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Period: to
The 1940s
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Mount Rushmore is completed
Mount Rushmore located in South Dakota is completed. It features the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected to his third term as President of the United States
Franklin D. Roosevelt elected into his third term in office. He remains the President of the United States. He was the 32nd. -
U.S. Congress Reintroduceds the draft
The U.S. Congress approves the first peacetime consctiption draft in anticipation of possible American involvement in WWII. -
RKO Pictures releases Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane is released. THe first movie to feature Orson Welles, Citizen Kane was judged to be the greatest film of all time for decades. -
Lend-Lease Act is approved
The Lend-Lease Act is passed. It allowed the U.S. to supply the Allied nations with equipment before the U.S. was brought into WWII -
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japanese submarines and planes attack the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. This event officially brought the U.S. into WWII. -
Executive Order 9066 is signed ordering Japanese-Americans to be held in relocation camps.
Due to the fear of Japanese-Americans committing violent acts against their neighbors, they were relocated into camps and held there until the end of WWII. -
Battle of Midway
The U.S. Navy repelled an attack from the Japanese Navy at Midway Atoll. The damage to the Japanese Navy was massive, and they never fully recovered. -
Manhattan Project begins.
The Manhattan Project officially starts. Nuclear weapon research begins. The Manhattan Project was disbanded after the formation of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. -
Detroit, Michigan Race Riots
Black and White residents in Detroit began rioting. Neither race wished to work with the other, and neither race wanted to live next to the other. The riots ended after three days. -
D-Day (Operation Overlord)
Allied troops entered Europe at five points, designated as Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. Both Axis and Allied troops suffered massive losses. Also known as the Allied Invasion of Normady. -
G.I. Bill of Rights signed into law
Also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, the G.I. Bill of Rights allowed G.I.s to get extra benefits when they returned from the war, such as lower mortgage and free education. -
Americans land at Iwo Jima
U.S. troops land at Iwo Jima. The battle lasts until March 26th, 1945. It was considered one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific War Zones. -
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman becomes the 33rd President of the United States after Franklin D. Roosevelt's untimely death in office. -
Germany Surrenders
German forces surrendered to Allied troops all along the Western Front. The hostilities ended at midnight, while the ceasefire was active the day before. -
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
After the Japanese declined an Allied Ultimatum, American bombers dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, named "Little Boy". On August 9th, they dropped another atomic bomb, named "Fat Man", on Nagasaki. -
First of meeting of the United Nations General Assembly
Having 45 members at the initial meeting, the UNGA was part of the UN. They help(ed) keep the UN budget. -
National Basketball Association of America is founded
The NBA was formed. Several basketball teams from across North America were brought together through the NBA. -
Jackie Robinson debuts at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Jackie Robinson, the first black Major League Baseball player, makes his debut. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall plan, thought up by the then Secretary of State, George Marshall, the plan was to rebuild the economies in the war-ravaged countries in Europe. -
President Truman is re-elected
Against two other candidates, Harry S. Truman is re-elected as President of United States during the 1948 Presidential Election. -
NATO is formed
(North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Formed to protect various countries unified by the North Atlantic Treaty, NATO agreed that if any outside force attacked ay of the unified countries, it was an attack against them all.