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Jamestown was the first settlement established by Europeans. The Virginia Company funded the founding of Jamestown with intent to start tobacco plantations. The Headright System was introduced to ensure that people would settle in Jamestown. This gave all who could pay for their passage 100 acres of land upon arrival in Jamestown. Settlers were granted an additional 50 acres per extra person they paid for. If someone paid for your passage, you were obligated to 7+ years of indentured servitude. -
The Salem Witch Trials occurred from 1692-1693 in an event of mass hysteria in Massachusetts. The trials began when Rev. Samuel Parris' daughter and niece began having "fits" in Salem, MA. The girls accused women of possessing them and working with the devil. As hysteria spread, 20 people were executed and over 200 were accused of witchcraft. This religious turbulence occurred just before the First Great Awakening and symbolizes the struggle with religion many puritans were experiencing. -
Jonathan Edwards gives his infamous "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" sermon in Einfield, England. This sermon was pivotal in sparking the First Great Awakening in America (the Colonies at the time). The First Great Awakening led to many colonists becoming more tightly knit through religion and the religion revolution introduced the ability to question customs and ideas. -
The Stamp Act was a tax levied on colonists that required the purchase of a royal stamp for any legal document. Other items such as glass, lumber, paint, and nails were also included in this tax. The upper and middle classes in the colonies were greatly affected by this and took a stand. The act was repealed 1 year later in 1866 after significant backlash. While Britain did not make significant profit on this act due to its short tenure, the resentment of Great Britain grew among colonists. -
The Boston Massacre occurred as a mob of colonists surrounded the Boston customs house and attacked the sole guard on duty. The guard was beaten until he called for backup. 4 soldiers arrived and in the commotion 1 soldier heard the word fire and shot. 5 colonists were killed, the most notable of which being Crispus Attucks, a black man who was protesting for his freedom at the time. The Sons of Liberty were heavily involved with the mob that night and this only provoked them more. -
The Boston Tea Party was an attack on British goods led by the Sons of Liberty. The Sons of Liberty boarded three ships owned by the East India Tea Company. These three ships were the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver. The sons of Liberty attacked these ships as retaliation for the Tea Act, a British law that actually lowered the price of tea. The colonists were angered by the Tea Act because they felt like they were being manipulating into supporting the Townshend Revenue Act. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord is considered the first battle of the Revolutionary War. The battle started after British soldiers marched on Concord, MA in an effort to take weapons and supplies from the developing Continental Army. The first shot of the battle is known as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" because of its profound effect on the rest of the world. It is unknown which side fired the first shot, but upon the shot a volley of gunfire broke out resulting in almost 400 casualties. -
The 2nd Continental Congress marks the birth of America. Presided over by John Hancock the 2nd CC established a Continental Army, appointed a general (George Washington), began the printing of paper money, and organized a foreign affairs committee. Most importantly, the 2nd CC ratified the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776. Signing the declaration was considered an act of treason, but now in near full support of the revolution 50 of 56 men at the 2nd CC signed. -
Common Sense was a pamphlet published with intent to help further the development of revolutionary ideas among colonists. Common Sense was written in such a way so that the "common man" and the elites of society could understand and relate to the text. People of all walks of life began recognizing their worth and the unfairness of the tariffs placed on them by the Crown. Common Sense was so crucial to public opinion that it is mentioned in prep materials for the English GCSE exams. -
Crisis was a series of motivational essays written to boost morale of the soldiers trapped at Valley Forge. Thomas Paine strikes again with another history-altering piece of literature as this series of essays boosted morale so much that it is attributed with inspiring the Battle of Trenton. The Battle of Trenton, similarly to Crisis, was a morale boost. The Battle of Trenton raised spirits among all colonists as the British no longer seemed like some indomitable giant. -
The Battle of Saratoga is considered the turning point of the Revolutionary War. British Gen. Burgoyne planned a pincer movement on a diminished American army in Saratoga. George Washington caught wind of Burgoyne's plan and sent a pincer movement of his own to reinforce the troops at Saratoga. The troops arrived and the British surrendered. The Americans demanded all of the British supplies. Saratoga is largely attributed with helping win much-needed French support in the Revolutionary War. -
The Battle of Yorktown marked the end of the major fighting during the American Revolution. Gen. Cornwallis of Britain was performing a strategic retreat to Yorktown, VA where he believed British naval support would await them. Instead of British support, the British were quickly surrounded by American troops led by George Washington. Washington's troops began shelling Yorktown until Gen. Cornwallis surrendered on Oct. 19, 1781, ending major battles in the Revolutionary War. -
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the American Revolution. With Gen. Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown, both sides realized the war was over and began drafting a treaty. The treaty granted the colonies freedom and a significant amount of new land. America would now span from the Atlantic to the Appalachian Mountains. It also outlined that the British were not to engage in combat with America or any of its citizens or military. This caused problems when Britain began impressing U.S. Soldiers. -
Shays' Rebellion occurred just after the Revolutionary War and proved the weakness of the Articles of Confederation. Farmers and Revolutionary War vets led by Daniel Shays stormed Boston. The AOC banned an army which posed a large problem. The revolution was quelled by Boston elites who hired a private army. The AOC were done away with shortly after this and the Constitutional Congress was held to look for a solution.The similar Whiskey Revolution would prove the Constitution's strength in 1794. -
Washington was inaugurated after being the first and only unanimously (s)elected president. Washington's presidency would lay the foundation for our country and all presidents after him. Washington set many precedents such as an inaugural speech, a farewell address, only presiding for two terms, and established a presidential cabinet. Washington's presidency set an expectation for how much the federal government was allowed to interfere with and have control over. -
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to satisfy the anti-federalists who feared that the federal government would be too powerful under the Constitution. The Bill of Rights added the promise of 10 freedoms deemed essential. The amendments to the Constitution made the document significantly stronger as it satisfied both sides of the coin. The federalists got their strong federal government but the anti-federalists had all of their freedoms protected. -
This proclamation made by Pres. Washington claimed that America would be neutral during the French Revolution. The US was willing to help France rebuild after the war, but chose to stay out of it because siding with either side would be hypocritical. If the US sided with the crown, they went against US foundation. If the US sided with the citizens, it broke their Treaty of Perpetual Friendship. Realizing the genius of staying out of it, this declared that the US was to stay out of European wars. -
Eli Whitney's cotton gin revolutionized the cultivation of cotton. While this invention may have been incredible for the textile industry, it also made cotton a cash crop. The South happens to be a near-perfect environment to grow cotton in. The cotton gin is attributed with inadvertently institutionalizing slavery through popularizing cotton growth in the South. -
These 3 acts are one of the greatest atrocities in the history of the federal government. These were enacted in hopes of protecting the Whig legacy in office. The Alien Act allowed the president to deport anyone he deemed a threat. The Naturalization Act increased the wait to become a citizen from 5 to 14 years. The Sedition Act made it illegal to publish anything critical of the government. KY and VA spoke out on this and nullified these acts, contributing to the nullification crisis later. -
The Revolution of 1800 is the phrase used to describe the 1800 election. For the first time in history, a group was expected to peacefully hand power over to their rivals. When John Adams, a member of the Whig Party, lost to Thomas Jefferson, a member of the Republican Party, almost everyone expected a war. However, the inauguration went over without a hitch and proved to the world that true democracy was possible. This led to much more trust in the government among Americans. -
This court case resolved the issues of the Supreme Court having essentially no purpose and of differences in constructional views. The largest takeaway from this case was the concept of judicial review which gave the Supreme Court the power to interpret the Constitution. The US now had a part of government that could determine how the government was intended to run. Everything regarding the Constitution could now be tried in court giving new depth to both our Constitution and the Supreme Court. -
Lewis and Clark were sent out to explore the land acquired in the Louisiana Purchase by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson expected the explorers to map the territory, collect samples of all flora/fauna possible, begin trade with natives, and find a route to the Pacific Ocean. The explorers returned with hundreds of plant samples, thousands of miles mapped, and started a peaceful relationship with the natives. The maps and samples made expansion into the new territory significantly easier. -
The Louisiana Purchase was a massive purchase of land from France made by Thomas Jefferson. The Louisiana Purchase was proposed by the French after Napoleon refused to sell America the port city of New Orleans by itself. Jefferson wanted control of New Orleans and the Mississippi River because of the integral part of the American economy they provided. The Louisiana Purchase led to a craze of westward expansion that eventually led America to becoming a bicoastal nation. -
In 1807, American inventor Robert Fulton had the revolutionary idea to put a steam engine on a passenger ferry. This idea greatly contributed to the upcoming transportation revolution that would last from approximately 1815-1840. The reconstruction of American infrastructure that the transportation revolution accomplished gave Americans more opportunity for trade and travel. -
Possibly Jefferson's biggest mistake came with the Embargo Act of 1807. Jefferson placed an ban on all foreign trade with intent to increase domestic trade and end interference with US ships. The ban left many northern merchants without the majority of their source income for 2 years until the act was lifted in 1809. This and the War of 1812 even made a few merchants consider secession at the Hartford Convention. The ban did not end interference as seen in the British impressment of US sailors. -
The end of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade marked the beginning of the end for slavery. While slavery itself was far from abolished, more slaves could not be brought to America. The Charleston Library describes the trade as making port cities "addicted to slavery." The disappearance profits generated by the slave trade made the entire institution of slavery weaker. -
As the War of 1812 raged around the US, the British took a very low blow. British troops rushed DC and after a short fight, the city surrendered. The British burned down nearly every government building they could. The British then began to march to the White House with intent to capture James Madison and effectively win the war. Madison was tipped off just in time however and he and his family escaped. First Lady Dolly Madison became a hero after saving many precious documents before leaving. -
The Battle of New Orleans was one of the most lopsided U.S. victories in history. Led by Andrew Jackson, a motley crew of a few soldiers and local farmers demolished invading British forces. The British had only one way to enter New Orleans, and Jackson took advantage of this by building a trench around the beach to give a faux-high ground. If the British had taken New Orleans, they could have effectively shut off southern trade until the news of the Treaty of Ghent reached them. -
The Missouri Compromise was enacted to find a solution to the growing question of "should new states have slaves?" The compromise decided that states entering the Union from above the line of latitude at 36* would be entered as free states and those below would be entered as slave states. This compromise also led to Missouri being entered as a slave state at the same time as Maine, which would enter as a free state. The Missouri Compromise worked well until the California problem. -
4 candidates made it nearly impossible for a candidate to win the majority, so the election would go to the HOR. Clay left the race because he was the Speaker of the House and Crawford died before the election ended. Clay and John Q. Adams met in private just before Clay would publicly support Adams, giving him enough support to win the election. Jackson was the favorite and won in both the popular and electoral votes. Clay was given Secretary of State by Adams just after his inauguration. -
The Tariff of 1828, lovingly coined the Tariff of Abominations, was enacted to supposedly keep northern agricultural products from too much competition with imported goods. In reality, the tariff dramatically raised the cost of living in the South while lowering the cost of living for the industrial North. Vice President John C. Calhoun spoke out against this tariff which led to growing friction among the North and South. Calhoun attempted to nullify this bill and Jackson promptly shut him down. -
The Indian Removal Act was controversially passed by Andrew Jackson in 1830. Jackson repeatedly vetoed vetoes and undermined the Supreme Court rulings related to the act. Jackson declared that the natives were to live on reservations in modern-day OK area. Jackson said "Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it" in regards to the ruling of Worcester v. Georgia which essentially ruled that the act was unconstitutional. Many natives died in result leaving wounds that would never heal. -
Nat Turner was a slave in Virginia who claimed to have had a vision from God where he was told that he was "chosen by God to lead them from bondage." Turner led a revolt with a few dozen other slaves and his efforts killed over 50 white slave owners. Many involved with the revolt including Turner were executed. This revolt struck fear in the hearts of many slave owners by forcing the realization that they were not safe from retaliation for poor treatment. -
The Battle of Alamo was a pivotal battle in the Texas Revolution leading to the iconic phrase "Remember the Alamo." This battle in which every Texan soldier died led to the beliefs and morals of Texans that have lasted to this day. The Texas Revolution led to Texas becoming a self-governing republic that was later annexed by the United States. -
The Panic of 1837 was the economic collapse that occurred under Martin Van Buren. Van Buren was put into a terrible position, as Andrew Jacksons' war on banks devastated the economy. Jackson greatly opposed the National Bank and began pouring federal funds into smaller "pet banks." Jackson also vetoed the charter for a new national bank. Jackson attempted to amend the rapid inflation that set in as western land opened his with Specie Circular. Specie circular required land to be bought in gold.
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When gold was discovered in California, westward expansion sped up instantly. People sold everything to move to California in hopes of striking it rich. The gold rush inadvertently led to the divide over whether California should enter a slave state or not, because it split the line of latitude at 36*. This divide led to even more sectional divide and eventually the Compromise of 1850. -
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the lopsided Mexican-American War. The treaty heavily favored the US, the Texas border would be at the Rio Grande and the US would receive the Mexican Session. This would provide the US with an immense amount of western land ripe for expansion. The session included current day New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and some of Colorado and California. The expansion led to a reopening of debates over slavery and led partly to the Compromise of 1850. -
Held in Seneca, NY by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucrettia Mott. This convention is considered where the women's rights movement truly began. The Declaration of Sentiments was drafted during this convention, a document based on the Declaration of Independence crying out for equal rights. The ideas cultivated at this convention spread and inspired others like Susan B. Anthony, founder of the first large women's rights organization and close friend of Stanton. -
The Compromise of 1850 was composed of 4 major parts. First, California would enter the Union as a free state. There had been much debate over Cali as it split the 36* line. Next, slave trade in Washington D.C. was to be halted. Third, popular sovereignty was to be used when deciding whether the state was to be a free or slave state. Finally, incredibly strict fugitive slave laws were enacted nationwide. Runaway slaves, even in the North, were to be returned to their masters by anyone who knew. -
Kansas was the first state to use popular sovereignty in deciding whether slavery was to be legal or not. Both the North and South campaigned for their side but the North seemed to have won by offering free land to those who would move to Kansas. On the day of the vote however, the heavily northern town of Lawrence, KS was attacked by a pro-slavery militia from Missouri. The militia stuffed the ballot boxes with false pro-slavery votes, burned down most of the town, and killed many civilians. -
During a Senate meeting about the day before's siege on Lawrence, KS Sen. Charles Sumner was caned nearly to death by Sen. Preston Brooks. Sumner was hotly criticizing the South's believed encouragement of violence in KS when Brooks decided to protect his fellow southerners with his cane. This event led to a large increase in sectional tension as it became more clear that things needed to change.Each member of the debacle became a hero in their own region which further separated goals and ideas. -
Dred Scott was a slave owned by a military official. When they moved to Wisconsin, a free state, Scott sued for his freedom. The case was taken to the Supreme Court where Chief Justice Taney ruled that Scott was to remain a slave as Scott was property. Taney ruled that slaves could be taken anywhere and remain slaves as they had no rights. Abolitionists were enraged by this ruling and the tension between the North and South grew larger. -
The Lincoln-Douglas debate was the first ever presidential debate. Lincoln challenged Douglas to this debate realizing he had nothing to lose as Douglas was already a heavy favorite. Douglas agreed to the debate believing that he could quell support for Lincoln by making him look foolish. Douglas, a Democrat, took the debates as an opportunity to support popular sovereignty which would prove a grave mistake. Lincoln revitalized his hopes of winning the election and Douglas lost the upper hand. -
The first look at a modern battleship would be seen in early December of 1861. The ironclad would revolutionize naval warfare by replacing the flimsy wooden skiffs used before. The first look at ironclads in combat was of the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia in 1862. The Virginia sank a few Union ships until she met her match when the USS Monitor arrived. The birth of ironclads would not only set up the development of modern battleships but also leveled the naval playing field during the Civil War. -
The Homestead Act was the largest incentive for western expansion since the gold rush 24 years prior. This act granted anyone who made a claim 160 acres of land for free. There were strings attached though, you had to live on the land, farm it for at least five years, and "improve" the land. Anyone could claim, regardless of sex, race, or citizenship. This offered a "safety valve" for overpopulation in urban areas caused by industrialization. -
The Emancipation Proclamation was passed just after the Battle of Antietam. The proclamation abolished slavery in the South so that slaves in the South would be freed upon a states re-entry into the Union. The proclamation also did not abolish slavery in all states due to the possible complications of such an action. Fearing the secession of border states including Missouri, Kentucky, Delaware, and Maryland; Lincoln exempt them from the proclamation. This acted as an ultimatum for the South. -
The capture of Vicksburg, MS marked the success of the genius Anaconda Plan. The plan was to blockade all trade to and from the South with the Union's far superior navy. The plan led to prices of necessities increasing ten-fold in the South. As the South was being strangled by lack of resources, Union forces sailed up the Mississippi River and captured the main method of transport to New Orleans. Nearly 30,000 Southern troops were captured and Vicksburg, the "key to ending the war" was captured. -
The Battle of Gettysburg sealed the fate of the Confederacy by eliminating the possibility of a future offensive campaign. Starving and desperate Confederates attacked Gettysburg, PA in desperate need of the wheat being grown there and a victory. The battle results in unbelievable casualties as Gen. Lee and his remaining soldiers retreated back to the South. The Battle of Gettysburg would put the South on defense for the rest of the war and made it only a matter of time until the war was won. -
Sherman's March to the Sea shook southerners to the core and the rampage of carnage was one of the final major acts of violence in the war. Gen. Sherman led an army of 60,000 from Atlanta to Savannah. The army split into two columns of 30,000 and obliterated any and everything in its path. Towns were burned, slaves were freed, and Confederates were killed. The march led many southerners to feel unsafe in their own country as it started in their territory and they still couldn't contain Sherman. -
The Black Codes, later referred to as the Jim Crow laws, were created in order to oppress African-Americans ability to thrive in America. After the abolition of slavery, many states would continue to try and make life as miserable as possible for black people. MS and SC were the first to pass these laws. The laws included anti-enticement measures (laws making sure wages for black people stayed low), laws only letting black people be farmers of servants unless they paid a tax, and segregation. -
The 15th Amendment gave African-Americans the right to vote. After a long and difficult struggle, it seemed that equal rights would finally be achieved. People found a way around this however, implementing literacy tests, civics tests, or simply beating or arresting African-Americans who attempted to register to vote. The 15th Amendment would not be effective until the Voting Rights Act of 1965, but would instill the hope and possibility which lit a fire in the black community. -
The infamous Boss Tweed of the Tammany Hall political machine sealed his own fate after overcharging for the NYC courthouse. Tweed won an auction for rights to build the courthouse, and when he went to build city hall he charged them millions of dollars more than his original quote. This brought enough attention to the situation that led to the fall of political machines. -
The Haymarket Square Riot occurred when a large group of factory workers, union members, etc. gathered in Haymarket Square to protest the murder of several local workers. The riot began as a peaceful protest until a bomb was thrown into the circle of police. At least 8 people died, and 8 people were convicted for the violence despite a lack of evidence. This event as a whole is considered a massive setback for the movement for better workplace regulations. -
Muckraker Jacob Riis used the up and coming photojournalism to expose the horrors of tenement housing in his book "How the Other Half Lives." Riis' activism can be partially attributed with passing the Tenement Housing Act of 1901, as he and other muckrakers brought more eyes to the cause. Muckrakers as a whole helped reform horrid conditions for the lower class. Other muckrakers like Upton Sinclair also touched on the disgusting matter of the lack of regulation in the meat processing industry. -
The Sherman Antitrust Act was passed in order to stop the growing theme of horizontal expansions in the U.S. Any business perceived to be a monopoly or "restricting trade" would be deemed illegal and dissolved. The Sherman Antitrust Act brought back small businesses and encouraged competitive markets. Many feared that monopolies would cause price gouging and force people to overpay for the essentials. -
The Atlanta Compromise is the name given to a speech given by black activist Booker T. Washington in Atlanta, GA. The Atlanta Compromise encouraged African-Americans to accept segregation for the moment and grow economically. Washington believed that if the African-American community grew a strong enough economy, the government would have no choice but to grant them civil rights. Many later civil rights leaders used this model for their speeches. -
The infamous Plessy v. Ferguson case is considered one of the largest blemishes on the Supreme Court's legacy. In this case, the court held up a Louisiana law that required African-Americans to be segregated on public transportation. The "separate but equal" mantra became a scapegoat for white supremacist politicians for the next three quarters of a century. The ruling would not be overturned until Brown v. the Board of Education in 1954. -
The explosion of the USS Maine was a tipping point in the US decision to go to war with Spain. The USS Maine was stationed just off the coast of Havana, Cuba when it exploded due to a mechanical issue. The US pinned the blame on the Spanish, and the inevitable war ensued. The US easily defeated Spain in just 3 months, and the US was granted Spanish territories like Guam and Puerto Rico. This war victory continued to prove the US to be the next world superpower. -
The annexation of Hawaii occurred just after the Queen of Hawaii died with no heir. The US "feared" that Hawaii would divide in civil war over who would take the throne, so they annexed it. The US secured significant military advantage for Pacific opponents as well as providing them with their first territory outside of the mainland. Native Hawaiian culture suffered greatly, with much being stripped by a large population of mainlanders moving in. -
The Panama Canal was finally constructed after years of bargaining due to Pres. Teddy Roosevelt's "walk with a big stick" mantra. Teddy's support for Panamanian independence in Panama's revolution gave him the credibility needed to confirm the construction of the canal. The canal was incredibly important for trade, as it provided Europeans and American commerce on the East coast with significantly more efficient trade routes to Asia. -
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People became instrumental in the civil rights movement later on. The NAACP was founded by a collection of black activists including WEB Du Bois, who was the first African-American to earn a Harvard PhD. The NAACP was founded in order to combat violence against blacks that had been sweeping the nation. The NAACP would use peaceful protests and court cases as its core methods of achieving social change, and achieve it did. -
The Great Migration occurred during WWI as urban cities in the North provided lucrative job opportunities for African-Americans. This led to the integration of African-Americans into the workforce but had a much more significant effect on the rise of black culture. The Great Migration led to many black enclaves in large cities as a complex and beautiful culture would arise. This rich culture would affect and spread into white culture through mediums like music and art early on. -
Henry Ford's assembly line led to the mass production of cars for the general public. Previously, cars were a luxury that very few could afford. The assembly line made cars accessible for many, which would open up the possibility for more commuter jobs later in the century. The assembly line also led to many more people vacationing more often, as it was made easier. This also boosted the economy. -
The Zimmerman Telegram was a German telegram intended for Mexico that was intercepted by the US. The telegram suggested that Mexico invade the former Mexican Session to keep the, to that point neutral, US out of WWI. The US very quickly entered the war on the side of the Allied Forces, providing them enough strength to decisively win WWI. -
In a speech given by Pres. Woodrow Wilson regarding what the treaty for WWI should include, he gave an in-depth 14 point plan that would heavily influence the drafting of the Treaty of Versailles. Many of the points related to land disputes and how conquered lands would be restored, but a few differed from the rest. Wilson suggested no secret alliances as well as a league of nations to keep order and diplomacy. This led to the League of Nations, and later the more successful United Nations. -
This act would mark the success of the possibly misled temperance movement. This act would ban the sale, manufacture, and transportation of liquor. This only caused the drinking problem to worsen. This also provided 2 hallmarks of American culture, organized crime and Nascar. Organized crime arose as bootleggers began selling large quantities of alcohol. This developed into full-scale crime webs known as "families" that would plague America for decades. -
The first Red Scare arose in America shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. This brewed immense fear back in the US, leading to the violent Palmer Raids, attacking many radical leftists perceived to be communist. An example of discrimination towards leftists during this period is the trials of Sacco and Vanzetti. The 2 Italian immigrants were tried for 2 murders they very clearly did not commit. Their belief in anarchism allegedly led to them being found guilty and executed. -
The Immigration Act of 1924 was a demonstration of gross xenophobia by the US government brought on by fears of European radicals just after WWI. This act declared that 2% of a nationality's immigrant population in America may be allowed to immigrate every year. It also banned parts of Asia from immigrating. It also introduced the idea of implementing literacy tests to restrict groups from achieving civil rights in America, a tactic that would also be used to bar African-Americans from voting. -
The Dust Bowl ravaged the Great Plains region of the US during the Great Depression. The Dust Bowl consisted of a series of severe dust storms and droughts that killed nearly all of the crops in a very agriculturally dependent region. The Dust Bowl pushed many out of their homes and into states not being directly effected by the Dust Bowl, in particular a large number of Oklahomans traveled to California where they would be nicknamed "Okies." -
The New Deal was FDR's response to the Great Depression. FDR instated dozens of government organizations intended to regulate various industries in the United States. Organizations such as the FDIC, Public Works Administration, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The New Deal provided minor relief via jobs to the floundering Americans during the Great Depression, but provided much needed reform that would last decades. -
The Second New Deal was an attempt by FDR to improve the lives and futures of suffering Americans. Roosevelt passed legislation like the Social Security Act, the Indian Reorganization Act, and the Federal Art Project. The Second New Deal also addressed the claims that the New Deal was unconstitutional, and FDR would be taken to court nearly 20 times over disputes with his new programs. -
Issued in mid-1941 by President FDR, Order 8802 was one of the most significant civil rights victories post-slavery to that point. Order 8802 was given at the beginning of WWII and prevented all agencies receiving government funding from participating in any discriminatory employment practices. FDR instituted the Fair Employment Practice Committee (FEPC) in order to enforce this act. -
The bombing of Pearl Harbor is one of the most devastating acts of terrorism in American history. The Japanese air force bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii as they believed that an embargo placed on Japan by America was an act of war. This bombing forced America to join WWII with a vengeance. This also caused a wave of hatred and fear towards Japanese-Americans, and many were put into camps despite usually being American citizens. -
"D-Day" was one of the largest turning points in WWII. Executed by the US, the UK, and Canada, D-Day led to a successful retaking of Axis-controlled France. The plan consisted of an airborne assault the night before, dropping paratroopers around significant bottlenecks and choke points. The next day, the bloodiest day in American history would ensue with an amphibious assault on the beaches of Normandy. The retaking of France would turn the tide, giving the Allies the upper hand. -
The G.I. Bill was passed shortly before the end of WWII as a way for the government to repay its soldiers. The G.I. Bill provided free higher education in the form of college or trade school, low-interest housing loans, and low-interest business loans. The G.I. Bill would provide an unprecedented amount of financial security for the American people, giving many the chance to live a middle class life. This also encouraged many to go to college as children of educated veterans. -
The bombing of Hiroshima, Japan was used as a last ditch effort by the United States to ensure complete surrender by Japan. The attack was authorized by President Harry Truman, which would inadvertently likely protect the world from mutually assured destruction during the Cold War. Japan surrendered shortly after a second nuclear bomb was dropped over Nagasaki. This officially ended World War II, and showed that Truman was not to be messed with when nukes were involved. -
Based on the theory of containment, the Truman Doctrine was a promise that America would support the fight against communism by any means necessary. The doctrine arose after Britain pulled Greece's funding against communist threats. The United States stepped into the big brother of the world role with this and the Marshall Plan. The Truman Doctrine would lead America into many a sticky situation, but ultimately protect the world from a massive spread of communism. -
The Marshall Plan, formulated by George Marshall, used the idea of dollar diplomacy to help rebuild Europe and contain the spread of Communism. Continuing the "big brother" role America had take, the Marshall Plan provided financial and economic aid to the rebuilding European countries, resulting in stronger alliances, better trade relationships, and a European public that supported capitalism. -
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created in response to the USSR. NATO provided a safety net of allies and a deterrent through its principle clause is article 5: "an armed attack on any party is an attack on them all." The USSR responded to NATO with the Warsaw Pact in 1955, a similar treaty which was fairly ineffective. NATO provided significant protection for the smaller members who would not be fully equipped to defend themselves, thus deterring proxies severely. -
Brown v. the Board of Education is now what we refer to as the rulings of five similar court cases, the most famous being Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka. The lawsuit was filed by Oliver Brown after his daughter was denied entrance to an all-white school. Brown was defended by the head NCAAP lawyer, Thurgood Marshall. Brown and Marshall won the case, with the judges unanimously deciding to overturn the ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson. -
The lynching of Emmett Till is one of the most horrifying examples of senseless race-based violence in American history. 14 year-old Till was mutilated and killed by two white men for allegedly wolf whistling at a white woman. The men were quickly acquitted and never tried again even after admitting to and bragging about the crime. This opened the eyes of many people and brought many to the civil rights cause. This followed by the murder of Medgar Evers only strengthened the movement. -
Enacted under the Eisenhower Administration, the NIDHA was instrumental in the development of suburbs and the reconstruction of the American Dream. The interstates made bigger cities far more accessible for the brand new Levvittown style suburban commuters. Business people were onboard with the idea, seeing all the potential but the general public was not. Eisenhower used Cold War tension and fear to pass the bill, by saying that interstates could be used as runways for emergency aircrafts. -
The U-2 Incident involved a US U-2 spy plane crashing over the USSR. President Truman had threatened nuclear warfare with the USSR if any US troops or vehicles were harmed. The USSR panicked, frantically collecting evidence to prove that the plane was not shot down. The US pilot, Gary Powers, survived the crash because he did not follow his oath of suicide if the plane went down. Powers was tried and confessed to the US spying on the USSR. Tensions rose and Powers became a villain to the US. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred as newly communist Cuba was spotted constructing ICBM silos. Tensions rose until the Russian destroyer the Grozny sailed into a United States blockade of Cuba with ICBMs on deck. A standoff that led to the Grozny returning to Russia is considered the closest we have ever gotten to nuclear war. -
President JFK is assassinated while riding in a motorcade in downtown Dallas, Texas. JFK was allegedly assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. JFK's assassination can be largely attributed with the passage of the incredibly important Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1964. JFK's assassination also led to the 25th Amendment which declared that the vice president would become president if the president were to be taken out of office for any reason. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is arguably the most important civil rights document in history. The act made discrimination illegal in public places and made employment discrimination a crime. The massive reform this brought made all of the had work fighting discrimination during the Civil Rights Movement worth it. While this would not yet reassure fair voting practices, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 would shortly after. -
Spurred by the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in Vietnam, the president is granted the power to control the military budget without permission from Congress. This would lead to immense war spending in Vietnam, which the Democratic Party strongly disapproved of. LBJ institutes Operation Rolling Thunder, which was an order to start dropping bombs on North Vietnam. Vietnam is drawn out and LBJ requires a military draft. -
President Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society" was the name given to a package of legislature passed under the Johnson Administration. The "Great Society" plans would be in memoriam of JFK and was intended to reform and improve society. This packet contained things like Medicare, Medicade, large tax cuts, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), immigration reform, and a war on poverty was declared. LBJ's "Great Society" focused on almost all aspects of society, and provided massive improvement. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 served as a follow-up for the Civil Rights Act just a year prior. The act would protect African-Americans' right to vote by outlawing literacy tests, civics tests, and any other form of intimidation or unfair barring from the polls. To ensure that this act was followed, any state that was caught allowing these practices would lose their representation in Congress. This act served as a major victory for the black community. -
Occurred in My Lai, Vietnam where over 500 men, women, and children were massacred by American troops. The massacre occurred under order from officer William Calley, who was later convicted for war crimes. Calley ordered a platoon of American troops to quote "wipe out" a large group of Vietnamese people who were supposedly holding the platoon back. Uproar arose in America as pictures were released later that year. The My Lai Massacre brewed hatred for the war within the general public. -
Martin Luther King Jr. is shot assassinated on his balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN. King was allegedly assassinated by James Earl Ray. King's assassination caused a wave of violence across the country as people considered the effectiveness of nonviolence. King's death also led to a surge in the Black Power Movement and assured the African-American community's desire for equality not assimilation. -
One of the biggest blemishes on US history, Operation Ranch Hand forced new war crime laws. This operation occurred as the US dumped millions of gallons of herbicide on Vietnam with intent to wipe out plant life (and likely people). This act of near chemical warfare was worsened by the chemical they were using, known as "Agent Orange." Exposure to Agent Orange left hundreds of thousands dead and many young Vietnamese children horribly deformed. This increased the hatred of the war in the US. -
Watergate is arguably the most well known presidential scandal in US history. Watergate is the title given to the break-in into the Democratic headquarters and subsequent cover up. Pres. Nixon was at the heart of this scandal, although he did not order the break-in he did cover it up. The Watergate trials went on for about a year until Nixon resigned from office. Nixon's entire legacy was destroyed by this scandal, and this led to an era of immense distrust in the government. -
The Camp David Accords were a pair of peace agreements between Egypt and Israel that were facilitated by Pres. Jimmy Carter. The accords were an attempt at a "framework for peace in the Middle East." While they were a step forward and eased tensions from the Arab-Israeli War, they did not fully ease tension in the Middle East. -
The Three Mile Island Meltdown occurred after a mechanical failure in one of the nuclear reactors in the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. The Energy Crisis of the 1970's forced the US to rely on nuclear power more, which they did not trust. Nuclear power was incredibly efficient but episodes like this as well as the Chernobyl meltdown in the USSR made people incredibly wary of it. This event continued to worsen the energy crisis. -
Reagan used his inaugural address to fully reveal his intentions and beliefs on the nation. Reagan immediately denounced Jimmy Carter for his mishandling of the 1970's Energy Crisis and the Lebanon Hostage Crisis. Reagan also touched on "stagflation" in his speech, which he would attempt to fix through "Reaganomics." -
"Reaganomics" was the nickname given to Reagan's economic strategy to get the US out of recession. Reaganomics focused on lower tax rates and regulation, less government spending, and an attempt to curb inflation. Reaganomics was fairly successful but it also made the rich richer, which upset the disgruntled Americans who already believed America was the home for the rich. A failed assassination attempt on Reagan would send his approval ratings up 10 points, enough to re-elect him. -
Ronald Reagan's first State of the Union address was a somber one to say the least. "The state of the Union is not good," Reagan said before addressing the stagflation crisis. "Stagflation" was the term given to the phenom of rapidly rising inflation with complete economic stagnation. People were struggling to pay for the essentials due to the spike in inflation and lack of funds to give raises. -
The Beirut Barracks Bombing occurred in Lebanon, when a truck filled with bombs slammed into the barracks of the US Marines. The bombing occurred as an attempt by the war-torn Middle East to force the MNF (Multi-National Force) to withdraw. 241 Marines were killed, and it was believed that the US would retaliate harshly. 2 days later, the US defended the minuscule country of Grenada from a supposed communist revolution. This was intended to show that the US was not afraid to fight their enemies. -
The Berlin Wall fell shortly after the East German president declared that citizens of Berlin were permitted to travel freely between East and West Berlin. Many citizens began chipping at the wall with pickaxes and alike. When the wall fell, it was a massive symbolic victory for the capitalists, effectively ending the Cold War. East and West Germany would reunite shortly afterwards in 1990, reinstating a massive world power.