Basic dates timeline By m1crow Aug 2, 1492 Columbus sails the ocean blue May 13, 1607 Jamestown Jul 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence Mar 4, 1789 Constitution Apr 30, 1803 Louisiana Purchace Jun 18, 1812 War of 1812 Apr 12, 1861 Civil War Begins Apr 6, 1917 U.S. involvement in WWI Mar 20, 1929 Stock Market Crashes and beginning of Great Depression Dec 8, 1941 U.S. involvement in WWII Aug 23, 1945 Cold War begins Jun 25, 1950 Korean War Nov 1, 1965 Vietnam War begins Aug 2, 1991 Gulf War begins Sep 11, 2001 September 11 Mar 20, 2003 U.S. Invasion of Iraq