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Jamestown Settlement
Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in America. Settlers were promised land. 20% of settlers died during the starving times which lasted from 1607-1612. Natives took pity and helped settlers live off the land. They had come to make money and the companies that they worked for were given charters. The settlers had to harvest natural resources to profit both the crown and the Jamestown company. The tobacco discovery allowed Virginia to flourish, eventually becoming a royal colony. -
The Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 created a boundary line for the settlers of America as to where they can and cannot settle. The boundary line lied at the Appalachian mountains and settlers could not move past this. The British government was trying to avoid Native American conflict as it was their territory the settlers were encroaching upon. The settlers were angered by this proclamation because they expected to be granted new lands in response to their victory in the French and Indian war. -
Treaty of Paris (1763)
Britain attempted to garner more territory around the world, aiming to become an empire. They were able to gain control of Cuba and the Philippines. Their East India company ousted French traders in India, British forces seized Senegal, also capturing the rich sugar islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. The Treaty of Paris was written and gave those islands back. Britain got French Canada, French territory east of the MI river, FL, and their conquests in India and Africa. They were now an empire -
Declaratory Act of 1766
The colonies were becoming increasingly angry regarding the acts that Parliament continued to pass. They felt as if it was unlawful as it hurt them, while benefitting the British government. A major act was the stamp act, which imposed a tax on all papers or official documents in the colonies. The British repealed the stamp act following the controversy but went on to state with the declaratory act that Parliament was within their duties to directly tax the colonies no matter what. -
Townshend Acts
The townshend acts taxed the colonists on imported goods such as glass, paper, tea, lead, British China, and paint. These taxes were tremendously high, and the money was used by the British Parliament to pay the Colonial government to secure their loyalty to England. The colonists were outraged and to evade the tariff, they boycotted numerous British goods effectively avoid the tax as it was one that many could not afford on the everyday items that these taxes were imposed on. -
Boston Massacre
Due to the increasing tension in the colonies, six soldiers were told to guard the taxing house in Boston from the Sons of Liberty. A crowd had formed and began to harass the soldiers 24/7, throwing items at the soldiers. Some even went on to throw snowballs with rocks inside of them and one soldier was wounded. A shot went off and chaos ensued. The other soldiers began to open fire and 5 colonists ended up dead. Paul Revere used this to propel the image of "The Bloody Massacre". -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists were angry over the Tea Act and protested against it. The leader of the Sons of Liberty, Samuel Adams, planned the protest inside of Green Tavern. Him and a group of men dressed as Native Americans and boarded three British ships carrying tea from the East India Company. They went on to dump around $900,00 worth of tea in their money into the Boston harbor. In retaliation, parliament closed Boston harbor, outlawed assemblies, created the quartering act, and other "intolerable acts". -
First Continental Congress meets
Due to the coercive acts, Patriot leaders in the colonies created a continental congress. All 13 colonies sent delegates besides Georgia because the royal governor controlled the legislature. Southern delegates advocated for a new economic boycott while northerners wanted political union and defensive military precautions. Delegates from the middle colonies wanted compromise. They decided that they would stay with Britain if they earned representation and less taxes, but the King declined. -
Second continental congress
The battle of Lexington and Concord angered the colonists beyond consolation. The second continental congress was established and created a continental army, appointing a general to lead them. They also started printing their own paper currency and made a federal office for foreign policies and creating a committee that deals with foreign nations. -
Declaration of Independence
Following Thomas Paine's Common Sense," a rousing call for independence and a republican form of government", colonists were convinced that the only way to receive fair treatment was freedom from Britain. Inspired by this , Patriot conventions pleaded to separate from Britain. On 7/4/1776, congress approved the declaration. The main author, Thomas Jefferson, called the King a tyrant and unfit ruler. The document garnered much support given the colonies the push they needed to fight this war. -
Battle of Saratoga
The American soldiers were losing constantly to the British army during the revolutionary war. This battle was their first win and marked a turning point of the war. British general John Burgoyne and his army had planned to meet up with two other British armies to defeat the continental army. The other two armies weren't there and Burgoyne wound up surrounded. He was forced to surrender, boosting the moral of the continental army and bolstering the respect of the country. -
Ratification of the Articles of Confederation in all 13 states
The articles of confederation was the first attempt at self governing. It was a projection of all the fears the former colonists had regarding a powerful governing system. It was written in 1777 and stated that the government had no taxing authority, no standing army, no executive/leader, and gave the country the title of the USA. It resulted in a very weak federal government that cracked under the pressure of Shays rebellion in Massachusetts. There was no one to put a stop to this insurrection. -
General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
British General Cornwallis endured a grueling campaign in the southern colonies, retreating to Yorktown, VA for protection in the winter. He wasn't aware that after France allied itself with the colonies, they had already defeated the British fleet during the battle of capes months earlier in September. He arrived in Yorktown with French in front and Americans behind. His surrender ended major fighting of the war and it marked a sudden change in power, as the mighty British empire was falling. -
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The victory of the colonist's at Yorktown forced the British empire to consider the idea of America becoming their own independent nation. The treaty put a stop to the revolutionary war and gave America it's independence. The British also relinquished territories of land between the Atlantic ocean, north up to British Canada, and the Mississippi river. This gave the former colonists a chance to explore their newfound freedom and build their version of a fair and representative government. -
Shays Rebellion
This was caused by MA farmers returning from the war, angered that they were never paid for their service, meaning that they couldn't pay the mortgages on their farms. This resulted in many farms being foreclosed. The leader, Daniel Shays, and others in a rage took over a local courthouse to stop foreclosures, and proceeded to destroy numerous courthouses in eastern Boston before making their way towards inner Boston. Boston was too weak to protect itself due to the articles of confederation. -
Northwest ordinance
The Northwest ordinance was written into the articles of confederation, declaring that slavery was outlawed in new territories but stated that once a territory became a state it could decide for itself. This affected the territories in the Midwest (present day Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, and parts of Minnesota). It drew a line between free states and slave states which increased sectional tensions between abolitionists and supporters of slavery. -
Great Compromise of 1787
The constitutional convention created an issue regarding the representation of states. The New Jersey plan stated that it wouldn't be fair for a state to have more representation based off of size, and all states should have equal representation. The Virginia plan stated that representation should be based off of state population size. This resulted in the great compromise of 1787, where states had equal representation in the senate and population based in the house of representatives. -
Bill of Rights ratified
Federalists agreed to include a declaration of rights in the constitution and kept their word. James Madison, now a member of the HOR, submitted 19 amendments to first congress in 1791. 10 of those, the bill of rights, were approved and ratified by the states. It protected the rights of one's personal rights, easing the fears of antifederalists of an oppressive government as they had fought to get out from that of Britain. It addressed the idea of the authority of state v. national governments. -
Invention of the cotton gin
The process of growing cotton was a grueling task to endure. When picking cotton, you had to remove the seeds in the cotton which took a significant amount of time to do. Slavery was on the decline as cotton wasn't a very profitable crop due to the amount able to be produced. American craftsman Eli Whitney built a machine that separated the cotton bolls at a much quicker and easier rate. This "gin" made the crop 50x more profitable. It kick started slavery causing a boom in the slave trade. -
Jay's Treaty
Beginning in 1793 the British navy began to seize 250 American vessels carrying French sugar and other products. Washington wanted to put a stop to this, sent John Jay to speak with Britain. Jay came back with a treaty ignoring the statement that "free ships make free goods" while claiming that Britain had the right to stop neutral ships. It also stated that the US owed Britain money from pre-war debts. For the US, they required Britain to remove troops and Indian agents from Northwest territory -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Tensions rising between federalists and the French republic, federalists also attacked Republican critics, namely immigrants. Federalists, angered by Irish immigrants attacking federal policies, made the alien and sedition acts to limit the rights of immigrants. This made it so the president could deport anyone they viewed "dangerous", made it illegal for a newspaper to print anything critical of the president, and increased the amount of time it took to become naturalized from 5 to 14 years. -
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
The enaction of the alien and sedition acts caused numerous Republican journalists to be convicted and jailed. Following the controversy of the alien and sedition acts, Virginia and Kentucky declared the act null and void. This was because it defied the first amendment regarding freedom of both speech and the press. It introduced the idea that a state had the ability to judge the legitimacy of national laws. It set the stage for the "Revolution of 1800" due to the start of the "Jeffersonian Era" -
Louisiana Purchase
In 1799, Napoleon seized power of France and aimed to take territories in the Americas. In 1801, he got Spain to sign a treaty to return LA to France and restrict US access to the port of New Orleans, violating Pickney's treaty. Napoleon's empire soon started faltering and he offered the Louisiana territory to the US for $15 million. President Jefferson was a strict constructionist and questioned his ability to buy land for the nation. He went on to take their offer, doubling the size of the US. -
Marbury v. Madison
As a last ditch effort, Adams filled federal courts with federalist judges on his last night of office since they had lost office and congressional power. Adams leaves a paper on his desk for Marbury and when Jefferson finds it he orders it to be trashed. Marbury sues for his job and the supreme court sided with Jefferson claiming that the federal judiciary act was unconstitutional, also claiming the right of judicial review, or the right to declare laws unconstitutional and strike them down. -
Embargo Act of 1807
Great Britain and France were at war again and because the US had ties with both countries, they wanted to remain neutral to maintain their trade relationships. This imposed an embargo, ban, on all foreign trade. This was unpopular among merchants, traders, and business communities as it damaged the growth of the American economy. On the other hand, it boosted the growth of domestic manufacturing, better than Hamilton's plan. This ended up causing the industry to explode after the war of 1812. -
Birth of the national anthem/burning of the capital
On August 14, the British army invaded Washington DC and after a brief fight, the city surrenders and most government buildings are razed. The British general eats their food, loots building, and burns down the white house. During the battle at Ft. Henry, Francis Scott Key, a prisoner of a British vessel, witnessed the fort being bombarded by bombs all night. In the morning, the flag was still up and he pens a poem, eventually becoming the Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem. -
Missouri Compromise
The United states had consistently had a balance between the free and slave states. When Missouri wanted to join the country as a free state, abolitionists didn't support them because it would disrupt the balance in the federal government. If there were more slave states, they'd win a majority in most votes. To compromise, Missouri joined a slave state and Maine joined a free one. A line was made below Missouri signifying which territories would become free vs which would become free states. -
Election of 1824
The presidential race was between Henry Clay, John Q. Adams, Andrew Jackson, and Henry Crawford. Jackson won both the electoral and popular votes but failed to win the majority. The vote went to the HOR and because Clay was speaker of the house, he stepped down. Following a private meeting between Clay and Adams, Clay began to outwardly support Adams. The house elected Adams and Clay is named secretary of state. This is dubbed a corrupt bargain as Clay had enormous influence in the house. -
Tariff of Abominations
John Quincy created the tariff debate of 1828, later known as the tariff of abominations in 1828. Americans disagreed with Adams because they felt that it was infringing upon their personal freedoms. The northern states liked this tariff because by raising the price of foreign goods, people would choose to buy domestic goods instead, boosting the northern economy. The south disliked it because Europe bought less cotton, the one cash crop that everyone relied on to make a living wage. -
Indian Removal Act
Many whites felt relocation of the natives would be best because it either would give whites more land or it could save the natives from alcoholism, financial exploitation, and cultural decline. Jackson published this act with 102-97 support from congress. It gave natives land and promised them money as long as they relinquished their land east of the Mississippi. The Indians were forcefully relocated in the Trail of tears, lasting decades and killing thousands as they made the grueling journey. -
Nat Turner's revolt
As tensions grew high within the black community regarding slave uprisings, a slave named Nat Turner from Virginia coordinated a bloody rebellion. Turner had taught himself how to read as a child and as an adult he became deeply spiritual. He felt compelled by God to free himself and other slaves and after receiving an omen, a solar eclipse, him and a group of friends/family killed at least 55 white people. Worried by these uprisings, VA debated a law for gradual emancipation but it failed. -
Compromise of 1850
Although the Missouri Compromise was able to relieve tensions between the north and the south regarding the admission of new territories in the union, by 1850 they were high again. To pander to the south, the fugitive slave act was created supporting slave catchers. The North received CA as a free state. It also resolved a boundary dispute between TX and NM in favor of NM and abolished slave trade (not slavery) in Washington D.C. It left slavery up to popular sovereignty in new territories. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Scott was a slave whose owner moved him to a state prohibiting slavery due to the Missouri Compromise. Scott advocated for his freedom as it was unlawful enslavement. President Buchanan opposed Scott's claim, persuading 2 PA justices to side with their southern colleagues, causing a 7/2 split against Dred Scott. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney proceeded to say that a black person, regardless of their slave status was not a citizen of the US, and therefore had no right to sue in federal court. -
South Carolina secedes
South Carolina wanted to secede since the compromise of 1850. After Lincoln's election in 1860, the south was afraid he would take away their right to have slaves due to the fact that he believed the nation couldn't last divided. On December 20, they voted unanimously at a state convention to secede from the union. By the next year, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas followed. President Buchanan declared secession illegal but it was evident the union was collapsing. -
Battle of bull run
Lincoln wanted to give a quick blow to the confederate army when union troops were on the peninsula between the York and James river. Union general McClellan chose to advance slowly towards Richmond, allowing the confederates to mount an attack against the union. Stonewall Jackson marched his confederate troops quickly through western VA, causing the union to bring in 30,000 more troops. Lee launched a six day attack in which the union retreated. This showed the drive of the southern troops. -
Homestead Act
There were issues on both sides of the US in the 1860s. The west was sparsely populated, had abundant fertile land, yet it was economically unproductive. Meanwhile in the east it was densely populated with new immigrants rolling in in waves and overcrowded. The Homestead Act provided 160 acres of land to the head of a household regardless of sex or race. The catch was that the owner must live on the land for five years, farming it, and make some sort of improvement to the land. -
Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation
The emancipation proclamation doesn't actually free the slaves, it is a final warning to the south, either re-enter the union with their slaves and end the war or if they refuse, WHEN an area is conquered all slaves will be liberated. It doesn't end slavery in the north as they feared losing the border states and territories. Copies of this were sent to other countries basically telling them to mind their business. -
Grant named Union commander
Union generals were a revolving door as many were unfit to lead the army. The main ones were General McClellan, the leading general but was fired due to a series of missteps and his timidity. He was demoted then later reinstated, but continued to disappoint. General Ulysses S. Grant proved different. He was quietly racking up wins in the west and the general under him was William Tecumseh Sherman. Grant forced the surrender at Vicksburg. Grant pushed a hard war willing to accept mass casualties. -
Sherman's March to the Sea completed
William T. Sherman was general under Grant. He fought a hard war and marched with his troops from TN through GA, the hub of manufacturing, economy, and railroads in the south. They burned every field en route, twisting railroad tracks, tearing down telegraph wires. Troops set plantations on fire and set slaves free, burning every factory in Atlanta, then capturing the port of Savannah, GA crippling the south's economy destroying cotton, slaves, food, transportation, and communication services. -
Bleeding Kansas
Upon becoming a state, KA had to vote on whether it would be a slave state. Tension between abolitionists and supporters of slavery was high, on election day, men from a neighboring state came into Lawrence, KA, invading the town brandishing weapons, destroying property and buildings. They stuffed the ballot box with pro-slavery votes. The next day, the issue went to the senate but KA becomes a slave state. This caused the Pottawatomie massacre, the brutal murders of a pro slavery village -
Robert E. Lee surrenders
In April 1865, General Grant gained control of the railroad junction at Petersburg, forcing Lee to abandon Richmond. Grant and his troops went on to cut off Lee's escape route to North Carolina. Lee is out of ammunition and goes to make a beeline for Lynchburg. One group of Union soldiers was engaging with him while the other moves forward to cut him off. The confederates reach Appomattox where they are surrounded and Lee has no choice to surrender. By promising to quit, Grant let them go home. -
13th amendment Ratified
The amendment abolished slavery and outlawed involuntary servitude that wasn't a sentencing for a crime. This led to black people becoming a part of the workforce and many were employed as their bosses could get away with hiring them for cheap. This later became a problem, especially regarding sharecropping because it roped blacks into an endless cycle of debt, one that was near impossible to make a profit out of. Angry whites created numerous hate groups, terrorizing blacks in the south. -
Reconstruction Act of 1867
The act stripped the previously seceded southern states into five military districts under the jurisdiction of the union army. It also stated that if a state wanted to re-enter the union they must grant the vote to freedmen and take it away from leading ex-confederates. Each military commander was also obligated to register all eligible adult man, of any race, supervise state constitutional conventions, and ensure that the new state constitutions provided black suffrage. -
Andrew Johnson impeached
Republicans obtained a supermajority in the senate and could override any law or act that Johnson vetoed. Johnson began to fire anyone he felt aligned with congress. In 1867, he suspended secretary of war, Edwin . Stanton and replaced him with General Grant. The senate overruled Stanton's suspension and Grant stepped down. Feb. 21 Johnson fired Stanton. Rep. majority brought him on 11 counts of misconduct. He wasn't removed from office but for the rest of the presidency, Johnson was a lame duck. -
Ratification of the 14th amendment
Congress was anxious to protect freedpeople and reassert Republican power in the south and their civil rights. It stated that anyone born or naturalized in the US was a citizen. No state could abridge the "privileges or immunities" of any US citizens or deprive anyone of "life, liberty, or property without due process of the law" or deny anyone "equal protection". This outright stated that in the case of one's essential rights, their national citizenship holds more power than that of the state. -
Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad
The companies building the railroad were given 20 square miles of land adjacent to the track in a grid format, with government land inbetween each square mile. If the railroad wasn't completed by 1872, the two companies would have to forfeit their land payments. The Union Pacific Railroad was primarily civil war vets and Irish immigrants and they started in Omaha, NE. The Central Pacific Railroad was mostly Chinese immigrants starting in Sacramento, CA. They came together at Promontory Point, UT -
Election of 1876
The election was between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden. Democrats were beginning to gain power but were lagging behind the Radical Republicans. The results were some states had voted 100% democrat. The election's validity was questioned and a recount was called in FL, LA, and SC. The new results were all in favor of Hayes. A commission of 5 Republicans, 5 Democrats, and 5 supreme court justices ruled in favor of Hayes but the military oversight was over in the south. -
Pendleton Civil Service Act
It established a nonpartisan civil service commission to fill federal jobs by examination. This put an end to the spoils system, where politicians would give their supporters jobs under them as a thank you. This resulted in people unfit to work in federal jobs occupying spaces that needed educated officials. The spoils system had been a part of every election and by using this merit based system it curbed the chances of unfit people being employed. This was passed only after Cleveland's death. -
Dawes Severalty Act
This Act was similar to that of the Homestead Act but catered towards Native Americans. It offered 160 acres to the head of a household and 80 to one person. They had to live on and farm the land for five years and on the surface level it seemed as if it were to help benefit the economy. Instead, it also was a means to break tribal ties and gain access to Native American lands. By living apart, there's less unity within a tribe and forced the acceptance of white views. It was a cultural genocide -
Explosion of the USS Maine
Cubans were revolting under Spain's rule because they wanted independence. The US stepped in due to the effect the conflict had on the sugar trade. A treaty was signed but after a letter was intercepted from Spain stating they weren't adhering to the treaty and disrespecting the president the US anchored a neutral ship in Havana harbor. That night, the ship explodes, killing all 266 men on board. The US blames Spain but they deny these accusations. It's later revealed it was a design error. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
Upton Sinclair was an American writer who wrote a novel called "The Jungle" in which he aimed to show his support for socialist ideologies. The main character worked in a meat packing plant. Instead of his socialist agenda, the main takeaway was the abuses and conditions in the meat packing industry. Upon this discovery, Roosevelt began touring meat packing plants and went on to implement rules, creating this act to ensure safe practices in the factories. Soon after, the FDA was created. -
Antiquities Act
The antiquities act was created by FDR as a means to preserve and protect sacred land. The president was able under this act to deem a place a national monument, effectively protecting these areas. These areas were highly protected, keeping the wildlife and resources in said areas. This was one of the first serious instances of wildlife protection seen in the government, and it opened up a rabbit hole of possible ways to ensure the protection of our nation's land, wildlife, and resources. -
Ford introduces the Model T
Ford introduced the model T car in 1908 for just a mere $850. This car was one of the first automobiles to be able to be mass produced. By mass producing the vehicle, it reduced the amount of time it takes to produce a model T automobile. Ford was able to reduce the price of the model T to $260 by 1920. Ford wanted to hire the best and most loyal employees so the company offered better wages, shorter hours, and weekends off. Cars were beginning to become a necessity in the 1920s society. -
NAACP founded
The NAACP was founded by W. E. B. Dubois, the first African American to earn a Harvard doctorate. He advocated for political action and a civil war agenda. He argued social change could be accomplished through developing a group of talented and intelligent black individuals. The NAACP went on to be heavily involved during the civil rights movement in the 1960s by providing lawyers for cases such as Brown v. Board, supplying leaders, and lead the drive to pass major legislation for the movement. -
Election of 1912
Wilson was able to win the 1912 election because of the Republican split between Roosevelt and Taft. He was the first democratic president in 16 years. He pledged to break up trusts but didn't distinguish between good and bad ones. He passed the Clayton act, strengthening the Sherman Anti-trust Act. He created the FTC to regulate interstate commerce and look into trade violations on Wall Street. He created the federal reserve to organize the US banking system and instituted the first income tax. -
Sinking of the Lusitainia
The US had no intentions of joining WWI. Germany was using unrestricted submarine warfare to attack its enemies. They blockaded the coast of mainland Europe to keep British industrial out of the war, sinking troop transports, military vessels, merchant ships, and anything they thought was carrying military supplies. The US angered by the sinking of the Lusitania that carried 2,000 passengers (128 Americans), pressured Germany to desist, but Germany soon started back up, torpedoing 4 US ships. -
Keating Owens Act
The Keating Owens Act was created to halt the usage of child labor by companies. This was done through the limiting of interstate commerce, as interstate commerce sales of goods made by mines or factories that employed children under the age of 14 couldn't be made. It also limited the amount of hours that children of working age were allowed to work in industries. The act was only somewhat productive as the courts declared it unconstitutional and didn't apply to those who worked in rural areas. -
Interception of the Zimmerman telegram
During World War 1, Germany didn't want the United States to become involved with the war. The Germans sent a telegram to Mexico asking to form an alliance with them. The alliance was to be created on the terms that Mexico would start a war with the United States. This would keep the US busy on the Homefront and they wouldn't have time to aid European nations. In turn, Germany would help Mexico gain back TX, AZ, and NM. The US intercepted the telegram and Mexico backed down from Germany's offer. -
Espionage Act
The Espionage Act was passed by congress two months after the US entered world war one. The act made it illegal to get information, take pictures, or take descriptions of information relating to the US defense with the intention of distributing the information or using it to harm national security. It also illegalized blocking/sabotaging enlistment into the war or leading/inciting rebellion within the branches of the military. The supreme court ruled the act was constitutional in Schenck v. US. -
Sedition Act
The sedition act infringed upon the rights of citizens as it violated the first amendment. It prohibited speaking in a manner that would incite rebellion in the military and speech disloyal to the American government, constitution, or the flag. It illegalized advocating for strikes for labor rights, promoting violations of the act, and supporting countries at war with the US. These prohibitions took away the free speech that the US was built on but the act was upheld in Schenk v. United States -
Ratification of the 18th amendment
The temperance movement had been ravaging the United States for years. The movement wanted to illegalize alcohol as it was the root of all social evils. Women were at the forefront of the movement until it got ratified in 1919. Soon after, bootlegging practices to produce illegal alcohol and organized crime started up. Organized crime plagued major cities and alcohol usage went up during this time. This amendment was repealed with the 21st amendment in 1933, effectively ending prohibition. -
The Treaty of Versailles
The treaty was created following Germany's surrender at the end of WWI. The treaty limited Germany's ability to grow strong enough to take over Europe again. It limited their army to 100,000 troops, and the troops had to volunteer. It prohibited armored vehicles, subs, and planes while only allowing their navy 6 battleships. They also couldn't reconcile with Austria and had to pay for all of the war damages, destroying their economy. Hitler used this anger as a scapegoat during his rise to power -
Ratification of 19th amendment
Women had been protesting for years that they deserved equal rights as men. Groups such as the American Woman's Suffrage Association and the National Woman's Suffrage Association aimed to advocate for their rights. The movement picked up with the ratification of 15th amendment as many felt that if black men had the right to vote so had white women. Woodrow Wilson advocated for women's rights during his election campaign and the passing of the amendment gave women the rights they had asked for. -
Immigration Act of 1924
Following the first world war, Americans shared a great sense of patriotism. Amid the Russian revolution, the hatred for communists grew to newfound numbers as it brought on the red scare. Anti-immigrant sentiment was also rising as well. The immigration act limited the number of immigrants based off of the US census of 1890. The cap was based off of the amount of people from a certain country that lived in the US during 1890. They only allowed 2% of that number to immigrate into the country. -
KKK marches on Washington
The KKK had for the most part gone off the grid since the 1880s however, during the 1920s, Klan activity began to rise again. The membership skyrocketed to 5 million. To show how mainstream and dominant they were, the Klan lead a March on Washington in 1926. The group was open to utilizing violence, intimidation, and political means to achieve their ends to ostracize minorities. Their tactics were aimed at African Americans, Jews, immigrants, Catholics, and anyone who supported these minorities. -
Execution of Sacco and Vanzetti
In April 1920, a factory was robbed and two were shot and killed. During the trial, animosity towards both immigrants and people with "dangerous political positions" were at an all time high. Anti-Italian, Anti-immigrant, and anti-anarchist values were seen from anyone involved in the case. Two known anarchists with airtight alibis were accused with the crime and charged with little evidence to back it. Their executions sparked protests and debates over civil rights as it was a biased trial. -
Stock market crash
The economy in the 1920s was booming. The majority of the world was experiencing a depression or a recession but the US was oblivious to that fact. The west was hit first with immense farm debt, credit, and foreclosure. The stock market was filled with speculation and buying on margin. With these practices, weak banks with little federal oversight, and bad loaning practices, the stock market experienced a huge crash, destroying the US economy. Black Tuesday was the date of the shocking crash. -
The Bonus Army March
The government promised World War 1 veterans a bonus payment for their service but the payment wasn't due until 1945. Due to the increasingly tough times, veterans wanted and needed the money as soon as possible. A group of thousands of veterans organized a march on Washington to demand their bonus but were denied by the senate. Some left, but others stayed and built a Hooverville in front of the white house. Hoover later called the army to destroy and burn the camp, injuring the protestors. -
Election of 1932
Roosevelt won the election by a large margin and the number democrats holding federal positions in both the house of representatives and the senate grew. After Hoover's pitiful presidency, Roosevelt was heaven sent. He created numerous ideas to help the US escape the depression, creating acts focused specifically on bettering the economy. His first 100 days were filled with legislation as he felt doing anything was better than sitting back doing nothing. He also helped with foreign diplomacy. -
Hitler elected chancellor of Germany
After WWII, Germany was hopeless and looking for a leader. They turned to whoever offered themselves hope and a common enemy. His oration blamed both the Jews and anyone who signed the treaty of Versailles. Upon being appointed Chancellor of Germany, Hitler immediately broke the treaty of Versailles, putting people to work by expanding the military. They utilized factories to produce planes, tanks, and submarines. He wanted to take over Europe, hurting the ones that had previously hurt Germany. -
Social Security Act
Following the Great Depression, the majority of United States residents desperately needed a job. The social security act was extremely beneficial as it benefited not only younger adults, but also benefited older adults. The act provided a retirement salary for older adults, meaning that they wouldn't have to continue working until one foot is in the grave. With the earlier retirement of older workers, this freed up jobs for the younger generation that needed money to be able to start a family. -
Signing of executive order 8802
President FDR signed executive order 8802 to eliminate discriminatory hiring in the government and all other industries that received government contracts. This basically included any and all federal agencies, unions, and companies that engaged in war related work. This allowed minorities to receive more opportunities. This program caused black employment rates to double during WWII. Roosevelt also created the Bracero program to help fill remaining job positions on the Homefront during WWII. -
Pearl Harbor
Following an embargo the US placed on US oil to Japan, Japan retaliated in an act of war. Japan lead a sneak attack on a US naval base in Hawaii. The attack came in two waves, using bombers, torpedo planes, and fighters launched by aircraft carriers. Japan attacked airfields to cripple the US defense system as the ships in harbor were all anchored in close proximity to each other. The US lost hundreds of planes and ships. The next day the US was at war, as Japan had awoken the sleeping giant. -
Executive Order 9906
After Pearl Harbor, there was an increase in anti-Japanese sentiment. Executive order 9906, signed by FDR, authorized the forced relocation of anyone deemed a threat to national security to be moved further inland. The threats, mainly Japanese-Americans, were forced to live in internment camps, forced to leave the life that they built. Many stayed for years, unable to escape the forced imprisonment. In a later case, the court said national security is more important than the rights of citizens. -
D-Day
Called "Operation Overlord", the allied powers planned this attack for 18 months. The majority of the troops used were green and a heaps of issues caused the plan to be cancelled 3 times. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history with 156,000 troops, 5,400 ships crossing the English Channel, and 12,000 planes. Beaches were stormed supported by 23,000 airborne troops on enemy territory. Within 7 days, the allies controlled 80 miles of coastline. The US lost 12,000 troops in the invasion. -
GI bill of rights signed into law
The G.I. bill of rights was a law that was created to thank the troops that served in the second world war. It provided a higher education in either college or trade school for the veterans so that they could pursue better paying jobs. It gave them low interest home loans so the veterans could grow a family in a space that was fit to sustain them. It also provided low interest business loans for them to start a business. This bill went on to influence the importance of seeking higher education. -
Last Concentration Camp closed
During Hitler's reign over eastern Europe, the Jewish population was used as a scapegoat, ostracized by the general public. They were taken to these torturous camps where they were identified by numbers, forced to shave their heads, and abused. They were forced to work and complete jobs by their supervisors, they were fed the bare minimum, some were even treated as medical experiment subjects. They were gassed and murdered by German leaders. The last camp, Stutthof, was the last to be liberated. -
Japan surrenders
Aiming to expand their empire, Japan invaded Manchuria and China. The US had strong economic ties in these areas and ordered Japan to withdraw. Upon refusal, the US imposed embargos on US oil to Japan. Japan went on to attack Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the US vowed to take down the country. Following Germany's demise, the allied powers turned to Japan. The US dropped two atomic bombs in Japan on the 6th and the 9th killing hundreds of thousands of people. Japan surrendered two days after Nagasaki. -
HUAC and the Hollywood 10
The House Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC) was a committee with subpoena powers that investigated anyone accused of being a communist. Upon being accused/investigated, these people could be fired and blacklisted as people would do anything to distance themselves from a (potential) communist. The Hollywood 10 were a group of producers, actors, and writers called before HUAC. They refused to answer questions in protest of the infringement of their rights. They never worked again, blacklisted -
First Levittown built
Levitt & Sons was a real estate development company that created a new type of neighborhood with homes that cost $8,000. Homeowners chose from specific layouts that were already planned out, making building homes much easier. This allowed people to move out of inner city apartments or older buildings into the suburbs. It fulfilled the American dream of home ownership while also addressing conformity. Conformity is what made the public feel safe in the post-war era after valid fears of distrust. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was the United States' way of vowing aid to countries that were subject to being taken over by communism. President Harry Truman confirmed that the US would provide monetary (economic), military, and political assistance to any democratic nation that was under threat of authoritarian forces aiming to conquer them. The first countries to receive aid were Turkey and Greece as they were "inside of" the iron curtain. They received $400 million to use against the communist agenda. -
USSR imposes a blockade on Berlin
Stalin didn't appreciate having to share Berlin with others, instead wanting total control of the city. He imposed a total blockade on railway, road, and canal traffic leading to West Berlin from the allied German zone. This stopped the flow of supplies such as food, fuel, and consumer goods to west Berlin in hopes of starving the city into submission. In retaliation, Truman begins Operation Vittles, an 18 month airlift of supplies to west Berlin, avoiding touching down on West Berlin soil. -
Congress passes the Marshall Plan
The Marshall plan was a plan created by the US to help aid countries affected by the second world war. The plan was offered to numerous countries, including those under Soviet rule but they declined. It allocated funds to rebuilding cities and aiding the growth of European markets. Firstly, the US gave Turkey and Greece $400 million to fight communist influence. The plan helped rebuild European infrastructure, schools, hospitals, industries, in hopes to bring Europe back to what it used to be. -
Washington Treaty signed, creating NATO
In April 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed. It consisted of ten western European nations, the United States, and Canada. These countries and their representatives signed the Washington Treaty to bring together free sovereign nations to create a collective security system. The principle purpose was found in article five, which stated that an attack on a NATO member was an attack on all other member countries. President Eisenhower was named supreme commander of NATO -
Armistice signed ending the Korean War
The northern region of Korea was heavily influenced by the USSR and China's communism. The south wanted capitalism. Communist Korea pushed southern Korea and unprepared US armies to Pusan where they were stopped by US firepower. An invasion at Inchon threatened to trap northern forces fighting near Pusan perimeter, pushing them to the northern most part of Korea. With the help of Chinese forces, northern forces fought back, eventually becoming a stalemate war. Eisenhower pledged to end this war. -
Decision of Brown v. Board of Education
Following the "Separate but Equal" clause of Plessy v. Ferguson, black schools were severely underfunded, given out of date and low level books and materials. The schools were smaller, offering fewer services and were taught by less qualified schools. Linda Brown sued her local board of education over this, reaching the supreme court. Thurgood Marshall represented Brown in her case to the supreme court and wins. This decision overturns Plessy v. Ferguson, outlawing the segregation of schools. -
Emmett Till murdered
Emmett Till was a 14 year old boy from Chicago who came down to visit family in Mississippi. While he was in Mississippi, he allegedly whistled at a white woman. Emmett was later kidnapped, beaten, shot, lynched, and thrown into a river. They found him in the Tallahatchie River, later arresting the two individuals suspected to be the aggresors. They were tried in front of an all white jury, acquitted of the charges. The two men went on to brag about the crime, while the woman admitted she lied. -
Rosa Parks arrested
In Montgomery, AL., Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus for a white man, later arrested. She was chosen by members of the civil rights movement knowing what would happen to her. They prematurely organized the Montgomery bus boycott to protest the segregation of buses. 40,000 black people boycotted the bus system for 382 days until the bus company joined in fighting the law. They joined as the company was losing an immense amount of money as black people made up 75% of their business. -
Eisenhower Interstate Highway Act
This was the largest public works project in history. It updated and modernized the roadways of America, connecting different parts of the country that were previously isolated. It also brought a sense of relief and preparedness as it played on cold war efforts, making evacuation easier. For every 10 miles of roadway, one mile had to be straight and level as it could be used as an emergency runway for aircraft. It was also important as a car was becoming more of a necessity for everyday life. -
Gary Powers captured
A United States U-2 reconnaissance plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. Pilots had been instructed that upon being shot down, they were to take a cyanide pill to kill themselves to avoid informing Soviets on US intelligence. Instead, Powers ejected himself, parachuting down and being captured by Soviets. Powers was put on trial and went on to expose US intelligence and was eventually released back to the US. USSR leader Khrushchev used this to cancel an east-west summit conference in Paris -
Election of 1960
The election of 1960 was between the young John F. Kennedy, an unproven politician and Richard Nixon, who had a proven track record. This year brought about the first televised presidential debate. This was important as the perspective of the viewers changed the course of the election. Nixon declined makeup for the tv appearance and he looked worrisome, pale, sweaty and shaky compared to the handsome and "prepared" Kennedy. This perspective put Kennedy in front, eventually winning the election. -
Ruby Bridges goes to school
Following he rulings from Brown v. Board, schools across the nation were ordered to integrate, but did it at their own time. Many southern schools put it off, and eventually, Ruby Bridges was the first black student to attend an all white elementary school in the south. Due to the immense backlash from racists, at the age of six, Bridges was forced to be escorted to and from school accompanied by armed marshals while protesters shouted insults, protested, and threw projectiles at the child. -
End of Bay of Pigs Invasion
Following the coup in Cuba, Fidel Castro became premier and later communist dictator of Cuba. As Cubans began fleeing to the US, Eisenhower authorized a CIA plan to overthrow Castro using Cuban exiles that live in the United States. In 1961, JFK became president and inherited the plan. He was wary of the repercussions in the US involvement and Kennedy last minute scaled back, pulling the usage of the air force and the navy. In turn, every single Cuban exile was either captured or executed. -
Freedom Rides
In the Summer of 1961, over 1,000 student volunteers of varying races began taking rides through the south to test new laws outlawing segregation in bus and railway stations. Several of the groups were attacked and buses were bombed by mobs of angry white racists and Ku Klux Klan members. The Birmingham commissioner of public safety, Eugene "Bull" Connor, gave these rioters 15 minutes to abuse the passengers before arriving on the scene, arresting the aggressors as he didn't support the movement -
U-2 flight photographs presence of surface to air missile
A U-2 flight is used to gather intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. A U-2 flight was flown over Cuba in 1962 and it photographed the presence of a surface to air missile. Aerial pilots left no doubt that the USSR was installing nuclear missiles in Cuba aimed at the United States. Each missile had the power of 50 atomic bombs. Depending on the range of the missile, it placed nearly every single major US city within range of the nuclear weapon; launching the Cuban missile crisis. -
16th Street Baptist Church bombing
The 16th St. Baptist Church was located in Birmingham, AL. Although it was a church, it was also utilized as a popular meeting spot. It was strategically bombed by white supremacists at a time that they believed no one was occupying the building. They didn't want to harm anyone; they only wanted to send a message. Unbeknownst to them, there was a choir practice that day, and the bombing killed four young black girls. This sparked riots across the nation, killing two other young black children. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination upon the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. It outlawed discrimination in the process of hiring, promoting, and firing. It also ended segregation that was in place due to these characteristics. It was originally proposed by president Kennedy but Johnson was the president to sign it into law. The act also illegalized the use of federal funds for discriminatory program and authorized the Office of Education to integrate schools. -
March from Selma to Montgomery/Bloody Sunday
As African Americans continued to protest their lack of voting rights, 600 marchers attempted to march from Selma to Montgomery but were brutally attacked. Upon reaching the Edmund Pettis bridge, they were told to disband but refused. They were then attacked with tear gas, bullwhips, and billy clubs. 67 marchers were hospitalized. The second attempt of this march had 250 marchers, and turned back again. The third attempt was successful, backed with 2,000 protective troops and 25,000 protesters. -
Voting Rights Act
The Voting rights act was signed into law by president Lyndon B. Johnson, with Martin Luther King present. It banned discrimination present in local, state, national elections, and polling places. It got rid of tactics such as literacy tests, intimidation, and physical violence. This was necessary as there were laws in place, such as the 15th amendment, that southern lawmakers had found loopholes in to continue to deny the rights of blacks. This closed any loopholes to be taken advantage of. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was extremely helpful to the civil rights movement as he was a well respected leader. He was a pastor, a leader of the Montgomery bus boycott, a founder of the SCLC, employing tactics of civil disobedience, gaining sympathy and TV coverage. While protesting in Birmingham, King was jailed, writing the inspiring "Letter from Birmingham Jail", describing a moral duty to disobey unjust laws. He was shot by James Earl Ray at the Lorraine hotel in Memphis, Tennessee at age 39.
