us story timeline By kennedy002 Oct 12, 1492 the discovery of America by Columbus May 14, 1607 the settlement of Jamestown Period: May 28, 1754 to Feb 10, 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 Oct 19, 1781 The battle of Yorktown (surrender date) Period: May 25, 1787 to Sep 17, 1787 the Constitutional Convention Mar 14, 1794 The invention of the cotton gin Period: Jun 18, 1798 to Jul 14, 1798 the Alien and Sedition Acts Period: Apr 30, 1803 to Dec 20, 1803 the Louisiana Purchase Period: Jun 18, 1812 to Feb 17, 1815 the War of 1812 Mar 6, 1820 the Missouri Compromise signed Dec 3, 1828 Andrew Jacksons Election victory May 10, 1837 the Panic of 1837 begins Period: 1838 to 1838 the Trail of Tears Jan 6, 1838 The invention of the telegraph Period: Apr 25, 1846 to Feb 2, 1848 the Mexican- American War Sep 20, 1850 the Compromise of 1850 signed Apr 12, 1861 the firing on Fort Sumter Jan 1, 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation issued Apr 9, 1865 Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse Apr 14, 1865 Abraham Lincons Assassination Dec 6, 1865 13th amendment ratified Feb 24, 1868 Andrew Johnson’s Impeachment Jul 9, 1868 14th amendment ratified Feb 3, 1870 15th amendment ratified Mar 7, 1876 invention of the Telephone Jan 27, 1880 The invention of the electric light Jan 2, 1882 The Organization of Standard Oil Trust Jul 1, 1892 The Pullman and Homestead Strikes Period: Apr 21, 1898 to Dec 10, 1898 the Spanish-American War Sep 14, 1901 Theodore Roosevelt becomes president Dec 17, 1903 airplane invention (wright brothers)