Outline of the history of the United States

(Redirected from Outline of American history)

The following outline is provided as an overview of and a topical guide to the history of the United States.

By period

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Named eras and periods

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These multi-year periods are commonly identified in American history. The existence and dating of some of these periods is debated by historians.

Political parties

These periods are commonly identified as the large changes within political parties. Newer Party Systems are typically disputed by experts and historians due to the complexity of changes in political parties.

Wars

See List of wars involving the United States.

Timelines and lists

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15th century

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1490s
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16th century

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1500s
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1510s
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1520s
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  • On March 6, 1521, three Spanish ships under the command of Fernão de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan) land on the Island of Guam after a seemingly endless eleven week voyage across the Pacific Ocean. Magellan names the archipelago Las Isles de las Velas Latinas (The Islands of the Latine Sails). When the Spaniards refuse to pay for supplies, natives take iron from the ships. Magellan renames the archipelago Las Islas de los Ladrones (The Islands of the Thieves).

1530s

  • In May 1539, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto lands nine ships at southern Tampa Bay in Florida with 620 men and 220 horses.
1540s
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  • In 1540, Hernando de Soto leads his expedition through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi.
  • In May 1541, Hernando de Soto reaches the Mississippi River and explores Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee and Oklahoma.
  • A Spanish expedition led by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo lands at a bay of the Pacific Ocean which he names San Miguel (Saint Michael, now San Diego, California) on September 28, 1542.
1550s
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1560s
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1570s
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1580s
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1590s
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17th century

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1600s
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1610s
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1620s
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1630s
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1640s
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1660s
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1670s
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1680s
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1690s
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18th century

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1700s
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Map of North America at the start of Queen Anne's War (1702), showing areas occupied by the three European powers
1710s
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1720s
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1730s
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1740s
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1750s
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1760s
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Map of the British and French settlements in North America in 1750, before the French and Indian War
1770s
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1780s
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1790s
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19th century

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1800s
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1810s
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1820s
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1830s
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1840s
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1850s
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1860s
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1870s
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1880s
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1890s
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20th century

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1900s
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1910s
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1920s
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1930s
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1940s
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1950s
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1960s
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1970s
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1980s
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1990s
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21st century

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2000s
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2010s
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2020s
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  • The COVID-19 pandemic shuts down most businesses and activities, arriving on January 13, 2020.
  • Joe Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States on January 20, 2021.

By region

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States
Federal district
Insular areas
Outlying islands

By subject

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History books

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Books on the history of the United States:

Cultural history of the United States

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Economic history of the United States

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History of education in the United States

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Geographic history of the United States

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History of health care in the United States

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Historiography of the United States

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Maritime history of the United States

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Political history of the United States

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History of science in the United States

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ The states of North Dakota and South Dakota were admitted to the Union at precisely the same time. Since the names of the new states were officially published in alphabetical order, it has been customary to consider North Dakota to be the 39th state and South Dakota to be the 40th state.

Further reading

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  • Adams, James Truslow, ed. Dictionary of American History (5 Vols. 1940)
  • Kutler, Stanley I. ed. Dictionary of American History (3rd Edition 10 Volumes, 2003)
  • Martin, Michael. Dictionary of American History (Littlefield, Adams 1989)
  • Morris. Richard, ed. Encyclopedia of American History (7th ed. 1996)
  • Purvis, Thomas L. A Dictionary of American History (Blackwell 1997)
  • Schlesinger, Arthur M., Jr. The Almanac of American History (2nd ed. 1993)
  • Thompson, Peter, and Chris Cook. Dictionary of American History: From 1763 to the Present (Facts on File, 2000)
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