-
Jamestown, Virginia
founded by English settlers, who begin growing tobacco. -
Plymouth Colony, near Cape Cod
is founded by the Pilgrim Fathers, whose example is followed by other English Puritans in New England. -
Britain gains control
Britain gains control of territory up to the Mississippi river following victory over France in Seven Years' War. -
Colonists form First Continental Congress
Colonists form First Continental Congress as Britain closes down Boston harbour and deploys troops in Massachusetts. -
American Revolution
George Washington leads Continental Army to fight against British rule. -
Declaration of Independence
4 July - Declaration of Independence endorsed by Congress; colonies declare independence. -
Rebel states
Rebel states form loose confederation after defeating the British at the Battle of Yorktown. -
Founding Fathers
Founding Fathers draw up new constitution for United States of America. Constitution comes into effect in 1788. -
George Washington
elected first president of USA. -
Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights guarantees individual freedom. -
War of 1812
between the US and Britain, partly over the effects of British restrictions on US trade during the Napoleonic Wars. -
US acquires Mexican territory
US acquires vast tracts of Mexican territory in wake of Mexican War including California and New Mexico. -
Abraham Lincoln
Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln elected president. -
Lincoln issues
Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation, declaring slaves in Confederate states to be free. -
US gains Puerto Rico
US gains Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines and Cuba following the Spanish-American war. US annexes Hawaii. -
Women given the right to vote
Women given the right to vote under the Nineteenth Amendment. -
The great Depression
More than 13 million people are unemployed after the Wall Street stock market crash of 1929 triggers the Great Depression. President Herbert Hoover rejects direct federal relief. -
Atomic bombs
US drops two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan surrenders. -
Racial segregation
in schools becomes unconstitutional; start of campaign of civil disobedience to secure civil rights for Americans of African descent. -
John F Kennedy
President John F Kennedy assassinated; Lyndon Johnson becomes president. -
Martin Luther King
Black civil rights leader Martin Luther King assassinated. -
11 September attacks
Co-ordinated suicide attacks by al-Qaeda terror group prompts the US to embark on a ''war on terror'' that includes invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
