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1492
1) Columbus Arrives In the Americas
Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, sailing for Spain’s Ferdinand and Isabella, accidentally discovered the New World. Columbus was authorized to find a western route to Asia and carry Christianity to its people. Landing in the present-day Bahamas, he at first believed he had reached the Indies. Now a celebrated hero because of his discoveries, he would make three more journeys across the Atlantic, beginning centuries of transatlantic colonization, and the Colombian Exchange. -
1492
2) Beginning of Colombian Exchange
The voyage of Columbus to America sparked the Colombian Exchange, the massive interchange of people, animals, plants, and diseases that took place between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The causes included the 3 G's (God, Gold, and Glory), technological advances, and land. The effects were animals and plants transferred across the Atlantic, millions of Native American deaths (the Great Dying), and population and cultures moving across the Atlantic. -
1497
3) John Cabot's Explorations
John Cabot was an Italian explorer and navigator who may have developed the idea of sailing westward to reach the riches of Asia. He was commissioned by King Henry VII to make an expedition across the northern Atlantic. In addition to laying the groundwork for British land claims in Canada, his expeditions proved the existence of a shorter route across the northern Atlantic Ocean, which would later facilitate the establishment of other British colonies in North America. -
1500
4) Emergence of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
The transatlantic slave trade was a segment of the global slave trade that transported between 10 million and 12 million enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas between the 16th and 19th centuries. The slave trade created an extremely cheap yet extensive labor force, which allowed the growing of certain cash crops, like tobacco and sugar, in large quantities to be exported. The devastating effects in Africa included increased warfare and slowed development. -
1512
5) Encomienda System Established
The Encomienda System was instituted by the Spanish crown to divide up the American Indian labor force in order to aid the development of their mining economy in the American colonies. Spanish encomenderos were granted a number of native laborers who would pay tributes to him in exchange for his protection. Even though the system was intended to be peaceful, it quickly devolved into essentially a system of slavery. Native Americans were treated extremely cruelly and forced into hard labor. -
6) Jamestown, VA Founded
The Jamestown Colony was the first permanent English Settlement, and it was financed by the Jamestown company, based on mercantilism. The settlers who moved were looking for financial opportunities but faced massive struggles (starving time) in which only 20% percent of their people remained. N.A. saw the struggle and helped teach settlers how to farm the land. Things looked up in 1625 after the defeat of the Powhatan Indians and the massive demand for tobacco exports to Europe. -
7) Mayflower Compact Signed
The Mayflower Compact was a set of rules for self-governance established by the English settlers who traveled to the New World. Seeking religious freedom, the Pilgrims signed a contract with the Virginia Company to settle on land near the Hudson River, however, they landed somewhere else, causing people to start a mutiny. To crush it, the compact was drafted. It was an early, successful attempt at democracy and played a role in future colonists seeking independence and shaping the nation. -
8) Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon’s Rebellion was a brief yet impactful uprising of western farmers against the government of Virginia culminating in the burning of Jamestown on September 19, 1676. Nathaniel Bacon led this revolt against the government of Governor William Berkeley because of a lack of retaliatory action against Indian attacks, declining tobacco prices coupled with taxation policies that favored the wealthy, and accusations of government corruption. It is significant as the first popular uprising in the US. -
9) Molasses Act
The Molasses Act was one of the first mercantilist taxes imposed on the American colonies. It was used as a trade barrier, taxing products like molasses, sugar, rum, etc. if they came from a non-British source. The purpose of the Molasses Act was to protect British West Indies exports to the American colonies from the more fertile French and Spanish islands of Martinique and Santo Domingo. Overall, it laid the foundation for the series of taxes leading up to the Revolution. -
10) Albany Congress
During the Seven Years' War, representatives from seven colonies sent delegates to a conference to work out defense measures and try and secure the loyalty of the Iroquois Confederacy. Benjamin Franklin brought the Albany Plan, which proposed unifying the colonies and forming a common defense. The delegates that opposed it won, but it was the first time someone had said the colonies were stronger together than apart. More correspondence followed after the congress, sowing the seeds of unity. -
11) Treaty of Paris (1763)
The Treaty of Paris marked the official end of the Seven Years' War, or the French and Indian War. The war was driven by the commercial and imperial rivalry between Britain and France, and antagonism between Prussia and Austria, but much of the fighting was on the American continent. Britain was the victor, and France was forced to give up their land west of the Appalachians to the Mississippi as well as some islands and was kicked out. The burden of the heavy debt soon falls on the colonists. -
12) Proclamation of 1763
After the French and Indian War, France was kicked out of the continent and Britain gained lots of land. To avoid upsetting the Indians that lived in the Ohio Valley or other tribes west of the Appalachians, The British crown made the proclamation that it was illegal for colonists to live west of the mountains. This was another one of the first events that greatly angered the American colonists, who felt they had rights to the land that they fought for. Some frontiersmen went despite the law. -
13) Passage of the Sugar Act
The debt after the Seven Years' War meant the end of Salutary Neglect. The crown had to generate revenue and keep a greater eye on the colonists, who knew the taste of freedom. The Sugar Act was the first act after the war, and it was a revision of the Molasses Act by Greenville. It reduced the tax, hoping to reduce the high rate of smuggling and actually generate some revenue. The colonists continued to smuggle out of spite, justifying themselves by refusing to pay for their own oppression. -
15) Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was the first internal tax levied directly on the American Colonists by the British Crown. It was one of the harsher taxes, taxing ALL paper documents, and ultimately disproportionally affecting the wealthy and the middle class. They wielded some influence on the poor as well, and massive protests by colonists who argued that only their own representative assemblies could tax them. The tax was soon repealed, but lead to the Declaratory Act. -
14) Quartering Act
Maybe the most hated, the Quartering Act forced American colonists to house and feed British forces who were serving in North America. It represented a financial hardship, and even more so, a loss of privacy and right to opinions. The crown wanted to increase monitoring of the colonists but did not want to spend money on barracks, so this act was the result, allowing the British soldiers to build intelligence. This act would later influence the 1st, 3rd, and 4th amendments of the Constitution. -
16) Boston Massacre
Tensions ran high in 1770 in Boston, with the many acts having been passed. The Boston Massacre was a culmination of that anger when a crowd started to gather, insult and jeer 6 soldiers. There was a standstill that involved the emboldened crowd throwing snowballs with rocks, and when a soldier was hit, the soldiers opened gunfire. Overall, there were 5 dead colonists, but Paul Revere's dramatized carving of the event was used as a propaganda piece, spurring more Anti-British sentiment. -
17) Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a fierce protest by the colonists against the tax on tea, introduced through the Townshend Acts. It was carried out by a radical group called the Sons of Liberty, led by Samuel Adams. The group painted their faces and overthrew over $1,000,000 (present-day) worth of tea into the Boston Harbor. This event was the 'last straw in the camel's back' for the British, who responded brutally, sparking the Revolution. -
18) First Continental Congress
As punishment for the Boston Tea Party, the British passed the Coercive or Intolerable Acts. They closed the Boston port, outlawed colonial assemblies, enforced the Quartering Act (sent more soldiers), and took officials to trial in Britain. In response, 12 out of the 13 colonies sent delegates to the First Continental Congress, where they discussed reconciliation with the crown vs. declaring independence. They all agreed to send the Olive Branch Petition, which the King was offended by. -
19) Battles at Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the official start of the Revolutionary War. Patriots had a stache of weapons in Concord, which the British tried to capture (and also capture Sam Adams and Hancock who were staying closeby), but intelligence allowed the patriots to pass the message and alert militiamen. The 'shot heard around the world' happened at the standoff between 700 British soldiers and militiamen. The weapons had been moved, and on the way back the British troops were harassed. -
20) Second Continental Congress
The 2nd Continental Congress convened (this time, with delegates from all 13 states) to discuss the Revolution, which had officially started with the battles of Lexington and Concord. The Olive Branch Petition had failed, and the 2nd Continental Congress cut ties with the British government. They became the government of the colonies during the war and formed the basis of our government today. Soon enough, Thomas Jefferson was placed in charge of writing the Declaration of Independence. -
21) Declaration of Independence
At this point, the 2nd Continental Congress had agreed on the Declaration of Independence, started establishing a Continental Army, and began printing currency. The Declaration was the last resort after the Olive Branch Petition had failed. Although imperfect in its application, the thought that all men were equal and that government existed to serve its people was revolutionary in a world dominated by monarchy and aristocracy. The document has definitely changed the nature of government. -
22) Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the war. The British planned a 3-pronged attack, which failed despite some British victories with the tactical guerilla warfare of the Americans. Burgoyne was quickly forced to surrender. Overall, the effects of the victory included leveling the playing field, boosting American morale, providing food, weapons, and supplies, and serving evidence that the colonists COULD win. Ben Franklin used this to secure incredibly important French support. -
23) Treaty of Paris
After the battle of Yorktown, the Treaty of Paris in 1783 officially ended the Revolutionary War. The newly created United States of America is granted all British lands between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River. It would be a while until America found its footing in the process of navigating as a new nation. -
32) Marbury v Madison
During the last hours of his presidency, Adams and the federalists attempted to hold on to the judicial branch by filling federal courts with federalists. A letter to one of the judges, Marbury, was discovered by Madison, who took it to Jefferson. Marbury felt that he had the right to the position, while Jefferson and Madison believed it was unconstitutional. The Supreme court sided with Madison in the case and introduced the idea of Judicial Review, a key idea in our judicial branch. -
24) Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was a violent uprising in Massachusetts led by Daniel Shays. He was an American soldier during the Revolutionary war, he was not paid for his service, and his farm went into foreclosure. Many other farmers were facing the same hardships, so they launched this rebellion, burning down courthouses. The lack of taxation power and a standing army left the government powerless to do anything about it. The rebellion thereby proved the weakness of the Articles of Confederation. -
25) Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance established a government for the Northwest Territory, outlined the process for admitting a new state to the Union, and guaranteed that newly created states would be equal to the original thirteen states. Considered one of the most important legislative acts of the Confederation Congress, the Northwest Ordinance also protected civil liberties and outlawed slavery in the new territories. -
26) Connecticut Compromise
There was a heated debate over the representation states were given in the Constitution. The Virginia plan wanted representation based on population, which was favored by the larger states. The New Jersey Plan called for equal representation, which was favored by smaller states. The Connecticut Compromise created a bicameral legislature, with the senate (the upper house) with equal representation, and the House of Representatives had representation based on population. It also assigned roles. -
27) Ratification of the Constitution
During the creation of the Constitution, the Federalists (who supported the ratification) and the Anti-Federalists (who opposed it), debated over the extent of federal power vs. state power. In order to find common ground, the Bill of Rights was drafted, which ensured personal rights to the citizen. The 3/5 compromise also was created, which said that slaves counted as 3/5 of a citizen in population counts. The Constitution passed by a narrow vote. -
32) Invention of the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin changed the course of the Southern states. Until this point, cotton was extremely unprofitable, because of the high labor costs. The cotton gin increased the production rate by 50 times, instantly making cotton profitable again The machine was so influential it brought slavery, which was close to its complete decline, back in full force. The South's economy slowly became dependent on cotton. -
28) Whiskey rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was an uprising against the excise tax on whiskey enacted by the federal government. The people were angry because the wealthy ended up paying only a fraction of what the poor paid. The rebellion tested the strength of the Constitution, similar to the Shay's Rebellion, but the Constitution passed the test. Washington was able to take the army and stop the rebellion successfully. -
29) Alien and Sedition Acts
These acts were the downfall of Adams' administration. Because of his unpopularity because of refusing to go to war with the French, he started taking measures to silence his Anti-Federalist opponents. The Alien act allowed the president to deport any alien considered dangerous. The Naturalization Act increased the time immigrants had to live in the US before they could become citizens. The Sedition Act made it illegal for newspapers to print any material critical of the president or congress. -
30) Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
The Alien and Sedition Acts recieved much backlash because people viewed them as unconstitutional becasue the Sedition Act especially took away freedom of speech. Kentucky and Virginia (two Anti-Federalist states) were so infuriated they decided to 'nullify' the law. This was justified by the idea that the Constitution is a pact between the states and the fed. government, and that if the fed govt. broke that pact, the states could decide to nullify the new laws. This was stopped, however. -
31) Revolution of 1800
Jefferson's win in the election of 1800 brought an end to the Federalist era. This was the first time an opposing party had overthrown the ruling party in U.S. history, and people were not sure how violent the transfer would be. Jefferson's victory and the resulting change of political ideology is known as the 'Revolution of 1800'. The peaceful transition of power (despite some last attempts by Adams) between two opposing parties was revolutionary and was viewed by the world. It set a precedent. -
33) Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was a critical yet reluctant purchase by the strict constructionist Jefferson, who was initially hoping to gain control of the Mississippi (and the port of New Orleans) because he was worried about the permanency of the Jay treaty. Napolean instead offered the Lousiana territory for 15 million dollars, which Jefferson conceded to and bought. The purchase doubled the size of the United States. The Lewis and Clark expedition was commissioned to survey the new land. -
34) Embargo Act of 1807
When the Napoleonic wars were happening, the U.S. was faced with the decision of having to choose between trading with the French or the British. Jefferson decided to opt for neutrality, as the nation was still young and fragile. He passes the embargo on all foreign trade, which greatly damages the American economy and upsets the merchants, traders, and the business economy. However, it encourages the growth of domestic manufacturing. -
35) Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was the final battle of the war of 1812. The war was fought for many reasons, but it ultimately came down to state-funded terrorism by the British and the American desire to prove their worth to the world. The battle was led by Andrew Jackson, who led the soldiers into a victory. This skyrocketed his popularity, and a sense of nationalism swept America. America commanded respect through its actions and the nation embarked on foreign trade again. -
36) Missouri Compromise
Slavery was in big practice again in the South, and tensions were mounting when Missouri applied ready to join the union as a slave state. Congress debated over whether they wanted slavery to exist west of the Mississippi. Henry Clay came up with a compromise where Missouri would enter as a slave state and Maine as a free state, to preserve the balance. States north of the 20th parallel would be free and those south of it would be slaves. The compromise held off the issue for three more decades. -
37) Corrupt Bargain (Election of 1824)
The election of 1824 was one in which although Jackson won in every sense of the word, no candidate received a majority of the electoral votes. In accordance with the 12th Amendment, the vote went to the House of Representatives. Henry Clay dropped out of the race and met with Adams privately. In the days that followed, Clay supported Adams and Adams won. Clay was appointed as the Secretary of State. Jackson supporters and Democrats were enraged, claiming it was a 'corrupt bargain'. -
38) Tariff of Abominations
The Tariff of Abominations' goal was to help the economy of the North and West by making the country more reliant on their goods. However, it hurt the Southern economy greatly and increased the cost of living. It was one of the reasons why John Quincy Adams' presidency was despised, leading to Jackson's victory in 1828. The election was unique, as Jackson broke the norm by democratizing elections, by truly "running" for president. -
39) Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was one of the major events influenced by Manifest Destiny, and it led to the Trail of Tears. Andrew Jackson wanted to get the Native Americans off their lands onto reservations in order to grow the U.S. through American settlement. The act gave the president sole power for forcefully relocating Native Tribes. A few tribes went peacefully, but some managed to retain their lands by resisting the policy. However, many died in the process. -
40) Bank War (End of Second Bank of United States)
Jackson was a man of the common people. He did not trust banks, and when Congress sent him a bill that extended the life of the Second National Bank by 15 years, he vetoed it, saying it was unconstitutional, and took advantage of the working class. He also weakened it by creating smaller "pet banks" and moving all the federal money into these. The Bank closed and caused a serious economic crisis. -
41) Gag Rule
The Gag rule was an official rule of the Senate and the House of Representatives to not discuss the issue of slavery. Slavery was such a debated issue at this time that discussions would soon turn to heated arguments and brawls. The gag rule was a classic example of Congress trying to delay and kick the issue down the road to solve later. It caused a lot of delay in dealing with slavery. -
42) Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The end of the Mexican-American War was the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The war was started because of the desire of James K. Polk to gain California and expand the United States to the Pacific border. The war was a huge success for the US, and in a short amount of time, they were able to capture Mexico City and force a Mexican surrender. The treaty gave America a lot of western territories, including California, and opened up trade with nations in Asia as well as Europe. -
43) Seneca Falls Convention
The significance of this convention was officially starting the Women's Suffrage movement. The goal of the Convention was to create an organization that would work to change the inequality that women faced at that time. The convention was a success, but it clashed with the abolition movement. Many women's rights supporters were also supporters of abolition, so the convention caused a rift between those who prioritized freeing slaves or women's suffrage. -
44) Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a set of 5 laws made in an attempt to calm the dispute between slave and free states. Texas relinquished territories to pay off debt, California entered as a free state, New Mexico and Utah and new entering territories would be governed by popular sovereignty, the slave trade was abolished in Washington, D.C., and strict fugitive slave laws were enacted. Henry Clay was the mastermind behind this compromise, which was the final attempt to put off slavery. -
45) Kansas-Nebraska Act
In order to build the Transcontinental Railroad, Congress needed to add the Nebraska territory to the U.S. The issue arose about whether it would enter as a slave or free state. Stephen Douglas, who drafted the act, decided to break the territory into Kansas and Nebraska, and allow them to make the decision with popular sovereignty. It was controversial because it nullified the Missouri Compromise (1820). This led to Bleeding Kansas and the formation of the Republican party. -
46) Dred Scott v Sandford
The Dred Scott v Sandford decision is one of the darkest decisions in history. The Supreme Court ruled that Americans of African descent, whether free or slave, were not American citizens and could not sue in federal court. The Court also ruled that Congress lacked power to ban slavery in the U.S. territories. Finally, the Court declared that the rights of slaveowners were constitutionally protected by the Fifth Amendment because slaves were categorized as property. -
47) Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the first battle of the Civil War. The fort was positioned on South Carolina's coast, which had recently seceded from the Union. It ended with a Confederate victory because the Union army's supplies were nearly exhausted and troops were greatly outnumbered. Upon the close, there was a call for more military action from both sides. Lincoln requested more volunteers to help squander the Confederacy, which actually caused four more states to secede. -
48) Battle of Bull Run
Bull Run was the first major battle of the Civil War. It was highly crucial as two inexperienced armies fought on the battlefield for the first time. The Confederate victory gave the South a surge of confidence and shocked many in the North, who realized the war would not be won as easily as they had hoped. The Union got the new general McClellan, who improved the training of the army. Overall, Bull Run was a hit of reality for the North. -
49) Pacific Railway Act (Transcontinental Railroad)
The Pacific Railway Act, which created the Transcontinental Railroad, was vastly important for the economy and westward expansion of America. Even during the Civil War, Lincoln gave this contract to two companies, who competed to finish the railroad from St.Louis, Missouri to Sacramento. The Transcontinental Railroad led to the development of towns next to the tracks, as well as goods being shipped across the country, causing population growth in the West. -
50) Emancipation Proclamation
After the battle of Antietam, it started becoming clear that the Union would win. Recognizing this crucial time, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all the slaves in the rebellious states were free and that they could serve in the Union army. This directly tied the war to slavery, and made the issue a moral one, blocking foreign countries from supporting the South. -
51) Surrender at Appomatox
The Surrender at Appomatox was the official end of the Civil War, despite some minor battles fought. Outnumbered and knowing the inevitable, Lee agrees to surrender after a bit of fighting. Although a formal peace treaty is never signed by the combatants, the submission of the Confederate armies ends the war and begins the long and arduous road toward reunification of North and South. The Surrender leads to the period of Reconstruction, a long time of putting the country back together. -
52) 15th Amendment Ratified
The Radical Republicans in Congress passed several amendments to secure the rights of Black freedmen. The 14th Amendment granted black people full citizenship, but Congress worried about how their rights would be protected with the Southern Black Codes. The 15th Amendment was passed (despite the Republicans knowing it would bring their downfall) to protect citizens' rights to vote, regardless of race. It did not mention poll taxes and literacy tests, foreshadowing Jim Crow laws. -
53) Crime of 1873
The Crime of 1873 was a coinage Act enacted by the US Congress in 1873 and it embraced the gold standard and demonetized silver. Western mining interests and others who wanted silver in circulation years later labeled this measure the "Crime of '73". Gold became the only metallic standard in the United States. This would help standardize currency across international borders, hence the relevancy to the bill. -
54) Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn occurred when General Custer marched his column of men deep into Sioux territory to stop possible uprising due to his claim to gold in the Black Hills. Custer came upon 2500 Sioux warriors at this place. The colonel and his men were killed and the Native Americans faced revenge from whites. This battle was the last time a Native army defeated the US army and fueled Anti-Native feelings in the states. -
57) Boss Tweed is Arrested
In the 19th century, the main political machine, known as Tammany Hall, was run by 'Boss' Tweed, and it controlled the politics of New York while greatly impacting immigrant lives. When Thomas Nast exposed the immense political and economic scandal of Boss Tweed, he was finally arrested for embezzlement of funds for the NYC courthouse. The arrest influenced many aspects of the modern political system in order to curb corruption, including the Australian ballot. -
56) Compromise of 1877
In the 1876 election between Hayes and Tilden, the Republicans were able to argue corruption in the Democratic party. Thus, a committee formed by Congress chose Hayes as the president. Democrats agreed that Rutherford B. Hayes would become president in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the South and the granting of home rule in the South. This officially ended the Reconstruction era and ushered in the system of Jim Crow. -
59) Invention of the Edison Lightbulb
American innovation played a major role in the 2nd Industrial Revolution. Between 1860 and 1890, the Patent Office issued over 400,000 patents. Due to the lightbulb, the electric power industry expanded rapidly, leading to the creation of machines far more efficient than steam-driven models and becoming a cornerstone of American industrialization. It also influenced working hours, and nightlife, because the cities were now powered with light. -
55) Dawes Act
Pressured by reformers who wanted to "acclimatize" Native Americans to white culture, Congress passed the Dawes Act in 1887. It outlawed tribal ownership of land and forced 160-acre homesteads into the hands of individual Indians and their families with the promise of future citizenship. The goal was to assimilate Native Americans into white culture quickly. Finally, the Dawes Act stripped tribes of their land and broke up communities, but did not succeed in assimilation. -
60) Hull House opens
The Hull House was founded by Jane Addams. It was the largest and most prominent settlement house, offering aid to the thousands of immigrants pouring in with the influx. Hull House offered English language instruction, health and nutritional education, childcare services for working mothers, and social activities to help ease the newcomers into the American lifestyle. This was just one example of the movement of social reform that was happening. -
58) Jacob Riis publishes "How the Other Half Lives"
Jacob Riis, a muckraker, published "How the Other Half Lives", which was a pioneering work of photojournalism that highlighted the horrors of tenement housing and the NYC slums. It truly opened the eyes of many people of the middle and upper class and paved the way for future muckraking journalism. Lewis Hine was also influenced by Riis's work, and he ended up publishing photographs highlighting the problems of child labor. -
61) Plessy v. Ferguson
The Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed equal rights for all U.S. Citizens. However, it was not actually carried out, due to the prevailing racist attitudes, especially in the South. Homer Plessy was a New Orleans man who was 1/8 Black. He was ordered to move from the first-class car he had booked to the "colored" car. He refused and was arrested. The case was brought to the Supreme Court, and it ruled that segregation was legal, and brought the "seperate but equal" ideology of the Jim Crow era. -
62) Sinking of the USS Maine
The USS Maine was a US battle ship stationed off the coast of CUba to stop Spain from putting down the revolution that was happening. One night, it mysteriously exploded, and due to imperialism coupled with yellow journalism, the war was declared soon after. The US overpowered Spain with advanced battleships. At war's end, Spain ceded Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guam, and the Philippines, which came into the American sphere of influence. This continued America's growth into major world power. -
63) Assassination of President McKinley
The assassination of McKinley was done by a Polish-American anarchist, and it brought about the Progressive era starting with President Teddy Roosevelt. Under McKinley, the republican party was very accepting of big business, but Teddy Roosevelt brought in an era of trust-busting and social and political change, which the Republican Party actually feared would make him uncontrollable. -
64) Roosevelt Corollary
The Roosevelt Corollary was a United States foreign policy established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. It stated that the U.S. would intervene in Latin American countries where European powers sought to collect debts or whose governments were thought to be unstable. It relates to his diplomacy tactic of "speaking softly and carrying a big stick". -
65) The Jungle is published by Upton Sinclair
The Jungle was a book written to mainly promote communism and demonstrate the terrible working conditions and the brutality of the workplace. However, its gory and disgusting descriptions of the meat-packing industry were the most famous, and they even reached the hands of TR. He personally went to check if this was the condition, and soon after passed the Pure Food and Drug Act (later the FDA) and the Meat Inspection Act. -
67) NAACP founded
The NAACP was founded by Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois with other progressive leaders such as Ida B. Wells. Unlike Booker T. Washington, the NAACP and W.E.B. believed that civil and equal rights had to be fought for. The NAACP played a monumental role throughout the first half of the century and especially later during the Civil Rights Movement. -
68) Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Despite decades of labor protests, Gilded age factories remained extremely dangerous. A fire broke out in Manhattan in the ten-story building of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory. Panicked workers, who were mainly women and children, tried to escape but were locked in. 146 of them jumped out or faced death. The tragedy spurred public outrage, and New York State created a factory commission to enforce 56 new labor safety laws in response. Workers' and women's groups also grew in size and activity. -
66) Moving assembly line debuts at Ford factory
Although the origins of mass production could be traced to earlier in the 19th century, Henry Ford's mass production technique pioneered the use of the assembly line. It cut the production time and costs in half and accomplished the goal of making the automobile affordable for the multitude. This impacted car culture, and also created many spin-off industries. Ford was also one of the first to create better woking conditions, forcing other businesses to follow suit. -
71) Zimmerman Telegram Intercepted
The Zimmerman telegram was a secret diplomatic communication issued from the German Foreign Office in January 1917 that proposed a military alliance between Germany and Mexico if the United States entered World War I against Germany. Until then, the U.S. had only treated the war as a war "over there", and only was concerned about Germany's repeated unrestricted submarine warfare (which was also the cause of the Lusitania sinking). -
69) The U.S. officially enters WW1
While WW1 officially started in 1914, President Wilson and most Americans were determined to stay out of the conflict. However, German unrestricted submarine warfare and the interception of the Zimmerman note soon increased the awareness of the war for Americans, and they realized that neutrality was no longer possible. The decision was controversial in Congress, but Wilson secured a declaration of war. The U.S. was officially in World War 1. -
70) Sedition Act passed during WW1
Throughout history, it can be seen that during times of conflict, sometimes the rights of citizens are compromised. In 1918,Congress passed the Sedition Act, which was legislation designed to protect America's participation in the Great War. The act imposed harsh penalties on anyone found guilty of making false statements that interfered with the prosecution of the war; insulting or abusing the U.S. government, the flag, the Constitution, or the military, or denouncing this or the Espionage act. -
72) Armistice signed
At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Great War ended with an armistice. By 1918, all the nations participating in the war had faced widespread destruction and devastation of both troops and civilians. All of Germany's allies had signed armistices with the Allies already, and this forced Germany to finally start considering peace negotiations. The armistice agreement with the Allies was in a railroad car outside Compiégne, France. -
74) 18th Amendment (prohibition)
After over a century of the work of the Temperance movement, led mainly by churches and women, the 18th Amendment was passed. It officially prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol in the U.S. The ban on alcohol was a massive failure because the nation kept drinking and organized crime became rampant. Prohibition created speakeasies, and gave rise to gangsters like Al Capone and Bugs Moran. The amendment was later repealed by the 21st amendment. -
73) The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was signed by all the allies of the United States, but never by the U.S. Congress itself. This treaty, at the end of WW1, blamed Germany as the war's instigator and set severe sanctions on the country. This included limiting their military, large economic reparations, and loss of their own territory. This greatly humiliated and devastated Germany, and these brutal terms would later lead to World War 2. -
75) 19th Amendment
After over 150 years of struggle, the women's suffrage movement came to a pinnacle when the 19th amendment was passed. It granted women the right to vote across the country, and this was a major change from the previous state-dictated rules. WW1 sparked a change in the way women's contributions were perceived, and their patriotism and efforts were recognized. This led to the ratification of the 19th amendment. -
76) The Charleston Premiers
The Roaring Twenties was a period of great musical and technological change. The period saw the rise of Jazz, which had its origins in the music of the slaves of the South. When the Great Migration occurred, the African American influences were carried to the Northern urban areas, and the Jazz and Blues music styles became extremely popular, and influenced nightlife. One famous song was the 'Charleston', which had a popular dance to go along with it. -
77) National origins act
The time around the turn of the century saw an influx of immigrants, and what was called the "New Immigrant" - people from South-East Europe that were poorer, non-Protestant, and often did not speak a lot of English. Americans saw this as a problem, mainly because of the competition for jobs. This Act established a quota system that limited the amount of these immigrants to 2% of that ethnicity's population already in the US per year and completely banned Asian immigrants. -
78) Scopes Monkey Trial
The Scopes Monkey Trial highlighted the generational and regional differences that were starting to become more apparent in the 1920s. People who lived in the urban cities had different lifestyles and different beliefs than the other half of the nation who lived in rural areas. With new non-Christian ideas spreading, protestant politicians tried to put a pause on this by passing a law in Tennessee that banned the teaching of evolution, which lead to a widely publicized trial. -
79) Black Tuesday/Stock Market Crash
Although the economy was flourishing in the 1920s, some cracks in the system were being ignored. The rural parts of America first felt the inklings of the Depression. The prosperity was coupled with large amounts of debt because of buying stocks on margin, massively increased consumerism, and irresponsible bank lending. A bank went broke due to lending, and soon the whole system fell apart, leading to the Stock Market Crash. This eventually led the country into the Great Depression. -
80) Bonus Army March on Washington
The Bonus Army was a protest by WW1 veterans demanding the payment that they were promised for fighting the war since they needed it during the Depression. Although the government said that they would be repaid by 1945, the soldiers demanded for it at this time. In repsonse, Herbert Hoover sent out the U.S. guard to disperse the soldiers, denying them of their money and this soon caused him to become even more hated than before. -
81) FDR is elected
Although Hoover and FDR shared similar political beliefs, FDR recognized the disappointment of the American people with Hoover's administration and took a vastly different approach, promising massive reform in his first 100 days that would target unemployment and increase spending to get the country out of the depression. His New Deal programs employed millions of Americans, and although it was actually WW2 that ended the depression, his efforts and approach were greatly appreciated. -
82) National Recovery Act of 1933
The National Recovery Act established the National Recovery Administration, which supervised fair trade codes and guaranteed laborers a right to collective bargaining. Its goals were to reduce unemployment and ultimately regulate the industry to remove inequality and monopoly and prevent another collapse. It created industry-standard prices as well, which represented one of the many ways the New Deal programs greatly expanded the role of government. -
83) Works Progress Administration created
The Works Progress Administration was created during the bleakest years of the Depression by Executive order 7034 and the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act. The goal of the WPA was to put Americans to work and reduce unemployment. Over its eight years of existence, the WPA put roughly 8.5 million Americans to work. The tasks assigned included public works projects, including fixing and building roads, bridges, and playgrounds. The WPA helped a lot of American households find some support. -
84) Social Security Act
Along with many other New Deal Programs, the Social Security Act was also created. Its goal was to create more openings in the workforce for younger people by shifting the older generation out of the jobs. Social Security is still around today, but the program has expanded massively and does not have the same efficiency or effect it used to have. It introduced the concept of formally retiring for the first time, and was successful in opening up jobs for the young working-age Americans. -
85) Court Packing scandal
The New Deal rapidly expanded the role of the federal government, and sometimes too much. The Supreme Court struck down as many as 22 different provisions of the New Deal unconstitutional. Enraged, FDR threatened to expand the Supreme Court to 15 members meaning that he would nominate 6 justices. Although his brief war on the Court failed, many justices retired, and the court never struck down another part of the New Deal again. -
88) Executive order 8802
Seeing Nazi anti-semitic discrimination and brutality made many Americans see the uncomfortable parallels between it and the racism against Black Americans at home. The war created millions of new jobs, and African Americans were not able to join. Pressured by civil rights leaders, FDR issued this executive order which specified that there would be no discrimination in the U.S. defense industry on the basis of race, color, or national origin. This was a major step in ending discrimination. -
86) Bombing of Pearl Harbor
In the early morning of December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, a U.S. naval base near Hawaii. More than 2,400 Americans died in the attack, including civilians, and another 1,000 people were wounded. The attack came in retaliation at the US's pressure on Japan to stop expanding its military force in the Pacific. The attack was the final straw, with FDR giving his Day of Infamy Speech the next morning, and the US entering WWII. -
87) Executive order 9066 Japanese Internment
During WWII, anti-Japanese sentiment was at a high. There had been previous resentment towards immigrants, but the Japanese were unique and recognizable because of their different facial features. With fear of spies, FDR passed executive order 9066 which forced Japanese citizens of the West Coast to move into internment camps for the majority of the war. This devastated many families, because they were not given enough time to sell property, and thus they had no money to return to. -
98) GI Bill (Servicemen's Readjustment Act) is passed
As WWII drew to an end, the government began planning about compensating soldiers for their service and lost time. Through the G.I. bill, the act paid for veterans' college or trade school education, gave low-interest business and mortgages, and provided them with free healthcare in veteran's hospitals. The act had a monumental impact, especially with 16 million soldiers returning. It signaled a change in the prosperity, suburbanization, and emphasis on education in the country. -
88) Marshall Plan
With the ideologies of the policy of containment, America understood that it was in the midst of poverty and strife that dictators rose and communism spread. Post-war Europe was facing these dire conditions, and the Marshall plan was designed to combat this. The plan dedicated billions of dollars in foreign aid to help Europe rebuild its factories, infrastructure, and more. Although Eastern bloc countries rejected help under Stalin's influence, the strength of capitalism was clearly demonstrated -
96) NATO is created
Following the split of Europe into the capitalist west and the communist east, both sides were worried about war being instigated. Several western countries, including the U.S. and Canada, formed a defensive alliance named NATO. Article 5 of the alliance stated that an attack on one member would be considered an attack on all. In response, Eastern European countries formed an alliance called the Warsaw pact. This was a sign of the deep divisions during the Cold War. -
89) Wheeling Speech
Cold War fears caused a second Red Scare to grip America. Fears of spies and communist infiltration led to HUAC investigating a huge amount of people, even if they just had a slight suspicion about their political beliefs. Senator Joseph McCarthy, in a notorious speech, took advantage of this fear and proclaimed that he had a list of over 200 communists working in the state department, promoting further national security concerns, and even more investigations. -
90) Brown V. Board of Education decision
Linda Brown was a student that was barred from going to a nearby white school and had to walk further to get to her school, which was significantly less developed. The NAACP decided to take the case to court, with Thurgood Marshall as the lawyer and Linda as the face of the case. The case went to the Supreme Court, which ruled unanimously to overturn Plessy v. Ferguson "seperate but equal" ideology, which started the desegregation process of schools across the country, giving hope. -
99) Eisenhower Interstate Act
With the rapid popularity of car culture in the United States, it was time to update and modernize America's roadways. Eisenhower got inspiration from German road systems and signed the Interstate Highway Act, which was the largest public works project in history. The modernized highways connected the country. To persuade the country, Eisenhower played on Cold War fears, saying that the roads would make evacuation easier and could serve as emergency runways. -
97) First Televised Presidential Debate
Television saw a huge growth in popularity during the 1950s. By the end of the decade, there were 46 million homes with televisions! This soon replaced the radio for how people got their main news and entertainment, and shifted politics as well. The televised debate between the experienced Nixon and the young Kennedy left people feeling like Kennedy had won the debate because he knew how to perform in front of a camera better than Nixon. However, people who read the script felt the opposite. -
95) Cuban Missile Crisis
After the fruitless Bay of Pigs Invasion, the US learned that the Soviet Union had begun to secretly install ballistic missiles in Cuba that were capable of launching long-distance attacks on major cities in the U.S. After considering his options, U.S. Pres. John F. Kennedy decided to place a naval “quarantine,” or blockade, on Cuba to prevent further Soviet shipments of missiles. Overall, the confrontation brought both countries to the brink of war until the Soviets retreated. -
91) Civil Rights March on Washington
Many civil rights protests in many different forms were taking place across the nation, with a diverse array of organizations leading them. In this event, over 250,000 people from across the country traveled to the capitol and marched to the Lincoln Memorial, from which Martin Luther King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. People were moved by the size of the march, the diversity of faces, and the passion for the cause. This inspired JFK to keep pushing for a Civil Rights Bill. -
92) Civil Rights Bill of 1964
Although JFK had passing a Civil Rights Bill as one of his campaign promises, he was killed before it became a reality. Johnson was sworn in, and he finished the job. The act outlawed employment discrimination based on race, guaranteed equal access to public schools and facilities, and gave new enforcement powers against employment discrimination. After decades of struggle, the act finally offered some real protection and upholding of reconstruction amendments. -
94) Medicare Passes
LBJ's "Great Society" idea was meant to mirror FDR's New Deal policies. The Medicare Act was a variation/extension of the SSA, and it provided free medical insurance to elderly Americans. Over 19 million people enrolled, and the act later expanded to include people with disabilities. Conservatives argued for lower taxes and were against this program. Medicare continues to be a widely disputed political issue today. -
93) Voting Rights Act of 1965
Despite desegregation bills being passed, including the Civil Rights Bill of 1964, discrimination was still rampant. Many southern states adopted practices such as literacy tests to prevent Black Americans from voting. The act banned the use of literacy tests, provided for federal oversight of voter registration in areas where less than 50% of the non-white population had registered to vote, and authorized the US attorney general to investigate the use of poll taxes in state and local elections. -
100) Nixon Resigns
Facing re-election, Nixon turned to corrupt tactics including political espionage and illegally wiretapping the DNC to give himself a political advantage. When the information got out, an investigative committee was formed, and even though Nixon refused to release the tapes, in 1974, the Supreme Court demanded it. A week later, a humiliated Nixon resigned, desperate to avoid impeachment and firing.
