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Frances Willard
- On this date Frances Willard became president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union until her death in 1898
- Willard was also a temperance reformer and advocated for women's suffrage
- She was also the first dean of Northwestern University in 1873
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Social Darwinism
- The term social darwinism began to emerge in the 1880s and described the idea that humans had to compete for their existence, just like animals (survival or the fittest)
- Charles Darwin had first perceived survival of the fittest from plants and animals -This meant that the weakly cultured group of people (minorities) were slowly diminished and oppressed while the stronger culture of people grew stronger and had more power
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Tin Pan Alley
- The term Tin Pan Alley was given to the group of famous music publishers and song writers in New York City beginning in 1885
- This name came from the location of the Flower District in New York
- These people had a lot of influence on people in the 19th century and created a group called Music Publishers Association of the United States
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William Jennings Bryan
- July 9th, 1896 William Jennings Bryan delivered his famous Cross of Gold speech
- Born in Salem Illinois Bryan grew up to be a politician who became a dominant force of the democratic party
- He ran for president of the US three times and was unsuccessful each time
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The Great Migration
- Around this time many African Americans began to migrate from southern states to northern states -over 6 million African Americans came to northern states
- They wanted to get away from the southern cities because of the violence towards African Americans. People's discrimination for them also led to less social and economical opportunities for them
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Henry Ford
- On this date Henry Ford introduced the assembly line creating mass production of cars
- He wanted to lower the price of cars so everyone could have efficient transportation so the assembly line made it easier for cars to be built
- "father of automotive mass production"
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Federal Reserve System
- The Federal Reserve System was established on December 13th, 1913 in order to ensure the stability for the country
- Woodrow Wilson set the Federal Reserve Act to make sure we did not fall into a depression again
- This system issues currency, makes commercial loans, and many more important financial responsibilities
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Marcus Garvey
- On July 15th, 1914 Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League
- Leader of mass movement called Pan-Africanism
- Black nationalist born in Jamaica and founded the Black Starline
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1st Red Scare
- This event occurred in 1917 and was caused by the Russian Revolution and World War 1.
- The Red Scare was the name given to the period of anti-radical hysteria and the fear that anarchists, socialists and communists were conspiring to start a workers revolution in the United States of America.
- This lasted around 3 years and caused suspicion and fear against German immigrants in America
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Jazz Music
- Jazz music was a new age of music that began in the 1920s and originated in New Orleans
- This music's roots came from African Americans and when speakeasys were popular jazz music was mostly played in these secret bars.
- One of the first groups to record their jazz music was the New Orlean Rhythm Kings. This group influenced many people and started the Harlem Renaissance, but eventually white Americans begin to take jazz music and mix it with their own ideas
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Harlem Renaissance
- The Harlem Renaissance began in the 1920s and was a period of African American arts and music that was highly creative and influential.
- Jazz music was a big part of the Harlem Renaissance and famous poets like Langston Hughes are still recognized in today's age.
- This period took place in Harlem, New York, and was also known as the "New Negro Movement"
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Prohibition & the 18th Amendment
- Prohibition was the ban of selling alcohol which was what the 18th Amendment was passed for in January 17th, 1920.
- This is the only Amendment to be repealed because it was so unpopular, and everyone found ways around it to buy alcohol.
- This was one of the most controversial issues in the US at the time because some thought how much Americans drank was none of the government's business but in reality alcohol was really tearing apart American families and the work industry
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Warren G. Harding's "Return to Normalcy"
- Warren G. Harding (29th president) had won the presidential election with his campaign slogan "Return to Normalcy"
- he had won the popular vote of America with his words because the American people saw how he wanted the states to succeed
- He promised to return the country to a normal state and in doing so was a civil rights leader, created the Budget Bureau, and the Department of Veteran Affairs
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Tea Pot Dome Scandal
The Tea Pot Dome Scandal occurred in 1921. This event was a unprecedented level of greed and corruption within the federal government. The scandal involved ornery oil tycoons, poker-playing politicians, illegal liquor sales, a murder-suicide, a womanizing president and a bagful of bribery cash delivered on the low. -
Langston Hughes
- Fall of 1924 Langston Hughes publishes "The Negro Speaks of Rivers
- Goes to the Soviet Union in 1932 where he creates film showing the lives of African Americans in America
- Known as one of the founding fathers of the Harlem Renaissance
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Scopes Monkey Trials
The Scopes Monkey Trial was a court case that began July 10th, 1925. This began with John Scopes, a high school science teacher, accused of teaching evolution in violation of a Tennessee state law. The law, made it a misdemeanor punishable by fine to “teach any theory that denies the story of the Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from animals. (evolution) -
Clarence Darrow
- Clarence Darrow was the lawyer to John T. Scopes in the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925
- A Leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union -Assisted in organizing the Populist Party in Illinois
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Charles A. Lindbergh
- May 20-21st, 1927 flew across the Atlantic Ocean alone non-stop.
- Started at New York and ended flight at Paris.
- Flew over 50 combat missions during WWII
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The Great Depression
- The Great Depression was an economic disaster that began on October 29th, 1929, and lasted a total of 10 years.
- This horrible time period began when over 12 million shares of stocks were sold in just a 24 hour period. Within the next few days stock prices fell severely. This was known as the stock market crash.
- Everyone rushed to the banks to get their money but there was nothing left. This led to unemployment increasing to over 20%. Many people lost their jobs and homes.
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Stock Market Crash "Black Tuesday"
Black Tuesday occurred on October 29th, 1929. Billions of dollars were lost, wiping out thousands of investors. Black Tuesday, America and the rest of the industrialized world spiraled downward into the Great Depression, the deepest and longest-lasting economic downturn in the history. -
Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl began in the 1930s and refers to the drought in the Southern Plains region of the United States which suffered dust storms during a dry period . As high winds and dust swept the region from states of Texas to Nebraska, people and livestock were killed and crops failed to grow across the entire regions. -
20th Amendment
- January 23rd, 1933 the 20th amendment was ratified and gave us the dates in which government officials elected positions would end.
- This Amendment also gave instructions on what to do if the president were to die during his term. (the vice president would be in the empty position)
- This Amendment also says that the congress shall assemble at least once a year on January 3rd unless they have appointed a different date.
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"Relief, Recovery, Reform"
The Relief, Recovery and Reform programs, known as the "Three Rs", was presented by President Roosevelt during the Great Depression after the New Deal was created to help the problems of mass unemployment and the economic crisis. FDR's Three R's Relief, Recovery and Reform - required either immediate, temporary or permanent actions and reforms and were collectively known as FDR's New Deal. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Franklin D. Roosevelt became president of the United States on March 4th, 1933, and served until he died in the year of 1945
- At the time of his presidency, there was no term limit, so after his time in office a two year term limit was set in place
- Franklin D. Roosevelt was cursed with polio which paralyzed his legs, leaving him to take control of the country in a wheelchair
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The New Deal
- On this day in 1933 Roosevelt delivered his first inaugural address and took action to help our economy and people during the Great Depression.
- This New Deal program lasted about 6 years and brought the United States economic relief along with many sorts of reform
- The New Deal supported a government-regulated economy, established government aid for those who were financially struggling, and tried everything to avoid another stock market crash
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Civilian Conservation Corp
The Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC was created on April 5th, 1933 as part of the New Deal and was a work relief program that gave millions of people employment on environmental projects during the Great Depression. Considered by many to be one of the most successful of Roosevelt’s programs,the CCC constructed trails, planted trees,shelters, and was the foundation for the national park system. -
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
The Federal Insurance Corporation was created on June 16th, 1933 and restored confidence in banks and encouraged savings by insuring bank customers against the loss of up to $5,000 in their deposits if their bank should fail. Created by the Glass-Steagall Banking Reform Act of 1933. -
21st Amendment
The 21st Amendnent was the first amendment to repeal an amendment which was the 18th amendment which had mandated nationwide Prohibition on alcohol on January 16, 1919. This meant that alcohol was legal for selling and consumption again. -
Securities and Exchange Commission
The Securities and Exchange Commission was created on June 6th, 1934. This was a U.S. government agency that oversees securities transactions, activities of financial professionals and mutual fund trading to prevent fraud and intentional deception. -
Social Security Administration (SSA)
- The SSA was created after president Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act of August 14th, 1935.
- This provides financial protection for the US and its people that are 65 years of age or older after they have retired from working by giving them a continuous income.
- The country had just begun to recover from the Great Depression after this administration was built
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1936 Summer Olympics
- The 1936 Summer Olympics took place in Berlin, Germany, Beginning on August 1st and ending on the 16th of that same month. The Summer Olympics was awarded to Berlin that year.
- This was the first olympic games to be televised and was used to advertise the nazi propaganda. They also had a "Aryan only" policy meaning Jews and Gypsies were excluded from paticipating
- This was also the first time there was a boycott for the olympics (by Americans and Europeans) but the boycott failed.
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Eleanor Roosevelt
- March 15th 1946 Eleanor Roosevelt to be the United States Representative to the General Assembly of the United Nations
- Eleanor was also the longest serving first lady due to her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt -She was Theodore Roosevelt's niece, so she was already family before she married Franklin
