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The Attack on Fort Sumter
Union troops in Fort Sumter, which was in a seceded state, refused to leave until they were ordered to. Eventually, Confederate troops were ordered to bombard the fort. This is considered the first battle and official start of the Civil War, even though there were no casualties. -
The Homestead Act
This allowed people over 21 and heads of houses to claim land in the west. It had two rules. The person had to be a citizen of the US or legally declared intent to become a citizen. They also could not have fought against the US or aided enemies of the US. -
The Attack on Fort Wagner
This was a Union attempt to capture Fort Wagner, a difficult fort to take. The assault was led by the 54th Massachusetts, an African-American unit. Even though the attempt ultimately failed, the bravery of the 54th Massachusetts inspired many African-American people to enlist. -
The End of the War
Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in the parlor of a house in the town of Appomattox Courthouse. Lee is said to have looked pristine in his uniform, whereas Grant is said to have been untidy, even wearing a private’s jacket. Although this did not completely end the war because only the troops under Lee’s command surrendered, it still effectively ended the war. -
Johnson's Impeachment
President Andrew Johnson was impeached by Congress. This was because he had broken the Tenure of Office Act. He was found not guilty in his trial, and served the rest of the term. -
The Fourteenth Amendment
The fourteenth amendment of the United States Constitution was ratified. It guaranteed citizenship rights for all people born in the U.S. This amendment was meant to define and protect the citizenship rights of former slaves. -
The Oklahoma Land Rush
Large amounts of formerly Native American land were offered to American people. A lot of people waited at a line for a cannon boom that would signify the beginning of the race. When the cannon went off at noon, thousands of people raced to claim their land. -
The Transcontinental Railroad Completed
After about 6 years of work, the transcontinental railroad was completed. Two lines were started from Omaha, NE and Sacramento, CA and met at Promontory Point, UT. A small ceremony was held for the golden spike, the last spike of the track. -
The Fifteenth Amendment
The fifteenth amendment was ratified. This guaranteed voting rights for all men, no matter race. This law was not upheld well, and many loopholes were exploited to prevent black people from voting. -
The Brooklyn Bridge Opens
The Brooklyn Bridge was designed by John Roebling. When he died, the project was taken over by his son who got the bends, so day to day operations were handled by his wife. This was the longest suspension bridge at the time of its creation. -
The Statue of Liberty Dedication
The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a statue that was gifted to the US by France. It was a gift commemerating 100 years of American independence in 1876. The statue took about 10 years to build and was dedicated on this day in 1886. -
Ida B. Wells Crusades Against Lynching
A mob of white people lynched Ida B. Wells' friend, Thomas Moss, and his associates. This event pushed Wells to start fighting against lynching. She began writing editorials and crusading against lynching. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy, a white-passing man who was 1/8 black, purposefully told a train conductor that he was black on a white-only train car. He was arrested and sent to court, hoping to have segregation ruled unconstitutional. The case went to the Supreme Court, which ruled that segregation was legal as long as the facilities were separate but equal. -
The Spanish-American War Starts
The Spanish-American war started because Americans sympathized with the Cuban want for independence and the brutality of the Spanish was greatly exaggerated due to the use of yellow journalism in newspapers. Additionally, the ship the Maine was sunk and the blame pinned on the Spanish. The sinking of the ship pushed America over the edge, and Congress declared war. -
The Battle of San Juan Hill
This battle occurred in San Juan, Cuba. Theodore Roosevelt led the Rough Riders to victory in this battle. He became a war hero from this battle and was later elected Vice President. -
The End of the Spanish-American War
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the Spanish-American War. The fighting had ended in August. This war helped America begin to be known as a world power. -
The Creation of the NAACP
After a particularly violent riot filled with hate against African Americans and with many lynchings, a group of people got together to discuss how to make change. About sixty people attended the meeting, including just seven African American people, one of which was Ida B. Wells. This group of people started the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. -
WWII Begins
On this day, German forces invaded Poland. Both Britain and France declared war on Germany soon after this. This event is considered to be the start of World War II. -
Germany Takes Paris
Early in the war, Germany started its campaign to take France. To avoid the fortified border between the two countries, German forces cut through Belgium. On this day, Paris, the capital of France, fell to these forces. -
D-Day
This day was the kickoff of the campaign to take back Nazi occupied France. This invasion had 5-landing spots and was the largest land-sea-air operation in military history. Despite heavy resistance, the operation was successful, and France was liberated by late August. -
V-E Day
On this day, the Third Reich offered an unconditional surrender. This surrender was accepted by General Eisenhower. This was a day of celebration in all of the Allied countries. -
The Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima
The first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. Leaflets warning of this bombing had been dropped on several cities. After this bombing, Japan still refused to surrender and another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki a few days later. -
V-J Day
On this day, Japan officially surrendered. It had taken two atomic bomb droppings for them to finally surrender. This was a great day of celebration in Allied countries, as World War II was finally over. -
Sputnik 1
On this day, Sputnik 1 was launched into space. This was the man-made Earth satellite. It was launched by the Soviet Union, giving them the lead in the Space Race. -
The Bay of Pigs Invasion
Cuban exiles backed by the US tried to invade Cuba. This operation failed and the forces surrendered a few days later. JFK, who was at the beginning of his presidency, took full responsibility. -
Man on the Moon
On this day, Neil Armstrong became the first man to step foot on the moon. He was closely followed by Buzz Aldrin. Armstrong famously said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall had separated Communist East Germany from Democratic West Germany since 1961. On this day, the wall was finally torn down. The next year, Germany would be unified into one country. -
The Fall of the Soviet Union
Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the Soviet Union, declared his office extinct. He handed all of his powers over to the Russian President. The next day, the USSR was formally dissolved.
