1942-1953 DC American History

By KaylaWylie

  • Executive Order 9066: Japanese-American Relocation

    Executive order 9066 is signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, confining 110,000 Japanese Americans, including 75,000 citizens, on the West Coast into relocation camps during World War II. The remains of the first of these detention camps resides in California's Manzanar National Historic Site. These camps would last for three years.

  • The Battle of Midway

    The Battle of the Midway begins at Midway Islands in the Pacific, lasting until June 7th. The Japanese fleet encountering its first major defeat of the war against the United States military. As the Battle of Midway comes to an end, Japan invades the Aleutian Islands, the first invasion of American soil in 128 years.

  • The Manhattan Project is born

    The development of the first atomic bomb is signed into agreement between the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Hyde Park, New York.

  • The Battle of Guadalcanal

    The United States Marines land on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in the first American offensive of World War II. A naval battle would commence on November 12 for three days with the U.S. Navy able to retain control despite heavy losses.

  • Allies invade Africa

    North Africa is invaded by the United States and Great Britain to drive out the presence of German and Italian troops.

  • The Manhattan Project: Progess is made

    The first nuclear chain reaction is produced at the University of Chicago in the Manhattan Project, creating fission of the Uranium U-235, under the direction of physicists Arthur Compton and Enrico Fermi.

  • The Battle of Kasserine Pass

    The United States encounters its first major defeat in the European theater of World War II at the Battle for Kasserine Pass in Tunisia.

  • The Jefferson Memorial is dedicated

    The Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. is dedicated on the 200th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson's birth by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

  • The Detroit & Harlem Race Riots

    Race riots in Detroit and Harlem cause forty deaths and seven hundred injuries.

  • The Sicily Invasion: "The Uppercut to Italy"

    The United States Army's 45th Infantry Division lands on the island of Sicily, starting the campaign of Allied invasion into Axis-controlled Europe. Nine days later, Rome is bombed by Allied forces.

  • Sicily is secured by the Allies

    The conquest of Sicily would be completed when U.S. forces under General Patton and British forces under Field Marshall Montgomery arrive.

  • The "Big Three" Meeting: The Tehran Conference

    The Tehran Conference is held for three days, concluding in an agreement between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Josef Stalin about a planned June 1944 invasion of Europe with the code name Operation Overlord.

  • The Normandy Invasion: Doomsday for the Axis

    The Normandy Invasion occurs when 155,000 Allied troops land in France. Allied soldiers stormed the beaches of France to begin the World War II invasion of Europe that would lead to the liberation of Paris. Uncover, aerial-based stealth missions to secure bridgeheads had taken place in the early morning, a few hours before the landings. Operation Overlord gained footing quickly, pushing through the Atlantic Wall in the largest amphibious military operation in history.

  • The G.I. Bill of Rights

    The G.I. Bill of Rights is signed into law, providing benefits to veterans.

  • The Port Chicago Explosions

    The greatest continental U.S. tragedy of World War II occurs when two ships loading ammunition at Port Chicago Naval Weapons Station in California explodes. The accident killed three hundred and twenty people. This caused a major fright for the public, who believed Nazi spies were responsible for the explosion.

  • The Invasion of Guam begins

    The United States military begins to retake the island of Guam after Japanese troops had occupied the island during World War II. The battle would end on August 10.

  • FDR's Last Campaign Speech & his 4th term

    The last campaign speech of Franklin D. Roosevelt, seeking his fourth term in office, is broadcast from his Hyde Park, New York home. One day later, Roosevelt would gain that fourth term by a significant, but smaller margin than any of his previous elections, especially in the popular vote where Dewey lost by only three and one half million votes. The Electoral College margin, however, at 432 to 99, insured Roosevelt good footing in prosecution of World War II.

  • The Supreme Court: Was Internment Nessecary? YES.

    The United States Supreme Court rules in the case of Korematsu vs. the United States, the wartime internment of Japanese Americans on the West Coast was valid during a time of war.

  • The Yalta Conference: Carving up Europe

    The Yalta Conference begins on February 4th, but continues for a week, ending on the 11th. President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and Premier Josef Stalin hold the Yalta Conference in the Soviet Union. (Stalin had several of the rooms bugged).

  • The Battle of Iwo Jima: the Bloodiest Battle of the Pacific War

    Thirty thousand United States Marines land on Iwo Jima, encountering fierce Japanese resistence. The classic picture of marines hoisting up an American flag was taken on the island, following the American victory.

  • America's gunning for Berlin: The Crossing of the Rhine

    American troops cross the Rhine River at Remagen, Germany.

  • BOOM! BYE BERLIN!

    Twelve hundred and fifty U.S. bombers attack Berlin in a massive raid, causing Adolf Hitler to announce the destruction of his own industries and military installations one day later.

  • The Battle of Okinawa

    American troops invade Okinawa, beginning the Battle of Okinawa, which would continue until June 21.

  • RIP Roosevelt & Good Luck President Truman!

    President Roosevelt dies suddenly, and Vice President Harry S. Truman assumes the presidency and role as commander in chief of World War II.

  • BIH (Burn in Hell) Adolf Hitler

    Adolf Hitler commits suicide with his mistress, Ava Brown, in his private bunker in the Chancellory Garden, following the Soviet invasion of East Berlin.

  • The European Theatre of War ends & Germany surrenders to the Allies

    The unconditional surrender of Germany at Reims, France concludes the military engagements of World War II in Europe. It is accepted by General Dwight D. Eisenhower in his role as the commander of Allied troops in the European theater of the war.

  • The Trinity Test: The Flaming Mushroom of Doom

    The first atomic bomb, the Trinity Test, is exploded at Alamogordo, New Mexico, after its production at Los Alamos.

  • BOOM! See ya, Hiroshima! Will you surrender now, Japan??

    President Harry S. Truman gives the go-ahead for the use of the atomic bomb with the bombing of Hiroshima.

  • BOOM! Sorry Nagasaki, but your government didnt surrender!

    The second bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. This bomb is code-named "Fat Man."

  • Japan: "NEVER SURRENDER! EXPANSION IS OUR DESTINY!!" US: *has perfect poker face & raises eyebrow* "We have more bombs." Japan: *sweats* "Where do I sign?"

    Emperor Hirohito of Japan surrenders to American forces, ending conflict in the Pacific Theatre, and ending WWII.

  • The UN is born

    The United Nations is created & boasts 51 participating nations.

  • The UN meets for the first time

    The first meeting of the United Nations general assembly occurs with 51 participating nations, including the Security Council nations of China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.A. These actions would lead to the disbanding of the League of Nations on April 18, when its mission was transferred to the U.N.

  • The Miners' Strikes

    Four hundred thousand mine workers begin to strike, with other industries following their lead.

  • Philippines becomes independent

    The island nation of the Philippines is given their independence by the United States. This ends four hundred and twenty-five years of dominance by the west

  • The AEC is founded

    The Atomic Energy Commission is established.

  • The Truman Doctrine

    The Truman Doctrine is announced to the U.S. Congress. When passed it would grant $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey to battle Communist terrorism. President Harry S. Truman implements the act on May 22.

  • The Man, the Myth, the Legend: Jackie Robinson

    Jackie Robinson breaks Major League Baseball's barrier against coloured players when he debuts at first base for Branch Rickey's Brooklyn Dodgers.

  • The Marshall Plan

    Secretary of State George C. Marshall proposes aid extension to European nations for war recovery, known as the Marshall Plan, which would lead to Congressional approval of $12 billion over the following four years.

  • The Taft-Hartley Labor Act

    President Harry S. Truman vetoes the Taft-Hartley Labor Act that would have curbed strikes, only to be overridden by Congress on June 23.

  • The Soviet Block & the German Airlift (AKA: the Situation in which America outfoxes a sly Soviet. Well played, Truman.)

    The Soviet Union begins its land blockade of the Allied sectors of Berlin, Germany. A counter blockade by the west was put into effect, as well as a British and U.S. airlift of supplies and food until both blockades were lifted on September 30, 1949.

  • The Organization of American States is born

    The Organization of American States is founded by 21 nations to provide a mutual security pact after World War II. Founding nations were Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

  • Executive Order 9981: One, Big, Happy Military!

    Executive Order 9981, ending segregation in the United States military, is signed into effect by President Harry S. Truman.

  • Dewey Wins---NEVERMIND TRUMAN WON!!!

    President Harry S. Truman rallies from behind, capturing his first president election from the supposed winner Thomas E. Dewey, the governor of New York. Headlines in national newspapers had overtly announced a Dewey victory, only to be proven wrong. (lol how embarrassing!)

  • So the Red Scare begins...

    Alger Hiss, a former State Department official, is indicted for perjury in connection to denials of passing state secrets to a communist spy ring. He would be convicted of the conspiracy on January 21, 1950, and receive a five-year sentence.

  • Flight NONSTOP flight around the ENTIRE WORLD

    Captain James Gallagher lands the B-50 Lucky Lady II in Texas after completing the first around-the-world non-stop airplane flight. It was refueled four times in flight.

  • The NATO Alliance

    NATO, the North American Treaty Organization, is formed by the United States, Canada, and ten Western European nations (Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom). The treaty stated that any attack against one nation would be considered an attack against them all.

  • US in the moment: "Bye Korea! Good luck!" US a few years later: *sees Communists invade* "Oh shoot, we made a mistake everybody!"

    The United States withdraws its troops from Korea.

  • US: *offensive screeching* "I SPY A SOVIET SPY!"

    Eleven leaders of the United States Communist party are convicted of advocating a violent insurrection and overthrow of the U.S. government. The Supreme Court would uphold the convictions on June 4, 1951.

  • The 1950 US Census

    For the first time, the 1950 census counts a population in the United States over 150 million people. The 14% increase since the last census now showed a count of 150,697,361. The most populous state in the United States was New York, now followed by California. The geographic center of the United States population had now moved west into Richland County, Illinois, 8 miles north-northwest of Olney.

  • The Korean War begins

    The Korean War begins its three-year conflict when troops of North Korea, backed with Soviet weaponry, invade South Korea. This act leads to U.S. involvement when two days later, the United States Air Force and Navy are ordered by President Truman to the peninsula. On June 30, ground forces and airstrikes are approved against North Korea.

  • Anti-Communist aide is given to Vietnam

    Thirty-five military advisors are sent to South Vietnam to give military and economic aid to the anti-Communist government.

  • The 38th Parallel Retreat

    United Nations forces retreat south toward the 38th parallel when Chinese Communist forces open a counteroffensive in the Korean War. This action halted any thought of a quick resolution to the conflict. On December 8, 1950, shipments to Communist China are banned by the United States.

  • The ANZUS Treaty

    The United States, Australia, and New Zealand sign a mutual security pact, the ANZUS Treaty.

  • Trans-contiental television is adopted

    The inauguration of trans-continental television occurs with the broadcast of President Truman's speech at the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference in San Francisco. The treaty would be signed on September 8 by the U.S., Japan, and forty-seven other nations.

  • Steel Seizures = Illegal!

    President Truman authorizes the seizure of United States steel mills in order to avert a strike, but his action is ruled illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 2.

  • The Hydrogen Bomb is invented

    At Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, the first hydrogen bomb, named Mike, is exploded.

  • Welcome PRESIDENT Eisenhower!

    General Dwight D. Eisenhower, a newcomer to politics, but popular due to his role in winning World War II as European commander, gains an easy victory over Democratic challenger Adlai E. Stevenson. The Electoral College vote was 442 to 89.

  • Peace Talks with Korea

    President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower travels to Korea to try and end the conflict.

  • Hey look! We have DNA!

    The description of a double helix DNA molecule is published by British physicist Francis Crick and American scientist James D. Watson. They, along with New Zealand born scientist Maurice Wilkins, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery in 1962.

  • A Cease-fire ends the Korean War (NO TREATY IS SIGNED, NORTH & SOUTH ARE STILL TECHNICALLY "AT WAR")

    Fighting ceases in the Korean War. The United Nations Command, including the United States, and the combatants North Korea and the Republic of China sign an armistice agreement. The 38th Parallel divides the Korean Pennisula into Communist-controlled North and Democratically-controlled South.

  • The Cold War Arms Race

    The Cold War continues in earnest when President Dwight D. Eisenhower approves a top secret document stating that the U.S. nuclear arsenal must be expanded to combat the communist threat around the world.

  • Television: IN COLOR!

    The first color televisions go on sale.