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1492
Columbus lands in the Caribbean
When Columbus arrives in the Caribbean, he thought he was in East Asia. -
1521
Cortes conquers the Aztec
The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, also known as the Conquest of Mexico or the Spanish-Aztec War, was one of the primary events in the Spanish colonization of the Americas. -
The English found Jamestown Virginia
Jamestown, Virginia was named after their King, James I. The settlement became the first permanent English settlement in North America. -
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Massachusetts Bay Colony is established
The Puritans who settled the Massachusetts Bay Colony intended to set up a society that would accord with what they believed to be God's wishes. -
British Navigation Acts regulate American colonial trade
Navigation Acts prevented the colonies from shipping any goods anywhere without first stopping in an English port to have their cargoes loaded and unloaded; resulting in providing work for English dockworkers, stevedores, and longshoremen; and also an opportunity to regulate and tax, what was being shipped. -
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French and Indian War begins
The Seven Years’ War (called the French and Indian War in the colonies) lasted from 1756 to 1763, forming a chapter in the imperial struggle between Britain and France called the Second Hundred Years’ War. -
The proclamation of 1763 bans colonists from settling west of the Proclamation Line
After Britain won the Seven Years' War and gained land in North America, it issued the Royal Proclamation, which prohibited American colonists from settling west of Appalachia. -
Sugar Act imposes new taxes on trade; James Otis argued that taxation without representation violates colonist’s liberties
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Stamp Act Congress issued Declaration of Rights and Grievances
In New York, the Stamp Act Congress passed a "Declaration of Rights and Grievances," which claimed that American colonists were equal to all other British citizens, protested taxation without representation, and stated that, without colonial representation in Parliament, Parliament could not tax colonists. In addition, the colonists increased their nonimportation efforts. -
The Stamp Act Imposes taxes on printed materials’ Sons of Liberty organized protests and boycotts
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Townshend Acts imposes new taxes on trade goods; violators to be tried in vice-admiralty courts
To help pay the expenses involved in governing the American colonies, Parliament passed the Townshend Acts, which initiated taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. Nonimportation. In response to new taxes, the colonies again decided to discourage the purchase of British imports. -
Colonial merchants begin nonimportation campaign, refuse to import British goods; Daughters of Liberty help by spinning cloth
The Boston Non-Importation Agreement of August 1, 1768, was a formal collective decision made by Boston-based merchants and traders. The Daughters of Liberty was formed as a way for women to speak out in the name of patriotism and freedom. They organized boycotts and spin cloth to create American products instead. -
British troops shoot colonists at Boston Massacre; most Townshend Acts are repealed
The Boston Massacre was a deadly riot that occurred on March 5, 1770, on King Street in Boston. It began as a street brawl between American colonists and a lone British soldier but quickly escalated to a chaotic, bloody slaughter. The conflict energized anti-British sentiment and paved the way for the American Revolution. -
British troops fire on colonists in Boston Massacre
It began as a street brawl between American colonists and a lone British soldier, but quickly escalated to a chaotic, bloody slaughter. The conflict energized anti-British sentiment and paved the way for the American Revolution. -
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Britain imposes Coercive Acts; First Continental Congress meets, passes the Suffolk resolves, and issues Declaration of Rights and Grievances
YouTube The Suffolk Resolves was a declaration made by the leaders of Suffolk County in Boston, Massachusetts. The declaration rejected the Massachusetts Government Act and resolved a boycott of imported goods from Britain unless the Intolerable Acts were repealed. -
First shots of the War are fired at Lexington and Concord
At some point, historians still debate who fired the shot. The nervous British soldiers fired a volley, killing seven and mortally wounding one of the retreating militiamen. -
British battle colonial militia at Lexington and Concord: Second Continental Congress meets, Selecting George Washington to Head the Continental Army January
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Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown, making the end of the Revolutionary War
British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered his army of some 8,000 men to General George Washington at Yorktown, giving up any chance of winning the Revolutionary War. Hours after the surrender, the general's defeated troops marched out of Yorktown to the tune “The World Turned Upside Down.” -
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Treaty of Paris ends Revolutionary War
The Treaty of Paris, signed in Paris by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the United States of America on September 3, 1783, officially ended the American Revolutionary War. They recognized American independence and established borders for the new nation. -
America ships being trading with China at the port of Canton
After the Revolutionary War, U.S. ships could no longer trade with the British West Indies. The Americans missed their tea, so Robert Morris, a banker, decided to find a way to supply that tea. The U.S. trade with China is part of a complex economic relationship. In 1979 the U.S. and China re-established diplomatic relations and signed a bilateral trade agreement. This gave a start to the rapid growth of trade between the two nations. -
Shay’s Rebellion begins in Western Massachusetts
Shays' Rebellion was an organized rebellion of western Massachusetts farmers and countrymen against the state for opposition to high taxes and stringent economic conditions in 1786-1787. Despite this, the rebellion highlighted just how weak the federal government was and convinced the founding fathers of a new, stronger federal government was needed. -
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Constitution is ratified by 11 of the 13 states and goes into effect
On June 21, 1788, the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. Under Article VII, it was agreed that the document would not be binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states. -
George Washington is elected president of the United States (1789-1797)
The first presidential election was held on January 7, 1789, and Washington won handily. John Adams (1735-1826), who received the second-largest number of votes, became the nation's first vice president. Standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York, 57-year-old Washington took his oath of office as the first President of the United States.
