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the election of 1876
In what was perhaps the most contentious election in U.S. history, Democrat Samuel Tilden faced off against Rutherford Hayes. The results were muddy to say the least; Tilden won the popular vote and the results of the electoral college are disputed to this day. In order to bring things to a close, both parties agreed to a compromise. The Democrats agreed to concede the victory to Hayes, and in return federal troops would leave the south. -
Alexander Graham Bell Patents the Telephone
Following the telegraph and other revolutions in communication technology, the Telephone was another way to connect places that were vast distances from each other. While Bell's invention was not the only one of its kind, it was the first to be patented and one of the more efficient models. -
The Battle of Little Bighorn
Also known as Custer's last stand, this battle is still remembered as a great defeat for U.S. troops. It faced General Custer and about 700 men against over 3000 natives. Custer and his troops were quickly defeated, with great slaughter. -
Edison Patents His Lightbulb
After countless hours of research and failed attempts, Thomas Edison succeeded in inventing his own version of the Electric Light Bulb. -
The Statue of Liberty is Dedicated
The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, has come to represent the American ideals of Freedom and Liberty. It took over nine years to build and had to be disseminated in order to be sent to the U.S. -
Oklahoma is Opened to Settlers
The Oklahoma territory was initially set aside for Indian tribes as a permeant place to settle down. Yet as more Americans moved west, more land was required. So the federal government parceled out land in 160 acre plots to natives and then opened the territory for settlement of the remaining land. It was first come first served, so a frantic rush to grab land ensued. -
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act is Signed into Law
The Capitalist system is based on competition, but what happens when clever people find a way around that fundamental rule? Trusts were essentially monopolies which did away with completion. This means that they could raise prices for their products and cut pay to workers, all in all some pretty scummy stuff. The Sherman Act was designed to end that. It would later be employed, with great success, by President Roosevelt in a crusade of " Trust Busting". -
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The Spanish American War
For years tension had been felt in the U.S. due to conflict in Cuba. Cuban Revolutionaries had been fighting against their Spanish Overlords for independence for quite some time. Eventually the U.S. was drawn into the conflict to fight for Cuban Independence. The war was only a matter of months, with American and Cuban forces claiming victory. The U.S. gained sovereignty over the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico from Spain.