-
1492
Sailing to new world
Spain was the first country that sailed to the New World. They landed in Central/South America and the Caribbean searching for gold. France landed between the Appalachian Mountains and the Rockies looking for fur. And England landed on the east coast while searching to make a profit on whatever they could. Without their desire to find new land and claim new resources, the development of this land wouldn't have been possible. -
Jamestown
Jamestown was the first successful attempt to settle the New World. They were sent there by a corporation, and after many different struggles, they began to make a profit off of tobacco. Once their success could be seen the Headright System was put into place. This system granted those who moved large amounts of land, allowing those who moved to prosper. This was done in an attempt to encourage people to move to the New World, allowing companies to profit from them. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was written by all the male Pilgrims on the Mayflower during their journey to America. The compact was created as a means to ensure the survival of the new colony. It laid out an early form of self-governance that hadn't been seen on the continent before this time. The contract also established the first laws of the new colony and remained in effect until 1691. -
Molasses Act
The Molasses Act was one of the first mercantilist taxes put on the new American colonies. The Act caused products like molasses, sugar, rum, etc. to be taxed if they came from a non-British source. This act was passed to make the colonists buy their sugar and molasses from the British Caribbean plantations. This way the money would go to the British Crown. This Act laid a foundation for what would become the series of taxes leading to the Revolution. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris in 1763 was the official end to the 7 Years' War, or the French and Indian War. The war was originally started in Europe over the Austrian Succession, but much of the fighting was done in the American colonies. Britain was the victor over the French, and so the treaty benefitted them greatly. The French had to give up their land west of the Appalachians to the Mississippi as well as some islands. However, the war put Britain in a debt that the colonists would have to repay. -
Sugar Act
One of the many acts that the American colonists considered to have taken away their economic freedom was the Sugar Act. The act, however, was not a tax but a reduction in taxes. The Sugar Act lowered taxes for molasses and sugar as compared to the original law, by revising the Molasses Law of 1733. Yet, many colonists were still unhappy with the fact that there was a tax at all and continued to smuggle out foreign goods, as they had previously done under the Molasses Act, as a way to rebel. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 followed to result of the French and Indian War. Parliment made this Proclamation to keep from upsetting the Indians that lived in the Ohio Valley or other tribes west of the Appalachians. It stated that it was illegal for any colonists to live or travel west of the mountains so that conflict with the natives could be avoided. This upset many colonists who thought they deserved to live in the land they fought for. Some broke the new law and lived on the frontier. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was seen as one of the more harsh taxes placed on the colonists during this time. This Act made it so that any official legal document, newspaper, or commercial document needed a stamp on it, but this stamp was heavily taxed, making the price of these paper goods very expensive. The tax was mostly supposed to affect the rich of the colonies as they were the ones who got the most paper goods. However, this tax made a large majority of the population, not just the rich, very upset. -
Townshend Acts
Townshends, like the Stamp Act, were large taxes on specific items to raise funds and support from the UK government. Imports of paints, paper, glass, lead, and most importantly tea, were among the items taxed. As mentioned above, the tax was intended to finance the British government in the colonies, and the hope was that the people would be more loyal to the government as a result of the new funding. But the act had brought about some of the greatest protests ever seen in any action before it. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre could be seen as the culmination of the colonists' anger at the British government before the Revolution. It began poorly with the colonists harassing an officer who called for reinforcements. The mob threw snowballs and chunks of ice, and the British Army stood at a standstill. After someone yelled fired, a round of shots killed several people in the mob. Using newspapers, colonial leaders spun the event into the basis for anti-British sentiment. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party, which protested a tax on tea that had been levied during the Townshend Acts, was an explosive show of defiance. The Sons of Liberty, a band of colonists who had opposed British rule in their colonies, were the cause of this protest. They raided the British ship late at night and threw a great deal of tea overboard. This upset the British crown, who in response, tightened their grip on the colonies instead of backing down as promised by the Sons of Liberty. -
First Continental Congress
In the first Continental Congress, the 12 colonies met together. This was the first time that this had happened, Each colonie, except Georgia, sent a delegate to Philadelphia to discuss the British rule over American colonies, especially concerning boycotting British goods and American rights under British rule. After delegating for a month, the representatives came up with a plan to boycott British goods to avoid the taxes that were being put on them and to stop funding the government. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battles at Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the American Revolution, the official begining. The British knew of the rebellion and sent the Army to go to a weapons reserve and wanted to stop the rebellion before it happened. The rebel militia intercepted them at Lexington and Concord, and the first shot of the revolution called the shot heard 'round the world. The battles were surprisingly a victory for the Colonists, with only 93 casualties compared to 300 on the British side. -
Second Continental Congress
Similar to the first meeting, this time each of the colonies sent representatives. It served as the first government for the Revolution. With the Olive Branch Petition, the Congress had attempted to restore relations with England but was rejected by the King. They then decided to cut ties with England. This government was the first democratic government of the colonies and was the basis for our American government -
Declaration of Independence
After the Olive Branch petition was denied, the Declaration of Independence was the next course of action for the Second Continental Congress. It was written by Thomas Jefferson and after a nine to two vote, it was approved by the Congress. It wasn't the beginning of the Revolutionary War, but it was the time when the United States was officially born, and now they weren't just fighting for rights, but for independence. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the war for the Americans. A British army was trying to meet up with other British armies to cut off the Northeast. The plan was nearly successful, but logistical problems, as well as some overconfidence by General Howe, meant that the army led by Burgoyne was defeated at Saratoga. Overall, the battle was a major turning point because it led to the French agreeing to help the revolution, leading to victory. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first version of the constitution that we have today. The first version of the Articles was created in 1776, but fears over what it would do kept it from being ratified at first. Its goal was to make a form of unity between the states to create one unified country. However, none of the states wanted to give up their power. In this sense, the Articles failed because of the fear of a strong central government made it extremely weak during crises. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last battle of the Revolutionary War. The British Army was led by General Cornwallis, who was met by a combined American and French force at Yorktown. Eventually, the American-French army was able to successfully siege the city, and Cornwallis surrendered. This surrender was such a lost to Britain, that the already war exhausted Parliament agreed to the end of the war. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris in 1783 was the treaty that ended the Revolutionary War. After the Battle of Yorktown, the British Parliament had already agreed to end the war, and so the treaty was officially signed by King George III and the US representatives. The treaty was fairly simple. It recognized the US's independence from Britain and gave a large amount of Britain's colonial holdings in America to them as well, although they kept Canada. -
Northwest Ordinances
The Northwest Ordinance gave birth to future European expansion, and was the method of governance for new states within the Union adopted by the Founding Fathers. The Ordinance provided for population targets to be met in the Northern Territories before they were eligible for statehood, and it was intended to concentrate on that territory. It also established a relationship with the inhabitants of India, who were given land to live on and claimed that colonists could do so as well. -
Cotton Gin
The cotton gin was one of the most influential machines to be invented up to that point, at least in the US. Up until that point, cotton was extremely unprofitable, as it was very hard to get all the seeds out. For this reason, most plantations farmed tobacco. However, after the cotton gin's invention by Eli Whitney, cotton became very, very profitable, and so the South started growing it. This was important because slavery was going out of fashion, but after this, it surged in popularity. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were created under the Presidency of John Adams. Adams was fearful of losing his power, and since the Federalists were becoming more and more unpopular over time, he started taking drastic measures to assure his reelection. The Acts made it harder for immigrants to vote, raising the amount of time one had to spend in the country to become a citizen. It also pretty much got rid of freedom of the press and allowed the President to deport any immigrant he wanted. -
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions were laws passed by the governments of the two states in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts. Kentucky and Virginia were largely Anti-Federalists, so they didn't support Adams' attempt to seize power. The Resolutions introduced the idea of nullification, the idea that states had to power to declare Federal laws null and void. Although in this case nullification was used on a terrible law, it would later create an issue during Andrew Jackson's presidency. -
Election of 1800
The election of 1800 is sometimes referred to as the Revolution of 1800 because it was the first time that a party was democratically overthrown in US history. Since Adams pretty much had no chance of winning, it came down to if the election would result in a peaceful transfer of power. After the election, Jefferson was labelled as the victor and became President in a seemingly perfect transfer. However, behind the scenes, Adams tried to create one more grab at keeping Federalist power. -
Marbury v Madison
Adams and the Federalists had set up several new courts on the night before Jefferson's inauguration as President, which would have been full of conservative judges in order to retain power. James Madison found a letter to one of these judges, Marbury, and took it to Jefferson. In court, Marbury accused Madison of having an interest in the commission. Marbury's win was decisive, and the Supreme Court has come up with a concept of judicial review that would be useful to our government. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the largest ever land acquisition ever made by the US. Jefferson hoped to secure the Mississippi River, so he sent James Madison to make a deal with Napoleon of France. Napoleon upped his deal, offering the entire French American territory for $15 million. After much deliberation, Jefferson accepted the deal, and the US gained land from the Mississippi to what was owned back then by Mexico, opening up a whole world of growth for the US. -
Embargo Act
With the Napoleonic Wars in full swing, Thomas Jefferson had a choice to make: either refuse trade to the British or the French. Whichever he choice risked war with the other. Jefferson's choice was the Embargo Act, which denied US trade with any foreign power. In this way, he did avoid a war with either of the superpowers, but he also inhibited the United States' growth. The Act got a ton of backlash and Jefferson left the Presidency feeling that he failed. -
Battle of New Orleans
Since the war had ended prior to the Battle of New Orleans, it is the last battle in the War of 1812. Andrew Jackson was in command of the American army, and they had one goal: to block a British attack on New Orleans. Using pretty ingenious tactics of a trench wall around the only place the British could attacking and having everyone reload while only the best shots actual did the shooting, the battle was an American victory and propelled Jackson into popularity. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a US policy regarding Europe's affairs in the Western Hemisphere. Wanting to protect US influence in the Caribbean and Latin America, James Monroe created what would be known as the Monroe Doctrine, in simple terms stating that Europe should stay out of North and South America or else the United States would interfere. This philosophy would dominate US foreign policy for a long time and would be the basis of imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. -
Corrupt Bargain (Election of 1824)
The Election of 1824 looked like a very close race between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson, but it truly wasn't. Jackson won the election in every sense, but a combination of a split voting population and third-party candidates made it so that no one got the required number of electoral votes. The election was decided by the House of Representatives after Henry Clay struck a deal that said he would support Adams if he became Secretary of State. This made Jackson and the Democrats furious. -
Tariff of Abominations
The Tariff of Abominations was called that by many Democrats and Southerners because of how much it hurt the Southern economy. Passed under John Quincy Adams, its goal was to support the Northern and Western economies by making the country more reliant on their goods. However, it ultimately led to high costs for living in the South and was one reason why John Quincy Adams's Presidency had been hated by much of its time leading to Jackson's 1828 victory. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act is one of the more talked about events in US history and led to the Trail of Tears. President Jackson did not like the Native population of the country at all and wanted to rid them from their lands in order to grow the US. This act gave the President the power to forcefully relocate the Native tribes into existing territory. The Act was a success for the US, as many tribes decided to move, but some, like the Seminoles, resisted and some managed to stay in their lands. -
Bank War
Another pet peeve of Jackson's was the Second National Bank. When Congress sent him a bill that extended the life of the Bank by 15 years, he vetoed it, stating that it was unconstitutional and taking advantage of the working American. He also planned to weaken the bank by creating a number of small state banks and forcefully moving all of the money in the National Bank into these smaller banks. After the Bank's closure, the country went into a serious economic crash that ruined the Democrats. -
Battle of the Alamo
Texas, a state of Mexico, had recently opened its borders to any US citizen that wanted to live there. Mexico was hoping that they could increase the productivity of the region. However, the American population eventually got fed up with the requirements to live in Texas and revolted. The Alamo was a stronghold defended by Texan troops and some American heroes, all of which were killed in the battle. The result was that the US would join the war on the Texan's side, winning their independence. -
Gag Rule
The gag rule was an official rule of the US House of Representatives and Congress to never bring up the issue of slavery. This was because slavery was such a debated issue during this time that any mention of it would create so much tension that a brawl or massive argument would ensue. The gag rule hoped to keep Congress from breaking out in pure pandemonium and kicked actually trying to solve the problem even further down the road. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the end of the Mexican-American War. The war was started because of President James K. Polk and his desire to gain California and a Pacific border for the US. The war went extremely well for the US, and in a very short amount of time they were able to capture Mexico City and force a Mexican surrender. The treaty gave America a ton of western territory, including California, and allowed the country to trade with nations in Asia as well as Europe. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was a meeting for the purpose of the women's suffrage movement and the official start of it. The goal of the Convention was to create a group that would try to change the inequality that women faced at that time. The convention was a success, but it wasn't so much for the abolition movement. Many supporters of abolition were also supporters of women's rights, but the convention caused a rift between those who prioritized freeing slaves or women's suffrage. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was the last attempt to kick the issue of slavery down the road. The previous compromise, the Missouri Compromise, stated that any state above a certain line would be slave and above would be free. However, that was not enough for the South. Henry Clay's Compromise introduced the idea of popular sovereignty. It also created the Fugitive Slave Law, let California into the Union as a free state, and illegalized the selling of slaves in Washington DC. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The KansasNebraska Act was introduced by Stephen Douglas, to create a railroad that would pass through his home state of Illinois. The Act would give the two states of Kansas and Nebraska power to decide whether slavery is allowed, or not based on popular sovereignty. On paper, the idea of collective sovereignty sounded good, but in Kansas it would lead to Bleeding Kansas, where a large number of people from other states were swarming and changing their vote's outcome. -
Dred Scott v Sandford
The Dred Scott case was one of, if not the worst, Supreme Court decision in history. The case was started by Dred Scott when his and wife, both slaves at the time, were moved to Minnesota by their owner. Despite the fact that Minnesota was a free state, they were still slaves, and this was their basis for the legal attack. The Court's decision was in favor of Sandford, stating that no slave was ever free, even if they go to a free state. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the first true battle of the Civil War. The fort was positioned on South Carolina's coast, which had recently seceded from the Union. Fearful that the Union would use the Fort as a way to invade the state, the South Carolinian army attacked the Fort. The Battle was over fairly quickly, as the troops defending did not have any way to reinforce or supply themselves. The Battle had little significance towards the outcome of the war but is important for being the first. -
Battle of Bull Run
The battle at Bull Run is the first great conflict of the Civil War, and it's been a big shock to the Union. They'd been drawn to this battle thinking it would be an easy victory, and that a war was about to come to an end. Yet the Confederate soldiers managed to surprise the Union's force with their fighting prowess, winning the battle and forcing an U.S. retreat. The lessons of this battle were that for the Union, a Civil War would not be an easy win and showed how weak its army was. -
Homestead Act
As the Civil War raged on between the North and the South, matters of westward expansion were also a matter of concern to Lincoln's presidency. Hence, he passed the Homestead Act, which allowed settlers access to 160 acres of farmland in return for a minuscule registration fee and promised to live in the land for 5 years as well as develop it. After this period, the land becomes the property of the settler to do as he pleases. This Act singlehandedly pushed millions to make the journey west. -
Pacific Railway Act (Transcontinental Railroad)
The Transcontinental Railroad was one of the most important developments for the US economy. Lincoln, despite the Union's struggle with the Civil War, had enacted an Act establishing a rail line between St. Louis Missouri, and Sacramento. The work was divided between two companies, each receiving land and money depending on the number of miles that they had laid. Since the construction of the railroad, it has been much easier for humans and goods to travel from east to west. -
Emancipation Proclamation
With the Civil War finally turning toward a Union victory, Lincoln found it the right time to declare the official meaning of the war to be about freeing the slaves. The Proclamation made it so that any slave that was in captured territory prior to the proclamation was free, although it didn't free slaves in already captured territory. This did two things. One, it freed a lot of the slaves and led the border states to do the same thing. Two, it made sure foreign powers would intervene in the war -
The Battle of Gettysburg
At the battle of Gettysburg, both sides suffered thousands of losses, making it the bloodiest battle of the civil war with around 50,000 men lost. However, the union victory highly bolstered their war efforts, and stopped further expeditions of the south into the north. The Gettysburg Address also subtly reinforced the point that the war was about slavery, preventing foreign nations from coming to the south's aide. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment was the law that finally outlawed slavery in the United States. At this point, the war was as good as over, and the Emancipation Proclamation had done its fair share when it came to freeing the slaves. The 13th was the nail in the coffin for slavery that ended it everywhere in the US, even if the state laws still allowed for slavery. Despite its success, the 13th did not help with making sure the new free blacks had any way to start their new life, leaving them on their own. -
Surrender at Appomattox
Even though there were some small battles going on, the surrender at Appomattox was considered to be a definitive end of the Civil War. The battle at Appomattox had pitted Union troops commanded by Grant against Confederates led by Lee. The battle was over in a relatively short time when Lee surrendered before Appomattox's Court House after his forces had been beaten badly by Union troops. With Lee's army out, the Confederacy had no hopes of fighting back, and the attempt at secession was over. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment was the follow-up to the 13th Amendment that tried to help the new freedmen even more. After slavery was outlawed, many in the South feared that the new black voting population would lead to a "Colored Empire". White supremacist groups started killing blacks and those in power passed Black Codes that limited the right to vote and was pretty much slavery in everything but name. The 14th made it so that no law could limit the rights of anyone born in the US. -
15th Amendment
The 15 Amendment was another amendment created to try and protect freedmen in the South. This Amendment states that no law could limit any man's right to vote. It was popular with freedmen but garnered controversy among women, who believed that it would be very easy to grant them to right to vote as well through this Amendment. However, many men in power believed that it was best for women if they did not vote, and they would have to wait another 30-plus years for that right. -
Jim Crow Laws
A system of laws ensuring social segregation in transportation, accommodations, schools, courts, etc. which arose in every Southern State. This occurred after the Reconstruction period in America. Redeemer democrats systematically exclude black voters. These laws legalize segregation and restrict black civil rights. By 1910 the process was complete. The North and the federal government didn't do anything about this. This was a means for Americans to justify segregating African Americans. -
James Garfield Assassination
President Garfield had only been in office for around four months and had already clashed with the opposite party and didn't have an easy introduction to being in office. He took a holiday to get a break, and as most presidents before him, he didn't have any protection. While he was away he was shot. Garfield lived in pain for another two months ,but eventually dies in September. Garfield's assassination was instrumental to the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Enacted in 1890, the The Sherman Antitrust Act, is defined as a law that prohibits any business activity that is considered to be 'anticompetitive'. This includes price fixing and monopolization.Despite the rapid economic growth at the time of its creation, companies utilizing anti-competitive business practices and structures, such as trusts, cartels, and monopolies, were the driving force for the act. It has played a very important part in the regulation of businesses within U.S. history. -
Spanish-American War
This war was a conflict between the US and Spain that ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas. The war originated in the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain.The growing popular demand for U.S. intervention became a necessity after the sinking in Havana harbor of the American battleship USS Maine, which had been sent to protect U.S. citizens after anti-Spanish rioting in Havana. This resulted in Cuban independence and the US gaining control of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. -
Model T
Cars had been around for a number of years,but due to their price the majority of people didn't have one.This changed when Ford introduced his Model T car.He was able to make his car very affordable with it starting at $850 but eventually getting even cheaper.The price was so low because he made every part standard and produced them using an assembly line.This was the first time anyone created items such as cars using that process. After this cars became more popular due to their affordability. -
NAACP Founded
W. E. B. DuBois was an early black civil rights leader. He didn't have the same strategy of Civil Disobedience like MLK, and believed black people needed to take a stand even if it meant violence. DuBois founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to help his cause. The organization provided scholarships, lobbied Congress, went to court, and created other movements to help blacks. It would become increasingly important as the civil rights movement gained popularity. -
The Great Migration
Between 1915-1960 over five million blacks moved from the South to the north in the Great Migration. Oppressive economic conditions in the South caused many blacks to seek the greater prosperity offered in the North. The plantation economy in the South offered little chance of advancement. Many blacks also wanted to escape the unfair and oppressive conditions in the South. Inequality in education, lynching, and denial of suffrage were all common forms of discrimination in the South. -
Franz Ferdinand Assassinated
In 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was next in line for the Austrian throne. Austrians and Serbians were very at odds at this time and tensions were only growing. When he was riding through the Bosnian capital with his wife, a Serbian nationalist assassinated both of them. This was the spark to the first world war. Soon Austria would declare war on Serbia. Then, Serbia's allies would declare war on Austria. Then, the dominoes would fall with all of Austria's allies joining in the war. -
Zimmerman Telegram
The US intercepts a telegram known as the Zimmerman Note, in which Germany promises to give Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona back to Mexico. It was part of an effort carried out by the Germans to postpone the transportation of supplies and other war materials from the US to the Allies.The main purpose of the telegram was to make the Mexican government declare war on the US in hopes of tying down American forces. It helped to generate support for the American declaration of war on Germany. -
Volstead Act/Prohibition
Enacted in 1919, the Volstead Act outlawed the manufacture, sale, distribution, or importation of alcohol.As a result the nation saw a rise in organized crime. Underground distribution became more common. Establishments such as speakeasies became popular.The start of the Prohibition also saw the beginning of NASCAR. The act was originally vetoed by president Wilson but passed when congress overruled the veto.Eventually when it became clear that the Volstead Act was unenforceable it was repealed. -
Sacco and Vanzetti
Animosity toward immigrants was highlighted in the case of Sacco and Vanzetti. Mainstream America at the time had a fear of communism and radical politics. This led to the development of anti-immigrant beliefs. With very little evidence the two Italian immigrants, and admitted anarchists, were charged with a robbery and murder in their neighborhood, wrongfully accused, and killed as a result. As a result, many protested the wrongful hostility toward the two men. -
Harlem Renaissance
After Slavery had been outlawed, many blacks began to seek further participation in American Society. Sharecropping, lynchings, and groups like the KKK left former slaves feeling stuck. The Harlem section of Manhattan drew nearly 175,000 African Americans, making it the largest concentration of blacks in the world…thus the name the ‘Harlem Renaissance.’ Coming from a common background they formed their own community with a determination to forge a new identity as a free people. -
KKK (1920s)
The KKK reached its peak in the 1920s. By this time it had anywhere from 2 million to 5 million members. Most members were middle class white men and their families. The Klan feared an influx of Eastern European immigrants. Bigotry’s appeal was becoming public. The KKK was also very violent with hundreds or beatings, whippings, and murders all at the hands of the Klan. Eventually people began to see fault with its ideas, which became its ultimate downfall. -
The Election of 1932
In the election of 1932, Democrat Franklin Roosevelt defeated Republican Herbert Hoover. Hoover, who was seen as inactive and unpopular, and didn't have much hope of winning the election. The election was held during the Great Depression, and saw a dramatic shift in our politics. Roosevelt's campaign promise was to recover America through a "new deal." He avoided specifics when explaining his plan, but he did make it clear that it would include heavy use of federal power. -
The New Deal
The New Deal was first a campaign promise by FDR before he took office in 1932. While campaigning, few details were given regarding the specifics of this plan. Once in office we see that the New Deal was a series of projects and programs put in place and funded by the government. Roosevelt acted quickly and frequently to provide jobs and relief to Americans. Over the next eight years, experimental programs such as the CCC and WPA were created and provided work for unemployed Americans. -
The Social Security Act
The Social Security Act created a safety net for all Americans. The act included several provisions such as old age assistance, aid to dependent children, and grants to the states to provide medical care. In addition to this the act created a social insurance program for citizens 65 and older who were retired. It provided them with an income after they stopped working. This was intended to give older Americans an incentive to retire. This was ineffective due to the steady 17% unemployment rate. -
The Formation of HUAC
HUAC was created in 1938 to investigate alleged disloyalty and rebellious activities on the part of private citizens, public employees and organizations suspected of having Communist ties. Citizens suspected of having ties to the communist party would be tried in a court of law. Also during this time, Senator Joseph McCarthy began a campaign against alleged communists in the U.S. government and other institutions. McCarthyism spread, and so did it's ideologies. -
Four Freedoms Speech
On January 6, 1941 Roosevelt gave his State of the Union address, which later became known as his Four Freedoms Speech. In this speech he proposed speech, religion, want, and freedom from fear as fundamental freedoms to every human. He used this speech to define war as a "noble defense of democratic societies." Roosevelt wanted to rally the people against the Axis threat. He wanted the people to feel support for the Allied forces. These freedoms became a symbol of hope during WWII. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
In 1941 1,400 Cuban exiles launched what became a botched invasion at the Bay of Pigs on the south coast of Cuba.In 1959, Fidel Castro came to power in an armed revolt. The US distrusted Castro and was wary of his relationship with Khrushchev, the leader of the USSR.JFK becomes president of the US in 1961 and inherits a planned invasion of Cuba from the Eisenhower administration. The invasion was a failure and all of the Cuban exile invasion force was either killed or captured by Castro's army. -
Executive Order 8802
With Black Activism on the rise before WWII it only continued to grow during the war. Black activists organized theDouble V campaign. They wanted a victory against fascism abroad and racism at home.Defense jobs were formed during the war; however,most of these businesses wouldn't hire blacks. To combat this,black leaders planned to march on Washington.FDR feared this would have negative consequences so he signed executive order 8802.This ended discrimination in defense industries and employment. -
Pearl Harbor
On the morning of 12-7-41 hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the Pearl Harbor.The attack damaged or destroyed almost 20 ships (8 of which were battleships) and over 300 airplanes. Over 3400 people were wounded or killed.The attack was a surprise, however war between the US and Japan had been brewing for a long time, due to Japans increasing friendliness towards China.The bombing was devastating in losses.The day after the attack President Roosevelt declared war on Japan. -
Executive Order 9066
Executive Order 9066 was issued by FDR on February 19,1942. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the public's fear shifted to Japanese Americans. This order moved all people deemed to be a threat to national security from the coast inland. Relocation Centers, or Internment Camps cost their occupants personal liberties and their lives as a whole. The US government had no rights to uproot or hold the Japanese Americans in these camps, but popular opinion prevented change in this direction. -
D-day
D-day (also known as operation Overlord) brought the air, sea, and land forces from the Allied armies. The goal was to reduce the German divisions in the USSR's territory. The Allies spent 18 months training and planning the best plan of attack. This became the largest seaborne invasion in history and was the turning point of WWII. Within 7 days the Allies controlled 80 miles of French Coast. Not only did we take land from Germany, but this also gave us a foothold close to Germany. -
Yalta Conference
At Yalta, Roosevelt and Churchill discussed with Stalin the conditions under which the Soviet Union would enter the war against Japan and all three agreed that, in exchange for potentially crucial Soviet participation in the Pacific theater, the Soviets would be granted a sphere of influence in Manchuria after Japan’s surrender. The Allied leaders also discussed the future of Germany, Eastern Europe and the United Nations. -
Vietnam Split
Southeast Asia, namely Vietnam, was considered an important sphere of influence by the US and Soviet leaders.When nationalist forces created North Vietnam in 1956 the USSR and China recognized and backed the new communist country while the US became committed to stopping the spread of communism and backed South Vietnam. As in Korea,the US and the USSR avoided direct warfare by backing the opposing governments.The tensions from both of the countries materialized in the backing of other countries. -
The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In an attempt to end the war in the Pacific without a costly invasion of Japan, the US dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945 respectively. The two atomic bombings, together with the Soviet Union’s declaration of war on Japan, finally convinced Emperor Hirohito to surrender to the Allies, effectively ending World War II.WWII transformed both the United States and the USSR, turning the nations into world powers, and competition increased. -
The Hollywood Ten
Referred to as the Hollywood Ten, they were indicted for contempt of Congress and sentenced to brief imprisonment. Although the leaders of the motion picture studios had initially supported the Hollywood Ten, they soon denounced them, and the Hollywood Ten were suspended without pay. They were writers, producers, and actors who were all suspended without pay. After the televised hearings the Hollywood ten were blacklisted and served time. -
The Marshall Plan
After WWII,Europe was in the midst of an economic depression.If actions weren't taken, a global depression was a very likely possibility.Poor economic conditions would occasionally drive people to communism,which the US was heavily against due to the policy of containment. This caused George Marshall to create his Marshall Plan which would help fund the rebuilding of Europe.The US sent billions of dollars to Europe to aid in the reestablishment of their economy, and it was pleasantly successful. -
The Forming of NATO
NATO was formed in 1949 with the signing of the Washington Treaty, NATO is a security alliance of 30 countries from North America and Europe. NATO’s fundamental goal is to safeguard the Allies’ freedom and security by political and military means. NATO remains the principal security instrument of the transatlantic community and expression of its common democratic values. This creates a collective security system. The first Supreme Commander was Eisenhower. -
The Occupation of Korea and the Start of the Korean War
Japan occupied Korea in 1910,but ceded control of Korea when it surrendered at the end of WWII.The US and the USSR agreed to split Korea into two occupation zones.The zone north of the 38th parallel was occupied by the USSR and it helped the Koreans living there form a communist government.The US occupied the south and it oversaw a democratic government. When the two major powers withdrew, friction between the north and south finally erupted into war in 1950 when North Koreans invaded the south. -
Stalin's Death
Joseph Stalin,second leader of the Soviet Union,died at the age of 74, after suffering a stroke. He was given a state funeral in Moscow on 9 March, with four days of national mourning declared.The Soviet Union remained a repugnant dictatorship,but it was a very different place after Stalin was gone. Stalin's death led to a temporary thaw in Cold War tensions.In 1955, Austria regained its sovereignty and became an independent, neutral nation after the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the country. -
Korean Armistice
The south was unprepared for the aggression and invasion from the north and was immediately overrun. Eventually, the US stepped in to help the South Korean military, essentially creating a proxy war between the Soviet Union and the United States. No final peace treaty was ever signed to end the Korean War. Instead, the two sides signed an armistice in 1953 that ceased hostilities and formed the Korean Demilitarized Zone, a no-man’s land between the two countries which constituted the new border. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Stephen Douglas proposed a bill to organize the Territory of Nebraska.This was controversial and contained the possibility that slavery could be extend into the territories it was once banned in. It fueled the conflict over slavery. In order to get votes the Missouri Compromise was repealed and 2 new territories were created.It allowed for popular sovereignty.As a result a conflict known as "Bleeding Kansas,"a battle between pro and anti-slavery forces occurred in an attempt to sway the vote. -
The Beginning of the Space Race
The US and the USSR each wanted to achieve technological superiority over the other. Included in that struggle was the race to become the first country to build a rocket capable of launching an object into space. Not only would this be an immense technological achievement, but a rocket that was powerful enough to carry a payload into space could also carry a nuclear warhead capable of reaching the other country. This would give the respective country a relatively advantage over the other. -
The Eisenhower Interstate Highway Act
The Interstate Highway Act was the largest public works project in history. It was created to update America's roads. This effectively connected the country. In order to pass create this act, Eisenhower had to play of of Cold War fears in order to get the American people on board. Eisenhower pointed out that this would make potential evacuation easier and the new and improved roads could act as emergency runways.Though they were never needed for this purpose,Eisenhower was able to pass this act. -
Creation of ICBMs
The Soviet Union announces that it has successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of being fired “into any part of the world.” The announcement caused great concern in the United States, and started a national debate over the “missile gap” between America and Russia. Mutually assured destruction was assumed. Now the two world powers had nuclear weapons, and mutually assured destruction was holding everything together by a thread. -
First Satellite
In October of 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite. Sputnik caught Americans off guard and embarrassed the nation. For the US military, this was proof that the USSR had the missile technology to attack the United States. The USSR put Sputnik 2 in orbit before the US was able to put its first satellite, Explorer 1, into orbit in January of 1958. Both countries then began a race to the moon. -
Little Rock 9
Even after Plessy had been struck down,integration was still being blocked by local and state governments in the South. They were allowed to attend by law, but feared unfair treatment.9 students in Little Rock were the first to attempt integration. The governor ordered the AK National guard to prevent them from entering. Whites picketed, protested, and threatened the 9 attending school. President Eisenhower ordered the 101st airborne division to make sure the 9 made it to and from school safely. -
Lunch Counter Sit-Ins
The Lunch In Greensboro North Carolina, four black college students sit down in a segregated Woolsworth department store and ask to be served. After being denied service they refused to leave and begin a sit-in. The event inspired similar sit-in protests at lunch counters throughout the south.
Six months after the four students were denied service, they were finally given the service they requested. Once again economic pressure by the African American community sparked a change. -
JFK Elected
Senator John F. Kennedy both pledged to strengthen American military forces and promised a tough stance against the Soviet Union and international communism. Kennedy warned of the Soviet's growing arsenal of ICBMs and pledged to revitalize American nuclear forces.He also criticized the Eisenhower administration for permitting the establishment of a pro-Soviet government in Cuba.Kennedy was well known for serving during the height of the Cold War and foreign policy with Cuba and the Soviet Union. -
The Freedom Rides
In the Summer of 1962, organized by CORE and SNCC, over 1,000 student volunteers both black and white, took it upon themselves to work their way through the south to test new laws outlawing segregation. Several groups of riders are viciously attacked and buses bombed by mobs of angry white racists. Eugene ‘Bull’ Connor, the Commissioner of Public Safety knew the mobs were waiting and intentionally arrived with the police 15 minutes late, giving the mobs time to do serious damage. -
Grozny
Through aerial surveillance the US discovers that Cuba was building ICBM launch sites. The Soviet Ship the Grozny was detected setting sail for Cuba. The US puts up a naval blockade surrounding Cuba. The US and the USSR were at a standoff. The Grozny crosses the Quarantine line, but stops after the US navy ships fire star shells across her bow. Moscow orders the Grozny to turn around. If they had chosen to continue further it would've put the US in a terrible position. -
Children's Crusade
In downtown Birmingham,hundreds of school kids staged a school walk-out to participate in a march. Many of them are arrested, only to be set free and repeat the process again the next day.‘Bull’ Connor,the Commissioner of Public Safety, stops the marches by ordering the crowds sprayed with fire hoses and releasing dogs on them. The march is televised and causes JFK to publicly support civil rights and new civil rights legislation. After JFK took his stand, many others around the country did too. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a step in the right direction. However, it didn't remove obstacles from black voting. In the south, only a small number of blacks were registered to vote. Civil rights activists tried to get more blacks registered but were met with hostility and obstacles. It was becoming evident that a law would need to be passed to protect their vote, so the Voting Rights Act was finally passed that banned discrimination in elections. States were threaten to comply with this. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was an American bombing campaign during the Vietnam War. U.S. military aircraft attacked targets throughout North Vietnam from March 1965 to October 1968. This was intended to put military pressure on North Vietnam’s communist leaders and reduce their capacity to wage war against South Vietnam. It marked the first sustained American assault on North Vietnamese territory and displayed a greater U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. The operation was a failure. -
Miranda v. Arizona
The Warren Court, under President Johnson and his "Great Society" was very progressive and helped to protect people's rights. Miranda v. Arizona was a landmark case that used the Fifth Amendment to stop prosecutors from using things said during an interrogation before their (what became known as) Miranda rights are read to them. These include they have the right to have an attorney present and have the right to remain silent. Now these rights are required to be stated to anyone arrested. -
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was the mass killing of over 500 unarmed villagers, thinking they were part of the communist South Vietnam,when in reality they were allies. Old men, women, and children made up the majority of the victims.Almost the entire village was wiped out by American soldiers.Months after this happened pictures reached the public and the American people were enraged.The government tried to hide what had happened.The people were angry at both LBJ and the soldiers that fought in Vietnam. -
Watergate
Watergate was a break-in at the Democratic National Committee offices in the Watergate complex in Washington. Two of the men were found to have connections to Nixon,and two others were ex-CIA agents. The investigators on the case discovered that there were tapes of everything said in the Oval Office,and demanded they be released. Nixon refused until the court demanded he release them.Due to the mounting suspicion and the cover-up President Nixon was forced to resign in 1974 to avoid impeachment. -
Camp David Summit
Leaders from Egypt, Israel, and America met at Camp David to try to reach a peace agreement. Things looked to be going pretty well until Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem got into a disagreement and both refused to sign a treaty. After Carter was able to mediate between the two leaders the countries were able to come to some semblance of peace. They signed the Camp David Accords which brought peace and changed the dynamics of the Middle East. -
Reagan is Shot
After delivering a speech in a Washington D.C. hotel, while walking out Regan and many members of his entourage were shot. He was immediately rushed to the hospital. He was shot in the left lung, but luckily the bullet missed his heart by an inch. Reagan was prepped and prepared for surgery. After he began his recovery he also resumed some of his executive duties. By April 11th he was back at the White House and in good spirits. The assassination attempt only caused Regan's popularity to rise. -
Reagan and the Cold War
Though the Cold War didn't officially end until Bush, it's ending is widely attributed to Reagan. Regan realized that the USSR spent the equivalent on their military that the US spent (though they spent a much greater part of their budget on it). Reagan challenges them knowing they can't match our increased spending. The USSR's command economy was causing them to spend themselves into bankruptcy. Over time the USSR began to lose it's satellites. -
Iran Contra Scandal
The Iran-Contra Affair was a secret U.S. arms deal that traded arms to free some Americans held hostage by terrorists in Lebanon, but also used funds from the arms deal to support armed conflict in Nicaragua. The scandal and shady deals severely hurt Reagan's image. He claimed to not remember if he approved the plan or not. Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, of the National Security Council stated that he did initiate the dealings but didn't directly say the president was involved.