-
1620
Pilgrims establish Plymouth Colony, marking the beginning of European settlement in New England. -
1692
Salem Witch Trials highlight issues of religious intolerance and social hysteria. -
1754-1763
French and Indian War sets the stage for increased tensions between the American colonies and Britain. -
1776
Declaration of Independence is adopted, signaling the start of the American Revolutionary War. -
1787
U.S. Constitution is drafted, establishing the framework for the federal government. -
1793
Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin, revolutionizing cotton production and slavery. -
1803
Louisiana Purchase doubles the size of the United States. -
1861-1865
American Civil War over issues of slavery and states' rights. -
1863
Emancipation Proclamation declares slaves in Confederate states to be free. -
1869
First Transcontinental Railroad completed, connecting the East and West coasts. -
1898
Spanish-American War leads to the acquisition of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. -
1914-1918
United States enters World War I. -
1920
19th Amendment grants women the right to vote. -
1929
Stock market crash triggers the Great Depression. -
1941-1945
United States enters World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor. -
1950s-1960s
Civil Rights Movement challenges racial segregation and inequality. -
1969
Apollo 11 successfully lands astronauts on the moon. -
2001
Terrorist attacks on September 11 prompt the War on Terror and homeland security changes. -
2008
Financial crisis leads to the Great Recession. -
2010
Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is signed into law, aiming to reform the healthcare system.