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Nez Perce War
Hostilities between settlers and the Nez Perce Indians became violent in June 1877. For four months, the Nez Perce were pursued by the US Army, and the two sides clashed across Montana and Idaho. In October, led by Chief Joseph, the Indians surrendered. Though promised a safe return to their Oregon homeland, the Nez Perce were relocated to Kansas and Oklahoma. -
Great Railway Strike
Railroad workers in Martinsburg, West Virginia, initiated a strike in 1877 to protest working conditions and wage cuts. The strike spread quickly and lasted more than a month, leading some to call it the “Great Labor Uprising.” Violent confrontations broke out in Baltimore, Chicago, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and San Francisco, and governors in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia called out their state militias. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act was the nation’s first law to ban immigration by race or nationality. The Act didn’t stop anti-Chinese violence—Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, and Rock Springs, Wyoming, were rocked by devastating riots in 1885 and 1886. -
Pendleton Act
The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act was passed. In an attempt to curb corruption and patronage, the act introduced federal exams and merit requirements for the hiring of civil servants. -
Interstate Commerce Act
Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887, making the railroads the first industry subject to federal regulation. Congress passed the law largely in response to public demand and pressure from farmers and populist groups. -
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act, allowed Indian reservation land to be broken up into small allotments for sale to individuals. The purpose of the act was to encourage American Indians to become farmers, but the plots were too small to support families or to raise livestock. The map shows the settlement of land in Oklahoma that was once reserved as Indian Territory. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Congress passed the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1890. The act declares that every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal.” Part Two further makes it a felony to monopolize or attempt to monopolize any aspect of interstate trade or commerce. -
Annexation of Hawaii
In Hawaii, foreign entrepreneurs, fearing Queen Lili’uokalani’s plan to restore the kingdom to indigenous Hawaiians, staged a revolt by declaring Hawaii a republic and seeking annexation by the US. American Marines invaded, Lili’uokalani surrendered, and the US minister to Hawaii declared it a protectorate of the United States. -
Ellis Island Opened
Immigrants moved into the United States. The Statue of LIberty greeted everyone who came to the United States for new opportunities and a better life. -
Populist Party Convention
The Populist Party held its first convention in Omaha, Nebraska, and ratified the Omaha Platform documenting the tenets of the party. Among the tenets of the platform were a graduated income tax, a “flexible” currency based on silver as well as gold, the nationalization of the railroads and the telegraph, an eight-hour day and a ban on aliens owning land. -
The Start of World War I.
Assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand leads to the start of WWI. -
End of World War I
The Treaty of Versailles brings an official end to WWI. -
Black Tuesday
The United States stock market crashes, leading to a decade long Great Depression. -
Attack of Pearl Harbor
The United States enters WW2 because of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. -
End of World War 2!
The Japanese finally surrender after two Nuclear bombings. The War is over and people enter the Baby Booming Era. -
Korean War
The United States contributes to the fight and tries to help South Korea gain independence from North Korea whom are very communist. -
I have a Dream Speech
Martin Luther King, Jr., delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech during the civil rights march in Washington, DC. -
Assassination of JFK
President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas. He is succeeded by his Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson. -
First Man on the Moon
Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, Jr., become the first men to land on the Moon. -
End of Cold War
The Cold War ends with the signing of the START I Treating, in which the U.S. and Soviet Union agree to reduce any further strategic nuclear arms.