U.S. By luke.b.074 Oct 24, 1497 Italian born John Cabot claims North America Period: Oct 24, 1497 to Oct 24, 2003 U.S. Oct 24, 1534 Jacques Cartier explorses Great Lakes Oct 24, 1607 Captain John Smith founds Jamestown Oct 24, 1609 Henry Hudson explores nottheastern North America Oct 24, 1763 treaty of Paris signed after French and Indian War Oct 24, 1776 Colonists declare their independence Oct 24, 1803 Louisiana purchase Oct 24, 1812 War of 1812 Oct 24, 1846 Organ treaty signed Oct 24, 1861 Civil War begins Oct 24, 1865 Civil War ends Oct 24, 1867 Alaska is purchased Oct 24, 1896 gold is discovered in Yukon's Klondike Oct 24, 1917 U.S. enters WW1 Oct 24, 1929 great depression begins in U.S. Oct 24, 1941 Japan atacks Peal Habor, U.S. enters WW2 Oct 24, 1945 U.S. drops an atomic bomb Oct 24, 1969 Neil Armstrong walks on the moon Oct 24, 1989 U.S. signs a Free Trade agreement with Canada Oct 25, 1991 Persian Gulf War Oct 25, 1994 NAFTA is signed by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico Oct 25, 2003 Occupation of Iraq by U.S.