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Jamestown, Virginia
In 1607, Jamestown, Virginia was established. They were sponsored by the British crown and were expected to find a way to make the American colonies profitable. However, the settlers knew little about farming the land and surviving in the new climate. The years following were known as “The Starving Time” since the colonists did not know how to farm in the new land. Roughly 75% of the original colonists died from starvation and illness. -
The Headright System
The British Crown used the Headright system to motivate British citizens to move to the colonies. Due to the 25% survival rate of the colonies, it took a lot of encouragement. The Headright System granted 100 acres of land to those who already resided in the colonies and 50 acres to those who paid for their passage to the colonies. This encouraged families to move together but triggered indentured servitude. Mainly poor and struggling British citizens sought passage to the colonies -
Navigation Act
The Navigation Act was an attempt for the British to strengthen their economy. It required that colonists could only trade with Great Britain. This meant that the prices were in the hands of the British. Colonists would receive lower prices for their goods and would pay higher prices to receive imported goods. However, many colonists continued to trade with foreign nations. The Massachusetts Bay colony went as far as to declare that Great Britain was too distant for their laws to apply. -
Metacom's War
In 1675, Metacom’s War, also known as King Philip’s War, was the Native Americans attempt at resisting British rule and encroachment onto their lands. Metacom and the Wampanoags revolted against the English settlers. Roughly one-fifth of English towns were destroyed and about 1000 settlers were killed. Similarly, around 4500 Native Americans died, placing them as the losers of this war. After this conflict, Many Native Americans sided with the French who stayed far and few between. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon’s rebellion occurred as a result of Native American conflict and the corrupt the local government. The House of Burgesses took land away from many of the poor white men. Most land was in the hands of the elite, and freed indentured servants and white men couldn’t afford what land was left. Due to the lack of land, rebels argued that the House should take land from Native Americans. When ignored, Nathaniel Bacon led rebels to kill as many Native Americans as they could. -
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a movement where Europeans and Americans began questioning all aspects of their lives. With a high literacy rate and the print revolution, ideas could quickly spread across the nation. It was during this movement that Isaac Newton developed math and physics. One of the greatest ideas of this time was natural rights as introduced by John Locke. He believed that all had the right to “life, liberty, and property” and that the government only had the power the people allowed. -
Reliance on Slavery
The southern states, including the Carolinas were reliant on slavery from the very beginning. In 1708, a few thousand slaves worked upon rice plantations. From here on, the number of slaves multiplied exponentially until they outnumbered the white settlers. This solidified the role of slavery in the colonies. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a religious revival. Many colonists had fallen out of touch with Puritan ways of life due to the strictness and rigidity. In 1730, George Whitefield traveled between colonies performing revivals. Those who attended felt as though a “new light” was sparked inside them. Thus, they were named “new lights” and the more conservative people were named “old lights.” The New Lights quickly spread the ideals of George Whitefield and others. -
The Albany Congress
Tension grew between the British, French, and Native Americans. The French had settled much farther West than the British colonies, and the only way for the colonies to expand was to move further into French territory. The distance between the two quickly shrunk, and colonial traders began trading with Native Americans, restricting French trade. In 1754, the Albany Congress was called where Benjamin Franklin proposed unity between the colonies. Meanwhile, Parliament declared war a necessity. -
Sugar Act of 1764
The end of the French and Indian War in 1763 also marked the end of salutary neglect. Due to England’s debt from the French and Indian War, Prime Minister George Grenville forced reform on the colonies to increase their revenue. Grenville passed the Sugar Act of 1764 which placed such high taxes on French molasses that it made trade impossible. This act proved that the colonists would not be equals to the British overseas, but that they could be controlled and taxed at will. -
Stamp Act of 1765
George Grenville passed the Stamp Act to quickly raise revenue to pay back the war debt that Britain had accumulated. After the Stamp Act was passed, Benjamin Franklin proposed that if the colonies had representatives in Parliament, they wouldn’t object to being taxed. However, both Parliament and the colonies rejected this proposal for being too radical. Additionally, the Quartering Act was passed, meaning that colonists were required to provide housing for soldiers in their midst. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Act was passed to establish new taxes on British goods. Most of the revenue raised from these taxes was used to pay the tax officials among other royal personnel. Since this act made the officials more independent of the colonies, the colonists were not able to bribe them as easily. The Daughters of Liberty resisted this tax by making homemade goods to replace the taxable goods. This allowed colonists to boycott British goods while maintaining resources needed for day-to-day life. -
The Boston Massacre
Troops had been stationed in Boston and other colonies for roughly a year and a half. Tension had been rising for ages and having soldiers in their midst did nothing to ease the colonists’ worry. On March 5, 1770, colonists in Boston antagonized and assaulted nine British redcoats until they fired. While labeled “The Boston Massacre,” five colonists who had assaulted troops who were killed. The connotation of “massacre” as only increased colonial anger towards England. -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act was passed to provide financial relief to the East India Company. It canceled import taxes on their tea, making it cheaper than smuggled tea. However, the colonists continued to boycott the tea and bought smuggled tea instead. Despite resistance, the East India Company was determined to land the tea, but the Sons of Liberty, dressed as Native Americans, boarded the ship and dropped 10,000 pounds worth of tea. In response, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Second Continental Congress met in 1775 to discuss their options. Some wanted war, and many hoped for reconciliation with Great Britain, knowing that their naval and military strength was nowhere near that of England. On July 4, 1776, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson. In the document, Jefferson names the three unalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He declares King George a “tyrant” who is unfit to rule the colonies. -
Victory at Saratoga
The first major victory on the American side was the Battle of Saratoga. General Burgoyne and his troops battled Patriot soldiers at Saratoga as they waited for reinforcements; when none came, Burgoyne surrendered. This finally proves the ability of the Continental Army. For once, there is hope that the Americans may win this war which results in a treaty with France. This guaranteed French aid in the form of resources and troops. This tips the war in American favor. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were written to limit the power of the federal government and guaranteed each state a single vote. However, the Articles made the federal government too weak, it could not raise taxes or have a standing army. The result of this was Shay’s Rebellion; the revolt of farmers and Revolutionary War veterans in the countryside who were riddled with debt from the war. However, the federal government couldn't raise taxes, and couldn't pay veterans. -
Treaty of Paris
In 1783, after roughly two long years of negotiation, the Treaty of Paris was signed, declaring British recognition of America’s independence. As a result, England gave up their land in North America, making no attempt to reserve land for their Native American allies. After the treaty was signed, the Americans had to develop their government system which resulted in the writing of the Articles of Confederation. -
The Philadelphia Convention
The U.S. Constitution was drafted as the Articles proved to be too weak. The Philadelphia Convention met outlined the new constitution. The Great Compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan gave the United States the bicameral legislature that we have today. The Constitution granted the federal government the right to tax, raise an army, and to make all laws that it deems “necessary and proper." The Bill of Rights was added in 1791 to explicitly state the rights of the people. -
The Judiciary Act
The Judiciary Act of 1789 created a strong court system with several tiers of courts. The Supreme Court would serve as the highest court and the ultimate last resort. It was declared that the Supreme Court would deal with cases involving federal laws, meaning that the Supreme Court would need to interpret the federal laws. -
Declaration of Neutrality
George Washington dropped a statement of neutrality during the war between France and Great Britain, which allowed American merchants to trade with both parties. This war allowed the United States to rise to the top of the international market, making trading incredibly profitable. This is where the United States begins to emerge as a world power. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion in 1794 was the result of Alexander Hamilton’s unpopular tax on whiskey. These costs this tax induced reduced the demand for whiskey and took money from farmers to a government that did not seem to benefit them. The rebels used the phrase “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,” which they had adopted from the French Revolution. -
Embargo Act
Thomas Jefferson passed the Embargo Act of 1807 in response to the British impressment of U.S. merchants. The Embargo Act prohibited American ships from leaving the ports until Europe calmed down. However, Jefferson overestimated how much Britain and France relied on American trade, and so the merchants resisted. The act created a huge economic decline in port cities that relied on foreign trade. In result, Madison was voted into presidency the following election. -
Treaty of Ghent
The War of 1812 has many debated causes, but one main is that Britain was violating agreements by trading guns and weapons with the nearby Native American tribes. The war proved to be devastating the the new nation, but thankfully to Great Britain as well. Since Great Britain had been fighting with France for years, it was too far in debt to continue. The Treaty of Ghent was signed in 1814, officially concluding the war with no true winner. -
The Erie Cabal
In 1817, the New York legislature began financing the Erie Canal. The building of such canals were to connect the east coast with those west of the Appalachians. This accelerated westward expansion and the idea of Manifest Destiny that would soon sweep the nation. Such canals would allow for more transportation of goods and people without being confined to rivers. These also helped bypass rapids and waterfalls. -
The Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 was a financial crisis that was triggered by faulty banking policies amongst other economic matters. American imports increased while exports decreased and prices for agricultural products dropped by 30%. Extreme amounts of farmers went into debt and were unable to pay back their loans, causing many banks to go out of business. Once new banking regulations were passed, the panic had mostly ended by 1823. -
The Second Great Awakening
Charles Finney began preaching in Rochester which contributed greatly to the Second Great Awakening. Many people began focusing on social reform in matters such as temperance, abolitionism, and women’s suffrage. The hope was that such reform would reduce poverty and sin throughout the country. Much of this reform occurred due to the many organizations that were formed around creating social reform and solving specific issues. -
Texas Declares Independence
During Mexico’s early independence, they offered free land to Americans who would move to Texas and swear loyalty to Mexico. Many Americans moved and greatly outnumbered the Mexicans living in Texas. When Mexico adopted a new constitution that outlawed slavery, the Americans were outraged. In March of 1836, the Texan Americans declared themselves independent of Mexico. Many Texans, who were former U.S. citizens, wished for annexation by the U.S., but Congress refused to avoid war with Mexico. -
The Telegraph
Samuel Morse developed the telegraph where Morse code is used to quickly send messages faster than ever before. This was a huge part of the Market Revolution and helped connect people just as the canals and steamboats had. Each of these inventions boosted the economy as it lifted the geographical restrictions. People could communicate from across the country and factories did not have to be next to their resources or their buyers. -
The Cotton Boom
For decades, cotton was profitable, but it was too labor and time-intensive to be worth the effort. After the invention of the cotton gin in 1793, the South began mass producing the majority of the world’s cotton supply. This cotton boom accelerated Southern reliance on slavery, bringing it back from the brink of extinction. It also boosted the Southern economy through exports and the Northern economy through cotton-manufactured goods. -
1844 Election
James K. Polk was voted into presidency in 1844, narrowly beating Henry Clay. The Democrats argued for Polk to annex Texas, but lacked the two-thirds majority in Congress. Polk continued to pursue manifest destiny in his attempt to annex Texas and pursue war with Mexico to gain California and Oregon. He famously declares that Mexico spilled American blood on American soil to gain public support for war against Mexico. -
Manifest Destiny
The term “manifest destiny” is coined to capture the American goal to expand from coast to coast and convert those that they meet along the way. Many merchants had already made the trip west to trade with Asia, and word was sent back east of the coast and nutrient-rich soil. Thousands moved west in search of land, opportunity, and riches. White settlers settled in mining towns, draining the land of precious minerals. Others began farming the dark soil following the invention of the plow. -
U.S. - Mexico War
After sending a small group of military personnel into Mexican territory, who are then killed, Polk declares that Mexico has spilled American blood on American soil. This sparks anger and tension within the country, and the people are arguing for war and vengeance. In 1846, the US-Mexican War began, which resulted in the United States gaining all of New Mexico. The war was an easy win for the United States as Mexico was still highly undeveloped and unstable. -
The Compromise of 1850
With regards to western expansion, debates between whether the new territories should be free or not spiked. Abolitionists wished for it to end, but the South had become economically reliant on slavery. The Compromise of 1850 by Henry Clay was a desperate attempt to hold the country together. It included a new fugitive slave act that required all citizens to report anyone suspected to be a runaway slave as well as admitting California as a free state. -
Native American Conflict
As many migrants moved through the West, there was a significant increase in contact between whites and Native Americans. Many of these Native American tribes were nomadic and were returning to their ancestral lands to find white settlers farming and mining. In 1854, one such Native American killed a cow belonging to a migrant. This sparked tension between the two groups that started with the Grattan Massacre and ended in warfare. -
The Battle of Bull Run
The Union held many advantages over the South, mostly founded on the fact that they were more developed. The North had a stronger government and economy, extensive rail systems, and was significantly more populated. Due to this, many northerners believed that the Civil War would be an easy win. This was proven incorrect at the Battle of Bull Run in 1861. The bloody battle had spectators running in fright as they realized the strength of the Confederate troops. -
The Anaconda Plan
The Union used General Winfield Scott’s Anaconda Plan in an attempt to starve the Confederate South into submission. The plan was to surround the Confederacy through all angles, including the Mississippi River, and apply a naval blockade. The result of this was severe inflation as prices increased almost 10 times their initial cost. Unfortunately, this alone was not enough to cause the South to rejoin the Union. -
The Homestead Act of 1862
To the American government, land out west had remained empty and economically unproductive for years. To make the land productive, the Homestead Act of 1862 offered 160 acres of land to any head of household who was willing to move out west. The term "head of household" was very undiscriminative, and allowed opportunity to single women and immigrants alike. They were required to live on the land for 5 years and improve it in some way to claim full legal rights. -
Native American Conflict
The land that the federal government was giving out was occupied by many Native Americans, including those who had been pushed farther and farther west by American expansion. After streams of whites encroached on their land, the Dakota Sioux attacked and killed many whites including women and children. They were sentenced to death and formed the largest mass execution in American history. -
Battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg
Following Bull Run, the Confederacy had many great victories, but in 1863 victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg boosted morale in Union camps. The Battle of Gettysburg is named the bloodiest and deadliest of the war and a major turning point. The biggest outcome of these victories would be President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address where he declared all men to be created equal. This is the first time in the duration of the war that the focus shifts from reunification to the abolition of slavery. -
Sand Creek Massacre
The colonists assumed the Native Americans to be violent and “savage,” not understanding that they were encroaching on ancestral lands. In the Sand Massacre of 1864, the Colorado militia attacked an undefended Native American camp as they perceived their mere presence to be a threat to their safety. . Many women and children were killed while the men were away hunting. Such violence continued back and forth between the two parties. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
In 1864, Union General Tecumseh Sherman marched to Atlanta with 90,000 men. In the fall of 1864, Atlanta, Georgia fell to Sherman’s army, and Sherman and his army continued to march, heading to the sea. As they marched, they burned and destroyed everything they came into contact with and took resources for themselves. They crushed Confederate moral and deprived them of the resources that they would need if they were to win the war. Confederate troops fled before him without a fight. -
Johnson's Presidency
Following the end of the Civil War in 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, leaving Andrew Johnson as president. He introduced a limited Ten-Percent Plan to assimilate the South back into the country. However, he pardoned so many people in exchange for personal favors that the Ten-Percent Plan had no real effect. As a result of his inaction, slavery continued in all but name as black codes replaced slavery laws. -
The Knights of Labor
The Knights of Labor was the beginning of a much larger labor movement. They are one of the first unions to appear in the nation. The Knights of Labor believed that individuals need more power within the works of large corporations. The Knights of Labor fought for better working conditions in the form of shorter work days and safer working conditions. The Knights of Labor were abnormally diverse as they accepted members regardless of race, gender, and employment status. -
The First National Park
Congress was concerned with the rapid overdevelopment of the West and created Yellowstone as the first national park to preserve its beauty. Much of the land was being converted to farmland or exploited for precious minerals. The national park system was promoted by the railroad system and the beginning of tourism across the country. Yellowstone was along the rail system, so the railroads would profit from tickets and they owned the hotels within the park. -
The Bison Population Declines
Congress attempted to pass a law that would prohibit white settlers from killing female bison, but it was vetoed by President Ulysses Grant. White settlers in the west mass murdered bison, taking only the pelt and leaving the meat to rot, unlike the Native Americans who killed few and used as many of the parts as possible for various resources. The overhunting and exploitation decimated the bison populations and angered the local Native Americans who relied on them for survival. -
The Civil Rights Act
In 1875, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in honor of Charles Sumner. It required “full and equal” accommodations and services for all people. This included public transportation, jury services, as well as other services. It did not, however, require integrated services. This act was one of the last of the Reconstruction efforts by the North. It was a final attempt to avoid public discrimination and racism. -
The End of Reconstruction
Rutherford B. Hayes was voted into office after much political debate and ended military oversight in the South which brought the end to the Reconstruction era. In the end, no real change occurred in the South as many of the Reconstruction laws went unenforced. With black codes and sharecropping, slavery seemed to continue in all but name. While freedmen had access to schools and other accommodations, their facilities were not as nice or functional, and racism was still prevalent. -
The Rebel States Rejoin the Union
By 1871, all rebel states had reached the requirements to rejoin the Union. However, many of these states still held animosity towards the Union states and government and showed blatant disrespect. Despite this, many Reconstruction efforts flooded the South where black schools were founded and aid was provided to former slaves and freedmen. This work was the result of organizations such as the Freedman’s Bureau and the Union League. -
Invention of the Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell's telephone changed the foundation of society. It increased job opportunities for women and changed consumerism. The invention of the telephone expanded the reach of businesses and changed the way that meetings could be held. It also made the wealth gap between the poor and the wealthy more visible. -
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877
The industrialization of labor created unsafe working conditions for the labor force. Workers were no longer responsible for their own wages. In protest of the wage cuts, railroad strikers walked off the job, halting the functioning of the rail system. Pennsylvania's state militia was sent to break up the crowds, but strikers instead overturned railcars and caused extreme amounts of destruction to private property. This created tension between the working class and the government. -
The Dawes Act
Many people believed that the Native Americans could become “civilized” by adopting white culture. One such method was a boarding school for children aged 6-18 where their culture was erased. In 1887, the Dawes Act was passed as a nearly identical Homestead Act. The only difference was that it targeted Native Americans. When a head of household claimed their 160 acres, it was taken from the reservation. Such living conditions tore apart the community and culture that had been so prevalent. -
Haymarket Square Riot
As unions increased in both number and size, so did tensions between the workers and businesses. When a group of anarchists in Chicago called a meeting to protest their conditions, they were met with city police. A bomb was thrown that killed several policemen and violence erupted throughout the square. The result of the affair was antiunion hysteria expressed through contracts where employees couldn't join unions and mass arrests. -
The Hull House
The Hull House was founded in 1889 by Jane Addams along with other middle-class women. The formation of the Hull House also represents how women were huge motivators for social change since recent inventions allowed women to have more freedom, combined with their family's money. The Hull House was a social settlement that originally focused of culturing impoverished Americans. Once the true nature of their plight went public, settlement houses began offering more helpful resources. -
Native Americans Lose Land and Culture
The federal government continued to take more and more land from the Native Americans, leaving them with the least fertile and productive land. By 1894, the reservations were almost entirely gone and the land was used to create the state of Oklahoma. As time went on, Native Americans lost another ⅔ of the land granted to them by the Dawes Act. -
De Lome Letter
Yellow journalism is defined by its sensationalism over ethics. This means that yellow journalists would sacrifice facts for the profits of a groundbreaking story. William Randolph Hearst used the conflict in Cuba to sell more newspapers, eventually capitalizing off of the De Lome Letter. The letter, in which a Spanish minister disparaged President McKinley, sparked enough outrage across the nation that it contributed to Congress's declaration of war. -
Management Revolution
The invention of the assembly line along with the introduction of vertical and horizontal integration bring great change to the industrial world. These new business management styles allow for a greater wealth gap, as owners of large corporations would increase profits, and assembly line workers would make very little. Previously, most businesses were family-run or locally run, and for the first time, many workers began working for others, rather than family or themselves. -
Manhattan Subway
The developing technologies affected city life and the formation of cities. The invention of the subway changed how city residents could live their lives. The subway made travel much more convenient, which could contribute to urban sprawl. The working class could now afford to live farther out of the city, instead of being stuck to the railroad tracks. The main downside was that the subway would only run on a specific schedule. -
The Roosevelt Corollary
The Roosevelt Corollary was a statement that President Theodore Roosevelt made that declared the United States was responsible for policing the Caribbean region. This was intended to help preserve the rights and independence of Caribbean nations, but it instead "gave" the United States the right to interfere at will. This was not a treaty agreed on by the included parties, but a blanket declaration by the U.S. -
Root-Takahira Agreement
The Root-Takahira Agreement represented the United States's willingness to ignore a lack of freedom to ensure its own financial stability. In this agreement, Japan and the United States agreed to not interfere with each others' territories. This meant the United States would not impede on Japan's authority over Manchuria. In exchange for their mutual agreement, Japan would respect the Open-Door Policy in China. This would maintain the US's ability to trade with China. -
The Military Draft
World War I was seen as a European affair that the United States had no responsibility getting involved in. In response, people were shocked when Congress decided to send young American men into war, and they did not receive enough volunteers. The response to this was the military draft, where young men were randomly selected for military duty. It took almost a year, but when 1 million men simultaneously joined the battle, the tide significantly turned in favor of the Allies. -
Zimmerman Telegram
Many Americans wished to stay out of World War I, even voting Woodrow Wilson into office as he wished to stay out of the war. However, once the Zimmerman Telegram was exposed many Americans changed their mind. The Zimmerman Telegram was a telegram from Germany to Mexico stating that if Mexico joined the Axis, Germany would help them take land from the United States. This brought the threat much closer to American citizens and encouraged America to join the war. -
Treaty of Versailles
A peace conference was held in Versailles to discuss the consequences of the war. Woodrow Wilson pushed for the treaty to be outlined by his 14 points but was quickly shot down by France and Britain. Due to the devasting effects of the war on Europe, the European powers argued for a much harsher punishment of Germany. The United States did not hold the same anger against Germany as the war had less of an effect on us. The Treaty of Versailles plummeted Germany into the Great Depression. -
The 19th Amendment
For years, women had pushed for the right to vote, and the Great War was when they finally got it. Women expressed patriotism to make their right seem more like a necessity, that they would use it to help the country. It was also hard to argue with thousands of women working through organizations to help their community. In August of 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed and women finally gained the right to vote. -
Prohibition
After decades of fighting, Congress passed the 18th Amendment which effectively banned the production, manufacturing, and selling of alcohol. Many people, including churches, viewed alcohol as the root of social issues such as abuse, illness, neglect, and poverty. However, Prohibition did the opposite of what it intended. The alcohol industry went underground and was run by gangs, without regulation, and crime rates skyrocketed. The rate of alcohol consumption increased during Prohibition. -
Palmer Raids
The Palmer Raids occurred in the midst of the Red Scare. They were carried out by J. Edgar Palmer at the request of the Justice Department in order to reduce the risk of communism in the country. The Palmer Raids were intended to catch and deport suspected socialists. However, the raids were highly discriminatory and targeted people of Russian ancestry. -
American Birth Control League
In 1921, Margaret Sanger founded the American Birth Control League which is now known as Planned Parenthood. Previous organizations had ended up with their developers in prison, as the use of contraceptives was widely illegal. However, she was given legal protection to operate her clinics given that she followed specific protocols regarding. -
National Origins Act
The National Origins Act of 1924 was the result of nativism and Congress. Nativists believed that there were too many immigrants entering the United States, and believed that the government was responsible for limiting these numbers. The act stated that the annual number of immigrants from a country could not exceed 2% of the population of immigrants from that country, in the United States, in 1890. The use of backdated numbers severely limited the immigration of Europeans throughout the 1920s. -
The Scopes Monkey Trial
The Scopes Monkey Trial perfectly captures the main debate circulating through the nation in the 1920s: religion vs. modernism. The Scopes Trial was centered around whether or not the theory of evolution should be taught in schools after Tennessee banned any teachings that even alluded to it. John T. Scopes openly disobeyed this law, believing that it was not constitutional. However, he was found guilty. -
Consumerism
As methods such as the assembly line arose, production and manufacturing skyrocketed. Many inventions pertained to the household and the completion of chores such as dishes and laundry. In 1929, many Americans had refrigerators, vacuums, and radios. Advertisements encouraged more buying and spending than ever before as more people could afford these goods. However, this began buying on credit, which made it much easier for people to go into debt than ever before. -
Widespread Use of the Automobile
The introduction of the assembly lines plummeted the price of the automobile, making it much more accessible to the American public. Henry Ford went as far as to increase his own employees' wages to ensure that they would be able to afford their car. The automobile changed the way that Americans lived their life, as it would impact the spread of cities, the weekend activities they would participate in, and the vacations they were now able to take. -
Levitt & Sons
The company Levitt & Sons was established in 1929 and forever changed housing in America. The company made owning a house much more affordable and began to establish suburban neighborhoods. It also shifted a lifestyle of living on a large farm to quarter-acre lands with a house. -
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance occurred as a result of the Great Migration during World War I. Large populations of African Americans went from living across farms to being next-door neighbors and forming exclusively African American neighborhoods. The result of this was an explosion of black culture and pride known as the Harlem Renaissance. Paintings, music, books, poetry, and many other forms of art expressed the collective anger and stories of African Americans and the struggles they faced. -
Public Works Administration
The Great Depression caused a huge increase in unemployment and pay cuts. The Public Works Administration was a way for the federal government to be involved in rebuilding the economy without directly handing money out to Americans. The PWA put more than 5 million people back to work, providing their families with a stable income. The construction being done was to the benefit of all Americans as it repaired public roads and bridges and other public projects. -
FDR's Bank Holiday
As the Great Depression fell across the United States, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared a bank holiday and forced every bank in the nation to shut down. These banks could only reopen once an inspection showed that they were stable. While this ensured that the banks that reopened were healthy and had enough funds, it was a massive overstep in the president's power. Once the banks were reopened, funds of up to 2500 dollars were insured. -
House UnAmerican Activities Committee
The House UnAmerican Activities Committee produced mass amounts of hearings regarding peoples' alleged involvement with communists. These hearings were often founded on unjust evidence and were not intended to declare people communist but to spark fear in the American people. People were often unfairly interrogated and accused, and would turn others in to save themselves. They would be turned in for communist-like activities such as not attending church. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
As a result of tensions between Japan and the United States, Japan bombed the American Navy's Pacific Fleet, eliminating our military presence in the Pacific. The United States had frozen trade with Japan, including the oil that Japan was in desperate need of. The bombing was a surprise attack on a Sunday morning. Nearly 2400 Americans were killed and many ships and planes were destroyed. -
"A Date Which Will Live in Infamy"
While the Japanese believed that their attack would weaken the United States, it took an almost opposite effect. After President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "A Date Which Will Live in Infamy" speech, Americans stood as a united front. While the United States had been determined to stay out of the war, it was the attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the full force of the United States against Japan. -
Executive Order 9066
Executive Order 9066 was the result of fear and panic that quickly gave way to outright discrimination. People feared that Japanese Americans were spying on them and passing information to the Japanese throughout World War II. As a result, Executive Order 9066 called for the immediate relocation of Japanese Americans into relocation camps where they would be forced to live indefinitely. The Japanese Americans were forced to sell and give away most of their material possessions. -
The Strength of the Atomic Bomb
After billions of dollars and several years, President Truman gave the command for the Atomic Bomb to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, demanding Japanese surrender. After over 100 thousand Japanese deaths, they surrendered unconditionally. -
Yalta Conference
Attended and led by President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, the Yalta Conference was intended for the leaders to discuss what would happen to Europe post World War II. Roosevelt wished for Stalin to join them and Britain in declaring war against Europe. Stalin wished for the US to not interfere with the expansion of the USSR. Roosevelt agreed to keep the peace. -
The Fair Deal
The Fair Deal was President Truman's program for domestic reform. The Fair Deal increased or implemented national health insurance, civil rights legislation, education funding, a housing program, social security, higher minimum wages, and new agricultural programs. -
Loyalty Security Program
The Loyalty Security Program, signed into place by President Eisenhower, gave officials the right to investigate federal government employees that they believed were communist threats to the country. However, many officials abused their power and targeted anyone involved with any communist ideals, and even targeting the gay community. Many of these people were harassed and blacklisted. The program was only meant to target spied and those who were committing treason/sabotage. -
Jackie Robinson
In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first black player in the baseball major leagues. He suffered from endless discrimination from people both on his team and others, but the Dodgers became a huge hit with the black community as they were the first to integrate. He represented strength and individuality and independence to all the young members of the black community watching him at the time. -
Operation Vittles
Operation Vittles occurred in response to Stalin's blockade in West Berlin and represented the United State's sheer resolution to making democracy accessible. Since Stalin had declared that US soldiers could not step foot in East Germany, they flew over it instead and airdropped packages of supplies and resources over the course of 11 months. These planes made multiple trips per day. They dropped everything from coal to candy for the children. -
North Korea Invades South Korea
When Japan relinquished control over the Korean Peninsula, North Korea was communist while South Korea was democratic with the support of the United States. While both sides wished to be united, neither wanted it to be under the other's control. In June of 1950, the communist North invaded South Korea, pushing the unsuspecting troops as far as Busan. This sparked the Korean War and fighting by proxy between the United States the USSR. -
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is Formed
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is formed as a method of protection against Soviet attack. Originally, NATO was made up of ten European countries, Canada, and the United States. The Washington Treaty stated that if one of the countries within the organization were to be attack, it would be considered an attack against them all. However, Stalin considered this to be a personal attack even though the USSR was essentially the same thing. -
Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss was a State Department official who also helped create the United Nations following World War II, however a Soviet spy relayed Hiss's name as a spy. Hiss never admitted to being espionage, but much more incriminating evidence came forward, and he was found guilty for perjury (lying to Congress). This case showed the American people how Soviets and communists were infiltrating our government. -
Brown V. Topeka Board of Education
Plessy V. Ferguson had ruled that schools could be segregated as long as they were equal, but they were far from equal. This ruling was overturned in Brown V. Board of education. The NAACP (founded by W.E.B. Du Bois) chose Linda Brown for the case due to her age, as she would seem much less threatening as a little girl. She was represented by Thurgood Marshall in the case. -
The Murder of Emmett Till
Emmett Till was from the North but was visiting family in the South for the summer. He went missing and eventually turned up dead in a swamp, having been kidnapped, beaten, and shot for allegedly whistling at a white woman. Two men were put on trial for his murder but were acquitted, however they later bragged about their actions to a magazine. This event created more tension between northern and southern African Americans and whites. -
Little Rock Arkansas
Even years after Plessy V. Ferguson was overruled in Brown V. Board, Little Rock refused to integrate their schools. The NAACP helped nine children attend an all white school, where they were physically barred and banned from entering. The governor called the National Guard to protect the school, so President Eisenhower called the 101st Airborne Division to protect the Little Rock Nine as the attended class. -
Sputnik
The USSR was the first to have an artificial satellite orbit the Earth in 1957. Americans were shocked and terrified as they feared that the Soviets could use such technology to weaponize space. In response, President Eisenhower threw thousands of dollars into research institutions and universities in order to promote the United States's growth in the space industry. -
ICBMs
ICBM stands for intercontinental ballistic missiles. They are missiles that are capable of carrying nuclear bombs, These were first successfully launched by the Soviet Union and meant that almost nowhere in the world was safe. These missiles show how destructive the world was becoming and almost led to full blown nuclear war. -
Ruby Bridges
Six years after Plessy V. Ferguson was overturned, Ruby Bridges became the first African American to attend an all white elementary school in the south. She was harassed as community members and students alike threw food and yelled slurs and insults. She had to be escorted to and from school by armed federal marshals. -
The U-2 Incident
The U-2 was a reconnaissance (spy) plane that would fly at high altitudes and take pictures above the Soviet Union. The planes were to never fall into enemy hands, and were equipped with self destruct buttons and the pilots were given cyanide pills. In 1960, the U-2 plane and its pilots Gary Powers were shot down over the Soviet Union. Khrushchev used this incident cancel his attendance to a conference in Paris. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
After Cuba was overtaken by Fidel Castro and his communist regime, the United States felt highly threatened by the communist nation so close to home. They helped train a Cuban-exile Invasion force so they could attempt to take back their homeland. However, Kennedy withdrew the United States air support at last minute, and the invasion was a total failure. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuba and Fidel Castro worked closely with the USSR and in 1962, it was the closest we had ever come to a full nuclear war. The United States began to receive images that confirmed the USSR and Cuba were building surface to air missiles. With how close Cuba is to the United States, almost the entire US was in range for Cuba's nuclear weapons. Kennedy ordered a naval blockade to stop soviet ships from bringing in missiles. -
James Meredith Applies to University of Mississippi
In 1962, James Meredith applied to the University of Mississippi but was denied as he was African American. Their reasoning was that since college was not required, they were not required to integrate. However, it was ruled that since the school receives government funding and taxpayer dollars, they were still required to follow the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board. There were outright riots in response to his attendance at the University.