1646
- May 6
- First American patent awarded to New England die (coin) sinker Joseph Jenks. [404.44] [405.22]
1682
- July 15
- William Penn signs first peace treaty with Indians. [513.22]
1692
- September 22
- Last person hanged for witchcraft in US. [1]
1720
- March 24
- Financial crisis for banks of Paris, France, as the Mississippi Bubble bursts. [790.90]
1729
- July 30
- City of Baltimore founded. [1] [5]
1735
- February 8
- First opera in US, Flora, opens in Charleston, South Carolina. [1]
1746
- December 6
- The government of the colony of New York authorizes a lottery to raise 2250 pounds for advancement of learning and toward founding of a college. This is the start of Columbia University. [819.74]
1763
- April 19
- English Parliament bans American colonies from printing their own paper money. [393.60]
- November 15
- Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon begin surveying Mason-Dixon Line between Pennsylvania and Maryland. [1]
1773
- December 16
- In Boston Harbor, a group of 116 Massachusetts colonists disguised as Indians board three British tea ships and dump 342 chests of tea into the harbor, in protest of the British Parliament's Tea Act of 1773, greatly lowering the tea tax on the East India Company. [1] [129] [450.48] [696.19]
1774
- May 28
- The first Continental Cogress convenes in Philadelphia. [5] (Virginia [1])
- September 5
- First Continental Congress assembles, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [1] [916.169]
1775
- March 17
- British forces evacuate Boston. [397.80]
- April 14
- First abolitionist society in US organizes in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. [1]
- April 18
- In Massachusetts, Paul Revere and William Dawes ride calling "the British are coming!" to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams to escape. [1] [450.175]
- April 19
- British Marines and Light Infantry under Major John Pitcairn open fire on local militia of Massachusetts at Lexington, killing 19 with no English losses. This begins the American Revolutionary War. [1] [129] [487.34] [696.20] [857.34]
- At Concord bridge, British troops are repulsed by Massachusetts militia with heavy losses to the British. [696.20]
- British forces withdraw to Boston, beginning the American siege of the city. [397.80]
- June 3
- The Continental Congress approves the first domestic loan. [411.46]
- June 14
- The Continental Congress adopts the New England army as the Continental Army, and votes to raise ten companies of riflemen. [1] [438.70]
- June 15
- The Continental Congress names George Washington as commander in chief of the Continental Army. [1] [438.70]
- June 17
- British forces attack American militiamen at Breed's Hill; they initially retreat, British Major John Pitcairn is killed by a musket ball, but the British clear the hill. [1] [696.20]
- June 22
- The Continental Congress authorizes first issue of $2 million in Continental currency. [843.38]
- July 3
- George Washington takes command of the Continental Army as commander-in-chief at Cambridge, Massachusetts. [1] [397.80]
- August 22
- King George III proclaims American colonies to be in open rebellion. [1] [916.169]
- October 13
- The Continental Congress orders construction of a naval fleet (establishment of the Continental Navy). [1] [438.70]
- November 10
- The Continental Congress establishes the Continental Marines. [1] [438.70]
1776
- January 11
- Continental Congress makes Continental currency legal tender. [569.80]
- March 3
- The Continental Marines land at New Providence in the Bahamas. [1] [438.70]
- March 4
- George Washington's Continental Army besieges Boston. [603.56]
- March 17
- British forces evacuate Boston to Halifax, Nova Scotia during American Revolutionary War. [1] [696.21] [857.35]
- March 25
- The Continental Congress votes in favor of presenting General George Washington with a gold medal of honor for the siege of Boston on March 4 and 5, 1776. [1] [397.80]
- May 10
- First issue of $1 notes, authorized by the Continental Congress. [542.60]
- June 7
- Richard Lee of Virginia moves for a Declaration of Independence in the Continental Congress. [1]
- June 10
- Continental Congress appoints a committee to write a Declaration of Independence. [1] [565.152]
- June 29
- Virginia state constitution is adopted and Patrick Henry is made governor. [1]
- (month unknown)
- The Continental Congress authorizes a lottery to raise $10 million, but is postponed several times and abandoned. [819.74]
- July 24
- Thomas Jefferson is appointed to Continental Congress committee on monetary policy. [420.62]
- December 12
- The Continental Congress authorizes Robert Morris to borrow money for the navy. [574.62]
- December 24
- General George Washington crosses the Delaware River to surprise Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey. [1] [464.44]
- December 31
- Rhode Island establishes wage and price controls to curb inflation: Limit is 70 cents a day for carpenters, 42 cents for tailors. [1]
1777
- February 20
- Continental Congress committee on Treasury recommends a mint be established for coining money. [601.58]
- March 24
- Benjamin Franklin negotiates a loan for the United States government with French officials. [711.34]
- May 20
- "United States" replaces "United Colonies" on currency. [495.36]
- July 2
- Vermont becomes the first American territory to abolish slavery. [5]
- September 23
- The Liberty Bell is moved to Allentown, Pennsylnavia, to keep it safe from the British. [438.42]
- December 5
- Horace Walpole writes to Countess of Upper Ossory "I rejoice that the Americans are to be free, as they had a right to be, and as I am sure they have shown they deserve to be." [919.86]
1778
- July 9
- Congress approves the Articles of Confederation. [418.44]
1779
- January 2
- Continental Congress recalls previous loan certificates because of British counterfeiting. [466.79]
- November 29
- The Continental Congress authorizes the first issue of Continental Currency. [455.28]
1780
- January 4
- Snowstorm hit Washington's army at Morristown New Jersey. [1]
- October 2
- John Andre, British major, hanged by Americans at age 30 (spied with Benedict Arnold). [1] [515.40]
1781
- March 1
- The Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation, on the ratification by the 13 colonies of North America. [1] [450.70] [603.56] (March 13 [432.94])
- May 26
- Bank of North America incorporated in Philadelphia. [1] [496.32]
- May 31
- US Congress declares Continental Currency no longer legal tender. [638.32]
- December 31
- Continental Congress charters the Bank of North America. [1] [567.81] [609.81]
1782
- February 21
- US congress authorizes the establishment of a US mint. [1] [770.92]
- June 20
- US Congress approves a written description of the Great Seal of the USA and the eagle as its symbol. [1] [5] [414.72] [439.38] [767.22]
- August 7
- General George Washington creates the Badge of Military Merit honor (later called the Purple Heart), for the enlisted man's sacrifice in war. [427.92] [670.52] 910.44]
- September 16
- Great Seal of US used for first time. [1]
1783
- April 23
- Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris submits examples of pattern 1783 Nova Constellatio coins to Congress. [393.60]
- December 4
- General Washington bids officers farewell at Fraunce's Tavern, New York City, New York. [1] [5]
- December 23
- General George Washington resigns as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. [397.80] [464.44,74]
1785
- May 13
- The Continental Congress committee reports on plans for a coinage. [406.88]
- July 6
- The dollar (and decimal coinage) is unanimously chosen by the Continental Congress as the monetary unit for the United States. the US is the first nation to adopt decimal money system. [1] [5] [417.56] [450.46] [512.36] [584.9] [677.28]
- August 22
- William Barton submits his outline for the establishment of a Mint to the Continental Congress. [431.60]
- October 20
- The Connecticut General Court authorizes coining up to 10,000 pounds of copper coins with an emblem of Liberty. [445.60]
1786
- August 8
- The American Continental Congress defines a silver dollar containing 375.64 grains of silver as the nation's unit of account. [388.188] [427.67] [910.44]
- September 20
- Continental Congress passes ordinance for establishing a Mint and regulating value and alloy of coinage. [549.72] [698.42]
- October 16
- Continental Congress authorizes coinage system of gold piece valued at $10, silver piece at $1, tenth dollar in silver, and copper penny. [538.34] [553.36] [703.44]
- October 17
- The Commonwealth of Massachusetts authorizes a mint for striking gold, silver, and copper coinage. [450.70]
1787
- June 1
- Authority is granted for a New Jersey coinage. [468.12]
- September 17
- The United States Constitution is signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [1] [5]
- December 7
- Delaware becomes first state to ratify US Constitution. [1] [548.42]
1788
- January 2
- Georgia is fourth state to ratify US constitution. [1] [453.70]
- February 6
- Massachusetts becomes sixth state to ratify the US Constitution. [1] [453.70] (February 8 [450.70])
- May 21
- James Jarvis & Co. delivers 400,000 Fugio cents to the national government. [412.84]
- May 23
- South Carolina becomes 8th state to ratify US constitution. [1] [453.70]
- June 21
- US Constitution goes into effect as New Hampshire is 9th state to ratify it. [1] [432.95]
1789
- March 4
- First US Congress declares constitution in effect (9 senators, 13 representatives). [1]
- September 2
- Congress establishes US Treasury Department. [497.56] [698.42]
- September 11
- Alexander Hamilton takes oath of office as first US secretary of the Treasury. [1] [501.44]
- September 22
- US Congress establishes the Office of Postmaster General within the Treasury Department. [1] [438.42] [550.56]
- The U.S. Post Office is established. [1] [5]
- September 24
- The U.S. Congress passes the Judiciary Act which provides an attorney general and the Supreme Court. [1] [5]
- September 25
- US Congress proposes Bill of Rights (10 of 12 will ratify). [1] [37]
- November 20
- New Jersey becomes first state to ratify Bill of Rights. [1] [5]
- November 21
- North Carolina ratifies constitution, becomes 12th US state. [1] [454.64]
- November 26
- First national thanksgiving. [1]
1790
- May 29
- Rhode Island becomes last of original 13 colonies ratifying Constitution. [1] [453.70]
- July 26
- US passes Assumption Act making US responsible for state debts. [1] [459.64]
- July 31
- First US patent granted, to Samuel Hopkins for a potash process. [1]
- August 1
- First US census (population of 3,939,214). [1]
- August 4
- Congress authorizes construction of ten vessels to enforce tariff and trade laws, prevent smuggling, and protect the collection of federal revenue. [1] [438.72]
- August 10
- Robert Gray's Columbia, completes first American voyage around the world. [1]
1791
- January 1
- The Bank of North America converts accounts from Mexican dollars to US dollars. [466.79] [609.81]
- February 25
- President George Washington signs a bill into law establishing a national bank, with 20 year charter. The Bank is capitalized with US$10 million, with $8 million from private investors. [480.56] [705.36] [789.78] [916.172]
- March 3
- Congressional joint resolution authorizes a US mint. [794.42]
- December 2
- Bank of the United States issues paper money. [573.42]
- December 12
- First Bank of the United States opens for business. [460.36] [574.62]
1792
- January 12
- US Senate passes bill authorizing establishment of a federal mint. [303.68] [471.32] [569.80]
- April 2
- US President George Washington signs the Coinage Act, establishing the US Mint, and authorizes $10 Eagle, $5 half-Eagle and $2.50 quarter-Eagle gold coins and dollar, half dollar, quarter dollar, dime and half-dime silver coins. Coins of gold and silver are legal tender, but base metal coins, such as copper, are not. [1] [5] [303.69] [397.52] [474.160] [485.38]
- April 14
- US Senate confirms David Rittenhouse as first US Mint director. [400.56]
- May 2
- The US government borrows US$400,000 from the Bank of United States for protecting the frontier. [403.60]
- May 8
- US establishes military draft. [1]
- US Congress approves copper purchase for coinage, and outlaws private copper coinage. [404.44] [621.58]
- Congress extends redemption of Continental Currency to March 7, 1793. [405.22]
- July 18
- The US buys the site for the Philadelphia Mint for $5466.66. [419.58]
- July 31
- David Rittenhouse lays foundation stone for Philadelphia Mint. [421.68] [459.64] [516.32] [677.28]
- December 17
- The US Mint strikes first coin patterns, copper cents with silver centers. [607.30]
1793
- January 1
- Representative Elias Boudinot recommends portrait of Christopher Columbus be placed on first US coinage. [466.79]
- February 9
- Congress passes an act regulating legal tender value of foreign coins. [688.30] [755.48] [781.80]
- (month unknown)
- The US government runs Federal Lottery No. 1, selling 50,000 tickets at $7 each, to finance the building of Federal City in the District of Columbia. George Washington buys the first ticket. [565.152]
- September 18
- George Washington lays the cornerstone of the US Capitol building. [1] [437.80]
- November 23
- Robert Scot is officially appointed chief engraver at the US Mint. [454.64] [525.193] [544.48]
1794
- April 4
- Albion Cox is appointed as US Mint assayer. [397.52]
- July 18
- The Bank of Maryland makes the first deposit of silver bullion at the US Mint, $80,715.735 in French coins. [451.38] [513.22] [677.28]
- August 23
- The Bank of North America deposits more than $20,000 in silver at the Philadelphia Mint for coinage. [493.34] [519.32]
- October 14
- The Philadelphia Mint begins production of silver dollars for circulation. [709.134]
- October 15
- Chief Coiner Henry Voigt delivers the first minted dollars and half dollars. [443.68]
- December 1
- The US Mint releases first half dollars into circulation. [547.38]
1795
- February 3
- Oliver Wolcott Junior takes office as Treasury Secretary. [572.70]
- February 12
- Boston merchant Moses Brown makes first deposit of gold at Philadelphia Mint, $2275.22. [688.30]
- February 13
- First state university in US opens, University of North Carolina. [1]
- July 9
- James Swan pays off the US national debt of $2,024,899. [418.44] [677.28]
- October 27
- William De Saussure resigns as Director of the US Mint. [421.68] [556.72]
- October 28
- Elias Boudinot becomes director of the US Mint. [421.126]
- December 15
- US Senate confirms Elias Boudinot as US Mint director. [463.42] [558.64] [607.30]
1797
- March 20
- The first U.S. Assay Commission meets. [710.34]
- July 22
- George Washington issues a proclamation indefinitely extending the legal tender status of Spanish milled dollar. [420.62]
- October 15
- Foreign silver coins except Spanish milled dollars cease to be legal tender. [443.68]
- October 21
- The US Navy frigate USS Constitution is launched in Boston harbor. [1] [450.146]
1798
- April 30
- Congress establishes the Department of the Navy. [1] [438.70]
- July 11
- US President John Adams signs a bill into law creating the U.S. Marines. [1] [438.70]
- July 31
- President John Adams issues proclamation extending circulation of foreign coins, due to coin shortage. [421.68]
- August 31
- $162,821 is stolen at night from vaults of the Bank of Pennsylvania, the first bank robbery in the USA. [497.56]
1799
- March 2
- An Act of Congress establishes the value within the USA of coins of Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, and other countries. [784.74]
- December 14
- George Washington, first President of the USA (1789-97), dies at Mount Vernon, Virginia, at age 67. [1] [5] [558.64] [765.40]
- December 18
- George Washington's body interred at Mount Vernon. [1]
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