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Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty was a patriotic group led by Samuel Adams before the Revolutionary War had begun. They were created in protest of the Stamp Act passed by parliament, which put taxes on various items without any say from the colonists. The Sons of Liberty carried out events such as various protests against taxes, one being the Boston Tea Party. The Sons of Liberty helped create the point of no return for the colonists, once ships with tea had been ransacked and thrown into Boston Harbor. -
Boston Massacre
Some colonists were becoming irritated with British soldiers on their soil. They protested outside of government buildings where the soldiers weren't allowed to engage with the colonists while standing guard. The colonists got bold by throwing snow at the soldiers, which eventually hid rocks that were thrown. Outraged and scared, a soldier fought back. 5 colonists were killed. It sparked the idea of turning backs on the British and led to mass riots that eventually led to the war for revolution. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Colonies secretly preparing for war, stored supplies in Concord. Spies found out and told the British. Two important colonists were staying in Lexington, which was on the way to Concord. Before the British arrived, several colonists had spread the word about the British. The colonists had time to escape and have the supplies moved. This was great for all the colonists because they didn't have many supplies, to begin with. The armies stood face to face until a shot was fired and the war started. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson, born in 1743, did many things for past and present Americans. He wrote the Declaration of Independence, became the third president of the United States, and conducted the Louisiana Purchase. With the writing of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson brought forth some of the earliest American ideas of abolition. During his first term, he bargained with Napoleon and purchased a large portion of the West. This opened up America for major physical and economic growth. -
Declaration of Independence
On July 4th, 1776, writing primarily by Jefferson began. The first draft of the revolutionary document was read over and amended. By August 2, it was ratified by the other delegates of the Continental Congress, making the document official. Colonists stated their idea that all men were created equally. This document paved the way for changes in governments' future and worldwide, and sparked an international revolution. Although the author and some of its content remain controversial still today. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga represented a turning point for America in the war. American troops were greatly outnumbered by British armies. Somehow, Patriotic forces ambushed General Burgoyne and his troops and pushed them to surrender after two other British armies failed to meet up with him. The French needed to know they wouldn't be wasting their time if they supported us. This victory also helped secure that alliance with the French, which was a huge reason Americans won their independence. -
Articles of Confederation
Written in 1777 and ratified in 1781 by the Second Continental Congress, the Articles of Confederation were the United States' first attempt at governmental laws. It created a weaker central government, while also giving states more power. The Articles contained no executive branch and stated that we had no standing army. Under the Articles, Congress had passed the Northwest Ordinance and also had created a tremendous framework for the Constitution that would soon be written by Mr. Jefferson. -
Treaty of Paris
Negotiating with British representatives, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and more created the Treaty of Paris (1783). This document officially ended the war between America and Britain. It also gave America the British regions from the Atlantic all the way to the Mississippi River. The French didn't want any land, only an official alliance with Americans if they ever went to war with other countries. The Treaty of Paris led to American land expansion and the first American government, too. -
The Constitution
The Constitution was written in 1787 and ratified in 1788. Primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, it's one of the most famous documents in the history of the United States. The original contained 12 amendments, but now contains 27. It was created to help unify our new country and establish justice and the liberties of every American citizen. With its creation, the Constitution has helped our nation to become what it is today through many revisions and has opened many doors for everyone. -
Alexander Hamilton
A Founding Father and military man, Alexander Hamilton served as the first secretary of the treasury during Washington's first term from 1789 to 1795. As a Federalist, he favored a strong central government. He even helped Jefferson get elected as the third president of the U.S. He created the first National Bank of the United States as a part of his financial plan. His plan included funding the war debts, developing trade relations with different countries, establishing tariffs, and much more. -
George Washington
George Washington was a huge part of American history. He was the first president of the United States and the general of the Patriot army during the Revolutionary War. As general, he managed to hold the young amateur army together until the French became our allies and sent help. Which ultimately led to our freedom. He set many precedents as president and helped shape the future of the United States. He established there would be no lifetime appointments, a presidential cabinet, and much more. -
Judiciary Act of 1789
The Judiciary Act of 1789 was a precedent set by the president and passed by congress during Washington's first term. It created an independent federal court system that we still use today. It is made up of the U.S. Supreme Court and several lower-level courts. The Supreme Court was to be made up of one Chief Justice and five other associate judges. Today we have eight associate justices. This also set up the act of appealing certain decisions in the lower-level courts to the federal courts. -
Bank of the United States
The first National Bank of the United States was created and fought for by Alexander Hamilton during Washington's presidency. It was a part of Hamilton's financial plan for the U.S.; he wanted a bank that could issue paper currency, make loans to businesses, be a safe place for government money, and strengthen the federal government. Many didn't like his idea, one being Jefferson, who saw the bank as "unconstitutional." He believed the bank wouldn't give enough power to the American states. -
Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney, an American inventor, was best known for creating the cotton gin. A key part of the Industrial Revolution, the cotton gin made it more easy to harvest cotton plants. The machine was made to remove the seeds from the fibers of cotton. However, cotton still had to be picked by hand. This led to cotton becoming the south's staple export and the leading export of the United States. Unfortunately, this made slavery more "necessary" in the south, due to all of the opportunities it led to. -
Pinckney Treaty
The Spanish had control of the Mississippi River after the U.S. had won the Revolutionary War. Spain shut down all the access to trade that Americans had. The two countries disputed up until 1795, when George Washington sent Thomas Pinckney to negotiate a deal with the Spanish. They came up with the Pinckney Treaty, which stated that the United States would receive unrestricted access to the Mississippi River and established the southern border between Spanish colonies and the United States. -
Alien Act
The Federalists paranoid about another war, started to crack down on immigrants from any foreign country. The Alien Act, passed by Congress and signed into authority by President John Adams, was one of four laws of 1798. With the passing of the Alien Act, immigrants were no longer safe in America. It had stated that the president could deport any immigrant that he suspected of plotting against his administration. This was in effect from 1798 to 1801, when Adams' term as president would be over. -
Sedition Act
The Sedition Act was another law that was passed through the Adams administration. While in play, the Sedition Act prohibited any American and/or immigrant from criticizing the president or the Federalist Congress. Many people were very upset with the passing of the Sedition Act because it took away their freedom of speech, violating the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Some politicians fought back against this act such as James Madison and Thomas Jefferson with their state Resolutions. -
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad operated for decades in order to assist fugitive slaves to escape the South. It was a series of routes and safety stops that ran from the slave states and into the northern free states. Once a slave had crossed the border into a free state, they were considered free. This continued until the end of the Civil War, which was when the Thirteenth Amendment was passed. Ultimately, in a way, the Underground Railroad started the physical abolition movement in the United States. -
Marbury vs. Madison
Before Thomas Jefferson officially became president, John Adams filled all the federal courts with Federalists in an attempt to not lose the judicial branch. James Madison found a letter from Adams granting William Marbury a seat in the court but doesn't deliver it. Marbury sues, and Madison is taken to court. The court ultimately sides with Madison. In doing so, the Supreme Court established the right to "Judicial Review." Meaning that the court had the power to declare laws unconstitutional. -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States bought the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon after Jefferson's dilemmas. Jefferson was worried they would lose control of the port city of New Orleans and lose access to the Mississippi River. With this purchase, the size of the country doubled, and New Orleans and the Mississippi River were secured. President Jefferson commissioned the famous Lewis and Clark expedition to map the territory, begin relationships with Native Americans, and find a water route to the Pacific Ocean. -
Steam Boat
The first steamboat in America named the Clermont, appeared in 1807 by inventor Robert Fulton. The steamboat was one of the earliest forms of manufacturing and tourism transportation in America. It provided a quicker route to deliver goods around the mountains of the early United States. It also provided manufacturers with a cheaper way of shipping their goods. Without the steamboat, the United States would have never become the economic powerhouse that it transformed into later in the future. -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was a document signed by both American and British representatives that ended the War of 1812. Due to the treaty being signed, America gained all of its prewar borders back and eventually gained an ally from Britain. Native American resistance vanished in the Ohio River Valley, leaving the midwest open for American expansion. Also, the sense of Patriotism and unity among Americans made its way through the US after this war, which brought about the Era of Good Feelings. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was considered the battle that ended the War of 1812. American troops were led by General Andrew Jackson. He would eventually become the next president of the United States after being associated with the "real" reason the war had ended. The troops hid behind earthworks and cannons, inflicting over 2,000 casualties on the British. American casualties had remained under 100. This victory had redeemed America's pride and weakened demands for a revised constitution. -
McCulloch vs. Maryland
In 1819, James W. McCulloch refused to pay taxes forced by the state of Maryland. This became such a hugely controversial situation, that eventually, it was sent to the Supreme Court. The results of the trial were not favored by the state of Maryland at all. The verdict stated that the federal government had the power to charter a national bank. Chief Justice John Marshall along with the majority of the court, also concluded that each state did not have the power to tax the national government. -
Missouri Compromise
In order to prevent a war from breaking out, Speaker of the House Henry Clay came up with the Missouri Compromise in 1820. This compromise banned slavery in every state and territory above the border of the Louisiana Purchase. It also added Missouri to the Union as a slave state and Maine as a non-slave state. The Missouri Compromise held up strong, even though disputes over slavery became more frequent and more dangerous. In 1857, the compromise was declared unconstitutional and forgotten. -
Election of 1824
The main candidates in the Election of 1824 were Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and John Quincy Adams. No one earned a majority of the electoral votes, so the final vote went to the House of Representatives. Clay dropped out of the race due to being the Speaker of the House. He and Adams met privately before the final vote and Clay supports Adams. Adams won the election. Clay is his Secretary of State. Jackson and his supporters were furious because they believed the election was a corrupt bargain. -
First Railroads
Railroads first started appearing in the United States around 1827. The oldest railroad in America is known as the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, charted by Baltimore merchants. With the introduction of railroads, merchants and competitors were growing increasingly excited. Railroads could deliver products at a faster rate and they could even carry more products than steamboats could. They were typically never affected by the weather, making it the most reliable form of transportation in America. -
Spoils System
In 1828, Andrew Jackson won the presidential election. In his campaign, he kept referring to himself as "the common man" and planned to make the common man's life better during his time as president. One of the first things Jackson did was fire the current federal workers and then hire new "common man" workers. Americans called this the "Spoils System." It eventually led to corruption, because it no matter how good you were at your job, the only thing that mattered was loyalty to the president. -
Indian Removal Act
Manifest Destiny was becoming popular during Jackson's presidency. In order to make this easier, President Jackson decided to push for and pass the Indian Removal Act. The act stated that all Native American groups within U.S. borders were required to move to lands west of the Mississippi River. Many tribes tried to resist, but none were successful. All Native tribes were to be relocated to the land of present-day Oklahoma. The ones that were resistant were relocated by the United States army. -
Nat Turner's Revolt
Nat Turner was an enslaved African American living in Virginia. On August 21, 1831, Turner recruited a group of slaves; together they rebelled and killed over 50 people. Most of whom were white. Just a few months later, Nat Turner was executed by hanging for his crimes. Other slaves that participated in the revolt were also executed, and others were beaten by angry mobs and white people. The rebellion scared white slave owners and eventually led to the passing of The Fugitive Slave Act in 1850. -
The Battle at the Alamo
A few weeks before the Battle at the Alamo, Americans had claimed Texas' "independence" from Mexico. Fast forward, and dozens of Texans like James Bowie and Davy Crockett are trying to defend the fort from the Mexican army. They outnumbered the Texans hugely, but the Texans managed to defend for 13 days before the final Texan soldier was killed. The Alamo served as a symbol of resistance during the Mexican-American War. Americans were outraged over the Alamo and demanded to back Texas in war. -
Frederick Douglas
Frederick Douglas was enslaved until 1838, when he escaped to New York from slavery. He taught himself how to read and write. He was also an avid abolitionist and women's rights supporter. He wrote an autobiography called "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave." He also wrote the newspaper named "The North Star." It was because of him and many other abolitionists/supporters of women's rights, such as Susan B. Anthony and Cady Stanton, that women have their rights today. -
Dorothea Dix
Dorothea Dix was an American nurse and an advocate for the mentally ill. She was emotionally abused as a child, but she still wanted to better the world when she got older. With money from her grandparents, Dix opened up a charity school to rescue children from ways of crime. By 1841, she found a new cause to improve: insane women jailed with male criminals. She found this outrageous and opened the first public asylums in America. Without her, many mentally ill people today would be helpless. -
Seneca Falls Convention
Seneca Falls Convention was a gathering of women's rights activists organized by Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. 70 women and 35 men showed up to voice their support. It was here that the famous saying from the Declaration of Sentiments was heard first. "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men and women are created equal." Unfortunately, the convention was dismissed by most. When the convention was being held yearly, more supporters emerged, eventually leading to the 19th Amendment. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the formal end of the war between America and Mexico. By signing it, Mexico had agreed to give 55% of its territory to the United States. States created from this addition of land were California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, most of Arizona and Colorado, and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. The expansion of America led to an economic powerhouse, with the ability to create a transcontinental railroad and better opportunities for citizens on western lands. -
Compromise of 1850
The controversy over slavery in the newly acquired states once again resulted in a compromise written by Henry Clay. The Compromise of 1850 stated that California would become a free state. Utah and New Mexico had the power to decide whether or not they would allow slavery or not and ended the slave trade in the country's capital. It created the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 too. Under this act, any runaway slave caught was forced to return back to their plantations. This soon led to the Civil War. -
Gadsden Purchase
The Gadsden Purchase was an agreement between the United States and Mexico. By signing this treaty or agreement, America would pay Mexico $10 million in exchange for about 30,000 square miles of land from the northern parts of Mexico. The newly acquired land would become small parts of Arizona and New Mexico. With the acquisition of this land, the United States finally had enough land for a southern transcontinental railroad and had eased some tensions between the U.S. and Mexico after the war. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a period of time when violence broke out between abolitionists and pro-slavery people in Kansas. Practicing popular sovereignty, they held an election to vote on slavery status. Thousands of border ruffians attacked voters and rigged the ballot. Kansas ended up as a slave state and many weren't happy. One was John Brown, who, along with several others, attacked families in Pottawatomie Creek and brutally murdered them. This was one of the last straws for the Union as a whole. -
Dred Scott vs Sanford
In 1857, the Supreme Court reached a verdict in the Dred Scott v Sandford case. The court decided that Dred Scott's "owner" was correct. Dred Scott and his master moved from a slave state to a free state prior to the case. Scott believed she should be a free citizen because he was in a free state. Sanford and the court disagreed, saying that descendants of American slaves were not citizens and would therefore still be slaves. Due to this, the Missouri Compromise was declared unconstitutional. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
The Lincoln-Douglas debates were a series of seven debates between Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln in 1858. They both wanted to gain more support in the presidential elections of 1860. Lincoln's stance in the debates helped compel him to the presidency. Lincoln would ask Douglas hard questions, and no matter how he answered them, people would become very angry. During these debates, Lincoln would also establish his main principles as a republican. It helped him win the presidential spot. -
South Carolina Secession
South Carolina became the first state to secede from the union on December 20, 1860. It happened just a month after Abraham Lincoln had been elected president of the United States. Lincoln was hated and feared by southerners because they thought he would take slavery away from them. Although that is what happened, that was not Lincoln's first intention. The secession of South Carolina led to the Civil War, which included many battles, losses, victories, and ultimately a big win for the Union. -
Election of 1860
President Lincoln defeated Stephen A. Douglas in the election of 1860 election. The race had four candidates, one being Lincoln, two Democrats, and another being from the Constitutional Union party. The Democratic party split into two groups, eventually giving a majority of the votes to Abraham Lincoln. With the election of Abraham Lincoln, the Union would try to be preserved one last time. It would fail when South Carolina decided to leave the Union and create the Confederate States of America. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the official start of the Civil War. The Confederacy fired the first shots and suddenly the United States Army was on defense. The battle lasted three long days. Unfortunately, with the United States Army running low on supplies and their troops being outnumbered, the U.S. Army surrendered to the Confederacy. At the time of the surrender, there had only been one causality between both sides. Fort Sumter had officially begun the bloodiest war in American history. -
Anaconda Plan
Early on in the Civil War, Union General Winfield Scott created a strategy called the "Anaconda Plan;" named after a snake because it was supposed to "constrict" the south and weaken their ability to fight back in the war. The four main goals were to prevent trade, cut off the south from the world, reduce resources, and limit transportation. The plan called for a naval blockade of the Confederate coasts; an attack on the Mississippi River, and pressure their army with both land and naval forces. -
Homestead Act of 1862
After the acquisition of the land west of the Mississippi River, the United States had so much land that they wanted to make it productive. In order to do so, President Lincoln passed the Homestead Act. This act gave 160 acres of land to any adult U.S. citizen that had never borne arms against the United States. Everyone who had received land was required to live on and improve the land. This failed though because the land they were giving away was actually the lands of the Native Americans. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation after what was considered a Union victory at the Battle of Antietam. It declared that slaves in the Confederate States were freed. Lincoln proposed this as a sort of threat in hopes of ending the war soon, but that didn't happen. The proclamation also declared that the United States government and military would maintain the rights of freed slaves. They would also be given the opportunity to join the Union and fight for their freedom. -
Battle of Vicksburg
General Grant had been fighting for control over the Mississippi River in Vicksburg, Mississippi. If the United States could gain control over the Mississippi River, they would have successfully split the Confederacy into two parts. This battle was the last major military action made by the U.S.; by winning the Battle of Vicksburg, General Grant made a name for himself and eventually would be appointed as the lead general. The United States also now had easier access to their ports on the river. -
Sand Creek Massacre
The Sand Creek Massacre was one of the major battles in the war between the United States and the Native Americans. The Native American's just wanted peace and protection from the United States. Suddenly, there was a surprise attack carried out by the American forces. They killed dozens of Native peoples-- men, women, elderly, and children. They attacked peaceful natives solely for their land and its resources. Even after all of this, Native American Chief, Black Kettle still pushed for peace. -
General Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was a Union General during the Civil War and was also the 18th president of the United States. He was considered one of the war heroes of the Civil War. Without him and his smart strategies, the Confederacy might have never rejoined the Union. As a general, Grant had captured and gained control of the Mississippi, which was huge for the Union in the war. As president, he tried his best to ease the tensions within the Union, protect the rights of freed people, and so much more. -
Thirteenth Amendment
The 13th Amendment was ratified in late December of 1865. Being passed by President Lincoln, the amendment officially ended slavery in the United States. However, Lincoln never got to see the amendment being ratified due to his assassination at Ford's Theater. The amendment allowed hundreds of thousands of slaves to immediately be freed. It also gave Congress the power to "enforce" the amendment to any citizen that disobeyed it. The newly freed finally had the opportunity to live a better life. -
W.E.B. Du Bois
Born on February 23, 1868, Du Bois was one of the most important black protesters in the 19th century. He is especially known for challenging Booker T. Washington's "Atlanta Address," where blacks were urged to accept segregation. Du Bois came up with his own idea to battle Jim Crow laws, it was called "The Talented Tenth." With this approach, the top 10% of blacks in the U.S. were to set good examples everywhere. With hopes of desegregating cities and states and being accepted along the way. -
Munn v. Illinois
This was a case resolved in 1877 between a man by the name of Ira Munn and the state of Illinois. Munn was accused of breaking a state law that had provided the fixing of maximum charges for storing grain. He had claimed that the fixing of maximum storage was taking his property. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Illinois claiming that limiting rates was a constitutional right of state power to regulate business. This decision would later be overturned in the Wabash v Illinois case in 1886. -
Bland-Allison Act
The Bland Allison Act, or the Grand Bland Plan of 1878 required the U.S. Treasury to spend $2 million to $4 million a month on silver and then convert it into dollars. With the help of this act, the United States successfully switched their currency from gold to silver. President Rutherford B. Hayes had vetoed this act, but his veto was overridden by Congress and was put into action on February 28, 1878. It was in effect for almost two decades, but in 1893 President Cleveland repealed this act. -
Pendleton Act
The government had been corrupt due to the Spoils System for decades, but all of that changed when the Pendleton Act was passed by Congress in 1883. The Pendleton Act required that federal government jobs be given through merit and hard work. It also required that employees were picked through exams. Ultimately ending the tradition of earning a federal job through wealth and status. President Chester A. Arthur also created the Civil Service Commission (1883) with the help of the Pendleton Act. -
The Election of 1884
The election of 1884 was one of the most historic events in American politics. President Grover Cleveland had defeated the Republican party's candidate, James G. Blaine. By doing so, President Cleveland became the first elected Democrat in the oval office in over two and a half decades. Cleveland ran for reelection the following term, but was defeated by Republican Benjamin Harrison. He ran one last time in 1892 against Benjamin Harrison once again, who was running for reelection and beat him. -
Depression of 1893
In 1893, two of America's leading employers, the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad and the National Cordage Company went under. This sparked the beginning of a four year economic depression in America. Because of the depression, there was major political upset across the country. Nearly half of the American work force was unemployed too. JP Morgan was the U.S.'s savior during these times. He resupplied the gold reserve by organizing European leaders to buy $65 million worth of government bonds. -
Atlanta Compromise
The Atlanta Compromise was a speech given by Booker T. Washington in Atlanta, Georgia. In his speech, Washington claimed that African Americans had to accept segregation for now, while they focused on the economic side to achieve political equality in later times. White leaders all over America were open to this proposal, but blacks everywhere were claiming that Washington had setback the civil rights movement for absolutely no reason. Activist W.E.B. Du Bois was especially furious with this. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
One of the most famous cases regarding civil rights was Plessy v. Ferguson. This case established the "separate but equal" standard across the country. This segregated African Americans from white Americans only if their separate institutions were "equal." This law was in effect for almost 60 years until President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into effect. Before it was repealed, it caused many protests and arrests; causing a lot of violence against African Americans too. -
The De Lome Letter
Written in 1898 by the Spanish ambassador Enrique Dupuy de Lome, the De Lome Letter was a very significant factor to the start of the Spanish-American War. The letter had criticized President McKinley, calling him weak. He also claimed McKinley was only concerned about gaining the public favor. When this letter was published in the U.S., Americans were furious and demanded war against the Spanish. Two months later, McKinley asked for "forcible intervention" in Cuba, throwing American into war. -
The Rough-Riders
The First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry was one of the most famous units fighting on the American side during the Spanish-American War. Led by Theodore Roosevelt, the "Rough-Riders" were recruits who were cowboys, miners, law-enforcement officials, Native Americans, etc. They all assisted by taking charge during the Battle of San Juan Hill, which ultimately lead them to take over the hill. This was a huge victory for all of America, because it lead to Spanish forces surrendering only two weeks later. -
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt became the 26th president of the United States after William McKinley was assassinated in 1901. Before becoming president, Roosevelt was an avid outdoors man and served in the military during the Spanish-American War. He was also the 25th vice president and the 33rd governor of New York before he took office in late 1901. During his presidency he came up with the Square Deal, which protected all consumers, controlled large corporations, and conserved natural resources. -
Square Deal
The Square Deal was created by Teddy Roosevelt during his time in office. He had three goals in mind which were, conservation of natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer protection. They were known as the "Three Cs." Many new laws came with the deal, the more famous and well known ones being the Pure Food and Drug Act (1906), the National Forest Service Act (1905), and the Antiquities Act (1906). While in action, the Square Deal was very popular among republicans and democrats. -
The Jungle
"The Jungle" was a novel written by Upton Sinclair in 1905. Sinclair was a "muckraker" or was someone who used publicity to expose corruption specifically in the food industry. The horrific details portrayed the appalling and unsanitary actions that were being used in the meat-packing industry at the time. For that reason, Sinclair's novel had been deemed controversial across the country. Two huge and important laws were passed once "The Jungle" had made its way to Roosevelt and the oval office. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was the first of many consumer protection laws passed by President Roosevelt and Congress. This act prohibited the sales of illegal or foul food and drugs everywhere in the U.S. and improved job conditions for employees. As successful as this was, it never required approval or testing of the products before being introduced to the marker. Eventually this law provided a foundation for what is now the Food and Drug Administration or otherwise known as the FDA. -
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson was America's 28th president from 1913-1924. Before becoming president, Wilson was the president of Princeton University and served as the governor of New Jersey. He was most famous for being one of the leaders of the Progressive Movement, which lasted from the 1890s to the 1920s. He passed an act of neutrality at the beginning of WWI, but ultimately led the U.S. into war so "the world could be safe for democracy". He also helped create the League of Nations after the end of WWI. -
Keating-Owen Act
The Keating-Owen Act was an act that changed the ways of child labor for every industry back in the 1900s. Passed on September 1, 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson, it prohibited the sale of any type of products made by children under the age of 14 and the amount of hours children of all ages could work. However, it was declared unconstitutional during the Hammer v. Dagenhart case in 1918. The ruling stated the government had overstepped the government's powers regarding regulation of commerce. -
Zimmermann Telegram
The Zimmermann Telegram was a secret communication sent from Germany to Mexico during WWI. Germany proposed a military alliance with Mexico, if the U.S. ended up entering the war, and claimed that they would help Mexico recover their land that the United States fought for: Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. However, this telegram never made it to Mexico. Instead it ended up in President Wilson's office, who was infuriated. Once the telegram was made public in the U.S., they entered the war. -
James Farmer
James Leonard Farmer Jr. was an American civil rights activist and a well known leader during the civil rights movement. He did many extraordinary things like serving alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself and co-founded the Congress of Racial Equality (C.O.R.E.) with three other individuals in 1942. CORE's mission was to improve race relations for all African Americans. He is considered one of the "Big Four" in the movement alongside Martin Luther King Jr, Whitney Young, and Roy Wilkins. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment was something that all women's rights activists had been fighting for. With the passage of the amendment, women were finally able to vote in all elections held in the United States. The amendment was passed on June 4, 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson, but wasn't ratified until August 18, 1920 by the states. Some well known leaders and advocates of this campaign were Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Ida B. Wells, and many more courageous and brave women. -
The Scopes Trial
The Scopes Trial, which was formally known as the Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes case, was the prosecution of John Thomas Scopes for teaching evolution in a public high school in Tennessee. A recent bill passed in the state banned teachers from teaching evolution. Individuals in the United States had viewed this as an opportunity to challenge whether the bill was constitutional or not. The trial was very short and John Scopes was fined for $100, but in an appeal his conviction was over turned. -
Bonus Army
After World War I, veterans that served in the United States military during the war were rewarded with a bonus based on their length of service. However, this bonus, approved in 1924 by congress, wasn't to be paid out fully until 1945. In 1932, during the Great Depression tens of thousands of demonstrators and veterans protested and marched in Washington D.C. to demand their payment immediately. Eventually, they were asked to leave and when they didn't, their make shift houses were burned down. -
Fireside Chats
Fireside Chats were a series of addresses given each evening on the radio by our 32nd president: Franklin D. Roosevelt. His main goal with the fireside chats was to address the fears and concerns of the American people, and to inform them of actions taken by the United States government. His first chat was aired on the radio in 1933 and the last was produced in 1944, when his health started to decline due to the polio virus. He contracted the virus over a decade before becoming the president. -
The Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service
The Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service was passed during the Holocaust, which was endured by many Jewish families and allies for twelve long years. The main purpose of this law was to "restore" the national professional civil service, and simplify administration. With this law in effect, Jews and other political opponents of the Nazis were excluded from all civil service positions. However, those who had worked in civil service since 1914 or fought in WWI were exempt. -
Fair Labor Standards Act
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 was a labor law , passed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that gave workers the right to a minimum wage and a "time-and-a-half" overtime pay to those who worked over forty hours in one week. Record-keeping was required for all businesses and also put youth employment standards into effect for employers also. This law was practiced in private sectors, federal, state, and local governments and affected both full-time and part-time workers in the industries. -
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt is the only woman to hold the First Lady title for more than two terms due to her husband's terms. She greatly supported the New Deal and fought for civil rights. She also advocated for birth control and better working conditions for women of both classes. She was very supportive of the Women's Trade Union League and was vice president of Legislative Affairs of the League of Women Voters. After FDR's death, she remained active in politics for the remaining 17 years of her life. -
Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor, a naval base located in Honolulu, Hawaii occurred on December 7, 1941. It was a surprise attack carried out by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service just before 8:00 am. The Japanese intended to prevent the United States Pacific Fleet from interfering with their military plans in Southeast Asia against the overseas territories: United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. Over 2,400 U.S. personnel were killed, while only 129 Japanese soldiers were killed. -
Executive Order 8802
During World War II, African Americans were allowed to join the U.S. military. However, they were still segregated in their troops. That was until President Franklin D. Roosevelt, with the help of Congress passed Executive Order 8802 June 24, 1941. With this law, racial discrimination was prohibited all throughout the national defense industry. After this, many African Americans applied for defense jobs all across America. This was the first major response against racism since Reconstruction. -
The Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was very important during World War II and was led by Robert J. Oppenheimer. Started on August 13, 1942 it researched and developed the first nuclear weapons for the United States. This campaign only lasted for about three years though, with the end result costing over $2.2 billion and employing over 130,000 workers. Due to the help of the Manhattan Project, the United States successfully bombed the city of Hiroshima, all of the way across the world in the country of Japan. -
Code Talkers
Code Talkers were a huge advantage the United States had during World War II. The term "code talker" was the name given to the American Indians who helped the U.S. military by used their tribal language to send secret communications to soldiers on the battlefield. They sent secret messages about troop movements, enemy positions, and lots of other critical information on the battlefield. Some of the more famous Code Talkers came from the Lakota, Mohawk, Comanche, Navajo, Crow, and Hopi tribes. -
Congress of Racial Equality
The Congress of Racial Equality was founded by an interracial group of students in 1942. CORE had many different chapters to it. James Farmer and George Houser create the Chicago Committee of Racial Equality, which also happened to be the very first chapter of CORE. The Congress of Racial Equality as a whole was determined to terminate segregation by using nonviolent tactics to challenge cities in the North. One of its more famous major accomplishments was the Freedom Rides of 1961 in the south. -
D-Day
D-Day was given the codename "OVERLORD." It was the day when the Allied forces invaded northern France from the beaches of Normandy in World War II. The Allied forces had 5 naval assault divisions attack the beaches. On D-day alone, the U.S. suffered over 135,000 casualties. 29,000 of them were killed and the other 106,000 were wounded or went missing. It was incredibly important for the Allied Forces because it marked the turning point of the war, and allowed them to gain control of the war. -
Henry Ford
Born on July 80, 1863, Henry Ford was an American industrialist. He did many incredible things in his life such as founding Ford Motor Company, creating the first automobile, and developed the assembly line technique for the purpose of mass production. He founded his motor company in June of 1903 and had the first car built and sold only less than a month later. In 1906, he became the president and owner of his own company. His companies then became famous for using the assembly line method. -
Beat Generation
The Beat Generation was a literary development that started in 1948 and continued until the 60s. Started by a group of authors like Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Gregory Corso, they explored and influenced American culture and politics during the post-WWII era. They were especially interested in defying conventional writing. Some of the more famous writings to come from the Beat Generation were "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac and "Howl and Other Poems" by Allen Ginsberg. -
Marshall Plan
The Economic Recovery Act or better known as the Marshall Plan was named after George Marshall, the man who proposed the plan. In April of 1948, President Truman signed it into effect, signaling the start of a multi-billion dollar economic recovery program for Western Europe. By 1950, the recipient countries had least returned to their prewar production levels, making the Marshall Plan a huge success. It was a win for the U.S. too, due to the plan establishing new markets for American goods. -
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy was a Republican who served as the senator for the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. He was well known in the U.S. due to the time in 1950 when he claimed he had a list of all the communists working in the U.S. federal government. Soon McCarthyism or the "Second Red Scare" was on the rise. His accusations were never proven to be right or wrong, but frightened U.S. citizens immensely. Many people started to lose their jobs due to accusations of being communist. -
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Eisenhower served as president from 1953 to 1961. Before he became president, he was an accomplished military officer. During WWII, he served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied troops and eventually achieved the five-star rank and General of the Army. He is most famous for the D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944. As president, he is well known for the Interstate Highway Program of 1956, sending troops to protect African American children in a desegregated school, and for major infrastructure. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was an important civil rights case that proved the "separate but equal" standards unconstitutional. The case started in December of 1952 after Linda Brown was denied to enter Topeka's better equipped and all-white elementary school. It lasted for five years and turned into multiple separate cases. In the end Brown won, repealing the ruling in the Plessy v. Ferguson case. Public schools all around the country were no longer segregated starting in 1954, due to the case. -
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks was an avid American civil rights activist. She's best known for not giving up her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This eventually led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, participated by tens of thousands and lasting for over a year. She also worked with constituents on job discrimination, education, and affordable housing and helped investigate the killing of three black teenagers in a race riot in 1967. She was honored as "the first lady of civil rights" by Congress. -
National Interstate and Defense Highway Act
On June 29, 1956, the National Interstate and Defense Highway Act or also known as the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 was passed and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This law allowed the American interstate and highway systems to expand over 41,000 miles across the United States. It created a faster and easier way of evacuation in case of a nuclear threat. From then interstates had to be straight for a certain distance to act as an emergency landing area for military planes. -
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
SNCC was created by young people and students like Ella Baker and Julian Bond in 1960 in response to racial segregation in the United States. The purpose of SNCC was to give younger people opportunities to participate in the Civil Rights Movement. The members participated in many events using nonviolent tactics, such as sit-ins that were taking place all throughout the south, boycotts, and even went as far at the release a newspaper titled "Student Voice Newspaper." SNCC was very successful. -
Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs was a military operation in Cuba during the Cold War and during the Kennedy Administration. The operation's main purpose was to overthrow Fidel Castro and his communist government. The CIA was to train Cuban exiles and send them to Cuba to fight Castro's army. Ultimately, the Bay of Pigs mission failed due to poor planning, underestimating the strength of the Cuban government, and execution by the CIA. 106 exiles were killed and the rest of them that survived were captured. Th -
Freedom Rides
Freedom Rides was a nonviolent way of protesting against segregation during the Civil Rights movement. They occurred in the deep south during 1961 with both black and white people participating. They were deemed "Freedom Riders." During the Freedom Rides, the participants were often attacked and/or threatened by many anti-civil rights believers. There were mobs and they even went as far as to set the buses they were taking on fire. Kennedy sent 400 federal marshals to protect the Freedom Riders. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington (for Jobs and Freedom) was a historic gathering that took place in 1963. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in D.C. to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. It was during this march that Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I have a Dream" speech. Demands to end segregation were also made that day. It was viewed as an act of support to the civil rights bill that had recently been introduced by President Kennedy and his administration. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
A landmark civil rights and labor act, The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was proposed by President Kennedy before he was assassinated in 1963. It was passed and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson just a year later with many people there, including Martin Luther King Jr. This law prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public accommodations and programs funded by the federal government such as theaters, restaurants, hotels, and so much more. -
Baby Boom
The baby boom was a period of time after World War II when the birth rate in the United States was greatly elevated. This helped the prosperity of the U.S. economy. The education system was heavily strained while the babies grew up because they didn't have enough space in schools or teachers. The increase for food and supplies was dramatically increased and at first, it caused serious inflation. It stayed that way until the babies that were born then became old enough to get jobs of their own. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Winning the vote 328 to 74, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was approved by the House and later signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 6, 1965. This new law prohibited any sort of racial discrimination or practices in the United States voting system and it allowed African Americans with an opportunity to finally be able to vote. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 also eliminated the use of literacy tests for voting in the south and appointed federal examiners for the voting polls. -
Kerner Commission
The Kerner Commission was established on July 28, 1967 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The commission was established to find the cause of the numerous violent riots that were taking place in Detroit, Newark, and twenty-three other cities. Some citizens assumed it was the young black males that caused the violence, but the Kerner Commission proved that it was "white racism" that caused the riots. They concluded that the country was so divided, claiming there were two radically unequal societies. -
Thurgood Marshall
Before he was on the Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall was an American civil rights lawyer. He argued 32 cases and won 29 of them. One of his most famous clients was Linda Brown in the Brown v. Board of Education case. Some other cases he represented were the Boynton v. Virginia, the Watts v. Indiana, and the Lyons v. Oklahoma cases. Marshall also served as the first African American associate justice on the Supreme Court in general. He served on the court for more than 20 years (1967-1991). -
Martin Luther King Jr.
Born on January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and one of the most influential civil rights activists. He was most famous for his nonviolent ways of protesting, which were inspired by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. One of his most famous moments was his "I have a Dream" speech that he gave at the March on Washington. He was invited by President Lyndon B. Johnson when the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed. Unfortunately, King was assassinated in April of 1968. -
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon was the 37th President who did numerous things for America. Before he was president, he served as a representative and senator from California. He was also the vice president under Dwight Eisenhower. He is mostly known for his role in the Watergate Scandal and for being the only president to ever resign. He also is known for resuming the relationship between the United States and China. He also approved a strengthened Voting Rights Act and made huge efforts to desegregate schools.
