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The U.S. entered World War I
World War I began in 1914, yet the U.S. did not join until 1917 because it wanted to remain neutral and not involve itself in foreign conflicts. The war was between the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire) and the Allied Powers (Great Britain, France, and Russia). The sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman telegram, both led to the U.S> deciding to declare war on Germany. The U.S. joined the Allied Powers and tremendously helped them. -
Stock Market Crash (Black Tuesday)
The crash of 1929 is considered to be one of the worst stock market crashes in United States history. During the 1920s, the economy was growing at a rapid rate due to new industries. Yet, the economy began to slow down in 1929, until it crashed in October. Several people lost their savings and homes, as many people were getting laid-off from their jobs. Also, some businesses went bankrupt. The crash would signal the beginning of the Great Depression. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japanese airplanes attacked U.S. Navy in Pearl Harbor, which is located in O'ahu, Hawaii. This attack led to the death of many soldiers and the destruction of many ships. The Japanese decided to attack because they feared the U.S. was going to attack them and wanted to cripple them. The U.S. then decided to enter World War II. -
The U.S. entered World War II
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is what made the U.S. want to declare war on Japan, therefore joining the Allies. The war was between the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allies (France, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the U.S.). The U.S. also joined the war because of the fear that the Japanese were going to control China and Asia, Germany's aggression, the sinking of U.S. ships, and fear of German expansion and invasion. -
D-Day
The Allied Forces attacked German forces in Normandy, France. This military invasion would help to end World War II and became a turning point. This invasion required a huge amount of deception and tactics. General Dwight Eisenhower was the commander of the invasion and the plan was to misdirect Adolf Hitler of where the invasion would take place. This event tarnished Hitler's reputation and led to Germany's freedom from Nazi control. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Soviet Union began to install nuclear missiles in Cuba. The United States refused to allow it since Cuba is in close proximity to the mainland, so for thirteen days occurred many secret negotiations. In the end, the Soviet Union agreed to remove its missiles and this was the closest both countries came to a nuclear war. -
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas. He was the 35th President of the United States and he was traveling in a motorcade with his wife Jacqueline Kennedy, the Governor of Texas John Connally, and the governor's wife Nellie Connally. As the motorcade drove, shots were fired, in which two hit Kennedy and killed him. It was investigated that Lee Harvey Oswald is responsible for the death of the president. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This important civil rights law outlawed discrimination, ended racial segregation, and protected the voting rights of minorities and women. African-Americans were oppressed for several years and were being denied basic civil rights. In the south, Jim Crow laws were in place, which allowed racial segregation and discrimination to be legal. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. fought for the civil rights of all people throughout the 1950s and 1960s. President Johnson signed the bill into law. -
The U.S. entered the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was fought between communist North Vietnam and the Southern Vietnam government. China had control of North Vietnam and the U.S. feared that communism was going to spread to the south or even to the rest of Asia. The U.S. decided to help the South Vietnamese Government by sending money, supplies, and military advisers. The U.S. was involved in the war for 19 years. -
First Man on the Moon
The United States wanted to put people on the moon, especially President John F. Kennedy. The mission for Apollo 11 was to land two men on the moon and have them come back to Earth safely. Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins were astronauts in the mission. Neil Armstrong became the first human to step on the moon. Aldrin and Armstrong walked around for three hours and conducted experiments and picked up moon dirt and rocks.
