English settlers establish Jamestown, Virginia, marking the beginning of European colonization in North America.
The first enslaved Africans are brought to Jamestown, becoming an integral part of the American labor force.
Many colonies, such as Virginia and South Carolina, enact slave codes, establishing the legal foundation for racial slavery.
American Revolution and the Birth of a Nation
The United States declares independence from British rule with the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The U.S. Constitution is adopted, defining the qualifications for citizenship, but it excludes Native Americans, African Americans, and women.
The Missouri Compromise temporarily maintains the balance between slave and free states.
The Trail of Tears forcibly relocates Native American tribes, leading to the loss of their ancestral lands.
Period: to
The American Civil War is fought over issues of slavery and states' rights.
The Emancipation Proclamation declares enslaved people in Confederate states to be free.
The 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishes slavery throughout the United States.
The 14th Amendment is ratified, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and guaranteeing equal protection under the law.
The 15th Amendment is ratified, granting voting rights to African American men.
The Chinese Exclusion Act restricts immigration of Chinese laborers.
The National Origins Act establishes immigration quotas favoring Western and Northern Europeans while limiting immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia.
Brown v. Board of Education ends legal segregation in public schools.
The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
The Voting Rights Act ensures voting rights for African Americans.
The Immigration and Nationality Act abolishes national-origin quotas, leading to increased immigration from Asia and Latin America.
Plyler v. Doe guarantees access to public education regardless of immigration status.
The DREAM Act is introduced to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.