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18th Amendment
● The Eighteenth Amendment was ratified by the Supreme Court on 29th of January 1919. It prohibited the manufacturing, transporting, and selling of alcohol. Despite this amendment being passed many still drank alcohol illegally. The passing of this amendment created mass amounts of organized crime and smuggling. -
Sacco and Vanzetti Trial
● A security guard and paymaster were killed in an afternoon robbery. Sacco and Vanzetti were anarchists and gained support that they were being prosecuted because of political motivation. They believed that social justice would come only through the destruction of governments. They were still executed in August despite not receiving a fair trial. -
19th Amendment
The 19th amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920 and granted women suffrage. For over 70 years women had been fighting for the right to vote. They were able to gain more rights and more respect in society. Started getting jobs and began becoming equal to men. -
Harlem Renaissance
● The largest African American community developed in New York City and was called Harlem. Harlem became famous in the 1920s and the 1930s for its talented actors, artists, musician and writers. African American jazz musicians became so famous that this time is often called the jazz era. The Harlem renaissance helped the later generations to embrace black pride and nationalism. -
Publication of The Great Gatsby
The Greaty Gatsby was published on April 10th, 1925. This novel was published by F. Scott Fitzgerald who is was a member of the Lost Generation. This novel is a depiction of the roaring twenties capturing all the parts of it from economic prosperity to criminal activity due to bootlegging. -
John Scopes Trial
On July 10th, 1925 in Dayton Tennessee the “Monkey Trial” begins. John Scopes, a biology teacher, taught his class evolution. A law which had been passed in March made it a misdemeanor to teach evolution. The impact of this trial was that William Jennings Bryan claimed Christianity and belief of the Bible, but had a mistress in the court room. This proved that not even the prosecutor believed the Bible in full. Although, the teachings of evolution were still found as unlawful in the state of Ten -
Flight of Charles Lindbergh
● The American pilot Charles Lindbergh completed the first successful solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. He made the flight in thirty three and a half hours. The plane to make it across the ocean was specially made but hindered the front view of the plane. He became an instant international celebrity and became a fighter in WWII later in his life. -
The Jazz Singer
The Jazz Singer is a 1927 American film. It was the first motion picture with sound. The movie depicts the love of Jazz music developing in America and began the start of motion picture movies with sound. -
Herbert Hoover elected president
● Herbert Hoover was America’s thirty first president and took office in 1929. Hoover failed to recognize the severity of the depression that was beginning to happen. The U.S. stock market crashed and Herbert Hoover didn’t do anything to help it because he thought it would get better by itself. Millions of americans then lost their jobs, homes, and money. He was then blamed for everything and the shack towns were named Hoovervilles. -
St. Valentine's Day Massacre
On Valentines day in 1929 a gang related shooting broke out in the streets of Chicago. Al Capone had been previously trying to consolidate control of the illegal bootlegging, gambling and prostitution ring he was involved in. On Valentine’s Day seven men were fatally shot to death in a gang related killing by several men dressed as police. Many believe this shooting had to deal with Capone, but it the day has never been linked to him. -
Black Tuesday
Black Tuesday happened on the 29th of October 1929 when 16,410,030 stocks were sold in a single day. Billions of dollars were lost. Unemployment was around 15 million people or thirty percent of the workplace. This event started the Great Depression. -
Empire State Building Built
On May 1st, 1931 the empire state building was finished and dedicated. Hoover lit up the white house just like the building was lit up in New York. This building was built in a competition between Chrysler Corporation and General Motors. At the time it was built it was the world’s tallest building, but only held that title for a short period. -
First Election of FDR
● The first election of Franklin D. Roosevelt was held on November 9,1932. Republican, President Herbert Hoover, was defeated by the democratic nominee, Franklin Roosevelt. This was the first election during the Great Depression. Roosevelt had a New Deal to relieve, recovery, and reform to end and fix the depression. Roosevelt caused a major shift in the political party alignment of the country. -
FDIC passed
The federal deposit insurance corporation was created on June 16, 1933. It was created the Banking Act of 1933 in response to bank failures across the country. It insured depositors against the loss of up to five thousand dollars should their bank collapse. It was a part of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal recovery programs. -
21st Amdendment
The nation went fourteen years with alcohol being illegal. On Decemeber 5, 1933 the eighteenth amendment was repealed by the twenty first. The 21st amendment was passed because of failed prohibition laws in the U.S. These failed laws created organized crime rings and resulted in many criminals getting rich. -
National Labor Relations Act
The National Labor Relations Act was created on July 5th, 1935 to protect the rights of employees and employers. This was created to prevent the harm in the general welfare of workers, businesses and the U.S. economy. -
Neutrality Act
● On August 31, 1935 Roosevelt signed the neutrality act which aimed to keep the U.S. out of war. He signed this when newly installed leaders in Europe were beginning to wage war and take land. Set up embargos on the sale of arms to “belligerent” nations. However, we still ended up giving British materials for the war through the Lend-Lease act. -
Social Security Act passed
● On December 14th 1935 Pres. Roosevelt signed into law the social security act and commended congress for what he considered to be a great “patriotic” act. It was originally created to combat unemployment. However it later became a security net for retirees and disabled. The system has been relatively unchanged since it was signed into law in 1935 -
Hindenburg Disaster
● The Hindenburg was the largest dirigible ever built and was the prized possession of Germany. It attempted to moor at Lakehurst, New Jersey on May 6, 1937. However the core sparked and the hydrogen caught fire and exploded as it crashed onto the ground. Thirty five people died on that day and the ones who survived suffered major injuries -
Golden Gate Bridge Completion
May 27th, 1937 the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco was completed. It is a 4,200 foot long suspension bridge. This bridge was created as a symbol of progress during an economic crisis. The bridge still exists today, and is now one of the many things that the U.S. is known for. -
Nazi Germany invades Poland
On the 1st of September 1939, Germany began World War Two. Adolf Hitler and his German forces began to attack Poland by land and air. Hitler was trying to take back the land that the Germans lost during WWI. It was the beginning of his “blitzkrieg” strategy that would help him take over most of Europe. -
Selective Service Act Passed
• On September 16, 1940, President Roosevelt signed into law the selective service act which required all men from the age of 21 to 35 to register for the draft. The U.S. was not at war but Roosevelt felt a need for preparedness in case we did join the war. This created the first peace time draft in U.S. history. This act ended up drafting ten million men and millions more signed up. -
Lend-Lease Act signed by FDR
The Lend-Lease act was passed in March 11, 1941. It was a means of providing U.S. military aid to foreign nations during WWII. The president could transfer arms or any defense material without being overextended in battle. This act put us one step closer to joining the war. -
Pearl Harbor
On the 7th of December 1941, Japan attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Japanese attacked us in hopes of destroying our Pacific fleet so we wouldn’t be able to stop them from taking over Africa. Roosevelt talked to Congress and the day after we declared war. -
D Day
● On June 6, 1944, 156,000 Allied forces landed on the fortified coast of Normandy. It was one of the largest amphibious military invasions in history. It was codenamed Operation Overload while the extensive planning and training was happening. The attack on Normandy led to the liberation of France and has been called the beginning of the end of the war in Europe. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
● The battle of Iwo Jima was an amphibious invasion and occurred on February 15, 1945. The U.S. needed a base near the coast of the Japanese enemy. The U.S. Marines wiped out the defending forces after fighting for a month. Earned the US a place in American lore with the publication of a photograph showing a US flag raised in victory. -
FDR's Death
● President Roosevelt who was in office for four terms passed away on April 12, 1945. He died of a massive cerebral hemorrhage and thousands of Americans attended his funeral. Harry S. Truman was then put in power of the country, military, economy, and the power of the first ever atom bomb. Roosevelt’s wife Eleanor was left to funeral planning and speeches. -
VE Day
● On May 8, 1945 was the day that German Nazis surrendered, laid down their weapons, and a final cease-fire was realized. On this day the U.S. and Great Britain celebrate Victory in Europe Day. This day was a major turning point because it ended the war with Germany and left Japan fighting by themselves. More than 13,000 British who were prisoners of the Nazis were released back into Great Britain. -
VJ Day
● Victory over Japan Day is celebrated on August 14, 1945 but has also been celebrated on August 15th. This was the day that Japan announced an unconditional surrender to the Allies. This ended the war but on September 2 Japan had its formal surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. After the war was over the U.S. experienced extreme amounts of relief and exhilaration -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
● On August 6, 1945 the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan. Three days after another American Bomber dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The two bombs killed 120,000 people instantly and tens of thousands would die later of radiation. The emperor announced his country’s surrender to end the devastating killing and power of the “new and most cruel bomb.”
