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Settlement of Jamestown
The settlement of Jamestown (in present day Virginia) was the first permanent English settlement in North America. The initial group of settlers was made up of roughly 100 men and was called the Virginia Company. The Jamestown settlement almost failed due to famine, disease and conflict with local Native American tribes in the first two years. This marks the beginning of English settlement in the New World. -
Settlement of Plymouth
The Plymouth Colony was the first permanent English colony in New England. This colony was founded by a group of Puritan Separatists and was the beginning of the mission for religious freedom found in the New World. They came to be known as Pilgrims and introduced the American tradition of Thanksgiving through a treaty with Wampanoag Chief Massasoit. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials were a series of prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in Massachusetts. These trials relied on admittance and repentance rather than proving one's innocence. This mass hysteria contributed to changes in court procedures, introducing rights to legal representation and the presumption that one is innocent until proven guilty. -
The First Steam Engine is Patented
Thomas Newcomen invented the first steam engine in 1712. The steam engine led to major acts of industrialization throughout the 18th and 19th century. This paved the way for transportation upstream for steamboats and the invention of railways, both improving trade in the United States. Steam Engines also increased the productivity of factories. -
The First Great Awakening
The First Great Awakening marked the beginning of major shifts in religious ideology throughout the 13 colonies. It was also known as the Evangelical Revival and renewed individual piety and religious devotion. The series of Great Awakenings inspired self-growth and a new standard of personal morality. -
The Albany Plan
The Albany Congress was the first conference in the U.S. colonial history to unite the colonies. Although this conference was unsuccessful in its plan to create a union of the colonies for their security and defense against the French, it foreshadowed their later unification. -
The Proclamation Line of 1763
The Proclamation Line of 1763 was a British boundary in the Appalachian Mountains that ended the Seven Years' War. This Proclamation Line prohibited the American colonists from settling on the newly acquired lands from the French, and marked the end of French control in most of the present day United States. This increased tension between the colonies and Britain and added a rebellious spirit to colonists who moved west against the Proclamation. -
The Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act of 1765 imposed a direct tax on all printed materials in the colonies and was enacted by British Parliament to help pay off war debts as well as stop the spread of rebellious ideology throughout the colonies. This impacted the politically active members of the colonial society the most but also imposed taxes on birth, marriage, and death certificates, reaching all classes. -
The Boston Massacre
In response to the influx of British troops in the colonies, a group of civilians went to the Boston Customs House to taunt and prod the troops outside, causing a massacre and marking the beginning of the revolution's solidification. The spilled blood unified the colonists and sparked the desire for American independence. -
The First Continental Congress Meeting
In reaction to the Boston Tea Party, the first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to agree on a reaction to the British government's restraint on trade and the creation of a representative government for the colonies. This congress established an army, a navy and a post office, and issued currency, preparing for the revolution. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first pitched battle between New England Soldiers and the British army. Although the American patriots were defeated, it proved that the colonies could hold their own and that a peaceful reconciliation between England and the colonies was impossible. This was also the birth of the phrase "Do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes". -
The Publication of Thomas Paine's Common Sense
Thomas Paine published Common Sense in order to persuade American colonists to support the case for independence. It attacked economic, political, and ideological obstacles and insisted that the only solution to these problems was colonial independence. It put a very logical mind behind the revolution instead of just kindled spirits. -
The Adoption of The Declaration of Independence
The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence to signify that the 13 American colonies were severing their political ties to Great Britain. It was ignored by the British government but allowed recognition of the United States by friendly foreign governments. The declaration also outlined the basic equal rights of life the United States that were given to all people. -
The Articles of Confederation
This agreement between the 13 colonies served as the first frame of government. The articles set up a loose confederation of states with a majority of the power that left the central government weak. This also represented the unification of the states and left them responsible for helping each other in case of attack. -
The Battle of Valley Forge
The Battle of Valley Forge was a turning point in the American Revolution as it is often referred to as the birthplace of the American Army. After a series of painful defeats, this battle rekindled the revolutionary spirit of the troops as well as the rest of the Americans. This was also where news arrived of an alliance with the French who helped to win the war. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was the official end of the American Revolutionary War. It also established borders for the U.S. and acknowledged that America was independent. This also opened up territory in the west to settlers. -
Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was an armed uprising in Massachusetts in response to the taxation causing a debt crisis. It caused the closing of several courts in order to prevent foreclosures. This event became one of the main causes for the calling of a Constitutional Convention as it exposed the weakness of the government under the Articles of Confederation. -
The Three-Fifths Compromise
The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement reached among the state delegates during the 1787 Constitutional Convention. This determined that 3 out of every 5 slaves would be counted when determining a state's total population for taxation and legislative representation. These regional differences set the stage for the slavery and representation debates to come. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was the first test of the authority of the United States federal government. This uprising was caused by the tax imposed on distilled liquors in 1791 that angered farmers who felt oppressed. It proved that the national government had the ability to suppress violent resistance to the laws. The rebellion also played a large factor in the formation of political parties. -
The First Bank of America Opens
The Bank of the United States was first conceived by Alexander Hamilton to handle the taxation and repayment of the Revolutionary War debt and create a standard form of currency. The bank used coins and bills issued by state banks as currency. This was a strategic power play for Hamilton and helped to solidify the power of the federal government and connect the states. -
The Cotton Gin Is Invented
The cotton gin changed the southern cotton economy significantly. Before the cotton gin was invented there were few farmers willing to grow cotton as it took excessive manual labor and much of the crop was lost in the seeding process. The invention of the cotton gin made cotton a more profitable crop which led to the influx of millionaires and the economic downfall of the south. -
The XYZ Affair
The XYZ Affair was a political/diplomatic scandal early in the presidency of John Adams. It was a failed negotiation between France and the U.S. that resulted in an undeclared war known as the Quasi-War. John Adams' unwillingness to support France in their war against Britain led to his unpopularity and his introduction of the Alien and Sedition Acts which limited the freedom of speech. -
The Revolution of 1800
The Revolution of 1800 proved that the United States government could be successfully peaceful. In this election, President John Adams turned over the presidency to Jefferson and transferred power from one political party to another. This was the first peaceful power transfer worldwide and established the U.S. as a stable country. -
Marbury v. Madison
The supreme court case Marbury v. Madison established the principle of judicial review in the United States. This gave the court the power to declare executive and administrative actions unconstitutional and therefore void them. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition of 828,000 square miles in Middle America. The initial intention of the U.S. was to only purchase the land around the Mississippi trade route but the French were so pressed for funding in their war that they only agreed to sell the land as a package deal. This was a difficult decision for Jefferson as there was no part of the constitution specifically mentioning how to handle acquiring land in such large amounts. -
The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Following the Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Jefferson wanted to become more familiar with the land purchased. He sent explorers Lewis and Clark to survey the western lands and find out the layout of the terrain for transportation. They also brought back tales that made other Americans dream of moving west in order to boost the migration. -
The Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 closed all U.S. ports to all exports and restricted imports from Great Britain. This was a partial punishment to British interference with neutral U.S. merchant ships during the Napoleonic Wars. This act destroyed the economy and unemployment but did strengthen the self-sufficiency in the U.S. through forced industrialization. -
The War of 1812
Britain’s interference with trade during America's neutrality and the country’s desire to expand settlement into Indian, British, and Spanish territories led to the war of 1812. The war ended with the treaty of Ghent, and increased patriotism in the US as well as respect for the US from other countries. It also strengthened the military and manufacturing as well. This war set clear boundaries between Canada and the US and freed international trade. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
This marks one of the most important Supreme Court cases regarding federal power. The court established that Congress had implied constitutional power to create a national bank and states could not tax the federally chartered bank. This case arose with The Bank of the United States being the only bank, not chartered within the state, the bank refused to pay taxes from Maryland and was taken to court. This was centered around the ‘Necessary and Proper” clause. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an attempt to balance the desires of the northern and southern states with the expansion of slavery to the west. The compromise consisted of three main sections; that Missouri entered the union as a slave state, Maine entered as a free state, and that the 36’30” line was created, dividing the remainder of the Louisiana territory. This also was an example of an equal divide in the senate which highlighted the split in the country that led to the Civil War. -
The Monroe Doctrine
Solidifying the power of the United States, President James Monroe‘s message to congress in the Monroe Doctrine, warned European powers to stay away from the western hemisphere, and forbade them from colonizing additional territories in the Americas. Although it was initially discarded by Europe, the doctrine remained a mainstay of U.S. foreign policy. it also explained that the United States would not interfere with European affairs. -
The Tariff of Abominations
The Tariff of Abominations was originally meant to reduce foreign competition with American manufacturing through raising taxes on imported manufacturers. This tariff angered Southerners as they argued it favored the northern manufacturing industry at the expense of the cost of southern living. the south went as far as to threaten the Civil War in the Nullification Crisis of 1832. -
The Indian Removal Act of 1830
The American settlers' demand for land up and down the eastern coast pushed American Indians further west through the Indian removal act of 1830. This relocated Native Americans from southern states, such as Georgia and Florida into reservations on western planes. The relocation was known as the “trail of tears'' as more than 4,000 people died on the journey from disease, starvation, and exposure to extreme weather. -
The Nullification Crisis
The increased political ambition from southern leaders, including the southern adoption of the theory of notification along with the hatred of the tariffs of 1828 and 1833 led to the crisis. It was a conflict between South Carolina and the federal government in which the state insisted that the tariffs were unconstitutional. This marks the first time tensions between state and federal authority almost led to a Civil War, highlighted through the attempt to declare null and void within the state. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner’s rebellion was the most deadly slave revolt in U.S. history. It killed between 55 and 65 white people and set off a massacre of up to 200 African Americans. It also encouraged a new wave of oppressive legislation that prohibited the education, movement, and assembly of enslaved people. The rebellion also inspired the Virginia legislature to debate ending slavery but was unsuccessful. -
Introduction of the Gag Rule
In order to slow the rising tension between the north and south in the U.S. government, the House of Representatives instituted the gag rule, which was a series of rules that surveyed the discussion of slavery in the house from 1836 to 1844. The rule was heavily debated as members of the house, such as John Quincy Adams believed that it violated the constitutional right to petition, even though he denied being an abolitionist. -
Battle of the Alamo
The battle and siege of the Alamo was a turning point in the Texas revolution. After a 13 day siege, the Texas rebel soldiers decided to go down in glory together, to prove the strain of the battle cry from Texans. While it was a win for the Mexican government, it rallied the rest of Texas, and much of America to fight against the Mexican army, which led to a victory at the battle of San Jacinto. This event was referenced throughout the Texas revolution with phrases such as “remember the Alamo”. -
Brook Farm
Brook Farm was a utopian experiment in communal living inspired by the American Renaissance. The primary goal was to educate all classes and was a cooperative enterprise made up of 175 acres of farmland in Boston. It was one of many utopian communities launched by the ideals of free religion and social reform, introduced by the American Renaissance. It ultimately failed due to internal disputes and financial struggles. -
The California Gold Rush
The expansion into western territories led to the discovery of natural resources across America. The California Gold Rush began when gold was found by James W. Marshall in Coloma, California. The news of gold and hope for quick riches brought roughly 300,000 people to California, including a large number of Chinese immigrants. While most did not find steady work, or become rich from mining, The rush quickly populated California, and propelled significant industrial and agricultural development. -
The Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's rights convention. It fought for the social, civil, and religious rights of women in the time period. During this convention Elizabeth Cady Stanton drafted the Declaration of Sentiments that called for women’s suffrage and equality. This convention highlighted the intellect of women and justified their want to vote. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was meant to act as a temporary truce on the issue of slavery, specifically addressing the newly acquired territory from the Mexican-American war. It failed to settle these tensions and did not establish a principle that could be applied to territories outside the Mexican cession. Both sides were displeased with the compromise, and its vagueness. A large part of the compromise was the Fugitive Slave Act, which was highly unpopular to northern abolitionists. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas Nebraska act was a territorial act that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. It was a controversial bill that introduced the possibility of slavery being extended into territories where it had been banned. This act produced the violent uprising, known as “Bleeding Kansas” with the heavy influence of popular sovereignty. This caused proslavery and abolitionist activists to flood the territories to sway the vote. -
The Pottawatomie Massacre
The Potawatomi Massacre was the beginning of the uprising, known as "Bleeding Kansas". It was led by John Brown, and other radical abolitionists, who believed that even the families of slave holders should be punished. Brown and his men murdered five proslavery men in cabins across Kansas in the night. This massacre was a taste of the bloody battle to come. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
The Dred Scott v. Sandford decision of the Supreme Court concluded that the U.S. Constitution did not extend American citizenship to people of black African descent. This was later nullified by the 13th and 14th Amendments, giving former slaves a standing in federal courts and offering them citizenship. It also declared the Missouri Compromise to be unconstitutional and allowed slavery even in "free" states. -
The Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 showed the divisions within the U.S. just before the Civil War. Political parties were split and in turmoil, resulting in four strong candidates competing for the presidency. Southern political strength was divided by a surplus of candidates, giving the north the upper hand. Lincoln's election served as the main catalyst of the Civil war and the succession of many southern states. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the official beginning of the American Civil War. Although no one was killed, the Union military was able to secure Fort Sumter from the confederate army. This battle conveyed the seriousness of both sides and their unwillingness to back down. -
The Homestead Act
The Homestead Act was enacted during the Civil War but found the majority of movement during the reconstruction era. This act provided any adult citizen or intended citizen 160 acres of surveyed government land in the west as long as they had never borne arms against the U.S. government. This led to a spur of economic growth, as well as displaced Native Americans while continuing to shrink their reserves. -
The Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam remains the bloodiest battle in American history to this game. This was a Union victory in the Civil War and gave President Lincoln the opportunity to announce the Emancipation Proclamation. The battle proved that the Union could stand against the Confederate army in the Eastern theater and gave the Union a boost of confidence and nationalism. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 declared that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens regardless of race or previous condition of slavery. Although President Jackson vetoed the act it was pushed through by the legislature. This act was in response to the first round of Black Codes in order to prevent the south from treating former slaves as lesser people due to citizenship status, and give protection in court to the next generation. -
The First Transcontinental Railroad
North America's first transcontinental railroad was 1,911 miles long. This railroad was a turning point for the U.S. economy and trade as it made it easier than ever for the economic export of Western resources to Eastern markets. It also made traveling easier and increased the settlement of the west and influenced the travel of cattle. -
Haymarket Square Riot
The Haymarket Square Riot began as a peaceful rally in support of workers striking for an eight-hour work day. It led to the bombing of the crowd by Chicago Police, that ended with the wounding and killing of several workers. although this Riot was seen as counterproductive to the labor movement as a whole, it served as a turning point as it led to the formation of the American Federation of Labor and brought to light the conflict between businesses and workers. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
The Sherman Antitrust Act was enacted in 1890 to help reduce the power of cartels and any attempts to monopolize any part of Commerce in the US. It kept businesses and individuals from interfering with trade and reducing economic competition. Although it was successful in its goals, the act itself was very vague and hard to define when in court. -
The Panic of 1893
Financial Panic mixed with a depression in London combined with a drop in Continental European trade caused foreign investors to sell American stocks to obtain American Funds backed by gold. This also came after the 1890 Sherman Silver Purchase Act. The Panic of 1893 led to the worst economic depression the United States has ever endured. Over the course of the depression 15,000 businesses, 600 banks, and 74 railroads failed. -
Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co.
Ruling in favor of Pollock, the Supreme Court decided that portions of the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act of 1894 imposed a direct tax on the incomes of American citizens and corporations. This declared that federal income tax was unconstitutional since it was a direct tax. Eventually this case led to the 16th Amendment, introduced in 1909 to remedy the problem of expecting income taxes to be a portion of modeling the states according to their populations. -
Sinking of the U.S.S. Maine
Killing 266 of the 354 crew members, the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana, Cuba Harbor added to tension between the United States and Spain. The ship was originally sent to protect American interests during the longstanding Revolt of the Cubans against the Spanish government and the explosion of the ship led to a naval blockade of Cuba and a declaration of war. Although the sinking was not an attack from Cuba, this knowledge was not obtained until decades later. -
The History of the Standard Oil Company is published by Ida Tarbell
Ida's passion for pursuing the downfall of Standard Oil began early in her life as her father suffered from and protested John D Rockefeller's business practices. Ida's exposé revealed that the company used predatory practices to dominate the industry. In 1906 the federal government sued Standard Oil under the Sherman Antitrust Act and the case reached the Supreme Court in 1910. This brought an end to the richest figure in American history. -
The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair is published
Sinclair was one of the most famous muckrakers of his time. His best-known novel exposed the appalling and unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry and caused an uprising by women's groups that led to the Pure Food and Drug Act as well as the Meat Inspection Act of 1906. The novel covered the disease and even human flesh that was packaged into meat at the time. -
Founding of the NAACP
The NAACP was established in New York City by an interracial group of activists to handle racial inequality and was partially in due to the 1908 Springfield race riot in Illinois. The initial goals were the abolition of segregation, discrimination, disenfranchisement, and racial violence, (lynching). The NAACP has been able to spearhead the drive to win the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
The fire was caused by a cigarette butt or match that had fallen into a bin full of fabric scraps and tissue paper. This fire was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of Manhattan and one of the deadliest in US history. 146 victims perish due to the lack of laws to force companies to install automatic sprinkler systems and firewalls. This tragedy led to the passing of about 30 separate laws which included those regulating the minimum wage and working conditions. -
Election of 1912
The election of 1912 was unique due to the win of the first Democrat since 1892 and marked Wilson as one of just three democratic presidents to serve from 1861 to 1933. This was also the only presidential election in which a third party candidate finished in second. Roosevelt's choice to run against Taft led to a split in the supporters of the Republican Party due to his discontent with the presidential choices of Taft in his earlier term. -
Introduction of The Square Deal
President Roosevelt introduced the Square Deal to improve consumer protection, control of corporations, and conservation efforts. It is one of the most successful policy programs that has been initiated by the government and was popular with both Liberals and conservatives. Several Acts were passed including the the Pure Food and Drug Act, and Sherman Antitrust act, which stopped firms that were bad monopolies and encouraged the good ones, and gave the government the power to set railroad rates. -
The Federal Reserve Act
This act was passed to establish economic stability in the US by introducing guidelines to oversee monetary policy. Wilson's act gave the federal government influence over where Banks and other lenders set interest rates. higher interest rates translated to more expensive borrowing cost of Finance everything from a car to purchases on a credit card. This let the banking system collapse in the 30's and allowed the money supply to collapse when large runs wreak havoc on the fragile banking system. -
Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association
The Universal Negro Improvement Association was very controversial in it's calling for blacks to return to Africa. Garvey's goal was to create a separate society run by African-Americans so that all black people in the world could be free of white colonial rule. The UNIA focused on performing charitable work for African Americans and was known for its ability to promote black businesses as well as instilling racial pride and economic self-sufficiency to African Americans across the country. -
The Keating–Owen Child Labor Act of 1916
This act was the first law to set limits on child labor and established age limits for children working in factories, stores, and mines as well as limits on working times and hours. It banned the sale of products from any Factory or shop that employed children under the age of 14 and from any mind that employed children under the age of 16. The bill also proposed that Congress could use its power to regulate interstate commerce in order to eliminate child labor in manufacturing. -
The Fourteen Points are Lined Out
Designed as a negotiation for the end of WWI, Wilson's 14 Points included ideas regarding Nations conduct of foreign policy, including Freedom of the Seas, free trade, and the concept of national self-determination. This led to the compromise of Germany as they were fair to all countries in Europe and did not place blame strictly on Germany. Although they were to be used for peace negotiations, most of the points never made it off paper and Germany was pinned with the majority of War blame. -
The Red Scare of 1919-1920
The Red Scare was caused by the widespread fear and panic of recent immigrants and descendants in the United States being communist and taking over the states. The first Red Scare held spies that revealed suspicious behavior in citizens across the country. McCarthyism rose with the second Red Scare and led to the destruction of thousands of lives from false accusations, including whole cultures and races. McCarthyism was mostly used for political gain and had no strong standing. -
The 19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote. It legally guarantees American women the right to vote and achieving this Milestone record and lengthy and difficult struggle that took Decades of protest.Women's suffrage had been led strongly by people such as Alice Paul and Ida B. Wells and NAWSA became the league of Women voters. This led to the proposition of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923. -
KKK Membership Reaches 5 Million
The Ku Klux Klan is one of the most influential white supremacist groups in history. During the 1900s the group instilled fear in Americans across the country as they targeted black families as well as anti-segregation supporting white families. they burn down the buildings of hundreds of people as well as murdering them to through painful death such as lynchings. The KKK included people of all ages, even small children. -
The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes
The Monkey Trial was the prosecution of criminal action brought by the state of Tennessee against High School teacher John T. Scopes for violating the state's Butler act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution in public schools. It was intended to accomplish two goals: to challenge the Butler Act, and to draw commercial attention to the small town of Dayton. This brought attention to the separation of church and state in public schooling and the sphere of influence in material for children. -
Invention of the Television
The invention of television in 1927 led to it becoming the main source of political news and information for society. Its influence expanded rapidly during the 60's as home televisions became more popular and allowed viewers to experience major political events. This also led to a different outlook on War, as citizens were able to see the trials and tribulations of those in WWII as well as the Cold War instead of hearing it through only letters as they did in WWI. -
Wall Street Crash of 1929
Also known as Black Monday, October 28th 1929 was when the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined nearly 13%. This was caused by a long period of speculation that preceded the Great depression. During this time, millions of people invested their savings or borrowed money to buy stocks, believing that stocks would constantly rise without any small downfall. This pushed prices to unsustainable levels and led to mass panic of people pulling their money out of Banks and causing the Great Depression. -
The Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl lasted a decade and in highly eroded areas, less than 25% of the original agricultural losses were recovered. It was caused by aggressive and poor farming techniques, mixed with a drought in the region and high winds that created massive dust storms that drove thousands from their homes and created a migrant population of poor, rural Americans that flooded states such as California to find work. Taking place in the Great Depression, it led to more food shortages and unemployment. -
The Tennessee Valley Authority Act
The TVA was one of the most ambitious undertakings of the new deal, and acted as a reform after natural disasters such as the decimal. It is the largest Public Power Company in the United States and manages the nation's fifth largest river to reduce flood damage and make Rivers easier to travel. It was able to provide flood control, hydroelectric power, conservation, and recreational facilities. -
Indian Reorganization Act
Reversing earlier damage by white settlers reducing Native American lands and rights, the Act was able to delete the US policy favoring Indian assimilation. It also recognized the right of self-determination for Native Americans. It provided funds for tribes to purchase new land and offered government recognition to tribal constitutions. Although it was helpful and supported Native American livelihood, the deal was not completely backed by reservations and faced troubles when being introduced. -
The Social Security Act
Although mostly unsuccessful when first enacted, the Social Security Act has given millions of Americans the safety to retire, as well as compensation for unemployment and disabilities. It provided public assistance for persons over 65, dependent children, and the needy and blind. This was meant to convince the older generations to retire and make way for the Baby Boomers that needed jobs, but most just collected their social security and continued to work, as jobs were underpaid at the time. -
Migrant Mother photograph taken in 1936
This Photograph was taken by Dorothea Lange while employed by the US government's Farm Security Administration program, which was formed during the Great Depression to raise awareness and provide Aid to impoverished farmers during the Dust Bowl and economic downfall. This photo is famous and came to symbolize the hunger, poverty, and hopelessness and dirt by so many Americans during the Great depression. -
Atlantic Charter Conference with Churchill
The Atlantic Charter was a joint declaration released by FDR and Winston Churchill that provided a broad statement of the US and British war aims. Up until this point, one advantage that Germany had was a clear picture of what they wanted to accomplish and how, but this publicly affirmed a sense of solidarity against Axis aggression. It also laid out a vision for the post war world, which would be characterized by free exchanges of trade, self-determination, disarmament, and Collective security. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Although the US was not interested in Striking against Japan, the bombing of Pearl Harbor was due to the Japanese idea that the United States could be taken over and used for resources. It was a surprise military strike by the Japanese Navy Air Service at the US Naval base and Pearl Harbor that killed more than 2,300 Americans and only lasted for an hour and 15 minutes, leaving little time to strike back. Tension between the US and Japan grew heavily after this time and set the US into WWII. -
The Normandy Landings
The Normandy Landings, which are also known as D-Day, were the landing operations and Associated Airborne operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War ii. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history and was planned years in advance in order to spark the end of World War II and loss of Germany. Allied Forces had to travel through weaponized Waters and scale up a cliff in order to overwhelm Axis powers. This also marked the start of the liberation of Eastern Europe. -
The Yalta Conference
Exhausted from the length and pain of World War II, the big three world leaders agreed to demand Germany's unconditional surrender and began plans for a post world war. It split Germany into four zones each controlled by either the USSR, USA, France, or Britain. It also included Stalin agreeing to join the war against the Japanese. -
The Truman Doctrine
Through the Truman Doctrine, President Truman asked Congress for 400 million dollars in Military and economic assistance for Greece and Turkey and over time added in the majority of Europe through The Marshall Plan. This helps to prevent the expansion of Communism by rebuilding countries under Democratic rule and putting them back on their feet again. The US even helped Germany and it helped to establish the US as the world leader. -
Shelley v. Kraemer
This case was a landmark civil rights ruling, in which the Supreme Court held that private racial Covenants could not be used to evict black buyers out of homes. This marked one of the first steps towards equality for all races and made prohibiting the sale of property to non-Caucasians unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. -
The Berlin Blockade
The Berlin blockade was imposed by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin that cut off all land and River Transit between West Berlin and west Germany. This was meant to leave Allied Powers unable to send resources to Berlin without official threat of war. In order to get around this blockade, the Western allies responded with a massive Airlift that lasted a year before Stalin gave up. This was a technological wonder of the time and proved the resourcefulness and stubbornness of the Allies to avoid war. -
The First Recorded Use of the Term "McCarthyism"
Terrified of the spread of communist rule into the US, the second Red Scare was highlighted through the impact of McCarthyism among Americans. Senator McCarthy claimed to possess a list of 205 card carrying communist employed in the US Department of state. Over a span of years he never revealed the whole thing and used it to gain political power. This led to a panic that caused people to start targeting neighbors and friends in the hopes of never being accused of Communism. -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
The Supreme Court case ruled that separate but equal facilities are inherently unequal and violated the protections of the equal protection Clause of the 14th amendment. it ruled that racial segregation is unconstitutional and public schools and forced integration. Although this was an important win for the Civil Rights Movement, many schools refused to integrate for years as there was no time requirement. -
The Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was designed by communist powers to counter the NATO forces deployed in Central Europe. It was a Collective defense treaty established by the Soviet Union and seven other Soviet satellite states in Central and Eastern Europe. These two camps became counterweighted defenses around the world. NATO was born to safeguard freedom and security by political and Military means. -
Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956
The national interstate and Defense Highway Act of 1956 led to increased mobility in urban areas by reducing travel time for cars, buses, and trucks, while lessening traffic congestion on non interstate roads. Before this act there were only highways connecting towns and travel was lengthier and more expensive. In order to convince Americans to fund this, defense was rolled into the title to convince Americans that having so many places for emergency air travel would be safe in times of War. -
Launch of Sputnik
The launch of Sputnik by the USSR sparked the beginning of the space race between them and the US. It was the first man-made object to orbit the Earth and was an example of the tight war of technological advancements between powers. Although the US was able to Launch a satellite into orbit only months later, this instilled a competitive nature that led to the US having the first man on the moon. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
An American U2 spy plane secretly photographed nuclear missile sites being built by the Soviet Union on the island of Cuba. This led to a 35-day confrontation between the US and Soviet Union in which usually assured destruction was agreed upon. having a missile launch point in Cuba could have led to complete destruction of the continental United States. The Soviet Union removed their missile launch points from Cuba as both powers agreed that escalating to those points of War would end the world. -
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
The March on Washington was the largest gathering for civil rights of its time. It is estimated that over 250,000 people attended, arriving in Washington DC by planes, trains, cars, and buses from all over the country. This March was where the famous I Have a Dream speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr took place and later led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This took place at the Lincoln Memorial and deeply affected the views of racial segregation and intolerance elimination. -
JFK Assassination
John F Kennedy was a beloved president and the youngest to serve in office as well as die in office. During his presidency important events such as the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile crisis, the building of the Berlin wall, the space race, early events of the Vietnam war, and the American Civil Rights Movement all took place. His assassination also led to the 25th Amendment which spelled out that a vice president takes office if a president is to die. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the most important Civil Rights Act to have been passed. it prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This forbade discrimination on the basis of sex as well as race and hiring, promoting, and firing. This also prohibited discrimination in public accommodations and federally funded programs, while strengthening the enforcement of voting rights and desegregation of schools. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
During signals intelligence Patrol, the USS Maddox was approached by three Vietnamese people's Navy Torpedo boats and the Maddox fired warning shots and the Vietnamese boats attacked the Torpedoes and machine gun fire. The resolution of this incident authorized President Johnson to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the force of the United States and to prevent any further aggression by North Vietnam. This is seen as The Unofficial beginning of the Vietnamese war. -
The Mỹ Lai Massacre
The massacre was the mass murder of unarmed South Vietnamese citizens by US troops during the Vietnam war. The official cover up with revealment of gruesome images months later fueled anti-war sentiment and further divided the US over the war. It was also pointed out that service members needed better training on their rights and obligations under the laws of war and to leave citizens alone. This Massacre was also blown up over the use of media and television. -
The Watergate Scandal
The Watergate scandal stemmed from the Nixon administration's persistent attempts to cover up the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Nixon's administration had no involvement with the break-in, his fumbling with the cleanup behind it led to scrutiny and resignation from his presidency. In an attempt to stop investigations, Nixon fired dozens of high-ranking government officials and only tarnished his name further, leaving the country shaken up for years. -
The Camp David Accords
In an attempt to acquire a good name for his presidency, Jimmy Carter set up a meeting with the Egyptian president and Israeli Prime Minister that led to 12 days of secret negotiations and a pair of political agreements signed at the retreat. These agreements established a framework for the historic peace treaty concluded between the countries in March of the following year. These treaties recognized Israel as a country and completed the unthinkable. -
The Iran-Contra Affair
During Reagan's presidency, his senior Administration officials secretly facilitated the sales of arms to Iran in order to negotiate the release of hostages and use the proceeds to find the Contras in Nicaragua. While the funding of the Contras and risking of the hostages was relatively Undisputed as positive, he arms sales directly violated Reagan's standards. This took a large hit on Reagan's popularity, even after it was proven that he was unaware of these feelings. -
The Persian Gulf War
The Gulf War was of the response to the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in 1990. The UN sent troops and supplies to help the small country because under international law it is illegal for one country to arbitrarily invade another. Before going to war, the US asked the UN for an official resolution to liberate the entry by force. The war eventually ended through an Armistice and the UN removes Iraqi forces from Kuwait and restored their sovereignty. -
The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks
Sent out as a message of terrorism from Islamic extremists, the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001 resulted in the death of hundreds of people and the destruction of buildings such as the Twin Towers. straight up by the Iranian Revolution, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the assassination of the Egyptian president. This banded the US together and placed fear over the nation for months to come.