From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Overview of and topical guide to United States history
The following
outline is provided as an overview of and a topical guide to the
history of the United States .
By period
Named eras and periods
These multi-year periods are commonly identified in American history. The existence and dating of some of these periods is debated by historians.
Political parties
These periods are commonly identified as the large changes within political parties. Newer Party Systems are typically disputed by experts and historians due to the complexity of changes in political parties.
Wars
See
List of wars involving the United States .
Timelines and lists
15th century
1490s
On October 12, 1492, three Spanish ships under the command of Cristoforo Colombo (
Christopher Columbus ) landed on the
Lucayan island of
Guanahani which he names San Salvador (The Savior).
On November 14, 1493, a
Spanish fleet under the command of Columbus lands on a large inhabited island which he names
Santa Cruz (Holy Cross, now Saint Croix). Columbus then visits and names
San Tomas (Saint Thomas) and
San Juan (Saint John). Columbus names the archipelago
Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes (Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgins, now the
Virgin Islands ).
On November 19, 1493, Columbus lands on the large
Taíno island of
Borikén which he names
San Juan Bautista (
Saint John the Baptist , now
Puerto Rico and part of the United States).
16th century
1500s
1510s
1520s
On March 6, 1521, three Spanish ships under the command of Fernão de Magalhães (
Ferdinand Magellan ) land on the
Island of Guam after a seemingly endless eleven week voyage across the Pacific Ocean. Magellan names the archipelago
Las Isles de las Velas Latinas (The Islands of the Latine Sails). When the Spaniards refuse to pay for supplies, natives take iron from the ships. Magellan renames the archipelago
Las Islas de los Ladrones (The Islands of the Thieves).
1530s
In May 1539, Spanish explorer
Hernando de Soto lands nine ships at southern
Tampa Bay in Florida with 620 men and 220 horses.
1540s
In 1540, Hernando de Soto leads his expedition through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi.
In May 1541, Hernando de Soto reaches the Mississippi River and explores Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee and Oklahoma.
A Spanish expedition led by
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo lands at a bay of the Pacific Ocean which he names
San Miguel (
Saint Michael , now
San Diego, California ) on September 28, 1542.
1550s
1560s
1570s
1580s
1590s
17th century
1600s
1610s
1620s
1630s
The
Town of Boston is chartered and named capital of the
Massachusetts Bay Colony , September 7, 1630
English
Puritans establish the
Saybrook Colony along the
Connecticut River , 1635
English
Puritans establish the
River Colony along the
Connecticut River , March 3, 1636
Roger Williams establishes the
Colony of Providence , June 1636
Pequot War , July 20, 1636 – May 26, 1637
Swedish establish the colony of
Nya Sverige (
New Sweden ) along the
Delaware River , March 29, 1638
English establish the
Newe-Haven Colony , April 14, 1638
Anne Hutchinson establishes the first of the
colonies of Rhode Island , 1638
1640s
1660s
1670s
1680s
Pueblo Revolt in
Santa Fé de Nuevo Méjico , August 10, 1680 – September 14, 1692
King
Charles II of England grants
William Penn a charter for the
Province of Pennsylvania , March 4, 1681
William Penn leases the
three lower counties on the Delaware River (
Delaware ) from
James, Duke of York , March 1682
William Penn writes the first
Frame of Government of Pennsylvania (including the
three lower counties on the Delaware River ), April 2, 1682
Dominion of New-England in America , June 3, 1686 – May 18, 1689
England creates the
Dominion of New-England in America to rule the
Colony of Massachusetts Bay , the
Colony of New-Plymouth , the
Province of New-Hampshire , the
Province of Main , and the
Narraganset Country or King's Province , June 3, 1686
England adds the
Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and the
Connecticut Colony to the
Dominion of New England in America , September 9, 1686
England adds the
Province of New-York , the
Province of East Jersey , and the
Province of West Jersey to the
Dominion of New-England in America , May 7, 1688
The government of the
Dominion of New-England in America collapses, May 18, 1689. The
Colony of Massachusetts Bay , the
Colony of New-Plymouth , the
Province of New-Hampshire , the
Province of Main , the
Narraganset Country or King's Province as the
Dominion of New-England in America , the
Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations , the
Connecticut Colony , the
Province of New-York , the
Province of East Jersey , and the
Province of West Jersey resume their previous self-governance.
King William's War , 1689 – September 20, 1697
1690s
18th century
1700s
Map of North America at the start of
Queen Anne's War (1702), showing areas occupied by the three European powers
1710s
1720s
1730s
1740s
1750s
1760s
Map of the British and French settlements in North America in 1750, before the
French and Indian War
1770s
British troops kill five civilians in
Boston on March 5, 1770
Spain establishes colony of
Las Californias , June 3, 1770 – March 26, 1804
Dunmore's War , 1773–1774
The
Parliament of Great Britain passes the
Massachusetts Government Act on May 20, 1774
American Revolutionary War , April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783
Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775
The
Province of New Hampshire adopts a
constitution for an independent
State of New Hampshire , January 5, 1776
The
Province of South Carolina adopts a
constitution for an independent
State of South Carolina on March 15, 1776
The
Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations declares its independence from the
Kingdom of Great Britain on May 4, 1776
The
Colony of Connecticut declares its independence from the
Kingdom of Great Britain on June 18, 1776
The
Colony of Virginia adopts a
constitution for an independent
Commonwealth of Virginia on June 29, 1776
The
Province of New Jersey adopts a
constitution for an independent
State of New Jersey on July 2, 1776
The 13 British North American provinces of
Virginia ,
Massachusetts Bay ,
Maryland ,
Connecticut ,
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations ,
New York ,
New Jersey ,
New Hampshire ,
Pennsylvania and
Delaware ,
South Carolina ,
North Carolina , and
Georgia united as the United States of America
declare their independence from the
Kingdom of Great Britain on July 4, 1776
The
Republic of New Connecticut declares its independence from the
Kingdom of Great Britain on January 15, 1777
The
Republic of New Connecticut changes its name to
Vermont on June 2, 1777
Battles of Saratoga on September 19 and October 7, 1777
Battle of the Chesapeake on September 5, 1781
Siege of Yorktown , September 28 – October 19, 1781
Treaty of Paris signed on September 3, 1783
Spain establishes
El Presidio Reál de San Francisco de Asis in
Las Californias , September 17, 1776
English explorer
James Cook becomes the first European to visit the
Hawaiian Islands which he names the
Sandwich Islands , January 18, 1778
1780s
The
Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts takes effect on October 25, 1780, changing the name of the
State of Massachusetts Bay .
Spain establishes
El Presidio Reál de Santa Barbara in
Las Californias , April 21, 1782
Northwest Indian War , 1785 – August 3, 1795
Shays' Rebellion , August 29, 1786 – May 25, 1787
The
Philadelphia Convention writes a new
Constitution of the United States , May 25 – September 17, 1787
The
Congress of the Confederation organizes the
Territory Northwest of the River Ohio , July 13, 1787
The
State of Delaware becomes the 1st state to ratify the Constitution, December 7, 1787
The
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania becomes the 2nd state to ratify the Constitution, December 12, 1787
The
State of New Jersey becomes the 3rd state to ratify the Constitution, December 18, 1787
The
State of Georgia becomes the 4th state to ratify the Constitution, January 2, 1788
The
State of Connecticut becomes the 5th state to ratify the Constitution, January 9, 1788
The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts becomes the 6th state to ratify the Constitution, February 6, 1788
The
State of Maryland becomes the 7th state to ratify the Constitution, April 28, 1788
The
State of South Carolina becomes the 8th state to ratify the Constitution, May 23, 1788
The Constitution takes effect when the
State of New Hampshire becomes the 9th state to ratify the document, June 21, 1788
The
Commonwealth of Virginia becomes the 10th state to ratify the Constitution, June 25, 1788
The
State of New York becomes the 11th state to ratify the Constitution, July 26, 1788
A new government under the Constitution is formed on March 4, 1789
George Washington becomes the 1st
president of the United States on April 30, 1789
The
State of North Carolina becomes the 12th state to ratify the Constitution, November 21, 1789
1790s
The
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations becomes the 13th state to ratify the Constitution, May 29, 1790
The
Vermont Republic is admitted to the Union as the
State of Vermont (the 14th state) on March 4, 1791
Whiskey Rebellion , 1791–1794
The
United States Bill of Rights , the first ten amendments to the Constitution, takes effect on December 15, 1791
The United States sells the
Erie Triangle to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , March 3, 1792
The
District of Kentucky of the
Commonwealth of Virginia is admitted to the Union as the
Commonwealth of Kentucky (the 15th state) on June 1, 1792
The
Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, February 7, 1795
The
Territory South of the River Ohio is admitted to the Union as the
State of Tennessee (the 16th state) on June 1, 1796
John Adams becomes the 2nd president of the United States on March 4, 1797
The
Territory of Mississippi is organized, April 7, 1798
Quasi-War , 1798–1800
19th century
1800s
The
Territory of Indiana is organized, May 7, 1800
Thomas Jefferson becomes the 3rd president of the United States on March 4, 1801
First Barbary War , 1801–1805
The
Territory Northwest of the River Ohio is admitted to the Union as the
State of Ohio (the 17th state) on March 1, 1803
The United States takes possession of the
Louisiana Purchase , December 20, 1803
Spain creates the colony of
Alta California from northern portion of
Las Californias , March 26, 1804 – August 24, 1821
Lewis and Clark Expedition , May 14, 1804 – September 23, 1806
The
Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, June 15, 1804
Battle of Sitka , October 1804
The
Territory of Orleans is organized and the
District of Louisiana is created, October 1, 1804
The
Territory of Michigan is organized, June 30, 1805
The
Territory of Louisiana is organized, July 4, 1805
Pike Expedition , July 15, 1806 – July 1, 1807
The
Territory of Illinois is organized, March 1, 1809
James Madison becomes the 4th president of the United States on March 4, 1809
1810s
Mexican War of Independence , September 16, 1810 – August 24, 1821
The
Republic of West Florida declares its independence from Spain, September 23, 1810
The United States
unilaterally annexes the
Florida Parishes of Spanish
Florida Occidental , October 27, 1810
Tecumseh's War , 1811
A tremendous
earthquake strikes the region around
New Madrid in the
Territory of Louisiana (
Missouri ), February 7, 1812
The
Territory of Orleans is admitted to the Union as the
State of Louisiana (the 18th state) on April 30, 1812
The
Territory of Louisiana is renamed the
Territory of Missouri on June 4, 1812
War of 1812 , June 18, 1812 – March 23, 1815
The United States declares war on the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on June 18, 1812
Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813
Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, 1814
Burning of Washington on August 24, 1814
Battle of Plattsburgh , September 6–11, 1814
Battle of Baltimore , September 12–15, 1814
Treaty of Ghent signed on December 24, 1814
Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815
Creek War , 1813–1814
First Seminole War , 1814–1819
Second Barbary War , March 3, 1815 – December 23, 1816
The United States declares war on
Algiers , March 3, 1815
The
Territory of Indiana is admitted to the Union as the
State of Indiana (the 19th state) on December 11, 1816
The
Territory of Alabama is organized, March 3, 1817
James Monroe becomes the 5th president of the United States on March 4, 1817
The
Territory of Mississippi is admitted to the Union as the
State of Mississippi (the 20th state) on December 10, 1817
The
Territory of Illinois is admitted to the Union as the
State of Illinois (the 21st state) on December 3, 1818.
The
Territory of Arkansaw is organized, July 4, 1819
The
Territory of Alabama is admitted to the Union as the
State of Alabama (the 22nd state) on December 14, 1819
1820s
The
District of Maine of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts is admitted to the Union as the
State of Maine (the 23rd state) on March 15, 1820
The
Adams-Onis Treaty establishes the boundary between the United States and the
Kingdom of Spain , February 22, 1821
The southeastern portion of the
Territory of Missouri is admitted to the Union as the
State of Missouri (the 24th state) on August 10, 1821. The remainder of the Missouri Territory becomes
unorganized .
The
Territory of Florida is organized, March 30, 1822
The
Russo-American Treaty establishes the boundary between
Russian Alaska and the
Oregon Country at the
parallel 54°40′ north , January 12, 1825
John Quincy Adams becomes the 6th president of the United States on March 4, 1825
Winnebago War , 1827
Andrew Jackson becomes the 7th president of the United States on March 4, 1829
1830s
Nat Turner's slave rebellion , August 21–22, 1831
Black Hawk War , 1832
Second Seminole War , 1835–1842
Toledo War , 1835–1836
Texas Revolution , October 2, 1835 – October 2, 1836
Texas-Indian Wars , May 19, 1836 – June 2, 1875
The
Territory of Arkansaw is admitted to the Union as the
State of Arkansas (the 25th state) on June 15, 1836
The
Territory of Wisconsin is organized, July 3, 1836
The United States buys the
Platte Purchase from the recently relocated
Iowa ,
Sac , and
Fox nations, September 17, 1836. The purchase includes the region east of the
Missouri River , south of
Sullivan Line , and west of the mouth of the
Kaw (Kansas) River .
The
Territory of Michigan is admitted to the Union as the
State of Michigan (the 26th state) on January 26, 1837
Martin Van Buren becomes the 8th president of the United States on March 4, 1837
The
Platte Purchase is annexed to the
State of Missouri , March 28, 1837
Missouri Mormon War , August 6 – November 1, 1838
The
Territory of Iowa is organized, July 4, 1838
Aroostook War , 1838–1839
Honey War , 1839
1840s
William Henry Harrison becomes the 9th president of the United States on March 4, 1841
John Tyler becomes the 10th president of the United States upon the death of
President William Henry Harrison on April 4, 1841
The extralegal
Provisional Government of Oregon governs the
Oregon Country , May 2, 1843 – August 14, 1848
Illinois Mormon War , June 7, 1844 – September 17, 1846
Treaty of Wanghia , July 3, 1844
The
Territory of Florida is admitted to the Union as the
State of Florida (the 27th state) on March 3, 1845
James K. Polk becomes the 11th president of the United States on March 4, 1845
The
Republic of Texas is admitted to the Union as the
State of Texas (the 28th state) on December 29, 1845
Mexican–American War , April 23, 1846 – February 2, 1848
Biddle Expedition arrives at
Uraga Harbor in Japan, July 20, 1846
The southeastern portion of the
Territory of Iowa is admitted to the Union as the
State of Iowa (the 29th state) on December 28, 1846. The remainder of the Iowa Territory becomes
unorganized .
Cayuse War , November 29, 1847 – June 11, 1855
The southeastern portion of the
Territory of Wisconsin is admitted to the Union as the
State of Wisconsin (the 30th state) on May 29, 1848. The remainder of the Wisconsin Territory becomes
unorganized .
The
Territory of Oregon is organized, August 14, 1848
The
Territory of Minnesota is organized, March 3, 1849
The extralegal
State of Deseret governs the
Great Basin region, May 3, 1849 – September 9, 1850
Zachary Taylor becomes the 12th president of the United States on March 4, 1849
1850s
Millard Fillmore becomes the 13th president of the United States upon the death of
President Zachary Taylor on July 9, 1850
The
State of California is admitted to the Union as the 31st state on September 9, 1850
The
Territory of New Mexico and the
Territory of Utah are organized, September 9, 1850
The
Territory of Washington is organized, February 8, 1853
Franklin Pierce becomes the 14th president of the United States on March 4, 1853
Perry Expedition arrives at
Uraga Harbor in Japan, July 14, 1853
The
Territory of Kansas and the
Territory of Nebraska are organized, May 20, 1854
Sioux Wars , August 19, 1854 – December 29, 1890
James Buchanan becomes the 15th president of the United States on March 4, 1857
Utah Mormon War , May 28, 1857 – July 8, 1858
The eastern portion of the
Territory of Minnesota is admitted to the Union as the
State of Minnesota (the 32nd state) on May 11, 1858. The remainder of the Minnesota Territory becomes
unorganized .
The extralegal
Territory of Jefferson governs the
Southern Rocky Mountains region, October 24, 1859 – February 28, 1861
The western portion of the
Oregon Territory is admitted to the Union as the
State of Oregon (the 33rd state) on February 14, 1859. The remainder of the Oregon Territory is annexed to the
Washington Territory .
1860s
The
State of South Carolina becomes the 1st state to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860
The
State of Mississippi becomes the 2nd state to secede from the Union on January 9, 1861
The
State of Florida becomes the 3rd state to secede from the Union on January 10, 1861
The
State of Alabama becomes the 4th state to secede from the Union on January 11, 1861
The
State of Georgia becomes the 5th state to secede from the Union on January 19, 1861
The
State of Louisiana becomes the 6th state to secede from the Union on January 26, 1861
The eastern portion of the
Territory of Kansas is admitted to the Union as the
State of Kansas (the 34th state) on January 29, 1861. The remainder of the Kansas territory becomes
unorganized .
The
State of Texas becomes the 7th state to secede from the Union on February 1, 1861
The 7 rebellious
slave states of
South Carolina ,
Mississippi ,
Florida ,
Alabama ,
Georgia ,
Louisiana , and
Texas create the rival
Confederate States of America on February 4, 1861
The
Territory of Colorado is organized, February 28, 1861
The
Territory of Nevada is organized, March 2, 1861
The
Territory of Dakota is organized, March 2, 1861
Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th president of the United States on March 4, 1861
A rump government declares itself the
Confederate Territory of Arizona on March 16, 1861
American Civil War , April 12, 1861 – May 13, 1865
Battle of Fort Sumter , April 12, 1861 – April 13, 1861
The
Commonwealth of Virginia becomes the 8th state to secede from the Union on April 17, 1861
Union naval blockade of the Confederacy, April 19, 1861 – April 9, 1865
The
State of Arkansas becomes the 9th state to secede from the Union on May 6, 1861
The
Commonwealth of Virginia becomes the 8th state admitted to the Confederacy on May 7, 1861
The
State of North Carolina becomes the 10th state to secede from the Union on May 20, 1861
The
State of Arkansas becomes the 9th state admitted to the Confederacy on May 18, 1861
The
State of North Carolina becomes the 10th state admitted to the Confederacy on May 21, 1861
The
State of Tennessee becomes the 11th state to secede from the Union on June 8, 1861
The
State of Tennessee becomes the 11th state admitted to the Confederacy on July 2, 1861
First Battle of Bull Run , July 21, 1861
A rump government claiming to represent the
State of Missouri declares its secession from the Union on October 31, 1861
A rump government claiming to represent the
Commonwealth of Kentucky declares its secession from the Union on November 20, 1861
The rump government of the
State of Missouri becomes the 12th state admitted to the Confederacy on November 28, 1861
The rump government of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky becomes the 13th state admitted to the Confederacy on December 10, 1861
The rump government of the
Confederate Territory of Arizona becomes the only
Confederate Territory on February 14, 1862
Battle of Shiloh , April 6, 1862 – April 7, 1862
Battle of Antietam , September 17, 1862
The
Territory of Arizona is organized, February 24, 1863
The
Territory of Idaho is organized, March 4, 1863
Siege of Vicksburg , May 18, 1863 – July 4, 1863
The northwestern region of the
Commonwealth of Virginia is admitted to the Union as the
State of West Virginia (the 35th state) on June 20, 1863
Battle of Gettysburg , July 1, 1863 – July 3, 1863
President Lincoln issues the
Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1863
Siege of Atlanta , May 7, 1864 – September 2, 1864
The
Territory of Montana is organized, May 28, 1864
The
State of Nevada is admitted to the Union as the 36th state on October 31, 1864
Battle of Appomattox Courthouse , April 9, 1865
Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in
Washington, D.C. , on April 14, 1865
President Abraham Lincoln dies on April 15, 1865
Andrew Johnson becomes 17th president of the United States on April 15, 1865
The
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, December 18, 1865
The
State of Tennessee becomes the 1st Confederate State readmitted to the Union on July 24, 1866
The
Territory of Nebraska is admitted to the Union as the
State of Nebraska (the 37th state) on March 1, 1867
President Andrew Johnson is
impeached by the
United States House of Representatives , February 24, 1868
The
State of Arkansas becomes the 2nd Confederate State readmitted to the Union on June 22, 1868
The
State of Florida becomes the 3rd Confederate State readmitted to the Union on June 25, 1868
The
State of North Carolina becomes the 4th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on July 4, 1868
The
Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, July 9, 1868
The
State of Louisiana becomes the 5th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on July 9, 1868
The
State of South Carolina becomes the 6th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on July 9, 1868
The
State of Alabama becomes the 7th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on July 13, 1868
The
Territory of Wyoming is organized, July 25, 1868
Ulysses S. Grant becomes the 18th president of the United States on March 4, 1869
The
Transcontinental railroad is completed on May 10, 1869
1870s
The
Commonwealth of Virginia becomes the 8th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on January 26, 1870
The
Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution , February 3, 1870
The
State of Mississippi becomes the 9th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on February 23, 1870
The
State of Texas becomes the 10th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on March 30, 1870
The
State of Georgia becomes the 11th and last Confederate State readmitted to the Union on July 15, 1870
The United States
attacks Korea , June 10, 1871 – July 3, 1871
Black Hills War , March 17, 1876 – 1877
The nation celebrates the
Centennial of the United States of America despite news from the Little Bighorn, July 4, 1876
The
Territory of Colorado is admitted to the Union as the
State of Colorado (the 38th state) on August 1, 1876
Rutherford B. Hayes becomes the 19th president of the United States on March 4, 1877
1880s
1890s
The
Territory of Oklahoma is organized, May 2, 1890
The
Territory of Idaho is admitted to the Union as the
State of Idaho (the 43rd state) on July 3, 1890
The
Territory of Wyoming is admitted to the Union as the
State of Wyoming (the 44th state) on July 10, 1890
Grover Cleveland becomes the 24th (as well as the 22nd) president of the United States on March 4, 1893
The
Territory of Utah is admitted to the Union as the
State of Utah (the 45th state) on January 4, 1896
William McKinley becomes the 25th president of the United States on March 4, 1897
Spanish–American War , April 23 – August 12, 1898
Teller Amendment blocks United States annexation of
Cuba , April 20, 1898
The
Spanish Empire declares war on the United States, April 23, 1898
Invasion of Guantánamo Bay , June 6, 1898 – June 10, 1898
Capture of Guam , June 20, 1898 – June 21, 1898
Battle of Santiago de Cuba , July 3, 1898
Invasion of Puerto Rico , July 25, 1898 – August 13, 1898
Protocol of Peace signed on August 12, 1898
Treaty of Paris , December 10, 1898
The United States annexes the
Philippines ,
Porto Rico (sic), and
Guam , December 10, 1898
The United States formally occupies
Cuba , January 1, 1899 – May 20, 1902
Platt Amendment promotes United States
hegemony of
Cuba , March 2, 1901
The
Territory of Hawaii is organized, July 7, 1898
Second Samoan Civil War , August 22, 1898 – November 14, 1899
Philippine–American War , June 2, 1899 – June 15, 1913
Philippine Declaration of Independence , June 12, 1898
The Philippines declares war on the United States, June 2, 1899
Moro Rebellion , May 2, 1902 – June 15, 1913
Organic Act for the Philippine Islands , July 1, 1902
President Theodore Roosevelt declares the end of Philippine–American War, July 4, 1902
Boxer Rebellion , November 2, 1899 – September 7, 1901
20th century
1900s
A
hurricane strikes
Galveston, Texas , killing approximately 8,000 people, September 8, 1900
Theodore Roosevelt becomes the 26th president of the United States upon the
assassination of President William McKinley on September 14, 1901
The United States recognizes the independence of the
Republic of Cuba , May 20, 1902
The United States formally ends its occupation of
Cuba , May 20, 1902
The United States seizes opportunity to build a
ship canal across the
Isthmus of Panama , January 22, 1903 – August 15, 1914
The United States and the
Republic of Colombia sign the
Hay–Herrán Treaty , January 22, 1903
The
Congress of Colombia rejects the
Hay–Herrán Treaty , August 12, 1903
The United States Navy
patrol gunboat
USS Nashville blocks
Colombian attempts to suppress a
Panamanian separatist movement, October 26, 1903 – March 4, 1904
The
Republic of Panama declares its independence from the
Republic of Colombia , November 3, 1903
United States Marines occupy region around proposed canal, November 4, 1903 – January 21, 1914
The United States and the
Republic of Panama sign the
Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty , November 18, 1903
A tremendous
earthquake strikes the
San Francisco region, April 18, 1906
The United States reoccupies
Cuba , September 29, 1906 – January 28, 1909
The
Territory of Oklahoma is admitted to the Union as the
State of Oklahoma (the 46th state) on November 16, 1907
William Howard Taft becomes the 27th president of the United States on March 4, 1909
1910s
The
Territory of New Mexico is admitted to the Union as the
State of New Mexico (the 47th state) on January 6, 1912
The
Territory of Arizona is admitted to the Union as the
State of Arizona (the 48th state) on February 14, 1912
The
District of Alaska is reorganized as the
Territory of Alaska , August 24, 1912
The
Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, February 3, 1913
Woodrow Wilson becomes the 28th president of the United States on March 4, 1913
The
Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, April 8, 1913
The
United States occupation of Veracruz , April 21, 1914 – November 23, 1914
The
Panama Canal opens to shipping, August 15, 1914
The
United States occupation of Haiti , July 28, 1915 – August 11, 1934
Doroteo Arango Arámbula (Pancho Villa) orders
raid on Columbus, New Mexico , March 9, 1916
General John Pershing leads
Mexican Expedition , March 14, 1916 – February 7, 1917
The
United States occupation of the Dominican Republic , May 16, 1916 – July 13, 1924
The
United States purchases the
Danish West Indies from Denmark, January 17, 1917
World War I , June 28, 1914 – November 11, 1918
The United States declares war on the
German Reich , April 6, 1917
Armistice with Germany , November 11, 1918
The
Treaty of Versailles and the
Covenant of the League of Nations are signed, June 28, 1919
The
United States Senate rejects the
Treaty of Versailles primarily because of
Article X of the Covenant of the League of Nations , March 20, 1920
The
United States Congress declares end of war, July 2, 1921
Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War , May 26, 1918 – April 1, 1920
The
Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, January 29, 1919
1920s
The
Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, August 18, 1920
Warren G. Harding becomes the 29th president of the United States on March 4, 1921
Calvin Coolidge becomes the 30th president of the United States upon the death of
President Warren Harding on August 2, 1923
Hurricane San Felipe Segundo strikes the
Leeward Islands ,
Puerto Rico , the
Bahamas , and
Florida killing more than 4,000 people, September 6, 1928 – September 20, 1928
Herbert Hoover becomes the 31st president of the United States on March 4, 1929
Great Depression , September 3, 1929 – September 1, 1939
1930s
1940s
The United States assumes the defense of
Greenland (
Kalaallit Nunaat ), April 9, 1941 – 1946
The United States assumes the defense of
Iceland , July 27, 1941 – 1946
The United States and
Brazil assume the defense of
Surinam , November 24, 1941 – 1946
World War II , September 1, 1939 – September 2, 1945
The
Empire of Japan
invades Manchuria , September 19, 1931
The
Italian Empire
invades Ethiopia , October 3, 1935
The
German Reich
invades Poland , September 1, 1939
The
Empire of Japan
attacks Pearl Harbor , December 7, 1941
The United States declares war on the
Empire of Japan , December 8, 1941
The
German Reich declares war on the United States, December 11, 1941
The United States declares war on the
German Reich and the
Italian Empire , December 11, 1941
Aleutian Islands Campaign , June 3, 1942 – August 15, 1943
The United States declares war on
Bulgaria ,
Hungary , and
Romania , June 5, 1942
Allied Forces
invade Sicily , July 9, 1943
Allied Forces
invade Italy , September 3, 1943
Italy secretly signs an
armistice with Allied Forces, September 3, 1943
Allied Forces
invade Normandy , June 6, 1944
Japan launches
Fu-Go balloon bombs into the northwestern United States, November 3, 1944 – April 15, 1945
Allied Forces
invade Okinawa , March 18, 1945
German Instrument of Surrender signed May 7 and 8, 1945
The United States tests the first
atomic bomb at the
Trinity Site in New Mexico , July 16, 1945
The United States drops an
atomic bomb on Hiroshima , August 6, 1945
The United States drops an
atomic bomb on Nagasaki , August 9, 1945
Japanese Instrument of Surrender signed September 2, 1945
Harry S. Truman becomes the 33rd president of the United States upon the death of
President Franklin Roosevelt on April 12, 1945
The United States and 50 other nations form the
United Nations , October 24, 1945
The
League of Nations ceases operation, April 20, 1946
Cold War , March 5, 1946 – December 25, 1991
1950s
Korean War , June 25, 1950 – July 27, 1953
The
Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, February 27, 1951
Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes the 34th president of the United States on January 20, 1953
The
Territory of Alaska is admitted to the Union as the
State of Alaska (the 49th state) on January 3, 1959
Vietnam War , September 26, 1959 – April 30, 1975
The United States sends military advisors to the
Republic of Vietnam , February 12, 1955
The United States and the
Vietnam People's Army wage covert war in
Laos , October 1962 – 1975
The United States begins
bombing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam , August 2, 1964
The United States
sends regular ground troops to the Republic of Vietnam , March 8, 1965
Battle of Khe Sanh , January 21 – April 8, 1968
Tet Offensive , January 30 – September 23, 1968
The United States covertly bombs
Vietnam People's Army military targets in
Cambodia , 1968–1970
Battle of Hamburger Hill , May 10–20, 1969
The United States and the
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
invade Cambodia , April 29 – July 22, 1970
Paris Peace Accords , January 27, 1973
The United States
removes regular ground troops from the Republic of Vietnam , March 27, 1973
Fall of Saigon , April 30, 1975
The
Territory of Hawaii is admitted to the Union as the
State of Hawaiʻi (the 50th state) on August 21, 1959
1960s
Cuba confiscates property of United States companies and citizens, July 5, 1960
John F. Kennedy becomes the 35th president of the United States on January 20, 1961
The
Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, March 29, 1961
Cuban exiles supported by the United States
invade Cuba , April 17–19, 1961
United States embargo against Cuba , since February 7, 1962
Cuban Missile Crisis , October 15–28, 1962
Lyndon B. Johnson becomes the 36th president of the United States upon the
assassination of President John Kennedy on November 22, 1963
The
Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, January 23, 1964
A tremendous
earthquake strikes the region around
Anchorage, Alaska , on
Good Friday , March 27, 1964
The United States and allies
invade the Dominican Republic , April 28, 1965 – September 1966
The
Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, February 10, 1967
Richard Nixon becomes the 37th president of the United States on January 20, 1969
Neil Armstrong and
Buzz Aldrin are first people to walk on the Moon, July 20–21, 1969
1970s
The
Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, July 1, 1971
Eugene Cernan and
Harrison Schmitt are the last
Apollo
astronauts to walk on the Moon, December 11–14, 1972
The United States
airlifts military supplies to
Israel during the
Yom Kippur War , October 12 – November 14, 1973
Gerald Ford becomes the 38th president of the United States upon the resignation of
President Richard Nixon on August 9, 1974
The nation celebrates the
Bicentennial of the United States of America , July 4, 1976
Jimmy Carter becomes the 39th president of the United States on January 20, 1977
Iran hostage crisis , November 4, 1979 – January 20, 1981
The United States transfers sovereignty of the
Panama Canal Zone back to the
Republic of Panama , October 1, 1979
1980s
Mount St. Helens erupts, May 18, 1980
Ronald Reagan becomes the 40th president of the United States on January 20, 1981
The United States joins
Multinational Force in Lebanon , August 29, 1982 – February 26, 1984
The United States
invades Grenada , October 25 – December 15, 1983
The United States pursues the
Strategic Defense Initiative , March 27, 1984 – May 13, 1993
Black Monday , October 19, 1987
Somali Civil War , since 1988
George H. W. Bush becomes the 41st president of the United States on January 20, 1989
The United States
invades Panama , December 20, 1989 – February 13, 1990
1990s
Persian Gulf War , August 2, 1990 – February 28, 1991
The United States and allies enforce a
no-fly zone over Iraq north of the
36th parallel north , April 7, 1991 – December 31, 1996
War in Bosnia and Herzegovina , April 1, 1992 – December 14, 1995
The
Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, May 5, 1992
The United States and allies enforce a
no-fly zone over Iraq south of the
32nd parallel north , August 27, 1992 – September 4, 1996
Bill Clinton becomes the 42nd president of the United States on January 20, 1993
The United States contributes troops for
United Nations peacekeeping in
Macedonia , July 9, 1993 –[
clarification needed ]
The United States and allies
invade Haiti , September 19, 1994 – March 31, 1995
Dot-com bubble , January 4, 1995 – March 10, 2000
Kosovo War , April 22, 1996 – June 11, 1999
The United States and allies enforce an expanded
no-fly zone over Iraq south of the
33rd parallel north , September 4, 1996 – April 30, 2003
Al-Qaeda simultaneously bombs United States embassies in
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania , and
Nairobi, Kenya , August 7, 1998. The car bombs kill 223 people and injure more than 4000.
The United States and the United Kingdom
bomb Iraq , December 16, 1998 – December 19, 1998
The
United States House of Representatives
impeaches
President Bill Clinton , December 19, 1998
The United States transfers ownership of the
Panama Canal to the
Republic of Panama , December 31, 1999
21st century
2000s
Dot-com collapse on March 10, 2000 – October 10, 2002.
United States housing bubble , 2000–2006.
Al-Qaeda
attack on the USS Cole at
Aden in
Yemen on October 12, 2000.
George W. Bush becomes the 43rd president of the United States on January 20, 2001.
Al-Qaeda
attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.
War in Afghanistan , October 7, 2001 – August 30, 2021.
The United States and allies
invade Afghanistan on October 7, 2001.
The War in Afghanistan ended with the remaining troops leaving the country on August 30, 2021.
President George W. Bush declares
Iran ,
Iraq , and
North Korea to be the "
Axis of Evil " on January 29, 2002.
Iraq War , March 20, 2003 – December 15, 2011.
The United States and allies
invade Iraq on March 20, 2003.
The
Iraq War is declared formally over on December 15, 2011.
Hurricane Katrina strikes
Florida on August 25 and
Louisiana and
Mississippi on August 29, 2005. Subsequent failure of drainage canals floods 80% of
New Orleans .
United States housing collapse since 2006.
Financial crisis of 2007–2008 .
Barack Obama becomes the 44th president of the United States on January 20, 2009.
Tea Party movement begins in 2009.
2010s
2020s
The
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down most businesses and activities, arriving on January 13, 2020.
Joe Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States on January 20, 2021.
By region
States
Federal district
Insular areas
Outlying islands
By subject
History books
Books on the history of the United States:
Cultural history of the United States
Economic history of the United States
History of education in the United States
Geographic history of the United States
History of health care in the United States
Historiography of the United States
Maritime history of the United States
Political history of the United States
History of science in the United States
See also
References
^ The states of
North Dakota and
South Dakota were admitted to the Union at precisely the same time. Since the names of the new states were officially published in alphabetical order, it has been customary to consider North Dakota to be the 39th state and South Dakota to be the 40th state.
Further reading
Adams, James Truslow, ed. Dictionary of American History (5 Vols. 1940)
Kutler, Stanley I. ed. Dictionary of American History (3rd Edition 10 Volumes, 2003)
Martin, Michael. Dictionary of American History (Littlefield, Adams 1989)
Morris. Richard, ed. Encyclopedia of American History (7th ed. 1996)
Purvis, Thomas L. A Dictionary of American History (Blackwell 1997)
Schlesinger, Arthur M., Jr. The Almanac of American History (2nd ed. 1993)
Thompson, Peter, and Chris Cook. Dictionary of American History: From 1763 to the Present (Facts on File, 2000)
External links