Walter Raleigh attempts to fund a colony in Virginia. An expedition is led by Richard Grenville

The colony is abandoned

John White leads another attempt to establish a colony in Virginia. However the colonists mysteriously disappear

The Virginia Company founds a colony at Jamestown

John Rolfe begins growing tobacco in Virginia

The first representative government in North America is created when the House of Burgesses meets. The first slaves arrive in Virginia

A group of settlers lands in New England

The first settlers land in New Hampshire

The Dutch found a colony they call New Netherland

Maryland is founded as a haven for Catholics (though not all settlers are Catholic)

The first settlers land in Rhode Island

The Pequot War ends in the destruction of the Pequot tribe

The Swedes found a colony at Fort Christina. (Present day Wilmington)

Alice Young from Windsor, Connecticut is hanged for witchcraft. She is the first person in America to be executed for witchcraft

The Dutch capture the Swedish colony and make it part of New Netherland

The first navigation act states that certain goods from the colonies can only be exported to England or to other colonies, not to foreign countries

A new colony is founded in the Carolinas. (Originally North and South Carolina were one colony). The first settlers arrive in New Jersey

The British capture New Netherland from the Dutch and rename it New York

The city of Charleston, South Carolina is founded

Further navigation acts are passed

New Hampshire is made a colony in its own right, separate from Massachusetts. A Frenchman, De la Salle explores the Great Lakes

A Quaker named William Penn founds Pennsylvania

Penn founds the city of Philadelphia. De la Salle claims Louisiana for France

A witch hunt takes place in Salem

The population of the North American colonies is around 300,000

North and South Carolina are separated. Yale College is founded. The French found Detroit

Delaware is permitted its own assembly

In Virginia Grace Sherwood is convicted of witchcraft and jailed for 8 years. Benjamin Franklin is born

The French found New Orleans

Georgia is founded

Benjamin Franklin invents a type of stove. Coal is discovered in West Virginia

Princeton is founded

Thomas Walker discovers the Cumberland Gap

Benjamin Franklin invents the lightning conductor

The Seven Years War is fought between Britain and France. Britain takes Canada

The population of the North American colonies has risen to about 1 million

A royal proclamation called the Great Proclamation bans any further westward advancement. (The British hope to avoid expensive wars with the natives)

The Sugar Act is passed by the British parliament. Duty on molasses from the West Indies is actually reduced but the British make vigorous efforts to stop smuggling and collect all the duty. This causes resentment among Americans

The Currency Act is passed by the British parliament. It bans American colonies from printing their own money, so restricting trade and causing further resentment

The Stamp Act imposes tax on legal documents, newspapers and playing cards. This infuriates the Americans who protest and boycott British merchants

The British repeal the Stamp Act but they pass the Declaratory Act which states that the British parliament is sovereign over all American colonies. This aggravates the Americans

The British impose duties on lead, glass, paint, oil and tea. The Americans are infuriated and boycott British goods

The first recorded strike in America by tailors in New York

The British are forced to back down and by March 1770 the only duty remains on tea. However in Boston on 5 March 1770 some people throw stones at British soldiers. The soldiers open fire killing 5 people and wounding 6. This became known as the Boston Massacre. Of the 8 soldiers put on trial 6 are acquitted, two are convicted of manslaughter and branded on the thumb. Their lenient treatment infuriates the Americans

The 'Boston Tea Party'. The British East India Company sends 3 shiploads of tea to Boston. On 16 December men dressed as Indians board the ship and dump the tea in the sea

The British parliament passes the Coercive or Intolerable Acts. The port of Boston is closed. The seat of government of the colony is moved to Salem. The charter of Massachusetts is changed to give the royal governor more power. In September a Continental Congress meets. It demands repeal of the Coercive Acts and an end to British interference in American affairs

the British declare that the state of Massachusetts is in a state of rebellion

fighting begins when British soldiers try to seize a colonial arms dump near Concord

another Continental Congress meets and agrees to raise an army. George Washington is made its leader

George III declares that all the American colonies are in a state of rebellion

Congress decides that royal government should end and government should be 'under the authority of the people'. Colonies draw up state constitutions to replace their charters. On 4 July the Declaration of Independence is adopted by the Continental Congress. Life in 18th Century Colonial America

the British win the battle of Long Island

the British capture New York

the Americans win the battle of Trenton

the Americans win the battle of Princeton

the British win the battle of Brandywine. The Articles of Confederation are drawn up

the Americans win a decisive victory at Saratoga

France joins the war

Spain joins the war

the Americans win the battle of Kings Mountain. The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is founded

the Americans, led by General Daniel Morgan win the battle of Cowpen in South Carolina boosting American morale. The Americans then retreated into Virginia

the Americans win a decisive victory at Yorktown. With the surrender of a British army under Cornwallis all British hopes of keeping the colonies evaporate. American independence is assured

The Treaty of Paris ends the War of Independence. The population of the USA is about 2 million

The US constitution is framed

The first Congress meets and George Washington becomes the first President

Vermont is admitted to the Union as the 14th state

Kentucky becomes the 15th state. The first mint in the USA is founded

Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin. The result is a revival of slavery in the southern states

The natives are defeated in battle at the battle of Fallen Timbers. The first labor union is formed in Philadelphia by cordwainers (shoemakers). In the early 19th century many skilled workers form local unions (in their town or city). The US navy is founded

By the treaty of Greenville the natives are forced to surrender most of Ohio

Tennessee becomes the 16th state

The Library of Congress is founded. Thomas Jefferson is elected president

Ohio becomes the 17th state. The US purchases Louisiana from Napoleon for $15 million

The population of the USA is 7.2 million

Louisiana becomes the 18th state

the USA declares war on Britain

The Americans win a naval victory on Lake Erie

the Creeks are defeated at the battle of Horseshoe Bend and are forced to hand over more than half their land

the British capture Washington

At the end of the year a peace treaty ends the war

two armies fight at New Orleans and the British are defeated

Indiana is admitted to the Union

The Americans fight the Seminoles of Florida

Mississippi is admitted as a state

Illinois is admitted as a state

Alabama is admitted as a state

The population of the USA reaches 20 million

Missouri is admitted to the Union. Spain cedes Florida to the USA

The Erie Canal is opened

The first railway is built in the USA

Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Bill, which forces natives east of the Mississippi River to move to Oklahoma

Cyrus McCormick invents a mechanical reaper

The Texans rebel against the Mexicans

Arkansas is admitted as a state. The Texas Declaration of Independence is signed. The defenders of the Alamo are massacred

the Texans crush the Mexicans at the battle of San Jacinto. As a result Texas becomes independent

Michigan is admitted as a state

John Deere invents the steel plow

The first wagon train uses the Oregon Trail

Texas is admitted to the Union. Florida is also admitted to the Union as a state

Iowa is admitted to the Union. The Mexican War begins. The Americans win battles at Palo Alto and Reseca de la Palma

The Americans capture Veracruz and Mexico City

Wisconsin is admitted to the Union

gold is discovered at Sutter's Mill in California

the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the Mexican War. Mexico cedes New Mexico and California to the USA

Huge numbers of people move to California in search of gold

California is admitted to the Union. Argument is growing over the issue of slavery and over whether new states should allow slavery or not. A compromise of 1850 states that the territories of New Mexico and Utah should decide for themselves whether to allow slavery when they apply to become states. In New York police disperse striking tailors killing 2 men

The first national labor union is formed by printers, the National Typographical Union

In the Dred-Scott case the Supreme Court declares that slaves are not and never can be US citizens

Oregon is admitted to the Union

The population of the USA reaches 60 million

South Carolina cedes from the Union. The Civil War

Kansas is admitted to the Union

Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana leave the Union

they form the Confederate States

Civil war begins when Unionist troops are ordered to evacuate Fort Sumter. When they refuse the Confederates bombard them. The unionists eventually surrender and are allowed to leave

Arkansas cedes from the Union. Tennessee and North Carolina follow

the Unionists are defeated at the battle of Bull Run

the Unionists win the battle of Shiloh

the Unionists capture New Orleans

they capture Baton Rouge

the army of the Potomac captures Yorktown

the Confederates win a victory at Second Bull Run (also called Second Manassas)

the Confederates win another victory at Fredericksburg. The Homesteader Act gives 160 acres of free land provided the settler tills if for 5 years

West Virginia is admitted to the Union

Robert E. Lee wins another victory at Chancellorsville

the tide turns. The Unionists win the battle of Gettysburg

the Unionists win another victory at Chattanooga

Sherman enters Atlanta

Sherman's troops capture Savannah on the coast. The Confederacy is cut in half

The Confederate position is increasingly hopeless

Sherman captures Columbia

the Confederates abandon Petersburg and Richmond

Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox Court House

Abraham Lincoln dies after being shot the previous day

Johnston surrenders to Sherman

1865 the last Confederate army surrenders

Congress passes a civil rights act, which states that all people born in the USA are now citizens

Nebraska is admitted to the Union. The USA buys Alaska from the Russians

The first transcontinental railroad is built. The Knights of Labor is formed in Philadelphia

Chicago is devastated by a fire

Barbed wire is patented. Levi Straus begins making riveted jeans

By another civil rights act all people regardless of race, color or previous condition are entitled to equal treatment in 'inns, conveyances on land or water, theaters, and other places of public amusement'

Colorado is admitted to the Union

Troops are withdrawn from the South. The Great Railway Strike happens. America is gripped by recession and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad cuts wages. The workers strike and stop trains from moving. There is a great deal of sympathy for the railroad workers among other working class Americans. The strike spreads to other railroads and even other industries. Strikers and their supporters hold demonstrations and riots. There is a wave of unrest across America. In Baltimore the Maryland militia fire into a crowd killing 10 people. Eventually federal troops are sent in to restore order city by city

F W Woolworth opens a 'five and ten cent store'

President James Garfield is shot

Jesse James is shot

The Supreme Court rules the 1875 civil rights act unconstitutional

The first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building is built in Chicago

The Knights of Labor have about 110,000 members. They demand an 8 hour day, and end to child labor and equal pay for equal work

The American Federation of Labor is formed. (A federation of labor unions)

A series of wars are fought between Americans and natives. The natives are gradually forced onto reservations where conditions are horrid

The USA is the fastest growing industrial nation in the world

Four new states are admitted, North and South Dakota, Montana and Washington

Idaho and Wyoming are admitted to the Union

natives are massacred at Wounded Knee, bringing the Indian Wars to a close

the frontier has disappeared

Steelworkers at Carnegie's plant at Homestead Pennsylvania go on strike. A fight with Pinkertons follows. Three Pinkertons and seven strikers are killed

The Pullman Strike. Workers at the Pullman car works go on strike. Sympathetic railroad workers agree to boycott trains carrying Pullman cars. President Grover sends federal troops to break the strike (on the grounds that it is interfering with the delivery of US mail) and to keep the trains going. Some 13 strikers are killed

Utah is admitted to the Union. The Supreme Court permits segregated schools provided facilities are equal. (In reality facilities for black people are always inferior)

the battleship Maine blows up in Havana Harbor killing 260 men

the USA goes to war with Spain

American troops capture Santiago

the last troops in Cuba surrender

American troops capture Manila

an armistice is signed

a peace treaty is signed. Cuba becomes independent. The USA takes the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam

President William McKinley is assassinated. Oil is discovered in Texas

The Flatiron building is built in New York. Willis Carrier invents modern air conditioning

San Francisco is devastated by an earthquake

Oklahoma is admitted to the Union

Henry Ford starts making the model T

Geronimo dies

The USA emerges as the richest and most powerful country in the world

Arizona and New Mexico are admitted to the Union

The Panama Canal is built

The Woolworth building is completed. Grand Central Station in New York opens

The Ludlow Massacre. National Guardsmen attack striking coal miners in Colorado and kill 20 people

a German submarine sinks the liner Lusitania killing 128 Americans

Jeanette Rankin becomes the first congresswoman

Germany begins unrestricted submarine warfare. They sink all neutral ships trying to trade with Britain

British intelligence intercepts a telegram from Arthur Zimmerman, German Foreign Secretary, which states that if Germany goes to war with the USA Mexico should be encouraged to attack the USA

the USA declares war on Germany

the first American soldiers are sent to France

Vast numbers of US troops travel to France

September the Americans destroy a German salient at St Mihiel. They then launch an attack in the Meuse-Argonne area

November Germany surrenders

Women gain the vote in federal elections

Prohibition begins. It is now illegal to make, transport or sell alcohol

The Emergency Quota Act restricts immigration

The US economy booms. Consumer goods such as cars become common. Radio also becomes common

The first motel opens

The Jazz Singer, the first 'talkie' is made

The American economy enters a downturn

Black Thursday, panic selling of shares happens. This event becomes known as the Wall Street Crash

Business confidence disappears. Banks fail and industry slumps

American industrial production has fallen by half and exports have fallen to one third of their 1929 level. About 25% of the workforce are unemployed

President Hoover advocates rugged individualism. He believes too much state help makes people dependent

The destitute live in shantytowns they call Hoovervilles. Soup kitchens make soup called Hoover Stew

The Chrysler building opens in New York

The Empire State building opens

Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected president

the Emergency Banking Act closes all banks. They are only allowed to reopen if the federal government declares they are solvent

the Federal Emergency Relief Act gives states grants to provide work like repairing roads and improving parks and schools

Roosevelt also from the Civilian Conservation Corps which employs young men on conservation projects

The Agricultural Adjustment Act tries to help farmers by reducing supply. Land is set aside and not used

The Social Security Act creates old age pensions and an unemployment insurance scheme. The National Labor Relations Act upholds workers right to collective bargaining

Wallace Carothers discovers nylon. The Goldengate Bridge opens. The Memorial day massacre. Police kill 12 men in an American steel strike

A Fair Labor Standards Act creates a minimum wage. The Congress of Industrial Organizations is formed

American industrial production reaches its 1929 level. However there is still mass unemployment and measures by Roosevelt have had only limited success. Pan American Airways makes its first transatlantic flight

unemployment in the USA stands at 14%. Alarmed by German success in Europe Roosevelt introduces conscription

Japan attacks the US fleet at Pearl Harbor

Germany and Italy declare war on the USA

The Japanese have some initial success but they are crushed at the battle of Midway Island

US troops invade French territory in Northwest Africa

US troops invade Italy

US troops invade France

Germany and Japan surrender

The Cold War has begun

The USA provides Marshall Aid to help rebuild Europe, which has been shattered by war

The Housing Act provides for slum clearance and for public housing

Senator Joseph McCarthy leads a witch hunt against suspected communists

The Supreme Court overturns the decision of 1896, which allowed segregated schools. The first shopping mall opens in Detroit

In December Rosa Parks sits on the front of a bus (reserved for white people) in Alabama and refuses to move. She is arrested but black people organize a boycott of the buses. Finally segregation on buses is ruled unconstitutional

Eisenhower sends troops to allow black students to enter Little Rock Central High School

The USA launches its first satellite Explorer I

Hawaii and Alaska are admitted to the Union as states. The Guggenheim Museum opens in New York

Black students in North Carolina stage a sit in when they are refused service in a restaurant. The sit-in movement quickly spreads

Alan B. Shepard becomes the first American in space

Kennedy sends troops to the State University of Mississippi to enforce a court order that a black student be admitted

A bomb explodes in a black church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing 4 girls

A quarter of a million people march on Washington to demand civil rights. Martin Luther King makes his famous I have a dream speech

The Equal Pay Act makes it illegal to pay men and women different amounts for doing the same work

Kennedy is assassinated

Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act

North Vietnamese torpedo boats attack US warships. American involvement in Vietnam escalates

Malcolm X is assassinated

Black anger and resentment boil over into rioting

Martin Luther King is assassinated. Bobby Kennedy is shot. The American Indian Movement is formed. The Vietcong launch the Tet offensive

Neil Armstrong becomes the first person to step on the moon. The Woodstock Pop Festival is held

American troops are withdrawn from Vietnam

Native Americans march on Washington in the Trail of Broken Treaties. Men from the Committee for Re-election of the President (CREEP) break into the Democratic Party HQ in the Watergate Building. Nixon denies any involvement

Native American protesters occupy Wounded Knee

Nixon is forced to resign

The USA is gripped by a recession. Unemployment climbs to 8.5%

Ronald Reagan is elected President

The first space shuttle is launched

The USA suffers recession. Inflation reaches 12.5 in 1908. Unemployment climbs to 11 in 1982

President Reagan is shot and wounded

Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space

The American economy recovers and unemployment falls to 7%

the Challenger space shuttle blows up

Unemployment in the USA falls to 5.5 and inflation falls to 4.4

San Francisco is rocked by another earthquake

There are race riots in Los Angeles when 4 white policemen accused of beating Rodney King are acquitted

Los Angeles suffers an earthquake

The Welfare Reform Act is passed to cut back welfare spending

The American economy is prospering and unemployment stands at 4.2%

New Orleans is devastated by Hurricane Katrina

Barack Obama is elected the first African American president