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1870
March 3rd: The Enforcement Act is passed, allowing the federal government to enforce the 14th and 15th Amendments, which guarantee citizenship and voting rights for African Americans.
Ongoing: The Long Depression begins, a severe economic downturn that lasts until 1879. -
1873
Panic of 1873: A financial crisis occurs, leading to a depression that affects much of the industrialized world. -
1877
Compromise of 1877: Ends the Reconstruction Era in the South, effectively rolling back many of the protections for African Americans. -
1880
Rise of the Industrial Revolution: Factories and railroads expand rapidly, leading to urbanization and migration of rural populations.
Formation of Labor Unions: Workers organize to demand better working conditions and pay. -
1882
Chinese Exclusion Act: Passed to restrict Chinese immigration to the United States. -
1890
Sherman Antitrust Act: Passed to prohibit monopolies and cartels that restrain trade or commerce. -
1892
Homestead Strike: A major labor strike in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, over wage cuts and working conditions. -
1896
Plessy v. Ferguson: Supreme Court ruling establishes the "separate but equal" doctrine, justifying racial segregation. -
1900
Progressive Era Begins: A period of social activism and political reform aimed at addressing issues such as corruption, poverty, and inequality. -
1903
Pure Food and Drug Act: Passed to ensure the safety of food and drugs. -
1909
First National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws: Forms to promote uniformity in state laws. -
1913
Sixteenth Amendment: Passed, allowing for the collection of income tax.
Federal Reserve Act: Establishes the Federal Reserve System, centralizing the nation's monetary policy.
Seventeenth Amendment: Passed, requiring senators to be directly elected by the people of each state. -
1914
Clayton Antitrust Act: Expands the scope of the Sherman Antitrust Act to include labor practices. -
1917
Eighteenth Amendment: Passed, initiating the process of banning the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol (ratified in 1919, becoming the basis for Prohibition). -
1919
Nineteenth Amendment: Passed, granting women the right to vote. -
1920
End of Reconstruction Era: The legacy of Reconstruction and its attempts to integrate African Americans into society remains a topic of debate and controversy.