-
Battle of Antietam
the "bloodiest single day of the war" with over 20,000 casualties, the Battle of Antietam was a major battle in the Civil War. This battle is considered a draw, there was no clear victor from either side. Lincoln decided it was Northern victory though which gave him an excuse to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. -
The Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was to commemorate a cemetery for the fallen Union Soldiers after the Battle of Gettysburg. The main speaker at this address was Edward Everett who spoke for two hours before Lincoln got up to give the 2 minute Gettysburg Address that everyone remembers today. -
Surrender at Appomattox
This is the event that marks the end of the Civil War. Lee surrendered to Grant in a town called Appomattox Courthouse after 4 years of fighting. Grant gave very generous terms of surrender. -
Lincoln is Assassinated
Only a couple days after the end of the war, Lincoln was at Ford's Theater where he is shot and killed by John Wilkes Booth. This assassination was originally part of a much larger attempt to wipe out more important leaders of the union including the vice president among others, but they all failed. -
the 15th Amendment Ratified
This amendment stated that the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This amendment was a big deal along with the 13th and 14th amendment for giving all citizens equal rights. -
Barbed Wire Invented
On this day, Joseph Glidden invented barbed wire as a better way to fence in cows. Before the invention of barbed wire, cows could easily escape and it was hard to keep track of your cows. The usage of barbed wire broke up the frontier and led to the end of the frontier. -
The Battle of Little Bighorn
Also known as Custer's Last Stand, this battle took place between the American Army led by Custer and the Plains Indians led by Sitting Bull after gold was discovered on the Indian's land and President Grant tried to take the land. Custer and 264 of his men were killed. The only survivor was a horse named Comanche. -
The Compromise of 1877
This is the event that ended Reconstruction after the Civil War. This compromise followed the election in 1876. Some of the demands of this compromise included, The removal of all Federal troops from the former Confederate States, the appointment of at least one Southern Democrat to Hayes' cabinet, the construction of another transcontinental railroad using the Texas and Pacific in the South, and Legislation to help industrialize the South. -
Ida B. Wells Made to Move
Ida B. Well was taking a train to Nashville. She bought a first class ticket but was told to move to a colored car. She was forced to move and she sued the railroad for $500. -
The Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge at this time was the longest suspension bridge. It was designed by John Roebling. It was a symbol of American ingenuity. -
Oklahoma Land Rush
On this day thousands of white settlers rushed to claim 2 mil acres of land. This is the event that was credited as the closing of the frontier. After this event there wasn't much unclaimed land, it had all been settled in. -
Basketball invented
Basketball was invented by James Naismith in 1891. This sport among others gained popularity at this time as spectator sports. The game originally consisted of throwing a ball into a fruit basket that had a bottom and was held by someone rather than being being high up. -
Ida B. Wells Becomes Part of the Anti-Lynching Reform
In 1892, Ida B. Wells became an advocate of the anti-lynching reform after 2 friends of hers were lynched. She made boycotts against white-owned store. She took her anti-lynching campaign to President Mckinley, and in 1913, she marched in the Women's suffrage Parade in Washington DC. -
First Immigrant Through Ellis Island
On this day, the first immigrant came through Ellis Island after it opened for processing. Her name was Annie Moore and she was a 17 year old immigrant from Ireland. -
Plessy V Ferguson
Homer Plessy (1/8 black) was forcibly removed from a whites only section on a train. He sued, but the supreme court said it was legal as long as it was seperate but equal. The ruling was not overturned until Brown v Board of Education case 1954. -
The Sinking of the Maine
President McKinley sent the Mine to Cuba to protect American citizens and property. on this day the USS Maine exploded. 260 of the 400 onboard were killed and Spain was blamed. Later in 1976, the wreckage of the Maine was investigated and it was discovered that it blew from the inside meaning that Spain was not to blame for this. -
Congress Declares War on Spain
After the USS Maine blew up and Spain was blamed, America decided to go to war with Spain. The other reasons America went to war with Spain was that the Spanish governer of Cuba was very cruel, and many of Cuba's sugar plantations were owned by America. The sinking of the Maine was the final reason for going to war. -
The Battle of San Juan Hill
Known as the most significant U.S. land victory and one of the final battles of the Spanish American War. Theodore Roosevelt led a regiment called the rough riders to victory. This victory is what later leads Roosevelt to be recognized and elected Vice President and later becomes president. -
Women’s Suffrage Parade
This parade was organized for the purpose of women’s suffrage in an attempt to get women the right to vote. It was on Washington D.C and was the first march or parade held in Washington D.C for a political purpose. The parade was organized by Lucy Burns and Alice Paul. -
Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand was the Archduke of Hungary. Him and his wife were shot and killed in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip. This was the event that kickstarted WWI. -
The Panama Canal Completed
The Panama Canal was built between 1904 and 1914 and spans 51 miles. This canal connected the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans making trade much easier as it made boat trips much shorter. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
Germany had threatened to sink all ships that passed through their waters, but no one had expected them to sink a passenger ship. In May 1915 however, Germany sunk the British passenger ship the Lusitania killing 1200 passengers including 128 Americans. -
The Zimmerman Note
The US intercepted a note from Germany to Mexico trying to convince Mexico to ally with them in the event that America entered the war. This was the final event that caused America to enter the war and fight against Germany. -
The End of WWI
The Germans could no longer fight and so they sought an armistice, and the end of the war. Fighting stopped on November 11, 1918. This led to the Treaty of Versailles being signed between the Allied Powers which took away German land and colonies, military, and forced Germany to take all the blame for the war. -
18th Amendment is Passed
The 18th Amendment is passed, banning the making, selling, and transportation of alcohol. This was known as prohibition. It was in effect until 1933, when the 21st amendment repealed prohibition. -
19th amendment ratified
On this day, the 19th amendment was ratified to give women the right to vote. After a long time of fighting for women’s rights, they were finally granted the right to vote. -
Scopes Trial
In March of 1925, evolution was made illegal to teach. The ACLU wanted someone to challenge this law, and John Scopes did. The ACLU hired Clarence Darrow to defend Scopes, and the prosecution hired William Jennings Bryan. Scopes was found guilty and fined $100. -
Charles Lindbergh Flew Over the Atlantic Ocean
Charles Lindbergh flew his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic Ocean. It took him 33 hours to complete the 3,600 mile journey. -
Black Tuesday
On this day the stock market crashed starting the Great Depression. 16 million shares were traded in a single day at the New York Stock Exchange, causing the Dow Jones Industrial Average to fall -12%. -
The Dust Bowl Starts
During the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl started which led to even more problems. Long droughts and overworking of the land led to severe dust storms. Farms were no longer able to produce crops in the midwest. -
Smoot-Hawley Tariff Passed
Known as the greatest mistake in the great depression, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff was passed in 1933. This raised tariffs on international trade by 50%. This ignited an international trade war. -
Franklin D Roosevelt Elected
Elected in the worst years of the Depression, Roosevelt came into office with a plan for recovery, the New Deal. He closed banks temporarily and passed the Emergency Banking Act. The New Deal promised relief, recovery and reforms. -
Pearl Harbor
Early in the morning of December 12, Japanese planes flew over Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and bombing it, sinking the USS Arizona among other ships. This is the event that officially brought America into the war with "Remember Pearl Harbor" as a rallying cry. -
Battle of Midway
Also referred to as just Midway, this battle lasted 2 days and was an attempt by the Americans to stop Japan from getting to Hawaii. The battle took place over a tiny island called Midway that would've been the next stepping stone in getting to Hawaii. In the end, the Americans won. -
D-Day
Also known as "operation overlord", D-Day was the Allied invasion of Normandy. It was the largest invasion from sea in history. The worst fighting in it took place at Omaha beach. -
Battle of the Bulge
Also known as the Ardennes Offensive, this battle was a major offensive by the Germans to stop the Allies from progressing. It was also the last German offensive, for after this they were just retreating. This battle lasted over a month. -
VE- Day
Standing for Victory in Europe Day, this is the day when Germans surrender in Europe. Although the fighting was done in Europe, WWII was not yet over because America was still fighting the Japanese. -
Japanese Surrender
On this day the Japanese surrender to America ending WWII after America dropped to atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan was still reluctant to surrender even after this, but they did a couple days after the second bomb was dropped. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was put in place with the purpose of containing the spread of communism. On this date, Truman presented it before congress and asked for economic assistance for Greece and Turkey. -
Communist Takeover in Czechoslovakia
Key members of the Czech government die mysteriously allowing for communists to take over. -
The Fall of China
China is taken over by communist leader Mao Zedong and the People's republic of China is established. Huge blow to the containment of Communism. -
End of the Korean War
The Korean War: A "Police Action" lasted between 1950 to 1953. Korea was divided along the 38th parallel with the North being under communist rule. A truce was signed July 27, ending the Korean War. -
Ellis Island Closes
On this day, Ellis Island closed it doors after processing more than 12 million immigrants. By 1954, the amount of immigrants going through Ellis Island had greatly declined, so the structure was repurposed as a detention center as well as housing for wounded soldiers during WWII -
Sputnik 1
The first object launched into orbit, and also the start of the space race between Russia and America. Sputnik 1 was launched by Russia and stayed in orbit for 92 days. -
Alaska Becomes a State
Secretary of state William Seward bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million in 1867. His purchase was made fun of with people calling it "Seward's Folly" and "Seward's Icebox". But in 1959, the president signed the proclamation admitting Alaska as the 49th state.