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- 1913: The Federal Reserve Act is Signed
Impact: Fundamental to the US economy, influencing everything from interest rates to inflation. -
- 1920: 19th Amendment is Ratified (Women's Suffrage)
Impact: Dramatically expanded democratic participation and set the stage for further women's rights movements. -
1929: The Stock Market Crash (Black Tuesday) Description: A sudden and dramatic collapse of stock prices on the New York Stock Exchange, signaling the beginning of the Great Depression.
Impact: Triggered the most severe economic downturn in modern history, leading to widespread unemployment and poverty. -
1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor US Entry into WWII Description: A surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This attack directly led to the United States' formal entry into World War II.
Impact: Transformed the US into a global superpower, ended isolationism, and mobilized the entire nation for war. -
1945: Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima Nagasaki (End of WWII) Description: The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's unconditional surrender and the end of World War II.
Impact: Ushered in the nuclear age, profoundly changing international relations and military strategy. -
1954: Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Decision Description: The Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson.
Impact: A landmark decision that provided a legal cornerstone for the Civil Rights Movement -
1964: Civil Rights Act Signed into Law Description: A comprehensive federal law that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace, and by public accommodations.
Impact: Transformed American society, legally dismantling segregation and significantly advancing civil rights for all. -
1969: Apollo 11 Moon Landing Description: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon, a monumental achievement in space exploration and a triumph for the US during the Space Race.
Impact: Inspired a generation, showcased American technological prowess, and expanded humanity's reach beyond Earth. -
1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall (End of Cold War Era) Description: While not directly in the US, the fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the impending end of the Cold War, a period of intense geopolitical tension between the US and the Soviet Union.
Impact: Marked a shift in global power dynamics, ushering in a new era of international relations and leaving the US as the sole superpower. -
1993: North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Signed Description: A controversial agreement among the United States, Canada, and Mexico designed to eliminate most tariffs and other trade barriers between the three nations.
Impact: Significantly altered economic relationships in North America, leading to both benefits and criticisms regarding job displacement and economic growth.