timeline by Bao Yu Zheng _ Student - GreenLevelHS

1492 – Columbus “discovers” the New World

bzheng18 — 2025-08-27 17:08:33 UTC

Columbus reached the new world, starting lasting contact between Europe and the Americas.

1521 – Conquest of Tenochtitlan

bzheng18 — 2025-08-27 17:08:55 UTC

Cortés and allies defeated the Aztecs, giving Spain control of Mexico.

1585–1587 – Roanoke Settlement

bzheng18 — 2025-08-27 17:09:38 UTC

England’s first colony vanished, remembered as the Lost Colony.

1675–1676 – King Philip’s War

bzheng18 — 2025-08-27 17:09:57 UTC

Conflict between New England colonists and Native Americans led by Metacom.

1676 – Bacon’s Rebellion

bzheng18 — 2025-08-27 17:10:16 UTC

Virginia settlers rebelled against Governor Berkeley, burning Jamestown.

Declaration of Independence

bzheng18 — 2025-09-11 16:20:41 UTC

it announced the American colonies’ break from Britain. The document declared that all men have natural rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and listed grievances against King George III to justify independence.

French and Indian War (1754–1763)

bzheng18 — 2025-09-11 16:28:14 UTC

Britain defeats France, gains territory, but heavy debt leads to colonial taxes.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

bzheng18 — 2025-09-11 16:28:45 UTC

Colonists protest the Tea Act by dumping tea into Boston Harbor.

First Continental Congress (1774)

bzheng18 — 2025-09-11 16:29:06 UTC

Colonies unite to resist the Intolerable Acts.

Shays’ Rebellion (1786–1787)

bzheng18 — 2025-09-11 16:29:18 UTC

Constitutional Convention (1787)

bzheng18 — 2025-09-11 16:29:58 UTC

Delegates draft the U.S. Constitution to replace the Articles.

Washington’s Farewell Address (1796

bzheng18 — 2025-09-11 16:30:15 UTC

Washington warns against political parties and foreign alliances.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

bzheng18 — 2025-09-26 16:31:07 UTC

The United States bought a huge territory from France, doubling the nation’s size and opening land for westward expansion.

War of 1812 (1812–1815)

bzheng18 — 2025-09-26 16:31:22 UTC

The U.S. fought Great Britain over trade restrictions, impressment of sailors, and frontier conflicts. The war ended in stalemate but boosted U.S. nationalism.

White House Burned (1814)

bzheng18 — 2025-09-26 16:31:38 UTC

During the War of 1812, British troops invaded Washington, D.C. and burned the White House and Capitol before withdrawing.

Missouri Compromise (1820)

bzheng18 — 2025-09-26 16:31:53 UTC

This law allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine as a free state, keeping balance in Congress. It also banned slavery north of the 36°30′ line in future territories.

Market Revolution (early–mid 1800s)

bzheng18 — 2025-09-26 16:32:08 UTC

A period of rapid economic change marked by new transportation (canals, railroads), communication (telegraph), and industrial growth. It shifted the U.S. toward a market-based economy.

Seneca Falls Convention (1848)

bzheng18 — 2025-09-26 16:32:22 UTC

The first major women’s rights convention in the U.S., where activists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton called for equal rights, including the right to vote.

Mexican-American War 1846–1848

bzheng18 — 2025-10-22 11:39:13 UTC

War between the U.S. and Mexico that led to U.S. expansion into the Southwest, increasing tensions over slavery in new territories.

1857 – Dred Scott Decision

bzheng18 — 2025-10-22 11:40:06 UTC

Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens and that Congress couldn’t ban slavery in the territories.

• 1860 – Election of Abraham Lincoln:

1863 – Emancipation Proclamation

bzheng18 — 2025-10-22 11:42:54 UTC

Lincoln declared enslaved people in Confederate states free, shifting the war’s focus to ending slavery.

April 9, 1865 – Appomattox Court House

bzheng18 — 2025-10-22 11:43:04 UTC

Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, ending the Civil War.

April 14, 1865 – Lincoln Assassinated

bzheng18 — 2025-10-22 11:43:14 UTC

President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.

1865–1877 – Reconstruction

bzheng18 — 2025-10-22 11:43:27 UTC

Period after the Civil War focused on rebuilding the South and securing rights for freed African Americans.

Haymarket Riot of 1886

bzheng18 — 2025-11-07 17:31:00 UTC

Labor protest in Chicago that turned violent after a bomb exploded, leading to anti-union backlash

Homestead Strike of 1892 –

bzheng18 — 2025-11-07 17:31:15 UTC

Steelworker strike at Carnegie Steel that turned violent and weakened labor unions.

Pullman Strike of 1894

bzheng18 — 2025-11-07 17:31:38 UTC

Railroad strike over wage cuts that spread nationwide and was stopped by federal troops.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

bzheng18 — 2025-11-07 17:31:53 UTC

Supreme Court decision that upheld racial segregation under “separate but equal.”

The Jungle is written (1906)

bzheng18 — 2025-11-07 17:32:04 UTC

– Upton Sinclair’s book exposing unsafe meatpacking conditions, prompting food safety laws.

USS Maine Destroyed

bzheng18 — 2025-12-01 04:50:12 UTC

– 1898. A U.S. battleship exploded in Havana Harbor, which increased tensions with Spain.

Spanish-American War

bzheng18 — 2025-12-01 04:50:21 UTC

– 1898. Short war between the U.S. and Spain; the U.S. gained territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

Boxer Rebellion

bzheng18 — 2025-12-01 04:50:30 UTC

– 1900. A violent uprising in China against foreigners and Christian missionaries; several nations, including the U.S., sent troops.

Sinking of the Lusitania

bzheng18 — 2025-12-01 04:50:40 UTC

– 1915. A German submarine sank the British ship Lusitania, killing many, including Americans, and turning U.S. opinion against Germany.

WWI

bzheng18 — 2025-12-01 04:50:50 UTC

– 1914–1918 (U.S. entered in 1917). A global war in Europe involving the Allies versus the Central Powers.

Roaring 20s

bzheng18 — 2025-12-01 04:51:12 UTC

– 1920s. A decade of economic growth, consumer culture, jazz music, and social change in the U.S.

Great Depression

bzheng18 — 2025-12-01 04:51:22 UTC

– Began in 1929. A severe economic downturn with high unemployment, bank failures, and poverty.

New Deal

bzheng18 — 2025-12-01 04:51:31 UTC

– 1930s. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s programs to fight the Great Depression with relief, recovery, and reform.

WWII

bzheng18 — 2025-12-01 04:51:42 UTC

– 1939–1945 (U.S. entered in 1941). A global war with the Allies fighting the Axis powers in Europe and the Pacific.

Murder of Emmett Till

bzheng18 — 2025-12-20 23:33:15 UTC

The killing of a 14-year-old Black boy in 1955 that helped spark the Civil Rights Movement.

Greensboro Sit-Ins

bzheng18 — 2025-12-20 23:33:21 UTC

Peaceful protests at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in 1960 to challenge segregation.

Assassination of JFK

bzheng18 — 2025-12-20 23:33:33 UTC

President John F. Kennedy was killed in 1963, shocking the nation.

March on Washington

bzheng18 — 2025-12-20 23:33:45 UTC

A major 1963 civil rights rally where MLK gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Assassination of MLK Jr.

bzheng18 — 2025-12-20 23:33:56 UTC

Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in 1968, causing national grief and unrest.

ivil Rights Act of 1968

bzheng18 — 2025-12-20 23:34:05 UTC

A law that banned discrimination in housing.

US Withdraws from Vietnam

bzheng18 — 2025-12-20 23:34:17 UTC

In 1973, the U.S. pulled its troops out of Vietnam, ending its direct involvement.

Watergate Scandal

bzheng18 — 2025-12-20 23:34:28 UTC

A political scandal in 1972–1974 that led to President Nixon resigning.

Iran-Contra Affair (1985–1987)

bzheng18 — 2026-01-12 18:06:55 UTC

U.S. secretly sold arms to Iran and funded rebels in Nicaragua.

NAFTA (1994)

bzheng18 — 2026-01-12 18:07:05 UTC

Trade agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Clinton Impeachment (1998–1999)

bzheng18 — 2026-01-12 18:07:21 UTC

President Clinton was impeached but not removed from office.

Bush v. Gore (2000)

bzheng18 — 2026-01-12 18:07:51 UTC

Supreme Court case that decided the 2000 election.

War on Terror (2001–Present)

bzheng18 — 2026-01-12 18:08:04 UTC

U.S. campaign against global terrorism after 9/11.

The Patriot Act (2001)

bzheng18 — 2026-01-12 18:08:16 UTC

Law that expanded government surveillance powers.