1492 : Christopher Columbus's discovery of the New World 1585 : Sir Walter Raleigh's landing 1607 : The first British colony founded on the east coast 1620 : The Pilgrim's landing 1776 : The Declaration of Independance 1787 : The Constitution 1789 : George Washington inaugurated first President of the United States 1848 : Gold discovered in California 1865 : The abolition of slavery 1917 : The USA in World War 1929 : The beginning of the Great Depression 1964 : All forms of racial segregation declared illegal
