Outline of the history of the United States

Main article: History of the United States

The following is an outline of the history of the United States of America with hyperlinks to relevant Wikipedia articles.

Outline

1490s

• On 1493-11-14, a Spanish fleet under the command of Cristoforo Colombo (Christopher Columbus) lands on a large inhabited island that he names Santa Cruz (Holy Cross, now Saint Croix). Colombo names the island chain Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes {Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgins, now the Virgin Islands).
• Five days later on 1493-11-19, Colombo lands on a larger island inhabited by Taíno people that he names San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist, now Puerto Rico).

1510s

• A Spanish expedition led by Juan Ponce de León lands on a huge inhabited island (actually a continental peninsula) that he names La Pascua Florida (Florida) on Easter Sunday, 1513-04-02

1540s

• A Spanish expedition led by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo lands at a bay of the Pacific Ocean that he names San Miguel (Saint Michael, now San Diego, California), 1542-09-28

1550s

• A Spanish expedition led by Tristán de Luna y Arellano establishes a colony at Pensacola Bay (Florida) on 1559-08-15
  • A hurricane destroys the Pensacola Bay colony five weeks later on 1559-09-19

1560s

• A French expedition led by Jean Ribault establishes a colony at Fort Caroline (Florida) on 1564-06-22
• A Spanish expedition led by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés establishes a colony about 10 leagues (56 kilometers or 35 miles) farther south at San Agustín (Florida) on 1565-09-08
• Spanish Governor Menéndez destroys Fort Caroline and murders its French Huguenot colonists and sailors, 1565

1570s

• Spanish Jesuit priests establish Mission Santa Maria on Ajacàn (Virginia Peninsula), 1570-09-10-1572

1580s

• Most Roman Catholic countries adopt the new Gregorian calendar, 1582
• English establish Roanoke Colony on Roanoke Island in Virginia (now North Carolina), 1584

1590s

• The Roanoke Colony is found deserted, 1590-08-18
• Spanish Governor Juan de Oñate Salazar founds the colony of Santa Fé de Nuevo Méjico at San Juan de los Caballeros (New Mexico), 1598-07-11

1600s

• French establish the colony of l'Acadie on Île Sainte-Croix (Maine), June 1604-1605
• English establish the Virginia Colony on Jamestown Island, 1607-05-14
• English establish the Popham Colony along Kennebec River (Maine), 1607-08-13-August 1607
• First Anglo-Powhatan War, 1609-1613

1620s

• English Puritans establish the Newe-Plymouth Colony, 1620-11-11
• Netherlanders establish the colony of Nieuw-Nederland along the Hudson River, May 1624
• English Puritans establish the Newe-England Colony, 1628-09-06
• King Charles I of England grants the Newe-England Colony a royal charter as the Governour and Company of the Mattachusetts Bay in Newe-England, 1629-03-04

1630s

• English Puritans establish the Saybrook Colony along the Connecticut River, 1635
• English Puritans establish the River Colony along the Connecticut River, 1636-03-03
• Roger Williams establishes the Colony of Providence, June 1636
• Pequot War, 1636-07-20-1637
• Swedish establish the colony of Nya Sverige along the Delaware River, 1638-03-29
• English establish the Newe-Haven Colony, 1638-04-14
• Anne Hutchinson establishes the first of the colonies of Rhode Island, 1638

1640s

• The Long Parliament grants a charter for the Colony of Providence Plantations including the Colony of Providence and the colonies of Rhode Island, March 1644
• Second Anglo-Powhatan War, 1644-1646
• The Connecticut Colony annexes the Saybrook Colony, 1644

1660s

• King Charles II of England grants the River Colony a royal charter as the Colony of Connecticut, May 1662
• King Charles II of England grants a royal charter for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, 1663
• England seizes Nieuw-Nederland from the Netherlands, 1664-08-27. England splits Nieuw-Nederland into the Province of New-York and the Province of New-Jersey.
• The Colony of Connecticut annexes the New-Haven Colony, 1665-01-05
• Second Anglo-Dutch War, 1665-03-04-1667-07-31

1670s

• Third Anglo-Dutch War, 1672-04-07-1674-03-05
  • A Netherlands fleet under the command of Cornelis Evertsen de Jongste captures the Province of New-York, August 1673.
  • Netherlands military government of Nieuw-Nederland, August 1673-1674-03-05
  • Treaty of Westminster, 1674-02-19
  • England regains control of the Province of New-York, 1674-03-05
• The Province of New-Jersey is split into the Province of East Jersey and the Province of West Jersey, 1673-03-18
• King Philip's War, 1675-1676

1680s

• Pueblo Revolt in Santa Fé de Nuevo Méjico, 1680-08-10-1692-09-14
  • Popé leads revolt of Puebloan peoples against Spanish rule, European culture, and Christian religion, 1680-08-10
  • Spanish settlers flee Santa Fé for El Paso del Norte, 1680-08-21
  • New Spanish Governor Diego de Vargas Zapata y Luján Ponce de León y Contreras reconquers Santa Fé de Nuevo Méjico, 1692-09-14
• King Charles II of England grants William Penn a charter for the Province of Pennsylvania, 1681-03-04
• 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), 1682-04-02
• Dominion of New-England in America, 1686-06-03-1689-05-18
  • England creates the Dominion of New-England in America to rule the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, the Colony of Newe-Plymouth, the Province of New-Hampshire, the Province of Main, and the Narraganset Country or King's Province, 1686-06-03
  • England adds the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and the Connecticut Colony to the Dominion of New England in America, 1686-09-09
  • 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, 1688-05-07
  • The government of the Dominion of New-England in America collapses, 1689-05-18. The Colony of Massachusetts Bay, the Colony of Newe-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, 1689-1697-09-20
  • Treaty of Ryswick, 1697-09-20

1690s

• English diarchs William and Mary organize the Province of Massachusetts Bay as a crown colony including the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the New-Plymouth Colony, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket Island, the Province of Maine, and the English claims in Nova Scotia, 1691-10-07

1700s

• England reunites the Province of East Jersey and the Province of West Jersey as the Province of New-Jersey
• Queen Anne's War, 1702-1713-04-11
  • Treaty of Utrecht, 1713-04-11
• William Penn grants the three lower counties on the Delaware River their own General Assembly, making Delaware a semi-autonomous region of the Province of Pennsylvania, November 1704-1776-07-04
• The Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland unite to become the Kingdom of Great Britain on 1707-05-01. England's colonies become British colonies.

1710s

• Tuscarora War, 1711-1715-02-11
• France cedes l'Acadie to England with the Treaty of Utrecht, 1713-04-11
• Yamasee War, 1715-1717

1720s

• Dummer's War, 1721-1725

1730s

• King George II of Great Britain grants James Oglethorpe a charter for the Province of Georgia, 1732-04-21
• War of Jenkins' Ear, 1739-1748

1740s

• King George's War, 1740-1748-10-18
  • Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748-10-18

1750s

• Spain establishes El Presidio Reál San Ignacio de Tubac in Sonora y Sinaloa (now Arizona), 1752-06-02
• The United Kingdom and the British Empire adopt the Gregorian calendar, 1752-09-14
• French and Indian War, 1754-05-28-1763-02-10
  • Treaty of Paris, 1763-02-10

1760s

• Pontiac's Rebellion, 1763-1767
• Royal Proclamation of 1763, 1763-10-07
  • British Indian Reserve, 1763-10-07-1783-09-03
• War of the Regulation, 1764-1771
• Spain establishes El Presidio Reál de San Diego in California, 1769-05-14

1770s

• Spain establishes colony of Las Californias, 1770-06-03-1804-03-26
  • Spain establishes El Presidio Reál de San Carlos de Monterey, 1770-06-03
• Dunmore's War, 1773-1774
• American Revolutionary War, 1775-04-19-1783-09-03
  • Battle of Lexington, 1775-04-19
  • The Province of New Hampshire adopts a constitution for an independent State of New Hampshire, 1776-01-05
  • The Province of South Carolina adopts a constitution for an independent State of South Carolina, 1776-03-15
  • The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations declares its independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain, 1776-05-04
  • The Colony of Connecticut declares its independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain, 1776-06-18
  • The Colony of Virginia adopts a constitution for an independent Commonwealth of Virginia, 1776-06-29
  • The Province of New Jersey adopts a constitution for an independent State of New Jersey, 1776-07-02
  • The 13 British North American provinces of Virginia, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Delaware, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia united as the United States of America declare their independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain, 1776-07-04
  • Battles of Saratoga, 1777-09-19 and 1777-10-07
  • Battle of the Chesapeake, 1781-09-05
  • Siege of Yorktown, 1781-09-28-1781-10-19
  • Treaty of Paris, 1783-09-03
• Spain establishes El Presidio Reál de San Francisco de Asis in Las Californias, 1776-09-17
• English explorer James Cook becomes the first European to visit the Hawaiian Islands which he names the Sandwich Islands, 1778-01-18

1780s

• The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts takes effect on 1780-10-25, changing the name of the State of Massachusetts Bay.
• Spain establishes El Presidio Reál de Santa Barbara in Las Californias, 1782-04-21
• Northwest Indian War, 1785-1795-08-03
  • Treaty of Greenville, 1795-08-03
• Shays' Rebellion, 1786-08-29-1787-05-25
• The Philadelphia Convention writes a new Constitution of the United States of America, 1787-05-25-1787-09-17
• The Congress of the Confederation organizes the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, 1787-07-13
• The State of Delaware becomes the 1st State to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America on 1787-12-07
• The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania becomes the 2nd State to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America on 1787-12-12
• The State of New Jersey becomes the 3rd State to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America on 1787-12-18
• The State of Georgia becomes the 4th State to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America on 1788-01-02
• The State of Connecticut becomes the 5th State to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America on 1788-01-09
• The Commonwealth of Massachusetts becomes the 6th State to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America on 1788-02-06
• The State of Maryland becomes the 7th State to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America on 1788-04-28
• The State of South Carolina becomes the 8th State to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America on 1788-05-23
• The Constitution of the United States of America takes effect when the State of New Hampshire becomes the 9th State to ratify the document on 1788-06-21
• The Commonwealth of Virginia becomes the 10th State to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America on 1788-06-25
• The State of New York becomes the 11th State to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America on 1788-07-26
• A new government under the Constitution of the United States of America comes into being on 1789-03-04
• George Washington becomes the 1st President of the United States on 1789-04-30
• The State of North Carolina becomes the 12th State to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America on 1789-11-21

1790s

• The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations becomes the 13th State to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America on 1790-05-29
• The Vermont Republic is admitted to the Union as the State of Vermont (the 14th State) on 1791-03-04
• Whiskey Rebellion, 1791-1794
• The United States Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America, takes effect on 1791-12-15
• The United States sells the Erie Triangle to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1792-03-03
• The District of Kentucky of the Commonwealth of Virginia is admitted to the Union as the Commonwealth of Kentucky (the 15th State) on 1792-06-01
• The Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, 1795-02-07
• The Territory South of the River Ohio is admitted to the Union as the State of Tennessee (the 16th State) on 1796-06-01
• John Adams becomes the 2nd President of the United States on 1797-03-04
• The Territory of Mississippi is organized, 1798-04-07
• Quasi-War, 1798-1800

1800s

• The Territory of Indiana is organized, 1800-05-07
• Thomas Jefferson becomes the 3rd President of the United States on 1801-03-04
• 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 1803-03-01
• The United States takes possession of the Louisiana Purchase, 1803-12-20
• Spanish creates the colony of Alta California from northern portion of Las Californias, 1804-03-26-1821-08-24
• Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-05-14-1806-09-23
  • Lewis and Clark Expedition reaches the Pacific Ocean, 1805-11-18
• The Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, 1804-06-15
• Battle of Sitka, October 1804
• The Territory of Orleans is organized and the District of Louisiana is created, 1804-10-01
• The Territory of Michigan is organized, 1805-06-30
• The Territory of Louisiana is organized, 1805-07-04
• Pike Expedition, 1806-07-15-1807-07-01
  • Spanish cavalry arrests Pike Expedition, 1807-02-26
• The Territory of Illinois is organized, 1809-03-01
• James Madison becomes the 4th President of the United States on 1809-03-04

1810s

• Mexican War of Independence, 1810-09-16-1821-08-24
  • Grito de Dolores, 1810-09-16
  • Treaty of Córdoba, 1821-08-24
• The Republic of West Florida declares its independence from Spain, 1810-09-23
• The United States unilaterally annexes the Florida Parishes of Spanish Florida Occidental, 1810-10-27
• Tecumseh's War, 1811
• A tremendous earthquake strikes the region around New Madrid in the Territory of Louisiana (Missouri), 1812-02-07
• The Territory of Orleans is admitted to the Union as the State of Louisiana (the 18th State) on 1812-04-30
• The Territory of Louisiana is renamed the Territory of Missouri on 1812-06-04
• War of 1812, 1812-06-18-1815-02-12
  • The United States declares war on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 1812-06-18
  • Battle of Lake Erie on 1813-09-10
  • Battle of Bladensburg on 1814-08-24
  • Burning of Washington on 1814-08-24
  • Battle of Plattsburgh, 1814-09-06-1814-09-11
  • Battle of Baltimore, 1814-09-12-1814-09-15
  • Treaty of Ghent, 1814-12-24
  • Battle of New Orleans on 1815-01-08
• Creek War, 1813-1814
• First Seminole War, 1814-1819
• Second Barbary War, 1815-03-03-1816-12-23
  • The United States declares war on Algiers, 1815-03-03
• The Territory of Indiana is admitted to the Union as the State of Indiana (the 19th State) on 1816-12-11
• The Territory of Alabama is organized, 1817-03-03
• James Monroe becomes the 5th President of the United States on 1817-03-04
• The Territory of Mississippi is admitted to the Union as the State of Mississippi (the 20th State) on 1817-12-10
• The Territory of Illinois is admitted to the Union as the State of Illinois (the 21st State) on 1818-12-03.
• The Territory of Arkansaw is organized, 1819-07-04
• The Territory of Alabama is admitted to the Union as the State of Alabama (the 22nd State) on 1819-12-14

1820s

• The District of Maine of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is admitted to the Union as the State of Maine (the 23rd State) on 1820-03-15
• The southeastern portion of the Territory of Missouri is admitted to the Union as the State of Missouri (the 24th State) on 1821-08-10. The remainder of the Missouri Territory becomes unorganized.
• The Territory of Florida is organized, 1822-03-30
• John Quincy Adams becomes the 6th President of the United States on 1825-03-04
• Winnebago War, 1827
• Andrew Jackson becomes the 7th President of the United States on 1829-03-04

1830s

• Nat Turner's slave rebellion, 1831-08-21-1831-08-22
• Black Hawk War, 1832
• Second Seminole War, 1835-1842
• Toledo War, 1835-1836
• Texas Revolution, 1835-10-02-1836-10-02
  • Battle of the Alamo, 1836-02-23-1836-03-06
  • Texas Declaration of Independence, 1836-03-02
  • Battle of San Jacinto, 1836-04-21
• Texas-Indian Wars, 1836-05-19-1875-06-02
  • Fort Parker massacre, 1836-05-19
  • Council House massacre, 1840-03-19
• The Territory of Arkansaw is admitted to the Union as the State of Arkansas (the 25th State) on 1836-06-15
• The Territory of Wisconsin is organized, 1836-07-03
• The United States buys the Platte Purchase from the recently relocated Iowa, Sac, and Fox nations, 1836-09-17. 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 1837-01-26
• Martin Van Buren becomes the 8th President of the United States on 1837-03-04
• The Platte Purchase is annexed to the State of Missouri, 1837-03-28
• Missouri Mormon War, 1838-08-06-1838-11-01
• The Territory of Iowa is organized, 1838-07-04
• Aroostook War, 1838-1839
• Honey War, 1839

1840s

• William Henry Harrison becomes the 9th President of the United States on 1841-03-04
• John Tyler becomes the 10th President of the United States upon the death of President William Henry Harrison on 1841-04-04
• The extralegal Provisional Government of Oregon governs the Oregon Country, 1843-05-02-1848-08-14
• Illinois Mormon War, 1844-06-07-1846-09-17
  • Murder of Joseph Smith, Jr., 1844-06-27
  • Battle of Nauvoo, 1846-09-12-1846-09-17
• Treaty of Wanghia, 1844-07-03
• The Territory of Florida is admitted to the Union as the State of Florida (the 27th State) on 1845-03-03
• James K. Polk becomes the 11th President of the United States on 1845-03-04
• The Republic of Texas is admitted to the Union as the State of Texas (the 28th State) on 1845-12-29
• Mexican-American War, 1846-04-24-1848-02-02
  • The United States declares war on Mexico, 1846-05-11
  • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848-02-02
• Biddle Expedition arrives at Uraga Harbor in Japan, 1846-07-20
• The southeastern portion of the Territory of Iowa is admitted to the Union as the State of Iowa (the 29th State) on 1846-12-28. The remainder of the Iowa Territory becomes unorganized.
• Cayuse War, 1847-11-29-1855-06-11
  • Walla Walla Treaty, 1855-06-11
• The southeastern portion of the Territory of Wisconsin is admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin (the 30th State) on 1848-05-29. The remainder of the Wisconsin Territory becomes unorganized.
• The Territory of Oregon is organized, 1848-08-14
• The Territory of Minnesota is organized, 1849-03-03
• The extralegal Territory of Deseret governs the Great Basin region, 1849-05-03-1850-09-09
• Zachary Taylor becomes the 12th President of the United States on 1849-03-04

1850s

• Millard Fillmore becomes the 13th President of the United States upon the death of President Zachary Taylor on 1850-07-09
• The State of California is admitted to the Union as the 31st State on 1850-09-09
• The Territory of New Mexico and the Territory of Utah are organized, 1850-09-09
• The Territory of Washington is organized, 1853-02-08
• Franklin Pierce becomes the 14th President of the United States on 1853-03-04
• Perry Expedition arrives at Uraga Harbor in Japan, 1853-07-14
  • Convention of Kanagawa, 1854-03-31
• The Territory of Kansas and the Territory of Nebraska are organized, 1854-05-20
• Sioux Wars, 1854-08-19-1890-12-29
  • Grattan massacre, 1854-08-19
  • Wounded Knee massacre, 1890-12-29
• James Buchanan becomes the 15th President of the United States on 1857-03-04
• Utah Mormon War, 1857-05-28-1858-07-08
  • Mountain Meadows massacre, 1857-09-11
• The eastern portion of the Territory of Minnesota is admitted to the Union as the State of Minnesota (the 32nd State) on 1858-05-11. The remainder of the Minnesota Territory becomes unorganized.
• The extralegal Territory of Jefferson governs the Southern Rocky Mountains region, 1859-10-24-1861-02-28
• The western portion of the Territory of Oregon is admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon (the 33rd State) on 1859-02-14. The remainder of the Oregon Territory is annexed to the Territory of Washington.

1860s

• The State of South Carolina becomes the 1st state to secede from the Union on 1860-12-20
• The State of Mississippi becomes the 2nd state to secede from the Union on 1861-01-09
• The State of Florida becomes the 3rd state to secede from the Union on 1861-01-10
• The State of Alabama becomes the 4th state to secede from the Union on 1861-01-11
• The State of Georgia becomes the 5th state to secede from the Union on 1861-01-19
• The State of Louisiana becomes the 6th state to secede from the Union on 1861-01-26
• The eastern portion of the Territory of Kansas is admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas (the 34th State) on 1861-01-29. The remainder of the Kansas territory becomes unorganized.
• The State of Texas becomes the 7th state to secede from the Union on 1861-02-01
• The 7 rebellious slave states of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas create the rival Confederate States of America on 1861-02-04
• The Territory of Colorado is organized, 1861-02-28
• The Territory of Nevada is organized, 1861-03-02
• The Territory of Dakota is organized, 1861-03-02
• Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th President of the United States on 1861-03-04
• A rump government declares itself the Confederate Territory of Arizona on 1861-03-16
• American Civil War, 1861-04-12-1865-06-23
  • Battle of Fort Sumter, 1861-04-12-1861-04-13
  • The Commonwealth of Virginia becomes the 8th state to secede from the Union on 1861-04-17
  • Union naval blockade of the Confederacy, 1861-04-19-1865-04-09
  • The State of Arkansas becomes the 9th state to secede from the Union on 1861-05-06
  • The Commonwealth of Virginia becomes the 8th state admitted to the Confederacy on 1861-05-07
  • The State of North Carolina becomes the 10th state to secede from the Union on 1861-05-20
  • The State of Arkansas becomes the 9th state admitted to the Confederacy on 1861-05-18
  • The State of North Carolina becomes the 10th state admitted to the Confederacy on 1861-05-21
  • The State of Tennessee becomes the 11th state to secede from the Union on 1861-06-08
  • The State of Tennessee becomes the 11th state admitted to the Confederacy on 1861-07-02
  • First Battle of Bull Run, 1861-07-21
  • A rump government claiming to represent the State of Missouri declares its secession from the Union on 1861-10-31
  • A rump government claiming to represent the Commonwealth of Kentucky declares its secession from the Union on 1861-11-20
  • The rump government of the State of Missouri becomes the 12th state admitted to the Confederacy on 1861-11-28
  • The rump government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky becomes the 13th state admitted to the Confederacy on 1861-12-10
  • The rump government of the Confederate Territory of Arizona becomes the only Confederate Territory on 1862-02-14
  • Battle of Shiloh, 1862-04-06-1862-04-07
  • Battle of Antietam, 1862-09-17
  • The Territory of Arizona is organized, 1863-02-24
  • The Territory of Idaho is organized, 1863-03-04
  • Siege of Vicksburg, 1863-05-18-1863-07-04
  • The northwestern region of the Commonwealth of Virginia is admitted to the Union as the State of West Virginia (the 35th State) on 1863-06-20
  • Battle of Gettysburg, 1863-07-01-1863-07-03
  • President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation on 1863-09-22
  • Siege of Atlanta, 1864-05-07-1864-09-02
  • The Territory of Montana is organized, 1864-05-28
  • The State of Nevada is admitted to the Union as the 36th State on 1864-10-31
  • Battle of Appomattox Courthouse, 1865-04-09
• Andrew Johnson becomes the 17th President of the United States upon the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on 1865-04-15
• The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, 1865-12-18
• The State of Tennessee becomes the 1st Confederate State readmitted to the Union on 1866-07-24
• The Territory of Nebraska is admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska (the 37th State) on 1867-03-01
• President Andrew Johnson is impeached by the United States House of Representatives, 1868-02-24
  • President Andrew Johnson is acquitted by the United States Senate, 1868-05-16
• The State of Arkansas becomes the 2nd Confederate State readmitted to the Union on 1868-06-22
• The State of Florida becomes the 3rd Confederate State readmitted to the Union on 1868-06-25
• The State of North Carolina becomes the 4th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on 1868-07-04
• The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, 1868-07-09
• The State of Louisiana becomes the 5th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on 1868-07-09
• The State of South Carolina becomes the 6th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on 1868-07-09
• The State of Alabama becomes the 7th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on 1868-07-13
• The Territory of Wyoming is organized, 1868-07-25
• Ulysses S. Grant becomes the 18th President of the United States on 1869-03-04

1870s

• The Commonwealth of Virginia becomes the 8th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on 1870-01-26
• The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, 1870-02-03
• The State of Mississippi becomes the 9th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on 1870-02-23
• The State of Texas becomes the 10th Confederate State readmitted to the Union on 1870-03-30
• The State of Georgia becomes the 11th and last Confederate State readmitted to the Union on 1870-07-15
• The United States attacks Korea, 1871-06-10-1871-07-03
• Black Hills War, 1876-03-17-1877
  • Battle of the Little Bighorn, 1876-06-25-1876-06-26
• The nation celebrates the Centennial of the United States of America, 1876-07-04
• The Territory of Colorado is admitted to the Union as the State of Colorado (the 38th State) on 1876-08-01
• Rutherford B. Hayes becomes the 19th President of the United States on 1877-03-04

1880s

• James A. Garfield becomes the 20th President of the United States on 1881-03-04
• Chester A. Arthur becomes the 21st President of the United States upon the assassination of President James Garfield on 1881-09-19
• The portion of the Dakota Territory south of the 42nd parallel north and west of the Missouri River is annexed to the State of Nebraska, 1882-03-28
• Grover Cleveland becomes the 22nd President of the United States on 1885-03-04
• Benjamin Harrison becomes the 23rd President of the United States on 1889-03-04
• The Territory of Dakota is admitted to the Union as the State of North Dakota and the State of South Dakota (the 39th State and the 40th State) on 1889-11-02
• The Territory of Montana is admitted to the Union as the State of Montana (the 41st State) on 1889-11-08
• The Territory of Washington is admitted to the Union as the State of Washington (the 42nd State) on 1889-11-11

1890s

• The Territory of Oklahoma is organized, 1890-05-02
• The Territory of Idaho is admitted to the Union as the State of Idaho (the 43rd State) on 1890-07-03
• The Territory of Wyoming is admitted to the Union as the State of Wyoming (the 44th State) on 1890-07-10
• Grover Cleveland becomes the 24th (as well as the 22nd) President of the United States on 1893-03-04
• The Territory of Utah is admitted to the Union as the State of Utah (the 45th State) on 1896-01-04
• William McKinley becomes the 25th President of the United States on 1897-03-04
• Spanish-American War, 1898-04-24-1898-08-12
  • Teller Amendment blocks United States annexation of Cuba, 1898-04-20
  • The United States declares war on the Spanish Empire, 1898-04-24
  • Invasion of Guantánamo Bay, 1898-06-06-1898-06-10
  • Battle of Santiago de Cuba, 1898-07-03
  • Invasion of Puerto Rico, 1898-07-25-1898-08-13
  • Protocol of Peace signed on 1898-08-12
  • Treaty of Paris, 1898-12-10
    • The United States annexes the Philippines, Porto Rico (sic), and Guam, 1898-12-10
    • The United States formally occupies Cuba, 1899-01-01-1902-05-20
  • Platt Amendment promotes United States hegemony of Cuba, 1901-03-02
• The Territory of Hawaii is organized, 1898-07-07
• Second Samoan Civil War, 1898-08-22-1899-11-14
  • Anglo-German Samoa Convention, 1899-11-14
    • The United States annexes Eastern Samoa, 1899-12-02
• Philippine-American War, 1899-06-02-1913-06-15
  • Philippine Declaration of Independence, 1898-06-12
  • The Philippines declares war on the United States, 1899-06-02
  • Moro Rebellion, 1902-05-02-1913-06-15
  • Organic Act for the Philippine Islands, 1902-07-01
  • President Theodore Roosevelt declares the end of Philippine-American War, 1902-07-04
• Boxer Rebellion, 1899-11-02-1901-09-07
  • The Society of Right and Harmonious Fists attacks Beijing, 1900-06-20
  • The Eight-Nation Alliance relieves Beijing, 1900-08-14
  • The Boxer Protocol is imposed on China, 1901-09-07

1900s

• A hurricane strikes Galveston, Texas, killing approximately 8,000 people, 1900-09-08
• Theodore Roosevelt becomes the 26th President of the United States upon the assassination of President William McKinley on 1901-09-14
• The United States recognizes the independence of the Republic of Cuba, 1902-05-20
  • The United States formally ends its occupation of Cuba, 1902-05-20
• The United States seizes opportunity to build a ship canal across the Isthmus of Panama, 1903-01-22-1914-08-15
  • The United States and the Republic of Colombia sign the Hay-Herran Treaty, 1903-01-22
  • The Congress of Colombia rejects the Hay-Herran Treaty, 1903-08-12
  • The United States Navy patrol gunboat USS Nashville blocks Columbian attempts to suppress a Panamanian separatist movement, 1903-10-26-1904-03-04
  • The Republic of Panama declares its independence from the Republic of Colombia, 1903-11-03
  • United States Marines occupy region around proposed canal, 1903-11-04-1914-01-21
  • The United States and the Republic of Panama sign the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty, 1903-11-18
    • The United States annexes the Panama Canal Zone, 1903-11-18
• A tremendous earthquake strikes the San Francisco, California region, 1906-04-18
• The United States reoccupies Cuba, 1906-09-29-1909-01-28
• The Territory of Oklahoma is admitted to the Union as the State of Oklahoma (the 46th State) on 1907-11-16
• William Howard Taft becomes the 27th President of the United States on 1909-03-04

1910s

• The Territory of New Mexico is admitted to the Union as the State of New Mexico (the 47th State) on 1912-01-06
• The Territory of Arizona is admitted to the Union as the State of Arizona (the 48th State) on 1912-02-14
• The District of Alaska is reorganized as the Territory of Alaska, 1912-08-24
• The Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, 1913-02-03
• Woodrow Wilson becomes the 28th President of the United States on 1913-03-04
• The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, 1913-04-08
• The United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914-04-21-1914-11-23
• The Panama Canal opens to shipping, 1914-08-15
• The United States occupation of Haiti, 1915-07-28-1934-08-11
• Raid on Columbus, 1916-03-09
• Mexican Expedition, 1916-03-14-1917-02-07
• The United States occupation of the Dominican Republic, 1916-05-16-1924-07-13
• World War I, 1914-07-28-1918-11-11
  • The United States declares war on the German Reich, 1917-04-06
  • Armistice with Germany, 1918-11-11
  • The Treaty of Versailles and the Covenant of the League of Nations are signed, 1919-06-28
  • The United States Senate rejects the Treaty of Versailles primarily because of Article X of the Covenant of the League of Nations, 1920-03-20
  • The United States Congress declares the end of war, 1921-07-02
• Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War, 1918-05-26-1920-04-01
  • The American Expeditionary Force Siberia, 1918-08-15-1920-04-01
  • The American Expeditionary Force North Russia, 1918-09-04-1919-08-05
• The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, 1919-01-29

1920s

• The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, 1920-08-18
• Warren G. Harding becomes the 29th President of the United States on 1921-03-04
• Calvin Coolidge becomes the 30th President of the United States upon the death of President Warren Harding on 1923-08-02
• Hurricane San Felipe Segundo strikes the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Florida killing more than 4,000 people, 1928-09-06-1928-09-20
• Herbert Hoover becomes the 31st President of the United States on 1929-03-04
• Great Depression, 1929-09-03-1939-09-01
  • Wall Street Crash, 1929-09-03-1932-07-08
    • Black Tuesday, 1929-10-29

1930s

• The Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, 1933-01-23
• Franklin D. Roosevelt becomes the 32nd President of the United States on 1933-03-04
• The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution, 1933-12-05

1940s

• The United States assumes the defense of Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat), 1941-04-09-1946
• The United States assumes the defense of Iceland, 1941-07-27-1946
• The United States and Brazil assume the defense of Netherlands Guiana (Suriname), 1941-11-24-1946
• World War II, 1939-09-01-1945-09-02
  • The Empire of Japan invades Manchuria, 1931-09-19
  • The Italian Empire invades Ethiopia, 1935-10-03
  • The German Reich invades Poland, 1939-09-01
  • The Empire of Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, 1941-12-07
  • The United States declares war on the Empire of Japan, 1941-12-08
  • The German Reich declares war on the United States, 1941-12-11
  • The United States declares war on the German Reich and the Italian Empire, 1941-12-11
  • Aleutian Islands Campaign, 1942-06-03-1943-08-15
  • The United States declares war on Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania, 1942-06-05
  • Allied Forces invade Sicily, 1943-07-09
  • Allied Forces invade Italy, 1943-09-03
  • Italy secretly signs an armistice with Allied Forces, 1943-09-03
  • Allied Forces invade Normandy, 1944-06-06
  • Japan launches fire balloons into the northwestern United States, 1944-11-03-1945-04-15
  • Allied Forces invade Okinawa, 1945-03-18
  • German Instrument of Surrender signed 1945-05-07 and 1945-05-08
  • The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, 1945-08-06
  • The United States drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, 1945-08-09
  • Japanese Instrument of Surrender signed 1945-09-02
• Harry S. Truman becomes the 33rd President of the United States upon the death of President Franklin Roosevelt on 1945-04-12
• The United States and 50 other nations form the United Nations, 1945-10-24
• The League of Nations ceases operation, 1946-04-20
• Berlin Blockade, 1948-06-24-1949-05-11
  • Berlin Airlift, 1948-06-25-1949-09-30

1950s

• Korean War, 1950-06-25-1953-07-27
  • North Korea invades South Korea, 1950-06-25
  • The United Nations invade North Korea, 1950-09-15
  • China invades North Korea, 1950-11-01
  • China invades South Korea, 1951-01-01
  • Korean Armistice Agreement signed 1953-07-27
• The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, 1951-02-27
• Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes the 34th President of the United States on 1953-01-20
• The Territory of Alaska is admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska (the 49th State) on 1959-01-03
• Vietnam War, March 1959-1975-04-30
  • The United States sends military advisors to the Republic of Vietnam, 1955-02-12
  • 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, 1964-08-02
  • The United States sends regular ground troops to the Republic of Vietnam, 1965-03-08
  • Battle of Khe Sanh, 1968-01-21-1968-04-08
  • Tet Offensive, 1968-01-30-1968-09-23
    • Battle of Hue, 1968-01-30-1968-03-03
  • The United States covertly bombs Vietnam People's Army military targets in Cambodia, 1968-1970
  • Battle of Hamburger Hill, 1969-05-10-1969-05-20
  • The United States and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam invade Cambodia, 1970-04-29-1970-07-22
  • Paris Peace Accords, 1973-01-27
  • The United States removes regular ground troops from the Republic of Vietnam, 1973-03-27
  • Fall of Saigon, 1975-04-30
• The Territory of Hawaii is admitted to the Union as the State of Hawaiʻi (the 50th State) on 1959-08-21

1960s

• Cuba confiscates property of United States companies and citizens, 1960-07-05
• John F. Kennedy becomes the 35th President of the United States on 1961-01-20
• The Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, 1961-03-29
• Cuban exiles supported by the United States invade Cuba, 1961-04-17-1961-04-19
• United States embargo against Cuba, since 1962-02-07
• Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962-10-15-1962-10-28
  • United States naval quarantine of Cuba, 1962-10-24-1962-12-31
• Lyndon B. Johnson becomes the 36th President of the United States upon the assassination of President John Kennedy on 1963-11-22
• The Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, 1964-01-23
• A tremendous earthquake strikes the region around Anchorage, Alaska, on Good Friday, 1964-03-27
• The United States and allies invade the Dominican Republic, 1965-04-28–September 1966
• The Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, 1967-02-10
• Richard Nixon becomes the 37th President of the United States on 1969-01-20
• Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are first people to walk on the Moon, 1969-07-20-1969-07-21

1970s

• The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, 1971-07-01
• Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt are the last Apollo astronauts to walk on the Moon, 1972-12-11-1972-12-14
• The United States airlifts military supplies to Israel during the Yom Kippur War, 1973-10-12-1973-11-14
• Gerald Ford becomes the 38th President of the United States upon the resignation of President Richard Nixon on 1974-08-09
• The nation celebrates the Bicentennial of the United States of America, 1976-07-04
• Jimmy Carter becomes the 39th President of the United States on 1977-01-20
• Iran hostage crisis, 1979-11-04-1981-01-20
• The United States transfers sovereignty of the Panama Canal Zone back to the Republic of Panama, 1979-10-01

1980s

• Mount Saint Helens erupts, 1980-05-18
• Ronald Reagan becomes the 40th President of the United States on 1981-01-20
• The United States joins Multinational Force in Lebanon, 1982-08-29-1984-02-26
  • Truck bombings kill 307 in Beirut, 1983-10-23
• The United States invades Granada, 1983-10-25-1983-12-15
• The United States pursues the Strategic Defense Initiative, 1984-03-27-1993-05-13
  • President Ronald Reagan presents Star Wars speech, 1983-03-23
• Black Monday, 1987-10-19
• Somali Civil War, since 1988
  • The United Nations intervenes in the Somali Civil War, 1992-07-27-1995-03-03
    • The United States leads the Unified Task Force, 1992-12-09-1993-05-04
    • The United States deploys independent Task Force Ranger, 1993-08-08-1994-03-31
      • Battle of Mogadishu, 1993-10-03-1993-10-04
• George H.W. Bush becomes the 41st President of the United States on 1989-01-20
• The United States invades Panama, 1989-12-20–1990-02-13

1990s

• Persian Gulf War, 1990-08-02–1991-02-28
  • The Republic of Iraq invades the State of Kuwait, 1990-08-02
  • The United States and allies invade Kuwait and Iraq, 1991-02-24
• The United States and allies enforce a no-fly zone over Iraq north of the 36th parallel north, 1991-04-07-1996-12-31
• War in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1992-04-01-1995-12-14
  • The United Nations airlifts humanitarian aid to Bosnia and Hercegovina, 1992-07-02-1996-01-09
  • NATO enforces ban on unauthorized military flights over Bosnia and Hercegovina, 1993-04-13-1995-08-30
  • NATO bombs Bosnian Serb Army in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1995-08-30-1995-09-20
• The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution takes effect, 1992-05-05
• The United States and allies enforce a no-fly zone over Iraq south of the 32nd parallel north, 1992-08-27-1996-09-04
• Bill Clinton becomes the 42nd President of the United States on 1993-01-20
• The United States contributes troops for United Nations peacekeeping in Macedonia, 1993-07-09-
• The United States and allies invade Haiti, 1994-09-19-1995-03-31
• Dot-com bubble, 1995-01-04-2000-03-10
• Kosovo War, 1996-04-22-1999-06-11
  • NATO bombs the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, 1999-03-24-1999-06-10
• The United States and allies enforce an expanded no-fly zone over Iraq south of the 33rd parallel north, 1996-09-04-2003-04-30
• The United States and the United Kingdom bomb Iraq, 1998-12-16-1998-12-19
• The United States House of Representatives impeaches President Bill Clinton, 1998-12-19
  • The United States Senate acquits President Bill Clinton, 1999-02-12
• The United States transfers ownership of the Panama Canal to the Republic of Panama, 1999-12-31

2000s

• Dot-com collapse, 2000-03-10-2002-10-10
• Al-Qaeda attack on the USS Cole at Aden in Yemen, 2000-10-12
• George W. Bush becomes the 43rd President of the United States on 2001-01-20
• Al-Qaeda attacks on the United States, 2001-09-11
• Afghanistan War, since 2001-10-07
  • The United States and allies invade Afghanistan, 2001-10-07
• President George W. Bush designates Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as the "Axis of Evil", 2002-01-29
• Iraq War, since 2003-03-19
  • The United States and allies invade Iraq, 2003-03-19
• Hurricane Katrina strikes Florida on 2005-08-25, and Louisiana and Mississippi on 2005-08-29. Subsequent failure of drainage canals floods 80% of New Orleans.

Maps

Location of the United States of America

See also

• Agricultural history of the United States
• Colonial history of the United States
• Cultural history of the United States
• Economic history of the United States
• History of education in the United States
• History of religion in the United States
• History of the United States
• List of conflicts in the United States
• List of Presidents of the United States
• List of United States-related topics
• List of United States military history events
• List of United States treaties
• List of wars involving the United States
• Military history of the United States
• Technological and industrial history of the United States
• Territorial evolution of the United States
• Timeline of United States history
• United States of America
• U.S. state