1800
There are 16 states: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North
Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Kentucky and Tennessee; (June 4) the
construction of the White House is finished; the electric battery is invented by
Alessandro Volta |
1801
Thomas Jefferson becomes the 3rd president (first president inaugurated in
Washington, DC); (Nov. 10) Kentucky outlaws dueling |
1802
(Mar. 16) The establishment of the US Military Academy at West Point is authorized |
1803
(Mar. 1) Ohio becomes the 17th state; (Apr. 30) the size of the United States more
than doubles by buying all French territory west of the Mississippi from Napoleon
Bonaparte |
1804
Lithography is invented in Germany |
1805
(Oct. 21) The British defeat the Spanish and French naval fleets at the Battle of
Trafalgar |
1806
(Nov. 15) Zebulon Pike sights a mountain that is later named Pikes Peak |
1807
(Mar. 2) Congress bans slave trade |
1809
James Madison becomes the 4th president (first president inaugurated in
American-made clothes); (Jan. 20) the first US geology book is published |
1812
(Apr. 30) Louisiana becomes the 18th state; (Jun. 18) the "War of 1812"
begins |
1813
(Jun. 1) The phrase "Don't give up the ship" becomes the slogan of the US
Navy; (Sep. 7) the nickname "Uncle Sam" is born today in the Troy Post when a
writer uses it as a symbolic reference to the United States |
1814
(Oct. 19) The "Star-Spangled Banner" is sung for the first time |
1816
(Dec. 11) Indiana becomes the 19th state |
1817
(Feb. 17) For the first time, a street in an American city (Baltimore) is
illuminated by gas lights; James Monroe becomes the 5th president; (Dec. 10) Mississippi
becomes the 20th state |
1818
(Dec. 3) Illinois becomes the 21st state; (Dec. 25) the carol "Silent
Night" is sung for the first time |
1819
(Feb. 22) In a treaty with Spain, Florida is ceded to the United States; (Dec. 14)
Alabama becomes the 22nd state |
1820
(Mar. 15) Maine becomes the 23rd state; Congress passes the Public Land Act,
lowering the price of western lands to $1.25 an acre to promote settlement of the west;
the first potatoes are planted in Hawaii |
1821
(Feb. 24) Mexico gains independence from Spain; William Becknell leads a wagon
train to New Mexico initiating the Santa Fe Trail; (Aug. 10) Missouri becomes the
24th state; sailors in New Orleans invent the game of poker; the first tuition-free public
high school in the United States opens in Boston, Massachusetts |
1822
(Mar. 9) The first patent for false teeth is issued to Charles Graham of New York;
(Mar. 30) Congress combines East and West Florida into Florida Territory |
1824
A Harrisburg, Pennsylvania newspaper publishes results of the first public opinion
poll |
1825
(Mar. 26) The Republic of Mexico is proclaimed; John Quincy Adams becomes the 6th
president |
1827
(Feb. 7) The first ballet group in the United States performs at the Bowery Theater
in New York City; matches are invented by John Walker |
1828
(Apr. 14) The first edition of Webster's Dictionary is published |
1829
Andrew Jackson becomes the 7th president and an unruly crowd mobs the White House
during the inaugural ball |
1831
(Aug. 9) The first steam locomotive makes its run between Albany and Schenectady,
New York; the lawn mower is invented by Edwin Budding and John Ferrabee |
1832
President Jackson vetoes a bill renewing the charter of the Bank of the United
States |
1833
(Apr. 9) The first US public library to be supported by municipal taxes is founded
in Petersburgh, New Hampshire; ( Jan. 8) the Boston Academy of Music is the first US music
school established |
1834
Refrigeration is invented by Jacob Perkins |
1835
(Jul. 8) A crack appears in the Liberty Bell, the symbol of US freedom |
1836
(Mar. 6) The Alamo falls after a 13-day siege; (Jun. 15) Arkansas becomes the 25th
state;
(Oct. 22) General Sam Houston is sworn in as the first president of the Republic of
Texas |
1837
(Jan. 26) Michigan becomes the 26th state; Martin Van Buren becomes the 8th
president |
1838
(Jan. 6) Samuel Morse gives the first public demonstration of his electric
telegraph; 15,000 Mormons are driven out of Missouri |
1839
France recognizes the Republic of Texas |
1840
(Jan. 19) Antarctica is discovered by American Charles Wilkes |
1841
William Henry Harrison, the 9th president, dies while in office and John Tyler
becomes the 10th president; Oberlin College awards the first woman with a degree |
1842
Ether is used as an anesthetic for the first time |
1845
(Jan. 29) Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" is published in New York; (Mar.
3) Florida becomes the 27th state and (Dec. 29) Texas the 28th state; James
Polk becomes the 11th president |
1846
(Jun. 19) The first formal baseball game is played; (Aug. 10) the Smithsonian
Institute in Washington is created; (Sep. 10) the sewing machine is
patented; (Sep. 23) the planet Neptune is discovered; (Dec. 28) Iowa becomes the 29th
state |
1847
(Jul. 24) Brigham Young and his Mormon followers arrive at Great Salt Lake Valley
in Utah |
1848
(Feb. 2) Mexico signs a treaty agreeing to cede Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and
California to the United States for $15 million; (May 29) Wisconsin becomes the 30th
state; (Jul. 19) "bloomers" become a radical change to women's clothing; (Dec.
29) President James Polk turns on the first gas light at the White House |
1849
(Apr. 10) Walter Hunt of New York City patents the safety pin; Zachary Taylor
becomes the 12th president; Mrs. Elizabeth Blackwell becomes the first female physician in
the United States |
1850
The US population reaches 23,191,876; (Sep. 9) California becomes the 31st state;
Millard Fillmore becomes the 13th president; the paper bag begins to appear in stores |