1540

Spanish explorer, Spanish Hernando de Soto (1500-1542) explores the area in search of gold

1673

James Needham and Gabriel Arthur of England sent by Virginia trader to scout trade with Cherokee Indians and explore the Tennessee River Valley

1682

Claimed by the French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (1643-1687) for France

1714

Charles Charleville sets up a French trading post at French Lick

1756

1756 - 1763: The Seven Years War (French and Indian War) due to disputes over land is won by Great Britain. France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. The Spanish give up east and west Florida to the English in return for Cuba.

1769

Daniel Boone ( 1735 - 1818 ) explores the region

1769

William Bean ( 1721 - 1782 ) establishes first white settlement in Tennessee

1772

A group of settlers form their own government called the Watauga Association and implement one of the first written constitutions in America

1775

The Transylvania Company buys land from the Cherokees

1775

Daniel Boone, working for the Transylvania Company, blazes a trail called the Wilderness Road from Virginia across the mountain at Cumberland Gap to open the land to settlement

1775

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. George Washingtonled the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War (American War of Independence)

1776

July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence

1778

July 10, 1778 - France declares war against Britain and makes an alliance with the American revolutionary forces

1783

September 3, 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed by the victorious United States and the defeated Great Britain

1784

3 counties in East Tennessee form the short-lived State of Franklin, which secedes from North Carolina for 4 years

1796

Statehood - The Date that Tennessee was admitted to the Union - June 1, 1796. Constitution - Tennessee was the 16th State to be admitted to the Union. State Motto - " Agriculture and Commerce ".

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

1812

1812 - 1815: The War of 1812 between U.S. and Great Britain, ended in a stalemate but confirmed America's Independence

1820

Maine becomes its own state

1861

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. 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.

1865

The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy

1865

1865 December 6 - The Abolishment of Slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, thus officially abolishing slavery.

1865

The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy

1898

1898-1901 The Spanish American War. On December 10, 1898 the Treaty of Paris the US annexes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines.

Tennessee Timeline

Origin of the State name - Named after Cherokee name "Tanasi" meaning Little River.

Privacy Statement

Cookie Policy

© 2017 Siteseen Ltd