US History Timeline By Brenda Stuart Oct 12, 1492 The Discovery of America by Columbus May 13, 1607 The Settlement of Jamestown Period: 1754 to 1763 The French and Indian War Dec 16, 1773 The Boston Tea Party Apr 19, 1775 The Battle of Lexington and Concord Jul 4, 1776 The Declaration of Independence Sep 28, 1781 The Battle of Yorktown May 25, 1787 The Constitutional Convention Mar 14, 1794 The invention of the cotton gin Jun 18, 1798 The Alien and Sedition Acts 1803 The Louisiana Purchase Mar 6, 1812 The Missouri Compromise Period: Jun 18, 1812 to Feb 17, 1815 The War of 1812 1828 Andrew Jackson’s Election Period: 1830 to 1840 The invention of the telegraph Period: 1830 to 1840 The Trail of Tears Mar 17, 1837 The Panic of 1837 Apr 25, 1846 The Mexican-American War 1850 The Compromise of 1850 Apr 12, 1861 The Firing on Fort Sumter Jan 1, 1863 The Emancipation Proclamation Period: 1865 to 1870 The 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments Apr 9, 1865 The Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse Apr 14, 1865 Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination Feb 24, 1868 Andrew Johnson’s Impeachment Period: 1876 to 1903 The invention of the electric light, telephone, and airplane Jan 2, 1882 The Organization of Standard Oil Trust Period: 1892 to 1894 The Pullman and Homestead Strikes Apr 21, 1898 The Spanish-American War Sep 14, 1901 Theodore Roosevelt becomes president