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Jan 1, 1530
First Mention of the Violin
In 1530, a painter named Gaudenzio Ferrari made a painting entitled Madonna of the Orange Tree. In this painting, there is a cherub playing a string instrument similar to the violin, but with three strings. This was one of the earliest mentions of the violin. -
Beginning of the Revolutionary War
This was the date that the first official battle of the war was fought, Americans against the British. While the British won the battle of Lexington, the Americans won Concord. -
Approving the Declaration of Independence
On this day, the Continental Congress formally approved the Declaration of Independence, declaring America to be free from Britain's rule. -
Signing of the Treaty of Paris
On this date, the Treaty of Paris was officially signed. This treaty ended the Revolutionary War and made the United States an independent country. -
Invention of the Steamboat
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The Louisiana Purchase
On this date, Thomas Jefferson, who was the president of the United States at the time, signed a contract with France. France, who was fighting other wars and needed money more than land, sold them roughly 827,000 acres of land, for a price of about 3 cents an acre. This more than doubled the size of the United States and began what is now known as the Western Movement. -
Invention of the Train
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Beginning of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
On this date, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, along with about 80 others, begin their expedition west. This journey to the Pacific Ocean and back took them about three years and opened up new developments in the west, which was now known to be an excellent place for others to settle in. The men gathered plants and animals, and created maps of the new land. This journey helped lead to the expansion of the west, and to the eventual removal of the Native Americans. -
Beginning of the Texas Revolution
On this date, the war between Mexico and the United States officially began. The war started when Mexico, eager to have Texas settled, allowed Americans to settle in Texas. They turned a blind eye to American's slaves and didn't tax them. But when American influence grew too strong, Mexico intervened. This led to the war for Texas, which ended with Texas splitting from Mexico and becoming the Lone Start Republic. And eventually, it became annexed to the United States. -
Invention of the Telegraph
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Beginning of the Donner Party Expedition
On this date, the Donner Party stated its fateful journey to the West. While attempting to travel west with a larger group, the leader of the group, George Donner, decided to take a shortcut through the Sierra-Nevada Mountains. This led to the group becoming trapped there for more than five months, during which time they had to resort to cannibalism. -
Beginning of the Trail of Tears
On this date, the depressing Trail of Tears was begun by President Andrew Jackson. This event was the removal of all Native Americans from their lands, even the "civilized" tribes who acted and dressed like Americans. The Native Americans were taken to reservations, and many of them died on the trail for lack of resources. It was such a cruel removal of human beings that even the soldiers were horrified. This event brought the Native Americans out and the Americans in, opening up the west again. -
Beginning of the California Gold Rush
On this date, James W. Marshall discovered gold in California. Soon, thousands upon thousands of men would come pouring into California in the hopes of striking it rich. While few actually became wealthy, the gold rush led to the further development of the west and brought many new people from all over the world into America. The gold rush helped change and develop the west. -
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California Gold Rush
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Beginning of the Civil War
This battle was the first battle of the Civil War. Fought at Fort Sumter, the Union was humiliated by the Confederates winning this battle. -
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Civil War
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End of the Battle of Gettysburg
This date marked one of the turning points in the Civil War. After three days of fighting in Pennsylvania, the Union eventually won, with huge amounts of casualties and injuries on both sides. This battle eventually helped the Union win the Civil War. -
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Reconstruction
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Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
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Lincoln's Assassination
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End of the Civil War
This date marked the end of the war that brought brother against brother and almost ended the great experiment the Founding Fathers first dreamed of. The Northerns won the war and the South became part of the United States again. -
Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad
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Invention of the Telephone
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Invention of the Electric Light Bulb
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Invention of the Automobile
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Invention of the Radio
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Invention of the Airplane
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Beginning of World War I
This date marked the beginning of one of the most violent wars in the world. When an Serbian assassin shot the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Other countries, who were allied with Serbia, declared war on Austria-Hungary, and it escalated to what is now called World War I. -
End of World War I
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Germany signed a treaty with the Allies. The war had been going on for four years, but in the end the Allies won. -
Ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment
The ratification of this amendment prohibited the drinking and selling of alcohol. While seemingly a good idea, it opened up many opportunities for bootleggers, who illegally sold alcohol, and many people continued to drink after it was ratified. The eighteenth amendment was repealed in 1933. -
Ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment
On this day, the nineteenth amendment was made official. This amendment gave women the right to vote, after many years of receiving nothing. -
Invention of the Television
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Attack at Pearl Harbor
On this day, "a day that will life in infamy," the empire of Japan attacked the United State's naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This eventually led to the United States joining the Allies in World War II. -
End of World War II
This day ended the war that had killed the most people and involved the most countries ever. After Germany and Italy were eliminated, it was only Japan left. But after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan formally surrendered. The Allies had won World War II. -
End of Korean War
On this day, the war between the north and south Koreans officially ended. Essentially, the war accomplished nothing, as the boundaries of Korea ended up the same as before. -
Beginning of the Vietnam War
On this date, northern Vietnam and southern Vietnam, with America supporting the south, fought in their first major clash. Northern Vietnam wanted a Communist controlled country and southerns did not. This war ultimately ended with the north winning. -
Invention of the VCR
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March on Washington
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Invention of the Atari 2600
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End of the Vietnam War
On this date, the war between northern Vietnam and southern Vietnam, which was supported by the United States, ended. Northern Vietnam had won. -
Invention of the Apple 2 Computer
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September 11, 2001
On this day, terrorists took over four planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. -
My Birthday
On this day, the world was given one of the best people to ever walk the face of planet Earth.
