July 4, 1776
Declaration of Independence
Continental Congress adopts the Declaration, founding the United States.
October 19, 1781
Surrender at Yorktown
British surrender ends major Revolutionary War combat.
September 17, 1787
U.S. Constitution Signed
Delegates approve the Constitution in Philadelphia.
April 30, 1789
George Washington Inaugurated
Washington becomes the first U.S. President.
December 15, 1791
Bill of Rights Ratified
First ten amendments guaranteeing freedoms are added.
July 11, 1798
U.S. Marine Corps Established
Founding of the U.S. Marine Corps.
May 28, 1803
Louisiana Purchase
U.S. doubles size by buying territory from France.
January 8, 1815
Battle of New Orleans
Andrew Jackson defeats British—War of 1812 ends.
February 22, 1823
Monroe Doctrine
US asserts influence: no European colonization in Americas.
February 18, 1830
“Era of the Common Man” Begins
Andrew Jackson’s presidency ushers in broader white male democracy.
February 2, 1848
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
War with Mexico ends—U.S. gains vast southwestern territory.
October 29, 1929
Wall Street Crash
Triggers Great Depression.
March 4, 1933
FDR’s First Inauguration & New Deal Begins
Franklin D. Roosevelt addresses nation, launching economic reforms.
December 7, 1941
Pearl Harbor Attack
Japan attacks U.S. naval base; U.S. enters WWII.
May 8, 1945
Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)
Nazi Germany surrenders in Europe.
August 6 & 9, 1945
Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
U.S. drops atomic bombs—World War II ends.
July 4, 1976
U.S. Bicentennial
200th anniversary of Declaration of Independence celebrated.
November 22, 1963
Assassination of JFK
President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas.
July 20, 1969
Moon Landing
NASA’s Apollo 11 lands on the Moon; Neil Armstrong walks.
November 4, 1979
Iran Hostage Crisis Begins
U.S. embassy staff held hostage in Tehran.
1972–74
Watergate Scandal
Political scandal leads to President Nixon’s resignation.
October 19, 1987
Black Monday
Stock market crash affects global markets.
January 20, 1981
Ronald Reagan Inaugurated
Reagan begins conservative shift in American politics.
September 11, 2001
9/11 Attacks
Terrorist attacks on U.S. soil prompt global “War on Terror.”
2008
Election of Barack Obama
First African American president elected.
2016
Election of Donald Trump
Populist nationalist surge in U.S. politics.
2020
COVID‑19 Pandemic
Global pandemic disrupts U.S. society and economy.
May 30, 2024
Conviction of Donald Trump
Former president becomes first to be convicted of felonies. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
