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U.S. History Timeline Quiz

Can you name these major events and periods in the history of United States of America on this Timeline?
Sources : 1; 2; 3; 4
This timeline is not an exhaustive list of everything that has happened in the United States.
Quiz by Elboy
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Last updated: February 4, 2025
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First submittedApril 13, 2021
Times taken45,969
Average score66.7%
Rating4.96
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Wars
Revolutionary War
War of 1812
Mexican-American War
American Civil War
Spanish-American War
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Gulf War
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Historical Periods/Eras
Colonization
Roaring Twenties
Great Depression
Cold War
Great Recession
 
Territorial Expansions
Louisiana Purchase
Texas Annexation
Alaska Purchase
 
Assassinations
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr
Battles/Attacks
Battle of Gettysburg
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Battle of Midway
Normandy Landings
September 11 Attacks
 
Other Major Events
Boston Tea Party
Declaration of Independence
Constitution of the United States signed
Wall Street Crash of 1929
First Moon Landing
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105 Recent Comments
Elboy
+11
Level 72
Feb 16, 2022
Following the featuring of this quiz, I have received many suggestions about type-ins or new events to add to this timeline.

Concerning the type-ins, as said below I have made great effort to accept special spellings or alternative names of some events. I want to thank the users suggesting these revelant ideas.

However I don't plan to edit the timeline itself in a near future. As stated in caveat, this timeline is not meant to be comprehensive even if some suggested ideas are undeniably revelant (e.g prohibition, reconstruction era).

Thank you for taking this quiz. Enjoy!

Elboy
+5
Level 72
Feb 8, 2024
I have updated this quiz, in particular by changing 2 answers following recurring comments since the initial publication of the quiz. Have fun!
fixypants
+11
Level 85
Feb 14, 2022
Not sure why Obama's election is considered one of the top 5 major events in US History...
Sparkxlol
+7
Level 78
Feb 14, 2022
first non-white president maybe...
Elboy
+3
Level 72
Feb 15, 2022
What else? :)
Elboy
+3
Level 72
Feb 15, 2022
This is not a personal consideration, but based on surveys of Americans. See in particular source 4 given in the caveat.
plattitude
+3
Level 95
Feb 18, 2022
I was going to say that smacks of recency bias, so I looked at source 4... and yeah, it's a 2016 poll of the most significant events in the lifetime of people polled. By definition it'll skew towards recent events.

Case in point, also in the top ten of that list was the Orlando Night Club shooting in June 2016.

kalbahamut
+4
Level 81
Feb 21, 2022
The Orlando shooting will be pretty well forgotten in 100 years. Obama's election will not have been.
blizzrd33
+8
Level 80
Feb 14, 2022
No mention of events involving Native Americans? Abolition of slavery? Boston Tea Party? Prohibition? Thought the 2008 event was something to do with the economy rather than Obama's election.
Dimby
+1
Level 80
Feb 14, 2022
This was great! It was a lot of fun correlating the specific events to the eras of history they correspond to. I did find it difficult to get the civil rights movement, though, since it seemed like the timeline implied that it was related to the Cold War. I kept thinking of a possible term used to describe the era before Detente... for the life of me I couldn't figure it out!
tyleranwar
+1
Level 79
Feb 14, 2022
i typed in normandy... should be accepted
JWC1202
+3
Level 75
Feb 14, 2022
Poor Garfield, poor McKinley. They get assassinated, and don't ever rate a nod. Very sad.
wuqijun
+9
Level 79
Feb 15, 2022
What happened in 2008? First election of Obama? That happened to 43 other people... Not a significant event.
kalbahamut
+1
Level 81
Feb 21, 2022
Missed that one? I got it immediately, first guess...
NotBlankName
+1
Level 55
Apr 12, 2025
The housing bubble was far more notable...
Elboy
+1
Level 72
Feb 15, 2022
Following the comments above, I added many revelant Type-ins. Thank you for these suggestions.
JudgeRudy
+1
Level 67
Feb 15, 2022
Great Quiz.

Still doesn't accept "Constitutional Convention" (though I guess that one is on me since it was multi-day) or "Man on Moon"/"Man walks on moon". Probably "moon" should be enough, just so many ways that can be said.

Elboy
+1
Level 72
Feb 15, 2022
Accepted now, except for "moon" only that is not accurate enough.
MindWax
+2
Level 86
Jan 11, 2024
What else could someone typing in "moon" possibly be referencing? They clearly know the answer if that's what they've written.
Elboy
+1
Level 72
Feb 8, 2024
Type-in revised: Moon is now accepted.
sumguy
+1
Level 86
Feb 15, 2022
Hawaii was annexed in 1898.
eibi
+1
Level 80
Feb 16, 2022
As were Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. The US war in the Philippines is one of America's longest and most-forgotten.
Elboy
+1
Level 72
Feb 16, 2022
Concerning all requests for type-ins and changes of the timeline, please refer to the sticky comment above.

Thank you all!

ZeldaQuizzer
+1
Level 61
Feb 16, 2022
Featured!
MG17
+1
Level 43
Feb 16, 2022
The time finally has come. Congrats on the feature!
Newroadgirl
+1
Level 68
Feb 17, 2022
As a non-American I found this nicely challenging and enjoyable. In response to some of the comments above I'd add that Obama's election did seem particularly significant to many in the rest of the world. I still managed not to get it though. :)

Thanks, good quiz.

JackintheBox
+1
Level 80
Feb 18, 2022
Arrgghhh, just missed Texas!!
plattitude
+1
Level 95
Feb 18, 2022
Don't Miss With Texas!
JackintheBox
+1
Level 80
Feb 18, 2022
Great quiz, but seems like the text 'World War I' doesn't show up properly
luxint
+1
Level 66
Feb 18, 2022
Well done. Brilliant work. Thank you.
SpartanLlama
+1
Level 74
Feb 18, 2022
Should Wall Street crash really be included separate from Great Depression, obviously one is the overall era and one is the key event but I feel like it's a bit redundant
ZeldaQuizzer
+1
Level 61
Feb 18, 2022
I just did a report on Apollo 11. I missed Apollo 11.
LuigiDood227
+1
Level 70
Feb 18, 2022
There aren't many quizzes that should be a series. This one is one of them. Great quiz.
bozoclown
+1
Level 56
Feb 18, 2022
Good quiz, but kind of vague and wide open.
Anderis
+1
Level 74
Feb 18, 2022
It was somewhat frustrating to know what exactly happened on Sep. 11, 2001 but having failed to figure out what is the answer the quiz will accept. Tried World Trace Center, Al-Qaeda etc.
AlexThirkell
+1
Level 74
Feb 18, 2022
Yeah you just have to retype the date... A bit odd but that's maybe the best option.
BlackLab
+1
Level 66
Feb 22, 2022
Yeah that was frustrating.
BFGeography
+1
Level 59
Feb 18, 2022
you should count 'black monday' for the stock market crash of 1929
jmellor13
+2
Level 67
Feb 18, 2022
It was Black Tuesday, and it's accepted. That's how I got it.
AlexThirkell
+2
Level 74
Feb 18, 2022
Really nicely done, thank you!

Perhaps accept "World Trade Center/WTC attacks" - that might be how many people think of it (incl. me). I know it was more widespread than that and maybe it's best not to support the impression that that was the only place targeted.

Also I missed the Civil Rights Movement - did that really end with the assassination of MLK?

Again though, really excellent idea and wonderfully executed.

Elboy
+1
Level 72
Feb 20, 2022
Thanks for your words!

The full spelling "World Trade Center Attacks" has already been accepted but thanks for the WTC suggestion. Added now :)

Regarding the Civil Rights movement, I am aware that this "event" is perhaps the most controversial as to its definition. It is often discussed these days if this movement is still going on and that the fights to which it is attached are still relevant (everything suggests that it is).

I will think about a way to edit the visual of this timeline in order to take this nuance into account.

Interpolation
+1
Level 68
Feb 18, 2022
Awesome quiz my man. Every American should be able to fill this out 100%.
DanielCO
+5
Level 72
Feb 18, 2022
Why is Obama's election considered a "Major Event" grouped with first moon landing and the Declaration? There are no other presidential elections on here... and his presidency was fairly uneventful and not extremely historically significant.
jmellor13
+3
Level 67
Feb 18, 2022
He's the first president than can dunk.
caribdevist
+1
Level 61
Feb 18, 2022
I'd answer if I thought you were asking in earnest.
AlBysmal
+1
Level 56
Feb 18, 2022
Very cool quiz! Good selection of historical events, and they're all organized nicely. Others have already said this, but it would be cool to see more quizzes like this for other countries, as well
biggyofmt
+3
Level 65
Feb 18, 2022
Putting the Civil Rights movement as a 'historical period' I think throws people off. Colonial period, roaring twenties, depression and Cold War are emblematic elements of the entire period / era. Nobody talks about the "Civil Right era".

Not disputing the importance, but I think I would file it under "Other Major Events"

Elboy
+1
Level 72
Feb 20, 2022
Your suggestion makes sense and as written before, I will think about a way to edit the design of this quiz in order to make the "Civil Rights movement" event more clear.
ornei
+1
Level 65
May 15, 2023
I think putting another big civil rights event instead of listing it as an era might be better. Brown v. Board seems like a good choic since that's what seems to mark the start of the period you set.
RealBillGates
+1
Level 77
Feb 18, 2022
I am patriotic
GuessingGame
+1
Level 34
Feb 18, 2022
Please add the annexation of Hawaii
xyzzy
+1
Level 71
Feb 18, 2022
*Occupation
Malbaby
+1
Level 70
Feb 19, 2022
Great quiz, enjoyed the comments, maybe add Mayflower and the pilgrim fathers.
QuarterDutch
+1
Level 42
Feb 19, 2022
Please make more timeline quizzes!
Dimby
+1
Level 80
Feb 19, 2022
If you ever want input for a Canadian version of this type of project, I teach Canadian history. I would love to send students to a quiz like this one day. So well made!
Elboy
+2
Level 72
Feb 20, 2022
It is an honor to read such a comment! Knowing that a history teacher is interested in one of my quizzes really means something to me.

To be honest, I don't know the history of Canada, but you make me want to know more. The day I consider creating a Canadian timeline, I will be happy to read your comments on it.

Terran
+1
Level 65
Feb 19, 2022
WHERE IS GOLD RUSH?!
Bayd
+1
Level 57
Feb 20, 2022
Great quiz! And thanks for your responsiveness to edits! One suggestion (and maybe I'm too much of a nerd, lol): could you accept "Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo" for "Texas Annexation"? I was thinking of that one more generally as it's when the US acquired not only Texas but much of the rest of the American west. Again, I loved the quiz! :)
Jambo
+2
Level 62
Feb 20, 2022
I like it. I would suggest reconstruction, after the civil war.
lexxie
+1
Level 79
Feb 8, 2024
I agree
noodles
+1
Level 69
Feb 21, 2022
As an outsider looking in, it looks like you just randomly selected some things and omitted many others.
jacoba
+1
Level 61
Feb 21, 2022
Can you accept "British colonization" for colonization? I typed that in and was confused when I didn't get it.
petero
+1
Level 45
Feb 23, 2022
I typed in "moon landing" and "neil armstrong" and "man on the moon" but none of them were accepted.
Elboy
+2
Level 72
Feb 24, 2022
The 1st one and the last one are accepted since weeks now.
EcceHomo
+1
Level 83
Apr 6, 2022
Lunar landing doesn't work. Fair enough, I rephrased it to moon landing.
sux2suck
+1
Level 59
Feb 26, 2022
I was stupid and didn't scroll down so I spent the whole quiz tryig to piece together what the different colors meant based on the answers I did know. big facepalm when I finished the quiz and scrolled down. Only missed the korean war and the civil rights movement (which I should definitely have known but it took me too long to hammer down what green meant)
michudud
+1
Level 59
Mar 15, 2022
amazing quiz!

would be great if you did more in this format, e.g. world timeline, uk timeline etc.

An alternative would be subject specific e.g. football timeline

RedSox49
+2
Level 38
Mar 17, 2022
I like how Seward's folly works for Alaska Purchase
sarmoj
+1
Level 75
Mar 18, 2022
Cool quiz.
FlyingG
+1
Level 69
Mar 30, 2022
THis is stunning.
baruchgershom
+2
Level 60
May 24, 2022
The civil rights movement did not end in 1968; nor can one mark its beginning as 1954.
Elboy
+2
Level 72
May 25, 2022
The specific period referred to as the American Civil Rights Movement in the History books is clearly defined from 1954 to 1968. However, I agree that the global civil rights movement did not end at this time there, given the long way still to go.

I will try to clarify this point later by editing the timeline.

CornishEuropean
+1
Level 56
Jul 10, 2022
I've been using Jetpunk for years and this is genuinely my favourite quiz out of the thousands that I've done. Great format, aesthetically pleasing, factually accurate, perfect level of difficulty. Thank you! It would be great to see a similar style quiz for the UK, or perhaps a worldwide one.
Xenobiologista
+6
Level 59
Jul 13, 2022
Why...would the election of Obama be more important than the stock market crashing in 2008? Shouldn't that be the 'other important event'? I mean, it's not like any other president has their election on here.
skeletormi
+1
Level 64
Aug 19, 2022
What a nice quiz, great job!
CyberSnare
+5
Level 59
Aug 29, 2022
Why is the first election of Obama on here? I typed in loads of things related to the financial crash, assumed that was what it was
ornei
+1
Level 65
May 15, 2023
Same, the only reason I got it is because I noticed the early November date, when presidential elections are.
DavidClaro
+2
Level 60
Dec 3, 2022
I am not sure why Obama's election is included.... That threw me off...
Elboy
+2
Level 72
Dec 4, 2022
As already written before, I have chosen a few events taking into account their impact according to American citizens - see source 4. Regarding the election of Obama, this event is cited by millennials and generation X as one of the most important in the history of the United States. I think the reason is obvious and marks an unprecedented event.
Minutiae
+2
Level 73
Dec 19, 2022
Love this quiz.
lucasisbored47
+1
Level 43
Dec 25, 2022
I am very surprised the Cuban Missile Crisis isn't on here, it was a very important and a very scary moment for all of the US, and the rest of the world.
CoconutMan
+1
Level 28
Feb 7, 2023
I put "Wall Street" and it didn't accept. That's fine enough though
jedinight1
+1
Level 49
Feb 12, 2023
Can you add 'moon' for moon landing? I tried moon, armstrong, walk on moon, and couldn't get it.
Elboy
+1
Level 72
Feb 12, 2023
I have added more type-ins for this answer. Changes pending :)
jafe
+2
Level 85
Apr 11, 2023
Interesting quiz! I like the graphical presentation. Would have expected the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to be here sooner than e.g. Obama's election (which I knew was in 2008 but overlooked because I didn't think of it as "historic" enough for this list).
jim2u2
+1
Level 67
May 15, 2023
had you said, instead of election of Obama, rather the Financial Collapse of the Banking industry I might have agreed.
Dimei
+1
Level 63
Jul 19, 2023
I wouldn't have put the election of Barack Obama, definitely agree with other commenters that the Great Recession would have been a way better fit. Overall very good quiz.
Texio
+2
Level 80
Feb 2, 2024
Great quiz! Graphically impeccable and with a good mix of relevant events. I just have one suggestion: as the quiz is specific to the USA and not North America in general, I would change the beginning date for "Colonization" from 1492 to 1513, when Spanish explorers landed near modern-day St. Augustine. Columbus never reached what is today the USA in 1492 or later. It is true that most people would be much more familiar with 1492 as a date, but then why not 1001 when Leif the Red explored Canada from Greenland?... It seems to me that 1513 would be a more appropriate date.
Changeling
+1
Level 40
Feb 8, 2024
Fun quiz, I can't believe I forgot about the Battle of Gettysburg, and the Alaska purchase.
Elboy
+1
Level 72
Feb 8, 2024
I have updated this quiz, in particular by changing 2 answers following recurring comments since the initial publication of the quiz. Have fun!
husaniboii
+1
Level 45
Mar 2, 2024
what about the emancipation proclamation? that was undeniably a big event in US history
Ymmot
+1
Level 86
Aug 24, 2024
Great recession took place more in 2009 than it did in 2007. It was only beginning to be evident in '07; it was still clearly not over during the transition from Bush - Obama.
Elboy
+1
Level 72
Aug 27, 2024
I understand your point: it is difficult to define a starting point and an ending point for this crisis, since its causes are multiple and did not all start at the same time (2007-2008 and even alarms in 2006). The consequences, for their part, last several years (-2010 is a commonly mentioned year).

However, I chose to take the dates mentioned by Wikipedia (perhaps questionable on the points previously mentioned): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%932008_financial_crisis

MattieNixo
+1
Level 64
Dec 6, 2024
Great quiz! I wonder if you'd consider accepting 'jazz age' for the roaring twenties? maybe it's something outside vs inside of america, but coming from the outside that's how I immediately phrase that period in my mind
Elboy
+1
Level 72
Dec 7, 2024
I also come from outside, as a French user, and I never heard of Jazz age as an equivalent to the Roaring 20s. Or maybe a part of it?

I wonder what an American would have to say about this.

einkelas
+1
Level 71
Dec 30, 2024
Any reason just "Tea Party" doesn't work? Requiring "Boston Tea Party" seems excessive (and I say this as a resident of Boston).
Elboy
+1
Level 72
Dec 30, 2024
It will be accepted soon (change pending).
JohnGisMe
+2
Level 55
Feb 3, 2025
I tried recession of 2008, housing bubble, 2008 recession, and more, but it didn't work. Can you add those as type-ins?
Elboy
+1
Level 72
Feb 4, 2025
Type-ins added :)
owchywowchy24
+1
Level 33
Feb 15, 2025
someone probably said this already but shouldn't James A. Garfield and William McKinley be in the assassination section??
Elboy
+1
Level 72
Feb 17, 2025
That timeline is not supposed to be an exhaustive list of all events, so I just kept those who are the most cited or that seem to have the most impact (see sources in caveat).
ve1vetine
+1
Level 16
Feb 16, 2025
typed 'war on terror' for war on afghanistan....should be accepted no?
Elboy
+1
Level 72
Feb 17, 2025
The War on terror is a global conflict that includes both Iraq war and war in Afghanistan. It does not correspond to just 1 war.
Bemused
+1
Level 53
Apr 7, 2025
Perhaps adding a color key to the timeline diagram would work. Then people could just type whatever they think corresponds to the date without looking at the boxes below.

The boxes create a host of problems since there are a good many things that fit each category, and that people will think of first.

E.g.,

Eras: the "era of good feeling"; the "gay nineties", "era of westward expansion".... Also, the "Jazz Age" should be accepted for the "Roaring 20s" era

Assassinations: as others have noted, there are two other presidents who didn't make it

Wars: the whole series of Indian wars (the 7th cavalry, etc.)

Battles: New Orleans; San Juan Hill?

Expansions: Poor Gadsden; territories acquired through war

Events: the dust bowl (or could be an era); sinking of the Lusitania; the Alamo; San Francisco earthquake; dropping of the A-bomb; signing of Emancipation Proclamation; inventions of the telephone and the airplane (big impacts, these)

Also--the 19th century is pretty much neglected....

Goatmann11
+1
Level 34
May 20, 2025
Add reconstruction, Cuban missle crisis, and emancipation proclamation
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