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The Virginia Company dispatched in search of gold. They arrived in the colonies and established Jamestown in 1607, making it the first permanent English settlement. While there settlers endured the "starving time" and many died of malnutrition and infection. They was also uneasy tension between the English and the Powhatan who both believed the other should pay tribute. Additionally in Jamestown, John Rolfe planted tobacco which would become the first cash crop. -
In Jamestown, Virginia, the Virginia Company began to offer headrights to settlers. Settlers already residing in Virginia were granted 100 acres of land. It granted 50 acres of land to those who paid passage. Additionally, anyone who paid the passage of another was also granted an additional 50 acres. This prompted people to pay for extra people for more land, these people becoming indentured servants. These servants had to work with a master for 4-5 years before being free. -
The ship was headed for Virginia where the colonists had been authorized to settle by the British Crown. These pilgrims (or better known as separatists), landed at Plymouth. There they drafted the Mayflower Compacts which covered rules and regulations and was the first self-governance document in the country. However, the group struggled to attract new converts and settlers because of their strict views and were eventually overshadowed and absorbed by the Puritans. -
Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan spiritual advisor, religious reformer, and an important participant in the Antinomian Controversy which shook the infant Massachusetts Bay Colony. She believed that woman could read and teach the bible. For these "radical" beliefs she was exiled from Massachusetts for having nonconformist religious views that advocate personal revelation over the role of the clergy, which were considered dangerous. And so she fled with her family to Rhode Island. -
The first Navigation Act was passed in 1651. These were acts passed by Parliament intended to promote the self-sufficiency of the British Empire by restricting colonial trade to England and decreasing dependence on foreign goods. This long series of English laws developed, promoted, and regulated English ships, shipping, trade, and commerce between other countries with its own colonies. -
This rebellion in Virginia is considered by many historians to be the first stirring of revolutionary sentiment in America. It began with a local dispute with the Doeg Indians on Potomac River. Bacon mobilized his neighbors and attacked any Indians he could find. He issued a "Manifesto and Declaration of the people" that demanded removal of Indians and an end to the rule of the wealthy. -
The Salem Witch Trials were a series oh hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts in the town of Salem. A special court was set up by the governor in order to convict these individuals. Overall, 150 persons are accused of witchcraft, with 20 people (14 women), being executed. By October, the hysteria subsides, remaining prisoners are released, and the special court is dissolved. -
The Molasses Act is passed by the British Parliament, it imposes heavy duties (six pence per gallon) on molasses, rum, and sugar imported from non-British islands in the Caribbean to protect English planters there from French and Dutch competition. Rum distilling was one of the leading industries in New England. American colonists feared the act would increase the price of rum manufactured in New England which would disrupt the region's exporting capacity. -
The Proclamation of 1763 means no expansion past the Appalachian Mountains. According to the colonists, they believed they greatly contributed to the French and Indian war effort, they believed the Western lands would opened, and they would be seen as equals with Britain. However, to Britain, the colonists had been cowards and were subservient to the empire. This specific proclamation angered colonists because it was like slap in the face for all the fighting they had done in the war. -
The Boston Massacre was a confrontation between British Soldiers and colonists. The patriot mob was agitating the soldiers by throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks at them. Following an unknown command, the British soldiers released fire, killing five patriots. This event was exaggerated with Paul Revere's drawing of the incident. The Boston Massacre serves an example on how the propaganda following an event can be more impactful than what actually happened. -
The Sons of Liberty, a group of instigators and actionists who used extreme measure to outrage the British, disguised themselves as Indians and dumped 342 chests of the East India Company's tea into the harbor at Griffin's Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts. This was a political protest against Britain for imposing "taxation without representation". Parliament responded to this with the Coercive Acts of 1774 or the "Intolerable Acts". -
In response to the Boston Tea Party, Britain passed the Coercive Acts, dubbed the "Intolerable Acts" by colonists. These acts closed the port of Boston until the lost tea was paid back. It outlawed assemblies and took total control of colonial government. Additionally, if royal officials were accused of a crime they would be tried in England, ensuring an unfair bias. Additionally, the Quartering Act was more greatly enforced, trade and commerce was regulated, and higher taxed were enacted. -
A month after the revolution began, all 13 colonies sent delegates to the second continental congress in Philadelphia. The proceedings quickly split between two factions. The conservatives, who desired reconciliation with Britain, and sent the Olive Branch Petition. And the radicals, who desired support for the revolution. King George rejects the Olive Branch and declares the colonies to be in open rebellion. The delegates charge Thomas Jefferson to write a declaration of American Independence -
After intense fighting in and around Boston, Paine writes Common Sense. Largely thought of as a brilliant propaganda piece, Common Sense lays out a passionate case for independence, in the language of the common people. Since it was written in such a way that anyone could understand, it picked up momentum and inspired thousands and was pivotal in helping American colonists to realize the mistreatment from Britain and declare independence. -
The adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress declaring that the thirteen colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, and no longer a part of the British Empire. This document contains the ideals and goals of our nation. It also contains a list of complaints against the British king. Most importantly, it contains the arguments the colonists used to explain why they wanted to be free of British rule, and their reasons for wanting independence. -
The Battle of Saratoga represents a turning point in the war. British General John Burgoyne and his army plans to move South where he will meet up with two other British armies and face the continentals. The other two British armies are not there, and Burgoyne is quickly surrounded and forced to surrender along with his whole army. It was fought in two stages in September and October of 1777. It gave a decisive victory for the Americans. -
After a grueling campaign through the southern colonies, General Cornwallis retreated to the coast of Yorktown, Virginia. He was not aware that the French Navy had defeated the British fleet and he found himself cornerd. The Americans and French laid seige to the British position and, with no where to turn he surrendered. This ended major fighting in the Revolutionary War. Legend says that, as they surrendered, their band played the song "The World Turned Upside Down". -
This compromise was an agreement between delegates from both the North and South that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining taxation and representation in the House of Representatives. Northern delegates wanted population to be calculated based on the free population. The South, however, wanted the slaves to count towards their population because this would gain them more representation in the House. This compromise showcases the hypocrisy of the South. -
In 1789, Washington (Virginia) is inaugurated as the first president of the US and John Adams (Massachusetts) becomes the vice-president. Under Washington, precedents were created that would be followed in years to come. With Washington's presidency came the establishment of the court system in 1789, establishment of the first presidential cabinet, Hamilton's financial plan (notably creating a national bank), and The Whiskey Rebellion, The French Revolution, and Pickney's Treaty. -
Many people were concerned with the Constitution in terms of rights. So the Bill of Rights was added in order to assure citizens that their rights were protected. The Bill of Rights is also known as the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These amendments guarantee essential rights and civil liberties, such as the famous freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, trial by jury, and other recognizable American rights. -
The cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney. The cotton gin removes the seeds from cotton fiber. This invention makes cotton more profitable and changes the course of the South. Previous to this invention, slavery and free labor had been on the decline, but now, with this invention, cotton is made extremely profitable and the use of African slaves skyrockets. Consequently, the South becomes ultra-dependent upon their free labor and the system of slave use. -
These Acts were passed by President Adams. The Alien Act allowed the president to deport any alien considered dangerous. The Sedition Act made it illegal for newspapers to print any material that is critical of the president or congress. Additionally, the naturalization act increased the amount of time immigrants had to live in the US before they could become citizens. Adams passed these laws so he could control the public and he hoped that if immigrants could not vote he would win re-election. -
The Louisiana Territory, the land that made up western Mississippi basin, was purchased by Thomas Jefferson from Napoleon in 1803 for the final price of $27 million. President Thomas Jefferson then commissioned Lewis and Clark to cross the continent and explore the new frontier and make contact with the Indians that lived there. They were instructed to make observations on the geography and the biodiversity and to potentially make deals with the Native Americans that lived there. -
James Madison, a member of Jefferson's cabinet finds the letter granting John Marbury a federal judgeship. Jefferson orders Madison not to deliver it. Marbury sues in order to get the position he feels is his. The Supreme Court sides with Madison and refuses to grant Marbury the position because they find part of the Judiciary Act unconstitutional and void. In doing so, the Supreme Court claims the right of "Judicial Review" or the right to declare laws unconstitutional and strike them down. -
This act was a law passed by the US Congress and signed by the President Thomas Jefferson. It was a nonviolent resistance to British and French molestation of US merchant ships. It prohibited American ships from trading in all foreign ports. While this act hurt trade, it spurred domestic manufacturing. With the growth of the cotton gin in the South, textile factories sprung up to spin the cotton into fabric. The sewing machine, invented by Elias Howe, contributed to this industry. -
This was the last battle in the War of 1812. This battle is significant because the Treaty of Ghent was signed a month prior, however, word had not yet reached America and so many assume this was the battle that won the war. In this battle, the American forces are a multicultural motley band of experienced soldiers and warriors. American forces at New Orleans are led by Andrew Jackson. Jackson will be associated with winning the war, and will be considered a national hero for his actions. -
This was the first widespread and durable financial crisis in the United States that slowed westward expansion and was followed by a general collapse of the American economy that persisted through 1821. This financial panic affected the growth of trade that had taken place after the War of 1812 and brought it to an abrupt halt. It cause unemployment to rise, banks to fail, and agriculture prices to fall.
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Four candidates ran in this election, and no candidate received a majority of the electoral votes and so according to the 12th amendment, the vote went to the House of Representatives. Adams and Clay met privately and no one knows what is discussed. In the days following, Clay, the speaker of the House, publicly supports Adams and the House elects him as president. Three days later Adams appoints Clay to become his secretary of state. Jackson supporters claim it was a 'Corrupt Bargain'.
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The Removal Act created the Indian Territory on national lands acquitted in the Louisiana Purchase, this relocation would later be known as the Trail of Tears. They were promised money and reserved land to Native American peoples who would give up their ancestral holdings east of the Mississippi River. The Cherokees carried the defense of their land to the Supreme Court where they claimed the status of a "foreign nation". However Jackson ignored the decision made under Marshall's court. -
William Lloyd Garrison was a printer, newspaper publisher, radical abolitionist, suffragist, and civil rights activist. Garrison's paper The Liberator advocates for abolitionism. This paper denounced all people and acts that would prolong slavery including the United States Constitution. It was the most widely circulated anti-slavery newspaper during the antebellum period and throughout the Civil War. -
South Carolina adopted an Ordinance of Nullification which declared the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 to be null and void. They also threatened secession if federal officials tried to collect duties. This ordinance was supported by the States' Rights interpretation of the Constitution which was developed in The South Carolina Exposition and Protest which was written anonymously by John C. Calhoun. In the end, both sides settled on a compromise where they could both "win".
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The Reaper, created by McCormick Co., revolutionizes the way we harvested wheat and other grains. The mechanical reaper replaced the manual cutting of the crop with scythes and sickles. With the reaper, wheat could be harvested much faster and with less labor force. While it was ultimately good for agriculture, it left many people unemployed, replaced by the efficiency of the machine. It was an important step in the mechanization of agriculture during the nineteenth century. -
Mexico offered Texas land to Americans for free on the conditions that they had to farm the land for a profit and become a Mexican citizen. There were too many so Mexicans shut off the borders, but Americans still came anyway. Texas wanted to break off from Mexico so Mexico wages war against the Republic of Texas. The Battle of the Alamo was the most notable and garnered the most support for the annexation of Texas. They were outnumbered 10 to 1. Everyone died but they would not surrender. -
Frederick Douglass was an escaped slave who became a prominent activist in the abolition movement. His autobiography, "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave", he described his time as an enslaved worker in Maryland. This autobiography allowed people to understand the world from a slave's point of view. It brought Douglass widespread publicity and allowed him to use his public image to further advocate for abolitionism. -
This act by Henry Clay, helps to prevent a civil war on the issues of slavery and territorial expansion. According to the compromise, California would enter the Union as a free state, slave trade (not slavery) would be abolished in Washington D.C., strict fugitive slave laws are enacted nationwide, and territories applying for statehood will now be governed by the concept of popular sovereignty. -
Kansas has an important election that would decide if they would enter as a free or slave state by popular sovereignty. This enticed migration to the territory in order to sway votes. On election day, a posse of pro-slavery 'border ruffians' from Missouri crossed into Kansas. They invaded Lawrence, armed with rifles, a canon, and sidearms. Violent skirmishes like this between the two factions lead to the ear known as 'Bleeding Kansas'. -
The US Supreme Court ruled against Dred Scott in his landmark case. Scott, a slave, moved with his owner into a free state. He argued that, if slavery is illegal in that state, that he cannot be a slave because it would violate law. However, the supreme court upheld slavery in the united states territories, denied the legality of black citizenship in America, and declared the Missouri Compromise to be unconstitutional. -
Since the East was densely populated and overcrowded, and the West was sparsely populated, had abundant fertile land, and was economically unproductive, the Homestead Act was created. This Act freed land in the West, and gave away 160 acre plots to any head of household under the conditions that they must live on the land, must farm for five years, and must improve the property. This opportunity was enhanced by the transcontinental railroad which further increased the progress of the West. -
The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. It stated "that all persons held as slaves" in the rebellious states, "are, and henceforward shall be free". Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't actually free the slaves. However, it does help to prevent European powers from supporting the South by clearly making the war about slavery. -
Lincoln felt that the nation could only be unified again if there were no feelings of animosity. So his 10% plan stated that pardons would be given to any confederate leader who swore an oath to the Union and Constitution, and that also agreed to emancipation. Additionally, any state could be readmitted once at least 10% of its voters has sworn loyalty oaths. States also had to form new state constitutions that outlawed slavery. -
Most Republicans in Congress at the time, many of them radicals, felt that Lincoln's 10% plan was too lenient on the Southern rebels. This Bill proposed that 50% of a state's voters had to swear oaths of loyalty to the Union. Additionally, only non-confederates were allowed to vote and hold political offices. Lincoln refused to sign this bill stating that it was too hard, but then he is assasinated in 1865. -
The Freedmen's Bureau was created to help newly freed blacks transition to a life of freedom. They did this by starting schools, negotiating labor contracts, securing loans, helping find and purchase land, and providing legal aid. It was later abolished in 1872 due to pressure from white southerners. While they strived to help, they failed to make a real stride towards racial equality mostly due to the fight between Congress and the President. -
The fourteenth amendment stated that all people born in the US were full citizens and, that all people who were naturalized (completed the immigration/citizenship process) were full citizens. All US states were required to protect US citizens with full protection through the laws and the legal process. Former confederate leaders could no longer hold state or federal offices. And lastly, if a state denied people their voting rights, they lost representation in Congress. -
Congress had passed the Tenure of Office Act (the president could not remove some military officials without congressional approval) to protect some Radical Republicans in Andrew Johnson's cabinet. However, Johnson went ahead and removed the secretary of war Edwin Stanton. The House impeached Johnson for this, but the senate fell one vote short of removing him from office. So now, President Johnson was officially powerless. -
The National Woman Suffrage Association, headed by Elizabeth Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, focused exclusively on women's rights and took up the battle for a federal suffrage amendment. Notable leaders were Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony. In a court case, Minor v. Happersett, the supreme court ruled that suffrage rights were not inherent in citizenship. A major set back for women's suffrage as it meant that legislature could deny women the vote if they wished. -
The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge is a direct result of rapid urbanization, industrialization, and population growth within the US. The population was expanding with the "New Immigrant". They settled mostly in New York, and so there was a need for improved transportation. Industrialization fostered factories and large numbers of workers. This caused industrial cities to become crowded and, workers needed to be close to their jobs. And so, the Brooklyn Bridge helps with that accessibility. -
Led by Terrence Powderly, the Knights of Labor accepted both skilled and unskilled workers, men and women, all religions, and race. This diverse group of workers wanted to abolish the wage system and create a co-operative economy of worker owned industries by backing certain political candidates and pushing for the 8-hour work day. They were also against child labor. These workers were an example of many labor unions that formed due to decades of poor wages and working conditions. -
Recognizing from the Election of 1868 that African Americans needed the right to vote, Republicans quickly had the 15th Amendment pushed through Congress. It prohibited any state from denying any citizen the right to vote, regardless of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude". The 15th Amendment was actually incredibly unpopular in the North and won the Democratic party much needed Northern support. -
In this 'election crisis', according to the polls, 100% of the South voted for Tilden. Questioning the validity, a recount was initiated. After the recount, all three states went to Hayes. The Constitution did not account for this type of crisis, and so an election commission was created with 5 democrats, 5 republicans, and 5 supreme court justices. After backroom negotiations Hayes is named President, and military oversight of the South was over. This marks the end of Reconstruction. -
Edison is among the most influential inventors of all time. He is credited with the invention of the first long-lasting lightbulb, not of just the lightbulb which is commonly believed. He harnessed electric power to record music and motion pictures. He is also the first inventor to use the idea of mass production. His ideas are extraordinarily influential to others such as Nicola Tesla who improved upon his electric power system to make something much safer and more reliable. -
In the wake of Garfield's death, Congress passed the Pendleton Act, establishing a nonpartisan Civil Service Commission to fill federal jobs by examination. This provided that Federal Government jobs would be awarded on the basis of merit and that Government employees be selected through competitive exams. This ensured the end of the Spoils System -
This Act offered 160 acres to each Native American family or 80 acres to single Native men. Many whites believed this was a generous act, however, the government saw it as a way to break tribal ties and gain access to Indian lands. It severed ties because any native who took the land, could not longer live in their communal living, and were conditioned to accept white views. It was an attack on their culture, tradition, and way of life. In the end, they lost 86 million acres of reservation land. -
Carnegie was a poor Scottish Immigrant. He went from working as a poor laborer in a steel mill to owning the largest steel company in the world and becoming one of the worlds wealthiest men. He was a smart business person, and ruthless to his competitors. However, he adhered to the "gospel of wealth" as illustrated in his article. He felt it was the responsibility of the wealthy to do what the poor could not. He donated portions of his fortune, established schools, universities, and libraries. -
During the Progressive Era, Jacob Riis, a muckraking journalist, publishes 'How the Other Half Lives'. His work illustrated the awful living conditions of those living in tenement housing and poor living conditions. The tenement houses were poorly constructed apartment buildings that were overcrowded, dangerous, and disease ridden. Middle and upper classes didn't see the extent of the poverty present in the US, and Jacob Riis' work brought lower class America into light and caused change. -
The women's suffrage gained momentum during the Progressive Era. Organizations such as the National American Women Suffrage Association sprung up. They used rallies, marches, lobbyist, magazine articles, and debates to further their cause. Many of these women also advocated strongly for prohibition as it was seen as the root of all evil. Additionally, many of these women attempted to help immigrant families by creating settlement houses, and many women also advocated for African American rights. -
Booker T. Washington preached a philosophy of self-help, racial solidarity, and accommodation. He urged blacks to accept discrimination for the time being and concentrate on elevating themselves through hard work and material prosperity. He gained national fame in 1895 with his Atlanta Compromise address, delivered at the Cotton States Exposition. For the expositions white organizers, this intended to show racial progress. His speech states that the races could remain socially detached. -
The US Supreme Court ruled, in a 7-1 vote, that "separate but equal" accommodations on railroad cars conformed to the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection. That decision was used to justify segregating all public facilities, including schools. And most school districts, neglected their black schools. This ruling coincided with the Jim Crow era, and legalized segregation in the South now expanded countrywide. -
The US anchored navy battleship, the Maine, in Havana Harbor to protect US citizens and economic interest in Cuba. While peacefully anchored, the Maine exploded killing 260 American sailors. The US believed this to be Spain, but future evidence reveals it was an internal ship issue. This event sparked American patriotism. President McKinley asked Congress to approve a $50 million appropriation to "prepare for war". Catchy headlines adopted the phrase "Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!" -
Roosevelt's popularity on the ticket helped McKinley to be re-elected. However, McKinley was assasinated and so his vice-president Roosevelt became president. He wanted to break up what he regarded 'bad trusts' in something called 'trust busting' using the Sherman Anti-trust Act. He also passed consumer reforms with the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. Additionally, he worked to protect and preserve some of America's natural wild lands and create national parks and preserves. -
After completing his terms, Roosevelt hand picks William Howard Taft to be his successor and campaigns tirelessly to see him elected. Despite Roosevelt's legacy, Taft actually ends up breaking more trust and creating more national parks and preserves than Roosevelt. However, he is uneasy with a president enacting broad social reforms. Angry over Taft's failure to carry on his policies, Roosevelt challenges Taft for the Republican nomination, but this splits the Republican vote. -
WEB DuBois was the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University. As an important intellectual, scholar, and political thinker, DuBois advocated political actions and a civil rights agenda. He argued social change could be accomplished by developing the small group of college-educated blacks he called "the Talented Tenth". DuBois helped to found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People which carried well into the 1950s civil rights movement and beyond. -
Henry Ford previously introduced the model T in 1908 for $850. Using scientific management and creating a moving assembly line, he was able to reduce the time it takes to produce the model from 12 hours to 90 minutes. This, in turn, also reduced the price to $280. This created a boom in the automobile industry, and provided opportunities for the industries of steel, oil, insurance, and construction. This benefited transportation and created the suburbs as people could now live farther from home. -
As a result of the split Republican vote during the election of 1913, Woodrow Wilson is elected as the first Democrat in 16 years. He pledged to break up big trusts as well, but unlike Roosevelt, made no distinction between good and bad trusts. He passed the Clayton Act which strengthened the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. He also created the Federal Trade Commission which helped regulate interstate commerce. He created the Federal Reserve which reorganized the country's banking system. -
The US was angered when a German U-boat sinks the Lusitania. Under pressure from the US, Germany agrees to stop unrestricted sub warfare. However, this weakened their coastal blockade and they resumed practice. Four US ships were torpedoed further sending a wedge between Germany and the US. Germany sought an alliance with Mexico through the Zimmerman telegram, which is intercepted and considered to be an act of war. The US enters the war on the side of allies, just two months later. -
President Wilson proposed a plan for peace. His 14 points aimed at ending WWI and preventing future wars. The points included no more secret alliances, freedom of the seas, and reduction of arms. They were unique because they put no blame, punitive actions, or admission of defeat on Germany. The Germans agreed to the armistice believing that a treaty would be based on Wilson's 14 points, but great Britain and France suffered greatly on the Homefront and insisted that Germany be punished. -
The 18th Amendment or Volstead Act gets passed outlawing the manufacture, sale, distribution, or importation of alcohol nation wide. This was a result of the temperance movement and an advocation for prohibition taken on by many groups such as the Women's Christian Temperance Union and anti-saloon league. These groups and others believed alcohol to be 'the root of all evil'. By banning alcohol, the nation saw an increase in organized crime, speakeasies, and bootleggers. -
The Germans agree to an armistice believing that a treaty would be based on Wilson's 14 Points. However, Great Britain and France insisted Germany be punished. Germany didn't have the resources to start fighting again and were essentially forced to sign the the treaty. The treaty officially ended the Great War. It caused Germany to accept full blame for the war and they had to pay massive reparations. The treaty was designed to punish Germany and make sure they could never rise again. -
The Klan's activity hadn't been seen since the 1880's, but it begins to rise again during the 1920s. Membership reached 5 million, showing how mainstream they were. The KKK marched on Washington in 1926 as a display of their power. The group was willing to use violence, intimidation, and political means to achieve their ends. Their tactics of violence were aimed at minority groups such as African Americans (predominately), Jews, Immigrants, and Catholics. -
The Great War created a sense of patriotism, and unpatriotic ideas were feared and anti-immigrant feelings arose. Affects of the Red Scare and animosity toward immigrants and those with 'dangerous political positions' were highlighted in the case of Sacco and Vanzetti. With little evidence, two Italian immigrants, admitted anarchists, were charged with the murder of an employee. They were found guilty and sentenced to death. Their deaths sparked widespread protests and debate about civil rights. -
Hoover was the president during the first half of the Great Depression. He opposed direct federal aid, fearing that doing so would deepen the depression. He provided help to banks but mostly thought the US could 'ride it out'. He was deeply criticized by citizens who saw him as unwilling to help. During his presidency, banks closed, land foreclosed, unemployment was 25%, and we had extremely high levels of debt. His 'do-nothing' attitude inspired the country to elect FDR in the next election. -
After WWI, the economy was on the decline. Ballooning stock market lead to speculation and buying 'on margin'. People began to run up large personal debts in order to have the newest products. The Great Crash in 1929 was a symptom of the US' economy. Banks lacked money, people lost savings, debts were called in, and no one had cash. This led to production being stopped, workers fired, consumption declined, and no profits. President Hoover did little to help and opposed direct federal aid. -
WWI veterans had been promised a bonus for their service, but they weren't due to receive it until 1945. The financial circumstances of the country prompted many of them to demand it now. Thousands marched on Washington, but their request was denied by the senate and many left. Those who stayed congregated around the White House. After months, Hoover called the army to disperse them and the military evicted them from DC and burned their camp, and many veterans were injured. -
Roosevelt promised programs to address the Depression that was ignored by Hoover. Roosevelt focused on "relief, recovery, reform". He created enormous debt spending so we could consume our way out of the depression.The 'New Deal' created new agencies and programs to protect people from economic disaster. He's loved by the people because he seems to be working hard to help them. However, some said the deals were unconstitutional and posed questions on what power the govt. has in times of turmoil. -
The WPA is the biggest agency created by FDR. In 1935, it employed 8 million and had $2 billion funds. It created bridges, reservoirs, irrigation, sewage, schools, playgrounds, education, and training. This work program paid minimum wage, but it pulled people off unemployment, charity, and soup lines. The WPA was part of several New Deal programs put into motion by FDR during the Great Depression. It helped to provide jobs and try to solve the country's financial crisis. -
Under President Franklin Roosevelt, the Social Security Act of 1935 was passed. This created a safety net for all Americans. A percentage of everyone's pay check would go towards this fund. However, this system was based on a shorter life-span and intended to only supplement (not replace) income which has created problems. On the bright side, however, people had been less inclined to retire because they would lose their income and the SSA gave people an incentive to retire. -
This Act was the country's first peacetime draft, but even with draftees coming in before the attack on Pearl harbor it only had about 300,000 men. The US calls on American men to enlist and the American people respond. The government is overwhelmed with the number that decides to join and patriotism sweeps the country. Industry transfers to wartime production and produces weapons faster than anybody thought was possible. In one month, the US was able to produce up to 4000 tanks and 4500 planes. -
During WWII, the need for workers began to arise, but most industries wouldn't hire blacks. So FDR signed Executive Order 8802 which eliminated discriminatory hiring practices in the government and forced companies to hire blacks so the nation could meet wartime production quotas. And so, black employment doubled. This is a reflection of the continuation of The Great Migration, as African Americans moved North to attain jobs. This gave them a sense of independence that would carry beyond WWII. -
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor using a combination of fighter planes, dive bombers, horizontal bombers, torpedo planes, and midget submarines. They did this because of the US demands that Japan withdraw from China and Indochina, and the US oil embargo was hurting their economy. This attack cost the US 2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians, 188 planes, and 18 ships. This was a deep blow to the US pacific fleet. This forced the US to finally join WWII, and so the US and Britain declared war on Japan. -
Unlike WWI, which evoked widespread harassment of German Americans, WWII produced relatively little condemnation of European Americans. This harassment moved instead towards Japanese Americans. Early in 1942, Franklin Roosevelt responded to anti-Japanese fears by issuing Executive Order 9066, which authorized the War Department to force Japanese Americans from their homes and hold them in relocation camps for the rest of the war. -
The allies spent 18 months planning and training for D-Day. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history and the turning point in WWII. The Allied forces had 156,000 troops that landed on five beaches in Normandy. The beaches were stormed early in the morning and were supported by nearly 23,000 airborne troops that had been landed behind enemy lines the night before. Within 7 days, the Allies controlled 80 miles of the coast. This broke the Atlantic wall and allowed the Allies to push inland. -
The GI Bill of Rights is our government's way of saying thank you to soldiers who fought in WWII. This act paid for education (college or trade school), gave low interest home loans, receive free healthcare through VA hospitals, and provided low interest business loans. These benefits aided our veterans and boosted home ownership, small businesses, and the US economy leading to the romanticized version of the 1950s that remains today. With the growth of the suburbs and the baby boom. -
In the midst of the cold war, Greece and Turkey faced communist revolts in 1947 and asked the US for aid to defend themselves. And so, President Truman asked congress for $400 million in aid plus US troops/advisors to help both Greece and Turkey fight back the communist threat. The Truman Doctrine was the principle that the US should give support to countries threatened by Soviet forces or communists. This was first expressed in his speech to Congress about seeking aid for Greece and Turkey. -
Jackie Robinson was the first African American to enter the major leagues in baseball. He was subjected to lots of hatred during his time. He was spiked, beaned, threatened, and players refused to play with or against him, and he was refused service while on the road. But Robinson never retaliated. His courage, discipline, and success was an inspiration to millions of Americans. His influence helped white citizens to view African Americans in a new light and inspired many African Americans. -
In the midst of the Cold War, ten motion-picture producers, directors, and screenwriters appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee. They refused to answer questions regarding their possible communist affiliations and spent time in prison for contempt of Congress. This is a reflection of the communist fear that was present in the United States during the Cold War, and how our fears sometimes overtook the rights of the people to believe as they choose. -
After WWII, the US planned to help reconstruct Europe under the Marshall Plan. We helped to modernize industrial equipment, create sound currencies and national budgets, and expand trade and increase exports. This increased economic cooperation among the countries. There was an increase in production especially in agriculture and energy industry. We helped to rebuild infrastructure (roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals) and rebuild destroyed cities. -
Stalin wanted control over the entire city of Berlin, so the USSR imposed a complete blockade on railway, road, and canal traffic. No supplies of any type (food, fuel, and consumer goods) were allowed to enter West Berlin. Truman decided that we were going to hold on to West Berlin. He chooses an airlift to keep the city supplied. Truman made it clear that if one cargo plane was shot down it would mean war between the US and the USSR. And in May of 1949, Stalin ended the Berlin Blockade. -
In 1949, ten west European countries, the US, and Canada, sign the Washington Treaty, which creates the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an alliance which brings together free and sovereign countries in order to create a collective security system. The main purpose of the alliance is specified in article 5 which states that "an armed attack against one or more of them... shall be considered an attack against them all." NATO was essential in creating a strong force to combat communism. -
Communist North Koreans had pushed the South Korean and unprepared US armies all the way to Pusan in the South. The Korean War faced lots of back and forth wins as General Macarthur commanded US forces. With pushes from Macarthur and the UN troops and pushes from communist china turned the war in Korea into a stalemate. In 1952, Eisenhower was elected president, and he vowed to end this war. In 1953, an armistice was signed ending the Korean War, and Korea remained divided at the 38th parallel. -
In a previous case (Plessy v. Ferguson), Plessy determined that schools could be separate if they were equal. However, they were far from equal, and the black schools had worse equipment and less funding. In the case of Linda Brown, she had to walk past a white school to get to the Black school which was lower quality. Thurgood Marshall represents Brown in her case to the supreme court. They won the case and overturned the Plessy verdict. This opened the door for the desegregation of schools. -
In Montgomery Alabama, Rosa Parks challenges the Jim Crow laws by refusing to give up her seat. She is then arrested and black leaders use this to organize a boycott. 40,000 blacks in Montgomery participate in the boycott and it lasts 382 days. The bus companies eventually joined in fighting the law in order to end the boycott and regain black customers which made up 75% of their business. This civil rights protest illustrates the power African Americans had to leverage their economic influence. -
The Eisenhower Interstate Act is the largest public works project in history. It updated and modernized America's roadways and connects the country. The Interstate Act played on cold war fears by making evacuation easier and by acting as an emergency runway. This fostered driving and car culture as cars become more of a necessity. Cars were symbols of freedom and status and they made life easier for families. The interstate Act also helped those living in suburbs easily get to jobs in the city. -
As the youth of the 50s rebelled against the conformity of their parents, they found an outlet in the emergence of Rock. Rock began as 'black' music combining blues with pop and western influences. But Elvis Presley introduced this music to white audiences when he first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956. His sensational music and dancing were like nothing the public had seen before and it was met with harsh criticism from the older conformity generation and with adoration from the youth. -
Despite the Brown v Board ruling 3 years prior, integration was still being blocked by local and state governments in the South. And so 9 students in Little Rock enrolled in the white high school. However, Governor Faubus ordered the National Guard to deny them entrance. Whites picketed and protested, threatened lynching, and didn't let their kids go to school. However, Eisenhower ordered the school open and ordered the troops of the 101st Airborne division to escort the Little Rock 9 to school. -
The election of 1960 was between Nixon, a politician with a proven track record and Kennedy, a young unproven politician. This was the first televised presidential debate and it greatly affected the outcome of the election. More than 46 million homes had TVs, and for the first time, citizens could see the candidates as they spoke. And so, Kennedy, the younger and more attractive candidate, was the more photogenic of the two and won over the public by being a better speaker on the new medium. -
In Greensboro North Carolina, four black college students sit down at a segregated lunch counter in a Woolworth department store and ask to be served. When they're denied, they refuse to leave and begin a sit-in at the restaurant. The event inspires similar sit-in protests at lunch counters throughout the South. Six months after the four North Carolina students were denied service, they are finally served lunch at the same Woolworth counter. -
US intelligence began receiving reports of Soviet missiles in Cuba. Aerial photographs from US spy planes left no doubt that the Russians were installing nuclear missiles in Cuba aimed at the US. Almost all major US population centers were within range, and JFK was convinced we had to take action. And so a naval blockade was put into place. In 1962, the Soviet ship crossed the quarantine line, but stops after US navy ships fire. Khrushchev gave in to US pressure and removed missiles from Cuba. -
In the Summer of 1962, over 1,000 student volunteers both black and white, organized by CORE and SNCC begin taking rides through the South to test new laws outlawing segregation in bus stations. Several groups are viscously attacked and buses bombed by mobs of angry white racists. "Bull" Connor, commissioner of public safety, knows the mobs are waiting and intentionally arrives 15 minutes late, giving the mobs more than enough time to do serious damage. Birmingham becomes known as "bombingham". -
The SCLC planned a march and rally on Washington DC with support from the NAACP, SNCC, and CORE. Over 250,000 people were in attendance. People bused in from all over the country to attend this event. The event hosted several speakers, most notably Martin Luther King Jr. MLK, a pastor and former of SCLC, employed tactics of civil disobedience throughout his lifetime to gather public sympathy. At the Washington March, he delivers his famous "I Have A Dream" speech inspiring the country. -
Hundreds of school kids stage a school walk-out to participate in a march in downtown Birmingham. Many are arrested, only to be set free and repeat the process again the next day. "Bull" Connor stops the marchers by ordering the crowds sprayed with fire hoses and releasing dogs on them. The march is televised and causes John F. Kennedy to publicly support the Civil Rights Movement and new civil rights legislation. -
On the day of JFK's assassination, Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president. Johnson's Great Society expanded ideas from the New Deal. He tackled poverty as a social issue and declared "war on poverty". Johnson greatly expanded the power of the government. His economic opportunity act of 1964 helped poor Americans. He also developed Medicare and Medicaid. President Johnson also notably signed the civil rights act of 1964 and 1968. He also signed the voting rights act of 1965 -
Despite the recently passed Civil Rights Act, there were still problems regarding voting rights. To protest the lack of voting rights, marchers tried to march from Selma to Montgomery, but were brutally attacked. After a 3rd attempt, a group of 25,000 successfully march into the capitol. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by Johnson. This bans discrimination in local, state, and national elections and polling places, and bans literacy tests, intimidation, and physical violence.
