1803 - The Supreme Court case Marbury v Madison established judicial review. 1803 - Jefferson bought the Louisiana Purchase from France (Napoleon), nearly doubling the size of the United States, and gaining the land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. 1804 - Lewis and Clark set out on their expedition to explore the uncharted territory of the Louisiana Purchase in 1804, led by Sacajawea, a hired guide and interpreter. Their mission was to find the best water route to the Pacific. Their expedition led to more accurate maps and an heightened interest in the west. 1807 - The Embargo of 1807 prohibited vessels from leaving American ports for foreign ports. Although technically only prohibiting exports, in practice it stopped imports as well. The Embargo was in an effort to force Great Britain and France to respect U.S. neutrality. The Embargo of 1807 caused many people to go out of work, and foreign trade floundered. 1812 - "Madison's War," or the War of 1812, was fought for reasons of impressment, the continued presence of British ships in U.S. waters, and British violations of neutral rights; it ended in 1814, restoring the nation to the status quo of Antebellum. 1814 - The Hartford Convention summarized New England's grievances, based primarily on being scared the Southern Republicans were becoming a majority--and them a minority--who didn't understand their commercial interests. New England threatened secession, but the news came the same day as the post-War of 1812 victory at the Battle of New Orleans. The Hartford Convention was an example of the concept of states rights. 1816 - The Second Bank of the United States was chartered and began contraction of credit. 1817 - Construction was started for the Erie Canal in 1817, but was not to be finished until 1825. The Erie Canal was the start of the canal boom in the early 1800s. 1819 - McCulloch v Maryland established that it was unconstitutional to tax a federal entity. 1819 - The Panic of 1819 was a severe depression blamed on the War of 1812 and contraction of credit.
_Alexa Blyth's 1823
- President James Monroe issues a foreign policy declaration, known as
the Monroe Doctrine, that places North and South America off-limits to
European colonization. 1825 - The state legislature creates the Literary Fund to pay for the establishment of the first public schools in the state. 1828 - Andrew Jackson is elected president of the United States. 1828 -Congress
passes the Tariff Act, which raises import fees. This angers the
South, which pays most of the import duties but receives little benefit
from the tax. 1828 - Henry Humphries of Greensboro builds the first steam-powered mill. 1829 -
President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act calling for
American Indians to be forced from their homes to lands west of the
Mississippi. 1829 - The General Assembly passes “black codes” restricting the activities of free and enslaved African Americans. 1833 -
After South Carolina threatens to secede from the United States over
the import tariff issue, President Andrew Jackson signs a bill lowering
tariff fees. He also signs a bill authorizing him to use force, if
necessary, to collect import duties. 1834 -
John Nissen founded the Nissen Wagon Works in Forsyth County. In
1919, just before automobiles begin to dominate the market, the
business will produce 50 wagons a day. 1835 -
The state constitution is extensively revised, with amendments approved
by the voters that provide for the direct election of the governor and
more democratic representation in the legislature. However, new laws
take voting rights away from American Indians and free blacks. Women are
not allowed to vote.
April DuCasse's
May 1, 1844 - The first Telegraph was sent by Samuel F.B. Morse 1846-1848 - The Mexican War January 24, 1848 - Gold was found, which started the California Gold Rush February 2, 1848 - The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hildago was signed July 19-20, 1848 - Seneca Falls 1848 - The Free Soil Party was formed 1850 - Compromise of 1850 1853 - Gadsden Purchase May 22, 1856 - Brooks-Sumner Affair 1858 - Lincoln-Douglass debates
Gaby Evelo's March 4, 1861 - Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as president of the United States with Hannibal Hamlin as Vice President. April 12, 1861 - Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina harbor is bombarded for 34 hours by Confederate forces after the U.S. Army commander failed to evacuate, thus starting the four years of conflict and the U.S. Civil War. The Confederate States of America, formed two months earlier had sought to force federal troops from occupation of its territory. Fort Sumter was captured April 14 when Major Robert Anderson turned the fort over to the Confederacy. April 9, 1865 - General Robert E. Lee, as commander in chief of Confederate forces, surrenders his 27,000 man army to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, effectively ending the four years of Civil War conflict. Additional troops under southern command would continue the surrender until the final rebel forces would surrender on May 26. (Photo above) McLean House, the Civil War surrender site at Appomattox Courthouse. April 14, 1865 - Abraham Lincoln is assassinated in Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C. five days after the signing at Appomattox of the Confederate surrender. The shot, fired by actor John Wilkes Booth, during the play "Our American Cousin," ends the life of the president who presided over the War of Rebellion and the end of slavery. Lincoln would die one day later. December 18, 1865 - The Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery, took effect. November - Republican Ulysses S. Grant, with Shuyler Colfax as his running mate, proves victorious in his quest to become the 18th President of the United States after defeating Horatio Seymour, 214 to 80 in the Electoral College. Grant would be swon in on March 4, 1869. March 30, 1870 - The 15th Amendment to the Constitution is declared ratified by the Secretary of State. It gave the right to vote to black Americans. Race would officially no longer be a ban to voting rights. March 1, 1875 - The Civil Rights Act, giving equal rights to blacks in jury duty and accommodation is passed by the United States Congress. It would be overturned in 1883 by the U.S. Supreme Court March 2, 1877 - A joint session of the U.S. Congress convenes on the presidential election dispute, reaching the Compromise of 1877 and electing Rutherford B. Hayes as President and William A. Wheeler as Vice President. They would be inaugurated two days later on March 4. November 1880 - James A. Garfield, Republican is elected president over Winfield S. Hancock, the Democratic candidate. Garfield receives 214 Electoral College votes to 155 for Hancock, but barely wins the popular vote with a majority of only 7,023 voters. Veronica France's September 19th, 1881 – Garfield was assassinated and Chester A. Arthur becomes president. January 16th, 1883 – Pendleton Civil Service Act written into law by Chester A. Arthur. February 4th, 1887 – The Interstate Commerce Act was passed. 1889 – The National Famers’ Alliance was formed. July 2nd, 1890 – The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was passed. January 17th, 1893 – The overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani. May 11th, 1894 – Pullman Strike. 1895 – Supreme Court declares federal income tax unconstitutional. 1898 – The Spanish American War that only lasted from April to August. March 14th, 1900 – The Currency Act officially places the United States on the gold standard.