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Transforming the West
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Homestead Act
The Homestead Act was an act intended to help bring people into the west to help settlement in those territories. It claimed that settlers would receive 160 acres of the land from the federal government for free if they were to "improve the land" for at least 5 years. Landless farmers, single women, and former slaves took the most advantage of this act. It was important because it helped populate the west. However, the act itself was only partially successful in bringing people in. -
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Becoming An Industrial Power
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Boss Tweed
William Tweed, also known as Boss Tweed, was a political machine boss in Tammany Hall in New York City. He led the Tweed Ring, which was a political machine composed of corrupt politicians. They controlled politics and were able to get millions of dollars from taxpayers for construction projects for the city and bought votes. His "RIng" was eventually caught, tried, and incarcerated. He ended up escaping and traveling to Spain and Cuba, but was later arrested and returned to the United States. -
Promontory Point, Utah
Promontory Point, Utah was the place where the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroad companies' railway lines met starting from Omaha, Nebraska to Sacramento, California. This point meant the completion of the transcontinental railroad, which had taken six years to build. It was important because this meant that people could travel from coast to coast faster than they ever could. This railway also helped in revolutionizing commerce, industrialization, and expansion into the west. -
Knights of Labor
The Knights of Labor were originally secret society, founded in 1869, for those who wanted to reform labor and work towards a more collaborative labor field. However, it turned into a national movement/ organization with goals such as ending child labor and monopolies. They believed in more of a good for everyone and had the common worker's interests in mind. There were several successful strikes in this era leading to the growth of the Knights of Labor. -
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt was a railroad owner and shipping industrialist that popularizing the used of steel rails, rather than the traditional use of iron, and had a railway service superior to others. One important thing he is remembered for doing is building a railway that connected New York and Chicago. He was also important because he made railways safer and more affordable as well as using his money to found Vanderbilt University in Tennesse since acts of philanthropy often came with wealth. -
John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller was a wealthy philanthropist, famous for owning the Standard Oil Company and dominating the oil industry in America. He became rich through the use of horizontal integration, which made it hard for his competitors to stay in business. Another thing he was known for was for being a robber baron, or a businessman with effective, but immoral practices. However aside from that, he was also known for his philanthropic contributions such as Rockefeller Center in New York. -
Mail Order Catalogs
Mail order catalogs were a very important innovation in this era. They allowed for people living in rural areas to have the same buying opportunities as people who lived in cities by ordering through the mail. The most famous mail order catalogs at the time were the Montogomery Ward catalog and the Sears catalog. These catalogs were important because they help modernize and homogenize America. It brought new technology, products, trends, and tools into the lives of previously isolated farmers. -
Red River War
The Red River War was fought between Kiowa, Comanche, Southern Cheyenne, and southern Arapaho Indian tribes, and the U.S. Army. It was caused by the federal government's persistent efforts to keep the Native American tribes on reservations and their resistance to being confined. They would raid and attack white settlers in opposition to the reservations. Tensions rose and the war officially began with an attack in 1874 that killed 60 people. The war ended in a defeat for the Native Americans. -
Little Big Horn
Tensions rose when gold was discovered in South Dakota’s Black Hills and the army invaded, against previous treaties.Colonel George Armstrong Custer led troops against the Sioux and Cheyenne Native Americans, led by Sitting Bull, in attempts to force the Indians on reservations. This battle is also known as "Custard's Last Stand" because they were overwhelmingly outnumbered and defeated. This battle was very important because it was a big win against the U.S. government for the Native Americans. -
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The Gilded Age
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Invention of the Light Bulb
The light bulb was invented in 1879 by Tomas Edison. It was important because it provided a long-lasting, practical light source, making every-day life much easier, replacing gaslight. He had the support of the large financers such as J.P Morgan and Vanderbilt who helped him establish the Edison Light Company. The first public demonstration of his lightbulb was on December 31, 1879, in Menlo Park, New Jersey. -
immigration in the gilded age
Immigration in the Gilded Age which consisted of Jews, Chinese, Latin Americans, Japanese, and European. The large amounts of immigration provoked a sense of nativism in Americans. They wanted to stop immigration and stop them from "taking jobs". Things such as the Chinese exclusion act and the American Protection Associations arose as a result. Immigration depots were also introduced in this period, which tested for literacy skills and diseases well as deporting people who didn't qualify. -
Currency Reform
A major issue presented in the gilded age was the question of what currency should be used or what currency should be backed by (gold or silver). Republicans and businesses supported "hard money" or gold. Democrats and laborers supported "soft money" or paper money. They compromised with the Silver Act, which in turn wasn't a good plan because it was a cause of the panic of 1893 since it cause silver prices to fall, and prices to rise. In attempts to fix this, they switched back to gold. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion was a law put in place due to the fear and concern of job loss and overall nativism of people living on the west coast. It was caused because of the abundance of Chinese laborers. It prohibited the immigration of the Chinese into America. It also affected people already in the country because if they were to leave they would have to obtain certification to re-enter. This was the first time a group had been prosecuted and officially prohibited from immigration. -
Pendleton Act
The Pendleton Act was an act passed in 1883 that ensured that Federal Government jobs were given to people under the right pretenses. For someone to be given a federal job, they had to pass through examination and were to earn the job based on merit. People also couldn't be demoted or fired based on the same circumstances, specifically for political reasons. This was important because it helped keep severe corruption out of politics and took power away from the previously used "spoils system". -
Buffalo Bill's Show
Buffalo Bill's Show was a traveling show started by William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) that showcased things such as shooting demonstrations, cowboy and horse shows, and "Indian rituals". The show included people such as Annie Oakley and Chief Sitting Bull. It started in 1883 and ended in 1915. It was important because it romanticized the wild west making people want to travel and settle there. It brought about the current image of the "wild west" that we have and that is shown in pop culture. -
Haymarket Riot
The Haymarket Riot began as a labor protest, in Chicago's Haymarket Square, against workers being killed and injured by the police in a labor strike the day before. The police were called in to break up the protest. When they came into the protest, a bomb was thrown at them by an unidentified person creating a riot. Eight people died, seven of them being police officers. This event was important because it sparked a wave of fear of people in these labor strikes, and caused tensions to rise. -
Dawes Severalty Act
The Dawes Severalty Act, also known as the General Allotment Act, was the federal government's attempt at assimilating the Native Americans into American society and "civilize them". It split up their land into allotments so that they each had individual parts. Before this, the land was communal. It was important because it was a loss of tradition for the Native people and it made it easier for white settlers to take the land in the future. It also in a way destroyed the reservation system. -
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a philanthropist and businessman famous for owning Carnegie Steel Corporation, the largest one at the time. He was an immigrant that worked his way up and helped industrialize America by investing in the Bessemer Process, which mass-produced strong steel at low prices. He was successful because he ran his company through vertical integration, which allowed his company to control all aspects of production. Aside from being a tycoon, he also dedicated his time to philanthropy. -
tenements
Tenements were housing situations, much like small apartments, in which several families were packed into each one living in poorly ventilated, constructed, and lit areas. The lack of cleanliness/overcrowding led to an abundance of disease, making living conditions worse. Rents soared as immigration levels grew and people would get evicted for falling behind in payments. Often the people who resided in tenements were immigrants and poor workers. The population of in those areas created slums. -
City Beautiful Movement
The City Beautiful Movement was a "reform" of sorts, promoting the enhancement of landscapes and architecture/ design to bring calm to industrialization. It predominantly influenced larger cities such as Washington D.C. The movement "started" with the World's Columbian Exposition, which showcased "a city" called the "White City" that displayed innovation in design and architecture, as well as the dynamic use of the landscape. This movement brought about parks, public buildings, and boulevards. -
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Imperialism
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Sherman Anti-trust Act
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act, named after Senator John Sherman, was a law that made trust illegal and worked against monopolies.It was passed under the presidency of Benjamin Harrison. -
Wounded Knee
The Wounded Knee Massacre was the result of tensions between the U.S. government and the Native Americans. In part, it was caused by the Ghost Dance movement, which was a spiritual movement in which the Native Americans believed by performing rituals(dances) their ancestors would protect them and they could return to their traditional way of life. The Sioux tribe, while performing the ghost dance had altercations with federal troops leading to the massacre of about 300 Native Americans. -
Battle of San Juan/ San Juan Heights
The Battle of San Juan/ San Juan Heights was a very important battle in the Spanish American War because it was the "greatest victory of the Rough Riders", which Theodore Rosevelt was a part of. It placed American at an advantage in the war which is why it is known as a "decisive point" in the war, and was one of the final battles. This battle also made Rosevelt popular which would later help his presidency. -
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a crash in the economy caused by bank failures. The banks failed because there were so many large companies such as railroads and factories and overbuilding. The banks loaned them too much money, thus crashing. It was important because it damaged American credit, caused mass unemployment, and the falling of prices of crops. People blamed the Sherman Silver Purchase. This depression was known as the worst one America had seen until the Great Depression in the 1930s. -
World's Columbian Exposition
The World Columbian Exposition was a fair held in Chicago in honor of the 400th anniversary of Columbus landing in the New World. It showcased innovation, such as new technologies, the progress made by society as a whole and"American culture" with exhibits. It had great influence on the rest of the period. Things like the Ferris wheel and electricity were "presented" there. It also showed things like art and architecture which was why it was seen as a high point in the city beautiful movement. -
Sanford Dole
Sanford Dole was a businessman and plantation owner (dole pineapple) in Hawaii. He led a revolution against the Hawaiian government. He overthrew Queen Liliuokalani and declared Hawaii a republic. He became the first president of the Republic of Hawaii. Once it was annexed by the United States, he became the governer. -
Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike was a labor strike against the Pullman Palace Car Company, caused by wage cuts that angered the workers. It started May 5th, 1893, and ended June 20th of the same year. It was important because it was the first time the government directly intervened to stop a strike, in this case, it was President Grover Cleaveland's use of federal troops. As a result of this, President Cleaveland created a national holiday, Labor Day, as a way of acknowledging the labor reform movement. -
Temperance
Temperance was a big portion of the progressive era. Women were the biggest supporters of temperance because alcohol led to domestic violence. Groups were started to support it such as the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Temperance was also linked with Christianity, so throughout this era man people preached against alcohol. By 1917, alcohol was banned in most states. However, despite the efforts to ban alcohol, the consumption doubled from 1885 and 1900, continuing to increase in the 20s. -
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Progressive Era
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Klondike Gold Rush
The Klondike Gold Rush happened in Alaska and the Yukon territory of Canada. It began when Skookum Jim Mason, Dawson Charlie, and George Washington Carmack found gold in the Klondike River. Thousands of people fled there in hopes of finding gold, however, they were forced to endure harsh conditions, temperatures, and treacherous trails. Only 30,000 of the 100,000 made it through the trip. It was important because several cities grew in size due to the people brought in by the gold rush. -
Plessy V. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson was a supreme court case that started because Homer Plessy refused to sit in a Jim Crow car of a train. His side of the case argued that it was unconstitutional. This case was very important because it upheld the Jim Crow values. However, it argued that although the facilities for the different races be separate, they should be of equal quality. This part of the case was not really upheld by people. However, it was made to believe that Jim Crow was "constitutional". -
The U.S.S. Maine Incident
The U.S.S Main was a battleship in Havana Cuba that blew up. People in the United State speculated that the Spanish, who were in Cuba at the tie, had something to do with it. Yello journalism took over writing about these theories, many claiming that it was bombs they set, which fired up the Americans against the Spanish. There was a saying at the time that showed this, which was "To hell with Spain! Remember the Maine!" Overall this seeded to be the trigger event for the Spanish American War. -
Open Door Policy
In 1899, John Hay, the Secretary of State, proposed an Open Door Policy towards China for all countries. The Open Door Policy was an American solution to the issue of several countries wanting to secure China. In simple terms, the Open Door Policy "was the best way to avoid issue regarding China made it keep its market open to other countries". Partially it was also to keep business affairs within China and to make others feel like it wasn't truly imperialism, since "there door is open". -
Social Darwinism
Social Darwinism, named after Charles Darwin's theory of Darwinism, was the term used to describe the economic disadvantage people in the lower classes had. In simple terms, it was "survival of the richest". People believed that because someone was richer, it meant that they were smarter and done things to deserve their wealth. Therefore, they were deemed fit, unlike those who were poor. People thought that they shouldn't be helped because they weren't smart enough to earn their own wealthy. -
WIlliam Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Heart was an important contributor for reasons the United States went into war against Spain in the Spanish American War. He was a newspaper publisher that used strategies of yellow journalism. He used things like large embellished headlines which led to Americans interpreting the Spanish as someone who should be seen as an enemy. He is best known for his quote "You furnish the picture and I furnish the war". This quote really encapsulates what he did throughout this era. -
Child Labor
Child labor was common in the 19th century because families needed support, so they would send their children off to work in factories. They were exploited, working in hard conditions and were often prone to injuries because of the machinery they used. The people running the factory were very strict and would make sure they were getting good work for every moment they had, meaning the children would often have to work in silence. The wages were low and they barely helped cover living expenses. -
Square Deal
The Square Deal was Theodore Rosevelt's "ideas" in the context of dealing with issues in the U.S. at the time. The basis of it was fairness. The basic principles of the deal are the three Cs: control of corporations, conservation, and consumer protection. In his presidency, these principles were addressed. For corporations, it was things like the Department of Commerce and Labor. For consumers, it was the Pure Food and Drug Act. For conservation, it was the Newlands Reclamation Act. -
Platt Amendment
This was an amendment to the Cuban constitution which authorized U.S. intervention in Cuba to protect its interests. It basically stated that Cuba would not let any country "take power" other than the United States. Gave the US the right to take over the Island of Cuba if they were in danger or more specifically if their freedom was in danger. It also gave the U.S. the right to put a naval base in Cuba in order to protect it. Many Cubans hated this Amendment. -
Roosevelt Corollary
Theodore Roosevelt put in place the Roosevelt Corollary, also known as the Big stick policy because he wanted to ensure protection for Latin America against European countries. It was an extension of the Monroe Doctrine. In a way, the US was going to be the protector/ or like an international police power. It was declared that the U. S. would interfere with military force if necessary. This was expressed in his quote "Speak softly and carry a big stick.", the big stick being the U.S. Navy. -
Meat Inspection Act (1906)
It was brought about by the public's concern with the meat packaging industry after the book "The Jungle" was published. This act set strict standards in the meatpacking industry about the meat, how it was to be packaged, and created a program for meat inspection. It was important because it helped improve the health of people consuming the meat and people working around potentially contaminated meat. -
The Jungle
The Jungle was a book written by Upton Sinclair that brought awareness to the gross and unsanitary details of the meat industry, specifically the meat packaging industry. This book was very important because it was one of the biggest influenced in the passing of the Meat Inspection Act of 1906. After reading the book, the public demanded change within the indutsry for health benefits. This act did things like the ban the sale of unsanitary meats and "cleaner slaughters", for the animals used. -
Great White Fleet
The great white fleet was the name given to the US Navy. During Theodore Roosevelt's presidency, they traveled around many countries to show off their power. In his famous quote," speak softly and carry a big stick" the big stick he was referring to was the great white fleet because at the time, the U.S had the best Navy. He ordered this "campaign" so that he could show that he was ready to use his force if necessary, and kind of physicalize his quote, just to prove it to other countries. -
Model T
The Model T was a car created by the Ford Motor Company. It was important because it made the car available to the common worker, unlike before when only the rich had cars. It was so available since it was affordable because it was produced on an assembly line. It was also easy to maintain and durable. It was important because it changed things like creating a need for roads and more reliance on road-side businesses and the creation of new businesses. Making the car also provided several jobs. -
Muller v. Oregon
Oregon passed a law in 1903 that a woman could not work over 10 hour a day in laundries and factories due to health concerns. In 1905, Curt Muller was charged with requiring a woman, Mrs. E. Gotcher, to work over 10 hours. The case was taken to the Supreme Court bringing up the issue: Is the state setting a law regarding the workday for women constitutional? Muller lost the case. However, this was important because it set different standards for male and female workers separating them. -
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a revolution that ended the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz in Mexico and established a constitutional republic. The revolution began due to the people's discontent with the way Porfirio Díaz was governing. With the new revolutionary government came a change in society and economy as well. -
Angel Island
Angel Island was immigration processing station in San Fransisco where immigrants would go through a "screening process" to gain entrance to the U.S. It was basically the western counterpart to Ellis Island, but unlike Ellis Island, they mostly had Chinese immigrants. Also, they had a harsher process for questioning that Ellis Island. Between 1910 and 1940, 50k Chinese immigrants entered through Angel Island. -
Federal Reserve Act
The Federal Reserve Act was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson on December 23, 1913. It was created to provide the country with a more stable financial system. It did things like set loan rate, hold bank funds in times of emergency, and issue currency. It is still in use today and does other things like regulating banks and providing certain financial services. It was important not because it is still in use today, but also because it was the 1st central banking system since 1836. -
Eastern Front
It was the region along the German-Russian Border where Russians and Serbs battled Germans, Austrians, and Turks. The eastern front was not at all like the western becaueit did not have trench warfare, but rather armies. -
Western Front
The Western Front in WWI was composed of trenches and expanded form the North Sea to the Swiss border. Trench warfare was used on this front, including things like barbed wire and machine guns for protection. It was where the French and British troops fought. It was important because it was basically where most of World War I was fought. -
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World War I
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Ludlow Massacre
The Ludlow massacre began because of a strike of miners against the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, owned by Rockefeller, due to awful conditions. They had previously been provided housing by the company, so during the strike, the coal miners and their families moved out into tents, almost forming a sort of camp.The Colorado National Guard was called in to help protect the mines, but ended up attacking the settlement, killing 20 people, 11 of them being children. -
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated while visiting Sarajevo June 28th, 1914, by Gravrilo Princip. He was one of three people there who were members of a group called the Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist group, intending on assassinating him. This event was very important because it was the event that set off World War I. Because of this event, countries began taking sides in this conflict, on top of the already underlying tensions. Then countries began declaring War on each other. -
Panama Canal
The United States built the Panama Canal to have a quicker passage to the Pacific from the Atlantic. It was known as one of the greatest accomplishments of Roosevelts Presidency. It cost $400,000,000 to build and took 1 years to build and opened in 1915. Its design was important because it's traveled across in a series of locks. One of the important things about it is that they had to change things in the environment like killing mosquitos because they carried disease. -
RMS Lusitania
The Lusitania was a British Passenger ship that sank on May 7th, 1915, because of a torpedo shot into it by a German U-boat, killing 1200 people aboard. Germany claimed to attack because of weapons on board which were denied but later proved to be true. The importance of this event it that there were American passengers on board, which it created high tensions between America and Germany. Ultimately these tensions with Germany were one of the reasons for America's involvement in World War I. -
Great Migration
The Great Migration was the migration of African Americans from the south to the north and urban areas in an effort to gain better opportunities. In the south, economic opportunities were limited due to the harsh segregation and prejudice. Although there was still prejudice in the north, better opportunities did present themselves. This was important because it led to the creation of a sense of identity and urban black culture because their communities later came to challenge social prejudice. -
National Parks System
The creation of the National Park System reflected one of the big principles of the Progressive Era which was the conservation of nature. The system was created by Theodore Roosevelt, a conservationist, to protect the land from overuse and limit natural resource extraction. Although he was limiting it, he still allowed for it to happen because he understood it was needed. However, he wanted to preserve the land for future generations. The first national park was Yellowstone. -
The First Red Scare
The Red Scare was the fear of communism, especially after World War One. Aside from communism, it was also the fear of socialists and anarchists. People who believed in things like this were persecuted, sometimes being put in jail. Many feared revolution induced by those ideas. The first red scare was different than the first red scare because it focused on the worker. -
The Zimmerman Telegram
The Zimmerman Telegram was sent by Germany to Mexico instructing an ambassador to convince Mexico to go to war, however, the message was intercepted. In the message, Germany asked about a military alliance with Mexico against the US because German wanted to keep America "occupied" since they feared that if they to get involved in World War I, Germany would lose. Once the message was found, America was enraged. Ironically enought this was the trigger event for America to partake in World War I. -
Spanish Flu
The Spanish flu was the deadliest virus epidemics of all time killing about 50 million people worldwide, even deadlier than the Bubonic Plague. It was greatly spread in WWI amongst soldiers because of the close quarters they shared paired with unsanitary conditions. It was called the Spanish Flu because many believed the flu had originated in Spain. One of the reasons it was able to kill so many people is because there hadn't been effective vaccines at the time. -
fourteen points
The fourteen points were a set of ideas presented by Woodrow Wilson in a speech before a joint meeting of Congres that were meant to bring about peace after World War I. The most important of the 14 points were an emphasis on free trade, putting an end to secret agreements, reduction of weapons, freedom of the seas, and establishing a league of nations, as well as focusing on heavy themes of democracy. The points were overall unsuccessful. -
Prohibition
Temperance was a big movement in the progressive age, and in the 1920's it finally got results with prohibition or the banning of alcohol. The 18th Amendment was the amendment that officially banned it and was ratified by Congress on January 16, 1919. It made the production, transport, and sale of alcohol illegal. Despite good intention, alcohol consumption increased heavily, since there was the production of alcohol served in illegal bars called speakeasies. It also increased organized crime. -
Cars
Cars were a very important part of 1920s culture and society. They called for a great change in several aspects such as the need for roads rather than dirt roads. It also made way for roadside businesses to expand and flourish and for advertising to begin developing. Having cars also allowed for job opportunities to open up because distances were easier to accommodate. In the 1920s, most all American's owned or had access to cars. The most influential car of this era was Henry Ford's Model T. -
The Harlem Renaissance
In the 1920s many African Americans moved to the north creating hubs of social groups and a new urban culture which developed into the Harlem Renaissance.The Harlem Renaissance was a celebration of African American literature, music, entertainment, and arts, the culture overall, centered in Harlem New York, that brought new artists to light. Although it was started and centered in New York, this was a movement that spread beyond just there. It is known as a golden age in black culture. -
Leisure
In the 1920s, there was an economic boom and tons of new innovations, technologies, and household items that came about, creating lots of free time. This led to leisure activities, or hobbies, such as sports, dancing, listening to the radio, watching silent films, and even doing things as simple as using household appliances or even riding a bike. These activities were impactful because it brought fame. It also helped the economy because people were taking time to buy and enjoy more goods. -
Eugenics
Eugenics was "selective breeding to improve the human race". It was a common belief in the 1920s, used to breed out bad traits. People such as criminals, people of color, the mentally ill, handicapped, or people with certain diseases were sterilized so they couldn't reproduce. They thought that if these people couldn't reproduce, then their "bad traits" couldn't be passed down. -
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The Roaring 20s
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League of Nations
It was supposed to "was supposed to guarantee the political independence and territorial integrity of all countries". It was proposed by President Woodrow Wilson in his speech of the fourteen points. It was supposed to be something that helped ensure peace after World War I. It failed because of people in opposition to it such as Henry Cabot Lodge. Also, although proposed by Woodrow, America never joined the league because of isolationism. -
19th Amendment
The 19th amendment gave women the right to vote. It claimed, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex." This was very important because it was the first step in giving women the same opportunities as men. It was also something that women had been fighting for, for years. This right also gave way to more social freedoms for women as displayed in their behavior throughout the 1920s. -
Teapot Dome Scandal
The Teapot Dome Scandal was scandal surrounding Albert Beacon Fall and his secret leasing of federal oil reserves. After being investigated, Albert Fall was found guilty of accepting bribes and wrongfully leasing the reserves. He was the first person to be convicted of a crime while a still presidential cabinet member. Other people that were involved in the Scandal were cabinet members such as Albert B. Fall and Edwin C. Denby, Harry F. Sinclair, Edward L. Doheny and Warren Harding. -
Birth Control
In 1921 Margaret Sanger, an advocate for birth control, founded the American Birth Control League. In the 1940s it became known as Planned Parenthood. Her work was controversial because she wanted to promote sexual education, especially to women, and encourage birth control. Men especially were against it believing that women would no longer be loyal to them since they could avoid getting pregnant. -
American Indian Citizenship Act
On June 6th, 1924 Congress passed the American Indian Citizenship Act which granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the country. The act was partly caused by the federal government's attempts at assimilating the natives into American society, as well as their participation in WWI. This act was important because it was a step toward equality between white citizens and Native Americans, although there were still several inequalities between the groups such as the denied right to vote. -
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh was famous for flying solo non-stop across the Atlantic. On May the 20th, 1927, he flew his plane, The Spirit of St. Louis, across the Atlantic, starting in Long Island and landing in Paris. The trip took a total of 33 and 1/2 hours. He became really famous for this became a spokesperson for aviation advancements for the era. Later one he would use his flying skills to help fight in World War Two. He also won a Pulitzer for his autobiography "The Spirit of St. Louis". -
Hoovervilles
Because of the Great Depression, many people became unemployed and lost their homes. Homeless families were forced to build themselves shelter often made out of cardboard or tin, often in unsanitary conditions. So many of these make-shift houses were built that they almost formed camps. They ranged from a few hundred people to, in larger cities, thousands. These "camps" were known as "Hooverilles" because of President Hoover's lack of response to the depression and inability to provide relief. -
Period: to
The Great Depression
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Black Tuesday
Black Tuesday, also known as the Wall Street Crash of 1929, was the stock market crash that was known to mark the beginning of The Great Depression. Billions of dollars were lost because the stock prices had fallen completely and people sold their shares going into a panic, despite bank attempts to stabilize it. It also destroyed any confidence people had in Wall Street. It was one of the chain events that led into the true economic slump that was the Great Depression. -
The Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl was a period of severe dust storms caused by the topsoil being blown away due to droughts a poor farming that greatly affected the southern plains. Dust blanketed cities and people were forced to either stay in their homes or wear masks to avoid inhaling the dust. Many cattle actually died for that very reason. People had to move to get away from the storms. To solve these issue the government did things like 220 million trees in the area between Texas and Canada to keep dirt down. -
Bonus March
The Bonus March happened in 1932 and was when a group of World War I veterans marched to Washington D.C. to demand payment of their war bonuses early because of fear of the economy and because their deadline was pushed back. President Hoover sent an army to "deal with them". Congress wouldn't pass a bonus bill. The protesters "lost" and Hoover's popularity declined because of the way he had handled the situation, especially considering they were veterans. -
Hitler
Adolf Hitler was a radical German leader who led the Nazis into prejudice, the holocaust, and overall World War II. He started as a German soldier embarrassed by the German's defeat in WWI, so he developed radical views leading the National Socialist German Workers' Party. He became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, and dictator in 1934. He believed in creating an Aryan master race which led to the holocaust and the genocide of those who did not fit that standard in concentration camps. -
Nazis
Nazis were the members of the National Socialist German Workers' Party under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. They led the holocaust and did things like approve the Nuremberg Laws which were laws that deprived Jews of German citizenship and taking many rights away from them. They were known as "the enemies" in World War II, and ultimately were defeated. They were based off of radical, fascist ideas, and used propaganda to spread their ideals. -
The New Deal
The New Deal was Franklin D. Roosevelt's plan to save America from the Great Depression through a series of programs.The need for relief, recovery, and reform was expressed through these many programs such as the FHA, SEC, or FDIC. Since there we so many of these programs, there came many acronyms, which became known as alphabet soup. It established a more secure government role in the economy.Some successful programs remain today. It was one of his many successful achievements as president. -
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt was the longest-serving first lady, serving four terms along-side her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was his eyes and ears and right hand. She was also an activist for both women's rights and African American rights speaking out in press conferences. She began "first lady causes". She was basically the first modern first lady. After her husband's death, she remained in politics becoming chair of the U.N's Human Rights Commission. -
Bank Holiday
In 1933, in response to bank failures, Franklin Roosevelt closed down all the banks from March 6th to March 10th. During this time the "good banks" from the "bad banks" were separated the banks deemed unfit were shut down. This was until Congress could meet in special session to consider banking reform legislation. He did this in an effort to restore confidence in the banking system and create a sense of relief for the public, assuring them he was taking measures against the great depression. -
The Holocaust
The Holocaust was the mass genocide of people who did not fit the Aryan master race standard Adolf Hitler believed in done by the Nazis. It was mostly focused on Jewish people, but also included handicapped, mentally ill, homosexuals, and gypsies. More than 6 million people were killed in this genocide in places called concentration camps where the people were kept, tortured, and then killed in groups. People fled to other countries to avoid the camps. It lasted the entirety of World War II. -
First 100 Days
Franklin Roosevelt had such a productive first 100 days in office it would become a part of modern presidencies. Modern presidents would take into account what was accomplished in their first 100 days in office to measure the successfulness of their term would be like. Franklin Roosevelt's first 100 days were committed to passing legislation in order to alleviate the depression, restoring American faith in the economy and banking system, and setting up a plan to aid people in the depression. -
Securities and Exchange Commission
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was a program that was put in place as part of the New Deal created in 1934. It was made to provide reparations in the stock market to help it get back up after the crash in 1929. It also regulated federal security laws. It basically prevented manipulation or fraud within the stock exchanges so that the stock market wouldn't crash again. The program is still in place today. -
Neutrality acts
The neutrality acts prohibited sale of arms to belligerents in a war; banned loans to belligerents; citizens cannot travel to countries at war or travel on armed ships. There were different ones put in place throughout 1935 to 1937. They were put in place so that the United States could be taken out of the possibility of being involved in any future wars. -
Father Charles E. Coughlin
Father Charles E. Coughlin was a Catholic priest that had weekly sermons broadcasted nationally over the radio. He reached a larger audience that Roosevelt had with his fireside chats.He was also an advocate for changing the banking & currency systems; and proposed a "new deal" in opposition to Franklin Roosevelt's. In 1935, he established the National Union for Social Justice. He was also known for supporting themes of anti-Semitism and fascism. -
Scopes Mokey Trial
In Dayton, Tennessee, John Scopes, a high school science teacher, was accused of teaching evolution which was against the law. Scopes was represented by Clarence Darrow. T William Jennings Bryan was the prosecutor, and also a Christian who was also opposed to the teaching of evolution in schools. The trial became really famous because brought the question of: How far can religion constitute was it taught in schools if it does have the power to constitue? Scopes ended up losing the trial. -
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WWII
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Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was a U.S naval base in Hawaii near Honolulu. It was were the Japanse launched a surprise attack, on December 7th 1941, in which their naval air force damaged several battleships. Part of the reason it was a surprise is because it was on a Sunday. It was a key point in the war because it led to a declaration of war by the United States the day right after. It also led to both Germany and Italy declaring war on the United States the day after that. -
D-Day
D-day was a turning point in the war, in which Eisenhower led over a million troops into Normandy, France to re-take it, which led to the liberation of Paris in August from under the control of the Nazis. It was the largest military seaborne invasion in history. The Allies had previously misled the Germans in attempts to defeat them in Normandy and the invasion itself took tons of planning. This battle later helped secure an allied victory in World War II. -
The United Nations
It was an international body that was composed of several different countires. It was formed in 1945 after World War II to bring nations together to discuss international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues in hopes of preventing further world wars; much like the former League of Nations had tired. However,it was more realistic in keeping peace in the world. It was successful and is still in use today. -
Atomic Warfare
Use of atomic warfare began in World War II, mainly with the use of the atomic bomb in events such as Hiroshima. The United States had developed a secret project to develop an atomic bomb called the Manhattan Project.he United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, killing 210,000 people—children, women, and men. This began the events that led to the Atomic Age. -
17th Amendment
The 17th Amendment was passed in 1992 with the purpose of allowing voters, rather than state legislation, to appoint senators to Congress. It was important because there were many problems related to the election of senators. Not only that, but this way would help prevent corruption and one group controlling politics, and private interests would no longer be the "focus" of the Senate. Overall this amendment was created with the intention of making our political system a little more democratic.
