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Date |
Event(s) |
| 1 | 1752 | - 15 Jun 1752: Franklin's kite experiment
Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment, proving that lightning is a form of electricity.
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| 2 | 1754 | - 28 May 1754: French and Indian War begins
A conflict between Great Britain and France for control of North America began, with Native American tribes allied with both sides.
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| 3 | 1759 | - 14 Sep 1759: Battle of Quebec
British forces under General James Wolfe defeated the French, leading to the capture of Quebec and a turning point in the French and Indian War.
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| 4 | 1763 | - 10 Feb 1763: Treaty of Paris ends war
The Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the French and Indian War and ceding French territory in North America to Great Britain.
- 7 Oct 1763: Proclamation of 1763
King George III issued a proclamation forbidding American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.
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| 5 | 1764 | - 5 Apr 1764: Sugar Act passed
The British Parliament passed the Sugar Act to raise revenue from the colonies, which angered colonists and led to protests.
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| 6 | 1765 | - 22 Mar 1765: Stamp Act passed
The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, requiring a tax on all legal documents, newspapers, and other printed materials.
- 24 Mar 1765: Quartering Act
The British Parliament passed the Quartering Act, requiring American colonists to provide housing and food for British soldiers.
- 7 Oct 1765: Stamp Act Congress meets
Delegates from nine colonies met in New York to protest the Stamp Act, issuing a Declaration of Rights and Grievances.
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| 7 | 1766 | - 18 Mar 1766: Declaratory Act passed
The British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act but passed the Declaratory Act, asserting its right to legislate for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever."
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| 8 | 1767 | - 29 Jun 1767: Townshend Acts passed
Parliament passed new laws taxing imports of glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea into the colonies.
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| 9 | 1770 | - 5 Mar 1770: Boston Massacre
British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists in Boston, killing five people and further inflaming tensions.
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| 10 | 1773 | - 10 May 1773: Tea Act passed
The British Parliament passed the Tea Act, which gave the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies.
- 16 Dec 1773: Boston Tea Party
Colonists in Boston, disguised as Native Americans, dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor in protest of the Tea Act.
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| 11 | 1774 | - 31 Mar 1774: Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)
In response to the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed a series of punitive laws, including the Boston Port Act and the Quartering Act.
- 5 Sep 1774: First Continental Congress
Delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia to coordinate a response to the Coercive Acts.
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| 12 | 1775 | - 19 Apr 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord
The "shot heard 'round the world" was fired, marking the start of the American Revolutionary War.
- 10 May 1775: Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia, assuming the role of a provisional government for the colonies.
- 17 Jun 1775: Battle of Bunker Hill
British forces defeated the American colonists in a costly battle in Boston, demonstrating the colonists' determination.
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| 13 | 1776 | - 4 Jul 1776: Declaration of Independence adopted
The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, formally severing ties with Great Britain.
- 26 Dec 1776: Battle of Trenton
General George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River and defeated a Hessian garrison in a surprise attack.
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| 14 | 1777 | - 17 Oct 1777: Battle of Saratoga
American forces defeated the British at Saratoga, a turning point that convinced France to enter the war as an American ally.
- 19 Dec 1777—19 Jun 1778: The Continental Army endured a brutal winter at Valley Forge
suffering from disease, cold, and starvation.
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| 15 | 1778 | - 23 Feb 1778: Treaty of Alliance with France
The United States and France signed a treaty, formally recognizing American independence and creating a military alliance.
- 29 Dec 1778: British capture Savannah
British forces captured the city of Savannah, Georgia, as part of their "Southern strategy."
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| 16 | 1780 | - 12 May 1780: British capture Charleston
The British captured Charleston, South Carolina, a major defeat for the Continental Army.
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| 17 | 1781 | - 1 Mar 1781: Articles of Confederation ratified
The states officially ratified the Articles of Confederation, the first government of the United States.
- 19 Oct 1781: Battle of Yorktown
The combined American and French forces trapped and defeated the British army at Yorktown, Virginia, a decisive victory that led to the end of the war.
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| 18 | 1783 | - 3 Sep 1783: Treaty of Paris ends war
The Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the American Revolutionary War and recognizing American independence.
- 23 Dec 1783: Washington resigns his commission
George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief, a rare act of a military leader voluntarily giving up power.
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| 19 | 1787 | - 25 May 1787—17 Sep 1787: Delegates met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation
but instead drafted a new Constitution.
- 13 Jul 1787: Northwest Ordinance passed
The Northwest Ordinance established a process for admitting new states to the Union and banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.
- 17 Sep 1787: U.S. Constitution signed
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the United States Constitution in Philadelphia.
- 7 Dec 1787: Delaware ratifies Constitution
Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
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| 20 | 1788 | - 21 Jun 1788: New Hampshire ratifies Constitution
New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, putting it into effect.
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| 21 | 1789 | - 4 Mar 1789: U.S. Constitution goes into effect
The new U.S. government was formally established under the Constitution.
- 30 Apr 1789: George Washington inaugurated
George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States in New York City.
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| 22 | 1791 | - 15 Dec 1791: Bill of Rights ratified
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution were ratified, guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms.
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| 23 | 1794 | - 1 Jan 1794: Whiskey Rebellion
Farmers in western Pennsylvania protested a federal tax on whiskey, leading to a military response by President Washington.
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| 24 | 1795 | - 10 Aug 1795: Treaty of Greenville
A treaty was signed between the United States and a confederation of Native American tribes, ceding a large portion of what is now Ohio.
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| 25 | 1796 | - 1 Jan 1796: Tennessee becomes 16th state
Tennessee was admitted to the Union as the 16th state.
- 17 Nov 1796: Washington's Farewell Address
George Washington published his farewell address, warning against political factions and foreign entanglements.
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| 26 | 1797 | - 4 Mar 1797: John Adams becomes President
John Adams was inaugurated as the second President of the United States.
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| 27 | 1798 | - 7 Jul 1798: Quasi-War with France
The U.S. entered an undeclared naval war with France, triggered by French seizure of American ships.
- 14 Jul 1798: Alien and Sedition Acts
Congress passed a series of laws that made it more difficult for immigrants to become citizens and allowed the government to deport or imprison "seditious" persons.
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| 28 | 1801 | - 4 Mar 1801: Thomas Jefferson inaugurated
Thomas Jefferson was sworn in as the third President of the United States.
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| 29 | 1803 | - 30 Apr 1803: Louisiana Purchase
The United States purchased a vast territory from France for $15 million, nearly doubling the size of the country.
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| 30 | 1804 | - 14 May 1804: Lewis and Clark Expedition begins
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark began their expedition to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory.
- 2 Dec 1804: Jefferson reelected
Thomas Jefferson was reelected as President of the United States.
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| 31 | 1807 | - 2 Mar 1807: Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves
Congress passed a law prohibiting the importation of slaves into the United States, effective January 1, 1808.
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| 32 | 1809 | - 14 Jan 1809: Erie Canal construction begins
Construction began on the Erie Canal, a major infrastructure project that connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.
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| 33 | 1812 | - 18 Jun 1812: War of 1812 begins
The United States declared war on Great Britain over maritime rights and British support for Native American tribes.
- 16 Aug 1812: Surrender of Detroit
American forces surrendered Detroit to the British, a major early defeat in the War of 1812.
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| 34 | 1814 | - 24 Aug 1814: Burning of Washington
British troops captured and burned Washington, D.C., including the White House and the Capitol.
- 13 Sep 1814: Battle of Fort McHenry
American forces at Fort McHenry successfully defended Baltimore from a British naval attack, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner."
- 24 Dec 1814: Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was signed, officially ending the War of 1812.
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| 35 | 1815 | - 8 Jan 1815: Battle of New Orleans
General Andrew Jackson defeated the British in the final major battle of the War of 1812, fought after the peace treaty had been signed.
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| 36 | 1817 | - 4 Mar 1817: James Monroe inaugurated
James Monroe was sworn in as the fifth President of the United States.
- 10 Dec 1817: Mississippi becomes 20th state
Mississippi was admitted to the Union.
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| 37 | 1819 | - 2 Mar 1819: Missouri Compromise
Congress passed a compromise allowing Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining the balance of power.
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| 38 | 1823 | - 2 Dec 1823: Monroe Doctrine
President James Monroe announced a U.S. foreign policy opposing European colonialism in the Americas.
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| 39 | 1825 | - 26 Oct 1825: Erie Canal completed
The Erie Canal officially opened, revolutionizing transportation and trade.
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| 40 | 1826 | - 4 Jul 1826: Jefferson and Adams die
Former presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
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| 41 | 1829 | - 4 Mar 1829: Andrew Jackson inaugurated
Andrew Jackson was sworn in as the seventh President, beginning the "Age of Jackson."
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| 42 | 1830 | - 28 May 1830: Indian Removal Act
President Andrew Jackson signed a law forcing the relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands.
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| 43 | 1836 | - 2 Mar 1836: Texas declares independence
Texas declared its independence from Mexico, leading to the Texas Revolution.
- 6 Mar 1836: Battle of the Alamo
Texan defenders of the Alamo were defeated by Mexican forces after a 13-day siege.
- 28 Dec 1836: Battle of San Jacinto
Texan forces led by Sam Houston defeated the Mexican army, securing Texas independence.
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| 44 | 1838 | - 28 May 1838: Trail of Tears begins
The forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation from their homeland began, resulting in thousands of deaths.
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| 45 | 1845 | - 29 Dec 1845: Texas annexed by U.S.
The Republic of Texas was annexed by the United States, becoming the 28th state.
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| 46 | 1846 | - 13 May 1846: Mexican-American War begins
The United States declared war on Mexico over a border dispute in Texas.
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| 47 | 1848 | - 24 Jan 1848: California Gold Rush begins
Gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, California, triggering a massive migration of "forty-niners."
- 24 Jan 1848: Gold discovered in California
James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California, beginning the California Gold Rush.
- 2 Feb 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The treaty was signed, ending the Mexican-American War and ceding significant territory to the United States.
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| 48 | 1850 | - 9 Sep 1850: Compromise of 1850
A series of five bills passed to address the issue of slavery, including admitting California as a free state and enacting the Fugitive Slave Act.
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| 49 | 1852 | - 20 Mar 1852: Uncle Tom's Cabin published
Harriet Beecher Stowe's anti-slavery novel was published, becoming a bestseller and fueling the abolitionist movement.
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