HISTORICAL TIME LINE OF EVENTS
This historical outline is intended to help you in determining what was occurring in U.S. history at the time of any given event in the life of our ancestor. Sometimes it is easier lo think of our ancestors as "real people" if we can place them in a historical setting, and I am hopeful this chart will help us to do so.
1600-1775 
The Eastern Seaboard is settled.
The Eastern Seaboard is settled. l776 to 1789Revolutionary War is fought. 1781 French and American armies surround Lord Cornwallis al Yorktown ; he surrenders in October .
Revolutionary War is fought. 1781 French and American armies surround Lord Cornwallis al Yorktown ; he surrenders in October . l790's British and Scotch.lrish settlers move into western Alabama. along the Tonibigbee and Black Warrior Rivers ; steamboat is invented river trade increases. l
British and Scotch.lrish settlers move into western Alabama. along the Tonibigbee and Black Warrior Rivers ; steamboat is invented river trade increases. lWar of 18l2, fought against British.
fought against British. 1812 Alabama becomes a territory, and later a slate.
Alabama becomes a territory, and later a slate. IBIB Lawrence County, Alabama, is formed from the Cherokee and Chickasaw Cession
Lawrence County, Alabama, is formed from the Cherokee and Chickasaw Cession l817 Monroe succeeds Madison as president, formulates the Monroe Doctrine ; Missouri Com' promise averts disaster in argument of slave states versus free states, but only postpones slavery problem .
Monroe succeeds Madison as president, formulates the Monroe Doctrine ; Missouri Com' promise averts disaster in argument of slave states versus free states, but only postpones slavery problem . 1826 Andrew Jackson, a hero of the War of 1812, is elected president ; a president of the common man. Popular demand for school systems evolved.
Andrew Jackson, a hero of the War of 1812, is elected president ; a president of the common man. Popular demand for school systems evolved. 1830-1850 Railways are developed in South and East.
Railways are developed in South and East. 1813-1836 Texas fights War for independence from Mexico and becomes a nation ; Texas offers free land to residents of the Republic.
Texas fights War for independence from Mexico and becomes a nation ; Texas offers free land to residents of the Republic. 1837 A major panic and depression census great hardship ; the last of the Mississippi indian lands are opened for settlement, and a tremendous migration follows. Montgomery Co., Texas is formed from Washington Co.
A major panic and depression census great hardship ; the last of the Mississippi indian lands are opened for settlement, and a tremendous migration follows. Montgomery Co., Texas is formed from Washington Co. 1846 U.S. annexes Texas, which joins by treaty as a free nation; this precipitates the "Mexican War," after which the U.S. annexes California and other Mexican territory. Walker County, Texas is formed from Montgomery; Leon Co. is formed from Robertson .
U.S. annexes Texas, which joins by treaty as a free nation; this precipitates the "Mexican War," after which the U.S. annexes California and other Mexican territory. Walker County, Texas is formed from Montgomery; Leon Co. is formed from Robertson . l846-l860 slavery question leads to regional hatreds, Lincoln is elected president.
slavery question leads to regional hatreds, Lincoln is elected president. 1853 Madison Co., Texas is formed from Grimes and Walker Countys.
Madison Co., Texas is formed from Grimes and Walker Countys.1861 Confederate States of America is organized; war breaks out
Confederate States of America is organized; war breaks out 1865 April 9, Lee surrenders;
April 9, Lee surrenders; April 14, Lincoln assassinated. 1865.1877 Reconstruction causes more hatred in the South;
Reconstruction causes more hatred in the South; 1877President Rutherford B Hayes orders last of Federal troops to be removed from the south.
President Rutherford B Hayes orders last of Federal troops to be removed from the south. l880 - l890 This decade sees the flourishing of the "cattle kingdom ; era of great cattle drives, the American Cowboy.
This decade sees the flourishing of the "cattle kingdom ; era of great cattle drives, the American Cowboy.1890..1890 This is the period of the Gay Nineties ; King Cotton in the South; the Panic of 1893 the Spanish-American War of 1898.
This is the period of the Gay Nineties ; King Cotton in the South; the Panic of 1893 the Spanish-American War of 1898.1901Mckinley is assassinated. Teddy Roosevelt becomes President. institutes numerous reforms.
Mckinley is assassinated. Teddy Roosevelt becomes President. institutes numerous reforms. l9l4 - l9l8 World War I sweeps across Europe; in
World War I sweeps across Europe; in 19l7 United States enters the war.
United States enters the war.l920 - 1928Flapper era evidences new freedom of women; Model T Ford revolutionizes family travel.
Flapper era evidences new freedom of women; Model T Ford revolutionizes family travel. l929 The Stock Market crashes . the great depression ends.
The Stock Market crashes . the great depression ends.1933-1934 F.D R is inaugurated New Deal Congress passes legislation to establish the CCC. which employs 3,000,000 young men and some women.
F.D R is inaugurated New Deal Congress passes legislation to establish the CCC. which employs 3,000,000 young men and some women. l937 - 1939 Japan invades China ; Germany annexes Austria; Hitler seizes Czechoslovakia; War begins in Europe.
Japan invades China ; Germany annexes Austria; Hitler seizes Czechoslovakia; War begins in Europe. 1941Pear Harbor attacked by Japan. U S enters World War 2.
Pear Harbor attacked by Japan. U S enters World War 2. 1945 April, Germany surrenders
April, Germany surrenders August, Japan surrenders. 1946-1950 inflation runs rampant ; Korean War begins in 1950
inflation runs rampant ; Korean War begins in 19501950-1960 Great advances in science and technology are achieved ; The fifties are the era of the "affluent society;" the "silent generation."
Great advances in science and technology are achieved ; The fifties are the era of the "affluent society;" the "silent generation." l96l - l968 The Kennedy and Johnson years culminate in the Vietnam War.
The Kennedy and Johnson years culminate in the Vietnam War. l969 Man walks on the moon ; the Space Age arrives, public school segregation ends.
Man walks on the moon ; the Space Age arrives, public school segregation ends. l970 - l982 Great advances are made in medicine there is a new awareness of pollution and the environment.
Great advances are made in medicine there is a new awareness of pollution and the environment.1980-1994 popularity of genealogical research as a hobby spurs large hundreds of community groups to preserve local history and to copy and publish courthouse and cemetery records, diaries, journals, and memoirs.
popularity of genealogical research as a hobby spurs large hundreds of community groups to preserve local history and to copy and publish courthouse and cemetery records, diaries, journals, and memoirs. 