US History Timeline

  • John D. Rockefeller

    John D. Rockefeller - Standard Oil Trust; Andrew Carnegie - Steel
  • Dawes Severalty Act-

    Dawes Severalty Act-denies tribal rights, advances forced assimilation, opens lands to whites
  • Plessy vs. Ferguson

    1896 - **Plessy vs. Ferguson – 'Separate but Equal' is constitutional (overturned by Brown vs. Board of Education) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsDTqtyiNZk
  • Treaty of Paris

    Treaty of Paris - ends the Spanish-American War
  • Open Door Policy

    Open Door Policy - U.S. attempt to gain foothold in Chinese markets
  • President McKinley assassinated

    President McKinley assassinated, Teddy Roosevelt now 26th President
  • Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine

    Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine - increases U.S. presence in Latin America
  • Muckraker

    Muckraker – writers who expose big business corruption
  • Pure Food and Drug Act

    Pure Food and Drug Act, Meat Inspection – set food quality standards
  • Panama Canal

    Panama Canal – connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (opens in 1914)
  • Henry Ford introduces the Model T car

    Henry Ford introduces the Model T car, assembly lines introduced
  • 16th Amendment

    16th Amendment - establishment of income tax, 17th Amend.- direct election of senators
  • WW1 in Europe

    World War I begins in Europe
  • German U-Boat sinks British passenger liner Lusitania

    German U-Boat sinks British passenger liner Lusitania, Americans killed on board
  • Germany continues unrestricted submarine warfare-gets warning from U.S.

    Germany continues unrestricted submarine warfare-gets warning from U.S.
  • Zimmerman Telegram

    Zimmerman Telegram - intercepted by British, asks for Germany/Mexico alliance against U.S.; US. Enters WWI
  • Selective Service Act

    Selective Service Act - establishes the draft
  • Fourteen Points

    Fourteen Points - by Woodrow Wilson, 14th pt most important - calls for League of Nations
  • Treaty of Versailles

    1919 - Treaty of Versailles – ends WWI; calls for heavy reparations on Germany, disarmament, and creation of League of Nations; U.S. Senate rejects it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrYhLNQMRro
  • 18th Amendment

    18th Amendment-outlaws purchase, sale, and transport of alcohol
  • 19th Amendment

    19th Amendment - women's suffrage (right to vote)
  • Teapot Dome Scandal

    Teapot Dome Scandal - exposes massive corruption in Harding Administration
  • Dawes Plan

    Dawes Plan - ease war reparations on Germany
  • Scopes Monkey Trial

    Scopes Monkey Trial - popularizes debate over teaching evolution in schools -outlawed
  • Sacco and Vanzetti

    Sacco and Vanzetti - executed for murder; controversial because the were anarchists, politically motivated and unjustified
  • Charles Lindbergh

    Charles Lindbergh - completes world's first solo flight across Atlantic - seen as a hero
  • Black Tuesday

    1929 - Stock Market Crash -'Black Tuesday' - launches Great Depression https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2iuUzkKu9k
  • march on Washington

    Bonus Army (wwi vets) march on Washington demanding compensation - forced out
  • Franklin Delano Roosevelt

    1932- Franklin Delano Roosevelt elected President
  • Unemployment rate drops

    1933- U.S. unemployment rate reaches 25%, FDR claims Bank Holiday to fix banks
  • Fireside Chats

    1933- Fireside Chats - FDR address public on radio - continues to 1944 - gives public hope
  • Huey Long

    1934 – Huey Long - criticizes FDR, “Share Our Wealth" proposes large tax burden on wealthy
  • Social Security Act

    1935- Social Security Act - establishes funds for unemployed and elderly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVQ7PIl3IDE
  • Wagner Act

    1935 - Wagner Act - supports union rights, protects collective bargaining
  • Lend-Lease Act

    1940 - Lend-Lease Act - provides U.S. loan aid to Britain, USSR & allied powers
  • Atlantic Charter

    1940 - Atlantic Charter - agreement b/n U.S President FDR and Britain Prime Minister Churchill
  • Pearl Harbor

    December 7, 1941 - Japan bombs Pearl Harbor - U.S. enters the War https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2kSnlS4xX8
  • Battle of Midway

    1942- Battle of Midway - U.S. defeats Japan, seen as turning point in the war in the Pacific https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-au50GxIXw
  • Allies invade Normandy, France on D-DAY

    1944 - Allies invade Normandy, France on D-DAY, June 6, 1944 (largest land/sea invasion)
  • Battle of the Bulge

    1944- Battle of the Bulge - begins to break down Axis position on western front
  • FDR dies

    1945- FDR dies, Harry Truman becomes President; Adolf Hitler commits suicide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=411MrvRC2-0

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