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There were many Native Indians
of Washington including the Chinook, Clalskanie,
Columbia, Makah, Nez Perce, Ozette, Palouse, Skin,
Wallawalla, Wynoochee and the Yakima tribes
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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
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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
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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
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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
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1776 |
July 4, 1776 - United States
Declaration of Independence |
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1778 |
July 10, 1778 - France
declares war against Britain and makes an alliance
with the American revolutionary forces
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1778 |
Explored by Captain James Cook
(1728 - 1779) who was in search of a Northwest
Passage across North America to Asia
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1783 |
September 3, 1783 - The Treaty
of Paris is signed by the victorious United States
and the defeated Great Britain
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1790 |
The Spanish Nootka Concession
of 1790 opened the northwest territory to explorers
and trappers |
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1792 |
American explorer Robert Gray
(1755-1806), sailing from Boston, Massachusetts
names the Columbia River after his ship
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1792 |
British explorer Captain
George Vancouver (1758-1798) leads an expedition
into the area |
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1792 |
Spain establishes the first
European settlement in Washington at Neah Bay. |
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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.
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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
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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.
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1812 |
1812 - 1815 - The War of 1812
between U.S. and Great Britain, ended in a stalemate
but confirmed America's Independence
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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.
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1825 |
The Hudson's Bay Company
establishes forts Vancouver and Colvile |
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1841 |
United States naval
expedition, headed by Charles Wilkes ( 1798-1877 )
explores Washington |
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1846 |
Treaty of Oregon between
United States and Great Britain sets boundary at
49th parallel |
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1847 |
Cayuse Indians attack Whitman
Mission in Walla Walla |
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1848 |
The Oregon Territory is
created and the land is opened up to settlers |
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1853 |
The Washington Territory is
created |
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1855 |
The Yakima Indian War lasts
for three years |
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1855 |
The Walla Walla Treaty Council |
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1859 |
John Brown raided Harpers
Ferry and set in motion events that led directly to
the outbreak of the Civil War.
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1860 |
Gold is discovered in the
Okanogan |
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1861 |
1861 - 1865: The American
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.
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1865 |
The surrender of Robert E. Lee
on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy |
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1865 |
1865 December 6 - The
Abolishment of Slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment to
the U.S. Constitution is ratified, thus officially
abolishing slavery.
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1865 |
The surrender of Robert E. Lee
on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy |
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1889 |
Statehood - The Date that
Washington was admitted to the Union - November 11,
1889. Constitution - Washington was the 42nd State
to be admitted to the Union. State Motto - " Alki "
the State Motto is translated as " Bye and Bye ". |
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1898 |
1898-1901 The Spanish American
War. On December 10, 1898 the Treaty of Paris the US
annexes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines.
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