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The first permanent settlement in the "New World" is named Jamestown. The settlers' goal was to achieve financial gain. However, they entered "the starving times"; a time of intense disease and starvation. The settlers were desperate to flourish. After many years of struggle, tobacco was discovered as a cash crop. Tobacco pulled Virginia out of its struggle. The headright system gave acres to both preexisting and new settlers to draw people to the New World. -
The Virginia company financed the colonies. They decided to allow the colonists to create a Legislature. They also had the House of Burgesses. White Men with property had the right to vote. While the legislature was not very powerful and they only got to make small decisions, this was still a crucial step in self-realization and thoughts of independence. These thoughts would later lead to the Revolutionary War. -
Benjamin Franklin, who would go on to become one of the most important figures in the creation of the USA, invited the British colonial leaders to discuss support from the Iroquois. This was a ploy to get the leaders to discuss a colonial allegiance going into the French and Indian war. This is one of the first times the colonies come together to operate as more of a nation rather than independent states. These ideas would go on to fuel the desire for independence from Great Britain. -
This marks the end of the French and Indian War. The treaty stripped France of its land on mainland North America. The colonists believed this would lead to more rights because of their bravery and reliance during the war, however, Great Britain did not see it this way, and the colonists were only receiving worse treatment. This pushed the colonies even harder to declare independence. -
After the British gained control of land west of the colonies, the colonists became eager to settle it. However, the French and Indians living there did not stop fighting. Pontiac's Rebellion occurred even after the war. To prevent any more fighting, the British sent the Proclamation of 1763, forbidding colonists from settling in certain lands. This did not please the colonists because they did not want to be told where they could settle. This pushed the colonists towards rebellion. -
After the French and Indian War, Great Britain was in debt. To raise money, they imposed a tax on all paper documents in the colonies. The colonists claimed that this was unconstitutional. They believed only their own representatives could tax them. The colonists resorted to mob violence to try and combat these taxes. This started a string of taxes that would continue to divide Great Britain and the colonies. -
The Townshend Acts of 1767 placed a tax on many items, including tea. In an attempt to show the British that the colonists won't put up their taxation without representation, members of the Sons of Liberty group dumped valuable crates of tea into the Boston Harbor. This was the first major act of defiance the colonists did leading up to the Revolutionary War. -
Delegates from the colonies met in Philadelphia to discuss the Coercive Acts. These acts were the British response to American rebellion. The delegates ultimately decide they are willing to reconsolidate with Great Britain, as long as there are only limited taxes and other issues are resolved. They create the Declaration of Rights. This would stop the colonists from importing items from the British if the acts were repealed. -
The British went to Concord to seize the colonists' weapons and to arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock, who were on the route of the British. Colonial spies Paul Revere and William Dawes split up to warn the militia. When the British, (700 men), got to Concord, they were met with 70 militiamen. A shot was fired from an unknown side, and combat had begun. Later, the British were met with 1,500 militiamen and they killed 250 British soldiers. This marks the start of the revolutionary war. -
The Olive Branch petition was sent out after the first congress. This declared loyalty to the king and proposed a compromise. Lexington and Concord happened while they were waiting for the King's response. However, the King declared that the colonies were in a state of rebellion. The delegates decided there was no chance of reconciliation. They gave Thomas Jefferson the job to write their formal declaration of freedom from Great Britain. The delegates revise and approve it. -
After the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress was held to discuss the future. The King had rejected the Olive Branch Petition. Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. The document contained grievances against the British crown. Jefferson originally included that slavery would be outlawed in America, but the other men in Congress disapproved of it. This was a very radical idea that Thomas Jefferson would go on to support. -
Thomas Paine was an American author and soldier in the Revolutionary War. His pamphlet "Common Sense" highlights the rights men should have. It explains that the government is meant to serve its citizens and that the King is bad for the colonies. It urges the soldiers and citizens to think of themselves as Americans rather than British. This dramatically boosts morale. Half a million copies were in circulation. This was a large motivation factor in the war. -
On Christmas Day in 1776, General George Washington and his troops crossed the Deleware river to launch a surprise attack on opposing troops. The enemy troops were tired and groggy from a day of celebrating Christmas the day before. because it was not typical to attack right after Christmas. This was not a major strategically important victory, but it showed the Americans that they were capable of defeating Great Britain. It boosted morale greatly. The painting is a popular symbol of the war. -
The battle of Saratoga was fought in two waves. The first left both sides with a supply shortage. The British decided to wait to attack until they received supplies from New York. Eventually, they decided to change their plans. The Americans heard this and they forced the British to withdraw and surrender. This was very significant because no one believed the Americans could win the war. This win boosted morale and convinced the French to join the war effort. -
The Articles of Confederation were the building blocks of the United States. The AOC created a very weak central government. It left the power to each individual state. However, it left many loopholes and gaps. Americans did not want their government to resemble the crown in any way. The flaws of the AOC became apparent after events like Shay's Rebellion. The founding father's recognized the issues and set out to fix them at the Constitutional Convention. -
The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. The Continental Army fooled the British into thinking they were headed toward New York. However, they were actually going south, to attack General Cornwallis. General Washington and Colonel Hamilton trapped the British in between their troops and a French Fleet. Cornwallis had no choice but to surrender. After this defeat, the British declared the war over. It officially ended with the Treaty of Paris of 1783. -
After Cornwallis's surrender during the Battle of Yorktown, the Britsh realized that they did not have the will to continue. The signing of the Treaty of Paris was the official end of the Revolutionary War. Americans Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay negotiated the treaty with representatives of the crown. The end of the war brought an entirely new issue to America, the new country had the strenuous task of creating a federal government. -
While farmers were fighting in the war, their farms back home shriveled. When the war ended, the farmers wanted compensation. Farmers everywhere were struggling. Daniel Shay led a rebellion against the Massachusetts government. This rebellion became out of control because there was no federal military to stop it. The AOC did not create one because America did not want to be like the British in any way. The Constitutional Convention was held, and the AOC were replaced with the Constitution. -
When the AOC were proved to be ineffective, delegates from each state met to discuss a new plan. George Washington was elected president of the convention. Over three months, they established the checks and balances system, the House and the Senate, and gave more power to the federal government. Many of the delegates opposed it because it didn't do anything to protect their rights. As a compromise, everyone agreed to ratify the Constitution and immediately implement the first 10 amendments. -
To cover debts acquired during the war, the national treasurer, Hamilton, advised the government to implement a tax on whiskey. This was mainly geared toward large companies, but it also affected farmers. Farmers rebelled by refusing to pay the tax. It soon turned into a full-fledged rebellion. This acted as a test for the newly ratified Constitution. Washington sent the military using his federal power and the rebellion was put to an end. The Constitution passed the test. -
The western and southern borders of the United States were a tense issue between the US and Spain. Pickney's Treaty granted American ships the freedom to travel the Mississippi river and use the port of New Orleans, which was under Spanish control at the time. Eventually, the Treaty Expired and America attempted to purchase that area. Spain decided they would only sell it to America if they bought the Louisiana territory for 15 million. It was bought and it greatly increased the size of America. -
These acts were a set of four laws passed by the Second US president, John Adams. The first law, Naturalization, increased residency requirements from 5 years to 14. The next, Alien Enemies, allowed the government to deport any male from an enemy nation during a time of war. The Alien Friends act permitted the president to deport any non-citizen conspiring against the country. The Sedition Act outlawed speaking out against the President or his party. It was criticized for bring unconstitutional. -
At the end of President Adam's term, he filled the federal courts with as many loyal federalists as he could. These were called the "Midnight Judges". Jefferson did not allow Madison to deliver the documents to William Marbury. Marbury sued Madison because he believed the spot was his. The supreme court decided appointing the midnight judges was unconstitutional. This is extremely important because it created judicial review, the power for the supreme court to declare a law unconstitutional. -
Pres. Thomas Jefferson was worried that the US could lose control of the New Orleans Port and access to the Mississippi River when their treaty expired. For a more permanent solution, Jefferson sent James Monroe to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans for $3mil. Napolean, the French ruler, was not interested in selling only New Orleans. He offered the Louisianna Territory for $15mil. Jefferson did not believe he had the power to buy it, but he bought it in the best interest of the country. -
America had a good trading relationship with both Great Britain and France in 1807. So, when the two went to war, America attempted to stay neutral by banning all trade with either of them. This completely crashed the economy. This ban was extremely unpopular among the people, especially the business community. However, this did encourage America to grow domestic manufacturing to meet the demand of products in America. Because of the Embargo of 1807, America eventually took many steps forward. -
During the War of 1812, the British Army invaded the White House after American forces attacked the city of York in Ontario, Canada, in June 1813. President Maddison and his wife Dolly had already evacuated. Dolly is known as a hero for saving many artifacts during her evacuation. British soldiers ate the dinner set out for the two, and it was reportedly still warm. Afterwards, they ransaked the White House and set fire to it. The White House was very symbolical to Americans and it was burned. -
26 New England Federalists met to discuss the economy and the ongoing War of 1812. The war had been bad for the economy, which was already struggling due to the Embargo of 1807. They had previously violated the embargo laws and helped British ships find the port. They also attempted to Bargain with Great Britain, offering them a piece of land to end the war. New England discussed leaving America to become a new country, but rather than declaring independence, they shared a list of grievances. -
After an American victory on Lake Chaplain, the Treaty of Ghent was signed in 1814 by American and British representatives in Ghent, Belgium. This officially ended the War of 1812, however, the fighting did not stop until the news reached America. The terms of the treaty returned all conquered land, but it did not resolve the two key issues the war started for. It also proved America, a young nation, was strong enough to withstand a war. -
Andrew Jackson, a future US president, is labeled a war hero after the Battle of New Orleans. He gathered a very odd group made of farmers, dock workers, and even pirates. The Americans destroyed the British. There were 2,042 British deaths and only 71 American deaths. This battle took place after the Treaty of Ghent was signed. However, the news had not reached America so many people credited the war ending to the American win. -
The Missouri Compromise was made when Missouri wanted to join the Union as a slave state. If Missouri became a slave state, it would upset the balance of slave and non-slave states admitted to the union. So, H. Clay proposed that two states join the Union at the same time, one as pro-slavery and one as anti-slavery. The second half of the compromise outlawed slavery on the northern half of the Louisiana Purchase lands. The Missouri Compromise remained until the Kansas-Nebraska Act replaced it. -
Andrew Jackson, a war hero, received the most electoral votes and the popular vote in 1824. However, he only received 43.1% of the popular vote, which is not the majority a candidate needs. In this situation, the House of Representatives gets to choose. Henry Clay, the speaker of the House and a candidate drops out. Clay and John Q. Adams, a candidate, have a closed meeting. Clay then supports Adams and he was elected. Clay became Secretary of State. Jackson dubbed this, "the corrupt bargain. -
The Tariff of 1828 was put in place to support domestic industry growth. Rather than banning imported goods in general and plummeting the economy like the embargo of 1807, it raised the prices of imported goods. Americans called the tariff, "The Tariff of Abomonations". The southern states especially struggled with this tariff because it did not benefit them. South Carolina representatives met to discuss their next steps, and succession was suggested. That shows how upset the south was. -
After a seemingly "corrupt" election four years prior, Andrew Jackson and John Q. Adams return as presidential candidates. This election saw the first modern political campaign with more citizen participation. Jackson wins by a landslide. This starts the reign of "King Mob". Jackson creates the spoils system. He rewarded his supporters with government jobs that payed well. The spoils system becomes precedent, and many future presidents follow in Jackson's footsteps. -
The compromise of 1850 was an attempt to avoid civil war over the growing issue of slavery. Henry Clay proposed a comprise that consisted of solutions favored by both the democrats and the whigs. The compromise ended the slave trade in DC, added California to the Union as a “free state”, established territories that would decide if they were a slave state using popular sovereignty, defined boundaries for the state of Texas, and the Fugitive Slave Act, which made it illegal to assist fugitives. -
The Democrats and the Whigs were the two largest parties in the early-mid 19th century. Neither party was strictly pro-slavery or abolitionist. The fall of the Whigs can be credited to the difference of opinion on slavery within the party. The fallen Whig party was the foundation of today's Republican party. Abraham Lincoln was a rising star and was placed on the election ballot as a Republican. He got elected as president and South Carolina succeeded the nation, sparking the civil war. -
Dred Scott was a slave owned by a man in the military in the south. After his owner was stationed in a free state, he sued for his freedom as he believed he should not be enslaved in a free state. He first won his freedom, however, the case was appealed. Chief Justice Taney made the decision that because Dred Scott was not a citizen, he did not have the right to sue for his freedom. This meant that there were no truly free states. This added to the growing divide that caused the civil war. -
After the south failed to meet northern expectations during reconstruction, they were stripped of political power and divided into military districts at the hands of the Union army. This let Southern states rejoin the Union if they ratified the 14th Amendment, which stated that all men born or naturalized in the US were citizens. They also had to make a state constitution that guaranteed citizens the right to vote. This was much more effective than Johnson's plan and the amendment was ratified. -
After Lincoln's election in 1860, South Carolina decided it was no longer in its best interest to be a part of the Union. South Carolina was the first state to leave. Within just months of their succession, the other southern states followed in its footsteps. They created the Confederacy and engaged in battle with the Union. The succession of South Carolina began a wave that separated the United States of America. -
Fort Sumter was a fortification located in the Charlestown harbor in South Carolina. It was occupied by the Union. Lincoln created plans to send supplies to the fort and the Confederacy caught wind of this. Confederate General Beauregard bombarded the fort and the next 34 hours were combat. This is the first battle of the civil war. It was won by the south, which was a shock. It showed that victory against the south would not be easy. The next few battles after this were also southern victories. -
While the Civil War was raging on in the East, western expansion was taking off. There was overpopulation, high disease rates, and unemployment in the densely populated of urban north. The Homestead Act guaranteed 160 acres to anyone migrating west. To keep the land you had to farm it for five years, live on it, and improve the land. This was good for the country as it promoted westward expansion and gave many opportunities to Americans in need. -
During the Civil War, Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act. This permits the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Because America was paying for a war, they only had 15% of the cost. However, they did have land. They paid the railroad companies in land. They also only got the land if they finished on time. They set two companies against each other and they finished in 1871. The railroad opened many industrial opportunities to Americans and promoted westward and economic growth. -
This battle is known as the deadliest day in America. Union General McClellan caught wind of Conf. General Lee's plan to invade Maryland. When Lee realized his plans were found, he ordered his army to regroup at Antietam's creek. Union troops found them there at dusk. This battle caused 23,000 casualties. It was also a pivotal battle because it kept the south from invading the north. It led to the denouement of McClellan because Lincoln was not pleased with the way he let the south go. -
The Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1st, 1863. This banned slavery in the south. However, the south was the Confederacy, so they didn't follow these rules. This was more of a symbolic move, New Orleans and Tennesse were excluded because the Union had already reclaimed this land. It showed the south that if they returned to the Union, they could keep their slaves. The south felt that they were fighting for their freedom rather than to keep slavery, so they kept fighting. -
Black soldiers were not allowed to fight until Jan. 1st, 1863. The famous 54 regiment was assembled by Cornel Shaw. It was made up of black men. Cornel Shaw fought to get these men the same opportunities as other Union soldiers. Cornel Shaw refused to pay them less than other soldiers. These men were able to free slaves from southern plantations and they were so successful and famous that a 55th regiment was created. -
Sherman's march to the sea began after they took over Atlanta. Sherman used psychological tactics to make the south believe they couldn't win the war. The troops set out towards Savannah. They destroyed much of Georgia in their tracks. They destroyed tunnels, railroads, telegraph wires, and food supplies. They took over Savannah and Sherman sent the 25,000 bales of cotton he found there to Lincoln for Christmas. This hurt southern morale and helped bring the end of the war much closer. -
This amendment came right after the civil war. It banned slavery in the United States. President Lincoln did not live to see the 13th amendment become ratified. The 13th amendment was successful in theory, however, the south found ways to restrict and control freed blacks. The 14th amendment and the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 followed to stop southern defiance and amend the flaws of the 13th amendment. -
There were Confederate supplies in Appomattox and Lee needed to get there. Grant laid seize on Richmond and Lee's army evacuated. The Union Soldiers defeated Lee's army in Petersburg, and again at Five Forks. Grant split his army in half. Half of them followed Lee to Sayler's creek, where they defeated the Confederates, and the other half went to Appomattox. When Lee's army arrived at Appomattox, tired, hungry, and with no morale, Lee surrendered. This ended the civil war. -
Russia offered to sell Alaska very early on in American history. The sale was interrupted by the inevitable Civil War. After the war, Secretary of State William Seward was quick to purchase Alaska. The U.S. paid 7.2mil. Many Americans thought this was a stupid purchase, and gave AK the nickname "Sewards Folley". The nickname dissolved after gold was found in the Yukon. AK became a state in 1959 -
Even after slavery was outlawed in the United States, the south was passing "black codes". These were very restrictive. It made it hard for freed blacks to get a job, purchase land, and get legal rights. To stop this, the 14th amendment was ratified. It states that every man born or naturalized in the US is a citizen with full rights and freedoms. It threatened to take away southern representation in congress if they revoked a citizen's right to vote. This helped reconstruction tremendously. -
Lincoln proposed, the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction after the civil war had ended. It only let a state rejoin the Union if 10% of its voters voted to do so. Many disagreed. They felt like this was not hard enough on the south. Lincoln was assassinated shortly after. Lincoln's Vice President Johnson was left to reconstruct. Johnson's plan was very similar to Lincoln's. However, it did not allow the plantation class to vote. Within only 8 months, all southern states had rejoined. -
After the death of President Garfield, the Pendleton Act was passed, creating a merit system for hiring government employees. Employees now take a competitive exam before getting hired. The Civil Service Commission was created to enforce this act. This ends the spoils system, a corrupt government precedent set by Andrew Jackson, where friends and supporters of the president are awarded with federal jobs. -
This act attempted to settle Native American disputes in the west. It gave free land to Native Americans if they farmed the land. This would westernize the Native Americans, which Americans thought was good. The Native Americans did not accept this, and their land was sold to white settlers. This began an era of killing native cultures and practices. -
The Teller Amendment was crucial in gaining the trust of Cuba. It states, " [The US] hereby disclaims any disposition of intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said island." This meant that the US would not be able to claim Cuba after helping them gain independence from Spain. The Cuban and American alliance was crucial during the Spanish-American war. This led to the downfall of Spain as a world power. -
The Populist Party grew in popularity after Americans suffered from high debt, falling farm prices, and high unemployment rates. They were seen as a very radical party. They were against industry and big business. They chose William Jennings Bryant as their presidential candadate. William McKinnley beats Bryant in the 1896 election, and the Populist Party falls overnight. Former populist members joined other parties. -
A man named Homer Plessy was not allowed to sit in a first-class train car, despite paying for the ticket. Plessy argued that his constitutional rights were not upheld. The case was presented in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that segregation is constitutional, as long as things were "separate but equal". This decision allowed racism and segregation to flourish in the U.S.. -
The De Lome Letter was written by the US-Spanish ambassador to the Foreign Minister of Spain. It revealed de Lome's opinion on the Cuban revolts taking place. It also made offensive remarks about President McKinley. Cubans intercepted the letter and published it in February. Americans were ready to go to war with Spain after reading the unflattering letter. -
To support the Cubans in their revolt against Spain, and protect the Americans living in Cuba, the US launched the U.S.S Maine, an American battleship. Tensions were extremely high between the Americans and the Spanish. The U.S.S. Maine exploded, killing over 200 men. Yellow journalism caused this to spread like a disease, blaming the explosion on the Spanish. America soon declared war on Spain, and the short war began. -
Theodore Roosevelt took a de-rank so he was able to fight in Cuba. He assembled a cavalry called "The Rough Riders". Roosevelt reveals that he himself led his cavalry up Kettle Hill. He stormed the hill, before realizing his men did not follow. Roosevelt later recalled the day as "the best day of my life" and said he killed a Spaniard with a revolver made with repurposed steel from the Maine. Kettle Hill was a significant battle during the Spanish-American war. It led to the Treaty of Paris. -
President McKinley was elected in 1896. After a successful first term, McKinley hopes to secure a second term. Theodore D. Roosevelt was extremely popular with the people, but the Republican party found him to be an uncontrollable wild card. They decided to make TR vice president (a seemingly useless position), in hopes of using his popularity. McKinley was reelected but assassinated by an anarchist in 1901. As a result, TR becomes president. -
Miners wanted better pay, better hours, and shorter work weeks. The railroad company that owned the mines refused to listen to them, leading the workers to go on strike. The price of coal doubled as production stopped. Roosevelt worried that Americans would struggle with a coal shortage that winter. Roosevelt threatened to send federal troops to mine the mines if they did not comply with the workers. The railroad company complied. This changes the relationship of government and business. -
This act sought to break up bad trusts. It was meant to end monopolies. It allowed the government to break any trust they saw fit. It was not used to its full potential until Teddy Roosevelt's presidency. Roosevelt allowed any "good" trusts to remain. The first major example of trust-busting was when TR dismantled the Northern Securities coorperation, a monopoly on Northern railroad tracks. The Supreme court ruled in March that it was indeed in violation of the Sherman Anti-trust act. -
Teddy Roosevelt decided to follow precedent and only serve two terms as president. TR chose Taft to be his predecessor. Taft won in a landslide. During Taft's presidency, Taft broke more trusts than TR, established more national parks, and created the Children's Bureau, which aimed to greatly improve the lives of American children. TR felt Taft failed to adopt his policies. Taft's presidency led to the creation of the short-lived Bull Moose Party and, ultimately, the election of Woodrow Wilson. -
Henry Ford wanted to make the average car much more affordable and easier to operate. With new methods of mass production and a more simple design, the Model T was able to be manufactured. A new Model T car cost $850, which was much more affordable than previous cars. Ford's factory workers were paid a fair wage and got good hours. This inspired other companies to do the same because it worked in Ford's favor. The access to cars allowed Americans to move out of the city and live in the suburbs. -
Teddy Roosevelt was Angry that President Taft did not adopt or extend his policies. He challenged Taft for the Republican nomination, trying to get elected for his third term. The Republican party decided to stick with the current president, Taft. Roosevelt, outraged, created the Bull Moose Party and ran for president. Roosevelt split the Republican party as a result, and Woodrow Wilson was elected President. -
For the first three years of WWI, the US remained neutral. In fact, President Wilson used the slogan, "He kept us out of war" to get reelected. This changed when Germany broke the Sussex agreement about restricted warfare. The US severed diplomatic ties with Germany. Shortly after, the British presented the Zimmerman telegraph, a message detailing the Germans' plans to have unrestricted submarine warfare, despite the US' attempt to remain neutral. This led to the growing dislike of the Germans. -
Wilson's 14 points were meant to be the guidelines for rebuilding the world post-war. It discussed how the nation should handle foreign policy going forward. It called for freedom of the seas. It dove into the concept of self-determinism. It also created the League of Nations, a group dedicated to keeping peace among the nations. The US failed to join the League of Nations. This unsuccessful attempt at keeping the peace is apparent after conflicts continue during WW2. -
In the Spring of 1918, the three-day fever struck Americans. This mild sickness claimed few lives. When the disease struck again that fall, it was far more deadly. The Spanish flu was caught by over 25% of the US population. It was a very serious illness. Some patients died within just a few hours of displaying symptoms. It decreased the life span in the US by 12 years. This is often overlooked in history teachings. -
The Treaty of Versailles formally ended WWI. Fighting ceased around 6 months before this. Germany was not allowed to participate in peace treaty negotiations. The treaty places the blame for the war on Germany. It also limits the number of weapons Germany can have. The League of Nations was created, but not utilized. The failures of the peace treaty led to WW2. -
The 18th Amendment banned the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes”. The prohibition movement began in the early 19th century. It thrived in churches and women's groups. It became popular after many people grew tired of alcohol's effects on people. The Volstead Act was passed to enforce the 18th Amendment. After the nation became dry, crime flourished as people were illegally selling and obtaining alcohol. The 18th Amendment was repealed in 1933. -
The Sedition Act allowed the government to deport anyone that works against the government in any way. This caused the deportation of many radical individuals, who were shipped off in a "Soviet ark". Palmer raids were planned mass deportations. They arrested thousands of suspected anarchists. These raids were messy, the planning was often not very strong and many extra arrests were made. The Palmer raids were met with much criticism. It taught the US a lesson about constitutional rights. -
WW1 allowed Congress to pass a restrictive immigration act due to uneasiness surrounding immigration. In 1924, Congress passed the Johnson-Reed Act. This only allowed immigration visas to 2% of the US population. Congress also chose to use the 1890 Consensus, which was inaccurate and the population was not high enough. This creates a loophole that allowed Congress to give out even fewer immigration visas. Immigration from Asia was outlawed completely. -
A TN state law stated that it was illegal to “teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.” A young teacher, John Thomas Scopes, decided to purposefully break this law and teach evolution. So many people gathered to watch the case that it had to be moved outside. Scopes lost on a technicality and was fined $100. The trial embarrassed the opposing side, even though they won. -
In April 1920, $15,000 was stolen from a shoe factory and two men were killed. Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were charged with the crime. Both men were arrested on a trolley car, both armed. Sacco had a flyer that revealed Vanzetti would be speaking at an anarchist rally. Vanzetti and Sacco were Italian immigrants and America at this time was feeling uneasy about immigrants. Both men were executed on August 23, 1927. -
As a bonus, WW1 veterans were promised money in 1945. Because of the hardship caused by the Great Depression, many veterans wanted the bonus early. Thousands of Veterans marched to the capital to demand their money. The Senate refused to give it to them. A percentage of them went home, but a large group stayed because they had nothing to return to. They build a Hooverville next to the White House. The military was sent in to disperse them, and they were evicted by tear gas and fire. -
President Herbert Hoover was blamed by many Americans for the longevity of the Great Depression. Hoover did not want to spend his way out of an economic crisis. This made him wildly unpopular. Many things were nicknamed after him, such as Hoovervilles, where squatters lived in huts on city-owned land. In 1932, FDR won the presidential election by a landslide because of his promise to take action over the Great Depression. FDR created many programs to assist the American people. -
After the post-WW1 economic expansion of the 1920s, an economic depression hit the US. The abuse of credit and the crash of the American stock market. In 1930, many banks were forced to close their doors, and many families lost all of their savings in the process. By March of 1933, unemployment hit 25%. People could not get a job. President Hoover was widely blamed. FDR is sometimes given credit for pulling the US out of the Great Depression, but it was really WW2 that did so. -
The New Deal was Roosevelt's plan for getting America out of the Great Depression. In Roosevelt's first 100 days in office, 77 laws and 15 major major bills were passed. One of them created the CCC, the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC employed 3 million men. Some of the other organizations created were the TVA, NIRA, WPA, CWA, and SSA. Roosevelt's first 100 days set a precedent for future presidents. Now, they are judged by how much they can accomplish in their first 100 days in office. -
The Homestead Act helped many Americans build farms in the West. But over time, overfarming and drought brought intense dust storms. These storms would last many hours, or sometimes days. It buried farms, homes, and animals. The dust bowl caused the Great Depression to hit western farm families even harder. Many people had to flee to California to escape the dust. Regular rainfall did not occur in these areas until late 1930. -
The Social Security Act was signed into law in 1935. This states that citizens over 65 are eligible for a continuous income after they retire. The salary is not as high as it would be if they were to continue working, but it made retiring easier. Encouraging older people to retire left their jobs for younger people. This was done to help combat the economic crisis in the 30s. This Act is still in use today. -
On the morning of December 7th, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, a US military base. Fighter jets dropped torpedos on military ships. 2,400 Americans were killed, and another 1,000 were injured. News of Pearl Harbor shocked the Nation. The very next day, FDR asked Congress to declare war on Japan. Germany soon declared war on the US. This is how the US entered WW2. -
Executive Order 9066 allowed FDR to remove any person who "threatened" the US. They were placed into internment camps. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, many were worried that Japanese Americans were loyal to Japan. It stripped 120,000 people of their civil rights. Many years later, the government issued an apology and compensation money. -
In order to relieve some pressure on the soviets, a second front needed to be opened. D-day took many months to plan. The troops needed someway to be transported to the beaches. Modified swamp boats were designed just for D-Day. It was the largest amphibious attack ever. 160,000 allied troops attacked, coming from the water. The victory helped bring an end to WW2. It liberated western Europe. -
Instead of giving cash bonuses to world war veterans, the Us signed a bill that granted every American veteran free college tuition, unemployment insurance, and low-interest rates. By doing this, it encouraged a lot of veterans to go to college, making it far more common to continue your education. It also encouraged starting a business. The G.I. Bill of Rights compensates and shows gratitude toward American soldiers. It is still in effect today. -
Japan did not seem like they were planning on surrendering anytime soon. To reduce the amount of allied casualties, and to speed up the Japanese surrender, the US dropped two atomic bombs in Japan, one in Hiroshima, and the other in Nagasaki. The bombs killed around 200,000 people. The bombing caused Japan to surrender. To date, this is still the only time an atomic bomb has been dropped during armed combat. -
The Red Scare was a frightening time in US history. People feared the spread of communism. The USSR was threatening many smaller surrounding countries. The Truman Doctrine promises that the US will come to aid any country under the threat of communist rule. It also asked Congress for $400 million to help Turkey and Greece fight communism. It is also why the US joined the Korean and Vietnamese Wars. -
The Marshall Plan, also known as the Economic Relief Act of 1948, aimed to help European countries rebuild after the war. Many countries struggled because their cities had been bombed so many times. The US offered assistance to any country that asked. It cost a little over 13 billion dollars. America was a symbol of capitalism, very important in a time like the red scare. The US was strong, and this proves it. -
Oliver Brown filed a lawsuit against the Topeka Board of Education after his daughter was denied entrance to an all-white elementary school. Previous rulings claimed that segregation was legal, as long as things were "separate but equal". Black schools were not equal. They had outdated books, terrible funding, and run-down schools. The Supreme Court decided that segregating children in public schools is illegal. This led to the Little Rock 9 desegregating their school in AR. -
After Brown v. Board made segregation in schools illegal, a group of 9 students in Little Rock, Arkansas, attempted to desegregate the high school closest to them. An angry mob attempted to prevent the students from entering. This happened multiple times. President Eisenhower, while not particularlly pro-civil rights, sent troops from the US army to escort the 9 children to school everyday. After that, it regular attendance for the Little Rock 9. -
On December 1st, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white person on the bus. This was strategic, Rosa knew she was going to be arrested. Just four days later, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began. African Americans in Montgomery refused to ride the bus. They walked everywhere for 381 days. African Americans made up 75% of the bus company's customers, so they suffered without them. As a result, the busses were desegregated and MLK became a popular civil rights leader. -
In 1962, spy jets noticed ICBM sites in Cuba. These could launch a nuclear bomb that would absolutely devastate the US. Soon, Russian ships were spotted carrying a nuclear weapon, most likely meant to be used from the suspicious Cuban launch sites. The US Navy created a blockade, not allowing the Russian ship, the Grozny, to pass through. After a month-long standoff, the Grozny turned around and went home. This is the closest the US has come to being attacked with a nuclear weapon. -
On November 22nd, 1963, JFK was in Texas, trying to win supporters for his not-yet-announced re-election campaign. JFK, his wife Jackie, the governor of TX, and the governor's wife were riding in a car together when JFK was shot in the neck. The governor was shot in the back. The car sped to the nearest hospital, but it was too late for JFK. The governor recovered. Police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald, but he was killed before he could be questioned. LBJ was sworn in as president shortly after. -
After JFK's assassination in 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson took office. In his first State of Union address, he declares war on poverty. Around 19% of the population lived in poverty at the time. This was the first step in LBJ's Great Society. It took care of many things. It created Medicaid, funded schools, and had welfare benefits. Even though it didn't get rid of poverty, it greatly decreased it. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against anyone for their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This meant that restaurants, stores, and any public facility (including schools) could no longer be segregated. It also protects the voting rights of all US citizens. If this was not met, that state would lose representation in Congress. It also created equal employment opportunities. This was a large leap forward in the civil rights movement. -
Two US Navy destroyers were destroyed in Vietnam. As a reaction, LBJ asked Congress to allow him to declare war at any given time, without their approval. This breeches the checks and balances system. LBJ should not have asked for this, and Congress should not have granted him this power. Shortly after this, US troops were sent to Vietnam. So, the Gulf of Tonkin incident led to the US involvement in the Vietnam War. -
After lots of tension with the USSR and the space race, the US put a man on the moon in 1969. President Kennedy set the goal that there would be a man on the moon before the decade was out. There are lots of questions surrounding if the US won the space race. The USSR put Sputnik into orbit many years prior, and they see that as a win. However, the US flag was placed on the moon before any other. -
Several burglars were caught wiretapping phones and stealing documents. They were soon linked to Nixon's re-election campaign. Nixon was re-elected before all of the major controversies. He gave a speech saying his staff was not involved, and Americans believed him. After he was exposed, he resigned as President. This changed how Americans viewed the President. They were much less trusting of their executive leader in the future. -
In October of 1973, President Nixon asked Congress for 2.2mil to aid Israel during the Yom Kippur War. The following day, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, placed an oil embargo on the United States. Gas prices shot up. It worsened in 1979, during the Iranian Revolution. The energy crisis caused massive hysteria, high prices, and inflation that affected America through the 70's. -
Jimmy Carter was virtually unknown until he ran for president. In fact, he made an appearance on a game show where contestants had to guess his occupation. This ended up being an advantage for Carter. Following the Watergate scandal, Americans wanted someone untainted by the government. Many people saw Carter as a normal citizen. Carter surprisingly beat his Republican counterpart, Ronald Reagan. Carter's presidency was rocky, but he was a genuine man. -
During Ronald Reagan's Presidency, the observation was made that the USSR matched the US's military budget. So, Reagan poured so much money into the military that the USSR began to have shortages. People living in the USSR became aware of the fact that communism was not benefitting them. The Velvet Rebellion and Reagan's speech in Germany caused the fall of the USSR two years after Reagan's presidency ended. The fall of the USSR ended the cold war. -
On September 11th, 2001, a group of Islamist extremists carried out a devastating terrorist attack. Members of the group boarded different planes that they would later hijack. These planes had different targets. Two of them hit the World Trade Center, destroying both buildings and killing almost 3,000. Another plane hit the Pentagon. The last plane was taken over by the passengers, resulting in the plane crashing in a field in PA. 9/11 led to strict airport rules. It also unified the country.