AP United States History Timeline (copy)

1492

Christopher Columbus arrives in the Americas, marking the beginning of European exploration and colonization.

1501

Enslaved Africans first arrive by European settlers.

1587

Roanoke colony is established, significant as England’s first attempt to settle North America.

1607

Jamestown is established.

1608

French colonized Quebec City.

1614

Dutch settles in modern-day Albany.

1618

The Virginia Company introduces the headright system.

1619

Virginia established the House of Burgesses.

1619

English colonies introduce slavery.

1620

Sailing of the Mayflower.

1808

American participation in the transatlantic slave trade officially ends, despite the continued existence of slavery in the United States.

1629-1642

The Great Puritan Migration.

1635

Connecticut received charters.

1649

Acts of Tolerance passed.

1651-1673

Navigation Acts passed.

1664

England wages war to get NY territory.

1676

Bacon’s Rebellion.

1685

King James II proclaims NY a royal colony.

1699

Wool Act passed.

1729

Carolina colony splits into North and South.

1730s

First Great Awakening.

1732

Georgia is formed.

1733

Molasses Act passed.

1739

Stono Uprising.

1754

Albany Plan of Union.

1754-1763

French and Indian War.

1764

Sugar Act passed.

1765

Stamp Act passed.

1765

Quartering Act passed.

1770

Boston Massacre.

1772

Townshend Acts.

1774

First Continental Congress.

1775

Shot Heard Round the World.

1775

Second Continental Congress.

1776

Declaration of Independence.

1777

Articles of Confederation ratified.

1778

Franco-American Alliance.

1781

Battle of Yorktown.

1783

Treaty of Paris.

1789

Constitution into effect.

1789

Judiciary Act passed.

1791

Bill of Rights ratified.

1793

Invention of the cotton gin.

1802

Louisiana Purchase.

1803

Marbury v. Madison.

1804

12th Amendment ratified.

1804

Lewis and Clark expedition.

1807

Embargo Act.

1809

Nonintercourse Act.

1812

War of 1812.

1819

Panic of 1819.

1819

Adams-Onis Treaty.

1825

Erie Canal construction.

1828

Tariff of Abominations.

1830

Indian Removal Act.

1830

Mormonism is founded.

1831

Nat Turner’s Rebellion.

1837

Panic of 1837.

1845

Texas gets statehood.

1846

Mexican-American War begins.

1848

Seneca Falls Convention.

1850

Compromise of 1850.

1852

Publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

1854

Bleeding Kansas.

1855

Transportation Revolution.

1857

Dred Scott v. Sanford decision.

1859

John Brown’s Raid.

1861-1862

Confiscation Acts.

1863

Emancipation Proclamation.

1864

Sherman’s March.

1865-1877

Reconstruction Era.

1867

Grange Movement.

1869

Knights of Labor founded.

1887

Interstate Commerce Act.

1890

Sherman-Antitrust Act.

1890

McKinley Tariff.

1894

Wilson-Gorman Tariff.

1895

US v. EC Knight Co.

1896

Plessy v. Ferguson.

1914

Antitrust Act.

1917

Espionage Act.

1918

Sedition Act.

1920

19th amendment ratified.

1921

Washington Conference.

1924

Emergency Quota Act.

1928

Kellogg-Briand Pact.

1929

Stock market crash, Great Depression.

1932

Bonus Expeditionary Force Attack.

1933

21st Amendment.

1933

Banking Act.

1934

Good Neighbor Policy.

1940

Lend-Lease Act.

1940

Selective Training and Service Act.

1942

Manhattan Project.

1943

Tehran Conference.

1943

Labor Disputes Act.

1944

D-Day.

1944

Serviceman’s Readjustment Act.

1945

Yalta Conference.

1946

Filipino independence.