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Christopher Columbus accidentally discovering the New World was a blessing in disguise. English people eager to take the opportunity of the unclaimed land quickly organized search parties. They wanted this unclaimed land for financial benefit and economic growth. In 1606, The Virginia Company sent 104 English men and boys to establish the first English settlement. Finally, in 1607 Jamestown was founded naming it Jamestown after King James I. -
Because of the starving time, around 3/4 of the English settlers died. In order to increase the population, England introduced the Headright System. The Headright System stated that people already in Virginia got 100 acres of land, new settlers were granted 50 acres of land, and anyone paying for another's passage got 50 additional acres of land. This was an opportunity for people because land equals opportunity. This is also when indentured servitude started. -
20-30 African slaves docked in Virginia on the English privateer ship White Lion. These slaves were traded for supplies. Days later, a second ship, the Treasurer, arrived with more African slaves. Both groups of slaves were captured by the English privateer ships and who kidnapped them from a Spanish ship traveling to New Spain. This event marked a new era in history containing the trans-Atlantic slave trade, which lasted over 400 years. It also marked the start of a slave labor based economy. -
After the win in the French and Indian war, the British began to control the colonies more. In response to a revolt of Native Americans and the British wanting to control their land, the British issued the Proclamation of 1763. The Proclamation of 1763 closed down exploration west of the Appalachian for colonists. The colonists responded by either defying the proclamation or just resenting the royal restriction on trade and migration, ultimately failing the prevention of westward expansion. -
The Stamp Act of 1765 was the first tax on colonists by the British Parliament. The act taxed all paper documents in the colonies. Parliament imposed the tax during the time when the British were in great debt because of the Seven Years War and the British were looking to the colonies for money. The colonists said the act was unconstitutional and they resorted to mob violence. With the colonists angry, they argued there should be "no taxation without representation." -
British soldiers were in the colonies to "protect them from hostile Indian attacks," but were actually there to enforce Britain's tax laws. This caused the colonists to get angry and start boycotting goods, causing Britain to send soldiers to Boston. British soldiers in Boston were unwelcoming which led to conflicts between the soldiers and the colonists. Eventually a skirmish broke out and in the confusion, a British soldier shot his musket, causing the other soldiers to fire, killing 5 people. -
Before the event Britain imposed "taxation without representation," causing many colonists to be angry. This was where Britain taxed various goods in the colonies without the colonists having a say to pay for debts against the French Indian war. An organization called the Sons of Liberty responded by dressing up as Indians and boarding 3 ships. They dumped 342 chests of tea into the sea, imported by the British East India company. This was the first major act of defiance against British rule. -
The colonists had been preparing for a revolution by storing guns, ammo, gunpowder, cannons, and other military supplies in Concord. The British found out about this and tried to stop the colonists and capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock. When the British arrived, Adams and Hancock escaped just in time and 70 militia colonist men stood their ground. They were told to not fire and stand down, but a shot was fired. This caused an all out battle with the militia men pushing the British to Boston. -
The conflict was already big with the Revolutionary War having started in 1775 against Britain. Tired of the unfair taxes and wanting to be free from Britain, the U.S. went for freedom and independence. Written by Jefferson and edited by congressmen, the Declaration of Independence announced the separation of the 13 colonies from Great Britain. It summarized the colonists motivation for wanting independence while stating the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. -
After a failed invasion, the British hoped to destroy rebellion by isolating the New England colonies from the other American colonies. To do that, the British Ordered 3 of their armies to meet up in Albany New York. However, the continental army took the chance to battle the only army, with General John Burgoyne, pushing to the meeting point. Burgoyne and his army tried to fend off the continentals until the reinforcements came, but nobody came, causing the army to get surrounded and surrender. -
After a campaign through the Southern colonies, General Cornwallis retreated to the coast of Yorktown for the winter and the protection of the Royal Navy. Cornwallis was not aware though that the French Navy had defeated the British fleet. When Cornwallis got to Yorktown, he found the French navy at his back and the American army before him. The Americans and French surrounded the British and with nowhere to run Cornwallis surrendered. This ended major fighting in the Revolutionary war. -
After the British defeat in the battle of Yorktown, the British finally accepted the possibility of U.S. Independence. Through much effort and hardship, the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the Revolutionary War. In the treaty, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay stated two key points. The first was that the British would accept the U.S. as independent. The second was that they would discuss the delineation of boundaries, allowing for western expansion. -
After the states gave control of the Northwest territories to the government, the government needed to figure out what was going to happen with the Northwest land. The Ordinance of 1784 was created to divide territory into self-governing districts. The 1785 Ordinance provided for the scientific surveying of the territory's land, subdividing the land into a rectangular grind system. The 1787 Ordinance terminated the claims of current states and organized the territory into new states. -
The farmers who fought in the revolutionary war had gotten little compensation, and were struggling to make ends meet. At the same time, taxes in Massachusetts were higher than the British ever taxed to assure the governor's associates would receive a good return on their investments. Boston authorities arrested many farmers and foreclosed their farms, causing the farmers to rebel. Daniel Shays led over a thousand men to attack the federal arsenal of Springfield which was repulsed and defeated. -
After the Treaty of Paris, the people needed to decide how the U.S. would be governed. A meeting was called, inviting representatives of every state. Disregarding the idea of mending the Articles of Confederation, the assembly set about making a new type of government. However they found themselves divided between power in the states and power in the central government. The result of the Constitutional Convention was the U.S. convention, with there still being conflicts between both sides. -
As an independent nation, the U.S. needed a leader, or a president. Therefore, presidential electors were elected from each state. Washington was both an obvious and maybe the only viable choice. This is because he was both a national hero because of his leadership in battles, and the favorite son of Virginia. 10 out of 13 of the states voted and Washington won with the majority of electoral votes. This signifies the first president, a role model for all other presidents yet to come. -
Recently freed from England, the American people needed guarantees that the new government be able to suppress them or their rights.Therefore, the farmers convinced Jefferson to look into a Bill of Rights. The Bill of rights, inspired by Jefferson and drafted by Madison, became adopted containing the first 10 amendments. These amendments were added to deal with the civil liberties and rights of the individual, providing more individual freedom. The rights also limit the power of the government. -
With there being a lot of war debt in the U.S., Washington passed the law of the Whiskey Tax. Angry because of the unfair Whiskey Tax, farmers and distillers felt the need to rebel. They didn't pay the tax and mobs of men created violence in Pennsylvania, lasting years. After being notified of the violence, Washington wanted to make an example of the rebellion. Washington ordered around 13,000 soldiers into the area and shot cannons near the mobs, showing rebellion would not be tolerated. -
Before the cotton gin, the process separating the cotton seeds from the fiber was a long and hard process, causing a person to be able to clean about a pound of cotton a day. This made cotton not that profitable. When Eli Whitney found out about this, he looked for a solution. That solution resulted in the creation of the cotton gin, which removed seeds from cotton fiber. This invention made cotton profitable and changed the course of the south, making the invention revolutionary. -
When the French Revolution began, George Washington didn't participate in it for multiple reasons. Because of this, the French started attacking American ships. John Adams then sent three diplomats to make peace, but the French demanded a “gift” of $250,000 in order to negotiate. While the people wanted war, Adams ignored his views and negotiated peace with Napoleon. Because of this, Adams created a U.S. Navy to protect American trade routes, merchant ships, and the coast. -
With the Federalists being in power for so long, the election of 1800 was a game changer. Thomas Jefferson won against John Adams by electoral votes, but Jefferson and his running mate Aaron Burr got identical electoral votes. This resulted in the House of Representatives deciding and the votes resulted in Jefferson winning. This election was significant because it was the first peaceful transition in power from one political party to another, marking the start of the Jeffersonian era. -
Worried about losing control of the Mississippi river, Jefferson sent James Monroe over to talk to the French to discuss buying the port of New Orleans for 3 million dollars so they could control the river. Napoleon refused unless the U.S. bought the Louisiana Territory for 15 million dollars. Jefferson decided to buy the Louisiana Territory, giving birth to the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson then sent Louis and Clark on an expedition in the Louisiana territory. -
Before Jefferson became president, Adams and Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1801, which mainly gave the president more control over the appointment of judges. William Marbury got appointed a judge, but his commission wasn't delivered. Marbury then petitioned the Supreme Court to go against the secretary of state, Madison, to deliver the documents. Although Madison not delivering the commission was illegal, Madison still won in the end, saying what Marbury did was unconstitutional. -
Moving people and goods around the country is essential to the economy. Rivers were the first major source of moving large amounts of goods. However, they can only move efficiently downstream. The first steamboat was invented by Robert Fulton and made its first voyage in 1807, providing commercial possibilities. Steamboats were called the Americans powerhouse, reducing time and expense of shipping goods. This was revolutionary and gave birth to moving efficiently throughout rivers in the US. -
Great Britain and France were at war again and the US finally had a decent trading relationship with both of them. Because of that, Jefferson wanted to remain neutral and wanted to avoid war. He imposed an embargo (ban) on all foreign trade. The Embargo Act was unpopular among merchants, traders, and the business community and it did great damage to the American economy. However, it encouraged the growth of domestic manufacturing, making the US a more independent nation. -
The Battle of New Orleans was considered the last battle of the war of 1812, caused by British aggression. The American Forces were a multicultural motley band of experienced soldiers and warriors. The British, which had a trained army, were basically mauled by American forces because they hid behind earthworks and cannons. American forces at New Orleans were led by General Andrew Jackson whose army inflicted great casualties on the British army (2,042 British and 71 American casualties). -
Missouri wanted to be a state, but it wanted to be a slave state. Henry Clay proposed a compromise that tried addressing the issues of slavery at the time. By passing the compromise, Missouri became a slave state in the Union, and Maine as a free state. This was so the slave and free states would remain equal. It also stopped the remaining states in the Louisiana territory north of 36º 30’ parallel (the southern border of Missouri) from becoming slave states. -
Attempting to prevent European powers in the Western Hemisphere, James Monroe created the Monroe Doctrine. The doctrine made 4 points. The first was that the U.S. wouldn't interfere with European affairs between European powers. The second was the U.S. wouldn't interfere with existing European colonies in the Western Hemisphere. The third was no other nation could form a new colony in the Western Hemisphere. The last was an attempt of European hostility would be seen as an act against the U.S. -
Trying to protect northern and western agricultural products from competition with foreign imports. The tariff of 1828 or tariff of abominations was passed. This tariff raised a tax on foreign goods. For the north, this caused people to buy more US goods and made the US more independent, making the US more profitable. For the south, European countries retaliated by buying less Southern cotton and putting tariffs on US goods, which made the Southern states economy suffer. -
American demand for Indian' land increased and many wanted to force Native Americans further west. The first major step for Indian relocation was when congress and Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act. The Indian Removal Act allowed the president to grant lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands within existing state borders. A few tribes moved peacefully, but many resisted. More than 46,000 Native Americans were forced to relocate and more than 4,000 died in the process. -
In the early 1800's, President Andrew Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act. It stated that Native Americans wouldn't be forced to move from their land, but Jackson threatened the tribes with an invasion. This was the start of about 60,000 Indians making a 2,200 mile journey to Oklahoma where they settled. Sadly, the conditions of the journey were very harsh which led to a 9% death rate, causing thousands to die. This is one of the worst events showing how the US treated Native Americans. -
Grass in the West was different compared to other places in the US. This is because Buffalo Grass was uniquely difficult to work with since the roots of the grass went inches into the soil and intertwined. No plow manufactured at the time could cut through the sod which made planting seeds on the land impossible. However, John Deere created a new plow using steel and it had a curved blade. This made cutting through the sod easier and settling in the West more popular. -
As a young man, John W. Marshall traveled west to California in order to find work. When he arrived in Sacramento Valley, he was hired. One day, when he was building a sawmill, he discovered gold in the American River. Word spread quickly, marking a start to the Gold Rush. The word of gold caused 300,000 Americans to quickly migrate to California in search of riches. While barely anybody became wealthy from the gold rush, it was certainly one of the most important eras in California's history. -
When the US annexed Texas, there was a disagreement about the borders of Texas. Before American diplomats got there to settle it, a fight broke out in the disputed territory. This fight resulted in the Mexican-American War. The Americans demolished the Mexicans and captured the Mexican capital. Luckily for Mexico, Americans gave back Mexican territory but forced them to sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This gave the US much more territory and it made the US a bi-coastal nation. -
While some wanted to see the institution of slavery expanded and protected, others were adamant about seeing slavery abolished. Henry Clay proposed a compromise, the Compromise of 1850. The four major provisions were that California entered the union as a free state, the slave trade was abolished in Washington D.C., strict fugitive slave laws became intact nationwide meaning runaway slaves had to be returned, and territories applying for statehood would be governed by of Popular Sovereignty. -
Because of Popular Sovereignty, Kansas had to vote for whether or not it would enter as a free state. Northern and Southern states started pushing for migration to Kansas so they could sway the vote and the North was winning doing that. However, on election day a group called the Border Ruffians raided the town of Lawrence and destroyed abolitionist newsletters along with the houses of abolitionist politicians. They then stuffed the ballots full of faulty pro-slavery votes, which caused chaos. -
Dred Scott was a slave that was brought to the North by his owner. He realized that the slave-owner relationship he was in should've disclosed been because he was in a free state. Because of this, he took his owner to court, suing for his freedom. Not only was his request denied, but the Supreme Court declared that the Freedom Clause of the Northwest Ordinance was unconstitutional. This was one of the worst Supreme Court rulings, showing that no state was fully free. -
In 1858, John Brown sent some of his followers to the town where the national armory was located or Harper's Ferry. His plan was to storm the armory, steal weapons, and kill plantation owners. He would then supply the slaves with guns and continue through the South, killing plantation owners and building a slave army. However, when he stormed the armory, he was surrounded by armed townspeople. When the military got there, Brown was arrested for treason and eventually hanged for his crimes. -
Abraham Lincoln was a smart politician, but he struggled to get elected anywhere. This changed when he ran for president in 1860. Lincoln needed to make a name for himself, so he decided to push for a public debate between himself and Stephen Douglas. Lincoln won the debate giving him a good reputation and a lot of media attention. Since the Democratic votes were split, Lincoln won the election although 7 states had seceded from the Union by the time Lincoln had given his inaugural speech. -
When news of Abraham Lincoln becoming president was announced, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Although it was no longer a US state, Union troops claimed a military base there, Fort Sumter. Because of that, the state troops and union troops were in a conflict. When the state troops heard Lincoln's plan to resupply the fort, they attacked it. After 34 hours of fighting, Robert Anderson and 86 soldiers surrendered the fort leading to confederate victory. This battle started the Civil War. -
In a speech, Lincoln said the purpose of America’s government was "to elevate the condition of men, to lift artificial burdens from all shoulders and to give everyone an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life." He followed that up with the homestead act (which eventually led to 10% of the US land getting claimed and settled.) The Homestead Act granted any Americans the opportunity to claim 160 acres of land. However, for 5 years, they had to farm it, live on it, and improve it. -
When Abraham Lincoln originally felt that the Civil War was about reuniting the states, he realized that it was honestly a war on slavery. Although realized this, he never publicly stated it because the Union was losing the war. However, once we won the battle of Antietam he announced the Emancipation Proclamation. Many think that the Emancipation Proclamation was what freed slaves, but it actually just stated that the confederate territories taken over by the Union would be free land. -
Since Lee won at the battle of Chancellorsville, he had the confidence to continue to move more North. His objective was to win a battle North of the Mason Dixon line, giving them a clear shot at the capital in the North. Knowing that Meade and his army tried to prevent him from continuing North, Lee tries to gain the advantage by fighting at Gettysburg. There Meade wins against Lee, making it the battle with most the casualties in the Civil War. Lee then flees with his confidence and hope lost. -
The Battle of Appomattox Courthouse was one of the final battles of the civil war. Days earlier, confederate general Robert E. Lee had abandoned the Confederate capital and his goal was to rally the remainder of his troops, meet confederate reinforcements in North Carolina and continue fighting against the Union. However, the sudden Battle of Appomattox Courthouse which only lasted a few hours resulted in Union victory with Ulysses S. Grant as the general. and brought the Civil War to an end. -
Wanting political defeat of the Republican Party and the maintenance of absolute white supremacy, a group of confederate veterans formed a secret society called the Ku Klux Klan. The KKK rapidly grew to a force bent on reversing the federal governments reconstruction activities in the South, especially on black rights. They did things such as bombing black schools and churches as well as using violence against black and white activists in the south. At the same time, it grew to millions. -
Founded in 1869, the Knights of Labor was a forward-thinking, anti-capitalist labor federation. Led by Terence Powderly, the group accepted workers of all skills, races, genders, and religions to help protest for their rights. They campaigned for certain policies including the 8-hour workday and the prohibition of child labor. They also wanted to abolish the wage system and replace it with worker-owned industries. In the end, a riot got violent, and all of their members quickly dispersed. -
Trying to protect the voting rights of Black men after the Civil War, congress passed the 15th Amendment. This granted African American men the right to vote. With the 15th Amendment adopted, a black community joined with white allies in the Southern states to elect into power the Republican Party. With them in power, it brought about radical changes across the South. Even though the 15th Amendment was passed, there were still practices preventing some blacks from being able to vote. -
In 1862, the Pacific Railroad Act tasked the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroad companies to build a transcontinental railroad that would link in the US with one company starting East and the other starting West. The two companies raced toward each other because the government gave 20 sq miles of land for every 10 miles of track to the companies. They met in Utah on May 10, 1869. This railroad encouraged further settlement in the West by making traveling cheaper and easier. -
At the age of 16, John D. Rockefeller began working as a bookkeeper. With the money he earned, he and his friends invested in an oil company by the name of Standard Oil Co. which went on to grow massively. Once the company was big enough, he was appointed manager and slowly but surely bought his friends out of the company. In the end, Standard Oil became so big that it was the only oil company left and was forced to split up in an attempt to once again create competition in the oil industry. -
J.P. Morgan was born into a moderately wealthy family on April 17th, 1837. While he was at an advantage, his unique ability to organize and problem-solve led him to become the number one banker, financer, and merger in the nation. Morgan's greatest work occurred after the Civil War when Morgan was tasked to conserve every major industry in the United States. Morgan was largely responsible for the financial success of the US and with his company is still a big contributor to economic growth. -
Politicians began to see a big issue as citizens took advantage of the Homestead act. The constant farming of so much land caused a big decrease in biodiversity. This was an issue because it caused unwanted species to take over and harm the valuable soil. Because of this discovery, a lot of people argued that plots of the most beautiful areas in the US should be preserved instead of farmed. To conclude, 3500 square miles in the northwest were used to create Yellowstone National Park. -
To establish a new center for higher education in the southern US, Vanderbilt University was founded. At the time of its founding, many southern states were still recovering from the devastation of the Civil War, and there were few opportunities for young people in the region to pursue advanced studies. Vanderbilt University provided a rigorous education in various fields. Overall, Vanderbilt's founding helped to shape the landscape of higher education in the US. -
In the election of 1877, Rutherford B. Hayes won by a margin of one. Democrats in the House were furious because of this loss, but Samuel J. Tilden convinced them to accept defeat peacefully. Hayes stated that he would push for federal funding for education and general internal improvements in his inaugural address. However, once he pulled the last 3,000 Union soldiers out of the South, the last Republican administrations in the South collapsed. This officially ended Reconstruction. -
Because of the competition between Chinese Immigrants and Americans in the labor market, the Chinese Exclusion Act was created. The Chinese Exclusion Act prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the US for originally 10 years. This was made into law in 1882 and was extended until 1943, mainly to protect American jobs and wages. It was made to restrict immigration based on race and nationality and had a significant impact on the Chinese American community, changing Chinese American relations. -
Before the act, whenever a president was elected, they had the authority to give their supporters well-paying government jobs. People liked the spoils system because they wanted the benefits. However, there was still conflict. The main catalyst for change was the assassination of President Garfield by someone who didn't get rewarded by the spoils system. This is when the Pendleton act was passed, which required most federal job seekers to pass a civil service exam, ending the spoils system. -
Trying to take in Native Americans into the US and gain access to reservation land, the Dawes Act was passed. The Dawes Act allowed the government to break up tribal lands. After breaking up the lands they offered 160 acres to each Native family or 80 acres to single Native American men. However, once they owned the land they had to farm it and make it profitable. The US also used Americanization by forcing children of families owning land to attend school and stop traditional practices. -
In the late 1800s-early 1900s, the industrial revolution was booming and continuing to grow at an exponential rate. However, because businesses were so concerned about profits, the thought of social welfare was never brought up. However, one man by the name of Jacob Riis witnessed the true terrors of tenement housing in big cities and decided to document it in his 1890 novel, How The Other Half Lives. Riis' stories caused major legislation regarding poor living conditions to be passed. -
Violent conflicts between Natives and the US were common during this time. One of the last military actions against Natives was the Wounded Knee Massacre. The government banned the Ghost dance on South Dakota reservations that month. A measure taken to enforce the Ghost dance being illegal, soldiers arrested a band of the Lakota tribe. The day after, the military tried to recover weapons from prisoner refugees, a gun was discharged and soldiers opened fire, killing hundreds of Lakota people. -
Andrew Carnegie is the textbook "rags to riches" man. Carnegie came to the US as a poor Scottish immigrant. After working his day job, he'd work in a steel mill he'd bought. Carnegie worked ruthlessly to refine his business, and when he opened business immediately boomed. He went on to vertically integrate and his company ended up producing 90% of the U.S.’s steel. With his fortune, he donated substantial portions of his wealth to the establishment of schools, universities, and libraries. -
The Panic of 1893 was a severe economic depression that lasted for several years in the US. It was caused by a variety of factors, including overbuilding, labor protests, and agricultural depression. This led to bankruptcies and unemployment. It was not until the discovery of gold in Alaska and the beginning of the Spanish-American War that the economy began to make a comeback. One of the outcomes of the panic was the creation of the Federal Reserve System. -
One day, a black man by the name of Homer Plessy was boarding a train with his first-class ticket when he was stopped and forced to ride in the second-class because of his race. Since he was racially targeted, he took the case to the Supreme Court. Here, the Supreme Court sided with the train company and established the legality of “Separate but Equal”. All in all, Plessy v Ferguson made Jim Crow laws legal and ultimately led to decades more of racial inequality in the US. -
With the problems of racism and segregation still occurring, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded. The NAACP was founded to fight for civil rights and equality for African Americans. They did this through legal influence, community organizing, and lobbying efforts. The NAACP has played a huge role in some of the most important civil rights battles in the US, while still continuing to work its mission today, promoting racial justice and equality to all. -
Knowing that the traditional methods of manufacturing were too slow, Henry Ford created the assembly line. He divided the production process into smaller, specialized tasks and introduced conveyor belts, which reduced production time and costs. This allowed Ford to sell vehicles at a lower price, making it more affordable for the average person and popularizing the automobile industry. The assembly line continues to be a model for mass production and a crucial part of modern manufacturing today. -
Because they needed a trade route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the US built the Panama Canal. The canal is an artificial waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The canal shortened shipping routes and boosted global trade, but also had significant environmental and political impacts on the region. One environmental impact was that it altered ecosystems by disrupting the natural flow of water. Overall, the canal greatly impacted the world, still being used to this day. -
The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty that officially ended World War I between Germany and the Allied Powers. The treaty imposed severe harsh terms on Germany, including large financial reparations, territorial losses, and military restrictions. The treaty also established the League of Nations, an international organization aimed at preventing future wars. The terms were meant to weaken Germany but actually became a reason for Hitlers uprising and the start of WWII. -
For far too long women couldn't have their opinion voiced because they couldn't vote and had no rights. This led to movements such as the women's suffrage movement, trying to give women the right to vote. The women that fought hard allowed for the 19th amendment to be considered. Then, on August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified. This gave women the right to vote in all states, making it a major victory and a turning point in the women's rights movement. -
The Great Depression began with the stock market crash of 1929, which triggered a widespread economic crash. Many businesses failed, banks closed, and millions of people lost their jobs. The depression was caused by a lot of things including overproduction in agriculture, unequal distribution of wealth, and a lack of government regulation of financial markets. The crisis significantly impacted the lives of Americans, causing widespread poverty and social unrest. -
The Bonus Army was a group of World War I veterans who marched on Washington D.C. in 1932, demanding early payment of bonuses promised to them by the government. After months, Hoover called for his army to dispose of them, the military evicted them from DC and burned the camp. Many veterans were injured. Despite their efforts, the veterans didn't get their bonus until 1945. The incident created questions of the government's treatment of its veterans and showed the economic struggles of the time. -
When the Great Depression hit the US, citizens were swept off of their feet and the entire economic system was bankrupted. When Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected in 1932, he promised to end the depression in what he called the New Deal. He focused on “Relief, Recovery, and Reform”, and used Keynesian Economics to try and get the US out of debt. While the New Deal ultimately failed, which changed the role of government forever, shifting its focus to the citizens of the US. -
As a response to the economic hardships and poverty experienced in the Great Depression and to address the challenges faced in the states, the Social Security Act was created. This act provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to qualified individuals and their families. The act also provided cash assistance to families with children in need. This act is still used to this day, providing a social safety net for millions of Americans and promoting economic stability. -
When President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected, he promised to end the Great Depression with what he called the New Deal. However, when he began launching his New Deal programs, the Supreme Court highly questioned their constitutionality. Instead of revising his plans, he decided to try and pass a bill coined Roosevelt's "court-packing plan". If passed, the bill would allow FDR to lessen the control of more conservative justices in the Supreme Court and pass whatever bills he found necessary. -
Because of the Great Depression causing the US to be in a poor state economically, the government implemented the New Deal. This aimed to raise economic growth and provided relief to those suffering from poverty and unemployment. However, the main cause for the end of the Great Depression was the outbreak of WW2, which boosted industrial production and employment. The Great Depression had lasting effects on economic policy and institutions, as well as social and cultural changes. -
During WWII, Germany had been invading country after country and taking control of them. After several countries, Germany had their eyes set on Poland. However, Poland bordered the territory of the USSR, and Germany needed a surefire way to guarantee peace between the two powers. In August of 1939, the two powers signed a ten-year non-aggression pact. In the end, this pact led to two major events. First, Germany captured Poland and second, Germany used their territory in Poland to attack Russia. -
To end the discrimination that was occurring in work and industries, President Roosevelt issued the Executive Order 8802. Executive Order 8802 prohibited employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in the defense industry and federal government. This order not only opened up employment opportunities for African Americans and other minorities in the defense industry and federal government, but it also helped encourage later civil rights laws. -
The US demanded that Japan withdraw from China and Indochina, Japan thought attacking the US would provide them with an easy win, and a territory with abundant land and resources to rule once they were victorious. The US oil embargo against Japan was hurting Japan’s economy. This led to Japan attacking a naval base at Pearl Harbor. The outcome was significant damage and casualties and led to the US entering WWII. The US and Great Britain also declared war on Japan. -
With Japan and America at war and after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Americans were afraid of the Japanese and Japanese Americans in the US, thinking they may be working for Japan. Because of this, the US government used force to relocate 120,000 Japanese Americans to internment camps. This was called Executive order 9066 and lasted 3 years. This event is seen as a violation of civil rights and is an example of what people will do when faced with a fearful situation. -
D-Day was the largest seaborne invasion in history and was the turning point in WWII. Allied forces had 156,000 troops on and were supported by nearly 5,400 ships across the English Channel landing the troops on five beaches in Normandy. The beaches were stormed early in the morning supported by around 23,000 airborne troops that had already landed behind enemy lines. D-Day resulted in the Allies securing a foothold of the land and eventually allowed them to win the war against the Nazis. -
With the need to provide support for the large number of veterans returning from World War II, the GI Bill of Rights was implemented. This aided in the soldiers' transition back into society. This was done by creating the bill that paid for education (college or trade school), gave low interest home loans, and provided low interest business loans. This stimulated economic growth and increased the number of people that had the opportunity to go to college and is still in effect today. -
As a way to get an advantage during WWII, the US started the Manhattan Project. The leader of this project was J. Robert Oppenheimer and he worked with a team of scientists and engineers at the Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico. The creation of the atomic bomb led to it being used in battle in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Overall, the creation and use of the atomic bomb had significant effects on global politics, warfare, and society, forever changing the course of war. -
During WWII, the US had been developing new atomic weapons in the Manhattan Project. Nearing the end of the war, the US was getting impatient and needed a surefire way to remove Japan. So, on August 6th and 9th of 1945, the US dropped two atomic bombs named Little Boy and Fat Man on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These bombings were the first and only one of their kind and resulted in the deaths of over 100,000 people, a devastating defeat. Japan quickly seceded from the war. -
After WWI, President Woodrow Wilson created the League of Nations in an attempt to manage international peace and security. However, when WWII broke out it was apparent that the League of Nations had failed in its mission and was dissolved immediately. After WWII had ended, President Franklin D. Roosevelt came together with other allied countries, made a new plan, and formed the United Nations. The United Nations is still active today and is responsible for a large majority of the world's peace. -
Wanting to contain the spread of communism, President Harry S. Truman proposed the Truman Doctrine to congress. The Truman Doctrine pledged to provide military and economic assistance to countries threatened by communism. This was to prevent the spread of Soviet influence. The Truman Doctrine was a significant turning point in US foreign policy and promoted many of the U.S. actions during the Cold War. Overall, it shaped the course of the Cold War and influenced US actions in future conflicts. -
After WWII, many European countries were torn down. Because of this, the Marshall Plan was signed into law. This allowed the US to aid European countries in rebuilding their economies, infrastructure, and industries. $13 billion was provided to 16 countries, helping to prevent communism and lay the foundation for post-war economic growth. This plan remains a symbol of American leadership and generosity in international cooperation against communism even though there was much criticism. -
Because of the threat of Soviet aggression in Europe, NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed. It was formed by 12 founding members, including the US, Canada, and several European countries. The primary objective was to provide defense against potential Soviet attack on any of the states in NATO, making it so if one member was attacked it would be seen as an attack on all members. NATO has increased in members and has been significant in international defense policies. -
When Korea split into the north and the south, the north became communist (and wanted the south to become communist) and the south wanted to be independent. The US and some of the other United Nations supported South Korea and intervened in the conflict. The US believed that if all of Korea became communist, the domino effect would occur, meaning that more and more countries would become communist. The war officially started when North Korean troops invaded South Korea. -
After over a million casualties happened on both sides, the fighting ended in July 1953. This is because of the Ceasefire Agreement, known as the Armistice Agreement, that was proposed. The armistice established a ceasefire and a demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, including a buffer zone of two kilometers on each side of the border. This was a significant event in the Cold War and demonstrated the willingness of the US to fight against communist aggression. -
Brown v. Board of Education was a Supreme Court case that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The case was brought by African American parents who argued that segregation violated the 14th Amendment. The Court's decision overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson and created a path for desegregation in public schools and other institutions. The ruling was a huge victory for the civil rights movement, helping to destroy legal segregation. -
This was sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks. After her arrest, African American residents led by Martin Luther King Jr. organized a boycott of the buses, which lasted for 381 days. This eventually led to a Supreme Court ruling where segregated buses were declared unconstitutional ending in a victory for the civil rights movement. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a pivotal moment that inspired other protests and helped to influence legal and social equality for African Americans. -
With a better system for transportation, the Interstate Highway Act was passed. The Interstate Highway Act allowed the construction of a massive network of highways across the US. This authorized the construction of a 41,000-mile network of highways that would connect all major American cities. The Interstate Highway Act transformed the US and helped shape the country's economy, society, and culture. The highways to this day remain a vital form of transportation, allowing for many opportunities. -
In 1957, Plessy v Ferguson had been overruled, but local and state governments in the South continued to disobey the ruling. While blacks could legally go to school with whites, doing so brought too much fear to the parents. However, in September of 1957 nine black students enrolled at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. There was so much backlash from the integration that President Eisenhower had to send troops from the 101st Airborne Division to escort the children and end the riots. -
In 1961, more than 1,000 student volunteers, organized by CORE and the SNCC, began traveling through southern states in order to test the new anti-segregation laws in bus and railway stations. Many of the riders were viscously attacked by mobs of angry white racists. The Commissioner of Public Safety, Eugene "Bull" Connor, intentionally arrived late with the police to give the mobs more than enough time to do serious damage such as bombing the buses and harming the African Americans aboard. -
The crisis being sparked by the discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba, which threatened the United States with a potential nuclear attack, the Cuban Missile Crisis was a political and military standoff between the US and the Soviet Union in 1962. The crisis was the closest to a nuclear war but was luckily resolved when the US agreed not to invade Cuba and the USSR removed its missiles. It was a major turning point in the Cold War, leading to improved communication between the US and the USSR. -
Frustrated by the inaction of congress, the people called for congress to pass a Civil Rights bill. Because of this, The SCLC planned a march and rallied in Washington DC with support of the NAACP, SNCC, and CORE. Over 250,000 people attended. People traveled in from all over the country. This is where Martin Luther King JR had the “I Have a Dream” speech. The march was successful, pressuring the administration of JFK to initiate a strong federal civil rights bill in congress. -
On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in an open-top convertible in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and charged with the assassination, but he was killed by nightclub owner Jack Ruby before he could stand trial. After the assassination, Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn into presidency and ordered an investigation on the assassination. The investigation concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, but there are still theories that persist today. -
As a response to the social and economic challenges in the 1960's, President Lyndon B created the Great Society. The Great Society programs were aimed to improve the lives of all Americans, particularly the ones in poverty, by providing better access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. Overall, the Great Society represented a significant expansion of the federal government's role in American society, and its legacy continues to be debated and evaluated to this day. -
As a response to the long-standing and widespread discrimination against African Americans and other minority groups in the US, President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. This act outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to combat workplace discrimination. The law was a huge victory for the civil rights movement and aided towards equality for all. -
To contain the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, The United States became involved in the Vietnam War. They joined by supporting South Vietnam against North Vietnam, a communist government. The US deployed hundreds of thousands of troops and dropped tons of bombs, but was unable to defeat the North . The war eventually ended with a loss, with all of Vietnam becoming communist. The war was one of the most costly wars in US history, with over 58,000 Americans killed and many more wounded. -
With a variety of African Americans having their right to vote denied through various tactics, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was implemented. This banned discrimination in local, state, and national elections and polling places. It also banned literacy tests, intimidation, and physical violence when it came to voting. Over the years, the Act has been slightly changed and expanded to address new challenges to voting rights, but it continues to be an important part of American civil rights. -
To contain the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, The United States became involved in the Vietnam War. They joined by supporting South Vietnam against North Vietnam, a communist government. The US deployed hundreds of thousands of troops and dropped tons of bombs, but was unable to defeat the North . The war eventually ended with a loss, with all of Vietnam becoming communist. The war was one of the most costly wars in US history, with over 58,000 Americans killed and many more wounded.
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In January of 1972, 600 marchers attempted to protest suppressed black voting rights by marching from Selma to Montgomery. Sadly, the marchers were attacked in what became known as “Bloody Sunday”. However, afterwards, in a second attempt, 2500 marchers did the same thing but were once again turned back by police at the Pettus Bridge. Finally, a third march took place in which 25,000 protestors marched and protected by 2,000 US troops. Once they arrived, they sang a few songs and went home. -
This was a political scandal in the 1970s in which members of President Richard Nixon's administration attempted to cover up their involvement in the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. The scandal was uncovered by journalists and led to a constitutional crisis because Nixon's administration tried to prevent the release of evidence. The scandal resulted in the resignation of Nixon in 1974 and a loss of trust in government institutions by the American public. -
9/11 was a series of four planned terrorist attacks where terrorists hijacked 4 US commercial planes, caused by the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda against the US on the morning of September 11, 2001. The attacks killed 2,977 people and injured over 6,000 others. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 246 passengers and crew members aboard the four planes and 2,606 people in New York City’s World Trade Center. The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia was also targeted and suffered significant damage.