1876-1900

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    Rutherford B. Hayes's Presidency

    This was the time period of the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes, who was the 19th president of the United States.
  • Edison Exhibits His System of Power Generation and Electrical Light

    By late fall 1879, Edison exhibited his system of power generation and electrical light for reporters and investors.
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    James Garfield's Presidency

    This was the time period of the presidency of James Garfield, who was the 20th president of the United States. It was cut short due to the president dying after from an infection due to bullet wounds.
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    Chester A. Arthur's Presidency

    This was the time period of the presidency of Chester A. Arthur, who was the 21st president of the United States.
  • The First Rodeo

    In Pecos, Texas, on July 4, 1883, cowboys from two ranches, the Hash Knife and the W Ranch, competed in roping and riding contests as a way to settle an argument; this event is recognized by historians of the West as the first real rodeo.
  • The Passing of the Interstate Commerce Act

    On February 4, 1887, the United States Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act, which established the Interstate Commerce Commission to stop discriminatory and predatory pricing practices.
  • The Passing of the Dawes General Allotment Act

    Passed by Congress on February 8, 1887, the Dawes General Allotment Act splintered Native American reservations into individual family homesteads.
  • The Patenting of the Concept of Motion Pictures

    Inspired by the success of the phonograph as an entertainment device, Edison decided in 1888 to develop “an instrument which does for the Eye what the phonograph does for the Ear.” In 1888, he patented the concept of motion pictures.
  • The Innovation of Rolling Film

    In 1889, Edison innovated the rolling of film. This was the process of rolling strips of film onto spools and loading them into certain cameras.
  • James B. Weaver's Election as the Presidential Candidate for the Populist Party

    General James B. Weaver was elected as the presidential candidate of the Populist party at their first national convention in Omaha, Nebraska.
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    The Spanish-American War

    This was the time period of America's war against Spain due to America's intervention in countries like Cuba.
  • The Signing of the Treaty of Paris

    America and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. The terms of the treaty stipulated, among other things, that the United States would acquire Spain’s former holdings of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.