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Merchants began taking charge of English expansion, so in 1606, King James gave the Virginia Company the expanse of land stretching from North Carolina to southern New York. In 1607, the Virginia Company sent out a group of men whom, after a four month voyage across the sea, settled on a swamp which they named Jamestown. More than half of over 1200 men died from hunger and disease. The discovery of the cash crop tobacco led to colonists requiring more land leading to tense Indian relations. -
A group of religious separatists known as Pilgrims sailed to America aboard the Mayflower in 1620. They were led by William Bradford. Plymouth began to thrive as the cold weather killed the disease-ridden mosquitoes. Furthermore, a smallpox epidemic had killed off the nearest Wampanoags in 1618, thus eliminating the closest threat to their settlement. Quickly a representative self-government was created, and by 1640 there were 3000 settlers living in Plymouth. -
Known to the English as King Philip's War, Metacom's War came about due to disputes between Native Americans and settlers. Wampanoag leader Metacom led a coalition of Native Americans against the English towns in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Nearly 5% of the adult population of settlers were killed, however the Natives' losses were grander. 4,500 Native Americans died which was a full quarter of the already small population. -
The Governor of Florida promised freedom to fugitive slaves which in turn led to the revolt known as the Stono Rebellion. The uprising occurred in 1739 along the Stono River in South Carolina and was the largest slave uprising in the mainland colonies. During the revolt, six plantations were ransacked and over twenty colonists were murdered. In response, the Negro Act was passed which cut slave imports and harshened plantation discipline. -
Renewals of religious enthusiasm, known as revivals, spread all throughout New England. Preachers urged their audience to experience a religious rebirth, and used tactics of persuasion to attain large audiences. Puritan minister, Johnathon Edwards, used fear to motivate audiences and this is evident in one of his most famous speeches, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Edwards told of the terrible consequences of sin and urged listeners to become recommitted to God before it was too late. -
In 1754, the Albany Plan was drafted up by Benjamin Franklin who wanted to create a unified government with representatives from each of the thirteen colonies. The plan was shot down, however, it put the idea of unification into many of the colonists minds. Although it was unsuccessful, it is still very important as it was the first time a plan had tried to unify the colonies and create a more centralized government. -
After nearly 100 years of salutary neglect, the French-Indian War brought British attention back to the colonies. King George III issued The Proclamation of 1763 which prohibited colonial expansion past the Appalachian Mountains. This angered many colonists as they were now no longer permitted to expand out West. The Proclamation of 1763 became one of main factors causing the American Revolution. -
The French-Indian War was very costly for Britain, which led to the need for the colonies to be more profitable. In 1764, Parliament imposed the Sugar Act which lowered taxes on sugar and molasses. This actually helped the colonists, however the colonists saw it for what it really was: another method of control. Parliament wanted to reduce smuggling so more money would go to Britain. The colonists didn't want more money to go to the Crown, so they ignored the Act and kept smuggling anyways. -
The Boston Massacre, also known as the Bloody Massacre, occurred when five colonists are shot and killed by Redcoats (British soldiers). The Redcoats had been guarding the customs house, and were told not to interact with any of the colonists. However, colonist protesters began to antagonize the soldiers by throwing things at them. The soldiers then opened fire on the crowd of protesters. Paul Revere etched the scene into tin, and it was used as propaganda against Britain. -
The colonies sent delegates to meet at the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. They split into two groups: the Radicals and the Conservatives and discussed what actions should be taken following Britain's Intolerable Acts and other issues concerning Great Britain. From this came the Olive Branch Petition which stated that they were willing to stay as part of the British Empire as long as they had representation and less taxation. This shows the colonies finally working with each other. -
This was the first shot that started the Battle at Lexington and Concord. No one knows which side shot it, but it officially signified the beginning of the Revolution. Following this shot, many colonists were persuaded to join the War effort and support independence from Britain. This also led to the meeting of the Second Continental Congress. -
Thomas Paine was an incredibly persuasive writer who, in 1776, wrote "Common Sense." Paine wrote in the vernacular so his pamphlet was accessible could be read by the majority of colonists. The purpose of it was to give the colonists a common set of arguments to use for colonial independence from Great Britain. It was very persuasive as it used logical and emotional arguments. Many copies were sold and all of the proceeds were donated to the Continental Army. -
The Battle of Saratoga was a major turning point in the Revolutionary War. The colonists won the battle, and it give them a much-needed boost of confidence to continue on and defeat the British. Furthermore, it helped the colonists to be able to convince France to provide military assistance and enter the war as an American ally. Without this foreign assistance, it is unlikely that the colonists would have been able to continue on. -
The Articles of Confederation were very important as it was the first time a governing document had been created in the new nation of the United States. Although important, it proved to not be very effective and only lasted for about six years. They were a reflection of the trauma of the nation as there was no executive due to fear of another king. There was also no standing army, from fear of the Quartering Act. The Articles were put to the test by Shays' Rebellion which illuminated the issues. -
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War, and was signed by British representatives and American representatives in Paris, France. It declared American Independence and granted all British lands between the Atlantic Ocean and Mississippi River and north to British Canada. This was very significant as it marked the beginning of the new nation. -
The Necessary and Proper Clause, also known as The Elastic Clause, was put into the Constitution in 1787. It allowed the government to write new laws whenever it was deemed necessary. For the anti-federalists, this was their worst nightmare as the government was given such great power to create any laws they wished. Essentially, the people that would benefit from certain laws got to write the laws due to this Clause. Later, Alexander Hamilton based his doctrine of implied powers off of it. -
On April 30, 1789, the first President of the United States, George Washington, was sworn into office. Washington was chosen because he was popular from the War, fair to both federalists and anti-federalists, and would be able to unify the nation. Since Washington was the first President, what he did would be used as precedent by his successors. He established the precedent of only serving two terms, giving an inaugural speech, and using the title of Mr. President. Washington unified the nation. -
The cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney and made it much easier and quicker to remove seeds from cotton fiber. This made cotton more profitable that ever before and changed the course of the South by creating a huge demand for slavery. Cotton growing was so profitable that much more labor and land was needed to make the most money as possible. This created a huge boost for the southern economy. -
The XYZ affair took place under President Adams and caused a lot of controversy between him and the American people. The United States sent diplomats to France repair relations with the French and negotiate a treaty. However, the French demanded a tribute of $250,000 in exchange for negotiation. The American people were angered and wanted war, however, President Adams openly defied the peoples' wants and negotiated peace with Napoleon to avoid war. Adams became very unpopular from this. -
The Election of 1800 signified the end of Federalist power when Thomas Jefferson was voted into office. Thus, the Jeffersonian Era began. Jefferson was a strict constructionist and stuck to what was written in the Constitution, however, he was able to put his views aside and do what was best for the country during the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson's victory and his change of political ideology was referred to as The Revolution of 1800. It was a revolution without any bloodshed. -
Marbury V. Madison was a case taken to the Supreme Court that led to the precedent of Judicial Review. William Marbury sued James Madison for not sending him the letter granting Marbury federal judgeship. The Supreme Court ruled that Marbury had a right to the judgeship, but he was not going to receive it due to the fact that the Court found part of the Judiciary Act unconstitutional and void. This ruling established Judicial Review and made the Legislative branch equal in power to the others. -
Great Britain and France were at war with each other once again, but President Jefferson wanted the United States to stay neutral with both countries. To ensure that the United States' trading relationship with the countries would remain unscathed, Jefferson imposes an embargo on all foreign trade. The embargo had negative consequences as it destroyed the economy and because of this was very unpopular among the business community. There was some good from it as it grew domestic manufacturing. -
The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Britain and was essentially the country's second war for independence. The issues of impressment, the Britain supporting Native American resistance, and an American inferiority complex were causes for the war. The Americans were a meager force compared to the British and had to fight a defensive battle. The war was officially ended by treaty of Ghent in 1814 and was declared quo ante vellum which meant neither side had to declare defeat. -
The Battle of New Orleans is forever characterized by the motley crew led to victory by Andrew Jackson. The American forces were made up of pirates, farmers, Cajuns, military, and slaves. They used new tactics such as the use of trenches, laying on the ground to shoot, and the usage of a musket assembly line, all which led to a very lopsided American victory with over 2000 British casualties and not even 100 American casualties. This battle gave Jackson hero status and merit to be President. -
In 1818, there was a stamp tax passed in Maryland on currency issued by the Second Bank of the United States. James McCulloch, who was a cashier at the bank, refused to pay the tax so the state of Maryland sued McCulloch. The Supreme Court then decided that the bank could not be sued by the state. This is important as the court's ruling demonstrates the assertion of national supremacy over state supremacy. -
The Missouri Compromise was passed by Congress in 1820 and was legislation that admitted Missouri into the Union as a slave state and Maine as non-slave state. This kept the balance between slave and non-slave states. Furthermore, it prohibited slavery to the north of the Missouri Compromise Line which split the country into slave states and non-slave states. This single action was a large factor in the events leading up to the Civil War. -
The election of 1824 will forever be remembered by the "corrupt bargain." There were four presidential candidates in 1824, none of which received a majority of the electoral votes. Due to the 12th Amendment, the vote was passed over to the House of Representatives where candidate Henry Clay was Speaker of the House. He dropped out of the race, but then met privately with other candidate, John Quincy Adams. Adams was elected as President by the House, and Clay becomes his Secretary of State. -
The Indian Removal Act was signed into legislation on May 28, 1830, and forced the relocation of thousands of Native Americans from their eastern ancestral lands to land in the west. A few tribes moved peacefully, but many fought back. Finally, in the 1832 case of Worcester V. Virginia, Justice John Marshall said that the Indian Removal Act was unconstitutional. Jackson ignored this decision which made him a danger as he was blatantly disregarding the checks and balances of the government. -
In 1831, William Lloyd Garrison, an ardent abolitionist, first published The Liberator. The Liberator was a newspaper that anyone could subscribe to and published articles among other items that the writers believed would further abolition. Through this newspaper, Garrison was able to raise a great deal of awareness, organize more support, and amplify the voices of those who were not normally able to be heard. The Liberator was one of the first of its kind and aided in the end of slavery. -
In 1832, South Carolina was angry about tariffs and threatened to secede from the Union if they were forced to pay them. Thus, in 1833, Congress passed the Force Bill which granted President Jackson the power to use military force in order to make South Carolina pay the tariff and follow federal law. The Force Bill was reminiscent of the British as Jackson tried to act as King and use the military as his Redcoats. Henry Clay is able to appease both parties with his Compromise Tariff. -
In 1833, Oberlin College was established in Oberlin, Ohio. This was the first college that women were able to be educated at. In 1835, it was also the first college in America to have a policy to admit African American students. Women made up a significant portion of the supporters of the abolition movement. Now that women had access to higher education, both the women's rights movement and abolition movement would continue to grow in supporters. -
The mechanical reaper was first patented by Cyrus McCormick in 1834 and quickly transformed the harvesting process. Using the new invention, a farmer could cut seven times as much grain as they could with a scythe. This meant that more crop could be planted without worrying about the wheat going bad before it could be harvested. Machinery was applied to almost every part of American manufacturing and set the United States apart in efficiency and innovation. -
In 1834, President Jackson appointed Roger B. Taney to be Justice John Marshall's successor. Roger Taney gave constitutional legitimacy to Jackson's policies surrounding free enterprise and states' rights. Taney also went on to bump up the regulatory role of state governments. In the case of Mayor of New York V. Miln, Taney ruled that the state of New York was allowed to use force to conduct health inspections on immigrants. The Taney Court was a long lasting effect of Jackson's legacy. -
Texas had declared their independence from Mexico, however, Mexico didn't recognize this independence. In The Battle of the Alamo Texans took a stand for their freedom. The battle was fought between Senator Davy Crockett and General Santa Anna who led troops against the uprisers. The result was a Texan defeat and all of the Texan soldiers were killed. However, the Alamo became a symbol of freedom and soon America offered for Texas to join back with the United States. -
The Trail of Tears was the forced removal and journey of Native Americans from their lands in Georgia to the western lands of Oklahoma. It was a treacherous journey with terrible conditions and early a quarter of the Native Americans died of starvation and exposure on their way to Oklahoma. Once they arrived, the Natives placed their own racially defined government restrictions so that this new Native American territory would remain their territory. -
Dorothea Dix had been a supporter of improving public institutions and had published a few popular books on the subject of moral improvement. In 1841, Dorothea began fighting for a new cause; the cause of women's rights in insane asylums. She badgered Massachusetts legislatures to enlarge state mental hospitals and ended up creating a national movement to establish public asylums for the mentally ill. Dorothea Dix influenced other women by showing that they could create change within society. -
American journalist, John O'Sullivan coined the term "Manifest Destiny" in 1845 while describing American's sudden urge to extend the boundaries of the nation all of the way to the Pacific Ocean. Americans believed that it was the will of God to expand out west. This belief was used in the justification of the Trail of Tears and the secession of Texas from Mexico. Manifest Destiny gave religious justification for the country's expansion. People believed it was their right AND responsibility. -
After Mexico won their independence from Spain, they still had a major issue: Texas. Texas was a violent land of outlaws and was on the United States' border. Mexico wanted people to move to Texas so that the United States wouldn't absorb it, so they gave free land to anyone who renounced US citizenship and converted to Catholicism. the government began to place taxes, so Texas declared their independence. America sided with the Texans and the war began. In 1848, the United States won the war. -
In 1846, the sewing machine was first invented by Elias Howe. It was later perfected by Thomas Singer who made the machine able to sew seams faster than any seamstress. The new and improved sewing machine became the foundation of the new textile industry in the North. This was one of America's earliest big industries and boosted Northern economy in the same way that the cotton gin boosted the economy in the South. -
The first women's rights convention in the United States in Seneca Falls, New York. It was here that the Declaration of Sentiments was created. This was modeled off of the colonies' Declaration of Independence and called for equal rights for women, including the right to vote. Furthermore, it outlined all of the grievances of women and was put together by convention organizers: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. After this, many other women's rights conventions followed suit. -
Steel was needed for the construction of stronger and larger buildings, ships, and railroads. The Bessemer Process was a process that made steel easier to create and, therefore, allowed for the inexpensive creation of large amounts of steel through mass production. A blast of air was forced through the metal to remove impurities, and this was able to be done on a large scale. Thus, by 1880 the US became world’s leading producer of steel. Innovation was crucial for mass production. -
During the period of time where Kansas was known as Bleeding Kansas, there was an attack of severe violence on five pro-slavery advocates led by John Brown and eight others. The men were murdered in cabins right outside of the Pottawatomie Creek. This massacre led to several more violent outbursts within Kansas. The Pottawatomie Massacre increased tensions between the North and South even more during the build up to the Civil War. -
The Dred Scott Case was a Supreme Court case decided in 1857. Dred Scott was a slave who's master had moved him to a free state. Scott argued that since slavery was illegal in the free state than he cannot be enslaved anymore. The Supreme Court ruled against Mr. Scott, and because a precedent was set by the ruling, it led to great controversy among abolitionists. They argued that if slave owners can have slaves in free states, then there is no such thing as a free state anymore. -
In 1862, the Homestead act created a program that gave away 160 acre plots to anyone who wanted one with only three contingencies. These being that the individual had to farm the land for five years, live on the land, and improve the land. This was all part of the government's effort to aid overcrowding in the country by getting millions to move out West. It was very successful as land gave opportunity to those who took it. The last homestead was given out in 1986 and was in Alaska. -
Abraham Lincoln created the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 which immediately changed the reasoning for the Civil War to now be about slavery. This made it impossible for the Confederates to amass any foreign aid, as foreign powers didn't want to appear as though they supported slavery. Additionally, it allowed Lincoln to garner more troops for the Union as former slaves and African Americans joined the fight to fight for their freedom. This soon led to the downfall of the Confederacy. -
The Court House in Appomattox is the site of the most significant surrender throughout the entirety of the Civil War. General Grant's Union forces had General Lee's Confederate surrounded, and rather than have his whole army killed, General Lee ordered his troops to retreat. This essentially ends the fighting of the Civil War, and eventually leads to the long journey of reunification between the North and South. -
In 1865, Lincoln was attending a play at Ford's Theatre when he was shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth. Booth was a Confederate sympathizer who, after hearing about Lincoln's plans to grant the rights to African Americans to vote, devised a plan to kill the President. Lincoln died the next day and was the first US President to be assassinated. Not long after his death, the Civil War came to an end. -
The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States. This included people who were enslaved. This amendment helped to abolish slavery as well as give some rights to African Americans. Furthermore, the amendment repudiated the decision of the Dred Scott Case from 1857. -
The creation of the Transcontinental Railroad, which began as the Pacific Railway Act in 1862, was completed in 1871 at Promontory Point, Utah. Lincoln had enlisted the help of two companies to complete the coast-to-coast railroad and told them the railroad must be completed by 1875. The last spike of the railroad, which happened to be made of solid gold, was driven into the ground in 1871, four years ahead of Lincoln's requirement. The railroad revolutionized travel within the nation forever. -
Art was used as a type of propaganda to spread the ideals of Manifest Destiny. In John Gast's famous painting, "American Progress," he depicts a goddess or angel leading the settlers westward. With her, she is caring telegraph lines which showcase the technological advancements of the time as well as showcase the bringing of industry across the nation. This painting serves an important allegory for not only the Manifest Destiny but Westward Expansion as a whole. -
The railroad industry was a booming business, however, when a major railroad investor filed for bankruptcy, panic ensued. This created a domino-like effect where many banks and other industries went into bankruptcy as well. Railroad workers began protesting as they were being paid substantially less by the failing railroad businesses. The Panic of 1873 triggered a five year period of economic depression, which, combined with the immense debt from the Civil War, marked the end of Reconstruction. -
In the 1876 Presidential election between Democratic nominee Samuel Tilden and Republican nominee Rutherford Hayes, a disagreement occurred. Tilden won more of the popular vote, but the electoral vote in 3 states were undecided. A compromise was then created where it was agreed that Hayes would become President as long as federal troops were taken out of the South. This compromise was detrimental for the black community as there was no more protection, and the Jim Crow laws soon went into place. -
The California Gold Rush as well as the booming railroad industry of the mid 1800's led to a large Chinese population within the United States. However, soon many Americans began blaming the Chinese immigrants for the lack of jobs and declining wages. Eventually, in 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act which banned Chinese immigration. This was quite significant as it was the first time that the United States had placed restrictions on immigration. -
Gifted to the United States by France and dedicated in 1886, the Statue of Liberty was a symbol of friendship and democracy. However, for immigrants it was (and still is) a symbol of hope. This monument became a significant piece of America's identity, and when immigrants arrived at Ellis Island, it was the first thing they would see. Furthermore, as a symbol of liberty, the statue was a celebration of the end of slavery. -
In the midst of the Gilded Age, which was a time of great economic growth, monopolies began to spur into existence. Businessmen began controlling entire industries, which was detrimental as they could "fix" prices to the point of harming consumers. The government passed the Sherman Antitrust Act to regulate businesses and make these monopolies illegal. This kept trade between states flowing and competition abundant, thus resulting in a healthier economy for the United States as a whole. -
In 1890, the Louisiana Separate Car Act was passed and required all railroads to have separate but equal accommodations for both black and white customers. Two years after this was enacted, Homer Plessy (who was 7/8ths white) boarded a whites only railcar and was subsequently arrested. At Plessy's trial, Judge Ferguson used the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause to prove that "separate but equal" was Constitutional. This set precedent and was not overturned until Brown v. Board. -
In the late 1800's, Cuba is under Spanish colonial rule, and there are many violent revolts as the people want to be free. The United States attempts to find a peaceful solution to resolve tensions between the two countries so that there can still be trade and other business transactions. However, in 1898 a stolen Spanish letter containing insults toward President McKinley and US policies is sent to the White House. This magnified pro-war and anti-Spain feelings within the American public. -
During the Civil War, paper currency was introduced to the United States' monetary system, however, when the war was over, it was debated whether this money should be backed with gold or silver. In 1900, President McKinley settled this debate by signing the Gold Standard Act which set gold as the monetary standard. This impacted the American economy by preventing the Federal Reserve from printing too much money because there is a limited amount of gold. It also set the value of a dollar. -
The meat packing industry was almost completely unregulated as far as health and safety concerns go. In muckraker Upton Sinclair's book, "The Jungle," details were revealed to the public of just how unsanitary the meat packing factories were. Eventually, President Theodore Roosevelt was made aware of the atrocities within the book, and soon the Meat Inspection Act was passed as well as the Pure Food and Drug Act. -
In the election of 1912, President Theodore Roosevelt had lost the Republican Presidential nomination against William Taft. However, Roosevelt bragged that he still felt "strong as a bull moose." Thus, when the Republican Roosevelt supporters left the convention and began their own party, they nicknamed it the Bull Moose Party. Roosevelt's Progressive Party was able to ensure Democratic victory in the election as it split the Republican vote into two. -
After declaring unrestricted submarine warfare, Germany sinks a British ship, called the Lusitania, that was carrying American passengers. The boat sank very quickly and four other unarmed American ships were sunk as well. This caused the American public to hate Germany and push for the United States to enter WWI after the country had been neutral thus far in the war. It wasn't too long after the sinking that America abandoned their neutrality and officially entered WWI. -
As the United States was formally entering WWI, the military needed to be expanded, so President Wilson signed the Selective Service Act into legislation. This required all men between the ages of 21 and 30 to sign up for the draft and resulted in approximately 3 million men joining the United States Army. Never before had there been a forced draft to raise the numbers of members within the army. The Act continued a few decades later in WWII. -
Also known as the Spanish Flu, the influenza outbreak of 1918 killed more people than died in WWI. An estimated 50 million worldwide deaths are thought to have occurred. The virus attacked everyone, without care if they were young or old or healthy or weak. The effects of the outbreak were so severe that the average lifespan of individuals in America dropped by 10 years of age. -
Passed by Congress in 1919 and ratified in 1920, the 19th Amendment officially gave women the right to vote as it made it illegal to deny voting rights based on sex. This Amendment passing was a significant milestone in women's rights as it showed that the country was taking women's role in society more seriously. Women could now partake in political activities and it made women feel more free and equal. In the Presidential Election fo 1920 over 8 million women sent in a ballot with their vote. -
The Treaty of Versailles was the formal document ending WWI. Prior to this was Wilson's 14 Points, which was unpopular with the European powers, but was used as inspiration for creating the Treaty of Versailles. The European powers wanted Germany to pay for its actions in WWI. Thus, the treaty required that Germany give up some territory, pay harsh financial reparations, as well as give up all overseas colonies. Placing these reparations on Germany, led to poverty for the people who lived there. -
The great wave of immigration in 1890 was the result of many Eastern and Southern Europeans immigrating to the United States. This led to many immigrants working jobs in the United States, which created tensions between the immigrants and American-born within the same areas. In 1924, President Coolidge signed the Immigration Act of 1924 which limited number of immigrants who can come to the US to only 2% of the number of people from the country in the US in 1890 and banned immigrants from Asia. -
Sacco and Vanzetti were Italian immigrants who were also known anarchists and were accused of murder when they were found with a gun near where a murder had occurred. It is unknown whether they actually committed the murder or not, however, there was lots of controversy surrounding their unjust trial. The judges were biased as they were very anti-immigrant and anti-anarchist, so in 1927, the men were executed. For many, this highlighted the deep prejudices within the American Justice System. -
On October 29, 1929, the New York Stock Exchange's share prices completely plummeted resulting in one of the largest single-day market drops in American economic history. Towards the end of the Roaring Twenties, the market had begun a downward trend. In an attempt to stabilize this, investors began buying up millions of shares so when the market plummeted, billions of dollars were lost. This crash sped up the collapse of the economy which eventually led to the Great Depression. -
Elected in 1932 and becoming President in 1933, Franklin Roosevelt knew he had to bring relief from the Great Depression to the American people. Thus, he proposed his "New Deal." This promised recovery for businesses, relief for the people, and reform of certain policies including the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority. However, in doing so FDR greatly increased the control of the federal government. FDR's legacy continued as he led the country through WWII later in his presidency. -
Prior to the Great Depression, social security had been a state-by-state issue rather than a federal one. However, during the Depression, there were many calls for the creation of an insurance system for the elderly. Thus, in 1935, President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. This created programs to provide income security for the public. This was a great success, and these programs still exist in the present day. -
On December 7, 1941, the United States' naval base of Pearl Harbor was attacked by planes from the Japanese. Prior to the attack, the American public was for the most part reluctant to enter into WWII. However, when the unprovoked Japanese attacked, American opinion immediately changed and the United States declared war on Japan. Pearl Harbor had been the most important American naval base at the time of the attack. -
The Manhattan Project took place during WWII and was a development project that was in charge of producing the first atomic bomb. It was after this that the nuclear age of warfare began and other countries began working and developing their own. This was especially important in later wars including the Cold War, as it dictated how it was to be fought with nuclear weapons. The Manhattan Project also helped to bring WWII to an end as the atomic bombs caused Japan to surrender. -
In 1942, President Roosevelt created Executive Order 9066 which was used to forced all Japanese living on the west coast to relocate into internment camps from Death Valley to Arkansas. The Japanese-Americans that were forced to move had to rid themselves of all of their belongings and completely abandon their old lives. The camps had no running water and all meals had to be eaten in a community mess hall. This impacted many families as they were not able to return home for many years. -
Also known as Operation Overlord, D-Day was the largest seaborne invasion in history. The Allies spent nearly 18 months in preparation so that they could change the tide of the war. They had to go from sea to land, so Higgins boats were used to transport troops between the larger battleships to the beaches of Normandy. Within 7 days, the Allies controlled 80 miles of the French Coast, resulting in a massive turning point of WWII. France was liberated, and led to Germany's eventual surrender. -
The Yalta Conference was a meeting between the Big 3: Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. They met to discuss the future of Europe in the aftermath of WWII. The dismemberment of Germany was a large topic of discussion at the conference, and it was decided that the country would be split into four zones as well as Berlin being split into different zones. This would eventually result in the creation of the Berlin Wall and decades of high tensions. This conference shaped the world after the war. -
President Truman's foreign policy, also known as the Truman Doctrine, was created to prevent the spreading of communism. This was the first usage of the policy of containment which was the concept that communism needed to be contained so that it was not able to expand. It was believed that the Soviet Union was attempting to expand into the Middle East, so President Truman went into action. However, this increased tensions between America and the Soviets, and was a precursor of the Cold War. -
Reinforcing the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, signed by President Truman, supported the rebuilding of Europe to aid democracy and help fight communism. This legislation gave the money and resources to reconstruct a post-war Europe. The plan was successful and resulted in a return of European industrialization. It also worked to stimulate the United States' economy because as Europe's industries came back, so did their ability to trade. -
After the Yalta Conference, the Soviet Union had control over West Berlin which they soon sealed off from the rest of the world. President Truman enacted Operation Vittles to help aid the people stuck in Berlin. Millions of supplies were flown in huge cargo planes from the United States to Germany and were dropped from the sky attached to parachutes. This operation was important as it aided millions of people as well as formed an important connection between the West Berliners and Americans. -
Created in 1949, NATO was founded to create and protect peace within Europe against the Soviet Union. NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and there were 12 founding members when it was first created. It has resulted in economic stability for all member countries and has created lasting freedom. NATO has had many impacts and has been so successful that it is still around today. The alliance created by it was an important factor of the Cold War. -
Republican Dwight Eisenhower ran against Democrat Adlai Stevenson II in the 1952 election. Eisenhower won the election by a landslide and this was a turning point in American history as Republicans took control over the White House and Congress for the first time in 20 years. Eisenhower was a well-known and well-beloved US general and war hero. Throughout his presidency, Eisenhower continued the legacy of the New Deal and created strong foreign policies against communism. -
When Oliver Brown's daughter Linda was denied access to an all-white elementary school, Brown decided to sue the Board of Education in Topeka, Kansas. It was in this car that the Supreme Court overruled the precedent of "separate but equal" that was set in Plessy v. Ferguson. The Supreme Court sided with Brown 9-0 and decided that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This led to widespread integration and further boosted forth the civil rights movement. -
Montgomery, Alabama had bus segregation legislation in place that required African-Americans to give up their seats to whites even though they had to pay the same bus fare. Rosa Parks was chosen to defy the rule and when she did, she was quickly arrested so her community decided to begin boycotting the bus system. They made up a majority of the bus' income, so when they stopped riding and paying the fare, business tanked. This eventually led to a Supreme Court ruling that changed the law. -
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched its first satellite by the name of Sputnik. The United States was embarrassed to be behind in technology, so NASA was created and the Space Race ensued. This National Aeronautics and Space Administration began working on human spaceflight and was ultimately successful, beating the Soviet Union to land the first man on the moon a decade later. Without the pressures from the Cold War, NASA may have never been created by President Eisenhower. -
The election of 1960 was unlike any election prior as it had the first ever televised presidential debate. This was significant because as seen time and time again perception trumps reality. Nixon was experienced, but not as concerned with appearance, whereas Kennedy was unproven, but made himself look very presidential. This greatly influenced American public opinion and led to Kennedy being elected President. At this point, nearly every household had a tv so this debate was a huge deal. -
During his presidency, Eisenhower authorized a CIA plan to overthrow Fidel Castro using Cuban exiles residing in the United States. However, when FDR became President, he removed the United States'' assistance from the plan which caused the exiles to go fight without any help. This resulted in them being demolished by the Cuban communists and gave America an awful image. This failed invasion strengthened the image of Fidel Castro as well as led the United States to review their Cuban policies. -
In 1963, hundreds of school age children staged a walkout in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Many were arrested, but then the walkout is repeated the next day. Police Commissioner Bull Connor created impossible regulations to prevent protestors from being able to march and then he ordered the crowds to be sprayed with fire hoses as well as released dogs on them. The march was televised and forced President JFK to publicly support the civil rights movement and advocate for change. -
In August of 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. and members of the SCLC planned a march and rally on Washington DC. People came from all over the country to attend and nearly half a million people were in attendance. This was a peaceful demonstration that called for the fixing of inequalities and injustices within the nation. It was here that MLK gave his infamous "I Have A Dream Speech." This march led to President Kennedy passing a federal civil rights bill. -
In 1964, President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law. This piece of legislation prohibited discrimination based on color, race, religion, or national origin in all public places. Furthermore, it was the precursor for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which outlawed discriminatory literary tests as a requirement for voting. The Civil Right Act was originally created by President Kennedy, however, he was assassinated before he was able to sign it, so President Johnson continued his legacy. -
During the Vietnam War, when American troops went to My Lai they murdered an entire village of citizens. Among those massacred included women and children. When the American public found out about the atrocities that occurred, support for the war waned even more. Some believe that the My Lai Massacre quickened the withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam. Overall, the Vietnam War was quite controversial and the My lai Massacre further illuminated the unpopularity of it. -
On December 2, 1970 President Nixon signed the Environmental Protection Agency into existence. Its purpose being to protect the environment as well as human health. In the 1960's environmental issues began to become more of a widespread concern of the American public, so Nixon looked to create protections within the government. This marked a significant turning point in the United States' environmental protection as more "clean" legislation began to be put into action such as the Clean Air Act. -
In 1972, a break in at the Watergate Hotel which was hosting the Democratic National Committee led to a long-lasting deep distrust of the government by the American public. Burglars, thought to have been connected to President Nixon, broke into the Democratic National Convention and it was found out Nixon had a recording system in the Oval Office. Nixon refused to hand the tapes over and resigned before he could be impeached. This had great repercussions and led to a loss of faith in government. -
On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court Case of Roe v. Wade was decided which set the precedent of abortion being legal. A Texas law had been banning abortions, so when the Supreme Court decided that the Constitution included the right to choose whether to continue or terminate a pregnancy, abortion was essentially legalized in all 50 states. This remained in effect until 2022, when the case was overturned and the decision was given back to the state governments. -
The Camp David Accords were a series of discussions between Israel and Egypt with the United States acting as a moderator between the two countries. President Jimmy Carter was eventually able to establish a treaty between the two that was signed. This was a historic moment and turning point for the possibility of peace within the Middle East. Egypt and Israel had been rivals for a long time and this created a closer relationship between the two. -
Signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1980, the Refugee Act raised the annual allotment of refugees from 17,400 to 50,000. This has had lasting impacts and has resulted in over 3 million immigrants finding their homes in the United States which has benefitted America's economy and added to the country's cultural diversity. It also created the Federal Refugee Resettlement Program which assisted refugees in reaching economic self-sufficiency within the United States. -
Nearly 1000 Americans resided on Grenada, so when reports of communist threats surfaced, President Ronald Reagan sent American soldiers to overthrow the government and protect the Americans. There was little military intelligence given to the soldiers so more soldiers were sent to the island and by the end approximately 60 troops from Grenada and Cuba were killed. Reagan claimed this a success and was significant because it was the first diminishment of communism since the start of the Cold War. -
The Iran-Contra affair began with the United States selling firearms and other weapons to Iran in exchange for American hostages. The United States used the money they made to fund the rebel group called the Contras. This was all done in secret as it broke American policy. Many US officials were convicted in the aftermath of the Scandal, however, President Bush pardoned most of these individuals. The Iran-Contra Affair resulted in the government losing credibility for the American public. -
Weeks after the Berlin Wall fell, President George Bush and General Secretary Gorbachev met to discuss the relationship between their two countries and how to create a future of peace. This was very significant as it marked the ending of the Cold War. Malta was chosen as the location as it was a known-neutral state so it provided the perfect meeting place for the two officials. Finally, on December 3, 1989 the official end of the Cold War was declared. -
Signed in 1992, but going into effect on January 1, 1994, NAFTA established free-trade between Mexico, the United States, and Canada. NAFTA stands for the North American Free Trade Agreement. It was very significant as it created the world's largest free trade zone. It was also very important in keeping tensions low as the agreement included a clause with instructions on how to deal with trade disagreements. It stood until 2020 when it was replaced with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. -
On April 19, 1995 a truck-bomb deliberately exploded outside of the Alfred Murrah Federal Building, killing 186 people in the vicinity. According to the FBI it was "the worst act of homegrown terrorism in the nation's history." The individuals in the area spent the many years in therapy due to the trauma and many buildings had to be rebuilt due to the damage. The perpetrator of the event was sentenced to death and then executed, but pain surrounding this event still remains. -
The deadliest terrorist attack to occur on American soil happened on the morning of September 11, 2001. Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger airplanes. Two were flown into the World Trade Center Towers which were symbols of freedom and peace. Another plane was flown into the Pentagon, and the last plane crashed into a field after the passengers were able to fight the terrorists. This led to tighter airplane policies and began the war on terrorism. It also led to anti-muslim violence.