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The Dead Rabbits Riot
The Dead Rabbits were a street gang of Irish Americans. There was another street gang that became the Dead Rabbits' rival called the Bowery Boys. The Bowery Boys' ultimate goal was to stop the immigrants from taking over the neighborhoods. The biggest feud between the two was on July 4, 1857 over land called the Five Points. This became the spot where the groups fought. This fight killed 8 men and injured up to 100 people and is now referred to as the Dead Rabbits Riot. -
The Ku Klux Klan is Established
The Ku Klux Klan, or the KKK, was formed in Pulaski, Tennessee on December 24, 1865, by a group of Confederate veterans. The KKK began as a secret group but soon grew rapidly into a force that focused on reversing laws that allowed the African American community rights. This group led tyrannical attack against African American and white Republicans. They would destroy property and commit murder in order to influence future elections. -
John D. Rockefeller Creates Standard Oil
John D. Rockefeller joined the oil business in 1870. He formed the Standard Oil Company on January 10, 1870. Rockefeller's research and development team found ways to remove "oil impurities" which allowed him to earn money from oil that no other companies in the oil business desired. -
Alexander Graham Bell Patents the Telephone
In 1871, Alexander Graham Bell began working on the harmonic telegraph. This was a device that let multiple messages be sent through a wire at a time. During this time, Bell got distracted with trying to send human voices through the wire. Other scientists were also working on this invention. It is said that Alexander Graham Bell raced to the patent office and arrived 15 minutes before the others. Bell received his patent for the telephone on March 7, 1876. -
Ellis Island Opens to Process Immigrants
Ellis Island was a place used to process immigrants that came to America to start a new life. It opened on January 1, 1892. That same day 700 immigrants were processed and nearly 500,000 passed through Ellis Island that same year -
The Great Oklahoma Land Race
On September 16, 1893, a cannon boomed which released the largest land race. Over 100,000 people raced to claim land in northern Oklahoma called the Cherokee Strip. Following this land race, America fell into the biggest economic depression it had experienced. -
The Wizard of Oz (Book) is Published
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" book was written by Frank L. Baum. The book was published on May 17, 1900. The publishing company, George M. Hill Company, printed 10,000 copies and it sold out quickly. By 1956 over 3 million copies were in the hands of the public. -
J.P. Morgan Founds U.S. Steel
In 1900, J.P. Morgan invested money into the financing of the Federal Steel Company. Morgan quickly merged Carnegie Steel Company for 480 million dollars. The two company was renamed United States Steel. -
Teddy Roosevelt Becomes President of the United States
Theodore Roosevelt was the 25th Vice President who served under President William McKinley. After McKinley's assassination on September 14, 1901, he assumed presidency. After his term was up, he continued to run for president for 2 more terms. He is the youngest president of the United States and the only president who has been in office for over 2 terms. -
Ida Tarbell Publishes Her Article About Standard Oil
Ida Tarbell accepted an offer from McClure's Magazine where she worked on exposing John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company. Tarbell documented the techniques of the Standard Oil Company and how they ran over any other companies that attempt to get in their way. Tarbell's article was published in 2 separate articles. The first one in November 1902 and May 1904. The two were eventually made into a book. -
The 16th Amendment is Passed
The 16th Amendment allowed for Congress to impose a Federal tax income. This Amendment was passed on July 2, 1909. It was ratified on February 3, 1913. -
Angel Island Opens to Process Immigrants
Angel Island was another place for immigration processing located in San Francisco, California. Angel Island opened on January 21, 1910. This immigration center became the main entry for immigrants arriving from the west. -
The 17th Amendment is Passed
The 17th Amendment allows voters to directly vote for people who are running for Senate. This amendment modified Article I, Section 3 in the Constitution that once had senators chosen by the state legislature. The 17th Amendment was passed on May 13, 1912 by Congress and was ratified on April 8, 1913. -
The Empire State Building Opens
The Empire State Building was built by the Starrett Corporation in the 1930's to host corporate business offices. Construction took a record breaking 1 year and 45 days. President Hoover pressed a button in Washington, D.C. which turned on the lights and the Empire State Building officially opened on April 11, 1931.