August 3, 1492 - Christopher Columbus sets sail to find
a westward route to the east.
October 12, 1492 - Christopher Columbus reportly the
1st European to set foot on the New World (in what is now the Dominican
Republic).
April 2, 1513 - Juan Ponce DeLeon establishes the 1st
colony in what is now the United States (St. Augustine, Florida).
December 20, 1606 - Virginia Company settlers left
London to establish the first permanent English settlement in North
America.
May 14, 1607 - The first permanent English settlement
in what is now the United States is established at Jamestown, Virginia.
December 4, 1619 - The 1st Thanksgiving is celebrated.
May 9, 1689 - Britain declares war on France.
May 24, 1689 - English Parliament guarantees freedom of
religion for Protestants.
July 25, 1689 - France declares war on Britain.
December 16, 1689 - English Parliament adopts a Bill of
Rights.
February 28, 1704 - French/Indian forces destroy
Deerfield, Massachussetts.
January 28, 1712 - American forces attack the Tuscarora
Indians during the Tuscarora Indian War.
September 2, 1752 - Britain and the colonies under its
control adopt the Gregorian calendar.
March 5, 1770 - British troops fire on a rock throwing
crowd (known as "The Boston Massacre").
June 9, 1772 - The 1st naval Battle of the American
Revolution off the coast of Rhode Island.
December 16, 1773 - The "Boston Tea Party" takes place
as residents disguised as indians throw crates of tea into Boston
Harbor.
June 2, 1774 - Martail Law is declared in
Massachussetts.
October 26, 1774 - The Minute Men are established in
America.
The Revolutionary War
April 19, 1775 - The Revolutionary War officially
begins with the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
May 10, 1775 - American forces take the British fort at
Ticonderoga, New York.
June 12, 1775 - 2nd naval Battle of the American
Revolution takes place.
June 14, 1775 - The Continental Army is established by
the Continental Congress.
June 15, 1775 - George Washington is appointed to
Commander-in-Cheif of the Continental Army.
June 17, 1775 - British troops win the Battle of
Breed's Hill.
August 22, 1775 - King George III officially declares a
state of open rebellion in the American colonies.
November 28, 1775 - The Continental Navy is established
by the Continental Congress.
December 22, 1775 - Esek Hopkins is appointed to
Commodore of the Navy.
July 4, 1776 - The United States declares its
Independence from Britain (by apporving the Declaration of
Independence).
September 6, 1776 - The first submarine, the Turtle, is
used in Battle in New York Harbor.
December 25, 1776 - American forces cross the Deleware
River and attack British forces at Trenton.
September 19, 1777 - American forces win the 1st Battle
of Saratoga.
December 7, 1777 - The 2nd Battle of Saratoga begins.
December 17, 1777 - American forces win the 2nd Battle
of Saratoga.
January 5, 1778 - Naval mines are used for the 1st time
by the Continental Navy.
May 4, 1778 - The Continental Congress ratifies the
Treaty of Alliance with France.
July 9, 1778 - The Continental Congress approves the
Articles of Confederation.
February 5, 1778 - South Carolina is the 1st State to
ratify the Articles of Confederation.
July 21, 1778 - North Carolina to ratify the Articles
of Confederation.
July 22, 1778 - Pennsylvania to ratify the Articles
of Confederation.
July 24, 1778 - Georgia to ratify the Articles
of Confederation.
August 8, 1778 - New Hampshire to ratify the Articles
of Confederation.
November 26, 1778 - New Jersey to ratify the Articles
of Confederation.
May 5, 1779 - Deleware to ratify the Articles
of Confederation.
January 30, 1781 - Maryland is the 13th State to ratify
the Articles of Confederation.
October 19, 1781 - American/French forces win the
Battle of Yorktown.
November 5, 1781 - John Hanson is elected the 1st
President of the United States by the Continental Congress.
August 7, 1782 - Gen. George Washington creates the
Order of the Purple Heart (for soldiers wounded in battle).
September 3, 1783 - The Treaty of Paris 1783 is signed
by Britain and the United States, officially ending the Revolutionary
War as the United States is recognized as a sovereign nation.
The New Nation
September 3, 1783 - The United States gains what is
currently Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee,
Wisconsin, and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, North
Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia as a result of the
Treaty of Paris 1783.
November 2, 1783 - The Continental Army is disbanded.
August 8, 1786 - The Continental Congress adopts the
"Dollar" and decimal coinage.
February 21, 1787 - The Continental Congress adopts a
resolution calling for a convention of state delegates to draw up a
change to the Articles of Confederation.
May 17, 1787 - Delegates begin meeting in Philadelphia
to draw up a change to the Articles of Confederation.
May 25, 1787 - George Washington is elected President
of the Philadelphia convention.
September 17, 1787 - The delegates at the Philadelphia
convention approve the Constitution and sends it to the
Continental Congress.
September 28, 1787 - The Continental Congress sends the
new Constitution to the states for ratification.
October 27, 1787 - The 1st of the Federalist Papers is
published in a New York newspaper, calling for a Bill of Rights (written
by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay).
December 7, 1787 - Deleware is the 1st state to ratify
the Constitution. Delaware, one of the thirteen colonies, gained its
distinction as the "First State" when it was the first to ratify the
Constitution on December 7, 1787.
December 12, 1787 - Pennsylvania is the 2nd state to
ratify the Constitution. In September 1787, the U.S. Constitution was
signed in Philadelphia and on December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania, one of
the thirteen colonies, became the second state.
Area - 45,759 sq. miles
Capital - Harrisburg
2000 Population -
December 18, 1787 - New Jersey is the 3rd state to
ratify the Constitution. New Jersey, one of the thirteen colonies,
became the third state on December 18, 1787
Area - 8,215 sq. miles
Capital - Trenton
2000 Population -
January 2, 1788 - Georgia is the 4th state to ratify
the Constitution. Georgia, one of the thirteen colonies, ratified the
U.S. Constitution on January 2, 1788, becoming the fourth state to do
so; it joined the Confederacy on January 19, 1861, and re-entered the
Union after the Civil War.
Area - 58,977 sq. miles
Capital - Atlanta
2000 Population -
January 9, 1788 - Connecticuit is the 5th state to
ratify the Constitution. Connecticut, one of the thirteen colonies,
became the fifth state on January 9, 1788.
Area - 5,544 sq. miles
Capital - Hartford
2000 Population -
February 6, 1788 - Massachussetts is the 6th state to
ratify the Constitution. Originally part of the thirteen colonies,
Massachusetts became a state on February 6, 1788
Area - 9,241 sq. miles
Capital - Boston
2000 Population -
April 28, 1788 - Maryland is the 7th state to ratify
the Constitution. Maryland became the seventh state on April 28, 1788.
During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln placed Maryland under
military control.
Area - 12,297 sq. miles
Capital - Annapolis
2000 Population -
May 23, 1788 - South Carolina is the 8th state to
ratify the Constitution. South Carolina, one of the thirteen colonies,
became the eighth state on May 23, 1788. On December 20, 1860, South
Carolina became the first state to secede form the Union. It re- entered
after the Civil War.
Area - 31,189 sq. miles
Capital - Columbia
2000 Population -
June 21, 1788 - New Hampshire is the 9th state to
ratify the Constitution. In a sense, New Hampshire, originally one of
the thirteen colonies, "created" the new nation by becoming the ninth
state on June 21, 1788, meeting the requirement for nine states to
ratify the Constitution.
Area - 9,283 sq. miles
Capital - Concord
2000 Population -
June 21, 1788 - The United States
Constitution goes into effect now that the necissary 9
states have ratified it.
June 25, 1788 - Virginia is the 10th state admitted to
the Union. Virginia one of the thirteen colonies, became the 10th state
on June 25, 1788. Richmond became the capital of the Confederacy on May
29, 1861, but re-entered the Union after the war.
Area - 67,468 sq. miles
Capital - Richmond
2000 Population -
July 26, 1788 - New York is the 11th state admitted to
the Union. On July 26, 1788, New York , one of the thirteen colonies,
became the 11th state.
Area - 53,989 sq. miles
Capital - Albany
2000 Population -
April 1, 1789 - The United States House of
Repersentatives holds its 1st full meeting in New York City.
April 21, 1789 - John Adams is sworn in as the 1st Vice
President of the United States.
April 30, 1789 - George Washington is sworn in as the
1st President of the United States.
September 25, 1789 - The United States Congress adopts
the Bill of Rights (containing the 1st 10 Amendments)
and sends it to the states to be ratified.
September 29, 1789 - The United States Army is
established.
November 21, 1789 - North Carolina is the 12th state
admitted to the Union. North Carolina, one of the thirteen colonies,
became the 12th state on November 21, 1789. North Carolina troops
suffered the greatest losses of all the states during the Civil War
while fighting for the Confederacy, re-entered the Union after the
fighting ceased.
Area - 52,672 sq. miles
Capital - Raleigh
2000 Population -
April 3, 1790 - The United States Coast Gaurd is
established.
May 29, 1790 - Rhode Island is the 13th state admitted
to the Union. Rhode Island was the last of the thirteen colonies to join
the Union on May 29, 1790.
Area - 1,231 sq. miles
Capital - Providence
2000 Population -
December 21, 1790 - Samuel Slater opens the first
textile factory in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
March 4, 1791 - Vermont is the 14th state admitted to
the Union. Vermont became the first state added to the Union following
the 13 colonies on March 1, 1791.
Area - 9,615 sq. miles
Capital - Montpelier
2000 Population -
December 15, 1791 - The Bill of Rights (containing the
1st 10 Amendments) is ratified by 3/4ths of the states
and becomes a part of the U.S. Constitution.
February 20, 1792 - The United States Postal Service is
established.
April 2, 1792 - The United States Mint is established.
May 8, 1792 - The United States Military Draft is
established.
June 1, 1792 - Kentucky is the 15th state admitted to
the Union. Kentucky became the first state to be carved from the great
western wilderness on June 1, 1792.
Area - 40,411 sq. miles
Capital - Frankfort
2000 Population -
December 5, 1792 - George Washington was re-elected
president of the United States; John Adams was re-elected vice
president.
February 18, 1793 - The U.S. Supreme Court rules that a
citizen of one state may sue a citizen of another state in Federal
Court.
March 4, 1793 - George Washington is sworn in as
President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1793 - John Adams is sworn in as Vice
President for a 2nd term.
March 5, 1794 - The 11th Amendment is
passed by Congress.
March 27, 1794 - The United States Navy is established.
May 8, 1794 - The United States Post Office is
established.
June 1, 1796 - Tennessee is the 16th state admitted to
the Union. Tennessee became a state on June 1, 1796. On June 8, 1861, it
joined the Confederacy and became a major battleground for the Civil
War, re-entering the Union after war's end.
Area - 42,145 sq. miles
Capital - Nashville
2000 Population -
November 3, 1796 - John Adams was elected to be the
second President of the United States.
December 7, 1796 - Electors chose John Adams to be the
second president of the United States.
March 4, 1797 - John Adams is sworn in as the 2nd
President of the United States.
March 4, 1797 - Thomas Jefferson is sworn in as the 2nd
Vice President of the United States.
January 8, 1798 - The 11th Amendment
is added to the Constitution.
July 11, 1798 - The United States Marine Corps is
established.
May 7, 1800 - The Indiana Territory is organized.
May 7, 1800 - The Ohio Territory is organized.
December 12, 1800 - Washington, D.C. becomes the
official capital of the United States. Residents of Washington were
given the right to vote for president and vice president with the
ratification of the 23rd Amendment in 1961. But the District of Columbia
does not have statehood.
Area - sq. miles
Capital -
2000 Population -
March 4, 1801 - Thomas Jefferson is sworn in as the 3rd
President of the United States.
March 4, 1801 - Aaron Burr is sworn in as the 3rd Vice
President of the Unted States.
March 1, 1803 - Ohio is the 17th state admitted to the
Union. Ohio became the first state west of the Alleghenies on March 1,
1803.
Area - 44,828 sq. miles
Capital - Columbus
2000 Population -
April 30, 1803 - The United States purchases the
Louisiana Territory for $15 million, containing what is now Arkansas,
part of Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, part of Minnesota, Missouri, part of
Montana, part of North Dakota, part of Oklahoma, South Dakota, and part
of Wyoming.
December 12, 1803 - The 12th Amendment
is passed by Congress.
May 17, 1804 - Louis & Clark begin their expedition
of the Louisiana Territory.
September 25, 1804 - The 12th
Amendment is added to the Constitution.
January 11, 1805 - The Michigan Territory is organized.
March 4, 1805 - Thomas Jefferson is sworn in as
President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1805 - George Clinton is sworn in as 4th Vice
President of the United States.
November 18, 1805 - Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific
Ocean.
September 23, 1806 - Lewis and Clark return from
exploring the Louisiana Territory.
February 3, 1809 - The Illinois Territory is organized.
March 4, 1809 - James Madison is sworn in as the 4th
President of the United States.
March 4, 1809 - George Clinton is sworn in as Vice
President for a 2nd term.
October 27, 1810 - The United States annexes what is
now part of Alabama, part of Louisiana, and part of Mississippi.
April 30, 1812 - Louisiana is the 18th state admitted
to the Union. Louisiana became the 18th state on April 30, 1812. It
joined the Confederacy on January 26, 1861 and re-entered the Union
after the Civil War.
Area - 49,650 sq. miles
Capital - Baton Rouge
2000 Population -
May 14, 1812 - The Mississippi Territory is organized.
June 4, 1812 - The Missouri Territory is organized.
War of 1812
June 18, 1812 - United States declares war on Britain.
March 4, 1813 - James Madison is sworn in as President
for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1813 - Elbridge Gerry is sworn in as the 5th
Vice President for a 2nd term.
August 24, 1814 - The British set fire to Washington,
D.C.
September 20, 1814 - The "Star-Spangled
Banner" becomes the official national Anthem.
December 24, 1814 - The United States and Britain sign
the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812.
January 8, 1815 - American forces win the Battle of New
Orleans (they didn't know the war is over).
The Era of Good Feelings
December 11, 1816 - Indiana is the 19th state admitted
to the Union.
Area - 36,420 sq. miles
Capital - Indianapolis
2000 Population -
March 3, 1817 - The Alabama Territory is organized.
March 4, 1817 - James Monroe is sworn in as the 5th
President of the United States.
March 4, 1817 - Elbridge Gerry is sworn in as Vice
President for a 2nd term.
December 10, 1817 - Mississippi is the 20th state
admitted to the Union.
Area - 48,286 sq. miles
Capital - Jackson
2000 Population -
December 3, 1818 - Illinois is the 21st state admitted
to the Union.
Area - 57,918 sq. miles
Capital - Springfield
2000 Population -
February 22, 1819 - The United States annexes Florida.
March 2, 1819 - The Arkansas Territory is organized.
December 14, 1819 - Alabama is the 22nd state admitted
to the Union. Alabama entered the Union on December 14, 1819. In January
1861, Alabama seceded from the Union, and on February 4, delegates from
six states met at Montgomery and formed the Confederate States of
America, with Montgomery as the capital. After the Civil War, Alabama
re-entered the Union.
Area - 52,237 sq. miles
Capital - Montgomery
2000 Population -
March 15, 1820 - Maine is the 23rd state admitted to
the Union. Maine became the 23rd state on March 15, 1820. Its admission
to the Union balanced the simultaneous admission of Missouri as a slave
state.
Area - 33,741 sq. miles
Capital - Augusta
2000 Population -
March 4, 1821 - James Monroe is sworn in as President
for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1821 - Daniel Tompkins is sworn in as the 6th
Vice President of the United States.
August 10, 1821 - Missouri is the 24th state admitted
to the Union. Missouri was admitted as a slave state on August 10, 1821,
after an agreement known as the Missouri Compromise in which Maine was
admitted as a free state.
Area - 69,709 sq. miles
Capital - Jefferson City
2000 Population -
March 30, 1822 - The Florida Territory is organized.
March 4, 1825 - John Quincy Adams is sworn in as the
6th President of the United States.
March 4, 1825 - John Calhoun is sworn in as the 7th
Vice President of the United States.
March 4, 1829 - Andrew Jackson is sworn in as the 7th
President of the United States.
March 4, 1829 - John Calhoun is sworn in as Vice
President for a 2nd term.
The Age of Jackson
March 4, 1833 - Andrew Jackson is sworn in as President
for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1833 - Martin van Buren is sworn in as the 8th
Vice President of the United States.
June 30, 1834 - The Indian Territory is established in
what is now Oklahoma.
Apr 20. 1836 - The Wisconsin Territory is organized.
June 15, 1836 - Arkansas is the 25th state admitted to
the Union. Despite opposition in Congress to a new slave state, Arkansas
became a state on June 15, 1836. Arkansas Governor Henry M. Rector
seized Fort Smith and Arkansas joined the Confederacy in 1861
re-entering the Union at
Area - 53,182 sq. miles
Capital - Little Rock
2000 Population -
Manifest Destiny
March 4, 1837 - Martin van Buren is sworn in as the 8th
President of the United States.
March 4, 1837 - Richard Johnson is sworn in as the 9th
Vice President of the United States.
January 26, 1837 - Michigan is the 26th state admitted
to the Union.
Area - 96,705 sq. miles
Capital - Lansing
2000 Population -
June 11, 1838 - The Iowa Territory is organized.
March 4, 1841 - William Harrison is sworn in as the 9th
President of the United States.
March 4, 1841 - John Tyler is sworn in as the 10th Vice
President of the United States.
April 6, 1841 - John Tyler is sworn in as the 10th
President of the United States.
April 12, 1844 - The United States annexes what are now
parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas as a result
of the Adams-Onis Treaty with Spain.
March 3, 1845 - Florida is the 27th state admitted to
the Union. Florida became a state on March 3, 1845, a move delayed by
the reluctance of Congress to admit another slave state, and it joined
the Confederacy on January 10, 1861, re-entering the Union at war's end.
Area - 59,988 sq. miles
Capital - Tallahassee
2000 Population -
March 4, 1845 - James Polk is sworn in as the 11th
President of the United States.
April 4, 1845 - George Dallas is sworn in as the 11th
Vice President of the United States.
December 29, 1845 - Texas is the 28th state admitted to
the Union. After ten years of independence, Texas became a state on
December 29, 1845.
Area - 267,277 sq. miles
Capital - Austin
2000 Population -
The Mexican War
May 8, 1846 - The Mexican War begins with the Battle of
Palo Alto.
May 13, 1846 - The United States declares war on
Mexico.
August 22, 1846 - The United States annexes what is now
Arizona and New Mexico.
December 28, 1846 - Iowa is the 29th state admitted to
the Union. On December 28, 1846, Iowa became the first free state in the
old Louisiana Territory.
Area - 56,276 sq. miles
Capital - Des Moines
2000 Population -
September 14, 1847 - American forces take Mexico City.
February 2, 1848 - Mexico and the United States sign
the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican-American War.
February 2, 1848 - The United States gains what is now
California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico,
and Wyoming as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
May 29, 1848 - Wisconsin is the 30th state admitted to
the Union. According to the 1999-2000 Wisconsin Blue Book (published by
the State of Wisconsin), "on May 29, 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th
state in the Union." (p. 630)
Area - 65,500 sq. miles
Capital - Madison
2000 Population -
August 14, 1848 - The United States annexes the Oregon
Territory containing what is now Idaho, part of Montana, Oregon,
Washington, part of Wyoming.
March 3, 1849 - The Minnesota Territory is organized.
March 4, 1849 - Millard Filmore is sworn in as the 12th
Vice President of the United States.
March 5, 1849 - Zachary Taylor is sworn in as the 12th
President of the United States.
December 6, 1849 - Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery
on the "Underground Railroad".
May 30, 1850 - The Kansas Territory is organized.
May 30, 1850 - The Nebraska Territory is organized.
July 10, 1850 - Millard Fillmore is sworn in as the
13th President of the United States.
September 9, 1850 - California is the 31st state
admitted to the Union. Congress hesitated to welcome a new free state,
but because of its booming population and the discovery of gold
California was admitted in September 9, 1850.
Area - 158,869 sq. miles
Capital - Sacramento
2000 Population -
September 9, 1850 - The Utah Territory is organized.
September 18, 1850 - The Fugitive Slave Act is passed
by Congress, requiring the return of escaped slaves.
March 2, 1853 - The Washington Territory is organized.
March 2, 1853 - The Oregon Territory is organized.
March 4, 1853 - Franklin Pierce is sworn in as the 14th
President of the United States.
March 4, 1853 - William King is sworn in as the 13th
Vice President of the United States.
December 30, 1853 - The United States purchases what is
now part of Arizona and New Mexico.
March 4, 1857 - James Buchanan is sworn in as the 15th
President of the United States.
March 4, 1857 - John Breckinridge is sworn in as the
14th Vice President of the United States.
May 11, 1858 - Minnesota is the 32nd state admitted to
the Union.
Area - 86,943 sq. miles
Capital - St. Paul
2000 Population -
February 14, 1859 - Oregon is the 33rd state admitted
to the Union.
Area - 97,093 sq. miles
Capital - Salem
2000 Population -
Secession
December 20, 1860 - South Carolina is the 1st state to
secede from the Union.
January 9, 1861 - Mississippi is the 2nd state to
secede from the Union.
January 10, 1861 - Florida is the 3rd state to secede
from the Union.
January 11, 1861 - Alabama is the 4th state to secede
from the Union.
January 19, 1861 - Georgia is the 5th state to secede
from the Union.
January 26, 1861 - Louisiana is the 6th state to secede
from the Union.
January 29, 1861 - Kansas is the 34th state admitted to
the Union. Kansas became a free state on January 29, 1861, after seven
years of bloody feuding between residents over whether to be admitted as
a slave or free state.
Area - 82,282 sq. miles
Capital - Topeka
2000 Population -
February 4, 1861 - The Confederate States of America is
formed.
February 4, 1861 - The Apache declare war on the United
States.
February 13, 1861 - The 1st Congressional Medal is
presented to Col. Bernard Irwin.
February 18, 1861 - Jefferson Davis is sworn in as the
1st President of the Confederate States of America
February 18, 1861 - Alexander Stevens is sworn in as
the 1st Vice President of the Confederate States of America.
February 22, 1861 - The Nevada Territory is organized.
February 23, 1861 - Texas is the 7th state to secede
from the Union.
February 28, 1861 - The Colorado Territory is
organized.
March 2, 1861 - The Dakota Territory is organized.
March 4, 1861 - Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as the 16th
President of the United States.
March 4, 1861 - Hannibal Hamlin is sworn in as the 15th
Vice President of the United States.
March 11, 1861 - The Confederate Congress adopts their
Constitution.
April 12, 1861 - Confederate forces begin an assault on
Fort Sumter.
April 13, 1861 - After 34 hours of bombardment, Fort
Sumter surrenders.
April 17, 1861 - Virginia is the 8th state to secede
from the Union.
April 19, 1861 - Union blockade of Confederate ports is
initiated (1st part of the Anaconda Plan).
April 27, 1861 - 48 counties in western Virginia secede
to rejoin the Union (reducing Virginia's size to 42,326sq. miles).
May 6, 1861 - Arkansas is the 9th state to secede from
the Union.
The Civil War
May 6, 1861 - President Abraham Lincoln declares a
state of insurrection in the southern states.
May 21, 1861 - North Carolina is the 10th state to
secede from the Union.
May 21, 1861 - Richmond, VA. becomes the official
capital city of the Confederate States.
June 8, 1861 - Tennessee is the 11th state to secede
from the Union.
July 21, 1861 - Confederate forces win the 1st Battle
of Bull Run.
October 22, 1861 - The transcontinental telegraph is
completed.
March 9, 1862 - The 1st ironclads, the Monitor and the
Merrimack , meet at the Battle of the James River (resulting in a Union
victory).
April 7, 1862 - Union forces win the Battle of Shiloh.
April 14, 1862 - Union forces begin the Penninsula
Campaign.
August 30, 1862 - Confederate forces win the 2nd Battle
of Bull Run.
September 17, 1862 - Union forces win the Battle of
Antietam.
September 22, 1862 - The Emancipation
Proclomation is issued.
December 13, 1862 - Confederate forces win the Battle
of Fredericksburg.
February 24, 1863 - The New Mexico Territory is
organized.
February 24, 1863 - The Arizona Territory is organized.
May 4, 1863 - Confederate forces win the Battle of
Chancellorsville.
June 20, 1863 - West Virginia is the 35th state
admitted to the Union. On June 20, 1863, the wartime state of West
Virginia was born by acceptance of the federal government.
Area - 24,232 sq. miles
Capital - Charleston
2000 Population -
July 1, 1863 - The Battle of Ghettysburg begins.
July 3, 1863 - Union forces win the Battle Ghettysburg.
July 4, 1863 - Union forces capture Vicksburg, thereby
taking the entire Mississippi River (2nd part of the Anaconda Plan).
November 25, 1863 - Union forces win the Battle of
Chattanooga.
May 26, 1864 - The Idaho Territory is organized.
May 26, 1864 - The Montana Territory is organized.
September 1, 1864 - Union forces take Atlanta.
October 31, 1864 - Nevada is the 36th state admitted to
the Union. On October 31, 1864, at the urging of President Abraham
Lincoln, Nevada became a state. Only a short four years earlier, it had
been a wilderness.
Area - 110,567 sq. miles
Capital - Carson City
2000 Population -
November 16, 1864 - Union forces begin the "march to
the sea", from Atlanta to Savanah.
February 1, 1865 - The 13th Amendment
is passed by Congress.
March 4, 1865 - Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as
President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1865 - Andrew Johnson is sworn in as the 16th
Vice President of the United States.
March 21, 1865 - Union forces finish the "march to the
sea" (by taking Savanah, Georgia).
April 2, 1865 - The fleeing Confederate government sets
fire to Richmond.
April 3, 1865 - Union forces occupy the Confederate
capital, Richmond (3rd part of the Anaconda Plan).
April 9, 1865 - The Confederate States of America
surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, ending the Civil War.
Reconstruction
April 15, 1865 - Andrew Johnson is sworn in as the 17th
President of the United States.
December 18, 1865 - The 13th Amendment
is added to the Constitution. Jun 16, 1866 - The 14th
Amendment is passed by Congress.
July 24, 1866 - Tennessee is the 1st state to be
readmitted to the Union.
March 1, 1867 - Nebraska is the 37th state admitted to
the Union. President Andrew Johnson vetoed the Nebraska statehood bill
of 1866, but Congress overrode his veto, and Nebraska became a state on
March 1, 1867
Area - 77,359 sq. miles
Capital - Lincoln
2000 Population -
March 30, 1867 - The United States purchases the Alaska
Territory from Russia for $7.2 million.
August 28, 1867 - The U.S. annexes the Midway Islands.
January 7, 1868 - The Arkansas constitutional
convention meets in Little Rock.
January 7, 1868 - The Mississippi constitutional
convention meets in Jackson.
January 14, 1868 - The North Carolina constitutional
convention meets in Raliegh.
January 14, 1868 - The South Carolina constitutional
convention meets in Columbia.
February 24, 1868 - The U.S. House of Representatives
impeaches President Andrew Johnson.
March 13, 1868 - The U.S. Senate begins its Impeachment
trial of President Andrew Johnson
April 14, 1868 - South Carolina adopts a new
constitution.
April 16, 1868 - Louisiana adopts a new constitution.
May 26, 1868 - The U.S. Senate acquits President Andrew
Johnson of all 11 Articles of Impeachment.
June 1, 1868 - The Texas constitutional convention
meets in Austin.
June 22, 1868 - Arkansas is the 2nd state to be
readmitted to the Union.
June 25, 1868 - Florida is the 3rd state to be
readmitted to the Union.
June 25, 1868 - Alabama is the 4th state to be
readmitted to the Union.
June 25, 1868 - Louisiana is the 5th state to be
readmitted to the Union.
June 25, 1868 - North Carolina is 6the th state to be
readmitted to the Union.
June 25, 1868 - South Carolina is 7the th state to be
readmitted to the Union.
July 23, 1868 - The 14th Amendment is
added to the Constitution.
July 25, 1868 - The Wyoming Territory is organized.
December 25, 1868 - President Andrew Johnson issues an
unconditional pardon to all those who participated in the southern
rebellion.
February 27, 1869 - The 15th Amendment
is passed by Congress.
March 4, 1869 - Ulysses Grant is sworn in as the 18th
President of the United States.
March 4, 1869 - Schuyler Colfax is sworn in as the 17th
Vice President of the United States.
April 10, 1869 - The number of Supreme Court Justices
is increased from 7 to 9.
May 10, 1869 - The Transcontinental Railroad is
completed at Promontory Point, Utah.
November 17, 1869 - The Suez Canal opens for business,
in Egypt, linking the Mediterranean and Red seas.
January 27, 1870 - Virginia is the 8th state to be
readmitted to the Union.
February 23, 1870 - Mississippi is the 9th state to be
readmitted to the Union.
March 30, 1870 - Texas is the 10th state to be
readmitted to the Union.
March 30, 1870 - The 15th Amendment is
added to the Constitution.
July 15, 1870 - Georgia is the 11th state to be
readmitted to the Union.
Expansion
August 1, 1870 - Colorado is the 38th state admitted to
the Union. After three tries Colorado was made a state on August 1,
1876.
Area - 104,100 sq. miles
Capital - Denver
2000 Population -
March 4, 1873 - Ulysses Grant is sworn in as President
for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1873 - Henry Wilson is sworn in as the 18th
Vice President of the United States.
March 4, 1877 - William Wheeler is sworn in as the 19th
Vice President of the United States.
March 5, 1877 - Rutherford Hayes is sworn in as the
19th President of the United States.
March 4, 1881 - James Garfield is sworn in as the 20th
President of the United States.
March 4, 1881 - Chester Arthur is sworn in as the 20th
Vice President of the United States.
September 20, 1881 - Chester Arthur is sworn in as the
21st President of the United States.
May 17, 1884 - The Alaska Territory is organized.
March 4, 1885 - Grover Cleveland is sworn in as the
22nd President of the United States.
March 4, 1885 - Thomas Hendricks is sworn in as the
21st Vice President of the United States.
March 4, 1889 - Benjamin Harrison is sworn in as the
23rd President of the United States.
March 4, 1889 - Levi Morton is sworn in as the 22nd
Vice President of the United States.
November 2, 1889 - North Dakota is the 39th state
admitted to the Union. Both North and South Dakota became states on
November 2, 1889.
Area - 70,704 sq. miles
Capital - Bismarck
2000 Population -
November 2, 1889 - South Dakota is the 40th state
admitted to the Union. Both North and South Dakota became states on
November 2, 1889.
Area - 77,121 sq. miles
Capital - Pierre
2000 Population -
November 8, 1889 - Montana is the 41st state admitted
to the Union.
Area - 147,046 sq. miles
Capital - Helena
2000 Population -
November 11, 1889 - Washington is the 42nd state
admitted to the Union.
Area - 70,637 sq. miles
Capital - Olympia
2000 Population -
May 2, 1890 - The Oklahoma Territory is organized.
July 3, 1890 - Idaho is the 43rd state admitted to the
Union.
Area - 83,574 sq. miles
Capital - Boise
2000 Population -
July 10, 1890 - Wyoming is the 44th state admitted to
the Union. Although the Wyoming population was not enough to qualify for
statehood, it became one anyway on July 10, 1890.
Area - 97,819 sq. miles
Capital - Cheyenne
2000 Population -
March 4, 1893 - Grover Cleveland is sworn in as the
24th President of the United States.
March 4, 1893 - Adlai Stevenson is sworn in as the 23rd
Vice President of the United States.
January 4, 1896 - Utah is the 45th state admitted to the
Union.
Area - 84,904 sq. miles
Capital - Salt Lake City
2000 Population -
March 4, 1897 - William McKinley is sworn in as the
25th President of the United States.
March 4, 1897 - Garret Hobart is sworn in as the 24th
Vice President of the United States.
The Spanish-American War
April 20, 1898 - The United States declares war on
Spain.
May 1, 1898 - American forces win the Battle of Manila
Bay.
July 1, 1898 - American forces win the Battle of
Santiago.
July 7, 1898 - The United States annexes Hawaii.
July 25, 1898 - American forces invade Puerto Rico.
August 12, 1898 - The United States and Spain sign an
armistice, ending the Spanish-American War.
December 10, 1898 - The United States and Spain sign
the Treaty of Paris 1898, officially ending the Spanish-American War.
The American Empire
February 6, 1899 - The United States annexes Guam, the
Phillipines, and Puerto Rico.
February 22, 1900 - The Hawaii Territory is organized.
March 4, 1901 - William McKinley is sworn in as
President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1901 - Theodore Roosevelt is sworn in as the
25th Vice President of the United States.
September 14, 1901 - Theodore Roosevelt is sworn in as
the 26th President of the United States.
March 4, 1905 - Theodore Roosevelt is sworn in as
President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1905 - Charles Fairbanks is sworn in as the
26th Vice President of the United States.
January 16, 1907 - Oklahoma is the 46th state admitted
to the Union. Oklahoma became a state on November 6, 1907, with a
population of 1,414,177, including residents in Indian Territory.
Area - 69,903 sq. miles
Capital - Oklahoma City
2000 Population -
March 4, 1909 - William Taft is sworn in as the 27th
President of the United States.
March 4, 1909 - James Sherman is sworn in as the 27th
Vice President of the United States.
July 12, 1909 - The 16th Amendment is
passed by Congress.
January 6, 1912 - New Mexico is the 47th state admitted
to the Union.
Area - 121,598 sq. miles
Capital - Santa Fe
2000 Population -
February 14, 1912 - Arizona is the 48th state admitted
to the Union.
Area - 114,006 sq. miles
Capital - Phoenix
2000 Population -
May 16, 1912 - The 17th Amendment is
passed by Congress.
February 25, 1913 - The 16th Amendment
is added to the Constitution.
March 4, 1913 - Woodrow Wilson is sworn in as the 28th
President of the United States.
March 4, 1913 - Thomas Marshall is sworn in as the 28th
Vice President of the United States.
April 8, 1913 - The 17th Amendment is
added to the Constitution.
April 21, 1914 - American forces occupy Vera Cruz,
Mexico.
June 28, 1914 - Princip assasinates Archduke Ferdinand
of the Ottoman Empire.
July 18, 1914 - The United States Army Air Corps is
established.
World War I
July 28, 1914 - World War I begins as the Ottoman
Empire declares war on Bosnia.
July 29, 1914 - Central forces bomb Belgrade, Belgium.
August 4, 1914 - Central forces invade Belgium.
August 4, 1914 - President Wilson issues a
proclamaition of neutrality.
August 15, 1914 - The Panama Canal opens for business.
August 25, 1914 - Central forces bomb Antwerp, Belgium.
August 25, 1914 - Central forces invade France.
August 30, 1914 - Central forces bomb Paris, France.
September 9, 1914 - Allied forces win the Battle of
Marne.
December 24, 1914 - Central forces bomb Dover, England.
January 2, 1915 - Allied forces win the Battle of
Sarikamis.
May 7, 1915 - British liner Lusiatnia is sunk
by german U-Boats, killing 128 american passengers.
June 10, 1915 - The Girl Scouts is established.
July 29, 1915 - American forces invade Haiti.
February 21, 1916 - The Battle of Verdun begins.
March 9, 1916 - Pancho Villa raids Columbus, New
Mexico.
March 15, 1916 - American forces drive Pancho Villa to
Mexico.
June 15, 1916 - The Boy Scouts is established.
July 1, 1916 - The 1st Battle of Somme begins.
August 4, 1916 - The United States purchases the West
Indies and the Virgin Islands for $25 million.
August 25, 1916 - The United States National Park
Service is established.
September 3, 1916 - Allied forces win the Battle of
Verdun.
November 18, 1916 - Allied forces win the 1st Battle of
Somme.
January 31, 1917 - Germany declared unrestricted
subamrine warfare against all ships.
March 2, 1917 - Puerto Rico is made a United States
territory.
March 4, 1917 - Calvin Coolidge is sworn in as the 29th
Vice President of the United States.
March 5, 1917 - Woodrow Wilson is sworn in as President
for a 2nd term.
April 6, 1917 - The United States enters World War I on
the side of the Allies.
August 5, 1917 - The United States National Gaurd is
established.
December 17, 1917 - The 18th Amendment
is passed by Congress.
March 3, 1918 - Russia pulls out of World War I.
July 15, 1918 - The 2nd Battle of the Marne begins.
July 18, 1918 - Allied forces win the Battle of the
Aisne-Marne.
September 12, 1918 - The 2nd Battle of Verdun begins.
September 26, 1918 - The Battle of Miuse-Argonne
begins.
September 29, 1918 - Allied forces push Central forces
past the Hindenburg Line.
November 11, 1918 - The Allied and Central Powers sign
an armistice, ending World War I.
January 29, 1919 - The 18th Amendment
is added to the Constitution.
June 28, 1919 - The Treaty of Versailles is signed,
ending World War I.
The Roaring 20's
June 5, 1919 - The 19th Amendment is
passed by Congress.
August 26, 1920 - The 19th Amendment
is added to the Constitution.
March 4, 1921 - Warren Harding is sworn in as the 29th
President of the United States.
March 4, 1921 - Charles Dawes is sworn in as the 30th
Vice President of the United States.
August 3, 1923 - Calvin Coolidge is sworn in as the
30th President of the United States.
March 4, 1925 - Calvin Coolidge is sworn in as
President for a 2nd term.
March 4, 1925 - Charles Curtis is sworn in as the 31st
Vice President of the United States.
March 4, 1929 - Herbert Hoover is sworn in as the 31st
President of the United States.
March 4, 1929 - John Garner is sworn in as the 32nd
Vice President of the United States.
The Great Depression
October 29, 1929 - The New York Stock Market crashes to
an all time low (referred to as "Black Tuesday"), signalling the start
of the Great Depression.
March 2, 1932 - The 20th Amendment is
passed by Congress.
January 23, 1933 - The 20th Amendment
is added to the Constitution.
February 20, 1933 - The 21st Amendment
is passed by Congress.
March 4, 1933 - Franklin Roosevelt is sworn in as the
32nd President of the United States.
March 4, 1933 - Henry Wallace is sworn in as the 33rd
Vice President of the United States.
December 5, 1933 - The 21st Amendment
is added to the Constitution.
March 7, 1936 - Germany invades the Rhineland
(Austria).
January 20, 1937 - Franklin Roosevelt is sworn in as
President for a 2nd term.
January 20, 1937 - Henry Wallace is sworn in as Vice
President for a 2nd term.
September 1, 1939 - Germany invades Poland.
World War II
September 4, 1939 - France and Great Britain declare
war on Germany.
September 28, 1939 - Germany and the Soviet Union sign
the Warsaw pact, keeping the Soviet Union out of World War II.
June 4, 1940 - The British evaccuate over 300,000
soldiers from Dunkirk, France back accross the English Channel.
June 22, 1940 - France surrenders to Germany.
October 16, 1940 - Benjamin Davis becomes the first
black General in the United States Army.
January 20, 1941 - Franklin Roosevelt is sworn in as
President for a 3rd term.
January 20, 1941 - Henry Wallace is sworn in as Vice
President for a 3rd term.
June 22, 1941 - Germany invades the Soviet Union.
December 7, 1941 - Japanese forces attack the United
States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
December 8, 1941 - The United States declares war on
Japan.
December 11, 1941 - Germany and Italy declare war on
the United States.
May 15, 1942 - Women are now allowed to serve in all
branches of the armed services.
August 7, 1942 - United States Marines land at
Guadalcanal.
February 2, 1943 - 200,000 german soldiers surrender at
Stalingrad.
November 28, 1943 - Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin
meet in Tehran to discuss WWII.
June 6, 1944 - Allied forces invade Normandy (reffered
to as "D-Day").
August 25, 1944 - Allied troops liberate Paris.
December 16, 1944 - A german surprise attack begins the
Battle of the Bulge.
December 24, 1944 - Allied forces push the german
troops past the german border.
January 12, 1945 - American forces liberate the
Phillipines.
January 20, 1945 - Franklin Roosevelt is sworn in as
President for a 4th term.
January 20, 1945 - Harry Truman is sworn in as the 34th
Vice President of the United States.
April 12, 1945 - Harry Truman is sworn in as the 33rd
President of the United States.
June 26, 1945 - The United Nations is established.
July 12, 1945 - American forces take Okinawa.
August 6, 1945 - The United States drops the 1st atomic
bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
August 9, 1945 - The United States drops the 2nd atomic
bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.
September 2, 1945 - Japan unconditionally surrenders to
the United States, ending World War II.
The Cold War
July 4, 1946 - The Phillipines, a United States
protectorate, gains its independence.
October 1, 1946 - Nazi war criminals receive sentencing
at the Nuremberg trials.
October 17, 1946 - Winston Churchill proclaims "an iron
curtain has swept across the continent (Europe)," begining the Cold War.
March 24, 1947 - The 22nd Amendment is
passed by Congress.
January 20, 1949 - Harry Truman is sworn in as
President for a 2nd term.
January 20, 1949 - Alben Barkley is sworn in as the
35th Vice President of the United States.
April 4, 1949 - North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) is established by Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Great
Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
and the United States.
The Korean War
June 25, 1950 - The Korean War officially starts as
North Korea invades South Korea.
June 26, 1950 - North Korean forces take Seoul.
June 27, 1950 - The United Nations declares war on
North Korea.
September 15, 1950 - U.N. forces take Inchon.
October 7, 1950 - U.N. forces recapture Seoul.
January 4, 1951 - North Korean/Chinese forces recapture
Seoul.
February 26, 1951 - The 22nd Amendment
is added to the Constitution.
November 1, 1952 - The United States detonates the 1st
thermonuclear device.
January 20, 1953 - Dwight Eisenhower is sworn in as the
34th President of the United States.
January 20, 1953 - Richard Nixon is sworn in as the
36th Vice President of the United States.
May 17, 1954 - The U.S. Supreme Court declares that
segregated schools violates the 14th Amendment.
January 20, 1957 - Richard Nixon is sworn in as Vice
President for a 2nd term.
January 21, 1957 - Dwight Eisenhower is sworn in as
President for a 2nd term.
January 3, 1959 - Alaska is the 49th state admitted to
the Union. Alaska became the 49th state on January 3, 1959; it was the
first new state in the Union since 1912.
Area - 615,230 sq. miles
Capital - Juneau
2000 Population -
August 21, 1959 - Hawaii is the 50th state admitted to
the Union.
Area - 6,459 sq. miles
Capital - Honolulu
2000 Population -
June 16, 1960 - The 23rd Amendment is
passed by Congress.
January 20, 1961 - John Kennedy is sworn in as the 35th
President of the United States.
January 20, 1961 - Lyndon Johnson is sworn in as the
37th Vice President of the United States.
March 29, 1961 - The 23rd Amendment is
added to the Constitution.
April 17, 1961 - An American backed Cuban invasion
force landed at Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs).
August 27, 1962 - The 24th Amendment
is passed by Congress.
October 14, 1962 - American spy planes spot Soviet
missile bases on Cuba.
October 22, 1962 - The Soviet Union pulls its missiles
out of Cuba.
The Vietnam War
November 1, 1963 - American/Vietnamese forces stage a
coup in Vietnam.
November 22, 1963 - Lyndon Johnson is sworn in as the
36th President of the United States.
January 30, 1964 - The 24th Amendment
is added to the Constitution.
July 2, 1964 - Segregation is now abolished in the
United States.
August 4, 1964 - Vietnamese forces attack an American
Destroyer (USS Maddox).
August 7, 1964 - The United States begins military
presence in Vietnam.
January 20, 1965 - Lyndon Johnson is sworn in as
President for a 2nd term.
January 20, 1965 - Hubert Humphrey is sworn in as the
38th Vice President of the United States.
July 6, 1965 - The 25th Amendment is
passed by Congress.
February 10, 1967 - The 25th Amendment
is added to the Constitution.
March 16, 1968 - American forces take My Lai.
January 20, 1969 - Richard Nixon is sworn in as the
37th President of the United States.
January 20, 1969 - Spiro Agney is sworn in as the 39th
Vice President of the United States.
July 20, 1969 American astronaught Neil Armstrong is
the 1st human to walk on the Moon.
April 30, 1970 - American forces invade Cambodia.
December 31, 1970 - The United States begins
withdrawling troops from Vietnam.
March 3, 1971 - The 26th Amendment is
passed by Congress.
June 30, 1971 - The 26th Amendment is
added to the Constitution.
December 18, 1972 - American forces begin bombing Hanoi
and Haiphong.
December 28, 1972 - American forces cease bombing Hanoi
and Haiphong.
January 20, 1973 - Richard Nixon is sworn in as
President for a 2nd term.
January 20, 1973 - Spiro Agney is sworn in as Vice
President for a 2nd term.
January 27, 1973 - The United States and Vietnam sign a
peace treaty, ending the Vietnam War.
March 29, 1973 - The last of American forces leave
Vietnam.
December 6, 1973 - Gerald Ford is sworn in as the 40th
Vice President of the United States.
August 9, 1974 - Gerald Ford is sworn in as the 38th
President of the United States.
December 19, 1974 - Nelson Rockefeller is sworn in as
the 41st Vice President of the United States.
January 20, 1977 - Jimmy Carter is sworn in as the 39th
President of the United States.
January 20, 1977 - Walter Mondale is sworn in as the
42nd Vice President of the United States.
November 4, 1979 - Iranians seize the American Embassy
in Tehran, Iran taking 52 people hostage.
January 20, 1981 - Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the
40th President of the United States.
January 20, 1981 - George Bush is sworn in as the 43rd
Vice President of the United States.
January 20, 1981 - The hostages from the American
Embassy are freed.
December 30, 1981 - I was born (well, I am the
Author!).
March 23, 1983 - President Reagan starts the Strategic
Defense Initiative.
January 20, 1985 - George Bush is sworn in as Vice
President for a 2nd term.
January 21, 1985 - Ronald Reagan is sworn in as
President for a 2nd term.
January 20, 1989 - George Bush is sworn in as the 41st
President of the United States.
January 20, 1989 - Dan Quale is sworn in as the 44th
Vice President of the United States.
The Persian Gulf War
August 2, 1990 - Iraqi forces invade Kuwait.
January 16, 1991 - A U.N. air strike is launched on
Iraq.
February 23, 1991 - A U.N. ground force liberates
Kuwait.
February 28, 1991 - A cease fire is signed between the
United Nations and Iraq.
February 1, 1992 - The United States and Russia sign a
treaty officially ending the Cold War.
The Information Age
May 7, 1992 - The 27th Amendment is
added to the Constitution.
January 20, 1993 - Al Gore is sworn in as the 45th Vice
President of the United States
January 21, 1993 - Bill Clinton is sworn in as the 42nd
President of the United States.
January 20, 1997 - Al Gore is sworn in as Vice
President for a 2nd term.
January 21, 1997 - Bill Clinton is sworn in as
President for a 2nd term.
August 7, 1998 - 2 american embassies (Dar Es Salaam,
Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya) in eastern Africa are destroyed by
terrorist bombs.
August 20, 1998 - American forces launch air strikes at
2 targets in retalliation for the american embassy bombings: a terrorist
training facility in Afghanistan, and a chemical plant in Sudan.
December 16, 1998 - American forces launch the 1st of 3
air strikes at targets in Iraq.
December 17, 1998 - American forces launch the 2nd of 3
air strikes at targets in Iraq.
December 18, 1998 - American forces launch the 3rd of 3
air strikes at targets in Iraq.
December 19, 1998 - The U.S. House of Representatives
approves 2 of 4 Proposed Ariticles of Impeachment.
March 23, 1999 - NATO begins launching air strikes
against Yugoslavia.
December 31, 1999 - Panama gains control of the Panama
Canal from the United States.
