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Invention of the Telephone
After 600 unsuccessful attempts, the USA granted Alexander Graham Bell a patent for his invention of the telephone. Bell made his first call to his assistant Thomas Watson. The first recorded words were: "Mr. Watson--come here--I want to see you." -
Election of 1876
One of the most disputed presidential elections in which Republican Rutherford B. Hayes beat Democrat Samuel J. Tilden. The election is commonly referred to as the "Stolen Election" because of the belief that Republicans rigged the election. Hayes beat Tilden by one electoral college vote: 185-184. -
Election of 1880
Republican James Garfield defeated Democrat Winfield Hancock. Garfield had 214 electoral college votes to Hancock's 155 votes. However, Garfield won the popular vote by smallest margin in U.S. history. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Also known as the Immigration Act of 1882, the act prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the country. Congress passed the act in 1882, and it lasted for 10 years. The Geary Act extended it for another 10 years, until it was repealed in 1943. -
Interstate Commerce Act
This act allowed the federal government to regulate the railroad industry. Railroads became the first industry to be regulated by the government. The act required railroad rates to be reasonable and just. -
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act authorized the government to regulate Indian tribal land. The U.S. distributed Indian reservations among the Native Americans with the goal of assimilating them into white culture. -
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Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a national economic crisis caused by the collapse of the New York Stock Exchange. This started a four year depression. -
Explosion of USS Maine
This United States Navy ship was sent to Cuba to protect Americans after their rebellion against Spanish rule over Cuban independence. Maine sunk in the Havana Harbor, contributing to the Spanish-American War. This incident leaves 254 seamen dead, and 59 sailors wounded. -
Spanish-American War
After the explosion of the USS Maine and struggle to help Cuba gain independence from Spain, the United States declared war on Spain. The armed conflict lasted 6 months. -
Treaty of Paris 1898
This treaty concluded the Spanish-American War. The terms of the treaty included that the islands of Puerto Rico and Guam were placed under American control, and Spain relinquished its claim on Cuba.
