American History and Literature

By Deny27
  • 1492

    Christopher Columbus

    • August 3: Christopher Columbus sets sail from Spain to find a new trade route.
    • October 12: Columbus lands on an island he calls San Salvador, believing it to be near India.
  • Period: 1580 to

    John Smith

    John Smith was an English soldier, explorer, colonial governor, and author. He played an important role in the establishment of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in North America. Captain John Smith's writings offer an eyewitness account of the Chesapeake Bay in 1608. They describe his explorations in detail, recounting where he went, what he saw, and the people he met.

  • Roanoke

    Roanoke Island is established by Sir Walter Raleigh, also known as the "Lost Colony".
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    William Bradford

    • One of the Pilgrims leaders who embarks on the Mayflower journey to the New World in 1620.
    • Elected governor of Plymouth in the Massachusetts Bay Colony for about 30 years.
    • Author "Of Plymouth Plantation" in 1651, the first history of the colony that covers the years from 1620 to 1657 in Plymouth.
    • Records the "Mayflower Compact," an early document of colonial self-governance.
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    Roger Williams

    Roger Williams was an English-born New England Puritan minister, theologian, and author. He was a staunch advocate for religious freedom, separation of church and state, and fair dealings with the Native Americans. Williams was expelled by the Puritan leaders from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, so he established Providence Plantations in 1636 that later became the Colony of Rhode Island. In 1638, he founded the First Baptist Church in America in Providence.

  • Foundation of Virginia

    • King James I grants a charter to a group of merchants to establish a colony called Virginia in North America.
    • Jamestown, the first lasting English settlement in America, is established, and John Smith is sent from England to lead the colony.
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    COLONIAL AMERICAN LITERATURE

    Colonial American literature emerged from the original U.S. colonies and was largely influenced by British writers. Many of the characteristics of colonial American literature can be found in the poems, journals, letters, narratives, histories and teaching materials written by settlers and religious and historic figures of the period. Colonial American literature includes the writings of William Bradford, Anne Bradstreet and John Winthrop.
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    Anne Bradstreet

    Anne Bradstreet was the first woman to be recognized as an accomplished New World Poet. Most of the themes used by Anne Bradstreet involve loving, depiction of nature, her devotion to her belief, and her love for her community. However, most of her themes demonstrate her sarcastic tone toward social mores. She also demonstrated her strong faith in God. Some of her works are: 'To My Dear and Loving Husband’, 'Upon the Burning of our House’, and 'Before the Birth of One of Her Children’.

  • House of Burgesses - Slaves

    • The House of Burgesses is established in Virginia (new way of government).
    • Black Africans are brought to Jamestown as indentured servants, later becoming slaves.

  • The Mayflower

    • One group of Separatists decide to leave Holland and settle in Virginia
    • Pilgrims, including William Bradford, embark on the Mayflower journey to the New World
    • John Carver is the leader of the Pilgrims and author of the Mayflower Compact
    • The Pilgrims leave the English port of Plymouth on the Mayflower, and they headed for America
    • Pilgrims establish Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts
    • Half of the Pilgrims died from hunger or disease. Survivors build better houses, learn to fish and hunt

  • The Virginia Company Fails

    The Virginia Company ceases to exist, and the English government takes responsibility for the colonists.

  • Puritans

    • A larger group of almost a thousand Puritan colonists settles in the Boston area to escape persecution from Charles I.
    • John Winthrop led the first large wave of immigrants from England and served as governor for 12 of the colony’s first 20 years.
    • Puritans establish Massachusetts Bay Colony.
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    John Locke

    John Locke was a British philosopher, Oxford academic and medical researcher. He thought that government’s power is limited and that people have natural rights, such as life, liberty, and property. John Locke's philosophy inspired and reflected Enlightenment values in its recognition of the rights and equality of individuals, its criticism of arbitrary authority (e.g., the divine right of kings), its advocacy of religious toleration, and its general empirical and scientific temperament.
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    Isaac Newton

    Isaac Newton was an English physicist and mathematician who was the culminating figure of the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century. He inspired and changed the way philosophers, as well as scientists, viewed matter, the universe and creation. Further, he illustrated the humanist ideal that man may use his own inherent reason and logic to solve complex problems in the world around him. His theories provided the powerful Enlightenment metaphors for precisely measured change and illumination.
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    William Penn

    William Penn was an English Quaker leader and advocate of religious freedom, who oversaw the founding of the American Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a refuge for Quakers and other religious minorities of Europe.

  • Toleration Act

    Maryland passes the Toleration Act, which allows all Christian to worship God as they choose.
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    AMERICAN ENLIGHTENMENT

    Enlightenment thinkers believed that all people were born with natural rights: life, liberty, property, and freedom. The main ideas of the Enlightenment were reason and logic, and suggested that people must use empirical observation. This went against what the Church of England practiced, such as the divine right of kings. The Enlightenment was significant because it played a role in the American Revolution. Enlightenment was based on the metaphor of "bringing light to the Dark Age".
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    Montesquieu

    Montesquieu was the greatest supporter of the idea of separation of power within the government, often praising England for having such system. His discussion of separation of powers and checks and balances profoundly influenced the American Founders and the design of the U.S. Constitution. It was not unusual for 18th century Americans to speak of Montesquieu as an “oracle” of political wisdom whose work is “always consulted.”

  • Massachusetts

    The Boston settlement combines with the Plymouth colony, forming Massachusetts.

  • Salem Witch Trials

    • Salem witch trials in Massachusetts.
    • A public witch-hunt arrests 150 people. 19 are hanged for witchcraft.
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    Voltaire

    He was a French Enlightenment writer, philosopher, satirist, and historian. Famous for his wit and his criticism of Christianity (especially of the Roman Catholic Church) and of slavery, Voltaire was an advocate of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state.
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    Benjamin Franklin

    Franklin was the most important founding father (the oldest and the one who had contributed the most to the cause of independence). He signed the Treaty of Alliance with France, he worked out loans and trade with European countries, and he was the only founding father to have signed the three most important documents that led to Independence: Treaty of Alliance with France, Treaty of Paris and the Declaration of Independence. Key role in American Enlightenment.
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    Rousseau

    Rosseau was a Swiss Enlightenment philosopher with some radical ideas. He argued passionately for democracy, equality, liberty, and supporting the common good by any means necessary. He argued that the general will of the people could not be decided by elected representatives. He believed in a direct democracy in which everyone voted to express the general will and to make the laws of the land.
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    Jupiter Hammon

    • A black American poet and slave on Long Island, New York, becomes known for his religious poems.
    • In 1787, he advocates for the emancipation of slave children in his work "An Address to the Negroes of the State of New York."
    • Publishes "An Evening Thought," the first poem by a black male in America.
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    Samuel Adams

    A prominent political leader in Massachusetts and advocate for independence.
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    George Washington

    The first president of the USA and Commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
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    John Adams

    The second president of the USA, Vice President under Washington, and a prolific writer and diplomat.
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    Thomas Paine

    He was an influential political activist, philosopher, and writer who played a significant role in the American and French Revolutions. He immigrated to America in 1774, where he quickly became involved in the revolutionary movement. He is renowned for his influential pamphlets, particularly "Common Sense", which played a crucial role in galvanizing American colonists towards independence. Its accessible language and direct style resonated widely, igniting popular support for the Revolution.
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    Thomas Jefferson

    The third president of the USA, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and advocate for individual liberty and democracy.
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    John Jay

    The first Chief Justice of the USA, diplomat, and negotiator of the Treaty of Paris, formally ending the American Revolution.
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    James Madison

    The fourth president of the USA, known as the “Father of the Constitution” for his key role in drafting the document.
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    Phillis Wheatley

    Phillis Wheatley was born in West Africa. At the age of 7 she was sold as a slave. She was transported to Boston, where she was purchased by John Wheatley. His family treated her kind and educated her, unusual for slaves. She wrote poetry focused on themes of Christian salvation, morality, and the injustices of slavery. She was the first African American and one of the first women in America to have a book of poetry published. Her work inspired many African American writers and poets.

  • Albany Congress

    Albany Congress takes place at Albany, New York. Albany Plan of Union: A proposal put forward by Benjamin Franklin. It aimed to create a unified colonial government for the 13 colonies under the authority of the British Crown. It proposed the establishment of a grand council with representatives from each colony. It was important because it was one of the 1st attempts to create a unified colonial government.
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    Alexander Hamilton

    The first secretary of the Treasury, influential economist, and advocate for a strong federal government.
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    French and Indian War / Seven Years War

    Britain and France begin fighting the Seven Years War (known to Americans as French and Indian War)
    Reasons for the war:
    1. The Fur Trade
    2. Land
    3. Indian Relations

  • End of the French and Indian War

    • John Jay negotiates the Treaty of Paris, that ends the “Seven Years War”. It results in Britain gaining control of Canada and various territories in North America and the Caribbean from France and Spain.
    • England gets all French lands in Canada, exclusive rights to Caribbean slave trade, and commercial dominance in India.
    • King George III issues a proclamation forbidding colonists to settle west of the Appalachians without proper treaties with Amerindian tribes.

  • Stamp Act

    • The British Parliament passes the “Stamp Act” (intended to raise money to pay for the defense of the colonies), causing resentment among colonists who insist on "No taxation without representation."
    • Representatives from nine colonies met in New York and form the “Stamp Act Congress”, and organize opposition to the Act.
    • “Boston Tea Party”

  • Intolerable Acts

    • British warships took up position at the mouth of Boston harbor to make sure that no ships sailed in or out
    • British enact the "Intolerable Acts" in response to the Boston Tea Party
    • A group of colonial leaders form the first “Continental Congress” in Philadelphia, to oppose what they see as British oppression
    • Paine arrives in America with a letter of introduction from Benjamin Franklin
    • Phillis Wheatley returns to America
    • Boston harbor is closed, and soldiers are sent to maintain order

  • Start of the American Revolution

    • Start of the American Revolution.
    • "Second Continental Congress" meets in Philadelphia.
    • Congress begins acting as an American national government.
    • Army of 17,000 men is set up under the command of George Washington.

  • Declaration of Independence

    July 2: Continental Congress cuts all political ties with Britain.
    July 4:
    • Continental Congress issues the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson.
    • The colonies are now “free and independent states” and they officially name them as the “United States of America”.
    September: The war continues. British capture New York City.

  • France signs an alliance with America

    • French King Louis XVI signs an alliance with the Americans.
    • Fighting takes place in the southern colonies.

  • Articles of Confederation begin to operate

    • George Washington, with a combined American and French army, surrounds British troops under General Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia.
    • Cornwallis surrenders his army to Washington at Yorktown.
    • The Articles of Confederation begin to operate for the states to cooperate with one another.

  • Treaty Of Paris ends American Revolution

    • Treaty of Paris is signed, officially recognizing the former colonies as an independent nation from Great Britain.
    • This Treaty ends the American Revolutionary War and establishes the boundaries between the newly formed USA and British North America.

  • Constitution of the USA

    • Written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789
    • Articles of Confederation adopted as the first constitution of the United States.
    • Americans achieve a significant victory at Saratoga in northern New York, where British soldiers are forced to surrender, and it leads to French support for the Americans.

  • Constitutional Convention

    • “The Northwest Ordinance” law emphasizes Amerindian rights, stating their lands should not be taken without consent.
    • The Constitutional Convention is convened in Philadelphia to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. It begins with 55 delegates, led by George Washington.
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    Washington Irvin

    A prominent American author, best known for his short stories (Rip Van Winkle), essays, and historical works.
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    Presidency of George Washington

    First President of the USA

  • Copyright Law

    Copyright Law: Noah Webster's Copyright Law protects only American authors but contributes to piracy.

  • Bill of Rights

    The Bill of Rights, comprising 10 amendments, is added to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights and freedoms.
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    Presidency of John Adams

    Second President of the USA
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    Presidency of Thomas Jefferson

    Third President of the USA

  • Napoleon sells Louisiana to the USA

    • In the case of Marbury v. Madison, Chief Justice John Marshall establishes the “power of judicial review” for the Supreme Court (the Supreme Court is the final authority in deciding the meaning of the Constitution).
    • Napoleon sells Louisiana to the USA. The Louisiana Purchase, authorized by President Thomas Jefferson, is made for fifteen million dollars from France.
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    Ralph Waldo Emerson

    A prominent American essayist, lecturer, philosopher and poet, known for his contributions to transcendentalism and American literature. His essay “Nature” (1836) is often considered the seminal text of transcendentalism.
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    Edgar Allan Poe (Romantic writer)

    He was an American writer known for his macabre and mysterious tales, as well as his poetry. He is considered a Romantic writer due to his exploration of emotion, imagination, the supernatural, and the darker aspects of human experience, all of which are central themes of the Romantic Movement.
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    Presidency of James Madison

    Fourth President of the USA

  • Amerindians are moved to the west

    President James Monroe asserts that Amerindians' hunting way of life must yield to the progress of civilized life and in order to survive, Amerindians would have to be moved from lands that white settlers wanted, to other lands further west.
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    Herman Melville (Romantic writer)

    He drew inspiration from his experiences for his novels. His masterpiece is “Moby Dick”, an epic story of the whaling ship Pequod and its Captain Ahab’s obsessive quest for the white whale Moby-Dick, leading to the ship’s destruction.
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    Walt Whitman

    An American poet, essayist, and journalist, known for his ground-breaking poetry collection “Leaves of Grass” and his contribution to American literature.

  • The “Missouri Compromise”

    • Southern and northern politicians argue fiercely about whether slavery should be permitted in the new territories that are being settled in the west (mainly on the Missouri territory).
    • The “Missouri Compromise” allows slavery in Missouri and Arkansas territories but bans it in lands west and north of Missouri.

  • First generation of American writers

    • After about 50 years, America earns cultural independence, giving rise to the first great generation of American writers, like Washington Irving, James Fennimore Cooper, and others.
    • Challenges persist, including lingering identification with England, imitation of English literary models, and economic and political obstacles.
    • Revolutionary writers, born English, struggle to align with their American sensibilities.
    • Few authors can afford publishing; most pay printers until 1825.

  • Indian Removal Act

    • The “Indian Removal Act” is passed, leading to the forced relocation of Amerindians from east of the Mississippi River to the west to a place called “Indian Territory”
    • Congress declares that the Cherokees’ lands belong to the state of Georgia and they are divided up for sale to white settlers.
    • The British have more settlements and trading posts in Oregon than the Americans.
    • An argument between the north and the south begins over import duties. North in favour, South against.
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    ROMANTICISM

    Romanticism emerged as a reaction against the rationalism of the Enlightenment. Focus on art as a menas to express universal truth. It emphasized emotion, imagination, individualism, expression, nature, the supernatural, and exploration of national identity. It found resonance in the vast landscapes of America and contributed to the optimistic spirit of New England Transcendentalists.
    Washington Irvin, Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Melville, Emily Dickinson, Nathaniel Hawthorne
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    Emily Dickinson

    An American poet known for her unique and innovative style, her exploration of themes such as death, immortality, nature, and the human psyche, and her reclusive lifestyle.
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    TRASCENDENTALISM

    It emerged as a response to enlightenment. Central to this movement was the belief in the unity of the world and God, where each individual soul was considered IDENTICAL to the world. It emphasized the inherent goodness of people and nature, as well as the importance of intuition and individuality. It was a connection to nature; emphasis on self-reliance and spiritual exploration.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Thoreau, Margaret Fuller

  • Beginning of Oregon Trail

    Settlers begin traveling to Oregon by land, marking the beginning of the Oregon Trail (a collection of trails, all heading in the same general direction across western North America).

  • Texans' rebellion

    Texans rebel against Mexican rule, win independence at the Battle of San Jacinto, and eventually join the U.S. in 1845.
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    Mark Twain

    Mark Twain was an American author and humourist associated with the realistic movement, whose novels offered a vivid and often humorous depiction of American life and culture in the 19th century. He was best known for his novels "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (1876) and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (1884)

  • Trail of Tears

    The Cherokees face the “Trail of Tears”, a forced march to the west that lasts almost 5 months, resulting in the death of thousands.

  • Oregon fever

    "Oregon fever" prompts a wave of settlers to move westward; a mass migration of settlers to the Oregon territory in the early to mid-19th c. The lure of fertile land, economic opportunity, and the prospect of a better life drove thousands of pioneers to make the arduous journey along the Oregon Trail to settle in the Pacific Northwest.

  • James Polk and Manifest Destiny

    James K. Polk elected President, strongly believing in manifest destiny, the idea that the U.S. should stretch across North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
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    Mexican-American War

    Mexican-American War occurs.

  • California Gold Rush

    • U.S. acquires vast areas of the Southwest from Mexico. Annexation of Mexican lands completes the "manifest destiny" of the United States, stretching from ocean to ocean.
    • Gold discovered in California, leading to the California Gold Rush. The population grows rapidly.

  • Fugitive Slave Act

    • Congress approves another compromise for California being admitted as a free state.
    • People living in Utah and New Mexico are given the right to decide whether to allow slavery or not.
    • Congress pass the Fugitive Slave Act, a law that makes it easier for southerners to recapture slaves who escaped from their masters.
    • The “bounty hunters” group is created, to collect slaves and the rewards offered for them.
    • The Fugitive Slave Act angers northerners.
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    Kate Chopin

    She was an American author best known for her pioneering work in feminist literature and her exploration of themes related to women's roles and independence. She is often associated with the literary movement of realism, which tries to depict the complexities of human experience with honesty and accuracy. Her writing exemplifies many of the characteristics of realism, including its focus on everyday life, psychological depth, and attention to detail.
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    The Rise of Black American Literature

    It refers to the emergence and development of literary works written by African American authors, which gained prominence particularly during and after the Reconstruction era in the United States. This period, saw the flourishing of African American literary voices and the exploration of themes related to race, identity, social justice, and the African American experience.
    • Key Writers: Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, James Weldon Johnson, Paul Dunbar, etc.

  • Bleeding Kansas

    • Senator Stephen Douglas ends the Missouri Compromise
    • "Bleeding Kansas" conflict erupts, where pro-slavery from the south and anti-slavery from the north fight and kill in the territory of Kansas.

  • Dred Scott Decision

    A slave named Dred was taken by his owner to live in a free state. Scott asked the Supreme Court to declare him free, but the Court refused. It said that slaves have no rights as citizens and that Congress went beyond its institutional powers in claiming the right to prohibit slavery in the west. Southern slave owners were delighted, opponents were horrified.

  • Confederate States of America (the Confederacy)

    • Abraham Lincoln is elected president of the USA.
    • 11 southern states vote to secede from the USA, forming the “Confederate States of America” (the Confederacy), and announcing that they are an independent nation now.
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    Industrial Growth in the USA

    • The US transform into an industrial powerhouse, evolving from a small agricultural ex-colony, to the world’s wealthiest nation.
    • Railroads play a crucial role in industrial growth, connecting buyers and sellers.

  • Beginning of the American Civil War

    • The Confederacy declares independence from the USA, marking the beginning of the American Civil War.
    March: Abraham Lincoln assumes as President
    • Lincoln calls for 75,000 volunteers to save the Union
    • Jefferson Davis made a similar appeal for men to fight for the Confederacy
    • Union warships blockade Southern ports
    • The North counts with a population advantage, greater industrial capacity, and more resources
    • The South relies on defending its homeland, not invading the North
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    Civil War

    The Civil War takes place in the United States.
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    Presidency of Abraham Lincoln

    The presidency of Abraham Lincoln began on March 4, 1861, when Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the 16th president of the United States, and ended upon his assassination and death on April 15, 1865, 42 days into his second term.

  • Homestead Act

    • Union forces capture New Orleans (the largest city in the Confederacy) and Vicksburg in 1863, splitting the Confederacy in two.
    • Congress grants land and money to the Union Pacific Railroad Company to build a railroad west from the Mississippi, and a similar grant to the Central Pacific Railroad Company to build eastwards from California.
    • Congress passes the Homestead Act, offering free farms in the West to settlers.
    • Transcontinental railroad companies attract settlers with cheap land.

  • 13th Amendment - Black Codes

    • The 13th Amendment abolishes slavery throughout the United States.
    • President Lincoln is assassinated, so Andrew Johnson becomes President.
    • The southern states assemblies pass laws to keep blacks in an inferior position. Such laws are called “Black Codes”, made to continue resisting any changes about slavery.
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    REALISM

    Realism sought to depict everyday life and people as they truly were, often focusing on the middle and lower classes. Objective portrayal of everyday life and social issues; focus on ordinary people and social realities. It overlaps with naturalism in social focus, but less deterministic and more interested in social critique.
    Mark Twain, Henry James, William Howells
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    NATURALISM

    An extension of realism, delved into the influence of environment and hereditary on human behaviour, often portraying characters in harsh circumstances. Emphasis on determinism, harsh realities, and scientific principles; influenced by European naturalism. It overlaps with Realism in focus on everyday life and social issues, but more pessimistic and deterministic.
    Jack London, Upton Sinclair, Frank Norris

  • 14th Amendment

    • Growing dissatisfaction in the North because of the Black Codes
    • Radical Republicans in Congress pass the Civil Rights Act and establish an organization called the Freedmen's Bureau.
    • Congress introduces the 14th Amendment, which grants full citizenship, the right to vote, and equal rights to all individuals, including former slaves.

  • Reconstruction Act

    The Congress passes the Reconstruction Act that dissolves white Southern governments, placing them under military rule until they accept the 14th Amendment and grant voting rights to black men.

  • Fort Laramie Treaty

    Fort Laramie treaty declares that large areas between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains as Sioux territory, so white settlers don’t invade their lands.

  • First Transcontinental Railroad

    The Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads meet at Promontory Point in Utah, completing the first transcontinental railroad.

  • Reconstruction Governments

    • Settlers and immigrants are given free railroad transport to the West and cheap lands to start their farms and communities, in order to inhabit the Great Plains.
    • Southern states adopt new “Reconstruction” governments, including black and white members for it.
    • Ku Klux Klan emerges as a terrorist group.
    • “Over-production” becomes a big problem for American farmers because the lands produce so much wheat that the prices were too low to give farmers a decent living.

  • Fights with Amerindians - Centennial Exposition

    • Republican supporters of Reconstruction hold power in only three southern states.
    • Withdrawal of federal troops marks the end of Reconstruction.
    • Amerindians win their best-known victory at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, but it was the last stand for the Amerindians.
    • Sioux and Cheyenne warriors led by Crazy Horse defeat United States cavalry.
    • President Ulysses Grant opens the “Centennial Exposition” in Philadelphia, showcasing recent American inventions.

  • End of Reconstruction

    Reconstruction officially ends and southern stated enact more discriminatory laws.

  • Segregation Laws

    • Southern states implement strict racial separation laws (segregation) in various aspects of daily life.
    • Enforced separation in public places leads to widespread discrimination

  • Amerindians confined to Reservations

    • Most of the American West is occupied by cattle ranchers, farmers, or miners.
    • Amerindians are confined to reservations.
    • Wounded Knee Massacre occurs, where soldiers shoots down the Sioux that were forced to march there.
    • The industries of the USA are earning the country more than its farmlands.
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    Ellis Island

    Ellis Island opens as a special place of entry in New York harbour; immigrants undergo examinations before entering the United States.

  • Spanish-American War

    • The US modern ship “the Maine” is sent to Havana to show support for Cuban rebels; after the ship’s explosion three weeks later, calls for war with Spain increase.
    • President McKinley demands Spain's withdrawal from Cuba.
    • Spain and the United States go to war, known as the Spanish-American War.
    • Spanish-American War: Fought in Cuba and the Philippines; U.S. defeats Spain in a short period, gaining control of territories, including Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

  • US becomes the richest country in the world

    • The United States becomes the richest and most productive industrial country globally, with labourers, including men, women, and children, working in challenging conditions.
    • Many Americans become “Progressives”, someone who believes that, when necessary, the government should take action to deal with the problems of society.
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    Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt

    Theodore Roosevelt, a Progressive Republican, becomes President, and focuses on dealing with the power of trusts and ensuring a "square deal" for ordinary citizens.

  • Growth of American Industrial Production

    More than one third of the whole world’s industrial production pours from the mines and factories of the USA.
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    Presidency of Woodrow Wilson

    Woodrow Wilson's presidency implements Progressive policies known as "The New Freedom," including reducing customs duties, banking system reforms, federal taxes on high incomes, and laws to curb the power of trusts, empower labor unions, and assist farmers.
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    First World War (the Great war)

    The First World War, also known as the Great War, takes place. France, Great Britain and Russia are the Allies. Germany and Austria are the Central Powers. Some causes were Imperialism, where European powers were competing for colonies and territories around the world; also Nationalism, where nationalistic fervor fueled a desire for territorial expansion and independence, leading to confrontations and conflicts.

  • American factories sell weapons to Britain and France

    • American factories make vast quantities of weapons and munitions to sell them to Britain and France. Germany announces that they will stop this flow of armaments to their enemies.
    • A German submarine hits and sinks “the Lusitania”, a British passenger ship, and this angers Americans. President Wilson protests, urging peace.

  • The US joins the WWI

    • Wilson proposes a "peace without victory" to end the war. However, German submarine attacks on ships, including American vessels, resume.
    • Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany, stating the goal is to make the world "safe for democracy."

  • End of World War I

    • German armies launch a final offensive, reaching near Paris. American troops intensify the Allied forces, and a counter-attack begins.
    • German and Allied leaders sign an armistice, marking the end of World War I. The U.S. played a crucial role in tipping the balance in favor of the Allies.

  • Versailles Treaty

    • President Wilson travels to Europe to contribute to the peace treaty negotiations.
    • Versailles Treaty: The Allied leaders sign a peace treaty, called the Versailles Treaty, in May 1919. It imposes harsh terms on Germany, assigning full blame for the war and demanding substantial reparations. President Wilson, initially aiming for a fair and lasting peace, is disappointed with the harshness of the Versailles Treaty.
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    Economic growth in the USA

    • The aftermath of World War I leaves the United States in a position of economic strength.
    • Other nations owe substantial debts to the U.S., contributing to its wealth.

  • Mass Consumption Lifestyle

    • The U.S. pioneers a lifestyle centered on mass consumption.
    • Sales of cars and radios continue to rise.
    • The Republican Party implements policies favoring business interests.
    • High import taxes on foreign goods and reduced taxes on high incomes and corporate profits stimulate economic growth.
    • Immigrant workers in industrial cities face low wages and challenging working conditions.
    • Poor farmers in both the North and South experience hardships.
    • Farmers experience bankruptcies.
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    Growth of American factories

    • American factories, particularly those producing automobiles and electrical appliances, experience unprecedented growth.
    • Mass-production factories double their output.

  • Farmers cannot sell their products

    Europe no longer needs so much American food, and farmers find it more difficult to sell their produce at home. They find themselves growing products they cannot sell.

  • Indian Citizenship Act - Immigration controls

    • Around 600,000 farmers are bankrupt, but Americans who owned shares or stock in industrial companies have a bright future with their investments.
    • The Indian Citizenship Act recognizes Amerindians as full citizens of the United States with voting rights.
    • Reed-Johnson Immigration Act establishes quotas and limits immigration; designed to reduce immigration from southern and eastern Europe.
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    Wall Street Crash

    • Buying and selling shares had become almost a national hobby.
    • In September, the profits had been decreasing for some time.
    • October 24, 1929 (Black Thursday): Panic begins and 13 million shares are sold.
    • October 29, 1929 (Terrifying Tuesday): 16.5 million shares are sold.
    • End of 1929: Value of all shares drops by $40,000 million, leaving thousands of people facing debts and ruin.

  • Neutrality Acts

    Congress passes Neutrality Acts during the 1930s, preventing the sale of military equipment to nations at war.

  • Unemployment rises

    • Nearly eight million Americans unemployed. They receive no government unemployment pay.
    • Many people are soon without homes or food and live on charity.
    • Japan invades Manchuria.

  • Creation of government agencies

    • "Hundred Days" - Roosevelt introduces numerous legislative proposals.
    • Creation of government agencies like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to combat unemployment.
  • Period: to

    Presidency of Franklin Roosevelt

  • Indian Reorganization Act

    The Indian Reorganization Act encourages Amerindians to set up their own councils to run reservation affairs.

  • Roosevelt passes different acts

    • Social Security Act: A new law that provides pensions for the elderly, widows, the blind, and introduces unemployment insurance.
    • Roosevelt sets up the WPA (Work Progress Administration), contributing to the construction of roads, schools, hospitals, and providing jobs for writers and artists.
    • Wagner Act passed, protecting workers' rights to join labor unions and establishing the National Labor Board to protect this right.

  • Beginning of World War II

    • Hitler's invasion of Poland marks the start of World War II.
    • U.S. becomes the main supplier of weapons to the countries fighting Hitler.
  • Period: to

    Second World War

    Allies: Britain, the Soviet Union and the USA
    Axis: Germany and Japan

  • Pearl Harbour Attack

    • Japan attacks the Pearl Harbour in Hawaii
    • The U.S. declares war on December 8 and joins the war
    • The British run out of money, so Roosevelt persuades Congress to adopt the Lend Lease Plan, supplying military equipment to Britain without payment.
    • Japan occupies Indochina, and it worries the American government
    • The U.S. halts shipments of oil to Japan in July.
    • Early Japanese victories in the Pacific.

  • World War II Ends

    April:
    • British and American troops meet advancing Soviet forces; Hitler commits suicide.
    • Franklin D. Roosevelt passes away; Vice President Harry Truman becomes President.
    May: Germany surrenders.
    July: First successful test of the atomic bomb.
    August:
    • Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
    • Japanese government surrenders; World War II ends.
  • Period: to

    Increased prosperity

    • Real incomes of Americans more than double.
    • Increased prosperity; growth in homeownership, car ownership, and consumer goods.

  • Brown v. Topeka

    Supreme Court declared segregated schools illegal.
  • Period: to

    Vietnam War

    A long and bitter conflict that involves communist North Vietnam and its allies fighting against South Vietnam, supported by the USA and other anti-communist countries. The war ends with the fall of Saigon in 1975, leading to the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule.

  • Segregation on buses

    Supreme Court declares segregation on public buses unconstitutional.
  • Period: to

    Presidency of John F. Kennedy

    • Introduced the idea of a "New Frontier" with opportunities and problems.
    • Focused on poverty and civil rights; assassinated in 1963.

  • Martin Luther King Speech

    200,000 people gathered for racial equality; Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
  • Period: to

    Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson

    • Persuades Congress to pass Kennedy’s plan to improve the position of American Blacks, and this becomes law as the Civil Rights Act.
    • Introduced health care systems (Medicare and Medicaid) and increased federal aid to education.
    • Escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, impacting domestic reform efforts.

  • Civil Rights Act

    Banned segregation and discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

  • Martin Luther King is assassinated

    • Martin Luther King Jr.'s Assassination: Increased frustrations; some turned to Black Power for a more militant approach.
    • Shift to Political Participation: Focus on voting and electing blacks to positions of power.
    • Jesse Jackson: Promoted the idea of electing blacks to various positions.
  • Period: to

    Presidency of Richard Nixon

    • Less emphasis on helping the poor, focused on individual efforts.
    • Re-elected in 1972, largely due to progress in ending the Vietnam War.
    • Watergate Affair: Accusations of illegal plans led to Nixon's resignation in 1974.

  • American Indian Movement

    The American Indian Movement is formed to improve Amerindians' position, and in 1972, thousands of them travel to Washington to take part in protests, including the "Trail of Broken Treaties". They also occupy the site of Wounded Knee to draw attention to their demand for the return of lands unjustly taken away from their ancestors. Others sued the USA government for breaking the old treaties.
  • Period: to

    Presidency of Ronald Reagan

    • Elected in 1980 and re-elected in 1984 by one of the biggest majorities in American history.
    • Republican with a focus on reducing government intervention.
    • Strong anti-communist stance against the Soviet Union.
    • Emphasis on defense spending and missile development.
    • Policies criticized but contributed to economic growth, job creation, and increased profits.
    • Remained popular, ending his second term in 1989.