-
In 1492 columbus discovered America while he was trying to find a shorter route to India. He discovered the New World when he landed on the island of San Salvador. He claimed the land for Spain.
-
In 1607, the English came to Jamestown Virginia and made their first permanant settlement, on the banks of the James River, 60 miles from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. They sufered from terrible hardships in the early years but managed to endure.
-
In 1619, Europeans brought Africans to America. Africans worked as slave laborers on cotton and tabacco plantations in the south. Over time, slavery was more common in the south other than the north.
-
In 1620, the Pilgrams arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts. As a form of Self Government based on majority rule, the Pilgrams signed the Mayflower Compact. This is what the United States Constitution is based on.
-
In 1770, British soldiers fired at a crowd of unharmed colonists. They killed an Ex-Slave named Crispus Attucks. This was the first casualty in the cause for American Independence from British rule.
-
In 1773, Boston civilians wanted to protest the recent taxes on tea and other items. To do this, they dressed as indians and dumped over-priced British Tea into the Boston Harbor.
-
In 1775, in Concord, Massachusetts was the start of the American Revolution. "The shot heard round the world", happened with the first two battles of the American Revolution, the battles of Lexington and Concord.
-
On July 4, 1776, Thomas Jeffereson wrote the Declaration of Independence. This declared the thirteen original colonies their independance from Great Britain.
-
In 1787 the liberties that were fought for in the Revolution were protected by the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution was written by the Constitutional Convention and it created a strong new government.
-
In 1791 The first ten amendments were put into what is called the Bill of Rights. It stated some things that were not stated in the Constitution and it protected an individuals rights and freedoms.
-
In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was made. A large amount of land was purchased from France by the U.S. and this nearly doubled the land area of the U.S.
-
From 1812-1814, a war was fought between the U.S. and Great Britian. During this time, the British troops burned the capitol and White House. Our national song, "The Star Spangled Banner" was also written by Frances Scott Key.
-
In 1848 in California, gold was discovered. After it was found, 80,000 people "rushed" toward the West in hope that they too would find gold in their searches.
-
In 1852, a book called Uncle Tom's Cabin was published. The author was Harriet Beecher Stowe and it raised awareness about the evils of slavery.
-
In 1861 after Abraham Lincoln became president, the civil war began. Eleven southern states formed a confederacy led by Jefferson Davis and fought against The free states, or the Union, led by Abraham Lincoln. The Civil War ended in 1865.
-
From 1914-1918 World War 1 took place. The war was between the Allies and the Central Powers. In 1917 on the side of the Allies, the U.S. joined the war and helped contribute to their win.
-
In 1920, the 19th amendment was passed. It stated that the rights of the citizens in the U.S. to vote wouldn't be determined by gender. It over all, started awareness about women suffrage.
-
In 1929, many workers couldn't find jobs. This act was calle The Great Depression and it was caused by a stock market crash. The Great Depression lasted until about the 1940's.
-
From 1939-1945 World War 2 took place. It was fought between the Allies and the Axis. It was aso the most widespread war in history.
-
In 1954, segregation was considered unconstitutional and was ended. Black and White schools were now considered equal and so were black and white people. Of course some people didn't believe these fact were true, but it madeamerica what it is today.
-
In 1964 the Civil Rights Act was passed. This act owtlawed discrimination in voting and getting jobs.
-
In 1969 the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. This was a tradgedy because he helped influence many americans to abolish slavery.
-
On July 20, 1969, the first time man landed on the moon. Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on teh moon and 500 million people worldwide watched him do it. It was the largest television audience for a live broadcast at that time.
-
In 1974, Richard Nixon was involved in the Watergate Scandal and resigned. In the Watergate Scandal, people were trying to "bug" the telephones of the Democratic committe. Nixon was involved because it was said that he helped hde information about the break-in.
-
On September 11, 2001, terrorists bombed the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This act killed about 3,000 people and injured many others.
-
In 2008, Obama was elected to be the president of the U.S. In 2009, he was inaugurated and he became our first African American President.
