Washington DC in History

Polk begins a highly disciplined one term administration centered on defined policy goals

Polk asks Congress to reduce tariff rates and restore the independent treasury system

Polk takes office supporting completion of Texas annexation

Inaugurated President of the USA, 11th President

Polk forms his cabinet after taking office as President of the United States

Polk signs the resolution admitting Texas to the Union as the 28th state

Polk signs the Independent Treasury Act restoring a federal treasury system separate from private banks

Polk signs proclamation announcing that a state of war exists with Mexico

Polk signs the Walker Tariff lowering tariff rates and reshaping federal revenue policy

Proclaims the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in force for the United States

Ratifies the amended Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on behalf of the United States

Submits the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to the United States Senate

Lincolns election intensifies the secession crisis before his inauguration

Lincoln sends his first annual message to Congress

Lincoln declares that the Union is perpetual and appeals for preservation of the Constitution

Lincoln is inaugurated as the 16th President of the United States

Federal troops protect the capital during Lincolns first inauguration

Lincoln begins his first term as President of the United States

Lincoln states that his constitutional duty is to preserve protect and defend the Union

Lincoln addresses a special session of Congress at the start of his presidency

Lincoln appoints Edward Bates as Attorney General

Lincoln forms his first cabinet after taking office

Lincoln appoints Caleb B Smith as Secretary of the Interior

Lincoln appoints Montgomery Blair as Postmaster General

Lincoln appoints Salmon P Chase as Secretary of the Treasury

Revenue Act introduces the first federal income tax in United States history

Lincoln signs the Revenue Act creating new federal revenue measures

Lincoln calls on state governors to provide troops to suppress the rebellion

Lincoln calls for 75000 volunteers after the attack on Fort Sumter

Lincoln opposes compromise measures that would protect slavery in federal territory

Lincoln signs legislation authorizing federal borrowing and treasury notes

Lincoln administration expands federal control over national currency

Lincoln administration promotes settlement through expanded public land policy

Revenue Act establishes the Bureau of Internal Revenue

Lincoln signs the Pacific Railway Act supporting a transcontinental railroad

Lincoln signs the Pacific Railway Act supporting construction of the first transcontinental railroad

Lincoln signs a broader Revenue Act expanding federal tax administration

Pacific Railway Act grants federal support for construction of the transcontinental railroad

Lincoln sends his second annual message to Congress

Federal land grants are authorized to support agricultural and mechanical colleges

Lincoln signs the Morrill Act supporting land grant colleges

Lincoln signs the Morrill Act supporting land grant colleges

Lincoln signs legislation restricting bigamy in United States territories

Lincoln signs legislation creating the United States Department of Agriculture

Lincoln signs the Homestead Act opening western public land to settlers

Preliminary proclamation makes abolition in Confederate controlled areas an official Union war objective

Lincoln announces that enslaved people in rebellious areas will be declared free on January 1 1863

Lincoln issues the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation after the Battle of Antietam

Lincoln makes emancipation a central Union war aim

Lincoln warns rebellious states that enslaved people will be declared free unless they return to the Union

Lincoln signs the Legal Tender Act authorizing United States notes

Federal paper currency is authorized as legal tender

Lincoln issues the final Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation freeing enslaved people in rebellious areas

Emancipation policy makes foreign recognition of the Confederacy less likely

Emancipation Proclamation changes the Civil War into a war for Union and freedom

Lincoln signs the act incorporating the National Academy of Sciences

Lincoln issues a proclamation establishing a national Thanksgiving observance

Lincoln sends his third annual message to Congress

Lincoln announces a reconstruction plan for loyal governments in former Confederate states

National Banking Act creates the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Lincoln signs the National Banking Act creating a system of national banks

Lincoln signs legislation chartering the Northern Pacific Railway

Lincoln signs amendments expanding support for the transcontinental railroad project

Lincoln signs amendments strengthening federal support for the transcontinental railroad

Lincoln signs the National Bank Act revising the national banking system

Immigration Act creates federal machinery to encourage immigrant labor and settlement

Lincoln signs legislation encouraging immigration to the United States

Lincoln sends his fourth annual message to Congress

Lincoln assigns Ulysses S Grant to command the armies of the United States

Lincoln signs the Coinage Act authorizing new federal coinage

Federal coinage begins using the motto In God We Trust

Coinage Act authorizes the two cent coin for United States currency

Lincoln begins his 2nd term as President of the United States

Lincoln delivers his second inaugural address as victory over the Confederacy approaches

Lincoln speaks of reunion and reconstruction in his second inaugural address

Lincoln is inaugurated for his second presidential term

Lincoln begins his 2nd term as President of the United States

Lincoln appoints Hugh McCulloch as Secretary of the Treasury

John Wilkes Booth shoots Lincoln at Fords Theatre

Members of the cabinet military officers and family gather at Lincolns bedside during his final hours

News of Lincolns death spreads across the United States triggering national mourning and memorial services

Vice President Andrew Johnson prepares to assume the presidency following Lincolns death

Lincoln dies after being assassinated at Fords Theatre the previous night

Signs treaty clearing the way for a United States built canal

Presents the Andromeda Cepheid evidence to the astronomical community, establishing M31 as a separate galaxy and greatly enlarging the known scale of the universe.

Churchill and Roosevelt meet and agree to attack German forces in North Africa (Operation Torch) before launching invasion of Continental Europe, Torch serves to stall Bolero troop build-up in UK

Churchill and Roosevelt meet and agree to attack German forces in North Africa (Operation Torch) before launching invasion of Continental Europe, Torch serves to stall Bolero troop build-up in UK

Death of John Foster Dulles

Death of Dwight D Eisenhower

Announces final Gravity Probe B results confirming geodetic precession and frame dragging around Earth.

Reitze announces the first direct detection of gravitational waves by the LIGO collaboration

Is inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States.

Faces worldwide protests the day after his inauguration.

Faces first lawsuit alleging violation of the Constitution’s emoluments clause.

Reinstates restrictions on U.S. funding to NGOs providing abortion counseling.

Reinstates the Mexico City Policy restricting abortion-related foreign aid.

Directs withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Invites resubmission of the Keystone XL pipeline application.

Signs Executive Order 13767 on border wall planning and construction.

Orders construction of a wall along the southern border.

Signs Executive Order 13768 expanding immigration enforcement.

Signs an executive order restricting entry from several Muslim-majority countries.

Nominates Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.

Issues a revised travel ban after legal challenges.

Signs an order rolling back Obama-era climate and coal regulations.

Neil Gorsuch is sworn in as Supreme Court Justice.

Unveils outline of major tax cuts.

Fires FBI Director James Comey.

Announces U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.

Holds first full Cabinet meeting praising administration achievements.

Senate fails to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Begins implementation of major tax cuts passed in late 2017.

Withdraws the U.S. from the Iran nuclear agreement.

Imposes tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from allies.

Announces tariffs on Chinese goods, beginning a trade war.

Nominates Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

Announces further tariffs on Chinese imports.

Announces agreement on the USMCA trade deal replacing NAFTA.

Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed to the Supreme Court.

Moves to formalise U.S. exit from the Paris climate accord.

Democrats win control of the House of Representatives in midterm elections.

Triggers a partial government shutdown over border wall funding.

Agrees to reopen the federal government after the longest shutdown in United States history.

Agrees to reopen government after record-length shutdown.

Delivers State of the Union emphasising economic growth.

Moves to reprogram Pentagon funds for border wall.

Declares a national emergency to seek funding for a border wall.

Declares a national emergency to secure border wall funding.

Submits the report on Russian interference in the 2016 election to the Justice Department.

Receives the Mueller report on Russian interference.

Attorney General releases summary of the Mueller report.

NASA names its Moon return programme Artemis.

Holds phone call with Ukrainian President that later sparks impeachment inquiry.

Celebrates unemployment rate reaching 3.5 percent, a 50-year low.

Faces a formal impeachment inquiry opened by the House of Representatives.

House opens formal impeachment inquiry over Ukraine dealings.

Announces death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in U.S. raid.

Signs the USMCA trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.

Is impeached by the House of Representatives.

Is impeached by the House of Representatives.

Presides over the House during the impeachment of Donald Trump.

Authorises the strike that kills Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani.

Announces killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. strike.

Faces first Senate impeachment trial.

The United States confirms its first COVID-19 case.

Acknowledges first confirmed COVID-19 case in the United States.

Delivers State of the Union highlighting economy and impeachment.

Acquitted by the Senate in his first impeachment trial.

Is acquitted by the Senate in his first impeachment trial.

Named to lead the White House coronavirus task force.

Announces travel restrictions from Europe due to COVID-19.

Declares a national emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Declares a national emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Invokes Defense Production Act to boost medical supplies.

Conducts daily coronavirus task force briefings.

Signs the CARES Act economic relief package.

Signs the CARES Act relief package.

Highlights Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses.

Holds briefings as federal health agencies update mask guidance.

Announces phased guidelines for reopening the U.S. economy.

Announces initiative to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine development.

Faces nationwide protests after the killing of George Floyd.

Faces nationwide protests after George Floyd’s killing.

Walks to St. John’s Church after protesters are cleared from Lafayette Square.

Negotiates further relief measures with Congress.

Accepts the Republican nomination for president in 2020.

Hosts the signing of the Abraham Accords.

Death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Nominates Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

Hosts event later linked to COVID-19 cases among attendees.

Nominates Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

Announces he and Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19.

Announces that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19.

Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to the Supreme Court.

Holds ceremony marking Barrett’s appointment.

Confirmed as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Faces Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

Refuses to concede after the presidential election and challenges results.

Claims widespread fraud without evidence after election night.

Supports legal challenges to election results in multiple states.

The Electoral College confirms Joe Biden's presidential victory.

Electoral College votes confirm Joe Biden’s victory.

Addresses supporters before the Capitol is stormed.

Faces suspension from major social media platforms.

House passes article of impeachment for incitement of insurrection.

Leaves office as Joe Biden is inaugurated.

Faces second impeachment trial in the Senate.

Is acquitted in his second impeachment trial.