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Oct 1, 1492
Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas
Christopher Columbus discovered a small island off the coast of North America. He called the people there "Indians." Because of this, Native Americans and Europeans shared plants and animals that were new to each other. -
Period: Sep 17, 1500 to
European Colonies
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Sep 8, 1565
The Spaniards claimed Florida
Europeans began to settle in the Americas. England, Portugal, the Netherlands, and France came, also, and started colonies. -
Government in the English Colonies
The English colonists wanted to make their own laws. The colonists created the House of Burgesses. -
Period: to
A New Nation
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Independence
The British won the war against France in North America. The British king angered the colonists by passing the Proclamation of 1763 because no colonists could live west of the Appalachian Mountains. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration marks the time when the colonies broke free from the British and became independent. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. -
The New Nation Grows
The United States began as 13 colonies who fought for and won independence from Britain. President Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory to increase the land into 15 new states. -
The War of 1812-1814
The British burned the Capitol Building and the White House. -
Period: to
Changes for the Native Americans
The government forced the Native Americans to move west onto reservations. -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was elected president. He wanted to stop slavery. The Southern states were upset and it led to war. -
The Civil War begins
75,000 volunteers fought for the Union. The South wanted slaves; the North did not. The Southern states called themselves the Confederate States of America. The war lasted until 1865. The North won the Civil War. -
Period: to
The Civil War
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Period: to
The United States becomes a World Power
An industrial nation and inventions bring change. -
The Transcontinental Railroad
It reaches from the east coast to the west coast. It used to take six months but now it takes a week. -
World War I
13 million people died or were wounded. Germany lost the war. Ships were sank. We were at war again. -
Period: to
Two World Wars
World War I and II -
Period: to
The Great Depression
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Franklin D. Roosevelt becomes President
President Franklin D. Roosevelt became president during the Depression. He created new programs to give people back jobs, and to help the economy grow stronger. -
World War II
Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Japan was on Germany's side. More people were killed in this war. About 6 million jewish people died in what is called the Holocaust. The war ended in 1945.
