History of the United States of America (short summary)

ca. 10000 BC

People from Asia migrate to the "US" (via the Bering Land Bridge). Between 2 and 9 million people (called "Indians" by Christopher Columbus") live in the "US" before European contact.

1492

Columbus discovers "America" for the Europeans

1500s - 1600s

Many european nations from colonies in the "US": Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Britain

1607

First permanet British settlement established: Jamestown/Virgina. This is followed by extensive settlement of the Britons on the East coast.

4 July 1776

13 British colonies split from Britain ("No taxation without representation") and form the "United States of America", the world's first constitutional and democratic federal republic, based on their "Declaration of Independence". July 4th is celebrate as the US national holiday ("Independence Day").

1775 - 1783

US wins Revolutionary War against Britain

1781

Articles of Conferderation

1789

Constitution, forming a more centralized federal government.

1861 - 1865

Civil War: Northern states (want to abolish slavery) against Southern states (want to keep slavery). Southern states want to leave the US ("Conferderate States of America"), in the war the Northern states win. Slavery is abolished; the states' right to secede is also abolished.

19th century

Many new states join the US, the nation gradually expands across the continent. Settlers , move westward, take the Indians' land, and displace the Indian nations one by one. some Indian nations are also reduced by diseases from Europe.

19th/20th century

The US becomes an industrial power. The 20th century is called "The American century" because of its overriding influence in the world (centre of innovation and technological development, e.g. telephone, TV, computer, Internet, nuclear weapons, aviation, aeronautics).

1990

With the collapse of the Soviet Union the US emerges as the world's leading economic and military power.