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English settlers establish Jamestown, Virginia, marking the beginning of European colonization in North America.
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The first enslaved Africans are brought to Jamestown, becoming an integral part of the American labor force.
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Many colonies, such as Virginia and South Carolina, enact slave codes, establishing the legal foundation for racial slavery.
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American Revolution and the Birth of a Nation
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The United States declares independence from British rule with the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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The U.S. Constitution is adopted, defining the qualifications for citizenship, but it excludes Native Americans, African Americans, and women.
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The Missouri Compromise temporarily maintains the balance between slave and free states.
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The Trail of Tears forcibly relocates Native American tribes, leading to the loss of their ancestral lands.
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The American Civil War is fought over issues of slavery and states' rights.
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The Emancipation Proclamation declares enslaved people in Confederate states to be free.
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The 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishes slavery throughout the United States.
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The 14th Amendment is ratified, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and guaranteeing equal protection under the law.
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The 15th Amendment is ratified, granting voting rights to African American men.
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The Chinese Exclusion Act restricts immigration of Chinese laborers.
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The National Origins Act establishes immigration quotas favoring Western and Northern Europeans while limiting immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia.
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Brown v. Board of Education ends legal segregation in public schools.
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The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
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The Voting Rights Act ensures voting rights for African Americans.
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The Immigration and Nationality Act abolishes national-origin quotas, leading to increased immigration from Asia and Latin America.
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Plyler v. Doe guarantees access to public education regardless of immigration status.
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The DREAM Act is introduced to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.