate was iver the issues of states being able to nullify federal laws.
President Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act. It provided land and a little pay to the Indians who agreed to move West. -
Slave Rebellion
A local slave in Virginia named Nat Turner led a slave rebellion starting Aug. 21. One hundred slaves and onlu 57 white men were killed. Turner was captured, tried, and hung. -
Trail of Tears
The Cheeroke Indians were forced to walk the "Trail of Tears." The trail was from Georgia to Oklahoma, and it started in October. -
First Telegraph Line
The first message was sent over the first telegraph line by Samuel F.B. Morse from Washington to Baltimore. -
Mexican War
The War with Mexico began when President Polk ordered General Zachery Taylor to seize Texan land settles by Mexicans. The U.S. declared war on May 13, after a border clash. After U.S. troops took Vera Cruz, March 27 1847, and Mexico City on September 14, 1847. In the traty, Mexico ceded clamins to Texas, California, and any other territories to the United States. -
Gold Discovered in California
On January 24, gold was discovered in California; in 1849, 80,000 prospectores immigrated there. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was proposed by Henry Clay. It made California a state in which slavery was illegal;
made Utah and New Maxico territories;
ended slave trade in D.C.;
and established the Fugitive Slave Act. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin is published by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It depicted slavery as cruel and immoral. -
Republican Party, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Gadsden Purchase
The Republican Party was formed on Feb. 28.
They opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which left the decision of slavery up to the settlers. The Kansas-Nebraska Act became a law on May 30.
The treaty with Mexico was ratified on April 25. The land aquired was known as the Gadsden Purchase. -
Dred Scott Decision
On March 6, the Supreme Cournt ruled that slaves did not become free even if they moved to a state in which slavery was illegal. Also, Congress could not bar slavaery in any territory, and blacks could not be citizens. -
Harpers Ferry
John Brown, an aboltionist, along with 21 followers seized the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry. The U.S. Marines captured them, and Brown was later hanged for treason. -
Abraham Lincon Elected President
On Nov. 6 Abraham Lincon, a Republican, was elected the 16th President of the United States in a 4-way race. -
Confederate States of America and Start of Civil War
The Confedrate States of America was set up by seven southern states, who selected Jefferson Davis as the President.
The Civil War began when Confederates fired on Ft. Sumpter in Charleston, South Carolina; they captured it on April 14.
Confederates drove back Union forces at the Battle of Bull Run, the first official battle of the war. -
Battle of Antietam, Homestead and Land Grant Acts
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest one-day battle of the war, with both sides losing over 2,000 men.
The Homestead Act granted free farms to settlers.
The Land Grant Act provided land for sale in order benifit agricultural education. It was approved July 7, and lead to the establishments of state university systems. -
Emancipation Proclamation, Battle of Ghettysburg, Gettysburg Address
President Lincon issued the Emancipation Proclamation Jan. 1, freeing all slaves in territories in which slavery was made illegal.
The Union had full control of the Mississippi River by July 4, after they won the Battle of Ghettysbug. It was the turning point of the Civil War.
The Battle of Vicksburg occured on July 4. Confederate forces surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant and the Union forces. -
End of the Civil War, Lincon Assinated, 13th Amendment
General Robert E. Lee surrendered 27,800 Confederate troops to General Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9. This marked the end of the war.
President Lincon was shot and killed on April 14 by John Wilkes Booth at Fords Theater. The Vice- President, Andrew Johnson, was sworn in as President .
The 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery was ratified on Dec. 6. -
The 14th Amendment
The 14th Amdenment, which provided citizenship for all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. was ratified on July 9. -
The 15th Amendment
On Feb. 8 the 15th Amendment was ratified, and made race no bar to voting rights. -
The American Red Cross
Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross on May 21.
President Garfield was shot in D.C. and died several months later.
