United States

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies' separation from Great Britain. The Declaration, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, articulated the principles of individual liberty and government by consent that underpin the American political system. This historic document marked the official beginning of the United States as a sovereign nation.

The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The Convention was held to address the problems of the weak central government existing under the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relationships with foreign governments.

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. The proclamation declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. Although it did not immediately free a single slave, it fundamentally transformed the character of the war and added moral force to the Union cause, while weakening the Confederacy.

On October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday, the stock market crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression. This economic downturn was the worst in the history of the industrialized world, lasting until the late 1930s. The crash followed a decade of rapid economic growth and unprecedented speculation, and it led to massive unemployment and agricultural collapse in the United States.

On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service undertook a surprise military strike against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack led to the United States' formal entry into World War II the following day. It resulted in significant losses, including the sinking of four battleships and the deaths of over 2,400 Americans, marking a pivotal moment in contemporary American history.

On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, while riding in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza. The assassination shocked the nation and the world, leading to numerous conspiracy theories about the events surrounding his death and ushering in a period of national mourning.

On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission successfully landed the first humans on the Moon. American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin became the first and second humans to walk on the lunar surface, while Michael Collins remained in orbit around the Moon. This monumental event fulfilled President Kennedy's 1961 goal of landing a man on the Moon by the end of the decade.

On August 8, 1974, facing near-certain impeachment due to the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon became the first U.S. president to resign from office. The scandal stemmed from a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the subsequent cover-up by the Nixon administration. His resignation led to Gerald Ford assuming the presidency, issuing a controversial pardon to Nixon later that year.

On September 11, 2001, terrorists from the extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes, crashing two into the World Trade Center towers in New York City and one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth plane, United Flight 93, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to regain control. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and prompted a global War on Terror.

On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States, making history as the first African American to hold the office. His election marked a significant moment in the country's political history, emphasizing themes of change and hope during a time of economic crisis and two ongoing wars. Obama's presidency would have a lasting impact on domestic and foreign policy.