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William Seward Buys Alaska
Originally, Russia owned Alaska. But in 1867, William Seward bought it for $7.2 million. Everyone in America ridiculed the purchase and said it was nothing but a wasteland. They called it “Seward’s Icebox” as well as “Seward’s Folly”. -
Annie Moore
Annie Moore was the immigrant to be registered through Ellis Island. When she got there, she was gifted a $10 coin. She was only 17 years old at the time. -
Fire on Ellis Island
Not long after midnight, the main building on Ellis island caught on fire. It “broke out in the furnace of the main building” according to New York Times. Luckily, everyone was able to safely escape. -
Sinking of The Lusitania
The Germans torpedoed a passenger ship and sunk it. There were 128 Americans out of 1,200 passengers on that ship. Germans later promised to stop the “sink on sight” policy, but later resumed. -
Zimmerman Note
The Germans sent a note to Mexico promising to help them get back Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. But only if they helped Germany fight in the war. This note was intercepted by British intelligence. -
Espionage Act
This act made it so that anyone who promotes insubordination in the military can be arrested. Someone could spend up to 20 years in prison and pay up to $10,000 in fines. -
Battle of Belleau Wood
This was the first large scale battle in WWI. General John Pershing led the U.S troops to try and stop Germans from getting to Paris. In the end, the U.S. won. -
19th Amendment
This Amendment gave women the right to vote. Over the years, women had been protesting and fighting for their rights. There were many people who didn’t approve of women having rights, -
The Scopes Trial
John Scopes was a teacher who illegally taught evolution to his students. During his trial, he was defended by Clarence Darrow. William Bryan defended the state. This trial led many to begin questioning the study of creation and lean more towards evolution. -
The Jazz Singer
This was the first movie to come out with sound. Before, movies were completely silent with ocasional captions. -
The Stock Market Crash
This is what many think caused the Great Depression. But in reality, it wasn’t a cause, but a symptom. Many people had withdrawn their savings, but banks weren’t able to give them money. -
Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act
This act raised tariffs on U.S. imports up to 50%. Officials thought that this would help raise triad barriers. -
Revenue Act of 1932
This act raised income tax in the U.S up to 63%. -
18th Amendment
This amendment banned selling and making alcohol and later become known as prohibition. It would hopefully decrease crime rates, but instead, it increased crime rates. Many people began smuggling alcohol and making it illegally. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt Becomes President
In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt (democrat) ran against Herbert Hoover (republican). Roosevelt won by a landslide and went on to become the president of the United States. -
Jane Addams
Jane Addams was an American social worker who started the Hull House. This was specifically created for the poor and immigrants. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan initiates a surprise attack on the U.S. navy. The USS Arizona was the ship that sustained the most damage. This causes America to join the war. -
Battle of Midway
Admiral Chester Nimitz moved to defend the island from Japan. This was the turning point of the war. America won. -
D-Day
U.S. vs. Britain. This was the largest land-sea-air operation in all of military history. U.S. troops were led by General Eisenhower. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt Dies
President Franklin D. Roosevelt had a stroke and died. After this, Harry S Truman becomes president. -
Hitler Dies
In order to escape being captured by Soviets, Hitler hides in Führer’s bunker. Before they can find him, he shoots himself. His wife takes poison. -
VE Day
Victory in Europe Day -
VJ Day
Victory over Japan Day -
Truman Doctrine
President Truman promised that the “United States would provide political, military and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces.” -
Statehood of Hawaii
America realized that Hawaii would make a great port and help secure the Pacific. Hawaii also had lots of sugar, which was very valuable at the time. So, in order to make Hawaii American territory, some business groups, with the help of the marines, overthrew Queen Liliuokalani. -
First Man in Space
Yuri Gagarin was the first human to go to space. His orbit lasted 48 minutes. He made it back safely. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Soviet Union begins to bring missiles into Cuba. This starts a nation-wide panic in the U.S. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
About 2 million people from both East and West Berlin came to the wall and destroyed it. They used hammers and picks to tear it down.