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11000 B.C.
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The first humans, "Paleo-Indians," arrive in the New World from Asia, by way of a land bridge; over the next few centuries, they spread throughout the Western Hemisphere.
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1000
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Leif Ericson, a Viking seaman, explores the east coast of North America and sights Newfoundland, establishing a short-lived settlement there.
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1492
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Colombus Discovers America
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1502
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First African slaves come to Spanish America.
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1513
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Ponce de Leon of Spain lands in Florida.
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1521
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Hernando Cortés conquers the Aztec empire
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1565
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The Spanish colonial town of St. Augustine, Florida, was established as a military outpost to protect Spanish interests in the New World. It was the first permanent settlement established by any European group, and remained in Spanish hands until the end of the Seven Year's War, in 1763.
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1579
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Sir Francis Drake lands on the coast of California, where he is greeted by friendly Miwok Indians.
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1585
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Roanoke, VA, first English colony, first white baby in America (Virginia Dare).
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1607
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Jamestown is founded in Virginia.
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1619
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Twenty Africans are brought by a Dutch ship to Jamestown for sale as indentured servants, marking the beginning of slavery in Colonial America.
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1620
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Pilgrims land at Plymouth
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1626
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Peter Minuit, a Dutch colonist, buys Manhattan island from Native Americans.
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1634
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The Pequot War breaks out in New England.
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1675-1677
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King Philip's War resulted in attacks on 52 of the 90 towns existing in Puritan New England and the leveling of 13 of them. 600 settlers were killed. The Indians were thoroughly defeated, as much from disease as from bullets
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1692
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The village of Salem, Massachusetts gets caught up in a public hysteria over witches and witchcraft. Over twenty people over hung for being witches.
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1754
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The French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, begins in the colonies, pitting the French, with Indian Allies, against the English to control New England
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1763
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The French and Indian War Ends. The French have finally been defeated and driven out of North America, after 100 years of conflict.
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1764 - 1765
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The Sugar Act, the Currency Act and the Stamp Act are passed.
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1770
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The Boston Massacre, where British troops fire on Bostonians throwing snowballs will be a rallying cry through the Revolutionary years.
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1775
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In May another Continental Congress meets and agrees to raise an army. George Washington is made its leader.
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1781
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In October the Americans win a decisive victory at Yorktown. With the surrender of a British army under Cornwallis all British hopes of keeping the colonies evaporate. American independence is assured. treaty is signed in 1783.
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1789
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The first Congress meets and George Washington becomes the first President.
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1793
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Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin. The result is a revival of slavery in the southern states.
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1803
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The US purchases Louisiana from Napoleon for $15 million.
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1804
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Slavery is made illegal in the northern states of the United States of America.
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1812
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The US declares war on England. In 1813 a treaty is declared.
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1845
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Texas is annexed by the U.S.; Mexico refuses to accept Texan independence. In 1846 the Mexican War begins
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1861
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Civil war begins on 12 April when Unionist troops are ordered to evacuate Fort Sumter. When they refuse the Confederates bombard them. The unionist eventually surrender and are allowed to leave.
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1865
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Lincoln is assassinated. South surrenders.
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1871
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Congress passes the Indian Appropriation Act, which nullifies all Indian treaties and makes Native Americans wards of the nation.
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1890
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U.S. troops massacre more than two hundred Sioux at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota; Wounded Knee marks the end of the Native Americans' long struggle against white expansion in the West.
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1898
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The USA goes to war with Spain. In December a peace treaty is signed. Cuba becomes independent. The USA takes the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam.
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1903
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The first movie, The Great Train robbery, is displayed.
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1917
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On 6 April the USA declares war on Germany and enters WWI. Germans surrender in 1918.
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1915
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- The first "Great Migration" begins; blacks move from the rural South to the urban North.
- D. W. Griffith's film The Birth of a Nation is released and is an important milestone in thedevelopment of movies as an art form. (By today's standards it is flawed by the racist overtones that were widely accepted at that time.)
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1920
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Women gain the vote in federal elections.
Prohibition begins. It is now illegal to make, transport or sell alcohol.
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1927
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The Jazz Singer, the first 'talkie' is made
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1929
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The Wall Street Crash, setting off the Great Depression
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1932
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected president. The next year prohibition ends.
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1941
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December 7th Japan attacks the US fleet at Pearl Harbor. US enters WWII.
- In 1945 Germany and Japan surrender. The U.S. droppped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
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1947
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The Cold War has begun.
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1950-1954
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U.S. becomes involved in the Korean War.
- A senate committee led by Joseph McCarthy accuses many Americans of being Communists or having ties to Communist organizations; many careers are ruined before McCarthy is discredited.
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1954
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In Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, the Supreme Court rules that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.
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1961
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The Cuban Missle Crisis
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1963
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A quarter of a million people march on Washington to demand civil rights. Martin Luther King makes his famous ‘I have a dream’ speech.
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1964
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Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act
In August North Vietnamese torpedo boats attack US warships. American involvement in Vietnam escalates.
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1965
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Malcolm X is assassinated
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1969
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Neil Armstrong becomes the first person to step on the moon.
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1970
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1970-73 US troops are withdrawn from Vietnam.
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1974
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President Nixon is forced to resign
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2001
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Four hijacked airliners are used by terrorists to destroy the World Trade Center in New York, and damage the Pentagon in the worst terrorist act in world history.
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