The document provides a brief overview of key events in U.S. history from the arrival of the Pilgrims in 1620 to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. It mentions the American Revolution that established the U.S. as an independent nation, the Louisiana Purchase that expanded its territory, the California Gold Rush that drew many settlers west, the Civil War that ended slavery, women gaining the right to vote in 1920, the stock market crash of 1929 that led to the Great Depression, the integration of schools in 1954 during the Civil Rights Movement, the first moon landing in 1969, the Vietnam War in the 1960s-1970s that was protested, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

1. A Brief History of the U.S.A.

2. Pilgrims arrive to America on the
Mayflower - 1620
A group called the Pilgrims left England
to find religious freedom in the New
World.

3. American Revolution – 1775-1783
The USA was a British colony for many
years until they fought a war for
independence. The 13 British colonies
became the first 13 states.

4. Louisiana Purchase - 1803
President Thomas Jefferson purchased a huge
chunk of land from France for a cheap price.
He sent Lewis and Clark to explore
it with Sacagawea’s help.

5. Battle of the Alamo – 1836
The state of Texas used to be part of Mexico.
While they were trying to become part of the
USA, they were also fighting for
independence.
“Remember the Alamo!”

6. California Gold Rush - 1849
Gold was discovered in California. Many people
moved there in covered wagons, hoping to get
rich quickly.

7. Civil War – 1860-1865
The bloody Civil War was fought between
the North or “Union States” and the
South or “Confederate States” to end slavery.
The North won.

8. Women win the right to vote – 1920
Women did not have the right to vote in the
USA until the year 1920. After many years of
women’s
suffrage, they
they
succeeded.

9. Wall Street crashes - 1929
The stock market
crashed, sending
the USA into the
Great Depression
for the next 10
years.
Meanwhile, the
Dust Bowl
occurred out
West.

10. Integration of schools - 1954
Before integration, blacks and whites could
not go to school together. Martin Luther King
Jr. was an important leader in the Civil Rights
Movement of the 1950s.

11. Apollo 11, 1st man on the moon - 1969
Neil Armstrong was the first human to set foot on
the moon. He arrived in the rocket Apollo 11.

12. Vietnam War – 1959-1975
The USA fought with South Vietnam
against communist North Vietnam. While
the war was happening, many people in
the U.S. were protesting to end the war.

13. Terrorist Attacks – Sept. 11th, 2001
Members of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group
attacked the World Trade Center in New York.
We refer to this day now as “9/11.”