Main Page/Historical events
4-14-1772 - The Pine Tree Riot breaks out in Weare, New Hampshire, protesting the king's collection of fines (taxes) on the harvesting of pine trees in the colonies.
3-23-1775 – Patrick Henry says, "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" in a speech at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia.
4-18-1775 – Paul Revere and William Dawes, ride from Boston to Lexington warning that "The British are coming" to seize John Hancock, Sam Adams and the colonial guns and ammo in Concord.
5-10-1775 – The Second Continental Congress meets, elects John Hancock president, raises the Continental Army under George Washington as commander and authorizes the colonies to adopt their own constitutions.
6-14-1775 – The Continental Congress selects George Washington as commander of the Continental Army.
7-5-1775 – The Continental Congress offers the Olive Branch Petition, in hopes of reconciliation with the British.
7-6-1775 – The Continental Congress issues the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, stating: "...Our cause is just... being with one mind resolved to die freemen rather than to live slaves...".
8-23-1775 – Refusing to even look at the Olive Branch Petition, King George issues a Proclamation of Rebellion against the American colonies.
1-10-1776 – Thomas Paine publishes his pamphlet Common Sense arguing for independence from British rule in the Thirteen Colonies.
3-9-1776 – Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations in London, greatly advancing understanding of free market economics.
5-4-1776 – Rhode Island is the first colony to renounce allegiance to King George III of Great Britain.
7-2-1776 – The Declaration of Independence is completed by the Continental Congress. The Lee Resolution is passed declaring the colonies to be independent of the British Empire.
7-9-1776 – An angry mob in topples a statue of George III of Great Britain in Bowling Green, NY.
12-23-1776 – Thomas Paine begins publishing The American Crisis, which includes the famous phrase, "These are the times that try men's souls."
1-3-1783 – Great Britain acknowledges the independence of the United States.
4-15-1783 – Preliminary articles of peace ending the American Revolutionary War are ratified.
1-14-1784 – The Congress of the United States ratifies the Treaty of Paris with Great Britain officially ending the Revolutionary War.
11-28-1785 – The Treaty of Hopewell is signed between the United States of America and the Cherokee Nation.
1-3-1786 – The third Treaty of Hopewell is signed between the United States of America and the Choctaw.
9-11–1786 – Annapolis Convention held, resulting in scheduling of the Philadelphia Convention.
2-4-1787 – Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts. War veterans take up arms because of poor treatment by the government.
5-14-1787 – In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, delegates begin arriving for a Constitutional Convention
9-17-1787 – The United States Constitution is adopted by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
10-27-1787 – The first of the Federalist Papers, a series of essays calling for ratification of the U.S. Constitution, is published in a New York paper.
12-7-1787 – Delaware ratifies the Constitution and becomes the first U.S. state.
12-12-1787 – Pennsylvania becomes the second state to ratify the United States Constitution, five days after Delaware became the first.
12-18-1787 – New Jersey becomes the third U.S. state.
12-15-1791 – The Bill of Rights is ratified by the states.
2-7-1795 – The 11th Amendment is ratified by the states, limiting federal jurisdiction in law suits against states by out-of-state entities.
4-7-1795 – Adoption of the metric system in France.
8-3-1795 – Signing of the Treaty of Greenville puts an end to the Northwest Indian War.
8-22-1795 – The French Constitution of 1795 is ratified by the National Convention.
10-27-1795 – The United States and Spain sign the Treaty of Madrid, establishing the boundaries between their respective lands in America.
6-15-1804 – The 12th Amendment is ratified by the states, changing the presidential election proceedures.
12-30-1816 – Treaty of St. Louis signed by the United States and the united Ottawa, Ojibwa, and Potawatomi Indian tribes.
12-30-1825 – Treaty of St. Louis signed by the United States and the Shawnee Nation.
12-6-1865 – The 13th Amendment is ratified by the states, abolishing slavery.
7-9-1868 – The 14th Amendment is ratified by the states, extending due process, equal protection, and other protections to citizens within state jusidiction.
2-3-1870 – The 15th Amendment is ratified by the states, recognizing the right to vote for all races.
2-3-1913 – The 16th Amendment is ratified by the states, granting the federal government the power to tax income.
4-8-1913 – The 17th Amendment is ratified by the states, establishing the direct election of Senators by popular vote.
1-16-1919 – The 18th Amendment is ratified by the states, banning the manufacure and sales of alcohol.
8-18-1920 – The 19th Amendment is ratified by the states, recognizing the right to vote for all people irrespective of sex.
1-23-1933 – The 20th Amendment is ratified by the states, changing the dates on which the President and Vice President, and the Congress begin their terms. (January 20th and January 3rd, respectively).
12-5-1933 – The 21st Amendment is ratified by the states, repealing the 18th Amendment – lifting the ban on alcohol.
11-9-1942 – Supreme Court issues its decision in Wickard v. Filburn, stating that, based on the Commerce Clause, the Congress has unlimited power to prohibit any activity.
1-27-1951 – The 22nd Amendment is ratified by the states, limiting presidents to two terms.
3-29-1961 – The 23rd Amendment is ratified by the states, including Washington D.C. in the electoral college.
1-23-1964 – The 24th Amendment is ratified by the states, eliminating poll taxes.
2-10-1967 – The 25th Amendment is ratified by the states, adjusting the proceedures for presidential succession.
7-1-1971 – The 26th Amendment is ratified by the states, recognising the right for anyone eighteen years of age and over to vote.
5-7-1992 – The 27th Amendment is ratified by the states, which makes members of Congress face the voters before any change in their salary takes effect.
12-12-2000 – The United States Supreme Court releases its decision in Bush v. Gore, selecting the President.
