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37,978 BCE
Out of Africa
Huge migration where a large amount of people left Africa eastbound. -
12,978 BCE
Crossing of Beringia (Prehistory)
Hundreds of nomads crossed the valley of Beringia in the cold, cold Ice Age. -
1400
The 15th Century
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1400
End of Prehistory/Beginning of Renaissance
Prehistory ended around 1400CE and shortly after, the Renaissance began. The Renaissance was a resurgence of culture and art for Europe. Many historians agree that advancements in science and literature came to a halt before then (during the Middle Ages) and that they only restarted around this time. -
Period: 1400 to 1500
The 15th Century
America was rediscovered!! -
1492
Columbus reaches the Bahamas
Columbus landed on modern-day Haiti and encountered many Native Americans. He is credited with having discovered the New World that year. -
1500
The 16th Century
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Period: 1500 to
The 16th Century
This was the century of conquistadors. -
The 17th Century
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Period: to
The 17th Century
In this century, the Mayflower brought hundreds of pilgrims to America -
Jamestown
This was the very first colony founded by Englishmen in the New World. -
Plymouth
The Plymouth Colony was the first English settlement in the region of modern-day New England in the United States, settled by the religious Separatists known as the “pilgrims” who crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the Mayflower in 1620, fleeing religious persecution, to establish a settlement where they could follow whatever they believed in. -
Stamp Tax
The British put in a tax on stamps and enraged the colonists. -
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King Phillip’s War
Thousands of Natives were killed in the name of revenge. -
The 18th Century
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Period: to
The 18th Century
The Thirteen Colonies freed themselves from Great Britain during this century! The steam engine, telegraph and cotton gin were invented :) -
Boston Tea Party and Boston Massacre
Angry colonists refused to drink english tea and decided to dump it overboard. Shortly after, a massacre occurred in Boston after confused Redcoats felt the need to protect themselves. -
1st Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress convened in Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, between September 5 and October 26, 1774. Delegates from twelve of Britain's thirteen American colonies met to discuss America's future under growing British aggression. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775, the famous 'shot heard 'round the world', marked the start of the American War of Independence (1775-83). Politically disastrous for the British, it persuaded many Americans to take up arms and support the cause of independence. -
Period: to
Revolutionary War
The war that started with the Battle of Lexington and Concord but ended with freedom. -
Declaration of Independence
The document that the US used to declare that they were done with the oppression of the Brits. -
US Constitution Signed
Constitution that lay the groundwork for a country filled with justice and liberty was signed in 1787. -
The 19th Century
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Period: to
The 19th Century
Slavery was abolished in most Western countries, we had a civil war and the Industrial Revolution happened. The beginning of this century was also marked by the Regency Era. -
Period: to
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The trip that was used to explore the Western US. -
Missouri Compromise
This compromise came about in 1820 when Missouri was applying to become a state. Missouri became a slave state while Maine became a Free-State to keep the balance of power. The compromise also said that any state that was North of a certain latitude line would be a Free-State. -
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Trail of Tears
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Mexican War
This was the war fought over Texas. -
Gold Rush begins
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Kansas-Nebraska Act
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Period: to
American Civil War
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Period: to
American Civil War
The war against slavery fought by the North and South -
Period: to
Homesteading the plains
This was an act passed by the American government that allowed each citizen who didn’t fight the Union to pay $10 for 160 acres of land for agriculture. -
Period: to
Reconstruction
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Period: to
Cattle drives in the Great Plains
This was the cowboys’ heyday. The time period where longhorns were driven from the wild Texan west to the cowpoke town of Abilene. -
Alaska Purchased
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First Transcontinental Railroad
The act that industrialized transportation in America. More importantly, the steel pieces that tied together a nation -
Suez Canal opens
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Period: to
Plain Wars
The war between barbed wire and cattle transportation. -
Period: to
Jim Crow Laws created
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Hawaii becomes U.S. posession
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Spanish-American War
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U.S. Gains Control of Multiple Islands
The annexing of Puerto Rico, Philippine Islands and other Pacific Islands. -
The 20th Century
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United States Becomes a World Power
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Period: to
The 20th Century
Defined by events like WW1 and WW2, it’s very easy to overlook other key events of the time. For one thing, the Great Depression occurred, only 26 years after the first functioning airplane was invented. Along with the Cold War, incredible fashion statements and the development of the film industry, it truly was a remarkable time. -
U.S. takes over Panama Canal construction
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The 21st Century (today)
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Period: to
The 21st Century (today)
With the 21st Century barely starting, there’s not much to say about it. In the past 22 years, technology has advanced immensely to the point that in 2012, a rover took a selfie on Mars. There was the global financial crisis in 2007, the attack of the twin towers in 2001 and a worldwide pandemic from 2019-present day.