Basic US History Dates By pschultinator Jan 1, 1492 Columbus Sails the Ocean Blue Jan 1, 1607 Jamestown Jul 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence Jan 1, 1789 Constitution Jan 1, 1803 Louisiana Purchase Jan 1, 1812 War of 1812 Period: Jan 1, 1861 to Apr 4, 1865 Civil War Period: Jan 1, 1917 to Nov 11, 1918 US Involvment in WWI Oct 22, 1929 Stock Market Crash and beginning of Great Depression Period: Dec 7, 1941 to Aug 16, 1945 US Involvement in WWII Period: Aug 1, 1945 to Dec 1, 1989 Cold War Period: Jan 1, 1950 to Jan 1, 1953 Korean Kar Period: Jan 1, 1965 to Jan 1, 1973 Americanization fo Vietnam War Jan 1, 1991 Gulf War Sep 11, 2001 September 11 Mar 1, 2003 US Invasion of Iraq