An American History Timeline 1780-2010

The timeline of American history traditionally begins with the Declaration of Independence from the British in 1776 (though in the history of America, the first settlement was by the Europeans in 1565). This article details a short US history timeline dating from 1780 to 2010.

Timeline:

Historical events timeline from 1775 to 1900: 1775-1783: American Revolution - Americans gain independence on 4th July 1776. British formally surrender in 1983 by signing Treaty of Paris. 1787-1800: New Constitution of the US comes into place in 1788. George Washington is elected the first president (1789-1797). Bill of Rights adopted. 1808: Abolition of Atlantic slave trade. 1846-1848: End of Mexican-American war. 1863: Emancipation Proclamation declared by President Abraham Lincoln (1860) to end slavery in the southern states. 1865: Slavery abolished. Abraham Lincoln is assassinated.

Historical events timeline from 1900 to 2010:

1917-1919: US intervenes in World War I. Treaty of Versailles signed. 1924-1933: Great Depression occurs in 1929 (this economic fallout led to unemployment for millions). 1933: Great Depression ends. President Franklin D. Roosevelt launches ‘New Deal’ recovery plans. 1939-1945: World War II ends with Germany’s defeat. Japan attacks Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. US drops nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; Japan surrenders. 1947: Truman Doctrine (communism) threatens nations. US enters into a cold war with the Soviet Union. 1954: Campaign of civil disobedience starts for securing civil rights for Americans of African descent. 1960: John F. Kennedy elected president and assassinated in 1963. 1964: US military enters into war with Vietnam. Civil rights law signed. 1968: Martin Luther King (Black Civil Rights leader) assassinated. 1969: US astronaut Neil Armstrong becomes the first person in the world to walk on the moon. Richard Nixon elected president (re-election-1972). 1973-1974: Vietnam ceasefire agreement signed. Gerald Ford elected president. 1980: Ronald Reagan elected president (re-elected in 1984). He leads new tax reforms and anti communist policies. 1986: Space shuttle Challenger explodes killing all seven astronauts. 1988: George Bush elected president. 1991: Gulf war - US drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. 1992: Bill Clinton elected President (re-elected in 1996). 2001-2002: George W. Bush elected President (re-elected in 2004). Disaster strikes with four hijacked airplanes ramming into the World Trade Centre, Pentagon and a field killing more than 3000 people. Bankruptcy declared for energy giant Enron. George Bush creates Department of Homeland Security. 2003-2008: Space shuttle Columbia crashes, killing all seven astronauts. US successfully attacks and occupies Iraq, toppling Saddam Hussein. Hurricane Katrina kills hundreds. 2008-2010: The first African-American Barack Obama elected President. Increased war spending leads to a turmoil in US economy with banks and financial institutions collapsing due to credit crunch. Plans created to revive the ailing US economy along with new healthcare reforms.