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World History 1400–1900 · North America

North America: A Chronology

From contact to a continent transformed, 1492–1900. The voyages of exploration, the founding of colonies, the revolutions that made new nations, and the great expansions of the nineteenth century — year by year.

1492

The chronology begins

4

Eras of history

63

Key events

Jump to era

Exploration & Contact Colonial Foundations Empire & Revolution A Continent Transformed

Exploration & Contact1492 – 1562

1492Columbus Discovers America 1498Cabot Claims North America for Great Britain 1512Ponce De Leon Claims Florida for Spain 1513Balboa Sights the Pacific 1517Sebastian Cabot Discovers Hudson Bay 1517Cortes Completes the Conquest of Mexico 1524Verazzano Discovers New York Bay 1533Pizarro Kills Inca Chief 1534Cartier Claims Canada for France 1542DeSoto Discovers the Mississippi 1562French Establish Settlement in Florida

Colonial Foundations1607 – 1681

1607Jamestown Established 1610Sante Fe Founded 1620Mayflower Lands at Plymouth 1630Massachusetts Bay Colony 1664Dutchfield Colony to the British 1681Pennsylvania Founded by William Penn

Empire & Revolution1754 – 1800

1754French and Indian War 1765Stamp Tax Passed, Colonies Protest 1769Spain Establishes Settlement in California 1770Boston Massacre Occurs 1773Boston Tea Party 1775Lexington and Concord 1776Declaration of Independence 1777Battle of Saratoga 1781Battle of Yorktown 1783Treaty of Paris Signed 1787Constitution Approved 1787Proclamation of Neutrality 1795Jay's Treaty 1795Pickney's Treaty 1800Peace Treaty with France

A Continent Transformed1801 – 1892

1801Tripolitan War 1803Louisiana Purchase 1807Embargo Act 1812Mexico Independent 1812War of 1812 1812Treaty of Ghent 1817Seminole War 1819Adams-Onis Treaty 1820Missouri Compromise 1823Monroe Doctrine 1828Age of Jackson 1832Black Hawk War 1836Texas Independent 1846Oregon Treaty 1846Mexican War 1848Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo 1849Gold Discovered in California 1850Compromise of 1850 1853Perry Mission to Japan 1856Bloody Kansas 1857Dred Scott Decision 1861Fort Sumter 1861Battle of Bull Run 1862Battle of Antietam 1863Battle of Gettysburg 1865Civil War Ends 1865Lincoln Assassinated 1867Alaska Purchase 1869Transcontinental Rail Service 1876Custer Killed 1892Ellis Island Opens