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Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was assassinated at Ford's Theathre in Washington D.C. by John Wilkes Booth. Vice President Andrew Johnson succeeded Lincoln as President of the United States following the assassination. -
Ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment
After being passed by Congress on January 31st, 1865, the 13th Amendment was officially ratified on December 6th, 1865. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. -
Military Reconstruction Act
This Act divided the South into five military districts governed by previous Union generals. It outlined the terms for readmission to representation of rebel states. -
Ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment
The 15th Amendment prohibits the federal government and each state from denying a citizens right to vote on account of 'race, color, or previous servitude'. It was the final of the Reconstruction Amendments. -
Haymarket Riot
A peaceful labor protest near Chicago's Haymarket Square turned violent after someone threw a bomb at the police. At least eight people were killed as a result of the riot. Despite hard evidence, eight labor activists were convicted in connection with the bombing. -
Pullman Strike
Widespread railroad strike and boycott that severly disrupted rail traffic in June and July of 1894. The reasoning behind the strike was the poor work conditions within the Pullman Palace Car Company. -
Start of Spanish-American War
The United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the USS Maine off the coast of Cuba. Yellow Journalism played a major role in gaining American sympathy to join the war. The war concluded on December 10th, 1898 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. -
John Hay Proposes Open Door Policy
Secretary of State John Hay proposed the Open Door Policy, stating that all countries should be allowed free access to any Chinese port or commercial market. This policy recognized China as a territorial and political sovereignty -
Beginning of Theodore Roosevelt's Presidency
Theodore Roosevelt became President following the assassination of President William McKinley. Roosevelt, the youngest President in the history of the nation, ended up serving for eight years. -
U.S. Begins Construction on Panama Canal
In 1903, the United States recognized the Republic of Panama and just days later signed the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty, which gave the U.S. permenant possession of the Panama Canal Zone. In exchange, the U.S. gave Panama $10 million and an annuity of $250,000 per year. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
This act prevented the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated or poisonous foods, drugs, or medicines, and liquors". The reasoing behind the passing of this act was to try to improve the working conditions within factories. -
U.S. Declares War on Germany
President Woodrow Wilson signed a joint resolution, ending America's neutral stance on the ongoing global conflict. Wilson mentions Germany's violation of its pledge to suspend unrestricted submarine warfare in the North Atlantic as a main reason for declaring war. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I, outlining the conditions of peace between Germany and the victories Allied Powers. The Treaty forced Germany and other Central Powers to take all blame for the effects of the war. -
Ratification of the 19th Amendment
After years of fighting for equal rights, the ratification of the 19th Amendment officially gave all American women the right to vote in the United States of America. -
John Scopes Found Guilty
John Scopes, a High School science teacher in Tennessee, was found guilty of violating Tennessee's Butler Act. This act made it illegal to teach about human evolution in any state-funded school. -
Great Stock Market Crash
On Black Tuesday, investors traded some 16 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange in one day. Billions of dollars were lost as the market lost around 25% of its value in just two days. The Great Depression in America soon followed. -
Second New Deal
The Second New Deal brought about programs such as the Social Security Act and National Labor Relations Act, among other programs. The Second New Deal is regarded as much more liberal and more controversial. -
U.S. Drops Atomic Bombs on Japan
On August 6th and 9th of 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombs ended up killing hundreds of thousands of civilians. Japan would surrender shortly after the dropping of the second atomic bomb. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Landmark Supreme Court decision that ruled U.S. state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional. This decision paved the way for integration and was a major moment in the civil rights movement. -
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated
Martin Luther King Jr. was shot dead while standing on the balcony of his hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. His assassination led to racial violence, resulting in more than 40 deaths nationwide and extensive property damage.
