-
1774 - Juan Perez
(1725-1775) commands the first Spanish expedition to explore
the Northwest Coast. Perez never went ashore, and so was not
able to claim the land for Spain.
-
1775 - The
Washington coast is sighted by Spanish Captain Don Bruno de
Heceta, of the Spanish Royal Navy on board the Santiago. He
claims the land for Spain.
-
1775 - 1783 - The
American Revolution creates the United States of America. The
Revolution was due to the British burden of taxes and total
power to legislate any laws governing the American colonies
-
July 4, 1776 -
United States Declaration of Independence
-
July 10, 1778 -
France declares war against Britain and makes an alliance with
the American revolutionary forces
-
1778 - Explored by
Captain James Cook (1728 - 1779) who was in search of a
Northwest Passage across North America to Asia
-
September 3, 1783
- The Treaty of Paris is signed by the victorious United
States and the defeated Great Britain
-
1790 - The Spanish
Nootka Concession of 1790 opened the northwest territory to
explorers and trappers
-
1792 - American
explorer Robert Gray (1755-1806), sailing from Boston,
Massachusetts names the Columbia River after his ship
-
1792 British
explorer Captain George Vancouver (1758-1798) leads an
expedition into the area
-
1792 Spain
establishes the first European settlement in Washington at
Neah Bay.
Facts about
the History of Washington History - The Early 1800's
-
1803 - The Louisiana
Purchase - In 1803, the United States bought the Louisiana
Territory from France. The U.S. Secretary of State, James
Madison paid 15 million dollars for the land
-
1805 - Lewis and
Clark enter Washington - Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) and
William Clark (1770- 1838). Female Shoshone Indian guide
Sacajawea (1788-1812) acted as interpreter and negotiator
-
1807- David
Thompson (1770-1857) Fur Trader and Mapmaker for the Hudson's
Bay and North West Company completes the first formal mapping
of the Columbia River.
-
1812 - 1815 - The
War of 1812 between U.S. and Great Britain, ended in a
stalemate but
confirmed America's Independence
-
1819 - Spain cede
their original claims to the territory to the United States.
This began a period of disputed joint-occupancy by Britain and
the U.S.
-
1825 - The
Hudson's Bay Company establishes forts Vancouver and Colvile
-
1841 - United
States naval expedition, headed by Charles Wilkes ( 1798-1877
) explores Washington
-
1846 - Treaty of
Oregon between United States and Great Britain sets boundary
at 49th parallel
-
1847 - Cayuse
Indians attack Whitman Mission in Walla Walla
-
1848 - The Oregon
Territory is created and the land is opened up to settlers
-
1853 - The
Washington Territory is created
-
1855 - The Yakima
Indian War lasts for three years
-
1855 - The Walla
Walla Treaty Council
-
1860 - Gold is
discovered in the Okanogan
Facts about the
History of Washington History - The American Civil War
-
1861 - 1865 The
American Civil War. In 1859 John Brown raided Harpers Ferry
and set in
motion events that led directly to the outbreak of the Civil
War. Abraham Lincoln, a
known opponent of slavery, was elected president and in 1861
the South Secedes. The
initial Secession of South Carolina was followed by the
secession of Mississippi, Florida,
Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas,
Tennessee, and North Carolina.
These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States
of America. The
bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the
American Civil War.
The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the
end of the Confederacy.
-
1865 December 6 -
The Abolishment of Slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment to the
U.S Constitution is ratified, thus officially abolishing
slavery
-
1889 - Washington
becomes the 42nd state
-
1898-1901 The
Spanish American War. On December 10, 1898 the Treaty of Paris
the US annexes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines.
Origin of the name
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