U.S Presidents

By Ameterrrehman
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    George Washington

    George Washington was born in Westmoreland, Virginia in 1732 and received education at a local school. He helped his mother farm and continued to educate himself through reading. His father was a notable planter and served as a county court justice. Martha Washington, his wife, was the first first lady and actively supported the Revolutionary War. Washington worked as a surveyor and later became a national hero by leading colonial forces to victory in the American Revolution.

  • Congress enacts Tariff

    -as the first major piece of legislation passed in the United States after the ratification of the United States Constitution. It had two purposes: to protect manufacturing industries developing in the nation and to raise revenue for the federal government.

  • First Naturalization Law

    It provided that any free, white, adult alien, male or female, who had resided within the limits and jurisdiction of the United States for a period of 2 years was eligible for citizenship. The year was later in 1795 Act extended to 5 years.

  • Creating a National Bank

    Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, with President Washington's support, sends Congress a controversial message (The Report on a National Bank) calling for the creation of an official Bank of the United States. The Bank would be able to lend the government money and safely hold its deposits, give Americans a uniform currency, and promote business and industry by extending credit.

  • Naming the Capital

    Commissioners name the territory within the District of Columbia (and the future seat of the Federal Government) the city of Washington in honor of the nation's first President.

  • Ratifying the Bill of Rights

    -The new United States of America ratified the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, confirming the fundamental rights of its citizens.

  • Battle of Fallen Timbers

    General Anthony Wayne defeats an Indian force numbering more than 1,000 at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. The victory helps open the Ohio territory for American settlement and is a defeat for Britain, which had allied with the Native Americans in the region.

  • Jay Treaty

    representatives of the United States and Great Britain signed Jay's Treaty, which sought to settle outstanding issues between the two countries that had been left unresolved since American independence, it successfully allowed the United States to avoid war with its more powerful adversary, Britain.

  • Treaty of San Lorenzo

    The treaty was an important diplomatic success for the United States. It resolved territorial disputes between the two countries and granted American ships the right to free navigation of the Mississippi River as well as duty-free transport through the port of New Orleans, then under Spanish control.

  • Paying The Dey

    The American Government, represented by David Humphreys, agrees to pay a sum of nearly a million dollars to the Dey of Algiers for protection of American shipping in the Mediterranean and for the ransom of sailors.

  • Diplomatic Crisis

    France informs James Monroe, America's leading diplomat in Paris, that the Jay Treaty violates, and therefore suspends, certain provisions of the 1778 Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the two nations. This begins a serious diplomatic crisis between France and the United States. 07
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    John Adams

    He was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard College in 1755 and later became a lawyer. Adams was influential in the American Revolution, advocating for independence and various political positions, delegate to the Continental Congress, ambassador to France and the Netherlands, the first Vice President under George Washington. Adams had normal married life. After his presidency, Adams had a role in negotiating peace with France and reconciling with Thomas Jefferson.

  • XYZ Affair

    The three man American peace commission is received coolly and then asked to pay a bribe in order to speak with French Foreign Minister Charles Maurice Talleyrand. This episode becomes known as the “XYZ Affair.” This incident between US and France resulted in a limited, undeclared war known as the Quasi-War. U.S. and French negotiators restored peace with the Convention of 1800, also known as the Treaty of Mortefontaine.

  • The Eleventh Amendment

    The Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is declared in full force by President Adams. It stipulates that federal courts shall not have the jurisdiction over litigation between individuals from one state against individuals from another state.

  • Alien Sedition Acts

    The Alien Act granted the President unilateral authority to deport non-citizens who were subjects of foreign enemies. The Sedition Act attacked the core of free speech and a free press—the right to criticize the government

  • Victory against France

    The United States Navy scores its first clear victory against France when the frigate Constellation captures the French ship L'Insurgente near the island of St. Kitts.

  • Washington becomes capital

    The new city of Washington in the District of Columbia becomes the official capital of the United States, succeeding Philadelphia. It would not be until November that Congress convened in the new capital and Adams moved into the new Executive Mansion.
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    Thomas Jefferson

    was born in Virginia and was educated at William and Mary. He didn't serve in the military but held numerous offices including Governor of Virginia, Minister to France, Vice President, and President. His family included his wife Martha and six children. He played a crucial role in drafting the Declaration of Independence and spearheaded the Louisiana Purchase as President.

  • Tripoli declares war

    Yusuf Karamini, pasha of Tripoli, declares war on the United States by symbolically cutting down the flagpole at the U.S. consulate. This action came after the United States refused to pay more tribute to the Tripolitans in exchange for protection from piracy against American ships.

  • Marbury v. Madison

    It was one of the most important Supreme Court cases in early American history and established the principle of judicial review—the power of the federal courts to declare legislative and executive acts unconstitutional.

  • Marbury v. Madison

    The landmark Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review, empowering the courts to review and strike down acts of Congress that are unconstitutional.

  • The Twelfth Amendment

    Motivated by the infamous election of 1800, Congress passes the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution, requiring electors to vote for President and vice president separately. This ends the tradition of the runner up in a presidential race becoming vice president and prevents chances for a deadlock tie.

  • Louisiana Territory Act

    Congress passes the Louisiana Territory Act, dividing the Louisiana Purchase into the Territory of Orleans in the south and the district of Louisiana in the north.

  • Capturing Derna

    U.S. Marines and Arab mercenaries capture the Tripolitan port city of Derna, achieving a major victory for the United States in the Tripolitan War. Eaton's ultimate plan, approved by President Jefferson, entailed replacing the ruling pasha of Tripoli with the rightful ruler. This is aborted with the forthcoming peace treaty in June.

  • Treaty of Peace and Aimty

    It was negotiated by Karamanli and Colonel Tobias Lear. The United States agreed to a one-time payment of $60,000 to secure the treaty and to ransom American prisoners of war, it effectively ending the Tripolitan War.

  • Building a national road

    Congress authorizes a commission to build a national road from Cumberland, Maryland, to the Ohio River.The National Road was built with rocks and gravel broken by hand and laid in trenches. The National Road was the first highway built entirely with federal funds. The road was authorized by Congress in 1806 during the Jefferson Administration. Construction began in Cumberland, Maryland in 1811.

  • Aaron Burr acquitted

    Burr , the third vice president of the United States from 1801 to 1805,was charged with treason because of the alleged conspiracy and stood trial in Richmond, Virginia. He was acquitted due to lack of evidence of treason, as Chief Justice John Marshall did not consider conspiracy without actions sufficient for conviction.

  • Embargo Act

    Madison signed this controversial law, prohibiting American ships from trading in foreign ports in response to British and French interference with American trade, which ultimately proved ineffective and damaging to the U.S. economy.

  • Slave Trade Ban Official

    It was "to prohibit the importation of slaves in any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the first day of January [1808.]"

  • The Bayonne Decree

    Napoleon Bonaparte issues the Bayonne Decree, which authorizes the French seizure of all United States ships entering all ports of the Hanseatic League. Napoleon argues the decree will help the United States enforce the Embargo Act signed by President Thomas Jefferson in December 1807.
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    James Madison

    He was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father of US. He was born in Port Conway, Virginia. He was educated at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). Though he did not serve in the military, he was instrumental in drafting the U.S. Constitution and served as Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson. Madison's family included his wife, Dolley Madison, known for her influence as First Lady. Post-presidency, he played a key role in founding the University of Virginia.

  • Bank of the United States

    The Bank of the United States closes. Treasury Secretary Gallatin urges Congress to extend its charter but fails to convince members concerned with the large British interest in the Bank.

  • Declaration of War Against Britain

    After continued British impressment of American sailors and interference with American trade, Madison asked Congress to declare war on Britain leading to the war of 1812

  • Battle of Lake Erie

    American naval forces, led by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, defeated a British squadron, securing control of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.

  • Burning of Washington D.C.

    British forces invaded Washington, D.C., and burned down the White House, the Capitol, and other government buildings during the War of 1812.

  • Writing of the Star Spangled Banner

    Inspired by the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key penned what would become the U.S. national anthem.

  • Hartford Convection

    Federalist delegates from New England met to discuss their grievances against the War of 1812 and proposed constitutional amendments, but the end of the war made their proposals irrelevant and discredited the Federalist Party. Ended on Jan 4,1815

  • Treaty of Ghent

    Signed in Belgium, this treaty ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain, restoring prewar borders and failing to address many underlying issues.

  • Battle of New Orleans

    Fought after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed but before news of the treaty reached America, this decisive American victory, led by General Andrew Jackson, boosted American morale and Jackson's popularity.

  • Ratification of the Treaty of Ghent

    The U.S. Senate ratified the Treaty of Ghent, officially ending the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain.

  • War on Algiers

    With Madison having secured a declaration of war on Algiers, Captain Stephen Decatur leads a flotilla from New York against the Mediterranean pirates, who attack American ships during the War of 1812. Algiers surrenders on June 30.

  • Re-charting a National Bank

    Madison signs a bill re-chartering a new national bank in Philadelphia. The charter is set for a twenty-one year term.

  • Second Bank of the US Charter

    Madison signed a bill rechartering the Second Bank of the United States, establishing it as a central banking institution.

  • Creation of the Second Seminole War

    Conflict erupted between the United States and the Seminole Indians in Florida, stemming from border disputes and tensions over runaway slaves seeking refuge among the Seminoles.

  • Establishment of the American Colonization Society

    founded with the goal of resettling freed African Americans in Africa, leading to the establishment of Liberia.
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    James Monroe

    born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, was educated at the College of William and Mary. He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, various political offices, including Governor of Virginia, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of State, served as Secretary of War under President Madison. Before and after his presidency, he played a crucial role in negotiating treaties, including the Monroe Doctrine, which warned European powers against further colonization in the Americas.

  • Seminole Indian Uprisings

    Secretary of War John C. Calhoun orders General Andrew Jackson to quell Seminole Indian uprisings in the Florida & southern Georgia. Jackson also receives a private letter from Monroe urging such action. In 03/1818, Jackson pursues the Seminoles into Spanish Florida takes the fort of St. Marks on 03/6, forces the surrender of Fort Carlos de Barrancas, & executes among others, a Scot Indian trader and a British lieutenant. After capturing the Spanish capital in May, Jackson returns to Tennessee.

  • Rush-Bagot Treaty

    Limited naval armament on the Great Lakes between the United States and Great Britain, easing tensions and promoting peaceful relations.

  • Treaty of 1818

    Established the northern boundary between the United States and Canada at the 49th parallel, resolved issues of fishing rights, and provided for joint occupation of the Oregon Country for ten years.

  • Anglo American Convention

    British and American diplomats meet at the Anglo-American Convention and conclude a treaty resolving some, of the outstanding issues from the War of 1812. The nations agree on a northern border of the Louisiana Purchase, fixed at the 49th parallel, from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains. Britain also acknowledges U.S. fishing rights off Newfoundland and provides compensation for slaves who fled to British lines. The Rush-Bagot Agreement is formally signed.

  • The Panic of 1819

    The Panic of 1819 begins to take shape. A sharp decline in real estate values and a severe credit contraction (an inability to secure bank loans) inflates the currency and causes imports and prices to fall. In March, the price of cotton collapses in the English market. The conservative policies of the Second Bank of the United States, founded in 1816, accelerates the crisis, which ends around 1823.

  • Adams-Onis Treaty

    Spain ceded Florida to the United States and defined the boundary between the United States and New Spain (now Mexico).

  • The Transcontinental Treaty

    The Transcontinental Treaty, also known as the Adams-Onis treaty, is resolved in February after the conclusion of negotiations dating back to July 1818. The treaty transfers the Floridas from Spain to the United States for $5 million, and advances the U.S. border across Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. Spain also relinquishes claims to the Oregon Territory. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams orchestrates the proceedings with the Spanish minister to Washington, Luis de Onis.

  • Missouri Compromise

    Addressed the issue of slavery in new territories by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while also establishing a line delineating where slavery would be permitted in future territories

  • Monroe Doctrine

    Monroe articulated the doctrine in his annual message to Congress, warning European powers against further colonization or intervention in the Americas, signaling American dominance in the Western Hemisphere.

  • Tariff of 1824

    Monroe signs the Tariff of 1824 into law, implementing protectionist measures in support of local manufactures and goods. Complaints arise in the South with cotton-growers fearful of British retaliation for the increase in price. Northern manufacturers are pleased with the law.
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    John Quincy Adams

    John Quincy Adams, born in Braintree, Massachusetts was a Harvard-educated linguist & diplomat. Despite no military service, he had many political positions, Secretary of State & the 6th President of the US. His father was President John Adams, and Adams' presidency saw advancements in infrastructure and education, along with diplomatic achievements like the Adams-Onís Treaty. Post-presidency, he served in the House of Representatives, advocating against slavery and championing human rights.

  • Erie Canal Completion

    The Erie Canal, connecting the Great Lakes to the Hudson River, was completed, facilitating transportation and trade between the Midwest and the East Coast.
    Tariff of 1824 (May 22, 1824): Increased tariffs on imported goods, aimed at protecting American industries from foreign competition.

  • Military Training Manuals Created

    Military standardization and integration of Union and state militias is a foremost concern during the Adams administration. In response to a proposal by the secretary of war to revamp military organization and seniority systems, a joint House and Senate resolution calls for the production and dispersal of training manuals.

  • Ports closed to British

    Adams proclaims all American ports closed to trade with British colonies, suspending disagreements from an era of protracted contention with the British over tariffs, navigation and duties. Adams's declaration embodies his response to a rising Continental cartel of exclusive trading relationships.

  • Mexican Boundary settlement

    Joel Poinsett accedes to a Mexican boundary settlement on behalf of the United States. This concludes a slew of unsuccessful efforts by Adams to negotiate more favorable borders than the existing Sabine River

  • Proposed sale of U.S. Bank stock

    Nicholas Biddle of the Bank of the United States implements the sale of government securities to curtail the outward flow of specie. This policy results in propositions by Congress for the public sale of United States Bank stock.

  • Nicaraguan Canal is proposed

    Antonio José Caóaz, Guatemalan minister to the United States, proposes the construction of a canal adjoining the Pacific and Atlantic through Nicaragua. The United States is receptive, spearheading a flurry of American and international bids for surveying, building, and operation contracts. Although local instability derails the experiment, the effort is an important demonstration of the supremacy of the United States's influence in Central America.
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    Andrew Jackson

    born in the Waxhaws region, he received little formal education but became a lawyer through self-study. He was a military leader during the War of 1812, winning the Battle of New Orleans, served as a U.S. Representative , Senator from Tennessee & as a justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court. Presidency: populist policies expanded suffrage for white males, removed Native Americans. Jackson's controversial legacy was Indian removal and expanding executive power.

  • Indian Removal Act

    Congress passes the Indian Removal Act, sanctioning the forcible relocation of Creek, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Choctaw, and Seminole tribes to land allotments west of the Mississippi river. Ninety-four removal treaties follow the bill's enactment. From 1835 to 1838, Cherokee and Creek are forcibly removed from the Southeast onto reservations. Nearly one quarter die along what became known as the “Trail of Tears.”

  • Jackson vetoes Maysville Road bill

    Jackson vetoes the Maysville Road bill, which would have sanctioned the federal government's purchase of stock for the creation of a road entirely within Kentucky, the home state of longtime foe Henry Clay. Jackson regards the project as a local matter and thinks its funding should come from local sources.

  • Peggy Eaton Affair

    Jackson reshuffles his cabinet following the divisive and ongoing “Peggy Eaton Affair.” The woman's first husband supposedly committed suicide after discovering her dalliance with Tennessee senator John Eaton, whom Jackson later names secretary of war. Members of Jackson's inner circle and their wives feud over accusations about the woman's alleged behavior. Jackson supports the Eatons and is outraged by the charges.

  • French spoliation claims

    The French government agrees to a treaty settling spoliation claims by the United States dating back to the Napoleonic Wars. France agrees to pay $5 million but initially declines to make the payment. When U.S. representatives warn the French of American naval superiority, monies flow from French to U.S. coffers, beginning in 1836.

  • Jackson opposes Second Bank of the United States

    President Andrew Jackson vetoed a bill to renew the corporate charter for the Second Bank of the United States. The bank, created after the War of 1812, faced controversy throughout its existence. Opponents blamed it for the Panic of 1819 and believed it favored Northern interests. Despite some support, including from bankers, Jackson strongly opposed the Bank.

  • Ordinance of Nullification

    A South Carolina state convention adopts the Ordinance of Nullification, an decree nullifying congressional acts involving duties and imposts on the importation of foreign commodities. Calhoun resigns as vice president and immediately takes his elected position as senator. No other states join South Carolina in this action.

  • Force Bill

    Pressed by Jackson, Congress passes the Force Bill, authorizing Jackson's use of the army to gain compliance for federal law in South Carolina. Vice President Calhoun voices his dissent.

  • Jackson terminates national debt

    Jackson announces he will terminate the national debt, freeing the United States of foreign and domestic obligations beyond the reserves of the Treasury.

  • Texas declares independence

    In Washington, D.C., the delegates of the people of Texas officially and unanimously declare their independence.

  • Specie Circular

    President Andrew Jackson vetoed a bill to renew the corporate charter for the Second Bank of the United States. The bank, created after the War of 1812, faced controversy throughout its existence. Opponents blamed it for the Panic of 1819 and believed it favored Northern interests. Despite some support, including from bankers, Jackson strongly opposed the Bank.
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    Martin Van Buren

    born in Kinderhook, NY, he received limited formal education but studied law and became a successful attorney. He did not serve in the military but held various political offices, Governor of New York, U.S. Senator, Secretary of State, and VP under Andrew Jackson. Presidency; focused on economic issues, the Panic of 1837, which led to an economic depression. Post-presidency; remained in politics, advocating for the Free Soil Party & opposing the expansion of slavery into new territories

  • Van Buren opposes the annexation of Texas

    Van Buren announces his opposition to the annexation of Texas, primarily to make possible the ensuing peace with Mexico but also to alleviate abolitionist concerns at home.

  • Rebellion against British

    A rebellion erupts in Lower and Upper Canada against the British. Sympathetic volunteers in Maine and New York rally in support with promises of various bounties and land allotments. The American volunteers cross the Niagara River into Canada and occupy Navy Island. After a series of events, Van Buren instructs General Winfield Scott to persuade the American citizens to restrain themselves from further incursions violating national law and neutrality.

  • The Comet and the Encomium

    Van Buren secures an agreement with England on compensation for two slave ships, the Comet and the Encomium, which had run ashore on the British territory of the Bahamas.

  • Independent Treasury Act

    By signing the Independent Treasury Act, Van Buren “divorces” the federal Treasury Department from its relationship with all banks. His action stems from the controversy surrounding the Deposit Act of 1836. The Whigs will repeal the Independent Treasury Act in 1841; it will be restored in 1846.

  • Harrison defeats Van Buren

    The contest between Democrat Martin Van Buren and Whig William Henry Harrison results in the largest turnout of any election to that point. Harrison soundly defeats Van Buren with 234 electoral votes to the incumbent's 60. Among the reasons for his loss, Van Buren cannot overcome opposition from southern and expansionist groups who support the immediate annexation of Texas.
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    William Henry Harrison

    William Henry Harrison, born in Virginia, attended Hampden-Sydney College. He served in the military during the Northwest Indian War and as Governor of the Indiana Territory. Harrison's brief presidency was marked by his family's political legacy, including his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, who later became President.
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    John Tyler

    born in Virginia, graduated from the College of William & Mary. He served in the military during the War of 1812. Tyler had many political positions, Governor of Virginia, U.S. Senator, &VP under William Henry Harrison. Notably, he assumed the presidency after Harrison's death in 1841, becoming the first Vice President to do so. Presidency significant events such as the annexation of Texas & the Treaty of Wanghia with China. After leaving office, he remained active in politics & diplomacy.

  • Webster-Ashburton Treaty

    The signing of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty normalizes U.S.-British relations by adjusting the Maine-Brunswick border, settling boundary issues around western Lake Superior, and resurveying numerous smaller borders.

  • The Texas Annexation Treaty

    The Texas Annexation Treaty is signed by the United States and the Republic of Texas.

  • First telegraph line completed

    The first telegraph line in the United States is completed between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.

  • John Tyler marries Julia Gardiner

    On June 26, 1844, President John Tyler married Julia Gardiner in a private ceremony at a New York City Episcopal church. It was the first time a President had wed while in office, and two days later the Tylers held a reception in the Blue Room of the White House to introduce the country to its new First Lady.

  • Florida becomes a state

    Florida is admitted as a slave state, making it the twenty-seventh state in the Union.
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    James K. Polk

    James K. Polk, born in Pineville, North Carolina, was a lieutenant in the Tennessee militia during the Creek War. Prior to becoming President, he was the Governor of Tennessee and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Polk's expansionist policies led to the annexation of Texas and the acquisition of California and the Southwest after the Mexican-American War.

  • The Naval Academy opens

    Under the direction of Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, the Naval Academy opens at Annapolis, Maryland.

  • War with Mexico

    Congress declares war on Mexico after American troops, under General Zachary Taylor, clash with Mexican troops on the north bank of the Rio Grande.

  • The Oregon Treaty

    The Oregon Treaty establishes the 49th parallel as the border between British and American claims to the Oregon Territory, granting the United States clear title to present-day Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Montana, while granting to Britain territory above the 49th parallel and full control over Vancouver Island.

  • Tariff of 1846

    Congress passes the Tariff of 1846, a key part of President's Polk's domestic agenda. Known as the “Walker Tariff,” after Polk's secretary of the Treasury, Robert J. Walker, the Tariff of 1846 lowers rates toward revenue-only levels, although a few items remain protected.

  • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

    The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the Mexican War and grants the United States vast territories, including all or large parts of present-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, and confirms the incorporation of Texas as part of the United States. The acquisition of these lands aggravates growing sectionalism in the country over the future of slavery in the Union.
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    Zachary Taylor

    Zachary Taylor, born in Virginia, had limited education but gained military experience, earning the nickname "Old Rough and Ready" in the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War. Despite no prior political offices, he became president in 1848. Married to Margaret Mackall Smith with children, his presidency was defined by the slavery dispute in newly acquired territories, ending with the Compromise of 1850. Tragically, Taylor died in 1850 after just 16 months in office.

  • Compromise of 1850

    Congress debates solutions to the issue of slavery's possible expansion into the territories won in the Mexican War. Henry Clay proposes the Compromise of 1850, and Daniel Webster with Stephen Douglas lead its supporters against the measure's opponents who coalesce around John C. Calhoun of South Carolina.
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    Millard Fillmore

    Millard Fillmore was born in New York. He was self-educated & apprenticed as a cloth maker. Fillmore did not serve in the military but had a successful law career. He held various political offices, Congressman & Vice President under Zachary Taylor. Fillmore married Abigail Powers & had two children. During his presidency, he signed the Compromise of 1850, attempting to settle tensions over slavery. After leaving office, he remained active in politics but never held another significant office.

  • California becomes a state

    California becomes the thirty-first state and its admission as a "free" state gives non-slaveholding states Senate majority, following a compromise. The Texas and New Mexico Act establishes their boundaries, and New Mexico's status as a free or slaveholding state depends on its constitution at admission. Similar principles govern Utah's boundaries in the Utah Act, following the New Mexico example.

  • Fugitive Slave Bill

    Congress passes the Fugitive Slave Bill, prohibiting individuals from aiding runaway slaves, and threatening fines and imprisonment to those who do. Escaped slaves will be returned to their owners, denied a jury trial, and prevented from testifying on their own behalf. Part of the Compromise of 1850 and an attempt to ease tensions within the fractious nation, the bill is a concession to the South but angers many Northerners.

  • National women's rights convention

    Headed by feminists and abolitionists, a national women's rights convention is held in Worcester, Massachusetts, and is attended by delegates from nine states. Chosen for its accessibility by rail, the Worcester convention attracts hundreds of people. Among the main topics, participants discuss employment opportunities, political and legal rights, property rights after marriage, and educational opportunities for women, especially in medicine.

  • Treaty with El Salvador

    Acting on long-held interest in gaining influence in Central America, the United States ratifies its first commercial treaty with El Salvador.

  • Three-cent pieces

    The coinage of three-cent pieces, the smallest coin in weight and thickness ever issued, begins to facilitate postal payments.
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    Franklin Pierce

    Franklin Pierce, born in New Hampshire, was a lawyer who served in the Mexican-American War and reached the rank of brigadier general. He held political positions such as Congressman and Senator. Married to Jane Means Appleton, they had three sons, but tragically lost one in a train accident. While president, Pierce dealt with rising tensions over slavery, leading to the Kansas-Nebraska Act. After leaving office, he lived quietly until passing away in 1869.

  • Treaty of Kanagawa

    After nearly three centuries of Japanese isolation, Commodore Matthew Perry -- first ordered to Japan by President Fillmore -- signs the Treaty of Kanagawa, marking the beginning of the Pacific nation's trade with the rest of the world. The United States is permitted a consulate in Japan, and U.S. ships will be allowed to sail into Japanese ports for the purpose of conducting limited trade.

  • Kansas-Nebraska Act

    President Franklin Pierce signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which was designed to solve the issue of expanding slavery into the territories. However, it failed miserably; the Kansas-Nebraska Act was one of the key political events that led to the American Civil War.

  • Canadian Reciprocity Treaty

    The Canadian Reciprocity Treaty opens the U.S. market to Canadian agricultural products, including timber and fish. In return, the United States gets new commercial rights in Canadian waters and on the Great Lakes.

  • Republican Party founded

    Coinciding with the further disintegration of the Whig Party, the Republican Party is founded in Jackson, Michigan. Its membership is composed of Whigs, Free-Soilers, and northern Democrats angry at the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, specifically, and concerned with the prospect of expanding slavery.

  • Wakarusa War

    The Wakarusa War threatens Lawrence, Kansas. Fifteen hundred Border Ruffians attack the town, only to retreat after finding it defended by Free State forces. Lawrence -- originally named Wakarusa -- becomes the center of Free-State activities after being founded by the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Society.
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    James Buchanan

    James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States, born in Pennsylvania. He attended Dickinson College and practiced law. Buchanan didn't serve in the military but held various political roles including congressman, senator, and Secretary of State. He had no prior presidential office but served as Minister to the United Kingdom. He was a bachelor and his niece acted as First Lady. Buchanan faced the challenge of increasing sectional tensions leading to the Civil War during his presidency.

  • Mountain Meadow Massacre

    The Mountain Meadow Massacre in Utah results in the deaths of roughly 140 people. Paiute Indians and the Mormon Militia, incited by Mormon fanatic John D. Lee, kill emigrants heading for California. Lee stages the event in direct retaliation for President Buchanan's order to remove Mormon leader Brigham Young from his position as governor of Utah.

  • Mountain Meadow Massacre

    The Mountain Meadow Massacre in Utah results in the deaths of roughly 140 people. Paiute Indians and the Mormon Militia, incited by Mormon fanatic John D. Lee, kill emigrants heading for California. Lee stages the event in direct retaliation for President Buchanan's order to remove Mormon leader Brigham Young from his position as governor of Utah.

  • Kansas Holds Referendum

    Kansas holds a rigged referendum on the Lecompton Constitution, aimed at making it a slave state. Pro-slavery advocates manipulate the vote to maintain slavery, despite a potential majority against it. President Buchanan backs the pro-slavery side, while Stephen Douglas and Northern Democrats join forces with Republicans to reject the document and prevent Kansas from becoming a slave state.

  • English Bill Passed

    Congress passes the English Bill after Representative William Hayden English (Democrat-Indiana) strikes a compromise between the House and Senate bills on the admission of Kansas to the Union. The bill effectively resubmits the Lecompton Constitution to Kansas voters with the attached incentive of land if ratified.

  • Democratic Convection

    The Democratic Party's national convention led by Stephen Douglas takes place in Charleston, South Carolina. Southern delegates push for a pro-slavery stance in territories, but northern Democrats oppose it and favor popular sovereignty. Douglas fails to reconcile the party, resulting in no nominations. The Alabama delegation walks out, prompting members from other Gulf states, Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Delaware to follow suit.
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    Abraham Lincoln

    Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US President, was born in Kentucky but associated with Illinois. Despite limited formal education, he became a successful self-taught lawyer. Lincoln served in the Illinois Militia during the Black Hawk War, held positions in the Illinois State Legislature and the US House of Representatives. He led the nation through the Civil War, saving the Union, and abolished slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation. Assassinated post-war, he remains a revered president.

  • Lincoln calls for end of rebellion

    Following the incident at Fort Sumter, Lincoln calls for 75,000 militiamen (volunteer troops) to put down the rebellion. He declares that an “insurrection” exists, marking the official beginning of the Civil War. In four and a half years, nearly 5 million American men will serve as soldiers with more than 600,000 of them falling as casualties, making the Civil War the bloodiest war in American history.

  • Battle of Bull Run

    The Battle of Bull Run takes place near Manassas, Virginia. Confederate General Beauregard defeats the Union forces under General Irvin McDowell. Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson is nicknamed “Stonewall” for his firm stand at a crucial moment in the battle. The fighting inspires the Confederacy to create a new battle flag after confusion occurs between the Confederacy's “stars and bars” and the Union flag.

  • Emancipation Proclamation

    Following the Confederate defeat at Antietam, Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, to go into effect on January 1, 1863. In the document, Lincoln frees all slaves in Confederate or contested areas of the South. Slaves in non-Confederate border states and in parts of the Confederacy under Union control are not included. European public opinion sides with Lincoln and the Union.

  • Battle of Gettysburg

    In the Battle of Gettysburg, General Lee's attempt to invade the North fails as he clashes with Union forces led by General Meade. After two days of intense fighting, Lee's decision to send General Pickett and his men on a doomed charge leads to his defeat. Both sides suffer heavy casualties, but Lee's troops ultimately retreat. This marks a turning point in the war, with Lee shifting to a defensive strategy and Meade failing to pursue the retreating Confederates, much to Lincoln's frustration.

  • Thirteenth Amendment

    With Lincoln's influence, the House of Representatives approves the Thirteenth Amendment, which calls for the emancipation of all slaves and no compensation to their owners. The amendment was passed by the Senate in 1864 but failed to receive the necessary votes in the House. By December of 1865, enough states ratify the amendment to make it constitutionally binding.
  • Period: to

    Andrew Johnson

    Andrew Johnson, the 17th US President, was born in North Carolina and had limited education. During the Civil War, he became the Military Governor of Tennessee despite lacking military experience. Prior to his presidency, Johnson held various political positions and had a family of five. He faced challenges in Reconstruction after Lincoln's assassination and was impeached by the House of Representatives, but later acquitted by the Senate, serving his full term.

  • Johnson denounces "Radical Republicans"

    Following Congress's attempt to expand the Freedmen's Bureau, Johnson denounces the so-called “Radical Republicans,” specifically Representative Thaddeus Stevens, Senator Charles Sumner, and reformer Wendell Phillips, as traitors. The Radicals, a minority within the party, believe that few white southerners are truly unionist. They will work assiduously, hoping to improve the lot of the freedmen and trying to bar former Confederate leaders from politics.

  • Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Act

    Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Act, a second attempt by Congress to provide freedmen with federal citizenship after the failed Freedmen's Bureau bill. The act sanctions the employment of federal troops for enforcement. The Senate overrides Johnson's veto on April 6. Three days later, the House of Representatives also overrides the veto.

  • The Fenian Raid and the Battle of Ridgeway

    The Fenian Raid and the Battle of Ridgeway in Canada takes place between Canadian militiamen and members of the Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish-American organization lobbying for a free Ireland. The Brotherhood, founded in New York in 1858, hopes to capture Canada and use it as a bargaining tool against Britain; their attempt fails. Many of the Fenian participants are Civil War veterans.

  • Fourteenth Amendment

    Congress passes the Fourteenth Amendment to counter Johnson's leniency toward the South. It aims to bar ex-Confederates from holding office while granting citizenship to African Americans. This amendment states that all individuals born or naturalized in the US, and subject to its jurisdiction, are citizens of both the US and their residing state. It overturns the 1857 Dred Scott decision.

  • First Reconstruction Act

    Despite Johnson's veto, Congress enacted the First Reconstruction Act in 1866, establishing military districts in the South. They also passed the Army Appropriations Act, reducing Johnson's authority over the Army. Furthermore, Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act, which prevented Johnson from firing cabinet officers without Senate approval. The goal was to safeguard Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, the only Radical Republican in Johnson's cabinet.
  • Period: to

    Ulysses S. Grant

    Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States, was an Ohio native and attended West Point. He gained prominence as a Union general in the Civil War and later served as president, focusing on Reconstruction and civil rights. Grant had no prior political experience but was married with four children. After his presidency, he wrote his memoirs and actively promoted equality and national reunification.

  • Transcontinental railroad completed

    The first transcontinental railroad is completed at Promontory Point, Utah, through the work of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific track crews.

  • “Black Friday” financial panic

    The "Black Friday" panic in New York City is caused by railroad entrepreneurs Jay Gould and James Fisk Jr. who try to control the gold market. They argue that if the government stops selling gold, its value will rise and help struggling farmers. President Grant's brother-in-law is involved too. Grant becomes suspicious and sells $4 million in gold, causing losses for many speculators. This scandal is the first of many during Grant's presidency.

  • Fifteenth Amendment

    Black male suffrage becomes universal when the Fifteenth Amendment -- stipulating that no state shall deprive any citizen of the right to vote because of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude” -- is adopted with Grant's help and approval. The suffrage amendment is only partially successful. During Reconstruction, black men vote frequently; following Reconstruction, however, whites use discriminatory laws and taxes to disenfranchise black men.

  • The Federal Election Law

    The Federal Election Law passes, calling for federal supervision of elections in cities with populations greater than 20,000. The act is designed to ensure fair treatment of black voters in the South and is the second of three enforcement acts.

  • Ku Klux Klan Act

    The third of the Enforcement Acts, the Ku Klux Klan Act, is passed to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment in the South. It outlaws activities such as wearing disguises, forming conspiracies, and intimidating officials. Grant has worked extensively to secure such legislation to fight the Klan and uses the provisions of the act to ensure fairness in the election of 1872.

  • "Crime of '73"

    A coinage act passed by Congress omits silver currency due to scarcity. When Nevada mines begin producing greater quantities of silver, they demand renewed coinage, referring to the coinage act as the “Crime of '73.”

  • Panic of 1873

    The failure of the prominent brokerage firm Jay Cooke & Company initiates the Panic of 1873. The underlying causes for the panic are rapidly expanding railroads, over-speculation in land and securities, and excessive issuance of paper money and inflation. As rampant selling takes place, the panic will cause the New York Stock Exchange to close for ten days on September 20. The Panic initiates six years of depression.

  • Specie Resumption Act

    The Specie Resumption Act is passed, allowing fractional currency and legal-tender notes to be redeemed for coin, beginning January 1, 1879. Sponsored by John Sherman, the bill also increases the number of national banks throughout the country. Grant sends a special message to Congress approving the bill.

  • Civil Rights Act of 1875

    Grant signs the Civil Rights Act of 1875, guaranteeing black Americans equal rights in public places and prohibiting their exclusion from jury duty. The act includes no enforcement provisions and will be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1883. School integration, championed by the now-deceased Charles Sumner, is not included in the bill. The act, nevertheless, creates an important precedent.

  • Impeaching Belknap

    Impeachment articles against Secretary of War William W. Belknap are presented to the Senate. Belknap and his late wife had engaged in a scandal involving bribes from traders at Indian trading posts. Belknap resigns.
  • Period: to

    Rutherford B. Hayes

    Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th US President and Ohio native, had a distinguished military career during the Civil War. Prior to his presidency, he held positions as a congressman and the governor of Ohio. With a focus on civil service reform and national reconciliation, Hayes also championed educational and racial equality reforms after leaving office.

  • Patrolling Mexican border

    With Mexican-Texas border incursions continuing, Hayes sends troops to patrol the nearly lawless Mexican border and cross it if necessary to pursue bandits. Mexican president Diaz protests and sends troops to the border as well. Ultimately, economic concerns motivate both parties to work towards a settlement

  • Great Railroad Strike of 1877

    Following pay cuts, the first major interstate strike -- the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 -- begins on the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) line at Camden Junction, Maryland; additional strikes will follow, lasting a month. Lacking organization, the strikes frequently degenerate into mob activity. Hayes sends federal troops to protect mail and quell the riots that take place in numerous cities, angering many workers. The strike will lead to anti-Chinese attacks in San Francisco during the fall.

  • Knights of Labor

    Founded in 1869 by Uriah S. Stephens, a tailor in Philadelphia, the Knights of Labor is established as a national organization. It is the first labor union to attempt to organize all workers and hopes to establish a worker-owned factory system. With rapid growth in the 1880s, the Knight membership peaks in 1886 and then goes into rapid decline.

  • U.S.-Samoa Treaty

    A U.S.-Samoan treaty is signed in Washington which gives the United States the right to establish a naval and coaling station at the port of Pago Pago; it also pledges American assistance to Samoa if a third country interferes with Samoan chiefs. The Senate ratifies the treaty on January 30.

  • The U.S. and China

    The United States and China sign a treaty which repeals a section of the 1868 Burlingame treaty. The move gives the United States the power to “regulate, limit or suspend” but not completely prohibit Chinese immigration. The treaty also includes a clause banning the opium trade. In return, the United States grants China trading privileges.
  • Period: to

    James A. Garfield

    James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, was an Ohio-born college president and Union Army major general during the Civil War. He served as a congressman from Ohio before becoming president. Married to Lucretia Rudolph Garfield with five children, Garfield promoted civil service reform but was tragically assassinated early in his presidency, ending his promising legacy.

  • Filibuster begins

    A Democratic filibuster in March 23 ends after Garfield agrees to remove appointments. This allows Garfield to pursue Robertson's confirmation for the New York Customhouse. Earlier, Senator Conkling threatened to leak the Hubbell letter connecting Garfield to the Star Route Scandal. However, the link was not substantial, and the letter's publication ultimately harmed Conkling more than Garfield

  • American Association of the Red Cross

    Clara Barton organizes the American Association of the Red Cross, modeled after the International Red Cross, in Washington, D.C. Barton serves as the organization's volunteer president until 1904.
  • Period: to

    Chester A. Arthur

    Chester Arthur, the 21st President of the United States, was born in Vermont. He was a lawyer and served in the New York Militia during the Civil War. Prior to his presidency, he held different political positions, including customs collector for the Port of New York. Arthur advocated for civil service reform during his term and signed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. After leaving office, he died from a kidney ailment.

  • Chinese Exclusion Act vetoed

    Arthur vetoes the first Chinese Exclusion Act, which would have banned the immigration of Chinese laborers for twenty years and denied American citizenship to current Chinese residents; the veto greatly angers labor groups, who feel increasingly threatened by the influx of Chinese labor.

  • Civil Service Reform Act

    Congress passes the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. The bill establishes a three-man Civil Service Commission and specifies rules for filling federal government positions according to a merit system. The number of Civil Service positions affected by the bill would later be expanded.

  • Brooklyn Bridge Opens

    On May 24, 1883, President Chester Arthur and New York Governor Grover Cleveland participated in the ceremonial opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge was the first bridge to be built across the East River linking New York City and Brooklyn. The bridge was an engineering marvel, utilizing numerous construction techniques that had never before been attempted on such a massive scale.

  • Statue of Liberty presented

    France presents the United States with the Statue of Liberty at a ceremony held in Paris.

  • Contract Labor Law passes

    Congress passes the Contract Labor Law, also known as the Foran Act, which virtually outlaws alien contract labor. The act is designed to ban companies from importing immigrant workers to break strikes and drive down wages.
  • Period: to

    Grover Cleveland

    Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, was a lawyer from New Jersey who later became associated with New York. Before becoming president, he served as Mayor of Buffalo and Governor of New York. Cleveland married Frances Folsom and had five children. He prioritized tariff reform and fiscal conservatism during his presidency and continued to advocate for non-interventionism and fiscal responsibility after leaving office.

  • Cleveland Signs Presidential Succession Act

    On January 19, 1886, President Grover Cleveland signed the Presidential Succession Act. The act specified that in the absence of a President and vice president, heads of executive departments would succeed to the presidency in the order in which the departments were created, starting with the secretary of state. The Presidential Succession Act of 1886 remained in force until 1947.

  • Interstate Commerce Commission

    Following complaints about railroad rates and policies, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) is created to ensure fairness in the management of interstate railroads. Eventually, the scope of the ICC will expand to include all common carriers. The commission is the nation's first independent regulatory agency. Although Cleveland approves its creation, he has reservations about the agency.

  • Cleveland Signs Dawes Act

    On February 8, 1887, President Grover Cleveland signed the General Allotment Act into law. The law, commonly known as the Dawes Act after Senator Henry L. Dawes of Massachusetts who proposed it, divided tribal lands of Native Americans into individual allotments and encouraged the assimilation of Native Americans into American society.

  • The Civil Service Commission amends rules

    The Civil Service Commission announces amended rules, prompting Cleveland to respond with a letter containing detailed objections. Cleveland is a proponent of civil service reform, and by the time he leaves office in 1889, he will have expanded the list of classified positions filled under the merit system from sixteen thousand to twenty-seven thousand.

  • Cleveland Signs Chinese Exclusion Act

    On October 8, 1888, President Grover Cleveland signed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which restricted Chinese immigration to the United States. The law prohibited Chinese immigrants who returned to China from coming back to the United States. President Chester Arthur passed the first bill limiting Chinese immigration in 1882, and the federal government did not eradicate barriers to Chinese immigration until 1943.
  • Period: to

    Benjamin Harrison

    Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd US President, was born in Ohio, studied law at Miami University, and served as a brigadier general during the Civil War. Prior to his presidency, he was a Senator and Governor of Indiana. Married to Caroline Harrison with two children, he enacted the Sherman Antitrust Act and introduced the McKinley Tariff. Afterwards, Harrison practiced law and remained involved in Republican politics, including arguing cases before the Supreme Court.

  • Berlin Conference

    The Berlin Conference on Samoan Affairs begins, with the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom attempting to bring peace to the troubled area. The conference will conclude with the making of a treaty, “The Final Act of the Berlin Conference on Samoan Affairs,” which declares the neutrality and nominal independence of Samoa while creating a three-power protectorate over the islands. Secretary of State Blaine handles the negotiations.

  • First Pan-American Conference

    Secretary of State Blaine initiates the first Pan-American Conference, primarily to increase U.S. commercial interests in Latin America. Blaine hopes to heighten the American presence in Latin America to the detriment of Britain.

  • Sherman Anti-Trust Act

    The Sherman Anti-Trust Act is enacted, forbidding business practices that restrain trade and commerce or attempt to create monopolies. Until the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, the government will rarely invoke the law: between the act's inception and 1901, only eighteen antitrust suits appear, with four of them coming against labor unions.

  • Escalating conflict with Chile

    A brawl between American sailors and Chilean nationals in Valparaiso, Chile, results in the deaths of two Americans and many arrests. Tensions between the United States and Chile escalate, and many fear the outbreak of war between the two nations.

  • Homestead Steel Strike

    Harrison privately supports mediation in the Homestead Steel Strike and sends Whitelaw Reid as an emissary to Henry Clay Frick, the man whom Carnegie has left in charge of Homestead. This proves to be fruitless; the strike lasts five months, breaks the union, and deals a major blow to organized labor. When the strike ends on November 20, Carnegie realizes his major aim as the union is virtually destroyed.
  • Period: to

    Grover Cleveland

    Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, was a lawyer from New Jersey who later became associated with New York. Before becoming president, he served as Mayor of Buffalo and Governor of New York. Cleveland married Frances Folsom and had five children. He prioritized tariff reform and fiscal conservatism during his presidency and continued to advocate for non-interventionism and fiscal responsibility after leaving office.

  • The Panic of 1893

    The Panic of 1893 begins after the National Cordage Company and the Philadelphia and Reading railroads go bankrupt on May 4. A sharp decline in the New York stock market follows the next day, known as “Industrial Black Friday.” The panic also distresses farm regions.

  • Republic of Hawaii recognized

    Hawaii's provisional government declares the Republic of Hawaii. In its constitution, the body includes a provision for possible American annexation. On August 8, the U.S. government recognizes the Republic of Hawaii.

  • Cuba revolts

    A revolution begins in Cuba against Spanish rule. By this point, the United States surpasses Spain in its trade with and investment in Cuba. American sympathy lies with the rebels. Under Cleveland, the United States adopts a policy of neutrality; this changes during the administration of President William McKinley.

  • Expanding federal debt

    A fourth bond sale of $100 million is announced. By month's end, it has restored gold reserves to a generally safe level of $124 million. The four bond sales between 1894 and 1896 create $262 million in federal debt.

  • Treaty of arbitration with Britain

    The United States and Britain sign a treaty of arbitration ending the Venezuelan dispute which began in December 1894.
  • Period: to

    William McKinley

    William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States, born in Ohio. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War, and before his presidency, he held positions in the U.S. House of Representatives and as Governor of Ohio. McKinley's presidency saw American expansionism and the annexation of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. He was assassinated in 1901, leaving behind a legacy of economic prosperity.

  • Dingley Tariff Law

    President McKinley signs the Dingley Tariff Law, which raises custom duties by an average of 57 percent. Although American industries no longer needed such heavy protection against foreign goods, the tariff was raised nonetheless; imported woolen products, for example, faced a 91 percent rate. Republicans associate the high tariff with national prosperity while Democrats and progressives will blame the tariff for causing subsequent price increases.

  • Civil war in Cuba

    President McKinley asks Congress for authority to “use armed force” in Cuba to end the civil war. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Sagasta makes a last-minute peace concession by offering the Cubans limited autonomy.

  • War at Manila Bay

    Commodore George Dewey, commanding an American squadron of six ships, soundly defeats a larger but outgunned Spanish fleet at Manila Bay. This action opens the door for American occupation of Manila in August.

  • The Treaty of Paris

    The United States and Spain sign the Treaty of Paris.

  • Battle of Manila

    The Battle of Manila begins between US forces and Philippine forces, led by Emilio Aguinaldo. It is the largest battle of the Philippine-American war. The initial skirmishes, in which 57 American fighters are killed and 215 are wounded, last several days.
  • Period: to

    Theodore Roosevelt

    Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th US President, was born in New York City. He attended Harvard and studied law at Columbia. Roosevelt gained fame in the Spanish-American War and held various political positions before becoming President. He championed progressive reforms and was internationally recognized for his diplomacy. After his presidency, he pursued conservation efforts until his death.

  • Chinese Exclusion Act

    Congress extends the Chinese Exclusion Act, prohibiting the immigration of Chinese laborers from the Philippines.

  • Sherman Anti-Trust Act

    In accordance with the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, the Supreme Court, in Northern Securities Company v. United States, orders the dissolution of the Northern Securities Company. The decision is major victory for TR and his belief in the necessity of trust-busting.

  • Panama Canal Commission

    TR appoints the Panama Canal Commission to oversee the construction of the Panama Canal.

  • The Niagara Movement and the NAACP

    A group of black intellectuals, including W.E.B. DuBois, meets near Niagara Falls to demand racial equality. This begins the Niagara Movement, a forerunner of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

  • Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act

    Roosevelt signs the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. The legislation calls for both an honest statement of food content on labels and for federal inspection of all plants engaging in interstate commerce. The major impetus for these measures was The Jungle, the scathing report on meatpacking plants written by muckraking journalist Upton Sinclair, which TR personally read.

  • Immigration Act of 1907

    TR signs the Immigration Act of 1907, granting the President the power to limit Japanese immigration. This had been a contentious topic during TR's time, as he believed that many undesirable immigrants were coerced by transportation companies. He stated in his 1905 State of the Union address that a significant number of immigrants did not come to the country willingly but were persuaded against their own benefit.

  • The Panic of 1907

    The Panic of 1907 begins when shares of the United Copper Company begin to fluctuate wildly. Rumors spread like wildfire about the Kinckerbocker Trust Company, which triggered a run on several New York Banks. Panic sets in, destabilizing the shaky foundation of the American banking system.

  • The Great White Fleet

    Under Roosevelt's orders, the Great White Fleet (so named because of the boats' color) embarks on a voyage around the world from Hampton Roads, Virginia. The fleet returns triumphantly on February 22, 1909, having been enthusiastically welcomed at many ports and underscoring America's growing naval strength. The voyage would serve as Roosevelt's proudest accomplishment while in office.

  • Child labor law

    Congress passes a child labor law for the District of Columbia.

  • Ford introduces the “Model T”

    Ford introduces the “Model T” automobile, which costs $850, making Henry Ford's mass-produced cars available to the average wage earner.
  • Period: to

    William Howard Taft

    William Howard Taft, 27th US President, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Yale College and Cincinnati Law School. Taft held political positions, including Secretary of War and Governor-General of the Philippines. He pursued trust-busting and progressive policies as President, and later served as Chief Justice of the United States, impacting constitutional law.

  • Calling for the Sixteenth Amendment

    The Senate passes a resolution calling for a Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution, authorizing Congress to collect income taxes.

  • Warships to Nicaragua

    Taft orders two U.S. warships to Nicaragua in response to the deaths of 500 revolutionaries, and two of their American advisors, at the hands of Nicaragua dictator José Santos Zelaya. The further threat of American force convinces Zelaya to retire on December 16.

  • Mann Act

    Congress passes the Mann Act, also known as the “white slave traffic act,” which prohibits the interstate or international transport of women for “immoral purposes.”

  • Mobilizing along Mexican border

    Taft orders the mobilization of 20,000 American soldiers along the Mexican border after American ambassador to Mexico Henry Lane Wilson reports that the safety of Americans residing in Mexico may be endangered.

  • Standard Oil Company Dissolved

    On May 15, 1911, Chief Justice Edward White issued the Supreme Court's majority opinion upholding the dissolution of the Standard Oil Company. White agreed that the Standard Oil Company's business practices did violate the Sherman Antitrust Act because they were anticompetitive and abusive. However, he muted the circuit court's breakup plan for the company, allowing Standard Oil six months to spin off its subsidiaries instead of the initial three months mandated.
  • Period: to

    Woodrow Wilson

    Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton, Virginia. He studied at Princeton University and earned his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. Wilson didn't serve in the military. Before becoming President, he was Governor of New Jersey and President of Princeton University. His wife, Ellen, was influential during his presidency. Wilson's presidency saw significant domestic reforms and led the US through World War I.

  • Seventeenth Amendment

    The Seventeenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is enacted, providing for the direct popular election of U.S. senators. Previously, senators were chosen by their respective state legislatures. This amendment succeeds in diminishing the prestige of state governments and enhances popular control of the federal legislature.

  • Federal Reserve Act

    To protect American financial institutions, the economy, and the supply of US currency, the Federal Reserve Act was enacted. Unlike Europe, the US lacked sophisticated banking management since 1830, when Andrew Jackson dismantled the Second Bank. The Act established the Federal Reserve System, including a Board, twelve regional reserve banks, and the framework for an efficient central banking system.

  • Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated

    A Serbian nationalist assassinates Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo, Serbia. This event serves as the proximate cause for the termination of diplomatic relations among the major European nations, contributing to the start of World War I. One month later, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.

  • Germany launches war on Belgium, France, and Britain

    Germany launches war on Belgium, France, and Great Britain. The United States declares its official neutrality as the Great War begins.

  • Panama Canal Opens

    On August 15, 1914, the Panama Canal opened to trans-oceanic traffic. Due to the outbreak of World War I earlier in the month, however, there was only modest commemoration and no official visit from President Woodrow Wilson. Only a few ships a day passed through the forty miles of locks in canal in its first few years of operation; after the World War I was over, this number increased to five thousand annually.

  • The Zimmermann Telegram

    British officials present Walter Hines Page, U. S. ambassador to Great Britain, with a coded message from German foreign minister Alfred Zimmermann to the German ambassador of Mexico. The note instructs its recipient to seek a German-Mexican alliance in the event of war with the United States, and authorizes the German ambassador to offer the Mexican government the return of territory it lost to the United States in the Mexican-American war in return for Mexican military involvement.

  • United States Declares War on Germany

    On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany. Although President Woodrow Wilson had campaigned for reelection in 1916 emphasizing how he had kept the United States out of the war, he soon realized that the United States could not stand by and remain neutral in the Great War.

  • Selective Service Act

    Congress passes the Selective Service Act, requiring all men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register with locally administered draft boards for a federal draft lottery. It is the first conscription act in the United States since the Civil War.

  • Eighteenth Amendment

    Congress submits the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to the states for ratification. The amendment forbids the sale, manufacture, or transport of alcohol except under special circumstances.

  • Treaty of Versailles, League of Nations

    July 10, 1919
    Treaty of Versailles, League of Nations
    After failing to secure a peace without rancorous provisions from his fellow Allied leaders, President Wilson submits the Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations to the Senate for ratification. Senatorial deliberation on the treaty will last longer than the Paris Conference itself.
  • Period: to

    Warren G. Harding

    Warren G. Harding, born in Ohio, attended Ohio Central College but didn't graduate. He served in the Ohio National Guard but didn't see active duty. Before presidency, he was a U.S. Senator and Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. Harding's wife, Florence, was active in his presidency. His administration focused on a return to normalcy post-World War I. He passed away during his presidency, and his legacy is marred by scandals like the Teapot Dome affair.

  • Emergency Quota Act

    Harding signs the Emergency Quota Act into law, limiting the number of immigrants from any given country to 3 percent of that nationality already in the United States by 1910. The temporary act lasts three years and serves as the precursor to the harsher and permanent 1924 act. The law represents the growing nativism of the 1920s, motivated, in part, by the massive influx of south and east European immigrants into the United States following the end of World War I.

  • Nineteenth Amendment deemed constitutional

    The Supreme Court unanimously finds the Nineteenth Amendment, providing for women's suffrage, constitutional.

  • The Teapot Dome Scandal

    Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall leases the Teapot Dome oil reserves to Harry Sinclair, setting in motion what comes to be known over the next two years as the Teapot Dome scandal.

  • Cable Act

    The Cable Act, which allows an American woman to maintain her citizenship following marriage to an alien, is signed by Harding.

  • President Harding Dies

    On August 2, 1923, President Warren Harding died in San Francisco, California, while on a speaking tour. His death was most likely due to a heart attack.
  • Period: to

    Clavin Coolidge

    Calvin Coolidge, born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, had a modest education, graduating from Amherst College. He served in local government before becoming Massachusetts Governor, then Vice President under Warren Harding, ascending to the presidency after Harding's death. Coolidge's wife, Grace, was a notable figure. His presidency saw economic prosperity, with policies emphasizing limited government intervention. After leaving office, he remained active in public life, writing, and lecturing.

  • Pact of Anapala

    Representatives from Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador sign the Pact of Anapala with the United States, agreeing to cut off aid to the insurgent forces in neighboring Honduras threatening to overthrow President Rafael Gutierrez. This was one of many attempts by the United States, which had first sent Marines to Honduras as early as 1919, to keep Gutierrez in power. These efforts ultimately failed when insurgent leader Tiburcio Carias became dictator in 1933.

  • Dawes Plan signed

    The Dawes Plan is signed by the United States, France, Great Britain, Italy, and Belgium to solve the German reparations problem and to end the occupation of the Ruhr by French and Belgium troops. Overseen by Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes, the plan was drawn up by Coolidge's running-mate, Charles G. Dawes, and based the reparations schedule on what Germany could pay rather than on what she could be forced to pay. For his part, Dawes would win the Nobel Peace Prize the following year.

  • Lindbergh completes his flight

    Charles A. Lindbergh completes the first transatlantic flight, traversing the distance from New York to Paris in his monoplane, the Spirit of St. Louis, in less than thirty-four hours. A year later, Amelia Earhart will become the first woman to make the flight.

  • Sacco and Vanzetti executed

    Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti are executed in Massachusetts for their alleged 1920 murder of a factory guard, despite protests that the two men had been unfairly prosecuted for their radical beliefs.

  • The Kellogg-Briand Pact

    The Kellogg-Briand Pact, also known as the Pact of Paris, is signed by 16 nations, including the United States. Proposed by Frank B. Kellogg and Aristide Briand, the pact prohibits the use of war to resolve conflicts, promoting diplomacy instead. Though symbolic, the pact is signed by 62 nations and Kellogg is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize the following year.
  • Period: to

    Herbert Hoover

    Herbert Hoover, born in West Branch, Iowa, received his degree in geology from Stanford University. He served as Secretary of Commerce before becoming President in 1929. Hoover had no military service. After his presidency, he led humanitarian efforts, notably coordinating relief during World War I and the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.

  • State Department intervenes for Standard Oil

    The State Department begins its effort to help Standard Oil of California (SOCAL) attain oil rights in Bahrain from the Gulf Oil Company. Since the 1880s, the Sheikhdom of Bahrain had been a British protectorate and by treaty was required to sell its oil to British companies. Through a Canadian subsidiary the two sides were able to agree to terms and by 1935, SOCAL would have 16 operating oil wells in Bahrain.

  • "Black Tuesday"

    On “Black Tuesday,” a record 16.4 million shares of stock are traded on the NYSE as large blocks of equities are sold at extremely low prices. The trading continues the sharp downward trend of the previous week. It is an abrupt change from the over-speculation of the previous months. By December 1, NYSE stocks will have lost $26 billion in value.

  • London Naval Treaty signed

    The London Naval Treaty is signed by the United States, Britain, and Japan. France and Italy refuse to sign major provisions of the treaty, which remains in effect until 1937.

  • Construction of Hoover Dam begins

    Construction of the Hoover Dam begins in Las Vegas, Nevada. The dam will be completed in 1936.

  • Bank of the United States closes

    The Bank of the United States in New York City, with 60 branches and 400,000 depositors, closes. It is merely the largest of the more than 1300 bank closings across the country as the economic depression worsens.
  • Period: to

    Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Franklin D. Roosevelt, commonly known as FDR, was born in Hyde Park, New York. He attended Harvard University for his education. FDR served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy and Governor of New York before becoming the 32nd President of the United States. He was married to Eleanor Roosevelt and had six children. Notably, FDR led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II, implementing the New Deal policies and establishing Social Security.

  • Roosevelt declares a four-day “bank holiday” in or…

    Roosevelt declares a four-day “bank holiday” in order to stop the panic “run” on the nation's banks. He also summons Congress to a special session on March 9.

  • Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA)

    Congress passes the Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA) and the Agricultural Adjustment Act to address unemployment and aid suffering farmers. FERA offers immediate grants to states for relief projects, unlike Hoover's loans. The Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA) restricts crop production and pays farmers to not use their land, aiming to raise prices and decrease agricultural output.

  • Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

    Congress passes the Tennessee Valley Act, establishing the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), to control flooding in the Tennessee River Valley and provide for rural electrification in the seven states comprising the region. The goal is to raise the social and economic standards of the residents of this relatively remote section of the country; critics view the TVA as dangerously socialistic, while admirers will view it as one of the nation's most successful social projects.

  • Second Stage of his New Deal.

    In his third State of the Union Address, FDR effectively announces the beginning of a second stage of his New Deal. This new phase will focus on long-term gains such as a system of social security--for the aged, the unemployed, the ill--and for improved housing and tax reform. In general, Roosevelt seeks to move away from purely relief programs toward more sustained measures for the nation's most vulnerable citizens.

  • FDR signs the Social Security Act

    FDR signs the Social Security Act, which establishes the Social Security Board (SSB), one of the most far-reaching pieces of legislation in the country's history. The act guarantees pensions to Americans over the age of 65, establishes a system of unemployment insurance, and assists states in aiding dependent children, the blind, and the aged who do not already qualify for Social Security.

  • FDR signs the Neutrality Act

    FDR signs the Neutrality Act, forbidding the shipment of arms and munitions to belligerents during a state of war. Just more than a month later, the bill is put into effect when Roosevelt announces that “a state of war unhappily exists” between Ethiopia and Italy. While the League of Nations declares Italy the aggressor, it is unable to muster meaningful intervention.

  • Congress passes the National Housing Act.

    Congress passes the National Housing Act. The bill establishes the U.S. Housing Authority, which is charged with administering loans for rural and urban home construction.

  • FDR signs the second Agricultural Adjustment Act

    FDR signs the second Agricultural Adjustment Act
    FDR signs the second Agricultural Adjustment Act as part of a continuing effort to stabilize agricultural prices and farmers' incomes. To these ends, his administration establishes the Federal Crop Insurance Corp, an agency which will accept wheat as payment for crop insurance taken out against the same crops.

  • Munich Conference

    At the Munich Conference, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French Prime Minister Eduard Daladier agree to allow Germany to annex the Sudetenland. Upon his return to England, Chamberlain announces that the Munich Pact guarantees “peace in our time.” While this policy of appeasement will soon be proven futile, many observers agree with Chamberlain; a U.S. poll taken in October shows most Americans approve of the pact.

  • The German Army invades Czechoslovakia

    The German Army invades Czechoslovakia, five-and-a-half months after gaining the Sudetenland peacefully through the Munich pact. By the end of March, the entire country will be under German control.

  • France and Britain declare war on Germany

    France and Britain declare war on Germany. With limited domestic support for war, FDR declares U.S. neutrality.

  • FDR signs the Selective Training and Service Act

    FDR signs the Selective Training and Service Act, authorizing the first peace-time military draft in U.S. history and requiring all men between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-five to register for military training.

  • Pearl Harbor

    Japanese bombers launch a devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, killing 2,400 people and leaving 1,200 injured. The assault destroys eight battleships, 150 aircraft, and severely weakens the US Pacific fleet. Japan declares war on the United States that evening. The following day, President Roosevelt addresses Congress, labeling December 7 as a day "which will live in infamy" and requesting a declaration of war against Japan, which Congress promptly approves.

  • Battle of Midway

    At the Battle of Midway, the U.S. Navy loses the carrier Yorktown, but not before sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers. While the war is far from over, the victory at Midway establishes U.S. naval superiority as the Japanese also lose a significant number of their best pilots

  • Yalta Conference

    At the Yalta Conference in the Crimea, FDR, Churchill, and Stalin meet to discuss the final assault on Germany and the treatment of that country following the war. They sign a “Declaration on Liberated Europe,” discuss the providing for democratic governance of European nations, and agree to meet in San Francisco that April to establish an international peace organization.
  • Period: to

    Harry S. Truman

    Harry S. Truman, born in Missouri, had a modest education before serving in WWI. He was a senator before becoming FDR's VP. Truman became President upon FDR's death. His family included wife Bess and daughter Margaret. Truman's presidency was marked by the end of WWII, the Truman Doctrine, and the Marshall Plan. After office, he remained active in public life, focusing on civil rights and international relations.

  • Hiroshima Bombed

    Japanese bombers launch a devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, killing 2,400 people and leaving 1,200 injured. The assault destroys eight battleships, 150 aircraft, and severely weakens the US Pacific fleet. Japan declares war on the United States that evening. The following day, President Roosevelt addresses Congress, labeling December 7 as a day "which will live in infamy" and requesting a declaration of war against Japan, which Congress promptly approves.

  • Nagasaki

    The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.

  • Employment Act of 1946

    Truman signs the Employment Act of 1946, placing increased responsibility for economic stability on the federal government.

  • Truman delivers “Truman Doctrine” speech

    Truman delivers his “Truman Doctrine” speech to Congress, asking for a $400 million appropriation to fight the spread of Communism in Greece and Turkey.

  • National Security Act

    The National Security Act passes Congress, creating the National Security Council, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Defense, and the National Security Resources Board.

  • Marshall Plan passed

    Congress passes the European Recovery Program (the “Marshall Plan”).

  • Soviets Begin Berlin Blockade

    On June 24, 1948, the Soviet Union halted all transportation by road and rail into the areas of Berlin controlled by the United States, Britain, and France. The American and British forces immediately initiated an airlift of supplies to relieve the western-controlled portions of the city. After 321 days and 272,000 flights, the airlift succeeded when the Soviets reopened the borders on March 12, 1949.

  • Truman Announces Fair Deal Program

    On January 5, 1949, just before his second term as President, Harry S. Truman outlined measures in his State of the Union Address. Truman emphasized the importance of a fair deal from the government for all citizens. This plan was known as the "Fair Deal," aiming to build on Roosevelt's New Deal. Truman faced challenges in implementing his proposals, with only three goals being fulfilled by 1950 - increasing public housing, raising the minimum wage, and expanding Social Security.

  • Soviet Union ends blockade of Berlin

    The Soviet Union lifts the Berlin blockade.

  • U.S. counterattack in South Korea

    United States military forces successfully spearhead a counterattack at Inchon, South Korea.
  • Period: to

    Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Dwight D. Eisenhower, born in Denison, Texas, attended West Point. His military service included commanding Allied forces in WWII. Before presidency, he served as Supreme Commander of NATO. As President, he focused on domestic issues, notably the interstate highway system. Post-office, he remained influential in global politics and wrote his memoirs.

  • Eisenhower delivers “Chance for Peace” speech

    Eisenhower delivers his “Chance for Peace” speech, also knowns as the “Cross of Iron” speech, to the American Society of Newspaper Editors, speaking against increased military spending.

  • Rosenbergs Executed

    Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed on June 19, 1953, for conspiring to commit espionage. President Eisenhower denied their request for clemency amid the heightened anti-Communist climate during the Cold War. Senator McCarthy's hearings were ongoing, aimed at exposing Communist infiltration within the U.S. government.

  • Refugee Relief Act of 1953

    Eisenhower signs the Refugee Relief Act of 1953, admitting 214,000 more immigrants than permitted under existing immigration quotas.

  • Geneva Agreements of 1954

    The Geneva Agreements of 1954, or the Geneva Accords, are signed, withdrawing French troops from the region and establishing a cease-fire and partition of Vietnam, ending the First Indochina War. The United States refuses to sign.

  • Geneva Convention Begins

    On July 18, 1955, the leaders of the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain, and France began their meetings at a Summit Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. This was the first meeting between the “Big Four” since the end of World War II. While few tangible accomplishments emerged from this summit, the meeting inaugurated a new, less hostile phase of the Cold War.

  • National Defense Education Act

    Eisenhower signs the National Defense Education Act, which increased funding to improve schools and to promote secondary education.

  • Hawaii becomes a state

    Eisenhower signs a bill admitting Hawaii as the fiftieth state.

  • Khrushchev visits the U.S., Camp David'

    Khrushchev visits the United States and meets with Eisenhower at Camp David on September 25 and 26.

  • Soviets shoot down U-2

    On May 1, 1960, the Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 reconnaissance plane. The pilot Francis Gary Powers ejected from the plane and survived. The Soviets quickly took Powers prisoner and recovered the remains of the U-2 plane. Hoping to embarrass the United States, the Soviets kept the capture of Powers secret only announcing that an American plane had been shot down.

  • Civil Rights Act of 1960

    Eisenhower signs the Civil Rights Act of 1960; like the Civil Rights Act of 1957, this act mainly concerns voting rights.
  • Period: to

    John F. Kennedy

    JFK was from Massachusetts, educated at Harvard, served in the Navy during WWII, represented Massachusetts in the House and Senate, and was the 35th US President. He was married to Jacqueline Kennedy and had children. His presidency included the Cuban Missile Crisis and the establishment of the Peace Corps.

  • Bay of Pigs

    On April 17, 1961, a group of Cuban exiles attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro's government by inciting revolt. Backed by the US, they landed at Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) but were met with failure. Many were captured or killed by Castro's army. The CIA's involvement was evident despite President Kennedy's attempt to keep it covert. His refusal to provide air support made him appear weak, making the invasion a significant mistake of his presidency.

  • Kennedy plans a man on the moon

    On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy in an address to Congress challenged the nation to “commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon.” He asked Congress to find additional funds to support the nation's space program.

  • East Germany begins Berlin Wall

    On August 13, 1961, East Germany began constructing a wall between the two sections of Berlin. The city, surrounded by Soviet-supported East Germany, had remained divided between the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain, and France since the end of World War II. Refugees from East Germany and the eastern section of Berlin had been flooding into the western section of Berlin, creating an embarrassment for the Soviet and East German governments.

  • James Meredith desegregates University of Mississippi

    On September 30, 1962, an African American college student, James Meredith, arrived at the University of Mississippi, escorted by federal marshals, to attend class. They were met by an angry crowd of students and other local whites who opposed Meredith's efforts to integrate “Old Miss.” The deadly riot that broke out forced President John F. Kennedy to intervene, and the episode helped change the President’s approach to civil rights.

  • Cuban Missile Crisis

    On October 22, 1962, President Kennedy revealed that the Soviet Union was constructing offensive missile sites in Cuba, potentially posing a nuclear threat to the Western Hemisphere. To safeguard the United States, Kennedy declared a naval blockade or "quarantine" around Cuba, supported by the Organization of American States. It was resolved on October 28, 1962
  • Period: to

    Lyndon B. Johnson

    Lyndon B. Johnson, from Stonewall, Texas, attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College. He served in the Navy during WWII. Prior to presidency, he was a congressman, senator, and VP. His wife was Lady Bird Johnson. He spearheaded the "Great Society" programs post-presidency.

  • Twenty-Fourth Amendment ratified

    The Twenty-Fourth Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, abolishing poll taxes.

  • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

    Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution giving the President power to pursue military action in Vietnam.

  • Malcolm X assassinated

    Black power activist Malcolm X is assassinated in New York City by members of the Nation of Islam, an organization to which Malcolm X had belonged. Tensions between X and NOI leadership led to his suspension from the group and subsequent assassination.

  • Tet Offensive

    On January 30, 1968, the North Vietnamese Army and the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam launched a massive offensive on South Vietnam during the Lunar New Year. Over 80,000 troops attacked numerous cities and capitals, causing a crisis for President Lyndon B. Johnson. While the offensive was eventually reversed, intense fighting persisted for months. The Tet Offensive did not result in a military victory for the North Vietnamese.

  • Johnson makes announcements

    On March 31, 1968, President Lyndon Johnson announced in a televised address that he would not seek re-election due to division and divisiveness in the country. He believed that his personal interests should not hinder the progress and peace of the American people. This decision was influenced by the negative impact of the Vietnam War on his political prospects. As a result, Johnson declined the nomination from his party for another term as President.
  • Period: to

    Richard Nixon

    Richard Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California. He attended Whittier College and Duke University School of Law. He served in the Navy during WWII. Nixon held various political offices, including Vice President under Eisenhower. He became the 37th President of the United States. After resigning due to the Watergate scandal, he focused on writing and international diplomacy.

  • Leaving Vietnam

    Nixon announces a plan to withdraw 25,000 U.S. troops from South Vietnam by August 31.

  • The "Nixon Doctrine"

    Nixon affirms his desire to withdraw U.S. troops from southeast Asia and declares that individual nations will bear a larger responsibility for their own security. Initially referred to as the “Guam Doctrine,” this statement later becomes known as the “Nixon Doctrine.”

  • Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1970

    Nixon signs the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1970, which gives the secretary of labor the responsibility of setting workplace safety standards for jobs in the United States.

  • Nixon takes responsibility for Watergate

    Nixon admits responsibility for the Watergate affair on television, but continues to assert no prior knowledge of it.

  • Nixon resigns

    On August 8, 1974, President Richard M. Nixon announced his resignation on national television. This came after the House Judiciary Committee voted for three articles of impeachment, relating to his illegal involvement in the Watergate scandal and subsequent cover-up using government agencies. Prior to his announcement, loyal supporters privately recommended resignation to avoid political trauma caused by an ineffective President during a lengthy impeachment process.
  • Period: to

    Gerald Ford

    Gerald Ford, born in Omaha, Nebraska, was a Navy veteran who later became the 38th President after Nixon. His presidency aimed to heal post-Watergate divisions. Ford, along with his wife Betty, had four children and remained active in politics and humanitarian efforts until his death in 2006.

  • Ford pardons Nixon

    On September 8, 1974, President Gerald Ford pardoned former President Richard Nixon. Ford had taken office a month earlier after Nixon resigned as the 37th President due to his involvement in the Watergate scandal. Ford addressed the nation on August 9, acknowledging the unique nature of the situation and stating that the "long national nightmare is over."

  • Freedom of Information Act passed

    The Freedom of Information Act is passed over Ford's veto. It provides expanded access to government files and allows secrecy classifications to be challenged in court and justified by the appropriate federal authorities.

  • Airstrikes on Cambodia

    Marines move onto Koh Tang, an island off the shore of Cambodia believed to hold the captured sailors of the Mayaguez. Fierce fighting kills fifteen Marines, but the sailors are not found. Ford orders airstrikes on the Cambodian mainland. At 10:35 PM, the crew of the Mayaguez is released.

  • “Sunday Morning Massacre”

    In what is dubbed by the press as the “Sunday Morning Massacre,” Henry Kissinger gives up his position as National Security adviser but retains the post of Secretary of State; William Colby is fired as director of Central Intelligence, and James Schlesinger is fired as Secretary of Defense.

  • Ford hit with eggs

    Ford is pelted with eggs by an antagonistic crowd while campaigning in New York City.
  • Period: to

    Jimmy Carter

    Jimmy Carter, a Georgia native, received his education at the United States Naval Academy. He served in the Navy, including as a submariner. Before his presidency, he was Governor of Georgia. His family includes wife Rosalynn and children. Post-presidency, Carter has been active in humanitarian efforts, notably through the Carter Center, focusing on global health and conflict resolution.

  • Emergency Natural Gas Act

    Congress passes Emergency Natural Gas Act, authorizing the President to deregulate natural gas prices due to a shortage in supply. Carter signs the bill and announces plans to present an energy program to Congress. He later proposes the establishment of a cabinet-level Department of Energy.

  • Camp David Accords Signed

    On September 17, 1978, President Jimmy Carter oversaw an agreement between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat that called for Israel’s gradual withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Camp David Accords are often considered the most significant foreign policy achievement of Carter’s administration.

  • Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty

    Carter signs the second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT II) with the USSR. The U.S. Senate never ratifies the controversial treaty, although both nations voluntarily comply with its terms.

  • Americans taken hostage in Tehran

    During the Iranian Revolution, 52 American diplomats were held hostage for 444 days by Iranian students at the US embassy in Tehran. The students, who supported the revolution, were protesting against the United States for sheltering Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, accused of crimes against Iranians. Despite unsuccessful rescue missions and external events like Pahlavi's death and Iraq's invasion, Iran eventually negotiated their release through the Algiers Accords on January 20, 1981.

  • “Carter Doctrine”

    Carter announces the “Carter Doctrine” in his State of the Union address, asserting that threats to the Persian Gulf region will be viewed as “an assault of the vital interests of the United States.”
  • Period: to

    Ronald Reagan

    Ronald Reagan, born in Illinois, was educated at Eureka College. He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II but didn't see combat. Before presidency, Reagan was Governor of California and a prominent actor. Nancy Reagan was his wife, and they had two children. His presidency saw significant economic and foreign policy shifts, including the end of the Cold War. Post-presidency, he focused on philanthropy and advocacy, notably against Alzheimer's disease, from which he suffered.

  • Reagan shot

    Reagan is shot in the chest by John Warnock Hinckley Jr.

  • Soviet grain embargo lifted

    Reagan lifts a grain embargo imposed on Soviet Union by President Carter.

  • Reagan delivers State of the Union

    Reagan calls for “New Federalism” in his State of the Union address, advocating less federal spending and more state initiative to solve social and economic problems.

  • Gas tax increase

    Reagan signs into law a five cents per gallon gasoline tax increase.

  • Strategic Defense Initiative

    Reagan urges development of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), an attempt to create a high-technology anti-ballistic missile shield to protect the United States from nuclear attack.

  • Suicide bombers attack Lebanon

    On October 23, 1983, suicide bombers crashed a truck bearing more than 2,000 pounds of explosives through protective barricades at U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. Since the attack took place early on a Sunday morning, it found most of the troops asleep in their beds. The explosion devastated the compound, collapsing the floors of the building on top of each other, killing 241 U.S. servicemen.

  • Invasion of Grenada

    U.S. forces invade the island nation of Grenada to overthrow the military government that had carried out a government coup days before. Grenada, a small country, was no match for U.S. military force, and the U.S. forces subdued the opposing forces within a few days.

  • Embargo on Nicaragua

    The Reagan administration announces trade embargo against Nicaragua in an attempt to undermine the Sandinista government. This embargo was later found to be in violation of international law.

  • Water Quality Control Act

    Congress overrides Reagan's veto of the Water Quality Control Act, allowing the EPA to regulate pollutants in U.S. waters.

  • Gorbachev, Reagan sign treaty

    Gorbachev and Reagan meet in Washington, D.C., and sign the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
  • Period: to

    George H. W. Bush

    George H. W. Bush, born in Massachusetts and later moved to Texas, attended Yale University, excelling in academics and baseball. He served as a naval aviator in World War II. Bush held various political offices, including Congressman, Ambassador to the UN, CIA Director, Vice President, and eventually became President from 1989 to 1993. He is known for his role in ending the Cold War, the Gulf War, and promoting volunteerism through initiatives like the Points of Light Foundation.

  • Tiananmen Square Massacre

    The People's Liberation Army, the military arm of the Chinese government, uses tanks and armored cars to suppress a burgeoning pro-democracy movement that had encamped in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Estimates on the number of demonstrators killed vary between 700 and 2,700.

  • Berlin Wall Falls

    The Berlin Wall falls, marking the symbolic end of Communist rule in Eastern Europe.
    On November 9, 1989, East Germany fully opened its borders, including the imposing gate at the Berlin Wall. Thousands of Germans, from both East and West Germany, climbed over the wall and began to dismantle it with shovels and hammers. The jubilant scene illustrated the great changes taking place with the ending of the Cold War.

  • New Anti-Drug Law

    President Bush signs a new anti-drug law that provides more than $3 billion for expanded anti-drug programs, including treatment facilities, federal prison expansion, education, and law enforcement.

  • Panama Invasion

    American armed forces invade Panama to capture Manuel Antonio Noriega, the country's military dictator. Noriega, who had been indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges, surrendered on January 3, 1990. He was convicted on drug charges on April 9, 1992, and sent to prison.

  • Persian Gulf War Begins

    The Persian Gulf War, code-named Operation Desert Storm, begins with a massive, American-led air attack on Iraq. Early on the morning of January 17, 1991, coalition forces led by the United States launched air strikes against Iraq. These strikes signaled the beginning of the military phase of the Persian Gulf War.
  • Period: to

    Bill Clinton

    Bill Clinton, born in Arkansas, studied at Georgetown and Yale Law. He became Governor of Arkansas and the 42nd President of the United States. His family consists of Hillary and Chelsea. Achievements as president include economic and welfare reforms and post-presidential work with the Clinton Foundation.

  • Family Medical Leave Act

    President Clinton signs the Family Medical Leave Act that requires companies to provide workers with up to three months of unpaid leave for family and medical emergencies.

  • In Waco, Texas, federal law enforcement officers, …

    In Waco, Texas, federal law enforcement officers, under the orders of Attorney General Janet Reno, end a 51-day standoff against a religious cult led by self-styled messiah David Koresh. In the ensuing confrontation, the fires that destroy the cult's compound kill at least seventy-five people, and bring Reno widespread criticism for her handling of the situation.

  • Battle of Mogadishu

    On October 3, 1993, U.S. forces attacked a compound in Mogadishu, Somalia to capture aides to warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid. The operation went wrong when two U.S. combat helicopters were shot down. American soldiers were ambushed and trapped, resulting in 18 deaths and 84 injuries. The incident raised questions about the mission's failure.

  • Clinton expands law enforcement, death penalty

    President Clinton signs into law the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act that includes provisions providing for the hiring of 100,000 more police and the expansion of the death penalty to cover more than 50 federal crimes.

  • Congressional Accountability Act

    President Clinton signs the Congressional Accountability Act, requiring Congress to abide by the same anti-discrimination workplace rules that apply throughout the rest of the country.

  • Battle of the budget

    President Clinton and the Republican-controlled Congress, led by Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA), engage in a political death struggle over how to balance the budget by 2002. Failure to reach an agreement leads to the shut-down of certain parts of the federal government, furloughing more than a quarter of a million government workers.

  • Welfare restructured

    President Clinton signs a welfare reform bill that radically restructures the American welfare system. The provisions of the new law limit recipients of welfare benefits and enact a “welfare to work” initiative.

  • UN bans nuclear weapons testing

    An overwhelming majority of United Nations members, including the United States, agree to a treaty banning all nuclear weapons testing.

  • House votes to impeach Clinton

    On December 19, 1998, the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Bill Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.

  • Trade with China

    The United States and China agree to a trade treaty reducing tariffs and other trade barriers. The treaty is to come into effect after China joins the World Trade Organization and Congress grants permanent normal trade relations between the two countries.
  • Period: to

    George W. Bush

    George W. Bush, originally from Texas, was born in Connecticut but raised in Texas. He attended Yale and Harvard. Before becoming president, he served in the Texas Air National Guard and was the Governor of Texas. His family includes his father, George H. W. Bush, and brother, Jeb Bush. He led the US after 9/11, started wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and focused on humanitarian work and writing after leaving office.

  • Bush bans abortion aid

    In one of his first policy decisions, President Bush decides to reinstate the ban on aid to international groups performing or counseling on abortion. The ban was initiated by former President Ronald Reagan but is not enforced during the administration of President Bill Clinton

  • Attacking Iraq

    United States airplanes attack Iraqi radar sites to enforce a “no-fly zone.” Bush calls the military action a “routine mission.”

  • Withdrawal from Anti- Ballistic Missile Treaty

    After conferring with the National Security Council, President Bush notifies Russia of his intention to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Meetings with Russian president Vladimir Putin fail to establish an agreement between the two nations. In June 2002, the United States officially withdraws from the Treaty, allowing it to conduct anti-missile defense tests.

  • Withdrawal from Anti- Ballistic Missile Treaty

    After conferring with the National Security Council, President Bush notifies Russia of his intention to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Meetings with Russian president Vladimir Putin fail to establish an agreement between the two nations. In June 2002, the United States officially withdraws from the Treaty, allowing it to conduct anti-missile defense tests.

  • Bush declares war with Iraq

    The 8:00 p.m. deadline for Hussein to leave Iraq passes. At 10:15 p.m., Bush addresses the nation and informs the American people that the United States is at war with Iraq.

  • Persuading North Korea to end nuclear pursuit

    South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun meets with Bush to discuss efforts to persuade North Korea to join the six-party talks intended to end North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.

  • Bird flu scare

    After several cases of avian influenza are reported in Central and Southeast Asia, the Bush administration proposes a plan to minimize losses in the case of a deadly pandemic. The plan includes coordination with the World Health Organization, reorganization of international travel, and the authorization of military assistance in the case of public unrest.

  • Bush approves border fence

    President Bush signs a bill providing for the construction of a 700-mile fence along the United States-Mexico border, in an effort to increase border security and stem illegal immigration.

  • Virginia Tech massacre

    Seung-Hui Cho kills himself and 32 fellow students at Virginia Tech in the deadliest campus gun rampage in U.S. history. President Bush and the First Lady attend the memorial.

  • Middle East Peace Conference

    President Bush hosts a Middle East Peace Conference in Annapolis, Maryland, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
  • Period: to

    Barak Obama

    Barack Obama, born in Hawaii, graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School. He became the 44th President of the United States, serving as a U.S. Senator from Illinois. Married to Michelle Obama, they have two daughters. His presidency achieved the Affordable Care Act and the killing of Osama bin Laden. Since then, he focuses on philanthropy, writing, and public speaking for social and political causes.

  • Executive order to close Guantánamo Bay

    Obama signs an executive order to close the U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, within one year. Guantánamo Bay is a detention center where individuals considered to be a national threat to the United States are detained and questioned in controversial conditions. His executive order encountered strong Congressional resistance, and the prison remained open after he left office.

  • Nobel Peace Prize

    Obama is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”

  • Rosa’s law

    Obama signs Rosa’s Law, which changes the diction of federal statutes that use “mental retardation” to “intellectual disability.”

  • Tucson shootings

    At a constituent meeting in Tucson, Arizona, a gunman open fired, shooting 19 people, killing 6 of them. Representative Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head; she resigned her seat in the House to focus on her recovery. The President and First Lady traveled to Tucson, and Obama offered his remarks during a memorial service for the victims.

  • End of Iraq War

    President Obama announces that U.S. troops will be home from Iraq by December and that the U.S. role in the war is over.

  • Immigration reform

    Obama gives a speech outlining his proposal for comprehensive immigration reform.

  • Government shutdown

    A shutdown of the federal government begins after Congress fails to agree on funding legislation. It last 16 days.

  • Agriculture Act of 2014

    The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2014 is signed into law. This act authorizes $956 billion for increased awareness and spending on nutrition and agriculture programs in the United States from 2014 to 2018.

  • Immigration reform

    Obama makes speech to the nation on comprehensive immigration reform. He announces he will use his executive power to allow illegal immigrants currently living within the United States to legally stay and obtain work.

  • Veteran suicide epidemic

    The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act is signed into law. This act seeks to raise awareness on veteran suicide, increases opportunity for veterans to receive help, and also makes the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department submit reviews of their prevention programs.
  • Period: to

    Donald Trump

    Donald Trump, a businessman from New York, became the 45th President of the United States in 2017. Despite not serving in the military, he attended Fordham University and the Wharton School. His family includes his wife Melania and children Ivanka, Donald Jr., Eric, Tiffany, and Barron. Trump remained influential in Republican politics post-presidency, facing impeachment twice and remaining a divisive public figure.

  • Travel ban

    President Trump signs an executive order that denies entry into the United States for people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, and suspends the Refugee Admissions Policy for 120 days. Trump’s travel ban sparks large protests and legal challenges. As a result of legal challenges, Trump revises the executive order

  • Government shutdown begins

    The federal government shuts down for three days after Congress cannot reach an agreement to maintain funding for the government.

  • Border wall funding becomes national emergency

    President Trump declares a national emergency to secure funds to build a wall at the southern border

  • Budget approval

    Congress passes a budget deal to avert another government shutdown. In the deal, Congress provides $1.375 billion for a border wall but it is far short of the $5.7 billion that President Trump wanted.

  • Democrats begin impeachment inquiries

    Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announces that the House will begin formal impeachment inquiries against President Trump after a whistleblower complaint against President Trump’s conduct becomes public. At issue is a phone call in which Trump spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in July 2019 and pressured the Ukrainian president to help Trump with information that might discredit a domestic political rival