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The very first permanent settlement in the New World, Jamestown was a monumental first step in the development of America. Colonizing America was initially very deadly, with almost all of the Colonists dying in the first few years, but soon the colonists would adapt to the world around them. In order to entice more people to venture out into the New World, England began giving out free land with the Headright System, which would become the basis for indentured servitude. -
The Mayflower Compact was a document signed by the passengers of the Mayflower, a ship that transported Pilgrims to the New World. It was created as a way to establish a government in the new settlement and to ensure that the settlers would work together. The Mayflower Compact is considered a precursor to the United States Constitution, as it established the idea of a social contract. It is also seen as a key moment in the development of self-government in the English colonies in America. -
American dissent to English rule grew with taxes and attacks on their autonomy, with laws like the Quartering Act. This allowed any British soldier to enter you home and you would be forced to provide for them. The absolute hatred that colonists had for this act was displayed in the Third Amendment, which specifically addresses this act. Other acts passed at a similar time such as the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act applied taxes to basic goods, making the colonists feel like second class citizens. -
The disrespect that the colonists were feeling came to a head through political activism. Inflammatory speeches and writings were distributed by great orators and writers. These led to protests. British guards were soon placed outside of customs houses. Protestors gathered outside, and taunted the guards. The protestors started throwing rocks, when the soldiers opened fire and killed 5 protestors. The Sons of Liberty mass produced a propaganda work painting the guards as hostile. -
Britain passed what were called the Intolerable Acts, which closed the Port of Boston, outlawed assemblies, enforced the Quartering Act, regulated trade and commerce, and enacted high taxes. Americans reacted by sending delegates to the First Continental Congress. There were two main schools of thought, radicals that wanted independence regardless of the cost, and conservatives that thought they could not win the war. Samuel Adams decided to try for peace, but would go to war if necessary. -
This time the Congress was held in Philadelphia, and all 13 states attended. It was a month after the first shots at Lexington and Concord, and was presided over by the influential John Hancock. King George had rejected the Olive Branch Petition and it was time for war. The delegates charged Thomas Jefferson with drafting the Declaration of Independence. Other orders of business were creating a military, appointing a general, creating a currency, and organizing a committee for foreign affairs. -
The first battle of the Revolution, that began from the "Shot Heard Around the World". The odds are heavily in Britain's favor, as they are for a large majority of the war. 70 militiamen stand against a British army of 700 soldiers. There were 17 casualties before the militiamen fled. They were able to warn Concord about the incoming army and remove all of the weapons before the British arrived. When they did, an additional 1500 militiamen arrived and routed the British using guerilla tactics. -
"Common Sense" is a famous propaganda pamphlet written by the great writer Thomas Paine to spread ideas of independence and natural rights during the Revolutionary War. Thomas Paine was able to connect to the common people through his impressive command of simple language. His writings influenced the American population to support the revolution and put leaders under pressure to declare independence. -
The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the war, which had previously been dominated by the better trained and equipped British army. British General John Burgoyne planned to group his army with 3 more to face the Colonies. Due to the British's lack of knowledge of the landscape, their reinforcements were slowed by a swamp and Burgoyne's forces were surrounded. The British armies were forced to surrender, which supplied the Continental army with better equipment and a massive morale boost. -
The Articles are the first governing body that the United States attempts. It gave the federal government very little power, greatly influenced by the traumas of our past. There would be no executive leader, no standing army, and no taxing power. After Shay's Rebellion (a series of riots from farmers whose farms had fallen into disrepair after going to fight in the war) had to be solved by private armies it was clear that the Articles were ineffective. -
The Battle of Yorktown is the final battle of the Revolutionary War, and an incredible victory to the United States. General Cornwallis intended to lure George Washington to the coast where his men could recover and be assisted by the navy, however the navy had been defeated by the French. When Cornwallis arrived at Yorktown, he found himself surrounded and forced to surrender. Cornwallis was too proud to present his sword directly to Washington, and had an underling bring it. -
After the Battle of Yorktown, where General Washington defeated the British general Cornwallis, the British were forced to surrender. For the first time, Britain had been defeated by one of her own colonies. The treaty ended the war and required Britain to acknowledge the United States as an independent country. It grants the new nation all of the land between the Atlantic and the Mississippi and also created an eternal alliance between France and America, although it didn't hold up. -
After Shay's Rebellion, it was clear that the Articles of Confederation were ineffective, and a stronger government was required. The discourse was split into two main views, Anti-Federalists and Federalists. These ideologies worked together to create the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. When it came time to create a system of legislation, two plans were presented. To ensure fairness, Roger Sherman proposed a two house system, one based on population, and one that was entirely equal. -
One of the lasting effects of the Articles of Confederation was the Northwest Ordinance. It created the Northwest Territory of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana It outlawed slavery in those states. But most importantly it gave a pathway to statehood. States would be able to come into the Union to vote and get representation. This would become exponentially more important in the future through rapid expansion like the Louisiana Purchase and Mexican-American War. -
After Shay's Rebellion, the Articles of Confederation were proven to be ineffective, and a new founding document had to be drafted. There were two main ideologies of Federalism and Anti-Federalism. Federalists were fearful of mob rule and favored the Constitution. Anti-Federalists feared Big Government and supported a Bill of Rights. Anti-Federalists helped to ratify the Constitution, on the condition that the Bill of Rights was ratified immediately after. -
Congress passed the Federal Judiciary Act in 1789 to create a court system consisting of the Supreme Court and lower level courts. The Supreme Court is to have a Chief Justice and 5 associate Justices. There are now a total of 9 Justices. Before the creation of the federal courts, each state had its own justice system, which made it difficult to apply federal law fairly across the entire nation. This act addressed this problem, and allowed the courts to be entirely independent of the states. -
Hamilton was named Washington's Secretary of Treasury and created a Financial Plan to pay off debt and raise federal revenue. One of the taxes was on whiskey, where farmers could pay a sum at the beginning of the year for unlimited production or by gallon. This benefitted large producers but hurt common farmers. Farmers refused to pay the tax until the American army enforced it, proving the effectiveness of the new government. -
During Washington's presidency, everything he did was important, and created an outline for what was expected in the future. Pinckney's Treaty was an example of how foreign relations might be handled by a budding nation. Northwestern territories were unable to transport goods due to the Appalachians, and instead wanted to use the Spanish controlled Mississippi. Diplomats acquired the rights to do so for 20 years, but Jefferson worried about the temporary nature of the treaty. -
The Alien Act allow the president to deport any dangerous immigrant. These acts are followed by the Naturalization Act, which increased the amount of time required to become a citizen. But the most hated act was the Sedition Act that made it illegal to print any material critical of the government. These three acts were blatant violations of the First Amendment, and led to the creation of the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions which said that the states would not follow unconstitutional laws. -
The night before John Adams' presidency ends, he appoints several judges in an attempt to hold judiciary power, they are known as the "Midnight Judges". Jefferson orders the letter to grant Marbury judgeship to go undelivered, but Marbury sues him to get the position he believes is his. The Supreme Court refuses to grant him judgeship and create the process of Judicial Review, the right to strike down laws they see as unconstitutional. This makes the Supreme Court much more powerful. -
Jefferson has worried about losing control of the Mississippi and New Orleans for years. In order to maintain stability, he sends James Monroe to negotiate purchase of the Mississippi, but Napoleon is only interested if they buy the rest of Louisiana too. Jefferson wrestles with the constitutionality of the president purchasing land, but puts aside his own strict constructionist views for the sake of the country. Later he charges Lewis and Clarke to explore the land in the famous expedition. -
With Eli Whitney's idea of identical, interchangeable parts, technology leaps forward. The creation of the cotton gin, steam engine, sewing machine, and steam boat revolutionized the way we produced goods and traveled. The transportation revolution brought about by the steam boat led to the development of canals connecting cities together to allow for trade. Eventually, the era of the canal would be ended by the cheaper and faster railroads. -
America had established decent trading relationships with both France and Great Britain by the 1800's, and when war broke out between the two European powers, Jefferson wanted to maintain those relationships. Despite the Treaty of Paris's vow of eternal alliance with France, Jefferson chose neutrality in the war, and imposed an embargo on all foreign trade. It initially dealt great economic damage, but led to massive industrial growth in the States. -
The Battle of New Orleans is one of the final battles of the War of 1812, and actually occurs after the treaty is signed, before word of the end of the war reaches the armies. The battle was greatly influential, as once again a motley crew of American civilians and soldiers alike defeat a professional British army. The Americans were led by Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson, who would be associated with winning the war. This belief would greatly assist him in his campaign for the presidency later on. -
The Embargo of 1807, although it had encouraged manufacturing, it did great damage to foreign trade. Even after the embargo is lifted post-War of 1812, trade is still discouraged. Henry Clay proposed a plan to create a strong national economy called "The American System". He proposed a strong central bank to provide easy and abundant credit, protective tariffs to further spur manufacturing, and to use extra funds to build infrastructure. It was based on Hamilton's financial plan from 1790. -
In the election of 1824 none of the 4 candidates received a majority of the vote. As per the 12th Amendment the vote went to the House. Henry Clay dropped out of the race to avoid looking like he was using his power as Speaker to influence the vote. Adams and Clay met privately before Clay started supporting him publicly. The House elects Adams, and he appoints Clay as his Secretary of State, a position that can be a step to the presidency. Jackson supporters claim a corrupt bargain took place. -
Andrew Jackson was once again a popular candidate, and planned to create a Jeffersonian coalition of farmers, artisans, and slave owners. He created the first political party, the Democratic Party. In 1824, elections became more modern with local politics, mass meetings, mud-slinging, newspapers, speeches, and buttons. Jackson won the election and practiced what he called the "Spoils System", where he fired 2000 people and filled government jobs with his supporters. -
Andrew Jackson passed several brutal policies displacing Native Americans and stealing their land. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 displaced Native Americans to free up land for agriculture and resource gathering. A year later, the Cherokee Nation takes Georgia all the way to the Supreme Court, where it was ruled that the Cherokee Nation must be treated as an independent nation. -
The Nullification Crisis foreshadowed the Civil War in a very obvious way. The Tariff of 1828, passed by John Q. Adams, had been deemed unconstitutional by John C. Calhoun, and South Carolina threatened to nullify the law. Jackson lowered the tariff but South Carolina passed the Nullification Ordinance to declare the tariffs null and void. Jackson enacts the Force Bill, forcing the states to comply. Henry Clay diffuses the situation with the Compromise Tariff that appeased both sides. -
The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution, in which a small group of Texan rebels and American volunteers, including Davy Crocket, defended the Alamo Mission against a much larger Mexican army. The battle took place in 1836 and ended in the deaths of all of the Texan defenders, but it became a symbol of resistance and sacrifice and helped inspire the broader Texan rebellion against Mexican rule. The battle is often remembered with the rallying cry "Remember the Alamo!" -
Texas had been previously owned by Mexico, but was seen as dangerous, unproductive, and lawless. Mexico offered Americans cheap land in return for becoming a Mexican citizen and converting to Catholicism. Desperate Americans flocked to Texas and made it productive. Mexico tried to enforce Catholicism, outlaw slavery, and tax them. These actions led to Texas declaring independence. America offered Texas its help in the war but only if we annexed it. By thin margins, Texas voted for annexation. -
The "North Star" was a newspaper published by Frederick Douglas that described his experiences as a fugitive slave. It was a very influential writing, that disproved the idea of Positive Good (the idea that slaves were benefitted by slavery because they couldn't do anything else). The newspaper was popularized largely by the recent increase in support for social reform due to the Second Great Awakening. Similarly to "Uncle Tom's Cabin" it presented slaves as people, an uncommon idea at the time. -
After the annexation of Texas, there was a dispute about the true border of Texas. President Polk sent soldiers into the disputed territory where they died in a skirmish. He used this as leverage to justify a war against Mexico, and marched on their capitol. Quickly, America defeated Mexico and used the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo to establish Texas's southern border as the Rio Grande, and that Texas officially belongs to the US. Mexico was also forced to give up the Mexican Cession of 5 states. -
Another social reform movement that greatly benefitted from the Second Great Awakening was the women's rights movement. The movement really began at the Seneca Falls Convention, where activists drafted the Declaration of Sentiments. It was based on the Declaration of Independence, and asserted equality between men and women. Women would decide that they could not support both the civil rights movements for blacks and themselves, and many decided to focus entirely on women's suffrage. -
The Compromise of 1850 was Henry Clay's last hurrah in Congress, and a final attempt to delay the incoming civil war. The previous Missouri Compromise was becoming ineffective, so Clay proposes a new plan. California will enter the Union as a free state and slave trade will be outlawed in Washington DC, but in return fugitive slave law will be stricter and territories applying for statehood will be governed by popular sovereignty. The compromise was effective for only 10 years. -
The Dred Scott case was a legal battle in the US that ended with the Supreme Court ruling against Scott, a slave who sued for his freedom after being taken by his owners to a free state. The Court determined that Scott was not a citizen and therefore couldn't sue in federal court, and also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. This case played a significant role in the lead-up to the Civil War and remains a significant moment in US civil rights history. -
John Brown, a radical abolitionist, had been on a reign of terror. After the vote for Kansas to be a slave state was stolen, Brown and his followers murdered the men and sons of 5 different families. Harper's Ferry was a small mountain town in Virginia that held a surplus of military supplies. Brown's men inserted themselves with the plan to steal the weapons and march around the South freeing slaves. He is captured and hanged, seen as a villain by the South and a martyr by the North. -
Abraham Lincoln was becoming a rising star in the Whig Party. He had a successful career as a politician, and was opposed by Stephen Douglas who had recently defeated him for a Senate seat. Lincoln challenged Douglas to a debate, until he eventually accepted, and had the first presidential debate of its kind. Lincoln is quotes as a fierce abolitionist, true to the South's worst fears, although he truly just wants to keep the Union together. He wins the election due to the divided Democrats. -
South Carolina decided to secede due to increasing tensions between the North and the South. Their leaders believed they would protect their way of life. The state was the first to secede, and its action was followed by several other Southern states, leading to the formation of the Confederacy and the American Civil War. The formation of the Confederacy and aftermath of the Civil War had significant impacts on the country's political and social landscape. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter was a pivotal event in the American Civil War. The battle occurred when Confederate forces bombarded the Union-held Fort Sumter in South Carolina, leading to its surrender. The attack on Fort Sumter was the first military action of the Civil War and marked the beginning of a four-year conflict. The Battle of Fort Sumter is often seen as the start of the Civil War and is remembered as a key moment in American history. -
Lincoln noticed that western territories are unproductive and were not making significant contributions to the country. Northwestern populations were also exploding from a massive influx of immigrants, leading to overcrowding, unemployment, crime, and disease. He passed the Homestead Act, which gave away 160 acres of land to anybody who wanted it. The only stipulations were that anybody who claimed the land must farm it for at least 5 years, live on the land, and some way improve it. -
The Pacific Railway Act was the single largest public works project ever done, worldwide. It was the first transcontinental railroad and was incredibly expensive. These economic stresses were aggravated by the ongoing Civil War. It was so expensive, that the government could only pay for the first 15% in cash, and would pay for the rest by giving away land around the railroad, similar to the Homestead Act. Two companies were hired to build the railroad, The Union Pacific and the Central Pacific. -
The Proclamation was a massive change to the Union's agenda. Ultimately, the Civil War was always and still was about preserving the Union for the North, but the Proclamation introduced the topic of abolition. To ensure the change was received well, Lincoln waited to release it until after a victory, like the Battle of Antietam. It freed all of the slaves in Southern states. It was an ultimatum, join us now or lose your slaves, but also strategically kept Europe from assisting the South. -
The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most influential battles of the Civil War. It was the largest battle with over 75,000 soldiers to either side. The large losses the Confederate army faced in the battle contributed greatly to the end of the war. The battle was followed by Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address. The concise and powerful wording of the speech championed anti-slavery ideals, and declared that values were worth fighting for. The battle also ended Lee's assault on the North. -
Soon after the end of the Civil War, Lincoln was assassinated and Andrew Johnson took office. The Radical Republicans were excited by his deep hatred for the planter class. Johnson released a plan similar to Lincoln's 10% Plan that had a 10% clause for returning to the Union, an abolition of slavery clause (the 13th Amendment), forgave Confederate war debts, and disenfranchised Confederates and the plantation class. The 13th Amendment was a powerful follow-up to the Emancipation Proclamation. -
The 14th Amendment greatly benefitted recently immigrated families, stating that anyone born in the US or naturalized was a full US citizen and was to be protected completely and properly throughout legal process. It also struck at any former Confederate leaders looking to regain power, by banning Confederate officers from holding state or legal office. Beyond that, it protected voters by stating that if any state denied its citizens voting rights, they would lose their voice in Congress. -
After the Civil War, Lincoln wanted to bring the South back into the Union as quickly and painlessly as possible, but Congress refused his lenient 10% Plan. After Johnson took office, he held a similar philosophy to Lincoln, but Congress was much harsher during Reconstruction. The Reconstruction Acts stripped the South of its political power and made them into 5 military districts. They also forced them to ratify the 14th Amendment to rejoin the Union. -
Radical Republicans lost the supermajority in Congress in the Election of 1868, and realized they needed support from freedmen. In response to this realization, they quickly pushed the 15th Amendment through Congress, which stated that any man had the right to vote regardless of color or previous position of servitude. It was actually incredibly unpopular in the North, and won the Democratic Party some much needed northern support. -
The Civil Rights Act was passed by Ulysses S. Grant in 1875, and it stated that discrimination in any public accommodation was illegal, and was enforced in the South by Union soldiers. After Reconstruction ended, and soldiers were removed from the South, the act was not enforced at all in the South. Regardless, it laid the groundwork for future civil rights legislation and was a significant step towards ensuring that all Americans had equal opportunity regardless of race. -
During Reconstruction, the South had been decimated. Many southerners turned to violence to regain control. Democrats threatened anyone in the South that wanted to vote for Hayes in the election. After the votes were tallied, 100% of the South voted for Tilden. The North was dubious of the votes and issued a recount, flipping 3 states. The Constitution never accounted for such a crisis, leading to a creation of a committee of 5 from each party, and 5 Supreme Court Justices that voted for Hayes. -
The US had anchored the USS Maine in Havana Harbor to protect US citizens and economic interest in Cuba. While peacefully anchored the Maine exploded killing 260 Americans. Although Spain was not responsible for the destruction of the Maine, they were blamed for it anyway. The navy deployed ships to engage Spain in Cuba and the Philippines. The navy destroyed the fleets on both fronts and crippled Spain's ability to fight the war. -
Due to his former popularity, the Republican party made Theodore Roosevelt the Vice-Presidential running mate for McKinley. The Republican establishment did not like Roosevelt, but thought his popularity would help McKinley. McKinley was then killed early in his term, elevating Roosevelt to the position of president. Roosevelt made large sweeping changes with his position, such as using the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break up what he considered to be "bad trusts". -
Roosevelt also used his time in the presidency to create widespread Consumer Reform. Inspired by Upton Sinclair's book, "The Jungle", he created the Meat Inspection Act, increasing the quality of meat sold in the US. He also created the Pure Food and Drug Act, as well as the Elkins and Hepburn Act, to regulate railroad shipping rates. He was able to increase the quality of goods while also control prices for American consumers. -
Henry Ford introduces the Ford Model T in 1908 for $5850. Using scientific management, he created a moving assembly line, and was able to reduce the time it takes to produce a Model T from 12 hours to 90 minutes. He also reduced the cost of production to only $280. Beyond that, he was able to create the best and most loyal employees by offering his workers better wages, shorter hours, and weekends off. The boom in the auto industry leads to more connected industries. -
NAACP was founded in 1909 to fight for the civil rights of African Americans. The organization was formed in response to a wave of lynchings and other acts of racial violence in the early 20th century, and it quickly became one of the most influential civil rights groups in the US. The NAACP has played a key role in landmark legal cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, which ended legal segregation in schools, and it continues to advocate for social justice and equality today. -
Tensions are mounting in Europe as countries grow their militaries. Nations create alliances to provide mutual aid and protection, the Triple Alliance (Italy, Austria-Hungary, Germany) and the Triple Entente (France, Britain, Russia). People begin to develop a strong sense of nationalism, and governments begin to extend their political, military and economic power in every way they can. With the assassination of the archduke, the time bomb explodes into the First World War. -
Germany blockades the Allied Powers, and declares unrestricted submarine warfare on all ships passing through. German ships sink the Lusitania and all 1200 American passengers. The US also then intercepted the Zimmerman Telegram, asking Mexico to attack the US in return for Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Both of these events, as well as the breaching of the Sussex Pledge, the US is pulled into the war as Wilson sees no other option. -
With large numbers of white men joining the military, and factories gearing up to support the war effort, African Americans from the South made the move north to escape sharecropping in search of opportunity. -
After the Lusitania sinks and the Zimmerman Telegram is intercepted, Wilson decided to go to war. WWI was the war to end all wars and make the world safe for democracy. The government sold the war to the people by saying "We can fight it over there or it will come here". During the war, people were forced to give up freedoms due to the Espionage Act, prohibiting speech against the government, and the Sedition Act, that punishes criticizing the government. These acts imprison over 2000 people. -
At the outset of the war, America's military was small and unprepared. Wilson signed the Selective Service Act in order to grow the military and compel services in WWI. Suddenly, millions of men were being sent off to war which allowed for the Great Migration to take place. America mobilizes 4.5 million troops, and businesses also mobilize to support the war effort. European allies desperately need the support, but Wilson ordered no US men to go to battle until 1 million troops are in Europe. -
The War Industries Board (WIB) was a US agency during WWI, led by Bernard Baruch. It coordinated the production and distribution of war supplies, with powers to allocate raw materials, set prices, and control production. The WIB aimed to increase efficiency and output, but was criticized for overstepping its bounds and favoring large corporations. Despite this, it played a crucial role in ensuring the US could produce what was needed. -
The 18th Amendment prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcohol in America. This amendment led to the Prohibition Era, a significant mark of the Roaring 20's. Prohibition was rife with organized crime, speakeasies, and bootleggers. Despite the fact that alcohol was now illegal, people actually drank more than they did before. Crime families were able to flourish through bootlegging, leading to the power of mob bosses like Al Capone. -
In order to end the war, Wilson suggests his 14 points to create an Armistice. The points are largely neutral, but Europe wants somebody to blame. This leads to the creation of the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty heavily punishes Germany, limiting their military and returning all the land they won. It also forces Germany to sign the War Guilt Clause, which requires them to pay 33 billion dollars in reparations, plunging Germany into the depression sooner than the rest of the world. -
Early in the 20's, installment buying and buying on credit became popular. People were able to buy now and pay later, or just pay small down payments. Industrial wages grew, but much slower than corporate wages. Farm income declined the fastest, and depression hit rural areas first and hardest. The stock market surged and people also began to buy on margin. From all of these cracks in the foundation, the American economy began to crumble and plunged into the Great Depression -
During the war and the Great Migration, many blacks moved north. The newly established black community saw a flourishing of artistic expression, particularly through music. The 20's were partly defined by their music, as the Jazz age. Blues and jazz begin their musical styles in the black communities, but quickly become popular with white America. Black leaders would consider different methods to further their goals of becoming equal. -
Herbert Hoover is elected in 1928 and has the difficult task of being the president during the Great Depression. He opposed direct federal aid and feared that raising taxes and spending would deepen the depression. His ultimate belief was that the US could ride it out. He was seen as a do-nothing president who was unfit or unwilling to act in a time of national economic crisis. Under his administration people lost their homes, belongings, and life savings. -
The Bonus Army March was a 1932 protest by 43,000 World War I veterans and their families demanding early payment of a bonus promised by the government. The marchers camped in Washington, D.C., but were forcibly evicted by troops led by General Douglas MacArthur, resulting in violence and injuries. The incident damaged President Hoover's reputation and highlighted the plight of unemployed veterans during the Great Depression. -
The 1932 election saw FDR defeat Hoover in a landslide victory. Roosevelt's platform, known as the New Deal, promised relief, recovery, and reform in response to the Great Depression. His policies included public works programs, government regulation of industry, and social welfare programs. The election marked a significant shift in US politics towards greater government involvement in the economy and society. Roosevelt's presidency had a lasting impact on US politics and policy. -
The Federal Housing Administration is a government agency established in 1934 as part of the New Deal. Its mission is to provide mortgage insurance to lenders, allowing them to offer mortgages to people who might not otherwise qualify. It played a significant role in increasing home ownership in the US, particularly among lower-income families and minorities. However, the agency has also been criticized for contributing to racial segregation through its policies and practices, such as redlining. -
The Manhattan Project was a program during WWII that aimed to create the first atomic bomb. The project was led by Oppenheimer and employed thousands of scientists, engineers, and technicians across multiple locations in the US. The project successfully produced the nuke, which was used by the US military to force Japan's surrender. It was a significant achievement in science and technology, but it also raised ethical questions about the use of nuclear weapons and their long-term effects. -
The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of African-American pilots and support personnel who served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II. They trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama and faced racial discrimination, but still went on to become one of the most successful fighter squadrons of the war. Their achievements paved the way for desegregation in the US military and helped change perceptions about African-American capabilities. -
Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack killed over 2,400 Americans and destroyed or damaged numerous ships and aircraft. The attack was a major catalyst for US entry into World War II, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt declaring war on Japan the following day. The attack was a significant military and psychological blow to the US, but it also galvanized the country and led to a determination to defeat the Axis powers. -
Victory Gardens were vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens planted by Americans during World War II to supplement food rations and boost morale. The program was promoted by the government and community organizations and encouraged people to grow their own food at home, freeing up commercial crops for the war effort. Victory Gardens also helped alleviate food shortages and provided a sense of unity and purpose for those on the home front. -
The World Bank is an organization founded in 1944 to reduce global poverty and promote sustainable development. It has 189 member countries and provides financing, technical assistance, and policy advice to developing countries. It supports infrastructure projects, social services, and other development initiatives through loans, grants, and other forms of financial assistance. It also provides research and analysis to help countries build their capacity and achieve their development goals. -
Since 1941 the USSR suffered heavy losses fighting Germany on the Eastern Front, so Stalin wanted to create an operation to be carried out by the Allies in Western Europe. The Allies spent 18 months preparing for D-Day, most of the troops that went in were green. Eisenhower gave a speech to the troops before the largest sea-borne invasion in history. D-Day was the turning point of the war, where 156,000 troops attacked Europe capturing 80 miles of coast. -
After the end of WWII, our government tried to say thank you to the soldiers that had given up some of the best years of their lives to protect America through the GI Bill of Rights. It paid for education and provided low-interest loans to veterans. This influx of money to the people brought about the greatest time of economic prosperity in American history, where over two-thirds of the population was middle class. -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the targets of the first atomic bombs used in warfare, dropped by the US on August 6th and 9th, 1945, respectively, towards the end of World War II. The bombings caused unprecedented devastation, killing tens of thousands of people instantly. The bombings are widely debated for their ethical implications and their impact on the course of history. The first use of the atom bomb made America even more threatening than already were. -
Soon after the soldiers returned from WWII, the Baby Boom began. The US population soared, increasing by over 30 million people. There was 1 birth every 10 seconds. People who now wanted to raise a family gave birth to the suburbs, a safe place to have a home. These suburbs also fulfilled part of the American Dream, home ownership. With the sudden boom in children, public works projects suddenly became very popular, with more pediatric hospitals and schools to support the new young population. -
After the end of WWII, there were mounting tensions between the democratic nations and the USSR. USSR had recently tested their own nuclear weapons, proving that the US and USSR could never directly attack each other due to Mutually Assured Destruction. Iran became the site of the first dispute of the Cold War. At the end of WWII, Soviet troops were supposed to withdraw from Iran but they were ordered to stay and try to force concessions. -
The Marshall Plan was a US-led initiative to rebuild Europe after World War II. Named after Secretary of State George Marshall, the plan involved the distribution of over $12 billion in aid to help European countries recover from the war's devastation. The funds were used to modernize industry, improve infrastructure, and stabilize currencies. It was seen as a major success, accelerating the region's economic recovery and helping to establish a lasting partnership between the US and Europe. -
The formation of NATO was an alliance established in 1949 among the US several Western European countries to provide defense against Soviet aggression. The treaty committed members to mutual defense in the event of an attack on any member. NATO played a significant role in shaping the post-World War II world and served as a bulwark against Soviet expansion during the Cold War. Today, it remains an important political and military alliance, promoting security and stability in Europe and beyond. -
Brown v. Board was a landmark US Supreme Court case that ruled segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The case was brought by black parents in Kansas who argued that segregated schools were inherently unequal, violating the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. The ruling overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, marking a significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement and paving the way for the desegregation of schools and other public institutions in the US. -
The Interstate Highway Act was the largest public works project in history. It would update and modernize America's roadways, effectively connecting the country. Eisenhower sold the idea with Cold War fears, making evacuation easier and allowing them to be emergency runways for planes. Cars became more of a necessity, they were seen as a symbol of freedom and status. They made it easier for families to live further from work and travel on the new interstates. -
The 1960 election was contested by Republican Richard Nixon and Democrat John F. Kennedy. The election was closely contested, with Kennedy ultimately winning a narrow victory in the popular vote and electoral college. The election was notable for being the first to feature televised debates, which many believe helped Kennedy connect with voters and win support. The election also highlighted the growing importance of television in politics and helped shape the modern political landscape. -
Ruby Bridges was the first black child to attend an all-white elementary school in the American South. In 1960, at six years old, she was escorted by federal marshals to school in New Orleans, amid violent protests by segregationists. Despite the hostility and isolation, Bridges persevered and completed her education, becoming a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement's struggle for equal education. She paved the way for future generations of African-American students to attend integrated schools. -
The Greensboro Sit-In was a nonviolent protest in 1960, when four black college students sat at a whites-only lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and refused to leave until they were served. The sit-in sparked a wave of similar protests across the South, and soon thousands of students were participating in sit-ins and boycotts. The protests helped to expose the racial injustice in public spaces, and led to the desegregation of many establishments. -
The Bay of Pigs was a failed US-backed invasion of Cuba. The goal of the operation was to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist government, but the invasion was poorly executed. The Cuban military defeated the invading forces, and the US suffered a major political and strategic defeat. It became a symbol of US interventionism in Latin America and a cautionary tale of the dangers of covert operations. The invasion increased tensions between the US and Cuba, and it led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day standoff in 1962 between the US and USSR over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. After a naval quarantine and tense negotiations, the crisis was resolved with the US agreeing not to invade Cuba and removing missiles from Turkey, and the USSR removing their missiles from Cuba. The crisis was a turning point in the Cold War and highlighted the dangers of nuclear confrontation. -
The Freedom Rides were a series of nonviolent protests in 1961 by civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into segregated Southern states to challenge segregation on buses and in bus terminals. The rides were met with violent opposition, including attacks by white mobs and arrests, but ultimately led to the desegregation of bus terminals and inspired other forms of civil disobedience in the fight for civil rights. -
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a massive civil rights protest in 1963, where over 250,000 people gathered at the National Mall to demand racial equality and an end to segregation. The march is best known for Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which called for an end to discrimination and racial injustice. The event helped to galvanize public opinion and support for civil rights legislation, leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to ensure equal opportunities in the workplace. It was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement and ended racial segregation in schools, public places, and employment, while also ending unequal voter registration practices. -
Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society was a domestic policy initiative aimed at reducing poverty and promoting social justice. The program introduced new legislation to establish Medicare and Medicaid, expanded funding for education and welfare, and created the Office of Economic Opportunity to combat poverty. It also included the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. Ot was a significant attempt to address social and economic inequality in the United States. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits racial discrimination in voting, including literacy tests and poll taxes. It has been amended and extended several times to ensure equal access to the ballot box. The Act was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement, increasing voter registration and participation among African Americans and other minority groups. However, recent challenges to the law have weakened some provisions, leading to ongoing debates over voting rights in the United States. -
Rolling Thunder was a series of massive demonstrations organized by Vietnam War veterans and anti-war activists in the 1960s and 70s. The protests were designed to pressure the US government to account for POWs and MIAs and end the Vietnam War. The demonstrations included marches on Washington, DC and motorcycle rides across the country. While the protests drew attention to the issue of missing soldiers, they were ultimately unable to bring about a resolution to the conflict in Vietnam. -
The My Lai Massacre was a tragic event that occurred during the Vietnam War in 1968. US soldiers killed unarmed Vietnamese civilians, including women and children, in the village of My Lai. The massacre was initially covered up, but eventually came to light, causing widespread outrage and condemnation. The incident raised questions about the morality of the war and US military conduct, and became a turning point in public opinion about the conflict. -
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal in the 1970s that involved the Nixon administration's attempts to cover up its involvement in a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. The scandal resulted in the resignation of President Nixon, the indictment of several high-ranking officials, and a loss of trust in the government. The Watergate scandal led to reforms in campaign finance laws and increased media scrutiny of political activity. -
The Accords were signed after 13 days of negotiations between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, facilitated by US President Jimmy Carter. The agreement provided a framework for peace between Egypt and Israel, including the return of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt and the establishment of diplomatic relations. The agreement marked a significant breakthrough in the region, but it was criticized for not addressing the larger issue of Palestinian statehood. -
The 1980 election was a turning point in US politics. Ronald Reagan defeated incumbent Jimmy Carter in a landslide victory, campaigning on a platform of small government, lower taxes, and a strong national defense. Reagan's victory signaled a shift to conservative politics and a rejection of the liberal policies of the 1960s and 70s. His policies, known as Reaganomics, emphasized deregulation and free market economics, which had a significant impact on US economic policy for decades to come. -
The Economic Recovery Tax Act was a major tax cut enacted under Reagan's administration. The act lowered tax rates, increased tax credits and deductions, and created new savings incentives to stimulate economic growth. The act was a significant piece of Reagan's economic agenda, which aimed to reduce the role of government in the economy and promote free market principles. -
The Iran-Contra Affair was the secret sale of weapons to Iran, which was under an arms embargo, in exchange for the release of American hostages in Lebanon. The profits from the arms sales were then funneled to Contra rebels fighting the Sandinista government in Nicaragua, in violation of US law. The scandal became public and led to investigations and indictments of several high-ranking officials.