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Henry Ford revolutionized car manufacturing by mass-producing the affordable Model T. This innovation made car ownership accessible to the average person, transforming transportation and American society.
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Germany, in an attempt to weaken the United States during World War I, secretly offered Mexico an alliance. This alliance would see Mexico regain territories previously lost to the U.S. if they joined the war against the Americans. However, the British intercepted this secret message. When the U.S. learned of this plot, it outraged public opinion and ultimately led to their entry into World War I.
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On November 11, fighting stopped in WWI because Germany and the Allies agreed to an armistice. It marked the end of the war.
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The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted women the right to vote. This landmark achievement won after decades of struggle by women's rights activists, marked a significant step towards gender equality in America.
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Charles Lindbergh made history by becoming the first person to complete a solo, non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean in his aircraft, the "Spirit of St. Louis." This groundbreaking achievement significantly advanced the field of aviation.
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The 1929 stock market crash triggered the Great Depression. This devastating economic event caused widespread financial ruin, with many people losing their life savings and jobs.
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Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany and established a totalitarian dictatorship, marking the beginning of Nazi rule.
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Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal was a series of programs and reforms implemented to combat the Great Depression. Key aspects included job creation initiatives, support for farmers, and the establishment of social safety nets like Social Security.
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Britain and France adopted a policy of appeasement, allowing Hitler to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. This strategy, aimed at preventing war, ultimately failed as Hitler's aggressive expansionism continued.
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Germany attacked Poland, and Britain and France declared war. This started World War II.
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Japan attacked a U.S. naval base in Hawaii on December 7, pulling the U.S. into WWII.
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The Allies landed in Normandy, France, on June 6 to fight Nazi Germany. It was a major step toward winning WWII.
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The U.S. dropped atomic bombs on these two Japanese cities, ending WWII but causing massive destruction and loss of life.
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Countries came together to form the UN to promote peace and cooperation after WWII.
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George Kennan sent a long message from Moscow explaining why the U.S. should stop the spread of communism. This started the Cold War.
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The Soviet Union successfully tested its first atomic bomb, ending the U.S.’s monopoly on nuclear weapons.
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The U.S. and its allies created NATO to protect each other from threats, especially from the Soviet Union.
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North Korea (with Soviet help) invaded South Korea. The U.S. and UN forces helped the South, and China helped the North. It ended in a stalemate.
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The Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional, starting the fight to end segregation.
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Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving her bus seat to a white man. This sparked the Civil Rights Movement.
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The U.S. fought in Vietnam to stop the spread of communism, but it was a long and unpopular war, ending with U.S. withdrawal and a communist victory.
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Scientists developed the internet as a way for computers to communicate. By the 1990s, it became widely used by the public.
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The U.S. and Soviet Union almost went to war because the Soviets put nuclear missiles in Cuba. After tense negotiations, the crisis was avoided.
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President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas.
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After an attack on U.S. ships, Congress let President Johnson take military action in Vietnam, leading to the Vietnam War escalation.
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Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon. It was a big win for the U.S. in the Space Race.
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People working for President Nixon’s re-election team broke into the Democratic headquarters.
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Nixon resigned because of the Watergate scandal, becoming the only U.S. president to step down.
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The Berlin Wall, which divided East and West Berlin, came down. It symbolized the end of the Cold War.
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Terrorists hijacked planes and crashed them into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. It was one of the deadliest attacks in U.S. history.
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A new virus spread worldwide, causing illness, death, and major disruptions. Vaccines and safety measures have helped slow it down.