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When the Confederates ultimately surrendered to the Union in 1865 ending the Civil War, a new era in American history began known as the Reconstruction Era. This era was aimed at rebuilding and transforming the South, while also making sure civil and political rights were being given to African American citizens who were slaved before the war. -
The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, with the exception to punishment for crime. The Amendment was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, but wasn’t ratified until December 6, 1865. This was a significant moment in the fight for civil rights and freedom for African Americans. -
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States who was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April, 14, 1865. He was assassinated while attending a play at Ford’s Theater. John Wilkes Booth, whom was a Confederate sympathizer, shot President Lincoln in the back of the head. The President was then transported to a nearby house where he succumbed to his injury the next morning, dying at the age of 56. -
The Reconstruction Era was a monumental time in American history, but its ending saw some negative events. Federal troops were leaving the South, the election of 1876, and the rise of white supremacy groups like the Klu Klux Klan. White Southern Democrats once again gained government power. The Democrats enforced laws that disempowered African Americans, restricted the Civil Rights Movement, and enforced segregation in public outlets such as schools. -
The Progressive Era was a time in American history marked by social, political, and economic change aimed to address the social issues that had come about during the Industrial Revolution. Some major achievements of this era include the establishment of the National Parks Service, passing of labor laws that protected and improved worker rights and conditions, and the enactment of women’s suffrage with the passing of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. -
The case of Plessy v. Ferguson was a case that arose in Louisiana in 1896 when Homer Plessy, a man of mixed race, refused to leave a “whites-only” railway car when the the state had passed a law requiring blacks and whites to ride in separate railways cars. Plessy argued this law violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal treatment under law to ALL citizens. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court upheld the state law in a 7-1 vote. -
The Spanish-American War was fought in between April and August 1898 between Spain and The United States. The war was primarily fought over the issue of Cuba’s independence. The war ended in August of that year with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, with the US coming out victorious. As a result of the war the US gained control of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico from Spain. This victory was a major turning point in history with the country beginning to assert its influence on the world. -
World War 1 began in June 1914 when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Austria-Hungary, and quickly spread throughout other countries due to complex diplomatic and military alliances. This war saw the extreme use of trench warfare, with soldiers on both sides digging trenches and launching attacks on enemy forces on no man’s land. This war saw the invention of new technologies such as tanks and poisonous gas. Germany was defeated and signed the Treaty of Versailles in November 1918.
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The Women’s Suffrage Movement was a social and political campaign that fought for women to gain the right to vote. Suffragist was the name given to those who supported the movement. They used many different tactics to achieve their goals such as public protests, marches, and civil disobedience. In 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified to the US Constitution giving women the right to vote. -
The Great Depression began in October 1929, when the stock market crashed in the United States wiping out billions of dollars in value. As a result of the collapsing economy, people lost their jobs and businesses, and some even went bankrupt. -
FDRs New Deal was a series of economic policies and programs created in response to the Great Depression. The New Deals goal was to fix the economic crisis by creating relief for those in need, restoring economic growth, and reforming the financial system. It consisted of 3 main components - relief, recovery, and reform. It had significant impacts on the US by helping ease the worst effects of the Great Depression and expanding the role of the Federal Government in the economy.
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World War 2 was a global war fought primarily between two major alliances, the Axis Powers and the Allied Powers. The Axis Powers consisted of Germany, Japan, and Italy and the Allied Powers consisted of the US, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and other countries. The war began in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, and quickly spread as other countries got involved. The war had significant impacts all around the world including the deaths of millions and the widespread destruction of cities.
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On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This attack was intended to stop the US from interfering with Japans military conquest in Southeast Asia. The attack began at 7:55am and lasted 2 hours. Over 350 Japanese aircrafts were used to attack ships, aircrafts, and any military installation at the base. The attack resulted in 2,403 American deaths and numerous sunken ships and aircrafts. This attack prompted the US to join World War 2. -
On June 6, 1944, the Allied forces carried out the largest seaborne invasion in history. 156,000 soldiers from America, Great Britain, and Canada land on 5 beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the Normandy, France coast. The goal of this invasion was to gain a foothold in Europe and begin the liberation of German-invaded Western Europe. Germany fought back, but ultimately the US came out victorious and this invasion is still remembered today as a major achievement. -
In 1951, the parents of 13 African American children filed a lawsuit against the Topeka Board of Education, arguing that their children were being denied equal education and opportunities due to the racial segregation going on in schools. The case was eventually brought to the Supreme Court, who declared segregation illegal in public schools. Supreme Court stated segregation in schools was unconstitutional and violated the 14th Amendment. The decision was a major victory for future racial laws. -
From 1955-1975 the US and its allies fought the communist forces in the Soviet Union and China over the division of Vietnam into communist North Vietnam or non-communist South Vietnam, after the country was no longer under French rule. The United States became involved in the hopes to stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia by sending troops to support South Vietnam. This war saw the intense use of guerrilla warfare, deaths of many soldiers, and major political conflicts internationally.
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The Civil Rights Movement was a political and social movement that fought for equal rights for African Americans and other discriminated groups. This movement saw nonviolent protests, civil disobedience, and legal protests against segregation. A key figure in the movement was Martin Luther King Jr., and the movement would eventually lead to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
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In October of 1962 a major political and military standoff broke out between the US and the Soviet Union, after the US discovered the Soviet Union had put nuclear weapons in Cuba. This posed a direct threat to the United States and in response President JFK put up a naval blockade around Cuba, preventing any more missiles to enter. He then demanded the removal of the already placed missiles, threatening military action if they were not. The Soviets responded and nuclear warfare almost broke out. -
John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald on 11/22/1963 in Dallas, Texas. He was traveling in a Ford convertible with his wife when he was shot fatally in the head. Oswald, a former marine, was later arrested and charged with the assassination of the 35th President. This assassination shocked the world and saw major impacts in America. New increased security measures were introduced for political leaders and public figures in response to the president’s tragic death. -
The Civil Rights Act was an Act that made discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, or ethnicity in public places such as schools, the workplace, and businesses serving the public illegal. The Act implemented the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which investigated and addressed discrimination in the workplace and segregation in schools. The Act was signed into place by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964 and was a major achievement in American history.