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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. 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. | |
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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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