Background

Historians and geographers make and create timelines to sequence events. Timelines must be accurate to be useful. They must also be labeled carefully. Using the information given, create your own timeline showing important events from the 19th century.

Activities

Here are some important dates in Washington State History:

• 1805 Lewis and Clark reached the Columbia
• 1807 David Thompson began his trip down the Columbia
• 1810 Fort Okanogan, the first permanent American settlement in Washington State was established
• 1846 The 49th Parallel was chosen as the boundary between the U.S. and Great Britain
• 1847 The Whitman Massacre occurred
• 1848 Gold was discovered in California
• 1853 The Washington Territory was created by Congress
• 1863 Washington received its present boundaries
• 1877 The Chief Joseph war Occurred
• 1889 President Harrison made Washington the 42nd State

Create a Timeline
Using a piece of 8 ½ by 11 printer paper, create your own timeline showing these important events from the 19 th Century. You will need a ruler and a pencil.

1. Draw a l0 inch long line across the middle of your paper.
2. Make a mark at each inch on the line.
3. Label the beginning of the line 1800, the first mark 1810, the second 1820, etc.
4. Carefully place each date above on your timeline. Think carefully, if one inch = 10 years, how many far would mark 5 years?
5. For each date, include a label telling what happened on that date. Make sure all your labels are neatly written, proofread and easy to read.
6. Add a scale to your map telling readers how many inches represent 10 years on your scale. Or challenge yourself by indicating what distance represents 1 year on your timeline.
7. Finally, add a title so readers know what your timeline shows.