sissippi, June, 1542; explorer of the south- 1595; explores the coast of California in 1578-79; first Englishman to sail around the globe, reaching England.........1580 Davis, John, born in England in 1550; died on the coast of Malacca in 1605; discoverer of Davis's Strait in 1585; of the Falkland Islands... ...1592 ern United States; discoverer of the Mis- July 21, 1576 Drake, Sir Francis, born in England in 1537 (?); died in Puerto Bello, Dec. 27, Hudson, Henry, born in England; discoverer and explorer of the Hudson River in the interests of the Dutch, September, 1609, and Hudson Bay in 1611. Sent adrift in an open boat by his crew and never heard of afterwards.. ..1611 UNDER THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS Pursuant to arrangements made by committees appointed in the colonies to confer regarding the interests and safety of the colonies, and termed committees of correspondence," delegates were chosen for the first Continental Congress, to meet at Philadelphia about Sept. 1, 1774. First Continental Congress meets at Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia (forty-four delegates present, representing all the States except Georgia and North Carolina; see below)... Monday, Sept. 5, 1774 [Peyton Randolph, of Virginia, president; Charles Thomson, secretary. Thomson remained secretary of the Continental Congress from its beginning to its close, 1774-89.] DELEGATES TO THE FIRST CONTINENTAL Mr. Credentials DELEGATES TO THE FIRST CONTINENTAL Delegates. 21. James Kinsey.. 23. Richard Smith.. 24 William Livingston... 26. Hon. Joseph Galloway. 28. Thomas Mifflin.. 29. John Morton. 30. Charles Humphreys.. 32. George Ross 39. Samuel Chase. 47. Edmund Pendleton.. 1. Maj. John Sullivan... New Hamp- July 21, 1774 48. Richard Henry Lee...... 2. Col. Nathaniel Folsom 3. Hon. Thomas Cushing 4. John Adams 5. Samuel Adams.. 6. Robert Treat Paine... 7. Hon. Stephen Hopkins] 8. Hon. Samuel Ward... 9. Hon. Eliphalet Dyer.. 10. Hon. Roger Sherman. 11. Silas Deane.. 12. James Duane.. 13. Philip Livingston 14. John Jay 15. Isaac Low 16. John Alsop. 17. John Herring 20. Col. William Floyd.... shire..... 49. Henry Middletou.. Aug. 10, 1774 52. John Rutledge. State Represented. Credentials Connecticut... July 13, 1774 Richard Henry Lee.. Thomas Johnson Henry Wisner.... other July 28, 1774 George Ross... counties in Joseph Hewes.... John Dickinson province of July 28, 1774 John Herring. New York.. J Simon Boerum.. Date of Joining. Sept. 6, 1774 Sept. 12, " New York....Sept. 14, " North Caro- lina.... New York... Oct. 1, 44 Congress resolves "that in determining North Carolina, April 7, 1775; New questions, each colony or province shall Jersey, May 26, 1775.] have one vote". Sept. 6, 1774 Rhode Island colonists seize forty-four Rev. Jacob Duché opens Congress with pieces of ordnance at Newport prayer... .Sept. 7, 1774 Resolution of Suffolk, Mass., convention (Sept. 6), "that no obedience is due to any part of the recent acts of Parliament," approved by Congress Dec. 6, 1774 Maryland convention enrolls the militia and votes £10,000 to purchase arms Dec. 8-12, 1774 New Hampshire freemen seize 100 barSept. 10, 1774 rels of powder and some ordnance at PortsCongress rejects a plan for union with mouth...... . Dec. 11, 1774 Great Britain, proposed by Joseph Gallo- Benjamin Franklin returns from Engway, of Pennsylvania, as intended to per- land.... . April, 1775 petuate dependence........ Sept. 28, 1774 Delegates from Georgia to Congress by Battle of Point Pleasant, west Vir- letter express loyalty, and explain inabil ginia..... ...Oct. 10, 1774 ity to attend... .April 8, 1775 Congress adopts a "Declaration of First anti-slavery society in the United Colonial Rights," claiming self-government States formed by Quakers of Philadel Oct. 14, 1774 American Association, denouncing foreign slave-trade, and pledging the signers to non-consumption and to non-intercourse with Great Britain, Ireland, and the British West Indies, signed by fifty-two members of Congress.......Oct. 20, 1774 Address to the People of Great Britain," prepared by John Jay, approved by Congress... .Oct. 21, 1774 Congress adopts a Memorial to the Several Anglo-American Colonies" Oct. 21, 1774 A letter to the unrepresented colonies of St. John, N. S., Georgia, and east and west Florida, despatched by Congress Oct. 22, 1774 Randolph resigning on account of indisposition, Henry Middleton, of South Carolina, succeeds him as president of Congress.. ....Oct. 22, 1774 "Petition to the King" drawn by John Dickinson, ordered sent to colonial agents in London by Congress......Oct. 25, 1774 Congress adopts "An Address to the People of Quebec," drawn by Dickinson Oct. 26, 1774 First Continental Congress dissolved; fifty-two days' session (actual session thirty-one days).. ..Oct. 26, 1774 [Proceedings of first Continental Congress endorsed by the colonies: Connecticut, November, 1774; Massachusetts, Dec. 5. 1774; Maryland, Dec. 8, 1774; Rhode Island, Dec. 8, 1774; Pennsylvania, Dec. 10. 1774; South Carolina, Jan. 11, 1775; New Hampshire, Jan. 25, 1775; Delaware, March 15, 1775; Virginia, March 20, 1775; phia.... Letters from England to public officials in America, expressing determination of England to coerce the colonies, intercepted at Charleston, S. C..... April 19, 1775 Congress adopts a second petition to the King... .....July 8, 1775 Congress organizes a systematic superintendence of Indian affairs. .July 12, 1775 Benjamin Franklin, first postmastergeneral, establishes posts from Falmouth, Me., to Savannah, Ga..................July 26, 1775 Congress adopts an "Address to the People of Ireland ........July 28, 1775 Resolved by Congress, "That Michael Hillegas and George Clymer, Esqs., be joint treasurers of the United Colonies" July 29, 1775 Peyton Randolph died at Philadelphia Oct. 22, 1775 Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense Jan. 8, 1776 General Thomas died of small-pox at Chambly.... .June 2, 1776 Committee appointed by Congress to draw up a Declaration of Independence June 11, 1776 Engrossed declaration signed by fiftyfour delegates.. ..Aug. 2, 1776 First society of Shakers in the United Colonies reach New York, 1774, and settle at Watervliet, N. Y...... September, 1776 Second Continental Congress (Philadelphia) adjourns; 582 days' session Dec. 12, 1776 Third Continental Congress meets at Baltimore, Md..... .Dec. 20, 1776 [John Hancock, president.] Voted in Congress "that an authentic copy, with names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, be sent to each of the United States "..Jan. 20, 1777 Third Continental Congress (Baltimore) adjourns; seventy-five days' session March 4, 1777 Fourth Continental Congress meets at Philadelphia...... March 4, 1777 [John Hancock, president.] Fourth Continental Congress adjourns, 199 days' session.... .Sept. 18, 1777 Fifth Continental Congress meets at Lancaster, Pa., and adjourns; one day's session... .Sept. 27, 1777 [Hancock, president.] Sixth Continental Congress meets at York, Pa...... .Sept. 30, 1777 [Hancock, president.] Henry Laurens, of South Carolina, chosen president of Congress to succeed Hancock, resigned on account of ill-health Nov. 1, 1777 Gen. John Cadwallader seriously wounds General Conway in a duel... Feb. 5, 1778 Congress prescribes an oath for officers of the army.... .February, 1778 Count Pulaski raises a legion in Maryland .1778 Sixth Continental Congress adjourns, 272 days' session.... ....June 27, 1778 Seventh Continental Congress meets at Philadelphia.... ..July 2, 1778 [Henry Laurens, president.] Francis Hopkinson elected treasurer of loans by Congress. ..July 27, 1778 Territory northwest of the Ohio, occupied for Virginia by Major Clarke, is constituted a county of Virginia by the Assembly, and named Illinois. .October, 1778 Congress advises the several States to take measures for the suppressing of "theatrical entertainments, horse-racing, gaming, and such other diversions as are productive of idleness, dissipation, and general depravity of principles and manners Oct. 12, 1778 دو newspaper in America, issued at Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin Bache..1784 Fiscal affairs of the United States placed in the hands of three commission 1784 Congress sends the ministers to France and Spain a statement of the claims of the United States to lands as far as the Mississippi River..... ....Oct. 17, 1780 Robert Morris appointed superintendent ers appointed to succeed Robert Morris of finances by Congress.... Feb. 20, 1781 Delegates from Maryland sign the Articles of Confederation....March 1, 1781 Thomas McKean, of Delaware, elected president of the Continental Congress July 10, 1781 John Hanson, of Maryland, chosen president of Continental Congress...Nov. 5, 1781 Lafayette sails for France from Boston in the Alliance... .Dec. 22, 1781 Congress adopts a great seal for the United States.. .June 20, 1782 Elias Boudinot, of New Jersey, chosen president of the Continental Congress Nov. 4, 1782 Constitution for the Society of the Cincinnati formed at the army quarters on the Hudson River.... .... May 13, 1783 Washington writes on the situation to each of the State governors..June 8, 1783 Seventh Continental Congress adjourns; session, 1,816 days.. ..June 21, 1783 [The longest session ever held in the United States.] John Jay appointed secretary of foreign affairs in place of Livingston, resigned March, 1784 General Assembly of North Carolina cedes her western lands to the United States on condition of acceptance within two years, April, 1784, but repeals the act Oct. 22, 1784 Eighth Continental Congress meets at Nov. 3, 1783 Ninth Continental Congress meets at Washington makes a tour of the western country to ascertain by what means it could be most effectually bound to the Union.. ...1784 Tenth Continental Congress meets at Nov. 30, 1784 Tenth Continental Congress adjourns; fifty-four days' session....Dec. 24, 1784 Eleventh Continental Congress meets at New York...... ..Jan. 11, 1785 [Richard H. Lee, president.] Gen. Henry Knox appointed Secretary of War with added duties of Secretary of Navy.... ....March 8, 1785 Franklin, minister to France, obtains leave to return; Jefferson is appointed March 10, 1785 Dispute between the United States and Spain on navigation of the Mississippi River and the boundaries of the Floridas 1785 Massachusetts cedes to the United States her claims to lands west of the Niagara River, in accordance with an act of legislature of Nov. 13, 1784 April 19, 1785 John Adams appointed minister plenipotentiary to Great Britain, Feb. 24, and received at the Court of George III. [Thomas Mifflin, president.] General Washington bids farewell to his officers at Fraunce's Tavern, corner Pearl and Broad streets, New York City Dec. 4, 1783 Washington resigns his commission as commander-in-chief at the State-house, Annapolis, Md., and retires to Mount Vernon... ...Dec. 23, 1783 Congress ratifies the definitive treaty June 1, 1785 of peace.... ...Jan. 14, 1784 Don Diego Gardoqui, minister from Congress accepts cession of Northwest Spain to the United States, recognized by Territory by Virginia; deeds signed by Congress.. ..July 2, 1785 Virginia delegates...... March 1, 1784 Treaty of amity and commerce conAmerican Daily Advertiser, first daily cluded between the King of Prussia and the United States, and signed by Thomas Twelfth Continental Congress meets at Ordinance establishing a United States mint passed by Congress....Oct. 16, 1786 Twelfth Continental Congress adjourns; 362 days' session.... Nov. 3, 1786 Thirteenth Continental Congress meets at New York..... Nov. 6, 1786 Arthur St. Clair, of Pennsylvania, chosen president of Congress.. Feb. 2, 1787 Congress advises the States to send delegates to a convention in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, to meet May 14............. . Feb. 21, 1787 Congress by ordinance provides government for the territory northwest of the Ohio (now Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin) . . . . . ..July 13, 1787 Treaty between the United States and Morocco ratified...........July 18, 1787 South Carolina cedes to the United States her claims to a strip 12 miles wide west of a line from the head of the Tugaloo River to the North Carolina border... Aug. 9, 1787 Sept. 17, 1787 Thirteenth Continental Congress adjourns; 359 days' session....Oct. 30, 1787 [Did not serve owing to illness.] James Rumsey succeeds in propelling a boat by steam and machinery on the Potomac... .March, 1786 First spinning-jenny in the United States put in operation by Daniel Jackson, of Providence, R. I.... ..1786 Nathaniel Gorham chosen president of Delegates to the convention sign the Conthe Continental Congress....June 6, 1786 stitution..... Gen. Nathanael Greene dies at Mulberry Grove, Ga...... .June 19, 1786 Ordinance establishing the coinage passed. . . . . ..August, 1786 Delegates from Virginia, Pennsylvania, at New York... Delaware, New Jersey, and New York, at Annapolis, Md., consider the condition of the nation, and request all the States to send delegates to a convention at Philadelphia in May following.. Sept. 11, 1786 Connecticut makes a qualified cession to the United States of all territory south of 41° N. lat., and west of a line 120 miles west of Pennsylvania. . . . . . Sept. 14, 1786 Shays's Rebellion in Massachusetts 1786 Fourteenth Continental Congress meets .Nov. 5, 1787 Spanish intrigues in Kentucky....1788 Cyrus Griffin, of Virginia, chosen president of Continental Congress. Jan. 22, 1788 Method for putting the new government into operation reported by the committee adopted by Congress....... Sept. 13, 1788 Fourteenth and last Continental Congress adjourns; 353 days' session..Oct. 21, 1788 Electors in the several States vote for President and Vice-President February, 1789 UNDER THE CONSTITUTION FIRST ADMINISTRATION-FEDERAL. March 4, 1789, to March 3, 1793. SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, New York City, 1789, and Philadelphia from Dec. 6, 1790. George Washington, Virginia, President. John Adams, Massachusetts, Vice-President. Speaker of the House, F. A. Muhlenberg. Electoral vote counted. George Washington, of Virginia, receives the entire electoral vote, 69, and is chosen President; and John Adams, of Massachusetts, receives 34 votes and becomes Vice-President.... .April 6, 1789 President takes the oath of office, New York.... April 30, 1789 First tariff bill passes....July 4, 1789 First Congress, first session, meets, New York. ... April 6, 1789 |