US History timeline

John Smith Elected Council President of Jamestown

Explorer, writer, and cartographer John Smith assumed the presidency of the Jamestown settlement on September 10, 1608. The charismatic and... Read more

General Charles Cornwallis Surrenders To General George Washington At Yorktown

On October 19, 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered his army of some 8,000 men to General George Washington at Yorktown, giving up... Read more

The Cornerstone of the White House is Laid

The cornerstone of the White House was laid on October 13, 1792. President John Adams and his wife Abigail moved into the unfinished structure on... Read more

The United States Senate Ratifies The Louisiana Purchase Treaty

On October 20, 1803, the Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase Treaty by a vote of twenty-four to seven. The agreement, which provided for the... Read more

City of Chicago is Incorporated, Granted City Charter by the State of Illinois

In 1837 Chicago received its first city charter, which divided the city into six wards, allowed for a mayor elected to a one-year term, and legally... Read more

Abraham Lincoln Elected 16th President of the United States

Lincoln was chosen as the Republican candidate for the 1860 election for several reasons. His expressed views on slavery were seen as more moderate... Read more

Statue of Liberty Dedicated

The Statue of Liberty National Monument officially celebrated her 100th birthday on October 28, 1986. The people of France gave the Statue to the... Read more

Utah is the 45th State Admitted to the Union

The Utah constitution was adopted November 5, 1895, by a vote of 31,305 to 7,607. On January 4, 1896, the president of the United States issued a... Read more

Attempted Assassination of US President Ronald Reagan

The Reagan assassination attempt occurred on March 30, 1981, just 69 days into the presidency of Ronald Reagan. While leaving a speaking engagement... Read more

Sonia Sotomayor is Confirmed by the US Senate, Becoming the First Hispanic Supreme Court Justice

On August 6, 2009, Sotomayor's appointment was brought up for a vote on the floor of the Senate. She was confirmed by a vote of 68 to 31. All... Read more