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The Seneca Falls Declaration
The Seneca falls declaration was a document that outlined the women's rights movement of the mid 19th century. The document was modeled after the Declaration of Independence. -
Gold Mining
Many people from all over the world would rush to California in hopes that they would strike gold or silvers. Around 1859 there were gold and silver strikes over 100,000. It continued on into Colorado and Nevada. People became wealthy from selling mining tools to the miners. All that struck boomtowns. -
The McClellan Family
The Civil war started in the McClellan family yard, and they decided to move to get away from it. After finding a place to relax and get away, the civil war ended up being settled in the McClellan family parlor. -
Battle of Manassas
Lee routed federal forces under John Pope. Lee marched his men North hoping to draw the union into a battle, but failed because one of the southern soldiers dropped a piece of paper which had all their plans on it. -
Battle of Gettysburg
It was the second and last attempt to invade Northern Virginia by the South. General Meade led the North and Lee led the South. It was a 3 day battle which was won by the North. An important thing was Pickett’s charge, they thought it would be okay to march across the union line and they failed with 5000 casualties. -
Freedmen’s Bureau
The freedmen's bureau provided food, shelter, and other necessities for millions of former slaves. They thrived to help former slaves get on their feet. They did certain things like give them 40 acres of land and $100 to build a house. It was their to help former slaves until they can support themselves. -
13th Amendment
In December 1865 the 13th Amendment was ratified. It outlawed slavery in the U.S which meant that slavery was and had to be over in American. But it also tells us that “slavery” is okay if it is a punishment and that went for all colors and genders. -
Alaska
William Seward, a Secretary of State, decided to buy Alaska from Russia for $7.2 Million. He was judged and often made fun of for making the purchase. They referred to it as “Seawards folly” or “Sewards Ice box.” And they all thought Alaska was a wasteland until in 1896 they found out that it was rich in fish, gold, copper, and much more. -
Railroad boom
Because of mining it encouraged westward expansion on the railroads. Railroads fulfilled the plan to build trains and encouraged them to build a railroad from coast to coast. This all sparked things like safety breaks, sleeping cars, and most importantly time zones. -
Barbed wire
In 1874 Joseph glided received a patent for his invention of barbed wire. Barbed wire had good impacts like letting travelers know who’s property is who’s and keeping the cattle together so they don’t roam free or get attacked by predators. It also had bad impacts like making it harder for travelers to travel because the once open space is now closed off. -
Statue of Liberty
Lady liberty was designed by Frederic Bartholdi. It was designed as a gift to America as a sign of friendship, peace, and it was 100 years since the war. It was built in France and then was taken apart and shipped to America and then put back together again. It now stands in Liberty island in NY. -
The “Compromise” of 1877
With the word of congress, republicans got the Hayes presidency and Democrats got reconstruction, or so they thought. When Hayes became president because of the House vote he ended reconstruction and let the south gain the freedom to vote again. -
Jim Crow Laws
Most U.S states enforced segregation through “Jim Crow” laws. Certain laws like no interracial mingling when it comes to love, African Americans and White people had different facilities when it came to school, jobs, public areas and restaurants. -
Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn bridge was designed by John Rhoebling, and was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Rhoeblings son was chief engineer but got sick so his wife stepped in and helped carry out the completion and she was the first person to walk across it when it was completed. -
Ida B. Wells
Wells was born a slave in Mississippi and she had parents active in the Republican Party during reconstruction. The set moment for her was when she bought a first class ticket but was told she had to sit in the “colored” car but she refused and was removed by force. During that she bit one of the crew members and sued the railroad winning a $500 settlement. She was an advocate of anti-lynching and she owned 2 newspaper offices. One was destroyed while she was gone which might’ve saved her life. -
Ellis Island
Ellis island was a primary immigration station for processing. Many people from all over the world came to Ellis Island to welcome their new life in America. They had to go through many different processes including physical and medical examination and being asked various questions. -
Immigration
If you were an immigrant going through Ellis island here are some things you’d go through: The troubles of leaving your family and friends and your whole life behind to come to America, being questioned and examined from head to toe before getting on the ship and when getting off, and then once you’re done you get off the ship onto the island where you step off into your new world. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Homer Plessy was arrested for sitting in a “whites only” section on the train and refused to get up and move. Because of that he sued and it was taken all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that segregation was legal as long as the situations were “separate but equal” but they never were. It wasn’t overturned until Brown v. Board of education in 1954 -
Remember the Maine!
One of the things that caused the Spanish-American war was the sinking of the USS Maine. It was at the Havana harbor to protect American citizens property, but on February 15, 1898 the Maine exploded and sank. Americans thought it was an attack, but in 1976 they found out that the Spanish did not do it. -
Spanish-American War
On April 25th, 1898 congress declared war on Spain. There was already tension between the 2 countries, and the Yellow Journalism had exaggerated everything between the 2 countries and that really made the Americans want war, and then the tip of the iceberg was the sinking of the Maine. This war gave America more power and more territories and Cuba independence. -
War in the Philippines
Filipinos were angry with the U.S for not giving them their independence. Emilio Aguinaldo, who originally fought with the U.S, was now fighting against the U.S with his troops. But it ended in 1901 when Aguinaldo was captured. Many American soldiers died but many more Filipino soldier died. But the Philippines were finally given their independence in 1946 -
The Roosevelt Corollary
There was a fear that European nations would interfere in the Americas despite the Monroe doctrine, so Roosevelt declared that he would update the Monroe doctrine, making the U.S the police power of the americas and allow them to intervene when it was necessary. -
The Sinking of The Lusitania
Germany had a lot of submarine warfare going on and were sinking British ships. Germany warned Americans to stay away from the British ships but one day Germany torpedoed the Lusitania sinking it along with 1200 passengers with 128 Americans which ticked America off. Germany had withheld the warfare for a while. -
The Zimmerman Note
Germany sent a telegram to Mexico claiming that they will give them New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas back for an alliance and an attack on on the U.S. It was intercepted by the British and given to the U.S -
Influenza Outbreak
There was a severe flu epidemic that killed many Americans and was the cause for more than half the deaths in the war. Many leaders panicked and instantly blamed Germans. They started calling it the Spanish war because a newspaper reported an outbreak in Spain, creating a false belief that it started there. -
The Battle of Belleau Wood
This battle was the first large-scale battle fought by America soldiers in WWI. The Germans had pushed into France, nearly 45 miles of Paris. Sit was attempted by Pershing to stop the German advances. Ended with 100,000 casualties. -
18th Amendment
Reformers believed that Alcohol led to crime, abuse, and accidents, so they got the 18th Amendment passed. The 18th amendment was banning the making, selling, and transporting of alcohol. Because it said everything but drinking, it people started creating their own alcohol or smuggling it in illegally, and selling it. Prohibition didn’t last because of foul law enforcement and lack thereof. Because of that the 21st Amendment was made repealing the 18th amendment. -
Al Capone (Scarface)
Al Capone was the leader of of the Chicago liquor business because he was able to kill off his competition during prohibition. This started because of prohibition, it caused organized crime which started spreading and eventually hit Al Capone. The law was never ever to really catch Capone for all of his crimes but they were able to arrest him in 1931 for tax invasion. -
The Radio
Although newspapers were a popular media, radio became a powerful communications medium. Families all over gathered around the radio every night to listen in on whatever it was, whether it was music, a comedian telling jokes, or the World Series live. News was delivered faster and to a larger audience. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920 and it was all thanks to the many women(not so much men) who contributed their time, their money, and their lives to make it happen. Women like Lucy Burns and Alice Paul and Susan B. Anthony who marched and protested and even went through the horribleness of Jail so they could get the right to vote and speak their minds. -
The Stock Market Crash
Black Tuesday was the day the most famous stock market crashed. It has over 16 million shares and selling frenzy and an exceeded $20 billion that was lost. With this so many things just went down hill especially the economy and peoples moods. -
The Bonus Army
In 1932 many WWI Veterans wanted to get their bonuses early. They were supposed to get them in 1945 but because the economy was in trouble and they themselves were struggling they protested so that they could get their money early and get them out of trouble. When they protested Hoover sent troops to basically attack the veterans which caused 4 veterans to die and for people to officially want to get rid of Hoover. In 1936 with the help of Roosevelt they got their bonuses. -
Revenue Act of 1932
The revenue act of 1932 was decided by Herbert Hoover and was supported by the democratic house or representatives, stating that income taxes will be raised from 1% to 4% for the lower class and from 23% to 63% for the higher class. Hoover though this would cover the government’s spending for relief. It was disastrous and basically took money from peoples hands which stopped them from spending which continued a decline in the economy. -
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
When Roosevelt was elected in 1932 he promised the New Deal which was relief for the poor and more public programs. Had a wife who was very involved with the people and was his eyes and ears (Eleanor). Roosevelt temporarily closed banks to stop the banking crisis and on his 100th day in office his pushed his New Deal practice. Roosevelt also tried to pass the court packing plan which was to make sure they get 6 more members in the Supreme Court because they would be biased but it didn’t happen. -
The battle of the Atlantic
After Americas entry into the war, Hitler was determined to prevent foods and war supplies from reaching Britain and the USSR from Americas east coast. He ordered submarine rapids on U.S ships on the Atlantic. Germans sank 87 U.S ships. -
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7th 1941 the Japanese attacked a U.S. navy at Pearl Harbor. That brings the U.S into the war against Japan and Germany. -
Battle of Stalingrad
For weeks the Germans pressed in on Stalingrad, the winter set in and the Germans were still wearing summer uniforms. The Germans surrendered in January and the Soviet’s lost more than 1 million men. -
The Battle of the Bulge
Americans captured their first German Town. Hitler responded with one last ditch massive offensive. Hitler hoped breaking through the allied line would break up allied supply lines. The battle raged on for a months and the Germans lost. -
D-Day
Was the largest land and sea air operation in military history. Despite air support, German retaliation was brutal especially at Omaha beach. Within a month, the Allie’s had landed 1 million troops. -
V-E Day
General Eisenhower accepted the unconditional surrender of the 3rd Reich. On may 8th 1945 the Allies celebrated victory in Europe(V-E Day) meaning the war in Europe was finally over. Unfortunately Franklin D Roosevelt did not live to see V-E day cause he suffered a stroke. -
The Truman Doctrine
In March 1947, Harry Truman proclaimed his Doctrine, because the U.S was threatened by Turkey and Greece. So, the Truman doctrine was an establishment of proving economical, political and military support to other democratic nations who are under threat. -
The Election of 1948
Truman ran for re-election because Roosevelt didn’t finish his term, with that they governor of New York ran against him, his name was Thomas Dewey. Chicago daily ran papers saying Dewey defeated Truman before the election was over, but they were wrong, in the end Truman won. Truman ended up holding up the newspaper that declared falsely, that Dewey had won. -
The Marshall Plan
The Marshall plan put the Truman doctrine into action. War damage and dislocation in Europe made a door open up to communist influences. With that economic aid was offered to all European countries, the European recovery program. The blame for dividing Europe fell on the soviets and the Marshall plan proved. -
Operation Vittles(Berlin Airlift)
The Soviet Union blocked all land routes connecting to non communists of western Berlin, with western Germany. This isolated 2 million people. So food, coal, and other materials had to be given to them by airlift. On April 16, 1949, there were 1398 flights into Berlin. Before it was over there were more than 270,000 flights that carried 2.3 million tons of relief supplies. -
The Berlin Candy bomber
A pilot named Gail Halvorsen dropped supplies over Berlin. He wanted to help the kids so he started dropping chocolate and gum by parachutes. He was called uncle wiggly wings cause he wiggled the wings of the plane to let the kids know that it was him. He won a congressional Gold medial doe his role in the airlift. -
The Sputnik Race
In 1958 an aluminum sphere, 23 in diameter weighing 184 pounds with 4 steel antennas emitting radio signals, was launched into space. The Russians had beaten the Americans to space because they had technological edge. It stayed in orbit for 92 days.