Main Events of the American Founding

These events represent broad strokes of American history between Christopher Columbus and the ratification of the Bill of Rights.  This is a good place to start; you can probably reason most of these out by carefully reading the clues--if you have a basic knowledge of the American colonial period.

Jamestown Settlement Begins

Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America.  Its early years were marked by hardship, disease, and near-starvation, with the colony's survival often hanging precariously in the balance.  Despite these struggles, Jamestown's perseverance laid the groundwork for future English colonization in the New World.  The establishment of a representative government, the House of Burgesses, in 1619, marked an important step towards self-governance in the colonies.  

1607

 

The Mayflower arrives at Plimoth

The Mayflower brought group of English Separatists (later known as Pilgrims) and other passengers seeking religious freedom and a new life. The Mayflower Compact, signed by the adult males aboard before disembarking, is considered an early example of self-governance in the colonies, establishing a framework for law and order based on the consent of the governed.  The Pilgrims' perseverance through a harsh winter and their eventual success, aided by friendly Native American tribes, became an important part of the American story of resilience and self-reliance.

1620

 

The First Thanksgiving

The first Thanksgiving is a significant event in American history, though its precise details are a blend of historical record and later tradition.  Following a difficult first winter, the Pilgrims, with the help of the Wampanoag Native Americans, particularly Squanto, enjoyed a bountiful harvest.  This led to a celebration of gratitude, shared between the colonists and the Wampanoag, marking a moment of relative peace and cooperation.

1621

 

Columbus Travels to America

Christopher Columbus's voyages across the Atlantic, while not the first European contact with the Americas, marked a turning point in world history and initiated a period of intense European colonization and exchange.  Because Columbus sailed for Spain, the Spanish dominated early American colonization and trade between Europe and America.

1492

 

The Defeat of the Spanish Armada

The defeat of the Spanish Armada was a pivotal naval battle that had significant repercussions for the future of European colonization in the Americas.  The Armada, a massive fleet sent by King Philip II of Spain to invade England, was ultimately defeated by the smaller, more maneuverable English fleet, aided by storms that scattered and decimated the Spanish ships. The Armada's defeat paved the way for English exploration and colonization in North America. 

1588

 

The French and Indian War

The French and Indian War was a conflict between Great Britain and France (along with their respective Native American allies) for control of territory in North America.  Great Britain won and gained vast new territories but also incurred a significant war debt, which they attempted to recoup from the colonists through various taxes and policies.  These policies fueled colonial resentment towards British rule and led to  American Revolution.

1754

1763

 

The Boston Massacre

The Boston Massacre was a tragic incident in which British soldiers fired upon a crowd of colonists, killing five.  The event stemmed from escalating tensions between British troops stationed in Boston and Boston residents, who resented their presence and the policies they represented.  What began as a snowball-throwing incident escalated into a chaotic confrontation, culminating in the soldiers firing their muskets. 

1770-03-05

  

The Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party was a pivotal act of protest by American colonists against British policies.  A group of colonists, disguised as Mohawk Indians, boarded three British ships in Boston Harbor and dumped approximately 45 tons of tea into the Boston Harbor.  This dramatic action was a direct response to Parliament allowing the East India Company to sell tea that had all taxes removed except for a small tea tax that remained from the Townshend duties.  Colonial radicals saw this inexpensive tea as a way to trick colonists into accepting taxation without representation.

1773-12-17

 

The Battles of Lexington and Concord

The Battles of Lexington and Concord began the hostilities of the American Revolutionary War.  British troops, sent to confiscate colonial weapons and arrest Patriot leaders, encountered resistance from local militia (Minutemen) at Lexington.  A brief skirmish ensued, resulting in the deaths of several colonists.  The British continued to Concord, where they faced further resistance, culminating in a more substantial battle at Concord Bridge.  Forced to retreat back to Boston, the British were harassed by colonial militia along the way, suffering significant casualties.  These battles marked the transition from political protest to armed conflict, demonstrating the colonists' willingness to fight for their rights. 

1775-04-19

 

Congress votes to Declare Independence from Great Britain

The Declaration of Independence proclaims that governments are created to protect the intrinsic rights of individuals.  That when the government fails to fulfil this basic responsibility and infringes those rights instead, it is the responsibility of the people to alter the government or remove it altogether to establish a new form of government that seems likely to protect their rights.

1776-07-02

  

The Siege of Yorktown

The Siege of Yorktown was the final major military engagement of the American Revolutionary War.  A combined force of American and French troops, led by General George Washington, besieged the British army under General Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia.  The French fleet effectively blockaded the Chesapeake Bay, preventing British reinforcements from reaching Cornwallis.  After a prolonged siege, Cornwallis, facing dwindling supplies and a hopeless situation, was forced to surrender his entire army. 

1781-09-28

 

1781-10-19

 

The Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris, signed in Paris by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the United States, officially ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized the Thirteen Colonies, which had been part of colonial British America, to be free, sovereign and independent states.

1783-09-03

  

Shays' Rebellion

Shays' Rebellion, an armed uprising of farmers in western Massachusetts, showed that the current governmental structure of the United States of America was inadequate to deal with internal uprisings. It played a crucial role in convincing delegates to convene the Federal Convention, where they drafted the United States Constitution, which established a more powerful federal government and addressed many of the issues that led to the rebellion.

1786-09-29

 

1787-02-04

 

Signing of the US Constitution

The Federal Convention recommended the newly-drafted United States Constitution to the sates for ratification, which would occur the following year. It is the foundational legal document of the U.S. federal government.  Born out of the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution established a system of government based on principles of federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances, dividing authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

1787-09-17

  

George Washington Becomes President

George Washington became president of the United States in Federal Hall, New York City, formally establishing the executive branch of the newly formed United States government under the Constitution.  Washington's assumption of the presidency was not merely a ceremonial event; it symbolized the transition from a fledgling republic struggling under the Articles of Confederation to a more unified and stable nation.  

1789-04-30

  

Ratification of the Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights, comprising the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, is a cornerstone of American liberty and a fundamental safeguard against government overreach. These amendments guarantee essential rights and freedoms to all citizens, including freedom of speech, religion, the press, the right to bear arms, protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and due process of law.  The Bill of Rights arose from concerns that the Constitution, as originally drafted, did not adequately protect individual liberties. 

1791-12-15