Top Ten Lists

top ten most exciting
- 1803. Dalton devises table of elements – Helped the advancement of modern science, esp. chemistry.
- 1839. Daguerre invents first form of photography – The daguerreotype is an early form of photography developed by Lois Daguerre in which the image is exposed onto a mirrored metal plate which reflects the image and makes it appear positive in the proper light.
- 1800. library of congress founded – The Library of Congress, erected in 1800, is the largest library in the world. It is located in Washington, D.C.
- 1832. Samuel morse improves telegraph – This invention led to improved communication across great distances.
- 1808. congress prohibits importing of African slaves – The Congress passed the Act to Prohibit the Slave Trade in 1807, abolishing the trading of slaves between us and Africa.
- 1803. Louisiana purchase – The US bought 828,800 square miles of territory from the French in 1803, leading to American expansion.
- 1793. eli whitney invents cotton gin – In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, a machine which made the whole textiles industry more profitable and effective in its work.
- 1789 – 1797. george Washington – George Washington, the first President of the US, set the tones for every President thereafter by doing great things during his term, such as creating the Cabinet of advisors.
- 1849. California gold rush – The 1849 California Gold Rush helped to realize our goals described in the term of Manifest Destiny by encouraging further expansion of United States citizens to the West coast who were seeking riches.
- 1811. first steamboat down Mississippi river reaches new Orleans – In 1811, the first in a line of steamboats reached New Orleans by way of the Mississippi River. Following that maiden voyage, during the 19th and early 20th centuries, trade on the Mississippi was dominated by steamboats.

top ten most terrible
- 1838. trail of tears – Ordered by President Jackson, the Trail of Tears was the forced relocation of Native Americans from their homelands to present-day Oklahoma, with many perishing en route.
- 1829 – 1837. Andrew Jackson – Andrew Jackson was hardly an idyllic leader, namely with his introductions of the Indian Removal Act, the spoils system, and with his support of slavery.
- 1798. alien and sedition act – The Alien and Sedition Act stated that any resident alien who was “dangerous to the peace and safety of the US” may be deported, amongst many other unfavourable things.
- 1830. Indian removal act – Put into action by President Andrew Jackson, the Indian Removal Act defined and authorised the forced relocation of Native Americans from their home territories.
- 1793. fugitive slave act – This Act stated that any escaped (or fugitive) slave must be returned to their owner, in favour of those who were pro-slavery.
- 1829. Andrew Jackson introduces spoils system – The spoils system, Andrew Jackson believed, would gain him more supporters by rewarding his followers.
- 1850 – 1870. plains Indians cede land for reservations – The Plains Indians were forced onto reservations.
- 1847. mormons and Indians – At first, the two groups got along, until the Mormons wanted Native American land, leading to conflicts between them.
- 1811. battle of Tippecanoe – In response to growing tensions between the Native Americans and Americans, the Battle of Tippecanoe was fought on November 7th, 1811. Public opinion in the US blamed the Native American uprising on British influence, which influenced the War of 1812.
- 1821. Missouri compromise – The Missouri Compromise, passed in 1821, regulated slavery in the Western territories.