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The first, permanent settlement in the European colonies was Jamestown. This colony thrived as the capital of the Virginia colony. Without the survival of Jamestown, there is a chance the United States would not be the USA.
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A cargo ship called the Mayflower brought over pilgrims to the New World, or North America. These were some of the first settlers in America to establish colonies and towns. These people were searching for a new life, and they found it. This was the very beginning of America and the colonization of North America. -
The Great Awakening was a time period where religious idea and spirituality was revised/changed. This Great Awakening created new denominations of religions and came up with the idea of Pre-Destination. This idea of Pre-destination changed many things in peoples lives and it said that someone was born either going to go to hell or heaven. Some leaders were Jonathan Edwards ("Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God") and George Whitefield. This encouraged people to have a relationship with God. -
This was a push by Ben Franklin to combine the colonies. This was the first mention of the colonies working together as a joined unit. This was a part of the Albany Congress who pushed for the colonies to work together for protection and defense against the French. This foreshadowed their unification. -
After a Patriot mob was tormenting British soldiers, a shot was fired. This led to the Boston Massacre. There were also lots of rock-filled snowballs thrown. The massacre itself was not too deadly, but the media portrayed it to be. Due to the false-portrayal and rumors, distrust to the British increased and riled up the Patriots. This is a great example of how the media can effect and influence people. -
After the Tea Act (and the Led act, Townshend Act, Stamp Act..) was put into place, many Americans were over Britain's attempts to control them. Members of the Continental Congress dressed as Native Americans and broke into a ship carrying lots of tea. They then threw this tea overboard and into the water. This destroyed hundreds of dollars in British tea. This was an act of rebellion towards England. This led to the Boston Harbor shutting down and the Intolerable Acts were put into swing. -
As a result of the Coercive Acts, the Continental Congress was created. Twelve of the Thirteen colonies had delegates in this congress. This was a way to organize and work together against the British and their oppressive acts. This Congress provided leadership through that time. They also drafted the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. They, many powerful political leaders, started to shape how the United States would be in the future. -
This was created in Philadelphia in 1775, a month after the Revolutionary War began. All 13 colonies had a delegate and John Hancock presided over it all. This Congress split into two groups- Conservatives who wanted to reconcile with the British and the Radicals who wanted to rebel. These parties then turned into Loyalists (John Dickenson) and Patriots (John and Samuel Adams).This Congress also created the Continental Army, made currency, dealt with foreign nations and more. -
The Shout Heard 'Round The World was the opening shot at Lexington and Concord, signaling the start of the Revolutionary War. Ralph Waldo Emerson coined this term. No one knows exactly who fired this shot. This shot led to the creation of the United States of America. Without this shot, America could have spent more time as a colony under British control. -
Common Sense is regarded as one of the most important documents in history. Paine laid out a passionate case for independence in common language for the common person. This pamphlet greatly shifted the American people to the idea and case for independence. His pamphlet attracted public support but also put pressure on leaders to declare independence. This was published after fighting in Boston, but before independence is declared. -
The United States is the United States! The Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It declared that the colonies are now completely free from Britain.
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British general John Burgoyne headed South where he was meant to meet two other British armies. He arrived and they were not there. He became surrounded by US troops and was forced to surrender. This was the first time anyone had been able to make a British army surrender. This shook the confidence of the British, greatly rose American morale, US captured soldiers, leveled the playing field. Although, probably most importantly, it persuaded the French to give military assistance to the US. -
After the war, many farmers were in deep debt. Angry farmers in Massachusetts began to rebel under Daniel Shay's control. The mob moved East and took over courthouses in order to stop the foreclosure of farms. Under the Articles of Confederation, the government had no power to stop this rebellion. Therefore, the wealthy hired their own "army" to stop the mob. This exposed the lack of power the federal government held and the faults in the Articles of Confederation, causing massive reform. -
In 1789, George Washington, was unanimously elected as the first president of the United States of America. He got one hundred percent of the electoral votes. He was so loved he was practically dragged out of retirement and into presidency. This was revolutionary and extremely important for America and its future because this not only started the system of presidency but Washington also set many precedents for future presidents and government throughout his presidency. -
The 14th amendment basically says: everyone born in the US or naturalized into the US is a citizen, all US states were required to protect citizens with full protection through laws and legal processes, former Confederate leaders could no longer hold government offices, if a state denied someone voting rights, that state representatives in Congress. This is often regarded as one of the most important amendments. -
This Act was passed by Congress and created an independent federal court system with multiple tiers. There would be the Supreme Court and lower level courts. This also set other precedents for this area of government: Chief Justice and five associate judges and more. This was used to funnel some court cases and if there was still a disagreement after smaller courts, it would go to the Supreme Court. The basic outline of the court system from this act is still in use today. -
The Cotton Gin was invented in 1793 by Eli Whitney. The Cotton Gin enabled the quick removal of cotton seeds from cotton. This allowed cotton to quickly cause cotton to become a large cash crop. An unseen consequence was that it increased the need for slaves. As cotton became more popular and important, more people were needed to pick the cotton. The cotton gin was a big deal in Southern America because it revolutionized crops and how cotton was created. -
The French people were trying to overthrow their monarchy by executing King Louis XVI. Previously, after France's help in the American Revolution the US had signed an agreement that Americans would come over to France and help out when needed. Although, Neutrality was declared- the US would not side with an European Country in wartime. Hamilton said that this was a good idea, and the Treaty of Alliance was not applicable. Washington agreed. Jefferson disagreed and wanted to stay loyal. -
Pennsylvania farmers refuses to pay the new tax on whiskey until the American Army enforces it. This upheld the power of the new federal government. This Rebellion was one of the first tests of the new federal government and it's power. It also enforced the idea that the government had the right to imply taxes. The Whiskey Rebellion proved that the federal government did have power over states and the people in the US. -
The Alien, Sedition and Naturalization Acts were passed by President John Adams. The Sedition Acts stated that people cannot criticize congress or the president. This was directly aimed at Jefferson who was going to run against him (you can't really win when you cannot criticize the current president). These allowed for deportation of immigrants and people if they spoke badly or did something the president disagreed with. These constricted many American Freedoms (speech, opinion, press, etc.) -
The Jefferson presidency was known as the "Revolution of 1800". The election would end the Federalist Era and bring in the Jeffersonian Era. This was the first time in history where there was a bloodless transfer of power between political parties. John Adams passed the torch of presidency onto Thomas Jefferson. -
The Louisiana Purchase was instrumented under Thomas Jefferson. It was bought for 15 million dollars (about $0.04/acre) from Napoleonic France. This purchase doubled the size of the nation to about 828,000 square miles. That makes the USA one of the largest nations in the world. This secures NOLA and the Mississippi River, which allows for more resources, trade and exploration. From this Lewis and Clark were sent out to explore the territory and other parts of the United States. -
James Madison finds a letter granting John Marbury federal judgeship. Jefferson orders Madison not to deliver it and Marbury sues, thinking the position is rightfully his. Supreme Court sides with Madison (denying him the job), as they find part of the Judiciary Act unconstitutional and void. The result: the Supreme Court claims the right of "Judicial Review" or to declare laws unconstitutional. This gave more power to various courts. -
The War of 1812 was officially over after the Treaty of Ghent. This treaty was signed by American representatives in Europe. This was signed by the United States and the UK. It secured the United State's maritime rights and restored peace between America and Europe. Although, the Battle of New Orleans still occurred after this was signed. That Battle gained Andrew Jackson fame. -
Four candidates: Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford (died). Jackson had to most votes but lacked absolute majority. The 12th amendment says the vote goes to the House of Representatives. Henry Clay, the speaker of the House, drops out of the election and meets with Adams privately and the House then supports John Adams. 3 days after his election, he appoints Clay to Secretary of State. Jackson supporters call this a "corrupt bargain". -
This was another spiritual movement and revival. Although, the works of this time period pointed toward the condition of the soul and used the church as a vehicle of social change. Instead of Pre-Destination, there was the idea of free will and looking at actions. Charles Finney and Lyman Beecher were big names at this time. Women also took more roles within the church. This era, like the first, was emotionally driven and increased church attendance. -
The Election of 1828 led to what modern elections and campaigns looks like today. It was the first modern political campaign. Voting requirements were eased. This was between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. Andrew Jackson won the election and dubbed "King of the Mob" and he was known as a common man who did well. Although, this election was very dirty. Each candidate lied about the other, spreading rumors and trying to do anything to win. -
This Tariff was called the Tariff of Abominations. This was an extremely high protective tariff on goods. The Northern perspective: foreign goods are made more expensive, people buy more, industries profit. The South disagreed and said that once the price was raised, European countries would retaliate by buying less goods and US has to appease and continue to buy more things and the economy suffers. The Southern economy suffered from this. -
This was a strong anti-slavery newspaper published by William Lloyd Garrison. This newspaper increases growth in support for abolitionism. Although, this causes the decline in people supporting women's suffrage. This newspaper denounced slavery and the people and acts around it; Garrison pushed for immediate emancipation. It was the most widely circulated newspaper in the Antebellum period and the Civil War. -
In 1833, the first co-ed college was made. This was called Oberlin College. In 1835, this college accepted both women and African American students. This was a momentous movement within Women's Suffrage. This was the first co-ed college that allowed Women to have a degree. This allowed women to have a degree and further their education, which led to many other things in history. -
John Deere invented a new "miracle plow" that revolutionizes the Great Plains. This plow was heavier and designed to keep soil from not sticking and to cut under roots. This new invention contributed greatly to the agricultural world. It allowed for more efficient farming to occur and for the Great Plains to become more inhabited. This invention also led to increased food production. -
The Oregon Trail was a trail that led west. Many American's traveled this trail in order to go west. Some from the Gold Rush, Manifest Destiny, and more. This trail pointed Americans westward so they could find new opportunities and support Manifest Destiny. This spanned from around 1843-1870s. -
Elias Howe invented the sewing machine. This invention lead to the start up of Textile Mills. These mills often employed women, helped to boost the economy and more. These Mills opened new jobs and spread a variety of textiles and products around. Textile Mills, and the invention of the sewing machine, were a part of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution allowed America to be more self-sufficient and change into a more industrial area. -
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in 1848. It added almost 525,000 square miles to the United States. This added Texas, which ends the conflict over Texas, Rio Grande is the Southern border. Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and California. This was HUGE deal for the US. This finally established the "sea to shining sea" part. California was a huge piece of this plan, and perhaps the whole motive of Polk. Having CA lets the US to be open to trade and make the United States big! -
The Compromise of 1850 was a set of five bills. It attempted to resolve the issue of slavery in new territories. The creator was Henry Clay. There was a lot of dispute around slavery and the new territories. These compromises added California as a free state, left Utah and New Mexico to decide for themselves, and defined a new Mexican-American border. This also allowed for the Fugitive Slave Act to be created and enacted. Slave trade was also abolished in Washington D.C. -
Kansas was the first real test of Popular Sovereignty. The North and the South are both encouraging people to move there and vote in order to get another free/slave state. At the vote, it seems Kansas will be a free state, but people from Missouri ride across border to Lawrence, Kansas and siege and destroy the town. They fill out ballots fraudulently and the states count the votes. Everyone knows it is fake, and really nothing is done. Kansas was an extremely dangerous place to be (attacks). -
Charles Sumner, an anti-slavery Republican gave a "Crime Against Kansas" speech about if Kansas should be a free/slave state. Throughout it, he called out and mocked Stephen Douglas and Andrew Butler, two Democrats. Representative Preston Brooks was "kinsman" of Butler and decided instead of challenging Sumner to a duel he would just beat him with his cane. Sumner was beaten harshly until unconscious. This vicious act showed how chaotic and polarized the issue of slavery really was. -
This Supreme Court case declared that there are "no free states". This case made slavery legal in the United States.
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The beloved Abraham Lincoln is elected! Lincoln had worked his way up the political ladder by becoming a prominent Whig. Lincoln is an abolitionist but he highlights how he does not want to abolish slavery but keep the USA together. The nation was already extremely divided over the ideas of slavery. From his election in 1860 not even a month later South Carolina secedes from the Union. The election of Lincoln was monumental for the country but also pushed the start of the Civil War. -
In order to spur economic growth and westward expansion the Homestead Act was created. This Act granted 160 acres to a head of a household in the West. The people must pay a small fee and promise to improve the land. This accelerated growth in the West which eventually leads to many other things like the Indian Wars. -
This was an important event in history not because it freed the slaves (it did not) but because it said that the Civil War must become a war for freedom. This proclamation also lays out an incentive, if a state were to return to the Union, they could keep their slaves. If not, the state will be conquered and all the slaves will be freed. This also added moral force for Union troops. This also helped lead in to the creation of African American troops. -
After a whirlwind of generals who did not meet Lincoln's expectations, Grant is appointed to Head General of the Union army. Grant and Sherman, his right hand man, used what some would consider ruthless tactics to hasten the ending of the war. One of these was Sherman's March to the Sea, where Sherman led hundreds of soldiers through Georgia and left a path of destruction. Having Grant appointed to Head General, in my opinion, helped him become a president but also led to the end of the war. -
The South is loosing. Loosing its economy, capabilities, control and more. After Lee and his men get surrounded at the Battle of the Wilderness the Confederates have no choice but to surrender. In Appomattox, General Robert E. Lee hands over his sword, a symbol of surrender to Grant. Grant hands the sword back out of respect. The South surrenders to the North and the Civil War is now officially over. The United States now has a long road of reconstruction a d healing to do. -
On this day, Abraham Lincoln was tragically assassinated in Ford's Theatre. This was devastating for the country. Although, it also dramatically changed the Reconstruction Era, as Andrew Johnson took over and did some personal pardoning and had heavy biases. The assassination of Lincoln took the nation off the rails in a sense. -
At Promontory Point, Utah in 1869 the last spike was driven on the Transcontinental Railroad. The Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad met here and connected the entire US with a few spikes. The Transcontinental Railroad would greatly impact transportation, trade, communication, make the US a global trading powerhouse, and more. After six years and more then 21 million sledge hammer swings, one of the biggest engineering achievements in US history was completed. -
After a long period of time with Republicans having the majority of the power, Democrats have now gained power. The Election of 1876 was a unique and troublesome one. It was Rutherford B. Hayes (R) and Samuel Tilden (D). The votes came in and said some of the South was 100% Tilden, which would not happen since blacks could vote. There was a recount and SC, FL, and LA were all Hayes. This would not happen. A committee was made and Hayes was elected and military oversight was ended in the South.
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People heavily disagreed with the Spoils System put into action by Andrew Jackson. They wanted jobs based on someone's merit. With this in mind, this Act was created. This required most federal job seekers to pass a Civil Service Exam to make sure they are qualified to have such a power position. This act officially ended the Spoils System. -
This Act was very similar to the Homestead Act of 1862, but this is for Native Americans. This offered 160 acres of land to Native American families. Many took advantage of this land and opportunity. Although, in order to take the land they must leave their reservation and tribe. Many religious and support groups of the Native Americans believed that this was a hugely generous act. On the other hand, this was a way to break up tribes, weaken the Native American community and Americanize them. -
Many Americans had a strong dislike for the Ghost Dance Movement that the Native Americans were participating in. Tensions were rising, and someone fired an unknown shot at a confrontation between Americans and Natives that led to the massacre. This became the last major confrontation in the Indian Wars and successfully ended the Ghost Dance Movement. Sitting Bull died in this massacre as well as about 150 other Natives, half of which were women and children (history.com). -
After buying a First Class ticket as an African American, Plessy was denied and was forced to sit in the broken down section for African Americans. He went to court, and it traveled to the Supreme Court. This decision said segregation was ok if it was "separate but equal" (which doesn't really work). This court case basically justified segregation and led to the widespread use of separation, but not equal (schools). This led to more Jim Crow and further segregation laws. -
Founded by Theodore Roosevelt, this was a harsh group of Calvary men from the West. Teddy was second in command over the Navy and heavily pushed for war. Once the Spanish-American War had begun, Teddy stepped down from his position, recruited these sharp-shooting, Calvary men and went to fight. They fought and contributed greatly in numerous battles in the war, including the Siege of San Juan Hill and more. -
The Square Deal was Teddy Roosevelt's domestic progressive policy. It had the Three Cs: consumer protection, corporate regulation, conservationism. These were the three main ideas for Roosevelt's presidency. He wanted to prevent and stop labor abuses, change the workplace positively, increase safety, improve health and well being of all American's and their environment, and more. This helped to contribute to the created of the Pure Food and Drug Act, Child Labor Committee and more. -
In the Progressive Era, the term "muckraking" was coined and became a popular thing. These muckrakers exposed how the lower classes lives, exposed industries, and issues in American society. Lincoln Steffens was the editor. He would allow these articles to be published that led to new legislation which would improve working conditions and living conditions, other people helping the lower class, and more. He also allowed people from minorities and women to be published. -
The Great Train Robbery was a movie released in 1903 that helped to set the standard for plot-based movies, as it followed a gang of outlaws robbing a train. It also helped to spur America's widespread love of Western movies. This was the first narrative movie, one that told a story. It was produced by Thomas Edison and written/directed by some of his employees in the Edison Company. This was also one of the first silent films released in the United States. -
Orville and Wilbur Wright created the Wright Flyer, the first airplane. They successfully created a first plane. Which opened up all kinds of doors to many new things. This discovery spurred tons of new advancements in the transportation world. It let to new technologies, modern welfare and modern warfare, more efficient and potentially safer travel, and more. -
Teddy Roosevelt was the first president to make an official diplomatic tour outside of the United States. He traveled to check on the progress of the Panama Canal, which ultimately boosted moral and made its completion come faster. He also visited Puerto Rico. The Canal is crucial to trade and it connected the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and Teddy's involvement and traveling outside the country changed the dynamic between presidents and other countries. -
Henry Ford's Model T revolutionized the United States in more ways than one. Ford set the modern example for assembly lines and factory work. He set the standard for the forty hour work week, raised wages, gave benefits and more. He also created the first, affordable, automobile in the United States. There were booms in the automotive industries and the surrounding ones. It created the standard that people drove everywhere, took vacations, aided in the growth of the suburbs, and more. -
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or the NAACP, was a massive Civil Rights Organization W. E. B. Du Bois and Ida B. Wells were massive leaders of this organization. This group was created to ensure equality and remove discrimination in all aspects in life. The NAACP became a very well-known organization and helped to lead the Civil Rights movement. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was one of the deadliest industrial disasters in the history of the United States. The Triangle Shirtwaist factory building had caught on fire. Due to the fire escape doors being locked, the workers were trapped inside with no way out. This was a terrible tragedy, but it's after effects are also very important. It led to many new laws and regulations in regards to building and fire safety. This led to safer working conditions, a big topic during this time. -
World War I was the first war after industrialization. This means tons of new technologies and weapons. So, many new war tactics were created, one being the idea of trench warfare. Soldiers would dig trenches, that would serve as many soldiers living places for the war. This was a fantastic defensive strategy, but it was not good for taking ground, and it was not good for living conditions or the soldiers. Within four months of the war, all fronts had began trench warfare. -
Woodrow Wilson had campaigned as not going to war and joining WWI. Although, when the Lusitania sank, it was a final straw on the camel's back, causing the United States to join World War I on the side of the Allies. First, it greatly increased tensions between Germany and the United States, fueling anti-German feelings, and led to a chain of events that led to the US joining the war. The Germans attacked this vessel, causing over a hundred of American's to die and angering many more. -
The Great Migration was the movement of millions of African Americans northward. This was a way to escape discrimination, get more opportunities, and more. This increased activism for civil rights, gave African Americans more jobs and opportunities, plants the seeds for the Harlem Renaissance, creates a shared African American experience and more. -
The iconic "I want you..." Uncle Sam poster first originated from a piece in Leslie's Weekly by James Montgomery Flagg. This design originally said "What are you Doing for Preparedness?". This was transformed and used as propaganda to join the army or do different things. The Committee of Public Information was created to gain support for World War I and do things on the Homefront. This Uncle Sam design was widely used, among many others, to influence and inspire the American people.
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This telegram was intercepted in the United States and it was a note advocating for Mexico to start war with the United States from Germany. It also promised Mexico parts of America if they complied. This was immediately seen as an act of war by the United States, and the US entered World War I/ the Great War on the side of the allies. -
The Treaty of Versailles was signed to officially end World War I, or the Great War. Although, it forced Germany to take all of the blame and pay back all of the reparations for the damages in the war. By forcing the Germans to pay these enormous sums of money, it devastated their economy and can be seen as a cause of World War II due to Hitler rising up in an uncertain time. -
The Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to vote. Granting women the right to vote ended a long and hard struggle for women's suffrage. This added millions of voters into the voting process. This legally said that women were equal to men in considerations of voting and that they were able to vote. This was a major milestone for women's rights and for the United States as a whole. -
Tennessee had previously banned the teaching of evolution in classrooms, called the Butler Act, but a long term sub, John Scopes, defied TN state law and taught it anyway. He was charged and brought it to court. This was called the "Trial of the Century". It was an eight day trial that took place outdoors, battling the idea of Christianity vs. Science in schools. Scopes was found guilty, and the law was upheld. This case heightened tensions and continued a debate that still lasts today. -
The Jazz Singer was the first feature-length movie to have sound. It contained speech, music and sound effects. This revolutionized the film and motion-picture industry and officially marked the end of the silent-film era- entering a world of movies with sound. This is argued to be one of the most important movies ever made. Although, looking back, it does have some negative aspects and would be unacceptable today, but for the time period it was deemed acceptable. -
The number one ecological disaster of the 20th century caused many western states to experience economic and environmental disaster. This was the Dust Bowl. The abundance of loose, dry, soil and earth that was over farmed and overworked allowed the wind to easily pick this dust and soil up, causing it to smother that fields, homes, and buildings. Food was scarce and homes/buildings or items were destroyed. Dust even blacked out the sun. This was catastrophic, especially during the Depression. -
The New Deal was implemented by Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was a series of domestic programs to combat the Great Depression and help the economy. The New Deal focused on three Rs: Relief, Recovery, and Reform. FDR's idea was to almost consume the way out of the depression, rack up more debt, buy more and hope that eventually it will work out okay. It was not entirely successful in ending the Depression, but it put people back to work, saved Capitalism, and resorted hope in the American economy. -
Prohibition in the United States refers to the Eighteenth Amendment, the illegal sale, transport, distribution of alcohol. Prohibition was welcomed by some, but hated by others. Prohibition lead to the increase of underground crime, secret organizations, speakeasies- a pop up bar that was disguised-, and more. -
A day after Pearl Harbor, a vicious attack from Japan on the US, FDR spoke and asked for a declaration of war against Japan. Pearl Harbor was a staggering victory for Japan. It killed thousands of people, destroyed 188 planes, 18 ships were lost and countless others destroyed. This speech, and that attack of Pearl Harbor, is what caused the United States to enter World War II and it ended the Great Depression. The United States is in a total state of war. -
Rosie the Riveter became an icon during World War II. She became symbolic for women in factories and doing the jobs that needed to be done. Since so many men were fighting the war, the women filled in the spots at home. During this time the amount of women in the work force grew from 3 million to 19 million. Women doing the same jobs as men also helped to spur less discrimination and more rights for women. -
The largest seaborne invasion in history and the turning point of World War II was D-Day. Over 150,000 troops landed and crossed the English Canal in various parts of Europe, most famously Normandy, in order to get American, and other countries, troops into Europe to help fight. Boats and planes were sent across filled with men to be sent over. They allowed the United States to have a strong foothold in Europe and help the Allied forces, a major turning point in the war. -
After World War II, this was the government's way of thanking soldiers. It provided them with: paid for education, gave low interest home and business loans, gave them free healthcare, and more. This was extremely transformational both economically and socially. The standard for getting college education began here, the economy boomed can be tied to this, suburbanization occurred, and more. -
The Yalta Conference was a meeting between FDR, Churchill and Stalin. It was to discuss the future of Europe after the war. It was decided that Russia would enter the war against Japan with Britain and the United States. It also decided that Germany would be split into four occupation zones. This also divided Berlin. The World organization called the United Nations (UN) was created, and the first meeting was held in 1945. -
After WWII, many people wanted to move out of the cities. Suburbanization was booming! So, Levittowns were created by William Levitt and his company, Levitt & Sons. They allowed for people to choose one of four home designs . Having this made construction more cost effective and faster. These Levittowns were a cheaper home to live in, allowing many to fulfill part of the American Dream. So, many Levittowns popped up all over the United States, revolutionizing how suburbs were created. -
The Truman Doctrine, signed in by President Truman, said that the United States would provide economic, political, and military assistance to any democratic nations that are being threatened by other countries. This had one in mind, the USSR and Communism. This was a way to prevent the spread of Communism. This was also a step away from America's once style of isolationism, it is now actively forming relationships with other countries and helping them. -
Jackie Robinson broke color barriers and became the first African American on the Major League Baseball team. Despite all of the hate he got from it, he continued playing and eventually won lots of awards for his playing. He helped to set the stage for the Civil Rights Movement. This changed the world for African Americans, and everyone, everywhere. -
In 1948, Harry Truman signed the Marshall Plan, which was the plan to help rehabilitate and fix many European countries after World War II. Over 16 billion dollars was given to war-torn and destroyed countries. This was a way to hopefully stop another war by stopping another bad leader from rising up during times of uncertainty and instability (like Hitler did). This also established the United States as a powerful country and went against Communism by showing the strength of Capitalism. -
The Berlin Blockade was an attempt by the Soviet Union to basically force West Berlin into Communism by cutting off goods being transferred to them from the Allied forces. The Allied forces responded quickly, not by starting a war by entering West Berlin, but my airlifting any necessary goods into West Berlin. This was known as Operation Vittles or the Berlin Airlift. The people of West Berlin lived through those supplies for over a year, not giving into to Soviet Union forces. -
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established after World War II and to unite free and sovereign countries to create a collective security system. This was rooted in the fear of Communism spreading, but it had many other benefits. The main idea was that if one country was attacked in NATO, that all the other NATO counties would come to their aid (Article 5). The first leader was Dwight D. Eisenhower There are 30 countries in NATO currently. -
Joseph McCarthy had a list of supposed Communists provided by the State Department. He read these lists frequently on TV. This was a campaign to expose Communists in the United States, especially those within the government. This was called McCarthyism. Anti-Communist purges became common, and sometimes people could be accused for doing little to nothing. This increased the fear of Communism, but also damaged many people's reputations that were not actually Communists, and infringed on rights. -
Bert the Turtle says Duck and Cover! Bert the Turtle was a way to talk to children, especially students, about safety when an atomic bomb would be to go off. Bert the Turtle was a common face in the 1950s, as many Americans feared an attack from Communist Russia. It was created by the Civil Defense team to help prepare and protect those who watched. This was symbolic of the fears of the fear of Communism and the Cold War not being cold anymore. -
The Rosenbergs were the first US citizens to be convicted of espionage and executed for it. The both worked on the Manhattan Project, a secret project where the US was making nuclear weapons. They leaked information about their progress, employees, and more to the Russians. Many believe that the information given to them sped up the process of Russia creating their own nuclear weapons and threatening the Allied forces with them. This increased nation-wide fear of Communism greatly. -
Dwight D. Eisenhower pledged to end the Korean War in his campaign, and set out to do so. He was the first president ever to go into an active warzone. After three years, an armistice was signed in Korea to formally end the Korean War. Technically, the war is not over, just at a temporary ceasefire. Korea remained divided at the 35th parallel. America was able to contain Communism. -
A landmark Supreme Court decision that over ruled Plessy v. Ferguson's remark of "separate but equal". It ruled that racial segregation in schools violates the Fourteenth Amendment. This made equal access to education part of the law and made massive leaps in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Rosa Parks, an African American woman, refused to give up her seat to a white man. She was eventually arrested for refusing. This was just the beginning of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Over 40,000 African Americans boycotted using the bus for over a year, 382 days. This eventually resulted in the Supreme Court ruling that segregating on public buses was unconstitutional. Also, that lots of businesses, especially transportation, relied on African Americans. It was a step towards equality. -
The largest public works project in history was to create interstates and roads that connected all of the mainland United States. It connected the country for easier travel, trade, communication. It would update and modernize America's roadways. It would be very expensive, but it played on people's Cold War fears, marketed as a defense and evacuation system, Eisenhower promised to make sections runways for planes. The towns around the interstates thrived, it also increased car culture, and more. -
Elvis Presley became increasingly popular after his appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, even if it banned him. The emergence of Rock music was a major part of this time period. It appealed to younger generations and gave a way of rebellion to younger generations from their parents' conformity. Rock combined blues with pop and western music. The WWII saw Rock as a symbol for the moral decline of the Boomer generation. Elvis brought in many new fans and helped to revolutionize pop culture. -
Ruby Bridges was the first black students to desegregate an all-white elementary school. She had to be escorted to and from school by four armed marshals to protect her. Her experience was somewhat similar to the Little Rock 9. This was monumental for the Civil Rights movement, because at just six years old she was a major figurehead and important person for the Civil Rights Movement. She is still alive today, advocating for Civil Rights and talking about her experiences. -
The presidential debate for the election of 1960 was the very first debate televised. It was against Richard Nixon- a seasoned political professional who had held numerous offices and John F. Kennedy- a young, unproved, Catholic, ambitious, politician. The televised debate hanged everything, and probably is what made Nixon loose the election to JFK. This debate really shows how reliant and engaged into television Americans were at this time. -
Communist Cuba was ran by Fidel Castro. Due to this, many Cubans fled to America. Eisenhower made a plan to have these Cubans be trained by the US CIA and then allow them to take back their country and that the US would provide air and naval support. Although, Eisenhower's term is up and JFK takes over. He essentially gets cold feet, and not wanting to make a big deal of it, pulls lots of US support out. This was a massive US failure, leading to the defeat of Cubans and JFK seeming weak. -
The US gets report of soviet missiles in Cuba and it was confirmed that there was construction for Antiaircraft missiles and ICBM launchers. Having ICBMs and missiles in Cuba means that there is Communism and danger near the US. There was massive panic. The USSR did not stop bringing missiles in ships to Cuba. The US and USSR ships were stopped face to face, the US blocking Cuba. It was at a stand still, but USSR left. This was the closest to a nuclear war that has ever occurred. -
Over a thousand students participated in a walk out to Birmingham Alabama in order to protest segregation. A line was made near the school that limited where they could walk, when crossed, they were pulled out of the line and beaten. The children were also arrested and put into animal cages at the fairgrounds. This was all televised, and opened many Americans eyes to the horrid things going on within the US. JFK spoke about it and became the first president to ever support civil rights. -
The March on Washington was a massive protest march and rally taking place in Washington DC. SCLC planned this march with support from NAACP, SNCC, and CORE. There were over 250,000 people in attendance and thousands more watching it on TV or tuning in on the radio. This gave the Civil Rights Activists and African Americans a sense of unity. MLK jr. gave his famous "I have a dream..." speech. There were also no real acts of violence, which was unlikely for these types of marches. -
The assassination of John F. Kennedy was a shock to the nation. He was riding in a motorcade and was shot. Who shot him is still in conspiracy. This was the first of four major assassinations that occurred in the 1960s (Malcom X, MLK jr., Robert Kennedy). Some even say that the optimism and happiness of the 60s died when JFK did. People wept openly and mourned the death of their beloved president. After JFK passed, Lyndon B. Johnson took over the presidency and would go on to win another term. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited the discrimination of people on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or nation of origin. This also ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination. This is a landmark civil rights and labor law as well as being considered a massive legislative achievement in the Civil Rights Movement. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by LBJ. This act outlawed the discriminatory voting practices, banning the discrimination in all election/polling places. It stopped all literacy tests and other things that inherently discriminated. It also outlawed the use of intimidation and physical violence. This allowed for people of all races to freely vote and not be restricted. These tests and intimidations interfered with the 15th amendment and this restored these rights to Blacks. -
Apollo 11 was the spacecraft that landed on the moon and carried the first men to ever walk on the moon. This was a massive accomplishment for NASA, science, and the United States as a whole. This was also key to the Space Race against Russia, giving the US a victory. The idea of landing on the moon came up through the Space Race as well. "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind"- Neil Armstrong. -
President Richard Nixon created the EPA in 1970 when tasked with handling environmental issues. This was created the fix national issues and guidelines regarding the environmental and upholding them. The creation of this led to the Clean Air and Water Act, which established regulations for pollution. It also allowed for the regulation of pollution amounts in companies and more. The EPA seeks to ensure that all people are as safe as possible and that the environment is the best it can be.
