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The First Great Awakening
The First Great Awakening was a religious resurgence in the Colonies of America. The Great Awakening echoed with religious fervor throughout the nation, as they focused on the ideas of pre-destination, and new denominations of Christianity. This movement was headed by two major figures, those being George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards. These two used conflicting methods to complement each other and reach as many people as they could with their teachings. -
The Seven Years War
The Seven Years' War was fought between the British and the French. They had a dispute over North American territory. The French also recruited Native Americans to help them fight this battle, and obviously, the British enlisted their colonists in America to help the fight. The Seven Years' War actually lasted nine years and was started when General George Washington belonging to the British decided to attack a French outpost, prior to this tensions had been high, but this was the tipping point. -
The Stamp Act
After the Seven Years' War, the Colonists believed they deserved equal treatment to the British. They believed this because they had made great contributions to the war effort. Britain disagreed with the Colonists and proceeded to consider them subservient. The colonists defied the British due to them being upset with this and decided to ignore the British and moved west of the land allotted after the war, this led to the British rolling out certain acts on the colonists that constrained them. -
The Boston Massacre
Tensions were rising in the colonies due to many acts being enforced on the colonists, perhaps most notably the Quartering Act. There were British soldiers stationed all around the colonies, but their orders were to not engage with the colonists. On King Street, there were multiple Britains stationed. Colonists began to harass the soldiers, but the soldiers did not react. Colonists proceeded to throw objects at them, eventually injuring one resulting in the soldiers firing on the crowd. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty (a group of colonists attempting to stand up to British tyranny) decided to dress as Native Americans, board British ships, and dump millions of dollars worth of tea into the Boston harbor to show their discontent with the Acts being implemented by the British, such as the Stamp Act, and/or the Quartering Act. They were upset with these acts and others similar to them because they felt as though it was an intrusion on their personal rights and liberties. -
The Shot Heard Round The World
The British had discovered that Colonists were keeping a stockpile of weapons in Concord Massachusetts. The British decided to march there to prevent any outlandish actions from being taken using these weapons. The British ran into a force of colonists called "Minutemen" The Minutemen decided to face off against the British despite the vast difference in numbers. after a long standstill, one shot is fired and is acknowledged as the very start of the Revolutionary War. -
Olive Branch Petition
Colonists in opposition to the levies being placed upon them by the British formed a phrase "no taxation without representation." The Colonists did not have representation within the Continental Congress, and they felt it was unfair. The Colonists created the Olive Branch Petition saying if they were given representation, along with limiting British taxing authority, then they would decide to remain a part of Britain, and remain colonies. It was a last resort to prevent war from being declared. -
The Declaration of Independence
This document is what founded the United States of America. The document had been worked on by Thomas Jefferson and then reworked by multiple parties. This document changed the nature of government. The document stated that The former British colonies of America were now to be the United States of America, and would become a democracy. They established many of the commonly associated beliefs held by the United States and created a government to be utilized by the United States. -
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were the United States's first attempt at the creation of a national government. The Articles of Confederation failed their purpose miserably because the Americans were terrified of bestowing the Federal government with power. Because of this, there was no president, no standing army, and no taxing authority, which gave only states power, but on the bright side, it named us the United States of America. The Articles of Confederation were forged out of fear. -
The Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a major turning point in the Revolutionary War. Americans were in desperate need of some help fighting this war, and they called upon the French for that help. The French were hesitant to aid the Americans because they were not sure it would result in a win, this battle confirmed in the French's eyes the Americans' ability to potentially win this war with the help of the French. The French proceeded to sign the formal Treaty of Alliance. -
The Battle of Yorktown
General Lord Cornwallace led the British troops, he was forced by the Americans to retreat to Yorktown, he chose to flee to Yorktown because the British navy controlled the ports there. Unbeknownst to Cornwallace, French forces had defeated the British at Yorktown already. When Cornwallace arrived he was trapped. Cornwallace was forced to surrender his sword to the Americans. the surrender took place Oct 20, 1781. Yorktown was the final major battle of the Revolutionary War. -
Shay's Rebellion
After the Revolutionary War, the U.S. was in debt, they began to take property from farmers because those farmers were deeply in debt due to fighting in the war and not being paid. Daniel Shay took up arms with multiple others, and rebelled, they attacked courthouses and caused many issues. This situation highlighted the need for an American standing army to protect the public. Shay's Rebellion demonstrated just how flawed the Articles of Confederation were, which led to change. -
The Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was responsible for the organization of the territories of Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan. American government feared they would be accused of underrepresentation, so they laid out the requirements for statehood, so these territories could become states. In order to become a state you must have 60,000 people in the territory, must ban slavery, as well as follow the outline on how to create official towns within the state. -
The Election of 1789
George Washington, our first president was not elected, he was selected by the U.S. government. George Washington was a unifying figure loved by all and had no political affiliation. He ran and nobody ran against him. On April 30, 1789, he was inaugurated first President. Wahington was responsible for the establishment of many precedents that would be followed long after him. George Washington is arguably the most important U.S. president in history. His vice president was John Adams. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion resulted from the whiskey taxes imposed on Americans by Hamilton's Financial Plan. farmers became upset at this, as many farmers turned their excess corn into whiskey for additional profit, but now they were not able to do that. Simultaneously, large businesses that make whiskey were getting extreme tax breaks if they produced a certain amount each year. Farmers took up arms to show their discontent, but the rebellion was squashed by the army showing the constitution works. -
Pinckney's Treaty
Spain gave Americans the ability to utilize the Mississippi River for travel and trade, as well as the use of the port in New Orleans. Pinckney's Treaty was temporary and did not relinquish this territory to the U.S. Thomas Jefferson, however, was terribly worried that Spain might back out of the deal similar to how the United States backed out of the Eternal Alliance of Friendship during the French Revolution. In the meantime, however, this treaty was a huge success for America. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts comprised the Alien Act, the Naturalization Act, and the Sedition Act. Each Act had its role, but the overall effect of these three was allowing the U.S. to deport any "dangerous" aliens, increasing the amount of time that immigrants must remain in the U.S. to become citizens, and making it illegal for the press to print material that was critical of the President or Congress. This was followed by the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions which banned them in some states. -
The Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson set out to purchase New Orleans from Napoleon Bonaparte, but Napoleon declined the offer unless the U.S. purchased the entirety of the Louisiana territory for 15 million dollars. Jefferson was hesitant, but he purchased it. This resulted in the size of the country doubling, the securement of New Orleans, and the Mississippi River, and 828,000 miles at the price of roughly 4 cents per acre. Jefferson believed this was in the best interest of the country and commissioned Lewis and Clark. -
The Embargo of 1807
While Britain and France were at war, America was in good relations with the both of them, and wished to remain neutral. Britain said that by us purchasing and selling to France, that we were helping the enemy, and the French said the opposite. In order to remain neutral, Jefferson decides to halt foreign trade altogether. This tanks the American economy, however it does greatly improve domestic manufacturing resulting in the opposite America that Jefferson dreamed of. -
The War of 1812
British naval ships began harassing American trading ships when they were at sea and utilized a process called impressment on their passengers. They were also incentivizing Native American terrorism against the United States. America told them to stop, and that they weren't pushovers. America was not yet very strong and still lacked a navy. The two go to war where America is extremely outclassed, however, America prevails, and America begins to resume their partaking in foreign trade. -
The Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent put an end to the not so long war of 1812, diplomats were sent to Ghent to discuss a treaty with the British, during this however, there was tension rising in New Orleans. The Treaty of Ghent was signed, and then British troops not yet having heard of the news attacked American forces in New Orleans. General Andrew Jackson led a great military defense, resulting in an American victory. Even though this was after the war, nobody is faulted, because word was yet to break. -
The Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening follows the first. It is known for pushing free will and choice in your life, and your relationship with god. They chose to utilize women as a vehicle of social change. They used women because of their already large role in political and social change at the time. Women were responsible for abolition, temperance, and suffrage rallies and movements of the time. Lyman Beecher and Charles Finney were major contributors to the Second Great Awakening. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine laid claim to western territory, it essentially said the western half of the world is under the protection of the United States, and if you stay out of our western territory, then we will stay out of your eastern territory. The U.S. did not have the military power to back it up, but they were attempting to create the facade that they did. After the Monroe Doctrine, we witnessed an era of goodfeeling in the U.S. with no political parties existing and most people getting along. -
The Election of 1824
The election of 1824 had four individuals running. Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and W.H. Crawford. There was no majority vote, the vote went to the House of Representatives. Henry Clay was the Speaker of the House at the time, so he dropped out of the race. Adams and Clay met in private afterward, and no record was kept. Clay supported Adams, and Congress elected Adams. 3 days later Adams announced Clay as Secretary of State. This was known as the Corrupt Bargain. -
American Immigration to Texas
Texas was originally a territory of Mexico, and once Mexico achieved its independence. Mexico wished to make use of Texas because at the moment there were not many inhabitants, so they extended an offer to U.S. citizens offering them land. In exchange for land in Texas, Americans must pledge their allegiance to Mexico, and convert to catholicism. Many Americans lied to receive land. Mexico received too many immigrants and closed the border, and afterward had an illegal immigration issue. -
Tariff of Abominations
The intended outcome was to make foreign goods more expensive than domestic ones, resulting in the purchase of more domestic U.S.-made products, resulting in the benefit of American business. The South was wary however of this because they believed that European countries would retaliate against this tariff due to it limiting their business. The South was big on reporting their cotton and believed that it would harm their businesses and profits. -
Election of 1828
Jackson is running again against John Quincy Adams. between the Elections of 1824 and 1828, the requirement for property rights was dismissed for voting. Jackson created the democratic committee, and began the first "modern political campaign." Jackson won the Election by a landslide due to the first instance of suffrage. Jackson was dubbed the "Champion of the People." Jackson held a large party at the White House, resulting in the northerners coining the term "King of the Mob" for him. -
Indian Removal Act
There were conflicts between the Indian nations in the U.S. and American citizens. Cherokee nation takes Georgia to court, where John Marshall declares Natives to be American citizens, but not of the American nation. In a later case, Worcester Vs. GA Marshall declares Georgia can't forcibly remove the Natives. Jackson is famously quoted saying "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." The Act took Eastern Indians and moved them to Western Land forcibly. -
Nullification Crisis
Southern states were still angry about the Tariff of Abominations and threatened to begin nullifying the law. John C. Calhoun of South Carolina states that the tariff is unconstitutional because it favors the North. Jackson in a surprising move attempts to pass a new tariff to settle down the South. South Carolina doesn't care and nullifies them both. South Carolina threatens secession. Jackson passed the Force Bill so he could take action, SC retracted the ordinance in 1833. -
John Deere's Miracle Plow
Life in the Prairies of America was not easy, for two reasons. Reason number one was the lack of foliage or trees. Reason number two was the thick sod that covered the nutrient-dense soil everywhere. John Deere invented the Miracle Plow to help with this issue. The Miracle Plow was a plow that had a blade sharp enough to cut the sod, and the blade would not have any dirt stick to it once used. The invention transformed the prairies into arable land and created materials for housebuilding. -
The U.S. Annexation of Texas
Following the closing of Mexico's Texas borders, they were receiving a surplus of illegal immigrants. To help with their immigration issues, Mexico created more taxes, and stricter laws. Texans were extremely displeased with this, so they chose to secede from Mexico and found the Republic of Texas. This caused a war between Mexico and Texas. Many Americans decided to join the war to help their fellow brothers. America proposed the idea of Annexation in exchange for protection, and Texas agreed. -
The Mexican American War
America routed Mexico. It was no match, Mexico was a weak newly founded nation whilst America was quickly developing to be a true world powerhouse. This led to the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. The Treaty said that Texas would belong to America, the Rio Grande would be the border, and Mexico must give up something called the Mexican Cession. The Mexican Cession included the territories of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and California which gave America its modern shape. America is now bi-coastal. -
The Creation of Utopias
While the idea of Utopia has been around forever and still can be found in culture today it was attempted to be created in America in the late 18th century. Utopias sought to perfect society within the community. There were creations of political, religious, economic, and equality utopias. Utopianism became extremely popular in this period, and we saw the spring up of many communities. One of the most popular of which being the Oneida who were perhaps one of the earliest forms of polygamy. -
The Compromise of 1850
California wished to enter the Union as a free state despite residing below the line of free states, there was a compromise made to adjust for this, and the provisions of the compromise go as follows. California will enter as a free state, the slave trade will be abolished in Washington D.C., strict fugitive slave law will be enacted nationwide, and territories now applying for statehood will be governed by popular sovereignty. This ended up being the best middle ground for both sides to stand. -
The Bleeding Kansas Era
Kansas began to be fought over to make it either a free or slave state. Missouri was scared the North would win, so they formed a mob called the border ruffians and caused havoc in Lawrence Kansas where they commandeered the courthouse, faked many votes for a pro-slave state, and blew up the newspaper office. This caused Kansas to become a slave state. This leads to politicians from the South becoming violent with those from the North, and vice versa. caused a descent into chaos in Kansas. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown was a northern priest who had become misguided in his methods of enacting change. He decided during the Bleeding Kansas Era to travel to Kansas and murder families of Southerners in the name of the North. John Brown in an effort to cause a slave revolt attempted to steal U.S. weapons from a stockhouse in Virginia. John Brown was caught and hung for his treason. The North saw him as a hero and honored his death creating the song "John Brown's Body" which became the Union march song. -
The Homestead Act
The Homestead Act was meant to encourage western settlement. The U.S. viewed these lands as underdeveloped similar to the way Mexico viewed Texas, the U.S. wanted to make use of these lands by sending citizens there. Homesteads were 160-acre plots of land that were distributed to the head of a household. the requirement was that you must live on that land for 5+ years, farm the land, and develop the land (typically in the form of permanent residence.) Westward expansion boomed as a result. -
Pacific Railway Act
The Pacific Railway Act was introduced by former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. He envisioned a railway that spanned the whole country connecting everyone for greater opportunity. Lincoln chartered two different companies to incentivize the job as well as implement other stipulations to speed the process. The job was completed on May 10, 1869, and proved to be extremely successful at creating Western immigration in the U.S. This became 1 of three important acts passed by Lincoln that year. -
Morrill Land Grant Act
The Morrill Land Grant gave readily available access to higher education around the United States of America. The U.S. government gave land to each state to develop publicly accessible universities for many Americans in the country. The Morrill Land Grant is one of the three major acts created under Abraham Lincoln's presidency. Often we associate Lincoln with the U.S. Civil War, but that is not the only reason he was such a great President, he was also praised for his character and actions. -
The Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day in United States history, it resulted in the death of 23,000 casualties with 3,600 confirmed deaths. After the battle took place, it was marked to be a battlefield cemetery. The North declared they won the battle due to the South's retreat, but given the number of casualties it is difficult to say that either side truly "won." After the Northern victory at Antietam, Lincoln released the Emancipation Proclamation. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was one of two decisive battles that are considered to be the turning point of the Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg is considered to be the bloodiest battle in American history, resulting in the death of over 50,000 U.S. citizens. The Union was able to come out on top and cripple the Confederacy's military force, but did not capitalize on their weakened state, and allowed them to get away, the confederacy was able to live to fight another day. -
The Battle of Vicksburg
Vicksburg had a strategic location that was deemed valuable to both the Confederacy and the Union. Vicksburg was located on the Mississippi River. The Union emerged victorious and essentially completed their Anaconda plan by splitting the Confederacy in two. The victory fell to the Union following a 47-day-long siege. The South was successfully separated, and this was the beginning of the end of the Civil War. This paired with Gettysburg nullified Confederate military forces. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
During the Civil War, Lincoln decided The Emancipation Proclamation was necessary to shift the tides and switch the war in Northern favor. This abolished slavery in the Confederate states which shifted the significance of the Civil War. Before this, the war was only about the preservation of the Union, but now that the Proclamation is enacted, it will prevent the South from receiving any help from any potential allies. The Emancipation Proclamation was designed to incentivize the South's return. -
The Election of 1864
Abraham Lincoln, who had been president the previous term was being challenged by former U.S. general George McClellan. McClellan received 21 electoral votes to Lincoln's 212 electoral votes. The reason this election was significant was due to the fact that it took place during a major war for the U.S. as well as the fact that the two who were running against each other had been definite rivals for some time due to McClellan's disdain for Lincoln after his removal from the head general. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman was the right-hand man of Ulysses S. Grant, who was the head of the U.S. military. Grant told Sherman to "make the South howl" Sherman conducted his march in an attempt to cripple the South. The forces Sherman led during his march were ordered to level everything in their way. This is a method of war known as total warfare, and it is used to not only destroy the Confederacy's military, but also their economy, and morale. Sherman during his march captured 20,00+ bales of cotton. -
The Wade Davis Bill
The Wade Davis Bill was Congress' counteroffer for reconstruction planning. Congress disliked Lincoln's plan, so they presented their own. It entailed a requirement of 50% of the population in each state to pledge an oath to the Union, only non-Confederates could vote or hold any government office, and the rest is mainly the same as Lincoln's plan. Regardless Lincoln believed that their proposition was too harsh. He vetoed it. In the end, it was Andrew Johnson's plan that was enacted. -
The Final Virginia Campaign
Grant calls Sherman back from his march to end the war. The Confederacy has been cornered in Virginia. The Confederacy is running low on supplies, and cannot get a foothold. They need to reach Appomattox to restock. Grant tells Sherman to get there before them at all costs. Sherman was able to make it to Appomattox first, and pincered the Confederate forces between him and Grant. Lee was forced to surrender his sword, but Grant returned it to him out of respect thus marking the end of the war. -
Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
Lincoln is looking to heal the wounds of the Union, and the newly returned territories of the South. Lincoln presents his 10% plan. It will pardon any Confederate leader who swears an oath to the Union. It also states that any state can be readmitted once 10% of its population swears an oath to the Union. However, each state being readmitted must rewrite its constitution to ban slavery. Lincoln believed if there were any feelings of animosity, then there was no hope for reunification. -
The Pendleton Act
The Spoils System had been a part of American politics since the Jacksonian era. Once President Garfield was elected, however, it all changed. Garfield, like many before him, was using the spoils system after being elected to reward his biggest supporters. A man named Charles Guiteau felt he deserved recognition and asked for it. He was denied and assassinated by the president. This caused politicians to realize how dangerous this system can be and they passed the Pendleton Act which banned it. -
Haymarket Strike
What began with the protest of workers pushing for the adoption of an eight-hour workday quickly turned foul. During the protest, an unknown individual threw a dynamite bomb at police officers attempting to disperse the meeting due to the hour. The police retaliated with gunfire and when the dust settled, multiple officers and civilians were killed, and many people were injured. This event shadowed Chicago police long after. It also caused discourse towards unions. -
Americanization of Natives
Americanization was a process in which American officials subjugated Natives. They sent children of the Natives to boarding schools for up to 18 years so they could become "proper citizens." In reality this "cultural genocide" simply destroyed the culture of Natives in the eyes of the newer generations who had been sent to these schools. Often times whites believed truly that these actions being taken were in the best interest of the Native Americans, meanwhile the truth was quite the opposite. -
The Ghost Dance Movement
The Ghost Dance Movement was a result of Natives feeling like much of the bad omens being bestowed upon them was related to them straying much too far from tradition. To "cleanse" themselves ethnically, they would relinquish their modern technologies. Many then would opt to dance in a unique traditional manner that was often misconstrued to be violent. As a result of these misconceptions, Ghost Dancing was banned. The ban did not stop them however as they continued celebrating their heritage. -
The New Industrial Order
American industry began to explode. There were multiple contributing factors, but the major causes were increased efficiencies as a result of new processes. Businessmen all over the U.S. began to flourish as they took advantage of the new technological advancements that were on the horizon. It is during this time that we see the rise of political machines, robber barons, philanthropy, labor unions, and urbanization. All of this contributed to what began the start of "modern" America. -
Plessy V. Ferguson
As the aftermath of the Civil War began to come to a head, many were still outraged at the treatment of African Americans in this country. Despite being free, blacks were not able to truly be free, as they could not do as they pleased. They were constantly segregated. This case ruled by the Supreme Court ended with the statement that "separate but equal" accommodations conform to the 14th Amendment. This resulted in many not receiving equal treatment despite being advertised as such. -
U.S. Imperialism
While the U.S. had been focused on Manifest Destiny, European powers had been acquiring new territories around the world. The U.S. began to produce more goods, and a higher output of goods meant more markets were needed to sell said goods. The U.S. also saw improvements in weapons, communications, transportation, and commerce which made global reach and expansion easier. This fueled by the influences of Admiral Mahan and William Henry Seward caused accomplishments such as the Panama Canal. -
The de Lome letter
The de Lome letter was intercepted by the U.S. after the agreement between the Spanish and Cuba was signed. The letter revealed that the Spanish had no intention of honoring the agreement. The Spanish go on to mock the U.S. in the letter. This letter falls into the hands of William Randolph Hearst, who publishes it in his newspaper. It leads to outcries from citizens for retaliation and increased tension between the U.S. and the Spanish greatly. It causes the stationing of the USS Maine. -
The Explosion of the USS Maine
The U.S. as a way of showing dominance over the Spanish stationed the USS Maine in Havana Harbor. This was not considered an act of war but certainly was meant to be intimidation. The USS Maine ended up exploding causing the death of 260 American sailors. This is what caused the U.S. to enter the Spanish-American War. Despite the Spanish claims that it was not them that caused the explosion, the U.S. still waged war. It was much later discovered that it was a mechanical malfunction. -
The Spanish American War
Cuba was a Spanish territory that contained many American citizens. Many Cubans wanted their independence. As a result, a series of Cuban revolts occur resulting furthermore in Spain cracking down on Cuba. The U.S. negotiated for peace but discovered that the Spanish had no intention of honoring the agreement. The U.S. then anchored a ship in Havana Harbor, which exploded. The U.S. blames the casualties on the Spanish, and war ensues. War is short and the U.S. wins. Cuba is then independent. -
Anthracite Coal Strike
Coal Miners went on strike but the company was unwilling to negotiate with them. Theodore Roosevelt demanded that they negotiate or he would use military force to ensure the mine remained productive. This signals the first time the government sides with the laborers rather than corporations. However, it sparks major debates over the constitutionality of the government seizing private property. Ultimately, the company concedes and meets the workers in the middle to get their mines up and running. -
Meat Inspection Act
The Jungle, a book written by Upton Sinclair was designed to promote the idea of socialism, but in the process shone a light on abuses and conditions in meatpacking industries. The American public was horrified whilst reading this, and outcries were heard all over the nation. Theodore Roosevelt signed the Meat Inspection Act to combat these claims being made in the book after having visited a plant. The Meat Inspection Act ended up being the predecessor of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. -
The Automobile
The Model T was introduced to the public by Henry Ford. He used a moving assembly line to cut down on production time, cost, and inefficiencies. Automobiles went from a previous price of $850 to $280. Henry Ford treated his employees great, he would routinely pay better wages, offer shorter hours, and even give his employees weekends off. The new mass production of automobiles caused other industries that supported their production to also become stimulated. It did however hurt the railroad. -
The creation of the NAACP and W.E.B. DuBois
W.E.B DuBois founded the NAACP to fight against constant discrimination. The NAACP helped throughout history to uplift the African American community. W.E.B DuBois had opposing ideas to another prominent African American activist of his time. Booker T. Washington promoted ideas of letting change come to them and putting forth a good foot in hopes of being seen in a better light. W.E.B.'s approach was more direct involving confrontation and involved calling out individuals for injustices. -
The Great Migration
After the draft took place, and many white men were shipped to Europe to fight in the Great War, jobs were in desperate need of being filled. African Americans and Women were the ones to step up. African Americans ended up migrating north to all of the factories to fill those positions. We see a huge wave of migration that essentially lasted until 1990. These African Americans had a tough time when the white men returned, as the veterans were then given their jobs back and the black men fired. -
Taft V. Roosevelt (1912 Election)
After Roosevelt's presidency was so highly thought of, William Howard Taft had big shoes to fill. Roosevelt had him elected after himself because he believed he would follow in his footsteps. Taft did almost everything Roosevelt did, but better. Unfortunately, Taft felt it was a breach of his power to extend broad social reforms. This upset Roosevelt, and caused him to re-enter the presidential race. They split the votes, and as a result, Woodrow Wilson was elected instead of Taft or Roosevelt. -
Policemen of the World
Foreign policy has always been an important part of the U.S. political world. Once Roosevelt was elected, foreign policy changed. Roosevelt's big-stick diplomacy placed the U.S. as the effective policeman of the world. Other presidents who closely followed him felt like he was overstepping his boundaries. Taft preferred his method of "dollar diplomacy" It was meant to provide economic stimulation to other countries to help global trade. Ultimately, Roosevelt's plan proved to be more effective. -
MANIA
The cause of World War 1 is considered to be multi-faceted, but historians have condensed the causes down to MANIA.
M stands for Militarism, which was built up by smaller countries to protect themselves and in turn created tension. A is alliances, which deals with secret agreements to protect each other. N is Nationalism, which was immense pride in citizens countries. I is Imperialism which was many countries expanding their power. and A is assassination referring to Arch-Duke Franz Ferdinand. -
Committee on Public Information
The CPI was an agency dedicated to spreading "information" about The Great War. They did this through propaganda and 4-minute men. 4-minute men went to gatherings of all kinds and addressed the crowds for 4 minutes about the war. During this time, they would attempt to convince you to purchase war bonds, demonize the enemy, convince you to work a war job, or otherwise shape behaviors to support the war. War bonds were heavily advertised, and were seen as a way to support your relatives overseas. -
Selective Services Act
The United States was essentially forced to join the Great War, but despite there being many who were willing to fight for the country, the U.S. found themselves in need of so many more troops. The remedy to this issue was instituting a nationwide draft. The U.S. drafted eligible men who were not excluded due to work or disability into the military by draw of number. It became required that you register at 18 years of age. The U.S. ended up mobilizing 4.5 million troops from the draft. -
Espionage Act
The entrance of the U.S. into the Great War ended up being vastly unpopular with the American public, and many felt like it was not the United State's responsibility to handle this conflict, and they felt they should stick to Woodrow Wilson's policy. Congress shortly after entering the war, passed the Espionage Act which limited freedom of speech by preventing discussion of anything that could be "detrimental" to the war effort. This paired with the Sedition Act put a damper on public opinion. -
Wilson's 14 Points
Wilson called for an armistice where he discussed possible ways to end The Great War. In his speech, he presents his 14 points. The first 5 were dedicated to preventing future wars. Points 6 through 13 were dedicated to adjusting the Countries' borders after the war. Point 14 dealt with the creation of the League of Nations. It was meant to serve as a platform for countries to discuss disputes without turning to war. November 11th served as armistice day. The U.S. ends up not joining the League. -
Sedition Act
Congress passed the Sedition Act after the passing of the Espionage Act. The Sedition Act punished anyone who criticized the government, military, people in power, or any other authority during the Great War. This paired with the Espionage Act made it almost impossible to speak your mind else you may lose more than just your freedom of speech. over 2,000 people were imprisoned because they had "conspired" or were speaking poorly of the government. This was completely unconstitutional. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment finally accomplished something that had been fought for since 1869. Nationwide Women's Suffrage. After women protested for a long time and the creation of many organizations like NAWSA, the fruits of their labor were finally ripe for picking. Many important women such as Ida B. Wells and Ida M. Tarbell fought long and hard for the accomplishment of this monumental achievement. This then brought to light the idea of other social reforms needing to be made in the U.S. -
The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was the European countries' response to Wilson's 14 points. Instead of no blame, the Treaty placed heavy blame on Germany. It limited their military to 100,000 people, limited them to only 6 warships, prevented them from having planes or submarines, prevented the unification of Germanic people, demilitarized the Rhineland, cost them 33 billion in reparations, and made Germany sign a guilt clause. The U.S. disagreed with this Treaty and decided not to sign it. -
Palmer Raids
Attorney General Mitchell Palmer encouraged the FBI to conduct raids that resulted in mass arrests and deportation of those potentially included in "distasteful" views or activities as a way to get rid of immigrants or people who have different political views than Americans. Two people who fell victim to this were Sacco and Vanzetti. They were immigrant anarchists who were convicted of murder and put to death despite having valid alibis and having weapons not matching the murder weapon. -
The Volstead Act
The anti-saloon league had long also preached the idea of temperance. it promoted the idea of no alcohol consumption. Many thought alcohol was a gateway to sin and hoped to shut it down. The U.S. government in 1919 declared that alcohol would be illegal. You would no longer be permitted to buy, consume, sell, distribute, or in any other way be involved with alcohol unless it is for religious or medicinal purposes. This was largely ineffective and led to an underground black market. -
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a flourishment of black artistic ideas, expressions, and a swell in pride in being black. The Jazz Age is considered a byproduct of the Harlem Renaissance. Other forms of art were also able to be spread in the cities. The Harlem Renaissance began due to The Great Migration which began soon after the beginning of The Great War. Many other cultural changes occurred in the cities because they now accommodate more black people. It created a sense of community. -
The New Woman
Flappers are considered by many to be the icon of the "Roaring 20s" However, these girls are often misinterpreted to be normal, when in fact they were far from it. Most women were still following the traditional archetype of what the American woman looked like. It was certain young women in cities however who chose to begin wearing shorter hair, more revealing clothing, smoking, drinking, and partying in high volumes that began to be called "flappers." This bolstered tension between old and new. -
Immigration Act
Due to the inflating population because of immigration, and anti-immigration sentiment as a result of the war, the U.S. passed the Immigration Act that limits the number of immigrants who can enter the U.S. to 2% of the population of those people who were living in the U.S. as of 1890. They used 1890 as an old number to further limit the number of immigrants able to enter the U.S. It paired with the Chinese Exclusion Act, severely reduced the number of immigrants in the U.S. in the early 1900s. -
The Great Depression
After WW1, the U.S. becomes a creator nation of sorts, providing loans to countries around the world who are already in a depression. The stock market also began to balloon due to people buying stock on margin. The stock market ended up crashing twice which is what started the depression, as the depression began, banks quickly began to run out of money and collapsed. production was stopped in factories all over the country, and many people lost their jobs and fell into poverty. -
Herbert hoover
Herbert Hoover was elected the 31st president of the U.S. The great depression ended up occurring on Hoover's watch. Hoover directly opposed federal aid to combat the Depression as he feared it could be counterproductive. he did make attempts to strengthen banks and push for charity. Many, however, saw him as a do-nothing president who was not helping the people. He ended up having shantytowns that sprung up all across America named after him "Hoovervilles." Many hated him for the bad situation. -
The Dust Bowl
In an unfortunate turn of events, the U.S. experienced two massive emergencies at the same time. From 1930-1936, the midwest down to Texas experienced the worst ecological disaster of the 20th century and it happened to coincide with the Great Depression. The Dust Bowl swept through and decimated crops, buried houses, and ruined infrastructure. A major drought ensued and the high winds allowed little to settle. Families were forced to flee, those fleeing were nicknamed the "Okies." -
The New Deal
The New Deal and Second New Deal were a series of government agencies produced by FDR to combat the disrepair that the U.S. had found itself in after WWI. Designed to protect and relieve citizens from economic issues, this caused many people to love FDR because they felt he was making a positive change for the U.S. The 1935 Social Security Act was another part of the New Deals that was rolled out and it gave a safety net for Americans following their retirement. Causing more people to do so. -
The Start of WW2
WW2 was caused primarily by the acronym WAR. W standing for World War 1, more specifically the aftermath, that is the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty imposed heavy punishment on Germany, which caused them to be in a complete state of hopelessness. A stood for appeasement, which was the action that Neville Chamberlain took to prevent war from breaking out. R stood for the rise of totalitarianism. With Hitler now being in command of Germany, his views were imposed on anyone he could manage to. -
The American Homefront
The American Homefront is the real reason why we can win this war. American industry upon entering the war all shifted to wartime production, where large brands began producing military goods exclusively. In one month the U.S. produced 4,000 tanks and 4,500 planes. The homefront was also pushing for food conservation through rationing and victory gardens. Victory bonds/loans were also advertised to help support the troops and provide them with supplies. New employees filled open positions. -
War Breaks Out
After Adolf Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany, he quickly took to remodeling the country. He began to break the agreements in the Treaty of Versailles, but it was ignored for the most part by others. This was until Winston Churchill was put into the position of Prime Minister of Britain. Germany invaded Poland in September 1939 under a non-aggression pact with Russia. Once the invasion had begun, Britain and France both declared war on Germany, and the Second World War had begun. -
Operation Barbarossa
Despite having signed a non-aggression pact, Germany decides to break said pact and attack Russia following their 9-month-long bombing of Britain and France's surrender. Historians often consider this move to be Adolf Hitler's largest blunder as the dictator of Germany. This move opened another front that Germany had to fight and drew one of the largest world powers at the time into a war, which could have had as an ally. Russia for a while afterward is essentially the only one fighting Germany. -
Pearl Harbor
The U.S. had demanded previously that Japan withdraw from China and Indochina. Japan did not withdraw but was upset. They resented the U.S. because they chose to cut off Japan's oil supply and prevent them from acquiring any more. Japan perceived this as a threat and decided to attack Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Japan decided only to bomb Hawaii and not do a mainland invasion because they perceived the 2nd Amendment as a guarantee that every citizen would bear arms and would fight them upon arrival. -
The Day of Infamy Address
FDR in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor presented his speech known as the Day of Infamy Address. It was during this speech that the U.S. decided to finally join the Second World War. After the attack, the U.S. naval forces were weakened significantly. Once out of the Pacific, the U.S. was powerless to stop the Japanese from conquering all of the Pacific. The U.S. and Britain declared war on Japan, and Germany, Italy, and Japan declared war back on the United States of America. -
Operation Overlord
After joining the Allies, the U.S. offered to help defeat Hitler first and attack Japan after. The USSR wanted the other forces to attack the Germans immediately. Unfortunately for the Soviets, they were not ready until much later. D-day planning took 18 months. It was the single largest seaborne invasion in world history. It also is considered by many to be the turning point of the war. Paratroopers were deployed the night before and protected the bridge to pincer German forces. -
G.I. Bill of Rights
The G.I. Bill of Rights was the United States' way of thanking its veterans for their service in World War Two during some of the most important years of many of their lives. This Bill gave veterans access to free in-state higher education. It gave low-interest home and business loans to any veterans who decided to pursue either venture. Inadvertently it shifted generational opinions on higher education. After this, higher education began to be viewed as a necessity for many families. -
The Baby Boom
Between 1946 and 1963, the U.S. population increased by over 30 million. It was a result of the "Baby Boom." The Baby Boom averaged one birth every 10 seconds and caused the U.S. to have to change facilities nationwide. After WW2, young people looked to "make up for lost time." that is most commonly what the Baby Boom is attributed to. The Baby Boom, however, inadvertently affected the American way of life for a long time afterward, as it increased business and government spending on facilities. -
The Start of The Cold War
After the end of the Second World War, the USSR did not want to relinquish its power. The U.S. essentially forces them to, and this begins divides that will last for many years to come. The Cold War was all about Democracy vs. Communism, and each system was afraid of the threat that the other posed to them. Once the USSR tested nuclear weapons, there began a period of tension and an idea of (MAD) or Mutually Assured Destruction. The U.S. felt it was the only thing left to stop the USSR. -
Brown V. Topeka
The Brown V. Topeka Board of Education Supreme Court case involved a little girl named Linda Brown, who had to walk past three white schools every day in order to commute to her segregated school. It was argued by Thurgood Marshall (who later became the first black Supreme Court Justice) that this was unconstitutional. This case was more for appearances, as people in large part realized that it was incorrect. The verdict of the case was the ban on segregation within schools. -
Operation Vittles
The USSR hoped to have full control of the city of Berlin, but the U.S. was serving as a roadblock for them. The USSR then chose to create a blockade so they could choke the west side of Berlin, and cause them to come to the USSR for aid. The U.S. however did not back down and implemented the Berlin Air Lift. The Berlin Airlift lasted for 11 months where the U.S. would drop or land and provide resources whether it was food or other. The USSR finally ended the blockade because it was ineffective. -
1950's Developments
Throughout the 1950s, there were many cultural changes for all different kinds of people. But the average American changed significantly as they now had more than likely a television in their house and other new technology. The Youth also changed a lot, as they began to rebel in various ways including their indulgement in the very dangerous rock and roll music. Others preferred to rebel by using drugs or defying stereotypes in other ways. Many of these youths were given the name "Beatnik." -
The Eisenhower Interstate Highway and Defense Act
This Act was the largest public works project in history, its goal was to improve interstate travel for U.S. citizens. It was difficult for Eisenhower to get citizens on board, but he played into fear of the Cold War to get public support. Many still were concerned about the cost and timeframe of the project, but ultimately, it was created. businesses loved the idea because they realized it would direct traffic to them. These highways also as per Eisenhowers request, served as emergency runways. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This crisis was the closest that the world has ever come to full-scale nuclear war. It involved the U.S. discovering the island of Cuba housing Russian ICBMS. This involves the Bay of Pigs invasion and the eventual military blockade by the U.S. The Russian naval vessel, the Grozny attempted to break the quarantine enforced by the U.S. After a standoff, the Grozny ceded, and the Russians decided to pull their missiles out of Cuba resulting in the whole crisis as a whole being averted. -
The March on Washington DC
The SCLC set up the March on the Capitol along with the help of the NAACP and SNCC. Unlike other protests and rallies, this one was fully anticipated and supported by the public and government. Over 250,000 people attended this march and rally from all over the United States. Martin Luther King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream Speech." It was very much a culminating moment for African Americans all over the nation. Unfortunately not long after there was a bombing in Birmingham as a response. -
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon was the 37th president of the U.S. he was responsible for the ending of the Vietnam War, SALT, and the Paris Accords. These were all positive strides that he made toward progressing the country. He also had a policy known as Detente which was a relationship with China. Unfortunately, his presidency was ruined by scandal. WHen he began CREEP, it was so he would be re-elected. However, some members of CREEP broke into Watergate which he covered up. This ended up in his resignation. -
The 1980s
During the 80s, we see the rise of the conservative movement which was the reaction to New Deal liberalism and the welfare state, increases in feminism, the legalization of abortion, a sexual revolution, the expansion of gay rights, the increase of drug use, and much more. There was also the election of President Ronald Reagan who favored the method of supply-side economics. and was widely loved as a president. We also witnessed the dissolution of the soviet union not long after in 1991.