Montana

1803 – Most of the Montana area was subject to the Louisiana Purchase of 1803    

1756 – 1756 to 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.

1775 – 1775 to 1783 – The American Revolution creates the United States of America. 

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  

1800’s – Conflict erupts between settlers and Native Indians. The Native Indians are gradually forced to cede their lands.

1803 – The Louisiana Purchase – includes most of Montana.

1805 – 1805 to 1806: Choctaw and northern (Chickasaw and Cherokee) Indian cessions open up land to white settlement.

1805 – 1805 to 1806:  Lewis and Clark explore Montana – Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) and William Clark (1770- 1838).

1807 – Manuel Lisa builds first fur fort in Montana at the mouth of the Yellowstone River.

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

1828 – Fort Union, an American Fur Company post, is built at the mouth of the Yellowstone River.

1841 – Father Pierre Jean de Smer establishes St. Mary’s Mission in the Bitterrot Valley.

1846 – The Oregon Treaty gives the rest of Montana to the U.S.

1847 – Fort Benton founded on Missouri River as military and trading post; soon becoming world-renown “Head of Navigation” to the west, and world’s furthest inland port. Steamboats brought gold seekers, fur traders, settlers and supplies, making Fort Benton the “Birthplace of Montana.” 

1861 – 1861 to 1865: The American Civil War. 

1864- 26 May, Montana Territory officially created by act of President Abraham Lincoln, Bannack chosen as first Territorial Capitol.

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

1865 – 1865 December 6 – The Abolishment of Slavery. 

1876 – Nez Pierce Indian Chief Joseph lead his people out of Oregon into Montana, but was forced to surrender in 1877 near Bear’s Paw Mountains in northern Montana.

1889 – Montana was the 41st State to be admitted to the Union. State Motto – ” Oro y plata ” the State Motto is translated as ” Gold and Silver “