-
Seneca Falls Convention
During the Seneca Falls Convention, there was the Seneca Falls Declaration which outlined women’s rights movements. It was modeled after the Declaration of Independence. It showed that women’s rights were human rights and the importance of ratifying the 19th Ammendment. It was the first women’s rights convention. -
Sailing into Tokyo Bay
In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Tokyo Bay. The reason for this visit was to try to get Japan to open up trade. Matthew Perry asked nicely but told the emperor that he had many battle ships in the Bay and wasn’t afraid to use them. The emperor finally caved in and signed a trademark agreement with America. This was very significant because it was the first time Japan opened up to trade. -
The Homestead Act of 1862
The Homestead Act of 1862 gave public lands to American citizens. Any person who was the head of the family or was at least 21 could become the owner of a homestead. Each homestead was 160 acres but if you were married you could get 320 acres of land. Whoever settles on that piece of land must live on it and work it for five years. -
Ratification of the 13th Ammendment
The 13th Ammendment was ratified in December of 1865. The 13th Ammendment banned slavery in the United States and made it so that Congress cannot enforce slavery. This allowed for actions to be made to help aid former slaves and get them back in their feet. One of those actions was the Freedman’s Bureau. The Freedman’s Bureau provided food, clothing, jobs, medical care, and education for former slaves. This was the last push towards the end of slavery. -
Reconstruction Acts of 1867
There were 3 Reconstruction Acts of 1867. The first one was the Military Reconstruction Act. This divided the 10 unreconstructed states into 5 districts. The second act was the Command of the Army Act. This made it so the president had to issue all Reconstruction orders through the military. The last act was the Tenure of Office Act. This act made it so the president couldnt remove any officials without the Senates consent. These acts helped gain control and give order to the Reconstruction. -
Transcontinental Railroad
The building of this railroad started durning the Civil War and spanned almost 2,000 miles. The two companies working on the railroad were the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific. The railroad helped make travel safer and more efficient. It also established the four times zones. The railroads met on May 10, 1869 in Promontory Point, Utah. -
15th Ammendment
The 15th Ammendment was ratified in 1870. This Ammendment guaranteed federal voting to all men. Women during this time were very upset because although now all men could vote women still could not vote. The 14th Ammendment stated “ The right of citizens of the US to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the US or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servititue.” This was a giant leap in equal rights and was a huge step for African Americans. -
Abandonment of Reconstruction
The abandonment of reconstruction caused many problems. It caused the Panic of 1873 which was a 6 year depression. There was also concern over westward expansion and wars with the Indians. It also lead to the Compromise of 1877 which gave Republicans the presidency with Hayes and the democrats the end of reconstruction. -
Battle of Little Bighorn
The Battle of Little Bighorn occurred because gold was found in the Sioux Black Hills. General Custer was sent to round up the Indians but the Sioux leader Sitting Bull refused to move. The Cheyenne warriors and their leader Crazy Horse joined the Sioux. Custer and all his men were killed but the Army ended up defeating the Sioux and they had to move. A horse named Comanche was the only US survivor of the Battle of Little Bighorn. -
Chinese Exclusion Act was passed
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 ended Chinese immigration. This means that no more people from China could come to America. This was very bad for the Chinese because they couldn’t come to America and start a new life as they wanted to. It promoted xenophobia which is the fear of intruderes. It caused a lot of heartache and pain for those whose families were already in America and they couldn’t join them. -
Brooklyn Bridge Opened
The Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge at the time. It allowed people to easily travel between Brooklyn and Manhattan. It took almost 14 years to build and many people lost their lives building this bridge. John A. Roebling designed the bridge but died while it was being built and his wife Emily took over for the last 11 years. -
The Statue of Liberty Opened
The Statue of Liberty was designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. It was a gift from France and had to be shipped over in pieces to the United States. It took about 10 years to be built because of its incredible size. It represented freedom and equality. It was one of the first things that you saw when you entered into the United States. It became a symbol of America and provided many people with the sense of freedom and safety. -
Wounded Knee
The masacre at Wounded Knee was the last major battle between whites and Native Americans. Prophet Wovoka claimed that the Sioux would regain their greatness but preforming a Ghost Dance. The officials became alarmed and arrested Sitting Bull. Sitting Bull was killed during his arrest which caused the Sioux to gather at Wounded Knee. They were surrounded by the army and many were killed. This ended armed conflicts between whites and Native Americans. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
The Sherman Antitrust Act limited competition, outlawed monopolies, and conspiracies. This made sure that one company could not own all companies in a specific business or trade. It helped small companies be able to thrive and no be overcome by big companies. -
Ida B. Wells started her crusades against lynching
Ida B. Wells made many steps in stopping lynching which were public hangings that were against the law. She also began a newspaper that attacked lynchings and racism. Her store was burned and she had to flee to the North. She made a huge impact on others and fought whole-heartedly against racism. -
Ellis Island Opens
Ellis Island was America’s premier immigration station. Five years after Ellis Island opened a fire burned down almost all of the wood buildings and it had to be rebuilt. It reopened in 1900. Millions of people passed through Ellis Island and were able to come to America. To get through Ellis Island you had to answer many questions, go through a medical exam, and take a mental exam. If you passed all these tests you were able to enter America and start your new life. -
Klondike Gold Rush
In 1896 gold was found in Alaska which started the Klondike Gold Rush. People came from all over to try and find gold but very few actually struck it. The gold rush was significant because it showed people that Alaska wasn’t useless and actually had things to offer. In order to get to where the gold was found you had to climb up a mountain. Very few made it all the way up and of those very few, even less found gold. -
Plessy vs. Ferguson
During this case the Supreme Court ruled that segregation was legal as long as the facilities were equally as nice and well kept. This was a very big step backwards in equality. The facilities that were for the minorities were not well kept and were not of equal quality. This decision really encouraged racism and made it so that it was not illegal. -
Congress Declares War on Spain
After the USS Maine exploded, Congress declared war on Spain. This started the Spanish-American War. This war was mainly fought in Cuba and the Philippines. The war was a fairly easy win for America and only lasted about 5 months. General George Dewey and Theodore Roosevelt gained popularity for their assistance in this war. -
Manila Bay
During this battle Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish navy in the Philippines after only six hours of combat. The capital of the Philippines, Manila, was captured with the help of Filipino rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo. This was a major win for the United States and helped prove them as a world power. Two days after this battle Spain surrendered after their fleet was destroyed in Santiago Bay. -
1902 Coal Strike
During the 1902 Coal Strike 140,000 coal miners in Pennsylvania went on strike for increased wages, a 9-hour work day, and the right to unionize. This strike could’ve shutdown the winter fuel supply to major American cities. President Roosevelt called in both sides and settled the dispute. After this the government was expected to step on and help with strikes in the future. -
Federal Reserve Board was created
The Federal Reserve Board was established to prevent bank closings. They were the last resort lender to banks that were in the verge of collapsing. However, the FED had lowered te requirement of cash reserves. Many banks began to run out of cash to give people. This caused major problems and caused distrust in banks. -
Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
The assassination of archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian empire was the spark that started World War 1. This is a very important event because it started the war that took many lives and affected many people. The archduke and his wife were killed in Sarajevo but a gunman named Gavrilo Princip. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
On May 7,1915 Germany torpedoed an American passenger ship named Lusitania. This caused an outrage. Germany was not supposed to destroy passenger ships. Around 1,200 people were killed. It was later discovered that the ship was actually carrying 4,200 cases domestic ammunition. The Germans however would not have known that. This is one of the reasons America got involved in the war. -
The United States enter World War 1
On April 6, 1917 the United States entered World War 1. The US was only in war for a few months and helped the Allied Powers finally wear down the Central Powers. There were three main reasons the US entered the war: blockades, unlimited submarine warfare, and the Zimmerman note. All of these events lead up to America finally joining and helping the Allied Powers. -
The NWP picket the White House
The NWP chooses to picket the White House in order to show people they were serious about the 19th Ammendment. They used a lot of quotes from President Wilson to prove that he wasn’t giving women the rights they deserve. There was a big debate on whether or not to picket during WW1. They did anyway and it ended up giving them the right to vote. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles ended World War 1. It was passed on November 11, 1918. It took away land from Germany, dismantled their military, and forced them to take all the blame for the war. Both sides were just tired of fighting and the Central Powers sought out an armistice. -
18th Ammendment was passed
The 18th Ammendment banned the making, selling, and transportation of alcohol. This caused a major uproar. Many people believed that alcohol lead to crime, child and wife abuse, and accidents. Although drinking or buying alcohol was illegal many people chose to still drink and go to speakeasies. The 18th Ammendment was very unsuccessful and poorly enforced. -
Schenck vs. U.S
This was a Supreme Court case that helped inforce the Espionage Act of 1917. It ruled that if any act of speech posed a clear and present danger then Congress had the right to restrain it. Normally, the mailing of leaflets and letters would be protected by the 1st Ammendment but it was War time. This case was fought by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. -
Ratification of the 19th Ammendment
The ratification of the 19th ammendment stated, “The right of citizens of the U.S. to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the U.S. or by any state on account of sex.” Suffragettes went through so much ridicule and violence to have this ammendment ratified. The last state to vote it in was Tennessee. This ammendment gave women a boost in confidence and gave them the rights they deserve. -
Scopes Trial
The Scopes trial happened because a biology teacher decided to teach evolution to his class. This was at a time where creation was the only thing taught and teaching evolution was illegal in Tennessee. Scopes was found guilty and fined $100. Although Scopes lost the trial this started the teaching of evolution in most schools. -
Buck vs. Bell
Buck vs. Bell was a Supreme Court case where Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. presented. The Court ruled that it is permittable to sterilize the “unfit or intellectually disabled.” This was to “clean” the human race and try to make it the best it could be. I believe that this is very wrong and shouldn’t have been allowed. -
St. Valentines Day Massacre
On Valentine’s Day in 1929, 7 men associated with George Moran were shot to death by men dressed as policeman. They were forced to line up against a wall and were shot in the back. Al Capone was believed to be behind this act but was never officially linked. -
“Black Tuesday” (Stock Market Crash)
The losses of the stock market crash exceeded $26 billion. Everyone rushed to sell their stocks because the prices dropped so drastically. The bad stock market was a symptom of the Great Depression, not a cause. Many people lost their confidence in banks and began to withdraw their savings. -
Passage of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff raised tariffs on the US imports by up to 50%. This was the greatest political mistake during the Great Depression. They forgot that international trade went both ways. Foreigners didn’t want to sell goods in the US and it ignited an international trade war. It also worsened world economic conditions. -
Passage of the Revenue Act of 1932
The Revenue Act of 1932 was the largest peacetime income tax increase. Income taxes went from 1-4% to 23-63%. They hoped it could cover the deficit of government spending for relief. But it was a failure. It furthered bad spending and didn’t help us get out of the depression. -
Election of 1932
In the election of 1932 Franklin D. Roosevelt won the Democratic Party Nomination. He promised relief for the poor and for public works program. He won 57% of the popular vote. This was an important event because the deals and programs FDR put in place are argued to have elongated the depression and make things worse. -
21st Ammendment was passed
21st Ammendment repealed the 18th Ammendment. It is the only ammendment as of now to have repealed a prior ammendment. Prohibition failed because the government failed to control liquor distribution and they didn’t have enough resources to enforce it. Also many law enforcers were taking bribes and partaking in alcohol consumption themselves. The government lost about $300 million on enforcement. -
Germany invades Poland
Germany invading Poland was the first act of war. It led Britain and France to declare war on Hitler and his Nazi regime. This is marked as the beginning of World War 2. World War 2 was an intense and gruesome war that took many innocent lives. Hitler and his Nazi regime were a strong force that was eventually taken down. -
Pearl Harbor Attack
On December 7,1941, Japan attacks the United States navy at Pearl Harbor which was the act that brought the U.S. into World War 2. They hope they would cripple the U.S. enough that we couldn't fight back immediately. The attack was completely by surprise and claimed the lives of many navy personnel. On December 8, 1941 the United States officially joined the war. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Hitler wanted to wipe out Stalingrad which was a major industrial center. In July of 1942, Hitler and his men took the offensive in the southern Soviet Union. Eventually winter set in and the Germans only had their summer uniforms. They surrendered in January of 1943. This was the first great turning point for the Allies. -
D-Day
D-Day was also called "Operation Overlord" which was commanded by Dwight Eisenhower. On this day the Allies liberate Europe by invading France. It was the largest land-sea-air operation in military history. Although this was a successful move by the Allies, the German retaliation was brutal, especially on Omaha Beach. -
Hiroshima Attack by the US
The only way to avoid invading Japan was by using the atomic bomb. The US chose to us the atomic bomb as the lesser of two evils. About a week before the US was going to drop the bomb, they sent planes to drop leaflets warning the civilians to leave. On August 6, 1945, pilot Paul Tibbets driving the Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. -
V-J Day
Days after the second atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, they finally surrendered. This day is known as Victory in Japan Day. It was a very difficult task to get the Japanese to surrender. This was the beginning of the end of World War 2. Americans were ecstatic because they knew the war was almost over. -
Blockade of Berlin
On June 24,1948 the Soviet Union blockaded Berlin from the Allie West. It was the first major crisis of the Cold War. This act forced the city into submission. The West was determined to do everything in their power to defend Berlin and save it from falling into Communism. This acted a solid a trigger for war. Many people were split from their families and could not leave. -
North Korea invades South Korea
North and South Korea had been divided along the 38th parallel. On June 25,1950 the Communist forces of North Korea crossed the 38th párale and invaded South Korea. The United Natiojs declared North Korea the aggressor and sent in troops from 15 different countries to help fight against them. -
Rosa Parks Refused to Give Up Her Seat
Rosa Parks was an active member of the Civil Rights Movement and the NAACP. She fought avidly for equality and would stop at nothing to make sure everyone was treated fairly. On December 1, 1955 she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus. Rosa Parks was arrested and charged with violating segregation laws. She is still seen as a major role model and activist. -
Fidel Castro takes control of Cuba
On January 1,1959 Fidel Castro overthrows Fulgencio Batista. He nationalizes Cuba’s sugar industry and makes a trade agreement with the Soviet Union. Throughout the Cold War Cuba was an Allie with the Soviet Union. This was very dangerous for the United States because Cuba is close and if they acquired nuclear weapons, America would be in danger. -
Creation of the National Liberation Front
The National Liberation Front brought together Communists and non-Communists in an effort to bring down Diem and to unify Vietnam. President Kennedy sent reporters to Vietnam to assess the situation and they wrote a report known as the “December 1961 White Paper.” It stated that they needed more involvement in order to defeat the NLF. -
The Worst Day of the Cuban Missle Crisis
President Kennedy ordered a naval quarantine on Cuba to prevent the Soviet Union from sending them weapons. America came across information that the Soviet Union had placed missles in Cuba. Khrushchev of the Soviet Union demanded the U.S. remove its missles from Turkey before they will remove theirs from Cuba. By October 28, tensions ease and both the U.S. and Soviet Union remove their missles. -
The Warren Commission was Established
After John F. Kennedy was assassinated, the Warren Commission was established. The purpose of this commission was to investigate the death of JFK and to find out who was involved. There were many conspiracies about who killed JFK. This team of people was to find out who actually did it. They concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, the injuries sustained by JFK and Governor Conally were caused by two bullets, and that a total of 3 bullets were fired. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
Getting the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to be passed was not easy. Southern senators tried using a filibuster to block its passage. There were 80 days of long speeches. The Act eventually passed through the House and the Senate and President Johnson signed it. The Act allowed the Justice Department to prosecute discrimination, outlaw segregation in public accommodations, and desegregate schools. -
The Selma March (Bloody Sunday)
The Selma March was a peaceful protest which supported voting rights for African Americans. It was a 54 mile long march. On Bloody Sunday, as it is now called, police brutally blockaded the protesters in any way they could. They used clubs and tear gas to stop them from entering the city. This offense helped pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which was very important in encouraging African Americans to vote. -
Martin Luther King Jr. was Assassinated
Martin Luther King Jr. was a major leader of the Civil Rights Movement. He was a hard worker and fought tirelessly for equality. He was assassinated on April 4,1968 on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. The shooter was James Earl Ray who was sentenced to 99 years in prison. The bullet severed his spinal cord. -
Watergate Building Break-in
On June 17, 1972 5 men were arrested for breaking into the Democrat headquarters at the Watergate building. This act caused one of Nixon's biggest scandals. In the beginning, he denied all involvement with the burglary. It was later discovered that he paid hush money and knew more about it then he was letting on. This event later caused Nixon to resign, leaving Gerald Ford to become our president. -
The Paris Peace Agreement was signed
The Paris Peace Agreement was between the United States of America and the Vietnamese. Before the conference took place, they argued about the size of the conference table for five months. This agreement ended all hostilities between the US and North Vietnam. It, however, did not end conflict in Vietnam. -
The War Powers Act was passed
The War Powers Act stated that the President must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops. This Act took power away from the President. It also stated that the President must withdraw forces unless he gains Congressional approval within 90 days. This was a very important act and helped the people feel like the President did not have all the power. -
Vietnam Memorial was completed
The Vietnam Memorial was a very important display of respect for those who served. The design of the memorial was actually a competition with the following rules: it must be reflective, it has to harmonize with its surroundings, it has the names of the deceased or missing, and it must make no political statement. The winner was Maya Ying Lin. The memorial is a great place to reflect and contains 58,318 names. -
The Soviet Union is Dissolved
When Hungary opened its doors to Austria, the Berlin Wall came down, and East and West Germany United, it was over for the Soviet Union. Mikhail Gorbachev who was the leader of them Soviet Union, resigned and gave control to the Russian President, Boris Yeltsin. Declaration no. 142-H declared independence of Soviet Republics and created the Commonwealth of Independent States.
