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Alexis de Tocqueville
Published Democracy in America; identified five values he found to America's success -
Period: to
The Gilded Age – Post Reconstruction
A period of expansion, industrialization, immigration and urbanization with significant effects on Native Americans, workers, immigrants, and the rise of big business in the late 19th century. -
Period: to
Age of Imperialism and Reform
During the early 20th century the U.S. entered a new historical era: an Age of Expansionism
beyond our natural borders as the country moved from isolationism. U.S. imperialism led to
involvement in the Spanish-American War, changing policies in Latin America and Asia and
eventually to World War I. At home, reformers made efforts to correct economic and social
abuses of the Gilded Age. -
Period: to
World War I
This was an era in which the global conflict of World War I and its effects had an impact on all
Americans. -
John J Pershing
Named Commander of American Expeditionary Force (AEF) during WWII by Woodrow Wilson
Insisted that U.S. force be united against French Forces
Led forces at Battle of Argonne Forest -
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The Roaring 20s
This was also an era of significant prosperity and social change as Americans became more
isolationist and responded to significant change in social norms, consumerism, technological
advances and artistic achievement. -
Woodrow Wilson
President from 1913-1921
Advocate for women's suffrage
President during WWI
Proposed Fourteen Points as a basis for post-war peace
Supported U.S. membership in League of Narions; U.S. failed to join -
Warren G. Harding
President from 1921-1923
Called for a "return to normalcy"- less foreign involvement; emphasis on prosperity at home
Appointed friends to positions;Teapot Dome scandal tainted his reputation -
Period: to
Great Depression
Beginning with the Stock Market Crash in 1929, this era is marked by severe depression and
the increasing role of the Federal government to improve the economy. -
Period: to
Rise of Dictators and World War II
The rise of totalitarian governments in Europe and East Asia led to World War II and
involvement of the United States in that conflict. -
Douglas MacArthur
Commander of U.S. Army in the Pacific during WWII
Commander of U.S. forces in Korean Conflict
Dissarement with Truman over use of nuclear weapons in North Korea in China
Public criticism of Truman led to his removal -
Franklin D.Roosevelt
President from 1932-1945
pulled country out of the Great Depression with New Deal
declared war on Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor- U.S. entered WWII -
Chester W. Nimitz
Commander of Pacific Fleet during WWII
Commander at Battle of Midway victory
Successfully organized halt of Japanese advances -
George Marshall
Army Chief of Staff and advisor to Roosevelt during WWII
Churcgill referred to him as "organizer of victory"
Created Marshall Plan designed to rebuild economies and spirits of Europe
Served as Truman's Secretary of State -
George S. Patton
Commander of U.S. forces in North Africa and Sicily
Led Third Army across Europe
Throught U.S. should turn on & fight Russians after Germany's surrender -
Harry S. Truman
President from 1945-1953
Used atomic weapons against Japan to bring WWII to an end
Assisted in the founding of the United Nations
Executed policy to contain communism(Truman Doctrine) -
Period: to
Civil Rights
This era highlights the issues of emerging rights for minorities and the leaders and critical
events of the modern 20th century civil rights movement. -
Joseph McCarthy
Conducted hearings to identify communists he claimed infiltrated U.S. government
Noproof of his allegations ever provited
Led to a "witch" hunt for Communists -
Cesar Chavez
Leader of Chicano Movement to eliminate racism against Mexican Americans
Organized farm workers in California
Demanded increased wages and better working conditions
Emphasized non-violent methods- boycotts, strikes, hunger fasts -
Martin Luther King Jr.
Clergyman, activist & leader in the Civil Rights Movement
Advanced civil rights using non- violent civil disobedience (influenced by Gandhi)
Montgomerry Bus Boycott
Letter from Birmingham Jail
March on Washington -
Rosa Parks
Arrested for refusing to give up her seat
Led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott they stopped riding busses. -
Dwight D.Eisenhower
Supreme commander of D-Day & allied invasion of Europe in WWII
President from 1953-1961
Created the Instate Highway System in 1956
Extende U.S. containment of communism policy to Middle East -
John F. Kennedy
President from 1961-1963
Supported Space Race
Unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Castro (Bay of Pigs Invasion)
Allied for Progress & Peace Corp. disscourage the spread of communism
Cuban Missle Crisis ( avoided nuclear showdown) -
Betty Friedan
Was the leader in Women's Liberation Movement
Helped gorm NOW ( national Organization of Women) - became central voice of women's movement
Wrote The Feminine Mystique - challenged the traditional role of women -
Richard Nixon
President from 1969-1974
Normalized relationships with Red China
Introduced detente with Soviet Union
Resigned office to avoid impeachment after Watergate scandal -
Phyllis Schlafly
Conservative activist
Founder of Eagle forum- opposes modern feminism
Campaigned against Equal Rights Amendment -
Period: to
Cold War – Post WWII
This post-war era is marked by issues of communism vs. democracy in Europe and America
after World War II. It includes the United States and the Soviet Union as competing
superpowers in the balance of power. The escalation of the Cold War from containment to the
outbreak of the Korean War and foreign policies of the Kennedy / Johnson years including the
growing conflict in Vietnam as well as the ending of the Cold War in the 1980s. -
Period: to
Late 20th Contemporary Issues
An era of change as the U.S. experienced the end of the Cold War, new conflicts in the Middle
East, the impeachment of a President and a controversial election to begin a new century. -
Omar Bradley
Worl War II general
Selected by Eisenhower to lead U.S. forces into france after Normandy invasion
Commander during Battle of the Bulge
Pushed his troops for the final offensive into Germany -
Sandra Day O'Conner
Appointed to Supreme Court in 1981
First female Justice
Established her voice as a swing vote between conservetives & liberals -
Hector P. Garcia
Mexican American Physician & surgeon during WWII
Human rights advocate and founder of American G.I. Forum
First Mexican American to serve on the U.S. commission on Civil Rights
Awarded Presidental Medal of Freedom ( highest civilian honor) in 1984 -
Ronald Reagan
President from 1981-1989
Reduced taxes & regulations to encourage business activity- Reaganomics
Believed you achieved peace by being prepared for war
His precidency saw the beginnings of the end of the Cold War -
Bill Clinton
President from 1993-2001
Balnced federal Budget- cut spending, raised taxes on rich and closed military bases
Supported NAFTA- gradualty phased out tariffs
Stood against human rights abuse in Kosovo and China
Avoided impeachmant- vote went along party lines -
Period: to
21st Century
Early in this century America dealt with a new threat of terrorism at home with the attacks on the
World Trade Center on 9/11 and a decade of the “War Against Terror”. This era also marked the
election of the first African-American President of the United States in 2008. -
Barack Obama
1st African American to be elected President
Appointed Sonia Sotomayor to Supreme Court
Supported health care reforms & banking reforms
