History Timeline Review

Key events in US History.

Jamestown

Founded in 1607 as the first permanent English settlement in North America.

House of Burgesses

Established in 1619, it was the first legislative assembly in the American colonies.

Mayflower Compact

Established in 1620; it was the first agreement for self-government in America, signed by the Pilgrims.

Bacon's Rebellion

An armed rebellion in 1676 by Virginia settlers led by Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley.

French & Indian War

Lasted from 1754-1763; it was the North American conflict in a larger imperial war between Great Britain and France.

Revolutionary War

Lasted from 1775-1783; it was a war fought between Great Britain and the 13 British colonies in North America, leading to American independence.

Declaration of Independence

Declared in 1776; it was a formal statement declaring the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain.

Articles of Confederation

Ratified in 1781; it was the first constitution of the United States.

US Constitution

Ratified in 1789; it established America's national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens.

Revolution of 1800

Thomas Jefferson's victory marked the first transfer of power from one party to another in American history.

Louisiana Purchase

In 1803, the United States acquired a vast territory from France, doubling the size of the country.

War of 1812

Lasted from 1812-1814; it was a military conflict between the United States and Great Britain.

Missouri Compromise

In 1820, it was a federal statute that regulated slavery in the country's western territories.

Jackson defeats JQ Adams

Andrew Jackson's victory over John Quincy Adams in 1828 marked a shift towards populism in American politics.

Indian Removal Act

Enacted in 1830, it authorized the president to grant unsettled lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands within existing state borders.

Nullification Crisis

In 1832, a sectional crisis during the presidency of Andrew Jackson, involving a confrontation between South Carolina and the federal government.

Mexican-American War

Lasted from 1846-1848; it was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico.

Compromise of 1850

Included: CA admitted as a free state; fugitive slave law enacted; slave trade prohibited in DC.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

In 1854, it allowed settlers in new territories to decide whether to allow slavery (popular sovereignty).

Dred Scott case

In 1857, the Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories.

Civil War

Lasted from 1861-1865; it was a war fought between the United States (Union) and the Confederate States of America.

Reconstruction Ended

Ended in 1877, marking the withdrawal of federal troops from the South and the end of federal efforts to protect black civil rights.

Frontier Closed

Declared in 1890, signifying the end of the American frontier expansion.

Plessy v. Ferguson

In 1896, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws under the doctrine of 'separate but equal.'

Spanish-American War

In 1898, it was a conflict between Spain and the United States, resulting in U.S. acquisition of territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

US participation in WWI

Lasted from 1917-1918; the United States joined World War I on the side of the Allied powers.

Women's Suffrage (19th Amendment)

In 1920, the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote.

Stock Market Crash

Occurred in 1929, marking the beginning of the Great Depression.

FDR's election

Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president in 1932, promising a 'New Deal' to combat the Great Depression.

US participation in WWII

Lasted from 1941-1945; the United States joined World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Korean War

Lasted from 1950-1953; it was a conflict between North Korea and South Korea, with the United States and other nations intervening.

US participation in Vietnam War

Lasted from 1954-1973; the United States became involved in the Vietnam War to prevent the spread of communism.

Brown v. Board of Education

In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that state-sponsored segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

Kennedy elected

John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960, representing a new generation of leadership.

March on Washington

In 1963, a large political rally for civil and economic rights for African Americans.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Passed in 1964, it authorized President Johnson to take any measures necessary to retaliate and promote international peace and security in Southeast Asia; also the Civil Rights Act and 24th Amendment.

1968

Marked by: MLK Jr.'s assassination; LBJ not running again; Robert Kennedy assassinated; Tet Offensive; Race riots in major cities; Nixon elected

Reagan elected

Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980, ushering in a new era of conservatism.

Fall of Berlin Wall

Occurred in 1989, symbolizing the end of the Cold War.

Terrorist attacks on World Trade Center, Pentagon

Occurred in 2001, leading to the War on Terror.

Great Recession

Began in 2008, triggered by the collapse of the housing market and financial crisis.