American History Timeline by Rebecca Palmer _ Student - GreenLevelHS

Columbus "discovers" the new world

rmpalmer2 — 2025-08-29 12:13:02 UTC

European explorer Christopher Columbus landed in America in 1492. Although indigenous people had found the new world before him, his voyage marked the beginning of European Exploration.

Conquest of Tenochtitlan

rmpalmer2 — 2025-08-29 12:16:31 UTC

A military campaign by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, along with his indigenous allies, that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire on August 13th, 1521.

Roanoke Settlement

rmpalmer2 — 2025-08-29 12:25:30 UTC

Also known as the "Lost Colony," this was the first attempt by the english to establish a successful, and permanent colony in the Americas.

King Philip's War

rmpalmer2 — 2025-08-29 12:42:11 UTC

Violent conflict in New England between English colonists, their Native allies, and indigenous tribes from 1675-1678.

Bacon's Rebellion

rmpalmer2 — 2025-08-29 12:44:30 UTC

Led by Nathaniel Bacon against Colonial Governor William Berkeley, this was an armed rebellion by Virginia that took place from 1676-1677.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-09-08 16:29:57 UTC

A protest that occurred in 1773 where American colonists disguised themselves as Native Americans and dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor to protest the British Tea Act, as they saw it as unfair taxation without representation.

First Continental Congress (1774)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-09-08 16:30:33 UTC

A meeting in 1774 where representatives from 12 American colonies came together to protest against British laws and coordinate their resistance to British rule. This happened during the first 2 years of the American Revolution.

French and Indian War (1754-1763)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-09-08 16:31:32 UTC

A conflict between the years of 1754 to 1763 in North America. This was part of a larger global war between Great Britain and France, over control of territories in North America.

Declaration of Independence (July 4th, 1776)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-09-08 16:32:22 UTC

Statement written by the Continental Congress on July 4th, 1716, announcing that the 13 colonies were free and independent states, and were not under British rule anymore.

Shays Rebellion (1786-1787)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-09-08 16:33:13 UTC

A series of protests between 1786 and 1787 by American farmers against state and local enforcement of tax collections and judgments for debt.

Constitutional Convention (1787)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-09-08 16:33:51 UTC

A formal meeting where representatives drafted and revised the country’s constitution or specific laws to create a new government or significantly change a past one. This was a convention of delegates from all states except Rhode Island.

Washington's Farewell Address (1796)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-09-08 16:34:33 UTC

A public letter published in 1796 where President George Washington warned against the dangers of political factions, regionalism, and permanent alliances with foreign countries. He advocated for national unity and a neutral foreign policy for the US to preserve its liberty and stability.

Louisiana Purchase

rmpalmer2 — 2025-09-25 17:48:59 UTC

Happened in 1803, an agreement where the US bought 828,000 miles of land from France for $15 million.

War of 1812

rmpalmer2 — 2025-09-25 17:49:24 UTC

Happened in 1812, the attempt and failure of the US to invade Canada.

White House Burned

rmpalmer2 — 2025-09-25 17:49:51 UTC

Happened in 1814, during the war of 1812, British troops invaded Washington DC and set fire to the White House.

Missouri Compromise

rmpalmer2 — 2025-09-25 17:50:17 UTC

Passed in 1820, a law that admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. This kept the number of slave states and free states balanced.

Market Revolution

rmpalmer2 — 2025-09-25 17:50:43 UTC

Happened around 1820-30s, economy and society shifted from moral economies to capitalist systems.

Seneca Falls Convention

rmpalmer2 — 2025-09-25 17:51:13 UTC

Happened in 1848, was the first woman's rights convention in the US, organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott.

Mexican-American War

rmpalmer2 — 2025-10-17 16:33:29 UTC

War between US and Mexico, primarily over the US annexation of Texas and westward expansion.

Dred Scott Decision

rmpalmer2 — 2025-10-17 16:33:53 UTC

Supreme court ruling that declared that African Americans were not citizens, even if they lived in a free state.

Emancipation Proclamation

rmpalmer2 — 2025-10-17 16:34:12 UTC

Executive order issued by Abraham Lincoln that declared slaves in the Confederate states free.

Appomattox Court House

rmpalmer2 — 2025-10-17 16:34:39 UTC

The village in Virginia where Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, which ended the civil war.

Lincoln Assassinated

rmpalmer2 — 2025-10-17 16:35:03 UTC

President Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth in the back of the head while watching a play.

Reconstruction

rmpalmer2 — 2025-10-17 16:35:25 UTC

Period after civil war when the US attempted to rebuild the south, re-add the southern states back into the union, and move many newly freed African Americans into the Union.

Plessy v. Ferguson

rmpalmer2 — 2025-11-06 12:55:35 UTC

Supreme court case that upheld the constitutionality of separate but equal, in regards to race.

Haymarket Riot of 1886

rmpalmer2 — 2025-11-06 12:57:09 UTC

A violent fight between police and labor protesters in Chicago that stemmed from an 8 hour workday strike.

Homestead Strike of 1892

rmpalmer2 — 2025-11-06 12:57:48 UTC

A violent labor dispute in Pennsylvania between the Carnegie Steel Company and its workers after the company established wage cuts.

Pullman Strike of 1894

rmpalmer2 — 2025-11-06 12:58:19 UTC

A nonviolent protest that shut down many western railroads, because of the poor wages of the workers.

“The Jungle” is written

rmpalmer2 — 2025-11-06 12:58:53 UTC

This book exposed the unsafe and unsanitary conditions that workers were working in, in Chicago's meat packing industry. This focused on the struggles of immigrant workers.

USS Maine Destroyed

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-01 03:25:26 UTC

US battleship that exploded in Cuba. Helped to start Spanish American War

Spanish American War

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-01 03:26:52 UTC

War that US won, leading to America becoming a global power, gaining new territories.

Sinking of the Lusitania

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-01 03:27:51 UTC

German submarine that sank a passenger ship, killing many Americans. Major event that pushed US towards WWI.

WWI

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-01 03:28:23 UTC

US joined in 1917, helped allies win, proving military strength.

Roaring 20s

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-01 03:29:03 UTC

Decade of fast economic growth and major social change in US.

Great Depression

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-01 03:30:25 UTC

Severe worldwide economic collapse, beginning with US. Stock market crash which led to a mass unemployment.

New Deal

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-01 03:31:26 UTC

President Roosevelt's program to create jobs, regulate banks, and overall help the poor. This expanded the government's role in economy.

WWII

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-01 03:32:07 UTC

US joined after Pearl Harbor, emerged as the world's dominant superpower.

Boxer Rebellion

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-04 16:39:41 UTC

Uprising in China against foreign influence and control

Murder of Emmett Till (1955)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-18 14:38:25 UTC

J.W. Milam, kidnapped and brutally murdered Till, dumping his body in the Tallahatchie River.

Greensboro Sit-ins (1960)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-18 14:40:20 UTC

A civil rights protest that started in 1960, when young African American students staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and refused to leave after being denied service.

March on Washington (1963)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-18 14:41:39 UTC

A massive protest march that occurred in August 1963, when some 250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Assassination of JFK (1963)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-18 14:44:45 UTC

The assassination of the 35th US president in the middle of a play in Dallas, Texas.

Assassination of MLK Jr. (1968)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-18 14:45:56 UTC

The fatal shooting of the iconic civil rights leader in Memphis, Tennessee.

Civil Rights Act of 1968

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-18 14:46:50 UTC

An Act to prescribe penalties for certain acts of violence or intimidation, and for other purposes.

US Withdraws from Vietnam (1968)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-18 14:47:54 UTC

The last US combat troops leave South Vietnam as Hanoi frees many of the remaining American prisoners of war held in North Vietnam.

Watergate Scandal (1972)

rmpalmer2 — 2025-12-18 14:49:02 UTC

A political scandal in the United States involving the administration of President Richard Nixon.

Iran-Contra Affair (1980s)

rmpalmer2 — 2026-01-12 17:11:40 UTC

A political scandal in the United States that centered on arms trafficking to Iran between 1981 and 1986, facilitated by senior officials of the Ronald Reagan administration.

NAFTA (1994)

rmpalmer2 — 2026-01-12 17:12:55 UTC

Established a free-trade zone in North America; it was signed in 1992 by Canada, Mexico, and the United States and took effect on Jan. 1, 1994.

Clinton Impeachment (1998-1999)

rmpalmer2 — 2026-01-12 17:18:01 UTC

The articles of impeachment included two articles related to perjury, one for obstructing justice, and one for abuse of office.

Bush v. Gore (2000)

rmpalmer2 — 2026-01-12 17:20:00 UTC

The 2000 election was decided by a razor-thin margin in the state of Florida and a landmark Supreme Court decision.

War on Terror (September 2001)

rmpalmer2 — 2026-01-12 17:20:59 UTC

The Global War on Terror is an international, American-led military campaign launched following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The Patriot Act (October 2001)

rmpalmer2 — 2026-01-12 17:22:59 UTC

The Act enabled investigators to gather information when looking into the full range of terrorism-related crimes, including: chemical-weapons offenses, the use of weapons of mass destruction, killing Americans abroad, and terrorism financing.