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An Overview of American History
This timespan focuses on moments in time that have made an impact on American History. This events could be political, financial, and social. -
Thomas Edison improves Light Bulb
Who invented the light bulb?
Thomas Edison created the first electric light bulb which was the beginning of the movement for the necessity of electricity as a source of power and light, and then improved light bulb by using a carbon filament or strip coiled and connected to platina contact wires. -
First Modern Skyscraper in Chicago
The new skyscraper led to building taller building with thicker walls and stronger materials. This was a result from the Great Chicago Fire in which the entire city was constructed largely from wood. -
Destruction of USS Maine
The USS Maine mysteriously exploded and was destroyed in the Havana Harbor. More than 260 people had died from the explosion. Americans assumed the Spanish had caused the destruction because of the Cuban resistance to Spanish rule. -
Spanish-American War
President McKinley asked Congress for and received a congressional declaration of war on Spain. The United States gained victory, Cuba was granted independence, and Spain ceded Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States, making Spain lose its control overseas. -
Annexation of Hawaii
The Hawaiian economy was struggling at the time and the USA was on its way to rise in the Pacific, especially with trading to China, so President McKinley and the United States figured it would be best to take in Hawaii as its own to help it out. -
Luna Park in Coney Island Opens
Luna Park was the greatest of all the Coney Island attractions. It provided rides, stunts and lavish reproductions of exotic places and spectacular adventures, which includes Japanese Gardens, Venetian canals with gondoliers, a Chinese theater, and even a simulated trip to the moon. -
Wright Brothers create Airplane
They performed their flights in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina because of the constant wind that would add lift to their glider. This is indeed a remarkable invention, which has created a way for long distance travel to the other side of the globe. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
During the Roosevelt Administration, several new measures were established in order to protect the American population. The purpose of this law was to provide limitations on the production of food and medicines and how they were prepared in safe, clean, and proper conditions. The Meat Inspection Act soon followed after uncovering the dangerous and unsanitary conditions talked about in Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle. -
NAACP Founded
Founded in 1909, the NAACP was an organization dedicated to the civil rights of African Americans living in this era. With the establishment of a new force, the NAACP wanted to break the barriers politically, socially, and economically to provide equal rights to minority individuals. Ultimately, it was their intention to break free of racial discrimination with the help of the democratic process. -
Public Health Service created
Public Health Service createdThe PHS broadened its powers by authorizing investigations into human diseases (such as, tuberculosis, hookworm, malaria, and leprosy), sanitation, water supplies and sewage disposal, but went no further. The Public Health Service was also credited for the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 1970. -
Henry Ford - $5-a-day wage
Henry Ford implements a $5 wage work day and reduced the employees work day from 9 hours to 8. The new wages doubled most of the employees’ previous wages. Ford also implemented the use of assembly lines to create the Model T car. -
Great Migration Begins
The Great Migration was movement of African Americans in the south to the north cities in search of better jobs, and a better life. Many moved to the north in search of factory jobs which a major increase in the job market employment. The search of racial equality, to leave the life of poverty behind in the hopes of beginning a new one. -
Zimmermann Telegram
The Zimmerman Telegram began over Germany and their forces by essentially cutting off supplies to Britain. The telegram contained information stating that Mexico should join forces with Germany. Britain didn’t share this information with the United States until February 25 to Woodrow Wilson. Ultimately, this telegram contributed to the declaration of war on Germany officially on April 6th. -
War Industries Board Established
Developed for the successful purchasing of military supplies during World War I. President Wilson learned of the failing project and decided to reinvent a new concept regarding WIB. Wilson believed that new leadership would be essential to the benefit of this project. Control of this board went to a successful financier Bernard Baruch. With his help, a once failing idea began to thrive in which Baruch would establish regulations within the new management and employees. -
Harlem Renaissance
Harlem Renaissance RevisitedThe Harlem Renaissance lasted from the 1920’s to the mid 1930’s in Harlem and other cities throughout the United States. This new age of art, poetry, and literature began to emerge in the African American communities. This rise of a new era brought many well known African American artists into America’s history. People like Langston Hughs, Claude McKay, James Weldon Johnson, Zora Heal Hurston, and many others who contributed to the Harlem Renaissance. -
18th Amendment
American Prohibition18th Amendment outlawed the consumption and purchasing of alcohol under any conditions. There were many reasons why alcohol was outlawed. One reason behind it was that if there was no alcohol crime would decrease. However this was not the case. People at this time began to crave alcohol and the crime rate increased drastically. Illegal manufacturing of alcohol began and individuals like Al Capone, and the mafia would smuggle into areas. Speakeasies were common to drink booze illegally. -
19th Amendment Ratified
Women were legally able to vote. This stride in American history had many obstacles to overcome in order to achieve this amendment. These women had to deal with physical and mental discrimination all because they decided to stand up a take a place to was rightfully theirs in American society. In the many decades leading up the creation of the nineteenth amendment, the emergence of the National American Women Suffrage Association became a headquarters for women. -
Dawes Plan
An international committee headed by Charles G. Dawes was assigned to come up with a financial plan to help aid the deepening economic crisis in Germany and the international tensions caused by the French invasion. Their report stated that a series of financial reforms were to be implemented in Germany, a massive amount of loans were to be extended to Germany, and a plethora of new taxes were to be introduced. Also, France agreed to withdraw its armed forces from the Ruhr. -
The Scopes Trial
The Scopes Trial revolved around a teacher in the public school system teaching the theory of evolution to children. At that time, evolution wasn’t taught in school because it was illegal and mostly the theory of creationism was taught. John Scopes, the accused teacher, was arrested and a trial was set. In July of 1925 Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan were the two lawyers involved in the Scopes Trial. Scopes was found guilty. -
Medical Breakthrough
Discoveries by Pasteur and Joubert for new anti-bacterial drugs that could fight infections that have been untreatable. . Penicillin is a drug that was accidentlly discovered and is used to treat human illness. Immunization can protect humans from both viral and bacterial diseases, which came from the development of a smallpox vaccine. Jones Salks created a vaccine that help cure the deadly disease Polio.Government provided free vaccines to everyone in 1955. -
The Great Depression
There were many different causes of the great depression. Some examples include poor economic diversification, uneven distribution of wealth, the stock market crash, uneven purchasing power, weaker consumer demand and weaker credit/debt structure. One of the biggest setbacks of the depression was the collapse of the banking system. Roosevelt’s economic recovery plan, the New Deal, instituted unsurpassed programs for recovery, relief and reform. It led to a major realignment in American politics. -
Stock Market Crash
“Black Tuesday.” After a week of substantially rising instability, all efforts to save the market failed. Sixteen million shares of stock were traded. Within a month, half of stock’s September value was lost. Owning stocks in many companies became virtually worthless. -
Japan Invades Manchuria
Chinese troops in Manchuria were attacked by the Japanese Kwangtung Army, in an event commonly referred to as the Manchurian Incident. This attack was an effort by the Japanese Empire to gain control over all of East Asia. Manchuria was taken over in an attempt to stop the advance of Chinese nationalist forces. -
New Deal
To save America from the Great Depression the government needed to establish recovery programs for relief. Roosevelt summarized the New Deal as a, “use of the authority of government as an organized form of self-help for all classes and groups and sections of our country.” It was enacted to deliver relief to the unemployed and those in danger of losing their farms and homes, recovery to business and agriculture, and reform. -
Prohibition Ends
Temperance societies became very politically powerful by the end of the 19th century. They called for the abstinence of alcohol nationally, so on January 29, 1919, the 18th Amendment was ratified and passed. It ended up costing America billions and still failed to enforce sobriety. The 21st Amendment was ratified to bring an end to the national prohibition of alcohol in America. -
Fair Labor Standards Act
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that regulates the payment of minimum wage, overtime pay, child labor and record keeping. This was the first time that the federal government actually set a fixed national minimum on wages and regulated child labor. All states still must follow the minimums on wages set by the government. -
World War II Begins
World War II was the largest armed conflict in history, spanning the entire world and involving more countries than any other war. The war introduced powerful new weapons, culminating in the first use of nuclear weapons. In total, World War II produced about 50 million deaths, which is more than any other war to date. It ended on September 2, 1945, with the official surrender of Japan, the last Axis nation. -
Wartime Science and Technology
Beginning of 1940 government formed the National Defense Research Committee created after pouring funds into the research of technology and science. German with their advance submarine technology, but Britain and American had the automotive assembly producing airplanes, ships tanks, and other armaments. America took advanage with radar and Sonar. Polish cryptanalysts (code-breaking experts) were able to break Germans Codes -
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan brought the United States into World War II. There were two immediate goals to the Empire’s plan; to destroy the American aircraft carriers known to frequently be in the area, and to sink as many capital ships as possible, especially battleships. They blew 8 of the American’s Pacific Fleet, plus nearly a dozen other naval vessels, to smithereens during this hour long attack; causing over 2000 causalities. -
Battle of Midway
Victory in the Battle of the Coral Sea was achieved. a turning point accoured near Hawaii in June, outpost near Midway. After terrible losses in a four day battle, Japanese aircrafts were destroyed and American Navy regained control of the Pacific. -
Children and women in Wartime
60% of women (many married) took the place of men in factories because they were off in the war. Children were home alone, often known as “eight hour Orphans.” If not home they were working in the factories. Crime rate went up, and young boys were aressted. Shortly after the war, most marriages fell apart, those that didnt over 3.4 million babies were born that year -
Yalta
Yalta ConferanceIn the Soviet city of Yalta Roosevelt joined Churchill & Stalin for a peace conference in February 1945. The decion was to divide Germany into 4 equal parts, German military industry would be abolished. Shortly after Stalin empowered the pro-communist government upon Central or Eastern European nation after another. -
National Security Act
Im June of 1947 Truman signed the NSA, which was to help reshape major military and diplomatic institutions. Also, giving the President more power to expand nations goals. The act took effect on September 18 of that year, -
Taft-Hartley Act
Taft-Hartley Act, or officially known as the Labor- Management Act was passed in 1947. Republicains had enough with the New Deal and took control of both Houses of Congress. It allowed the government to empowered to obtain an 80-day injunction against any strike that it deemed a peril to national health or safety, and no worker was allowed to work unless they were a part of a union. -
Martin Luther King Jr.
In December of 1955 MLKJr, a local Baptist pastor was nominated to lead the boycott movement in Montgomery, Alabama over a new figure of civil rights. His supporter indulged on the fact that he was speak out against nonviolent resistance and racial struggle. Traveling the world fighting for the rights of African American and becoming a symbolic leader. -
Kennedy Elected President
In 1956 Kennedy almost received the democratic nomination for Vice President, but four years later, in 1960, he was a first ballot nominee for President. Running against Richard Nixon, Kennedy hardly won the popular vote, racking in 49.7% while Nixon had 49.6%. Kennedy promised a set of domestic reforms he called the “New Frontier”. His economic programs launched the country on its longest sustained expansion since World War II. -
Kennedy Assassination.
Kennedy was in Texas at the time, with his wife and Vice President Lyndon Johnson, for a number of political appearances. It was not until the presidential motorcade rode slowly down a Dallas street, that shots were fired. Two bullets hit the president, one in the head, and the other in the throat. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the crime. -
American Troops in Vietnam
In August 1964, President Lyndon Johnson announced that American Destroyers on patrol in international waters had been attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats. In February 1965, as a result of communist forces attacking an American Military base, President Johnson ordered American bombings of North Vietnam. In March 1965, two battalions of American troops landed at Da Nang, South Vietnam. Four months later the president announced that American troops would now be active in the conflict. -
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated
In the early evening of April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was killed by a single shot that stuck his face and neck. He was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, where he had come to lead a peaceful march in support of striking sanitation workers. The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the opening acts which plunged 1968 into a year of turmoil. -
APOLLO
Launching of Apollo 11After John Glen, the first American to orbit the globe, NASA decided to send an aircraft with men into space. Creating the Apollo Progrom, many traning sessions later, Neil Armstrong, and two other crew members where launch on Apollo 11 traveling around and landing on the moons surface making them the first men to walk on the moon. -
Woodstock Music Festival
Rock music at the time had begun to abandon its uncontroversial roots, and instead began to address controversial topics. One of the most powerful symbols of rock music, and the new counterculture was the great music festival at Woodstock, New York. 400,000 people gathered on a farm for nearly a week, and despite all poor conditions, the attendees remained peaceful and harmonious. It was spoke how Woodstock represented the birth of a new youth culture, the “Woodstock Nation”. -
U.S. Withdraws from Vietnam
Nixon and, his assistant, Henry Kissinger, set out to find an acceptable solution to the stalemate in Vietnam. One part of the new Vietnam policy was to “Vietnamize” the conflict, by training and properly equipping the South Vietnamese military to assume the burden of the combat in place of American soldiers. In the fall of 1969, Nixon announced to withdraw of 60,000 troops, and by fall 1972, few American soldiers remained in Indochina. From a peak of 540,000 American forces, to 60,000. -
Watergate Crisis
Police arrested five men who had broken into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate office building. It was found that some of the men involved in the burglary were former employees of the committee for the Re-Election of the President, and one man had worked for the White House. There was never any evidence that President Nixon had prior knowledge, but there was in fact evidence that he had been involved in illegal efforts to obstruct investigations. -
Supreme Court Decides Roe vs. Wade
Abortion had once been legal in much of the United States, but in the beginning of the 20th century, it was banned in most of the country and remained so until the 1960s. The woman’s movement created strong new pressures for the legalization of abortion. The decision of Roe vs. Wade was a major achievement. The decision was based on a new theory of a constitutional “right to privacy”, invalidated all prior laws prohibiting abortion during the “first trimester”. -
Fall of Nixon
Nixon’s situation began to deteriorate even more after the Watergate scandal. After many more efforts by Nixon to prove his definite innocence in Watergate, he finally provided the “smoking gun”, the concrete proof of his guilt. Finally on August 8, 1974, he announced his resignation, the first president in history to resign.
