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Jamestown Settlement
Hoping to repeat the success the Spaniards showed from their travels in South America, investors funded the passage of 144 Englishmen on their trip to the Americas. The first five years were called the Starving Time because of the 80% death rate, which was due to mostly famine, as colonizers struggled to understand seasons and farming. Natives helped with this and things turned around. Englishmen claimed tobacco as their cash crop, which would be the start of a tense/complicated relationship. -
Albany Plan
Called to a meeting to initially discuss a breakdown in negotiations between the colony of New York and the Mohawk nation (part of the Iroquois Confederation) during the heat of the French/Indian War, Ben Franklin suggested the Albany Plan. It would serve as a way to unite the colonies under a more centralized government, where they could be more united and easier to defend. This was a radical idea foreshadowed the form on government the one day "United States" would have. -
Washington's Surprise Attack at Jumonville Glen
Rising conflicts in the Ohio River Valley between settlers and Natives were caused by land disputes, fur trade, and religious differences. Washington's troop was sent to protect the fort under construction. French sent Jumonville to warn Washington about encroaching on French territory. Washington was alerted to Jumonville's presence by Tanacharison, whom Washington joined forces with. During the battle, Jumonville was killed, which would lead to the French/Indian War, a long 9 years. -
Proclamation of 1763
After 9 years of fighting the French/Indian War and even longer of arguing over territory, King George III prohibited Anglo-American colonists from settling on lands acquired from the French following the French and Indian War. This made colonists angry, and foreshadowed and was the start of a long road of tensions building with the British. It was the first major restriction Parliament put on the colonists and it would not be the last. -
Boston Tea Party
After enough restrictions being put on colonists and built tensions. they were tired of biting their tongues. Americans, frustrated with Britain for their “taxation without representation,” dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. The event was the first major act of defiance to British rule over the colonists. The British were absolutely furious, as they lost extreme amounts of money from this. It lifted American spirits. In response, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts. -
Lexington and Concord
Americans didn't lose their tendency to be stubborn after the Coercive Acts. Their last hope, The Olive Branch Petition, took six months to reach the king. Whilst waiting, colonists are preparing for possible war. British spies tell the king, so the British come after their supplies. Colonists are victorious and chase the English back to Boston from Lexington and Concord, where they faced collectively almost 1600 minute/militia men. This would cause outrage in Parliament and start a war. -
Declaration of Independence
After violence broke out between Britain and its American colonies, there was a meeting held at Independence Hall: The Second Continental Congress, where all 13 colonies sent delegates. King George rejects Olive Branch Petition and declares the colonies to be in open rebellion. Thomas Jefferson writes the Declaration of Independence. Those who signed were in danger for committing treason. This all meant war was official. Americans were exhilarated, but also afraid because they stood up to them. -
Battle of Yorktown
After months in France trying to plead for assistance, Ben Franklin gets them to send their troops and navy. Cornwallis, a highly respected English general continuously retreats to lure patriots into Yorktown. He plans to recreate the winter at Valley Forge. With the French behind them and Americans in front, the English are trapped and must surrender his army. The world turned upside down! A few years later, the war would end with the Treaty of Paris (1783). -
Treaty of Paris (1783)
After 7 years of fighting and a final American victory at Yorktown, diplomats organize the Treaty of Paris (1783). Not only were we now recognized as an independent nation, we were also granted all British lands between the Atlantic Ocean, Mississippi River, and north to British Canada. This showed powerful nations could be stood up to. However, life was not going to be totally easy for our new nation. We still needed to form our government, which would be very much trial and error. -
Constitutional Convention
After winning the Revolutionary War, we had a large to do list on our hands. One was creating our government. The Northwest Ordinance was a fail. The Constitutional Convention was held to create a constitution for the United States. The Constitution would document our fundamental laws. The Connecticut Compromise was the agreement come to: two legislative bodies, a house of representatives (votes: population based) and the senate (votes: equal). This would set the country up a stronger fed. govt. -
Washington is Elected!
When creating our first form of government, the Northwest Ordinance, our wishes were a reflection of the trauma endured by Britain. We did not want a head executive, because that reminded us of Parliament. George Washington set the precedent for many years to come. He was appointed president. Congress counted and certified the electoral vote count on April 6. He was a national hero. He would serve two terms where we would adopt a court system and presidential cabinet. -
Alien/Sedition Acts
When Washington finished his second term, he endorses John Adams: a quick path to presidency for him. Adams was not a very good president. In response to criticism, he issued the Alien/Sedition Acts. It allowed the president to deport anyone they dubbed "dangerous," made it illegal for newspapers to print anything critical of the government, and increased the amount of time immigrants had to live in the US before they could become citizens. Some decided to nullify the laws in their state! -
Jefferson is Elected!
The man charged to write the American Declaration of Independence, first Secretary of State, was now becoming president. The election of 1800 ended the Federalist Era, and was also known as the Revolution of 1800 because of the change in political ideas without bloodshed. Jefferson had to put his strict construction ideas aside for the Louisiana purchase which doubled the size of the country in 1803. 1803 was a good year. He would send Louis and Clark to explore, causing trading with Natives, -
Louisiana Purchase
After John Adams, the US had a bloodless change of power. Jefferson was an anti-federalist and strict constructionist. However, he still negotiated with Napoleon to purchase the Louisiana Territory for $15 million dollars because he worried the US could lose control of New Orleans and access to the Mississippi River. He would send Louis and Clark to explore and map the territory, which would begin our trading with Natives. From the purchase, the US doubled its size. 1803 was a good year. -
American Trade Embargo
Because of a long ago decided neutrality stance on foreign affairs, we feel disrespected when both Britain and France order us to not trade with the other nation. Angered, Jefferson imposes the trade embargo, banning ALL foreign trade and killing the american economy. People still liked him, however. It encouraged the growth of domestic manufacturing within our country, due to lack of competition. It was short term pain for long term gain, as it encouraged industrialization and new technology. -
Cumberland/National Road Begins
Feelings of American Nationalism creates a nationwide to improve the country. The Embargo Act and War of 1812 discouraged trade. Once over, money flows back in. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson believed that a trans-Appalachian road was necessary for unifying the young country. In 1806 Congress authorized construction of the road and President Jefferson signed the act establishing the National Road, helping westward expansion, trade commerce, an eventual interstate highway system. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
Conflict between the United States and Tecumseh's Confederacy, led by Shawnee leader, Tecumseh, led to Tecumseh's War (Rebellion). British supported Natives, who were rebelling against American expansion. At about 4:00 AM on 7 November, hundreds of Indians attacked Harrison's camp. The battle lasted more than two hours, and although both sides had equal losses, it was regarded as a U.S. victory and helped establish Harrison’s national reputation. The battle proved co-existence was impossible. -
USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere
The War of 1812 was caused by British attempts to restrict our trade, impressment, and support of Native resistance. The US wants to prove winning the revolutionary war was not luck. Our ships fought theirs and we were victorious, which was a morale boost for the US Americans. Ironically, we were fighting the same style of war and had poor circumstances once again, which is why it was named
the "Second American War for Independence." The war would eventually end with the battle of Thames. -
Treaty of Ghent
The War of 1812 was stressful for those in New England, so people quietly discussed forming their own country. The Treaty of Ghent was signed, ending the war, but people didn't know as it was signed in Belgium taking months to spread. The people were accused of treason. Britain gave up the Northwest Territory, both countries pledged to work toward ending the slave trade, and was regarded as a diplomatic victory for the US. Containing no disarmament provisions, postwar shipbuilding race ensued. -
Rush-Bagot Treaty
During the War of 1812, both forces had ships on lakes Erie and Ontario, and fought many battles in the region. Unfortunately, the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war, contained no disarmament provisions. Postwar shipbuilding race ensued. Bagot met with Secretary of State James Monroe informally, finally reaching an agreement with successor Richard Rush. The agreement limited military navigation on the Great Lakes to one to two vessels per country on each lake. -
Adams-Onis Treaty
The colonies of East Florida and West Florida remained loyal to the British during the war for American independence, but by the Treaty of Paris in 1783 they returned to Spanish control. After 1783, Americans immigrants moved into West Florida. These American settlers in West Florida rebelled, declaring independence from Spain. It defined the western limits of the Louisiana Purchase, Spain gave up Pacific Northwest claims. The United States recognized Spanish sovereignty over Texas. -
Missouri Compromise
Tensions were growing between the North and South, creating a division over the idea of slavery. By passing the law, which President James Monroe signed, the U.S. Congress admitted Missouri to the Union as a state that allowed slavery, and Maine as a free state. It also banned slavery from the remaining Louisiana Purchase lands. Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) repealed it. In 1857, the Supreme Court decided (Dred Scott) that the compromise was unconstitutional, setting the stage for the Civil War. -
Proposal of American System
Once the War of 1812 is over, money freely flows back into American business. Henry Clay of Kentucky has a vision for a strong national economy and recognizes the government's role in creating a positive environment in which business can flourish. It includes a strong central bank and tariffs to provide credit, spur manufacturing, and raise revenue to be used for roads, railroads, canals. The ideas were similar to Hamilton's and improved our infrastructure and market accessibility. -
Indian Removal Act
Americans had a strong sense of pride and nationalism, as well as a wish to expand westward. Those who believed in Manifest Destiny felt that Native Americans were stopping them from moving westward. A few tribes went peacefully, but many resisted the relocation policy. The Cherokee were forced to give up lands east of the Mississippi River and to migrate to present-day Oklahoma. The Cherokee people called this journey the "Trail of Tears," because of its devastating effects. -
The Liberator is Published
The Liberator was the most widely known anti-slavery newspaper during the antebellum period and throughout the Civil War. It originated in Boston by William Lloyd Garrison, leading white abolitionist. founder of the influential American Anti-Slavery Society. The Liberator denounced people and acts that would prolong slavery including the United States Constitution. Garrison's condemnation of the Constitution was an incredibly controversial and eventually led to a split with Frederick Douglass. -
Nat Turners Rebellion
From the 1820s-1840s there was a strong (second) spiritual (great) awakening. Nat Turner, a slave, sought not only his own freedom, but to end white tyranny as well. He believed he was chosen by God. His action set off a massacre of up to 200 Black people and a new wave of oppressive legislation prohibiting the education, movement, and assembly of enslaved people. It was the deadliest in history. It frightened whites and therefore stiffened any anti-abolitionism thoughts. -
Worcester v. Georgia
President Jackson enacted the Indian Removal Act of 1830. In Worcester v. Georgia, Worcester argued Georgia had no right to extend laws to Cherokee territory. He said the act under which he had been convicted violated the U.S. Constitution. Jackson ignored the ruling and retaliated. This showed for the first time the Natives getting some more independence and respect. The disrespect would continue under Jackson and Van Buren with the Trail of tears, where a quarter of 15,000 Natives died. -
Texas Rebellion Begins
Americans are affected by feelings pride, nationalism, and a desire to expand westward. People of Mexico didn’t want Americans to move in, but land is opportunity. To migrate, you have to renounce american citizenship and convert to Catholicism, but conversion doesn’t really work. Americans bring their values and slaves. People were angry when slavery was outlawed because they picked up their lives for this. Mexicans start taxing. Texas believes they are an independent nation, Mexico does not. -
Oregon Trail Begins
Manifest Destiny manifested itself into every American, feeling a strong sense of nationalism and moved by God's will to expand. It was the promise of good land and fresh start. Americans headed for Oregon and California on the Overland Trail. Land was very cheap/free. The journey took at least 6 months. There was heavy pressure on families, women especially suffered, 1 in 10 die on the journey, and men/women were equals. It helped move the population westward from the overpopulated East. -
Telegram is Invented
Transportation moves products and people, but also information and news. Communication is key to growing a national economy. At times of thinking of the American System, Samuel Morse created Morse Code and the telegraph, which allows messages to be sent through a wire
This links every area of the nation and is the envy of the world. It allows commercial communication and personal correspondence. It shows America has things to offer and we move into having the most advanced technology. -
Discovery of Gold at Sutter's Mill
James W. Marshall found gold at the sawmill he worked at. This caused one of the largest mass-migrations in history, bringing people to California from all over the world. This is more widely known as the Gold Rush. Chinese immigrants were 30% of those who migrated. Germans fled to the United States to escape economic hardship and took advantage as well. By 1850, half of all Americans live outside the 13 original states. Rising population leads to more urbanization and an emerging middle class. -
Seneca Falls Convention
Women were gradually entering the political sphere and empathized with blacks, standing for Abolitionism. The Seneca Falls Convention, by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, was the first of its kind. It launched the women's suffrage movement. Many did not support. However, Douglass used his platform in favor of women.The Women's Rights Movement wouldn't gain traction until Post-Civil War, as that and the Abolitionist movement had most of the attention. More than seven decades later, women could vote. -
Fugitive Slave Law
The economic divide deepens between North and South because they are basically two separate economies. Civil War is on the rise until Henry Clay proposes the Comp. of 1850 and stalls war for 10 years. The Fugitive Slave Law was a Southern win. The act said that slaves would be returned to their owners, even if in a free state. It made the federal government responsible for finding, returning, and trying escaped slaves. To abolitionists, this represented a huge blow to their efforts. -
Bleeding Kansas
Kansas must use popular sovereignty to decide if they will be a free/slave state. Both sides try to get people to move to Kansas to vote. North uses the church/morals to convince. Lyman Beecher offers free land if they vote abolitionism. Pro-slavery armed-men seize the courthouse in Kansas, destroy the town, and file fake ballots. Kansas became a slave state. John Brown and a group hack several pro slavery families to death with swords, all meaning armed conflict over slavery was unavoidable. -
Dred Scott Ruling
Pro-slavery and the abolitionist movement were strong at this time. Scott moved with his owner into a free state. He said he should be free. This was unheard of. The court ruled blacks have no rights that whites must respect. This undermines abolitionism. Using logic, there would be essentially no such thing as a free state. This sets things back. They also said the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. This divides the nation more and brings us closer to war. -
Lincoln's House Divided Speech
Pre-war, with high tensions and back and forth attacks between the North and South, Lincoln countered that the Dred Scott decision the previous year had already opened the doors for slavery to be legal in the north, as well as all territories that the U.S. expanded into. If the U.S. wanted to be a free country, he argued, it had to act now before it was too late. This foreshadowed what would come. The South would begin to secede once this candidate, Lincoln, was elected and war would break out. -
Lincoln is Elected
Retaliation is taking place between two opposing movements. Lincoln ran for office against Stephen Douglas and lost three times. His name gains traction and the Whig Party turns into the Republican Party. He challenges Douglas to debate but he declines disrespectfully. Lincoln follows him and gives speeches after him. Lincoln stood for and believed the govt could not endure being half slave and half free. Once elected, the south seceded one by one and Civil War would begin. -
Battle at Fort Sumter
President Abraham Lincoln announced plans to resupply the fort. Confederate army attacked the Union army at Fort Sumter after wanting them to leave the fort. They refused so the South attacked. Less than two days later, the fort surrendered. No one was killed. The battle, however, started the Civil War, the bloodiest conflict in American history.
There was now support for military action from both the North and South. Four more states joined the Confederacy. -
Homestead Act
Reconstruction ended in 1876. The US government provided 160 acres of land often taken from Native peoples to immigrants who declared intent to become citizens and willingness to farm on the land for five years. This truly mobilizes the West as millions of people go after this. It was profitable. You HAD to live on it AND improve it because we didn't want the rich upper class to just take it and add it to their heaps of land. It showed investment and permanency.
shows investment and permanency. -
Gettysburg Address
After a hard war fought, many lives lost, Lincoln gave a speech. The battle involved the largest number of casualties of the entire war and is often described as the war's turning point. The Union had won the Battle of Gettysburg and the defeat crushed the South. The purpose was to commemorate a new national cemetery at Gettysburg during the American Civil War. The Gettysburg Address's significance is that it sought to give meaning to the sacrifice of soldiers who died during the war. -
13th Amendment is Added
After a long race with slavery and a Civil War, it was time to finally give Abolitionists what they had fought so hard for. It freed all slaves and abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States. Four million people, an entire eighth of the U.S. population, were freed as a result. However, it was only the beginning of the end, because prejudice and racism would reign the US, especially with groups like the KKK. -
Surrender a Appomattox
During the Final Virginia Campaign, where Lee vs. Grant really shows down, Grant captured 30,000 troops at Vicksburg and their supplies too. Confederates were now short on supplies and needed to get supplies from Appomattox. Grant splits army in half and 1/2 goes to Appomattox. We prevent them from getting weapons by trapping them. Lee surrenders, which is the end of the war. Now it would be time to put the country back together and reconstruction would begin and then end 11 years later. -
KKK is Founded
Nathan Bedford Forest was a big time slave trader who wanted to keep white supremacy post Civil War. This altered the course of Reconstruction. Ex-confederates grouped together to form the Ku Klux Klan. They became associated with the general Democratic Party. They would do terrible things like burning schools and beating people. They would also attack Republican gatherings. The 14th and 15th amendments were meant to put an end to this. These "Enforcement Acts" were somewhat helpful. -
Transcontinental Railroad is Complete
The Pacific Railway Act (1862) was a big deal! Companies who help get 20 miles of land for every 10 miles laid. From the East, Irish immigrants and Civil War vets helped. From the West, Chinese worked. It gets done quickly when Lincoln puts teeth in it, saying the companies have to be done in 13 years. Competition is good. They finished ahead of schedule in 1869 at Promontory Point, Utah. This connected the West and East markets, helped Westward Expansion, but also worsened things with Natives. -
Compromise of 1877
This was an unwritten deal that settled the disputed 1876 US presidential election, pulled federal troops out of state politics in the South, and ended the Reconstruction Era. In February, at a meeting held in Washington's Wormley Hotel, the Democrats agreed to accept a Hayes victory and to respect the civil and political rights of African Americans, on the condition that Republicans withdraw all federal troops from the South, thus consolidating Democratic control in the region. -
Great Railroad Strike
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877, originally beginning in Martinsburg, West Virginia as a response to the second wage cut by management in the past year, was one of the very first strikes that took place on a national level. Since railroads were then integral to the economy of the country, the government soon dispatched militiamen as well as the national guard to free the railways. From then on, the strikes quickly turned violent and led to many deaths, but soon were suppressed and forgotten. -
Great Chicago Fire
This fire killed hundreds and destroyed several square miles in Chicago, Illinois. 1/3 residents of Chicago were left homeless. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S. disasters of the 19th Century, the rebuilding that began almost immediately spurred Chicago's development into one of the most populous and economically important American cities. Many poor workers and their families found help in settlement houses operated by Jane Addams and her followers. It would provide many jobs. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act, or the Immigration Act of 1882, was the first and last immigration policy that barred a specific nationality from immigrating to the United States. A result of the economic and racial tensions of the time period, it not only prevented any immigration from China upon threat of deportation or arrests, but also prevented those who were already in the United States from attaining permanent residency or citizenship and thereby prolonging the naturalization process. -
Pendleton Civil Service Act
The Pendleton Civil Service Act benefited many wage earners and made getting a job fairer to everyone. It's main premise was that employees should be offered jobs based on merit and that this merit should be measured based on competitive exams. This law also made it illegal to fire or demote employees based on political reasons, which really helped prevent the tyranny of political machines like boss tweed who would offer jobs and houses by buying the poor wage earners vote in the elections. -
Interstate Commerce Act
The Interstate Commerce act was a major turning point in the relationship between businesses and the government. By using the commerce clause, which stated that interstate and international commerce could be regulated by the federal government, it gained the power to regulate railroad rates and make them "fair and just". This law prevented the railroad companies from monopolizing on their services to the general public and charging exorbitant amounts for transportation vital to the country. -
Publishing of "How the Other Half Lives"
Jacob Riis, a journalist, was the first to put into practice the idea of using photos to convey a more realistic and impactful story than what words could have conveyed. He used photojournalism to document and share the terrible conditions that the working class were forced to endure in the New York Slums and unveiled the horrors of tenement housing. His works were part of the factors which led to the housing and safety regulations that we take for granted in today's society. -
NAWSA is Established
Originally headed by suffragettes Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucy Stone, the National American Women's Suffrage Association had a goal to push the ratification of enough state suffrage amendments to force Congress to approve a federal amendment. The organization recruited college-educated, privileged, and politically influential members of society that would better contribute to the cause, and this group played a huge role in the eventual ratification of the 19th Amendment. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
One of the first major battles in the abolitionist movement, the Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court Case challenged the Jim Crow laws that discriminated against colored people. It ended with a ruling against Plessy, with the court upholding Jim Crow laws and stating that Jim Crow laws were not in the wrong as long as facilities for both were "separate but equal", which never was a possibility. The ruling reinforced the helplessness of colored people and took away their faith in the government. -
The de Lome Letter is Published
In 1898, a letter written by the Spanish minister was stolen by Cuban revolutionaries and given to U.S. officials, and was published nationwide by Hearst Press on February 9th. The letter criticized the U.S. president William McKinley, and admitted that Spain had no intention of honoring a deal with the U.S. The publication of this letter fostered anger towards Spain and public support for a war against them, and was one of the final straws for the declaration of the Spanish-American War. -
Andrew Carnegie Founds U.S. Steel
As the demand for Steel as a material for construction and engineering grew around the world, the United States jumped forward as the foremost producer of Steel in the world. In one of it's factories worked Andrew Carnegie, a poor immigrant who in the next few decades will found the largest Steel company in the world, U.S. Steel. Ruthless as he was in acquiring his wealth, he later turned into an avid philanthropist and built many institutions for education such as libraries and universities. -
William McKinley Assassination
President McKinley, when shaking hands with the public, was shot dead by an anarchist that went by the name of Leon Czolgosz. After his death, succession of the seat of president was given to Theodore Roosevelt, the widely popular Vice President whom McKinley owed the popular vote to. The Republican party, in order to keep Roosevelt under control gave him the nomination for Vice President, but with this unplanned event, he will bring upon many reforms in the newly beginning Progressive Era. -
Anthracite Coal Strike Begins
Coal miners went on strike after mine operators refused to negotiate with them to meet their demands of better working conditions and higher wages. The miners threatened to stop production entirely, which would've devastated the U.S. economy. Roosevelt stepped in and demanded that mine owners negotiate with the demands or he would use the U.S. military to take control of the mines. This was huge as it represented the first time in US history that government sided with labor over big business. -
Publishing of "The Jungle"
Upton Sinclair, a famous muckraker like Jacob Riis, published his work called "The Jungle" which exposed the general public to the horrors of the meatpacking industry. It not only highlighted the struggles of the workers that were pushed to the brink of exhaustion for the lowest of wages, but also exposed the unsanitary and disgusting conditions that they worked in, thereby contaminating everyday meat. It was due to his influence that the Food and Drug Act was passed that ensures quality today. -
Antiquities Act
The Antiquities Act was signed into law by President Roosevelt, an avid conservationist who loved nature. The law gave the president the authority to “declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated on land owned or controlled by the Federal Government to be national monuments.” With this law the federal government now preserves many of nature's wonders from undue exploitation by man. -
Debut of the Assembly Line
Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motors Inc, revolutionized industry when he started manufacturing the Ford Model T. Instead of the regular hand crafted procedures, where each employee had to learn to build the entire car, he utilized the idea of interchangeable parts invented by Eli Whitney to assign each employee a stage in the manufacturing process where he/she only had to affix one part of the entire build over and over again. This reduced training costs and increased efficiency tremendously. -
Zimmerman Telegram
As the Great War began in Europe, and Germany began the aggressive attack against other countries, the United States chose to remain Neutral and not take part in a war that was occurring overseas. However, in January of 1917, a note sent by Germany to Mexico that outlined details for an alliance to defeat the United States was intercepted by the government and sparked widespread public outrage. The idealism of neutrality was broken, and just a few months later the United States entered the war. -
Revival of the KKK
With the Harlem Renaissance in full swing and a major recognition of African American culture taking place nationwide, racist dissenters who disliked the accepting of the “new negro” banded together to form a new Ku Klux Klan and restarted the persecution of colored people in the South, which spread across the US. Founded by William J Simmons, the Klan took inspiration from a film by D.W. Griffith called “Birth of a Nation” which portrayed the Klansmen as heroic saviors of the United States. -
19th Amendment
The Nineteenth Amendment, which states that “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”, was the conclusion of the Women’s Suffrage movement that was growing slowly but surely alongside the fight for Civil Rights. Organizations such as the National American Women’s Suffrage Association and personalities such as Susan B. Anthony, Ida Wells, and Elizabeth Candy Stanton spearheaded this movement. -
Scopes “Monkey” Trial
The Scopes “Monkey” Trial, or officially the State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, condemned the latter who was a school teacher for going against the Bible and teaching the concept of evolution. In the end, the Butler Act, which previously forbid the teaching of evolution was upheld and Scopes was charged a fine of $100. However, this court case showed the shifting of values across the United States, as religious beliefs were slowly being cast aside and a more scientific approach adopted. -
Stock Market Crashes
This crash, known as Black Monday, marked the start of the decade-long Great Depression. There are multiple causes of this crash/depression, including the fact that the US had a ballooning stock market, which led to too many people buying "on margin". The US also became a creditor nation after WWI, providing loans to countries abroad who could not afford to pay us back. This all resulted in millions of Americans becoming unemployed, losing their homes and businesses, and a terrible economy. -
Works Progress Administration is Created
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was created during the Great Depression to help some of the millions of unemployed Americans find work. It was the biggest government agency, employing over 8 million people. The WPA focused on public works projects, such as building bridges, reservoirs, schools, parks, and more. In the end, the WPA created millions of minimum wage jobs that helped countless people get back on their feet, and improved US infrastructure in ways that are still visible today. -
Social Security Act
The Social Security Act was a safety net for all Americans, and basically granted all Americans above a certain age a government check with some money to lead a basic livelihood. It was, however, not enough for most people and required an additional income or savings to support themselves. During the Great Depression, the uncertainty caused by those grim times was making Americans reluctant to retire and give their jobs to the younger generation, therefore this Act helped motivate them to quit. -
Supreme Court Scandal
Even though FDR was hailed as a hero and a great president that saved the people from the depression, he was still not perfect, and had his fair share of negative qualities. One of his greatest mistakes was the Supreme Court Scandal of 1937, in which he attempted to pack the Supreme Court with an infinite number of “yes men” that would be loyal to him in response to the Supreme Court ruling against one of his new deal policies. If it would’ve been allowed, it would tip the balance of power. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
As another world war was raging across Europe, and Nazi Germany was taking over many nations, the United States was still trying to remain neutral and did not want to enter a war amidst the already raging depression. However, the attack on Pearl Harbor, a surprise airstrike that caused the death of many soldiers and great losses in naval power, forced it’s entry into the war against Germany on the condition that the allied forces would then join the United States in a war against Japan. -
D-Day
D-Day was an amphibious attack by the Allies upon the French beaches of Normandy, in order to regain control of France from the Germans. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history, and took 15 months of planning from multiple Allied leaders. 156,000 Allied troops crossed the English Channel on 5,400 ships, landing the troops on five different beaches. The invasion miraculously succeeded, and the Allies were able to overthrow German control of France, and acted as the turning point of WWII. -
GI Bill
After World War II, the government passed the GI Bill, which provided education to the veterans of war for little or no expense. This provided them an opportunity to rebuild their lives after having to go spend the years that they should have spent setting up for their future, instead fighting a war in another country. This law also dramatically increased the range of people going to college from only the top few percent of the United States and opened up many opportunities to the veterans. -
Establishment of the United Nations
After the Second World War, the United Nations was formed with the purpose of “maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.” After the failure of the League of Nations, which some attribute to the unwillingness of the United States to join, the UN included more than 50 countries including the United States. The organization still exists today as a forum for open discussions. -
Atomic Bombing of Japan
After being informed of a successful test of the atomic bomb, the then United States president Harry S. Truman decided to run some analytics on the casualty comparison. After deciding that despite its tremendous losses, the bomb would produce less casualties on both sides, a bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. However, with a lack of response from Japan, a second was dropped on Nagasaki, which ultimately forced them to surrender. This was the official end of World War II on the eastern front. -
The Baby Boom Begins
The period between 1946-1963 represented the Baby Boom, a period where babies were being born at an extremely high rate. This happened because the period after WWII seemed to be the first economically and socially stable time for the first time in decades, and many Americans viewed it as a great time to finally start a family. This immense population increase led to more industries being created, more jobs and employees being needed, and the economy expanding and improving overall. -
Levittown Sales Begin
A revolution in the housing industry, a new model of a community was planned and perfected by William Levitt, and his company Levitt and Sons. Instead of having houses built on demand, houses for “Levittown”, the name for this model of community, would have only a few designs of houses available for a buyer to choose from. This would drastically reduce the wastage of materials, since the company could buy materials in bulk. This ultimately led to a reduction in houses, and suburbanization. -
Berlin Airlift Begins
Nicknamed "Operation Vittles", the Berlin Airlift was a result of the USSR imposing a complete blockade surrounding West Berlin, which was under ally (mainly American) control. Truman counteracted this by delivering goods to West Berlin by dropping the goods out of planes. This process of delivering goods lasted from June 1948 to May 1949, with over 200,000 plane trips made. The USSR finally lifted the blockade in may 1949, after realizing the U.S. would never give up on helping West Berlin. -
Truman Signs on Marshall Plan
After the War, the European countries that had taken part were in shambles, and the economy across the continent would have taken decades to recover, hence the Russian government took advantage of this weakness and tried to absorb them. Seeing this as a threat to democracy, President Truman came up with the Policy of Containment. From that was born the Marshall Plan, which offered monetary grants and loans to the countries, and made them strong enough to repel the communist advances of Russia. -
Creation of NATO
Another physical manifestation of the Truman Doctrine, just like the Marshall Plan, NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was a way to enforce the policy of containment. In simple terms, it was a defense contract among nations of the northern hemisphere, or mainly the USA and Canada in the west and many European Countries in the East. If any of the countries part of the contract were attacked, then the rest would mobilize troops, preventing Russia from absorbing any more countries. -
Brown v. Board
The Brown v. Topeka Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court case that was one of the first victories in the legal arena for the Civil Rights movement of this period. Citing the 14th Amendment, which granted equal civil and legal rights to emancipated African Americans, it overturned the ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson and stated that the separation of schools was now illegal because separate facilities are rarely equal.This victory would open the path for many more cases in the near future. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
A major turning point in the fight for Civil Rights, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began with a staged event, on which Rosa Parks, a middle aged woman, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. Protesting this, the bus boycott took place, enforced by the African American community. In the end, the boycott proved successful, and fearing the fate of their companies if the massive losses continued, they gained corporate support, and Court ruled segregation unlawful on buses. -
National Highway Act
The National Highway Act, or The Eisenhower Interstate System Act, was a defense mechanism that was a countermeasure during the Cold War in the case of a nuclear weapon being launched against the US. Fast highways with high speed limits, no stop signs, no traffic lights, and more lanes would prove to be an easy escape route for residents if the blast took place close to them, or if the blast was forecasted to take place close to them. To date, this is the biggest public works project ever. -
Little Rock Nine
After the ruling of Brown v. Topeka Board of Education, schools nationwide had begun to desegregate. Amidst this transition, a major event took place in Little Rock, Arkansas. When 9 African-American students applied to Central high school in the area, they were denied admission into that school against the order of the Supreme Court. When a second court order demanded they be let in, violence ensued, which resulted in federal marshals being deployed to ensure the students got in and were safe. -
March on Washington
At the very apex of the Civil Rights Movement, almost every organization that fought for Civil Rights got together and organizes a march on Washington in which the crowd gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial. African Americans from all over the country attended the March, which culminated with the speech of Martin Luther King Jr., a man of great promise who had managed to inspire millions to rise up in the fight for freedom. His “I have a dream” speech is one of the most powerful even today. -
John F. Kennedy Assassinated
Soon after the pledge given by John F. Kennedy to support Civil Rights, he was unfortunately assassinated before any action could have taken place.After being shot in the neck by Lee Oswald in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas, the presidency was given to his Vice President, Lyndon B, Johnson.His assassination came as a shock to many in the United States and around the globe, as he was one of the most popular presidents, and many were confident in his victory when running for a second term of office. -
Rockefeller Establishes Standard Oil
John D. Rockefeller was once the richest man on the planet, and his company, Standard Oil, was at that time the world's largest oil company. Well-known to be the world's first billionaire, he was also famous for the extreme ruthlessness that he employed when dealing with business matters. Most famous of these was the carelessness that he showed towards his workers, forcing them to work long hours in dangerous conditions with low salaries that left them living in abject poverty. -
Environmental Protection Agency is Enacted
One of Richard Nixon’s greatest achievements, it was a law that was the first of it’s kind. Nixon passed a bill through congress and signed into law the creation of a government organization called the Environmental Protection Agency, commonly called the EPA, that would protect nature and the environment by regulating “pollution, emissions, and other factors that negatively influence the natural environment.” Along with the Clean Air Act, these nature protecting reforms remain popular today. -
Watergate Scandal
The downfall of the Nixon Presidency, and an event that still stains his presidency to date, the Watergate Scandal was a political scandal that took place within the Nixon Administration. It involved the monitoring of the Democratic National Committee building in Watergate, and a break in by members of his administration at a later date. When he came to know of these acts, he attempted to cover them up using his authority, which when leaked to the public sparked outrage, and led him to resign. -
South Vietnam Falls to Communism
According to the “domino theory,” the US believed that if Vietnam fell to communism, the rest of Southeast Asia would follow. The US supported the democratic government of South Vietnam, while the Soviet Union supported the communist government of North Vietnam. After the withdrawal of American troops from Indochina, Vietnam was unified under the leadership of the communists. The US withdrew because we were in unfamiliar territory, lacking in moral, not prepared for the conditions. -
Iran-Contra Affair
Iranian students seized the embassy and detained more than 50 Americans as hostages. The Iranians held the American diplomats hostage for 444 days. During the Reagan administration, senior Reagan Administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to Iran, the subject of an arms embargo in hopes of securing the release of hostages and allowing U.S. intelligence agencies to fund the Nicaraguan Contras. Reagan's image was influenced but came to a full rebound in the end. -
"Tear Down This Wall" Speech
"Tear down this wall!" is a line from a speech made by US President Ronald Reagan in West Berlin, calling for the leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, to open up the barrier which had divided West and East Berlin since 1961. To halt the exodus to the West, Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev recommended to East Germany that it close off access between East and West Berlin. Reagan''s speech caused increasing international pressure on Moscow to do so. The wall came down two years later. -
Panama Invasion
The United States needed a stable government to complete the transfer of the Panama Canal to the control of the Panamanian government This episode, which involved 25,000 America troops but brought few casualties, provided a new model for post-war military strategy. The US sent in Marines to Panama to get President Manuel Noriega, who was deeply involved in the drug trade. We signed the Carter-Torrijos Treaties to set governing standards. They allowed us to run US things through the canal. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA story began a long time ago in cities and towns throughout the United States when people with disabilities began to challenge societal barriers that excluded them from their communities, and when parents of children with disabilities began to fight against the exclusion and segregation of their children. People with disabilities could no longer be denied access to jobs, schools and transportation. Section 504 tackled gave these people equal access to federally funded programs. -
Internet Becomes Public
The Internet began in the 1960s for government to share information. A proposal for “an idea of linked information systems” by computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee was proposed and released four years later. Vinton Cerf and Bob Kahn are credited with the invention. The Internet brings culture closer, making it more easily and quickly accessible. It spreads new forms of art and knowledge. It is almost like a modern printing-press situation. -
9/11
The September 11 attacks were precipitated in large part because Osama bin Laden, the leader of the militant Islamic organization al-Qaeda, held naive beliefs about the United States in the run-up to the attacks. Before the attacks, no boarding pass or ID was needed to go to the gate, and 4-inch-blade knives were allowed aboard planes. Now we take off shoes, can't have liquids over 3.4 oz and go through high-tech body scanners. It shocked America and gave us a sense of unity and sadness.
