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Underground Railroad
Slaves started to escape to the north through the underground railroad. Slave owners were getting mad because they were losing slaves left and right and the north refused to return them. This event ultimately led to the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act. -
Foreign Relations with China
The U.S. signed a treaty with China called the Treaty of Wanghia. This treaty opened up ports between the U.S. and China. This relationship with China helped the Americans in their battles with Britain and it boosted their overall economy. -
The California Gold Rush
The Gold Rush was started by James Wilson Marshall in the Sacramento Valley. Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to the west to find their own share of gold. The Gold Rush lead to the establishment of mining towns and stores. It also pushed California to apply for statehood. -
John Brown
John Brown, a radical abolitionist, attempted to loot the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry. During his raid, Brown injured and killed many people. Brown was soon executed for his actions, but it lead to controversies between slave abolitionists and the government because of his purpose of the raid. Slave abolitionists believed Brown was a martyr because he risked his life to end slavery, while the government thought he was a murderer because he took many lives away. -
1860 Election
Republican Lincoln won the 1860 election, getting every vote of the free states except for some in New Jersey. The South believed that Lincoln would divide the unions and eliminate slavery all together, thus not receiving votes from the Southern states. -
The "10 Percent" Plan
After the Civil War Lincoln created the 10 percent plan. This plan says that a state can be reentered into the Union only if 10% of their voters took an oath of allegiance to America. Congress thought this plan wasn't enough, so they passed the Wade Davis Bill saying that 50% of voters should pledge allegiance to America. -
The Ku Klux Klan was Created
In 1866, many secret organizations were appearing in Tennessee. These groups, now called the KKK, targeted people of all racial backgrounds and faiths. Many innocent lives were lost because of the strong hate the KKK had. They only favored Protestant white men and the Anglican Church. The KKK was also known as the "Invisible Empire" because no one would admit that they are a part of this cult. -
The Knights of Labor
Organized in 1869, the Knights of Labor was a union based off of the National Labor Union, which was established in 1866. At the beginning of the organization, workers were only allowed into the union if they knew a secret password or handshake. By 1881, however, the Knights of Labor opened up its doors for all workers, skilled or unskilled. The union refused to get into the scene of politics and instead, they campaigned for economic and social reform. -
New Immigrants
By the 1880's, new immigrants started coming from countries across Europe. The influx of new immigrants crowded up the streets and led to crime and disease. As the population grew, streets were being covered in trash and dead animals, and many people were forced to live in poverty. Most of the immigrants were unskilled workers, which made it hard for some companies to work. This led Congress to consider the option of limiting immigration and only allowing skilled workers. -
The American Federation of Labor
Founded by Samuel Gompers in 1886, the AFL only allowed skilled workers into the union. Gompers promised good hours, good pay, and better working conditions to those joining the union. Going into the 20th century, the AFL gained over 1 million workers, especially during World War 1. Women, black people, and unskilled workers started to form their own labor unions, since they were permitted to join the AFL. People started to leave the AFL to join the unskilled workers, which slowed down the AFL. -
Haymarket Square Riot
Labor strikes began to arise as the Knights of Labor began to go downhill. The strikes began peaceful, but a protester threw a bomb into the crowd, killing a dozen people, including police officers. Five protesters were sentenced to death as a result of the riot, and the jury called the event an act of conspiracy. -
Spanish-American War
War fought between the US and Spain over Cuba. America joined on the Cuban side as they fought for independence from the Spanish. America thought it was a good opportunity to gain more land for the country. -
The Annexation of Hawaii
America wanted Hawaii because of its great sugar production. The Americans overthrew the Queen of Hawaii and William McKinley ordered for Hawaii to be annexed, however Grover Cleveland opposed annexation. -
The Mass Production of Steel
Steel became an important element in building up modern America. Without it, buildings couldn't stand tall, and railroads wouldn't exist. Andrew Carnegie, a steel master from Pittsburgh, produced over 1/4 of American steel. He gained over 25 million dollars from his production. J.P. Morgan also became a millionaire by reconstruction major railroads using steel. -
Panama Canal is Built
Built by the US in 1904, the Panama canal crosses the isthmus of Panama and connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. This was a big advancement for America because they have more opportunities for trade and the settlement of land. -
The KKK Reemerges
The Great Migration sparked ideas of segregationist beliefs as the KKK began to reemerge. Many non-white citizens were soon targeted by the group and black people were being lynched. The number of members grew to 4 million by the 1920's. -
Prohibition
The 18th amendment was passed to ban the selling and consumption of alcohol in America. The prohibition movement was pushed by women across the country whose husbands were being abusive and wasting money due to the addiction of alcohol. The 18th amendment opened the doors to the temperance movement which encouraged people to be closer with God through prayers and fasting. -
The Harlem Renaissance
A movement created in Harlem, NY by the black community. The renaissance began after the Great Migration and served as an influence for black people everywhere. New genres of music, such as the blues and jazz, took the black culture by storm. Musical legends like Louis Armstrong rose to fame during the Renaissance as well as many artists and writers, like Langston Hughes. -
The Stock Market Crash of 1929
All the fun and partying of the roaring 20's came to a sudden halt when the stock market crashed at the end of the decade. The crash was a significant cause of the Great Depression as many people couldn't afford to live the lavish lives that they had throughout the 20's. -
FDR becomes President
FDR out beats Hoover with 472 electoral votes. To avoid Hoover being reelected, many black voters converted to the Democratic party after being loyal to the Republicans ever since Lincoln became president. FDR promised many benefits for the American people, including aid to farmers and new jobs to boost the economy and employment rates. FDR's promises to the people helped propel him to presidency. -
Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl brought a prolonged drought to many Midwestern states. The dust destroyed farmlands which caused food shortages throughout the country. The Resettlement Administration gave farmers new land to replace some that were lost during the Dust Bowl. Although the administration helped, the Dust Bowl was one of the main causes of the Great Depression. -
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Fireside Chats
Throughout his 12 years in office, FDR came over the radio 30 times to address the nation about the progress of the country. This radio sessions, also known as fireside chats, helped FDR connect with the American people. He notified them about recent changes to the economy, any bills that were passed, and even court cases. -
LBJ and the Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Johnson administration passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964, which allowed facilities to be open to the public in order to end racial discrimination. Employers were given the opportunity to hire those of the black race, referring back to Kennedy's Employment Opportunity Commission. Along with this Act, Johnson also included a bill on gender equality for women looking to be in the workforce. -
The Six-Day War
The Six- Day war was fought between Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Israel from June 5th-10th, 1967. Israel's shocking victory allowed them to gain control of locations such as the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights. Israel took power over a million Palestinians, which continued to fuel the intensified relationship of the countries. -
Kent State University Shooting
The war in Vietnam caused a lot of anger in the U.S., especially among the young students who are leading many of the protests throughout the country. Students at Kent State University were throwing things such as rocks and vandalizing school property. Some National Guard members were afraid and began shooting into the crowd of students, killing four. After this event, and the one at Jackson State University, where two were killed, Nixon pulled in his troops from Cambodia two months later. -
Watergate Scandal
In 1972, five men were arrested in the Watergate apartment complex in Washington after an effort to plant devices in the Democratic party's HQ. Evidence eventually traced the scandal to Nixon and the Republican party. Nixon repeatedly denied these claims, but the 'smoking gun' tape revealed otherwise. This scandal eventually led to Nixon's resignation in 1974. -
Roe v. Wade
The Roe v. Wade landmark case was a huge victory for American feminists in 1973. By bringing this case to the Supreme Court, women were now allowed to have abortions. Televangelists and Catholics struck back, however, trying to make abortions illegal again. -
Energy Crisis in America
In 1973, there was a shortage of domestic oil production in America. Although there was a shortage, the consumption rate of oil continued to rise. American leaders had no choice but to go to other countries for oil imports. Because of this, oil prices sky-rocketed. Gas stations were closed on Sundays and people were asked to refrain from using too much oil. America ended up behind the Japanese in car production. To promote conservation, the Department of Energy was founded in 1977. -
The Moral Majority
Evangelist Jerry Falwell formed this organization in order to support Reagan's campaign in 1981. The Moral Majority focused on ideas such as anti-abortion and anti-feminism. Other "televangelists" like Falwell started to preach these ideas to people across the country through national television stations. -
Iran-Contra Scandal
Reagan had two major foreign issues that he had to handle during his presidency. He had to deal with the war stricken Middle East as well as the Contras in Nicaragua. In secret, the administration sold guns to Iran, an enemy of America. With the money from Iran, the administration then supported the Contras in Nicaragua. When the American people found this out, they disapproved of the administration and critics attacked Reagan for his mistakes. -
Operation Desert Storm
U.S led multi-country military engagement that drove Hussein's Iraqi army out of Kuwait. Desert Storm eventually led to the Iraq War in the 2000's.