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J. Edgar Hoover Becomes Head of the FBI
J. Edgar Hoover served as the Head of the FBI for 48 years, personally changing American criminal justice and how it was viewed. Throughout his time as being the Head of the FBI, Hoover used infiltration and spying techniques to gain information on well known or important figures. After his death in 1972, the corruption under Hoover became known. -
Mein Kampf is Published
Hitler's autobiography written in prison, this book resonated to the people of Germany, and saw the rise of the Nazi party and the eventual leadership of Hitler himself. -
Stock Market Crash Begins Great Depression
During the 1920's, the U.S stock market underwent rapid expansion. Because of the expansion, many stocks were worth more than their actual value. Stock prices began to fall and panic set in, which led to the trade of over 12 million shares. This event would later be known as Black Thursday. -
The Dust Bowl Begins
Th Dust Bowl was the name given to the plains states of the United States that experienced severe dry period and dust storms in the 1930's. The storms massively affected the economic growth of the region, and by 1934, 35 million acres of land was rendered useless. -
Adolf Hitler Becomes Chancellor of Germany
After the rise of popularity toward the Nazi Party and Hitler's ideals, Hitler became chancellor and really set in motion events that lead up to WWII. Hitler's plan was to get rid of politics and unify Germany as a one-party state. -
Franklin Roosevelt is Elected President.
Formerly the governor of New York, Franklin Roosevelt was elected for four terms and was a major factor in leading the United States out of the Great Depression. Roosevelt also spearheaded the United States to victory over Germany in World War II, and established alliances with Britain and the Soviet Union. -
CCC is Created
Founded by Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Civilian Conservation Corps was a work relief program for unemployed or single men ages 17-28. The program was for these men to be provided with job opportunities while improving public land, parks, and forests across the nation. -
WPA is Created
The Works Progress Administration was a plan from Franklin D. Roosevelt to help relieve the effects of the Great Depression. The WPA provided homes and jobs for those who were unemployed during the depression, which had them work on various public works infrastructure projects. -
J.J Braddock Wins Heavyweight Boxing Title
After a string of victorious fight, Braddock was given a title fight against World Heavyweight Champion, Max Baer. Many had Braddock losing the fight, but he won over Max Baer and became the new World Heavyweight Champion, making it the biggest boxing upset up to that time. -
Olympic Games in Berlin
Germany used the Berlin Olympics as a propaganda tool. The Nazis promoted an image of a strong and united Germany, while hiding their growing military might and treatment to Jews. -
Kristallnacht
Throughout the night, Nazis torched or destroyed synagogues, Jewish homes, schools, and businesses, and killed close to 100 Jews. In the aftermath of the night, nearly 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps. -
Grapes of Wrath
Written by John Steinbeck, Grapes of Wrath tells a story that evokes the struggle of the Great Depression at the time, and also shows sympathy for migrant farm workers at the time as well. The book became an American classic, even winning the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for fiction. -
Wizard of Oz Premiers in Movie Theaters
Based off of the book by L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz became one of the most loved and watched movies in history. Although the film was a modest success, the movie's popularity grew even more when it was televised for the first time in 1956. The movie was also one of the first 25 movies to be put on the National Film Registry, -
Germany Invades Poland
Hitler invaded Poland as a war of regaining territory lost from WWI, and ultimately to rule his neighboring countries to the east. Germany used a certain military strategy to gain the advantage over the Polish, which would later be could blitzkrieg. The invasion of Poland also marked the beginning of WWII. -
The Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was between the British Royal Air Force and the German Luftwaffe, and was the first battle in history to be fought solely in the air. Both sides were fighting to see who would gain control of the airspace over Britain and the English Channel. The RAF proved to be a tough opponent, even winning the battle. -
The Four Freedoms Speech
The Four Freedoms Speech was given by Franklin D. Roosevelt as a way to share his vision for not only America but the world as well. In it, Roosevelt talks about how each person should have four freedoms - the freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. -
The Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was victim to a surprise attack from Japan. The Japanese planes destroyed or damaged 8 battleships and nearly 300 planes. The day after the attack, Franklin D. Roosevelt asked congress to announce war on Japan, starting the U.S involvement in the Pacific Theater. -
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a battle between the U.S Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy 6 months after the bombings at Pearl Harbor. The U.S Navy decisively won the battle, crushing Japan's hopes of neutralizing the U.S as a naval power. -
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was started Germany launched an attack on the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union held off the German advances in Stalingrad, with close urban combat making the battle the bloodiest of the war. The Soviet Union was victorious, and this marked the turning of the tide of war in favor of the Allies. -
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the Allied invasion of French North Africa. Planned by Dwight D. Eisenhower, the battle was a three pronged attack to catch Axis forces in the West. This was the first mass involvement of U.S Troops in WWII, and saw the first airborne assault from the United States. -
Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Program
The Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Program was founded in 1943 to preserve and recover historically significant places and artwork. -
The Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk was Hitler's last offensive to try and take over the Soviet Union after Germany's defeat at Stalingrad. Adolf Hitler, however, postponed the offensive, which gave the Soviet Union ample time to prepare. The battle was the largest tank battle of WWII, which heavy casualties on both sides. The Soviet Union was again victorious, marking the end of Germany's campaign in the East. -
D-Day
The Battle of Normandy was the Allied Powers' campaign to liberate France and Western Europe from Germany. American, British, and Canadian forces landed on 5 beaches along the coast of Normandy. The invasion saw victory for the Allied forces, and started the end of WWII in Europe. -
The Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was Hitler's last major offensive of WWII. His plan was to split up the Allied forces as they approached Germany. As the Germans attacked, the Allied line took the appearance of a large bulge, which gave the battle its name. Germany failed to separate the Allied lines, leading to defeat and ultimately the end of the war. -
The Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was a military campaign between U.S Marines and the Imperial Army of Japan. The U.S found the island to me strategic, as it had 3 airfields that the U.S could use in a potential invasion of Japan. -
The Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa was the last major battle in WWII. The U.S were trying to make one final push towards Japan, planning to occupy the Ryukyu Islands. Although the U.S won the battle, kamikaze fighters, bad weather, and fierce fighting led to a large death toll for both sides. -
The Death of FDR
At his resort in Georgia, Franklin D. Roosevelt passed away after 4 terms in office, leaving Harry S. Truman in charge of the country. Truman was faced with still leading the United States through WWII, and also had to decide whether or not to continue the Manhattan Project. -
The Death of Adolf Hitler
As the Nazi party was collapsing, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin. Hitler ingested cyanide, then shot himself with Ava Braun. Hitler's suicide marked the collapse of the Nazi party and the end of war in Europe. -
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
The United States became the first and only nation to use atomic weaponry during war time when it dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Carried by the bomber Enola Gay, the bomb killed at least 80,000 people from the immediate blast. The bombing of the city marked the end of WWII in the Pacific Theatre. -
Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki
After the bombing of Hiroshima, the United States dropped another bomb on the city of Nagasaki. This led to Japan's unconditional surrender. -
Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport Jazz Festival was founded in 1954 in Newport, Rhode Island. Most of the festivals were recorded and released as albums at the time. In 1972, the festival moved to New York City, but became a two site festival in 1981 when it was returned to Newport while also staying in New York. Many famous musicians have played at the festival, including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday. -
Nixon-Kennedy Debates (1st on Television)
John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon faced off in the first televised presidential debate in American history. The election had a major impact on the result of the upcoming election. The debates also started an era where having a good public image getting good media exposure were essential for being successful in any political campaign. -
The Assassination of John F. Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas while on a political campaign. Kennedy's car was turning past the Texas School Book Depository, when Kennedy was shot from the sixth floor window of the Book Depository. He was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald, and was pronounced dead at 1pm of the same day. -
The Beatles Appear for the first time on the Ed Sullivan Show
After the release of their debut album and newfound chart topping success in the United States, The Beatles made their American debut on the Ed Sullivan Show to nearly 73 million people watching, live and on air. The Beatles performed a 5 song set, 4 of which came from their album Please Please Me. No performance on the Ed Sullivan Show had this much craze around it since Elvis Presley's performance in 1956. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to take any means he thought necessary to maintain peace and security in Southeast Asia. This would ultimately end up being the deciding factor that started the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War. Many people at the time thought that we had no business getting involved in the war. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was a bombing campaign from the United States during the Vietnam War, targeted at the Viet Cong of North Vietnam. The bombardment lasted from March 1965 to October 1968, intended to put pressure on communist leaders, as well as hinder their ability to effectively wage war. -
March on the Pentagon
The March on the Pentagon was a massive protests and demonstration against the Vietnam War that was ongoing at the time. The demonstration consisted of nearly 100,000 people and was initially started at the Lincoln Memorial. Later, about 50,000 people led a second demonstration at the Pentagon, sparking confrontation with the armed paratroopers on guard. -
Mai Lai Massacre
The Mai Lai Massacre was on of the most horrific acts of violence committed against unarmed civilians during the Civil War. An American Company, given the order from Lieutenant William Calley, shot and killed most of the men, women, and children in the village of Mai Lai. More than 500 people were killed in the massacre, including young girls and women who were raped. U.S Army officers covered up the massacre for years, sparking more anti-war sentiment. -
Riots at the Chicago Democratic Convention
As delegates entered the International Amphitheater to nominate a Democratic Party candidate, thousands of protesters swarmed the streets to rally against the Vietnam War. This event and many riots in Chicago changed the American political landscape. -
Woodstock
At the height of the Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement, The Woodstock Music Festival was a sign of peace and unity in a time of strife in America. Taking place at a dairy farm Bethel, New York, Woodstock has become one of the most influential moments in music history. Many notable artists performed at the 4 day event, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Greatful Dead, Canned Heat, and many others. Nearly 500,000 people attended the event. -
Chicago 8 Trial
The Chicago 8 Trial was the trial for eight anti war activists who were charged with inciting a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The eight men were tried for violating the first federal ant riot laws, which made it illegal to cross state lines to incite a riot. -
The Beatles Break Up
By the late 60's, tension began to arise amongst the band and the future of their careers together. Each member of the band was pursuing his own solo career, and management roles behind the scene caused strife. They last recorded together as a band on the song "The End", the final track from the album Abbey Road in 1969. Paul McCartney would then do an interview in 1970 announcing the end of the Beatles. -
Kent State Protest
The Kent State Protest was a peace rally at Kent State University, opposing the expanding involvement of the Vietnam War into the neutral country of Cambodia, as well as opposing the presence of National Guard on campus. Four students were fatally shot, and nine others were injured by the Ohio National Guard. The killings marked the first time that a student had been killed during an anti-war protest in United States history. -
Roe vs. Wade
Roe vs. Wade was a landmark decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States protected a woman's right to have an abortion without government restriction. This decision struck down many federal and state abortion laws, and caused debate in the United States about what extent abortion is legal.
