U.S.A. TIMELINE

  • Jamestown Founded

    The first permanent English settlement in North America is established in Virginia.
  • Mayflower Compact Signed

    The Pilgrims establish a self-governing colony in Massachusetts.
  • Declaration of Independence

    The Thirteen Colonies declare independence from Britain.
  • U.S. Constitution Ratified

    The Constitution is adopted, establishing the framework for the U.S. government.
  • Louisiana Purchase

    The U.S. acquires a vast territory from France, doubling its size.
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    War of 1812

    Conflict between the U.S. and Britain; strengthens American national identity.
  • Missouri Compromise

    An agreement to maintain the balance between slave and free states.
  • Gold Rush Begins

    The discovery of gold in California leads to mass migration and economic growth.
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    American Civil War

    A conflict between the Northern states (Union) and the Southern states (Confederacy) over slavery; ends with the abolition of slavery.
  • Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

    President Lincoln is assassinated shortly after the end of the Civil War.
  • Telephone Invented

    Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone, revolutionizing communication.
  • Women’s Suffrage

    The 19th Amendment is ratified, granting women the right to vote.
  • Stock Market Crash

    The Wall Street Crash leads to the Great Depression, a severe worldwide economic downturn.
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    World War II

    The U.S. plays a crucial role in the Allied victory and emerges as a global superpower.
  • Assassination of John F. Kennedy

    President Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
  • Moon Landing

    Apollo 11 lands on the Moon, marking a major achievement in space exploration.
  • Watergate Scandal

    President Richard Nixon resigns after a scandal involving political espionage and cover-ups.
  • 9/11 Attack

    Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon; leads to the War on Terror.
  • Election of Barack Obama

    Barack Obama becomes the first African American President of the United States.
  • Capitol Insurrection

    A mob storms the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.