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1492
The Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange was a period of exchanges between the New and Old Worlds. Exchanges of plants, animals, and diseases, changed European and Native American ways of life. The Columbian Exchange had many effects, positive and negative. There was an increase in global trade, with a wider variety of goods available on both sides of the Atlantic. New food sources started population growth in Europe, while on the other hand, new diseases wiped out much of the native population in the Americas. -
The Start of Jamestown
To increase England's wealth and power, an American colony would give England raw materials and open new markets to trade. In doing this, they established the first colony, Jamestown. The site they chose was rough living. With the marshy climate, it lacked safe drinking water, the settlers lacked farming and hunting skills as they were living on grounds they didn't know about, and many settlers died of starvation and disease. They quickly had to adapt, and Jamestown eventually became successful. -
The First Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a religious revival in colonies from the 1720s to the 1770s. It increased the importance of Christianity and challenged traditional authority in the New World. It had a lasting effect on the way in which the colonists viewed themselves, their relationships with one another, and their faith. Many ended up leaving their old churches and joined new Protestant groups such as Baptists and Presbyterians. The movement contributed to the independence from England years later -
The Albany Plan
The Albany Plan was given by Benjamin Franklin in Albany as a way for the colonies to counter French expansion. The plan proposed that the colonies should be placed under a more centralized government, with a system for recruiting troops and collecting taxes from the colonies for their own defense. The colonies ended up rejecting the plan, but it showed that many colonial leaders had begun to think about joining together for their defense. -
The Sugar Act
The parliament passed the Sugar Act to stop smuggling between colonies and the French West Indies. The Sugar Act impacted the colonies by making the post-war economic depression worse, although the Sugar Act lowered the tax on molasses, it restricted the trade of molasses and forced merchants to buy more expensive molasses from the British West Indies. This upset the colonists because they believed this was taxation without representation at a time when they were already facing hardships. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act imposed a tax on all paper documents such as newspapers, magazines, and any legal documents in the colonies, and it came at a time when the British Empire was deep in debt from the Seven Years' War. The colonists felt that the act was unconstitutional, and they resorted to mob violence. The act was quickly nullified, yet it still started a series of events such as the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre, and many riots. Eventually leading to the long, hard Revolutionary War. -
The Townshend Act
Prior to the Boston Massacre, the British had established a number of new taxes on the American colonies including taxes on tea, glass, paper, paint, and lead. These taxes were part of a group of laws called the Townsend Acts. The colonies felt it was unconstitutional for Parliament to place taxes & laws on them without representation. Just like when Britain imposed the Stamp Act, the colonists began to protest and the British brought in soldiers to keep order. -
The Boston Massacre
The colonists started to call the British soldiers names and the soldiers became angry and started destroying the colonist's property. The colonists became even angrier and started forming crowds and throwing rocks at the soldiers, resulting in British soldiers firing into the crowd and killing some colonists. This led to more fights breaking out in Boston. The colonists became very upset and determined to be free from British rule, meaning the beginning of the American Revolution would come soo -
The Boston Tea Party
American colonists, frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing "taxation without representation," dumped 342 chests of tea, imported by Britain into the harbor. American colonists responded with protests and coordinated resistance by convening the First Continental Congress in 1774 to petition Britain to repeal the Intolerable Acts. This gave the colonists the motivation to stand up for their rights and to risk their lives by going to The Revolutionary War for their independence. -
The Coercive/ Intolerable Acts
A series of laws were passed by Parliament as a result of the Boston Tea Party. The laws passed closed Boston Harbor, outlawed colonial government in Massachusetts in favor of British-appointed government officials, and re-enforced the Quartering Act. Rather than suppressing the colonies, it provided motivation for the first meeting of the colonies, the First Continental Congress, and ultimately led to the Revolutionary war. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The first battle of the Revolution started with the "shot heard round the world", nobody quite knows who did it, yet it is still significant because with shots fired, the war had started. After Lexington, the British troops continued their march to ward Concord. Colonists discovered the British were coming and along the road waiting for the red coats, there were countless people hiding. Eventually, the groups attacked and won. This battle proved America could win the war for its independence. -
Declaration of Independence Signed
The Declaration of Independence was written to create a new government, separate from England, that would guarantee that its people would have fundamental rights and the right to abolish the government if they are not happy with it. The colonies will then become states, and as a result of this, each state must write a state constitution and form a state government. After the Declaration of Independence is written the United States still have to win the war in order to secure its independence. -
The Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last battle of the Revolutionary War. It was also the surrender of the British, meaning America had finally gained its independence. During the battle of Yorktown, colonists forced the British to retreat to the coast. The French Navy had begun moving to the coast where the British were headed. Then the British were surrounded and they surrendered. Ending in an American victory, which effectively brought an end to the American Revolution. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was for the United States to gain independence from Britain and become its own country and have its own self-government. The treaty also said that any loyalist who had land was to be taken away and returned to the United States. After the treaty was signed, the United States was no longer part of Britain, and it became its own nation, meaning it could now have its own government and laws. The new nation began to expand and the British promised to remove all British troops. -
Election of George Washington
George Washington was a general in the Revolutionary War and was elected the 1st American President. He was responsible for enforcing the strong central government that the Constitution created. Many precedents were formed with Washington under control. The formation of two political parties - the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists, the creation of the First National Bank, and the decision to issue a Proclamation of Neutrality. These led to many future events that helped form the U.S. -
National Bank Established
The First National Bank of the United States was first chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1791 after being proposed by Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury, in 1790. The purpose of the bank was to handle the financial needs and requirements of the new central government of the newly formed United States. Thomas Jefferson along with some congressmen, particularly from the south, voiced concerns over elitism, encroachment on state's rights, and unconstitutionality. -
Pinckney’s Treaty
Pinckney's Treaty was an important diplomatic success for the United States. It settled territorial disputes between the two countries and allowed American ships free navigation on the Mississippi River and duty-free passage through the Spanish-controlled port of New Orleans. This resulted in New Orleans reopening, and Americans could transfer goods without paying cargo fees, and the right of deposit when they transferred goods from one ship to another. -
XZY Affair
The XYZ Affair was an incident involving American diplomats sent to France. Three French agents tried to get the Americans to pay $250,000 in bribe money and guarantee a $10 million loan to France. The US refused to pay, infuriated Americans, and resulted in an undeclared naval war with France. France was embarrassed by the incident and agreed to sign a treaty with the US, called the Convention of 1800. The treaty ended the attacks on American ships and brought peace between the US and France. -
Alien & Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition acts were to maintain federalist power as they were the majority, this restricted those who may oppose John Adams and the Federalists. The Sedition Act permitted the deportation, fine, or imprisonment of anyone deemed a threat or publishing “false, scandalous, or malicious writing” against the government of the United States. The Alien Act stated that any citizen from a foreign country that posed a threat to national security if found guilty will be deported or detained. -
Marbury v. Madison
William Marbury started a petition due to a letter that was never received. Thomas Jefferson told James Madison to not deliver the letter because he didn't want him to be a justice. The Chief Justice said that Marbury's rights have not been violated under the judiciary act. Marbury was still announced the winner because they believed it was unconstitutional. This court case made it possible for the Supreme Court to name any act from the legislative and the executive branch. -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States purchased the land from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains from Napoleon for $15 million. Jefferson was interested in the land because it would give the United States the Mississippi River and New Orleans which both were valuable for trade, shipping, and expansion. The Constitution did not give the federal government the power to buy land, so Jefferson used secretive deals to justify the purchase. The Louisianna purchase nearly doubled the size of the United States. -
The Embargo Act
The Embargo Act happened because neither the French nor the British wanted America to trade with the other, so America stopped trading with both of them altogether. This was against Jefferson's view of the French alliance due to the fact that banned trade with Britain but also with the French when the French were American allies that needed support. This caused agricultural prices and earnings to fall, and shipping-related industries to be devastated causing unemployment to increase severely. -
The Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention was an event in which New England Federalists met to discuss their issues concerning the ongoing War of 1812 and the political problems emerging from the federal government's increasing power. At the Hartford Convention, Federalists agreed to oppose the war and send delegates to meet with Congress. The Federalist Party soon wanted power and prominence, leading to the eventual formation of new political parties. -
Battle of New Orleans (War of 1812)
The Battle of New Orleans was the "last battle" of the War of 1812, but the war had already ended once a peace treaty, the Treaty of Ghent, was signed, which was before the Battle of New Orleans. However, news of the treaty did not arrive in the United States until after the battle was fought. The United States won this battle, the United States troops were familiar with the land giving them a great advantage. The United States then achieved its greatest land victory of the War of 1812. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
In 1818, Maryland issued a bill taxing currency that had been distributed by the Second Bank of the United States. A cashier working for the Baltimore branch named James W. McCulloch wouldn’t pay the tax and was sued by Maryland. The Supreme Court unanimously agreed that states have no right to tax the bank as it was impeding something necessary and proper which was protected by the Necessary and Proper Clause. This verdict allowed other financial acts and laws to be passed in the future. -
The Missouri Compromise by Henry Clay
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement made to keep the balance of slave and free states equal. Missouri was added as a slave state and Maine was added as a free state in 1821. Northern politicians disliked the terms of the compromise because it allowed the expansion of slavery into the lands acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. Southerners disliked the compromise because it prohibited people from taking their slaves into the North. This ultimately showed how the nation would eventually divide. -
2nd Great Awakening
It was one of the most significant occurrences in the history of American religion. Countless people were converted and many churches were changed and revived. The movement also influenced many other things such as prison reform, the women's rights movement, the abolishment of slavery, advancements in literature, and reform in education. Women's roles in the church were greatly affected and they deeply encouraged the religious revival, setting up many organizations and charities. -
Jackson Presidency Begins
Andrew Jackson was a national war hero after defeating the British in New Orleans during the War of 1812. Jackson was elected the seventh president of the United States in 1828. Andrew Jackson's most significant failure as president was to allow the state of Georgia to evict the Cherokee Indians from their indigenous lands. His economic decisions contributed heavily to the Panic of 1837, and his practice of giving cronies political positions introduced the "spoils system" to American politics. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson, authorizing the president to grant unsettled lands west of the Mississippi River in exchange for Indian lands within existing state borders. As part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and migrate to an area in present-day Oklahoma. The Cherokee people called this journey the "Trail of Tears," because of its devastating effects. -
Nullification Crisis of 1832
The nullification crisis was the confrontation between the state of South Carolina and the federal government in 1832-33 over the former's attempt to declare null and void within the state the federal Tariffs of 1828 and 1832. The resolution of the nullification crisis in favor of the federal government helped to undermine the nullification doctrine, the constitutional theory that upheld the right of states to nullify federal acts within their boundaries. -
Whig Party Emerges
The Whig Party was an American political party formed in the 1830s to oppose President Andrew Jackson and the Democrats. The Whigs promoted protective tariffs, federal funding for internal improvements, and other measures that strengthened the central government. The Whig party supported the idea of government-funded expansion, reform, and modernization. But in 1852, they became divided over slavery and couldn't keep it together so the party collapsed, forming the new Republican Party. -
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was an economic depression, one of the most severe financial crises in the history of the United States. The Panic was followed by a five-year depression, with the failure of banks and record unemployment levels. Profits, prices, and wages went down, westward expansion was stalled, unemployment went up, and pessimism abounded. Ending in the mid-1840s, banks closed and the credit system collapsed, resulting in many bankruptcies and high unemployment. -
Texas Annexed
Texas was annexed by the United States in 1845 and became the 28th state. Until 1836, Texas had been part of Mexico, Mexico wanted to keep Texas, and Van Buren feared it would cause war. He also didn't want to add a new state to the Union that allowed slavery. People who wanted to annex Texas said it was the manifest destiny of the United States to spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This resulted in the United States going to war with Mexico in 1846. -
Mexican-American War
War with Mexico which began in 1846 when the U.S. annexed Texas and Mexico challenged the Border. It was caused by a combination of Mexican unwillingness to recognize Texas independence, the desire of Texans for statehood, and the American desire for westward expansion. The battles were fought in Texas, and Mexico was invaded from the Atlantic Ocean by General Winfield Scott. Scott attacked Mexico City and Chapultepec. The war ended with the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war between the United States and Mexico. Mexico ceded 55 percent of its territory, including the present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, most of Arizona and Colorado, and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming, expanding U.S. territory by about one-third, making the U.S. a bi-coastal nation. The Treaty also explicitly recognized the personal and property rights of New Mexicans and Pueblo Indians brought under U.S. sovereignty. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was an agreement proposed by Henry Clay, that allowed California into the union as a free state, divided the rest of the Mexican cession into two territories, settled land claims between Texas and New Mexico, abolished the slave trade in Washington, and strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act. This increased tensions between the North and the South because the North refused to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act but the South continued to enact the Fugitive Slave Act. -
Uncle Tom’s Cabin Published
Uncle Tom's Cabin is an anti-slavery novel by the author Harriet Beecher Stowe. It led to an increased push for the abolition of slavery and also led to several pro-South books written in response. It greatly strengthened Northern abolitionism and weakened British sympathy for the Southern want for slaves. This was the most influential novel ever written by an American and it was one of the contributing causes of the Civil War. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. The Act also served to repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which prohibited slavery in the North. Many abolitionists were upset because this act stated that slavery could be legal where it had been outlawed, this then intensified the long debate over slavery in the United States, which would later turn into the Civil War. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a sequence of violent events involving abolitionists and pro-Slavery elements that took place in the Kansas-Nebraska Territory. The North and the South became more divided over the issue of slavery, and this act demonstrated that the conflict over slavery was unavoidable. Its severity made national headlines, which suggested to the American people that the slavery disputes were unlikely to be resolved without violence, which ultimately led to the beginning of the Civil War -
Lincoln-Douglass Debates
The Lincoln Douglas debates were a series of debates, mainly about slavery, between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas and they were both running for senate. The debates were important because, at the time, senators were elected by the state legislature.They were trying their best for their parties to win in the Illinois general assembly. Lincoln gained a national reputation as a man of clear thinking who could argue with force and persuasion, and he would then be elected as president in 1860 -
John Brown Raid on Harper’s Ferry
This raid was led by John Brown, a radical white abolitionist from Kansas. Brown's plan was to break into Harper's Ferry and steal guns to give the guns to slaves and hoped that the slaves would fight for their freedom. His plan did not work, Brown and his men were caught and surrounded by army troops. Brown had hoped slaves would help but very few actually showed up. In the North, people saw John Brown as a hero and thought what he did was a good thing. Many people appreciated what Brown did. -
South Carolina Seceded
South Carolina seceded from the Union because of the North's views on slavery, once Abraham Lincoln was elected as president in 1861, the South feared what laws against slavery he would enforce, causing them to secede. This was followed by the secession of ten more states, these eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. Lincoln wanted to reunite the country and felt the only way to do so was to defeat the Confederacy in the Civil War, forcing them to reunite. -
Fort Sumter; Civil War Begins
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the first battle of the American Civil War. In the battle, forces from the Confederacy attacked the United States military Garrison at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Less than two days later, the fort surrendered. No one was killed, however, this battle started the bloodiest war in American history. This war was a war that lasted four years, cost the lives of more than 620,000 Americans, and freed 3.9 million enslaved people from bondage. -
Anaconda Plan
The Anaconda Plan was a three-part strategy by which the Union proposed to defeat the Confederacy in the Civil War. The Union navy would blockade Southern ports, so they could neither export cotton nor import much-needed manufactured goods. Then, Union riverboats and armies would move down to the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in two. Lastly, Union armies would capture the Confederacy capital. This was a successful strategy and one of the most successful victories of the war. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation stated that all those enslaved in the confederate territory were free. The proclamation did not apply to the five slave states that were not in rebellion nor to most regions already controlled by the union army. Emancipation there would come after separate state actions and/or the December 1865 ratification of the 13th amendment which made slavery illegal everywhere in the US. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea enforced total war, the goal was to destroy the Confederacy's ability to wage war. They destroyed anything and everything important to the war effort, leaving ruins where Georgia's cities stood. Sherman's troops destroyed anything and everything they could between Atlanta and the Atlantic Coast. Sherman's march was proof that the Confederacy was out of options, this caused significant Confederate economic loss and diminished Confederate morale, a major Union victory. -
Freedmen’s Bureau Established
Post Civil Wars, Congress passed “An Act to establish a Bureau for the Relief of Freedmen and Refugees” to provide food, shelter, clothing, medical services, and land to displaced Southerners, including newly freed African Americans. This was to help freed people achieve economic stability and secure political freedoms. This was successful by feeding millions of people, building hospitals and providing medical aid, negotiating labor contracts for ex-slaves, and settling labor disputes. -
Reconstruction Begins
Reconstruction was the period of U.S. History during which the United States began to rebuild the South after the Civil War. It lasted from 1865-1877. During this time, the federal government proposed many plans to readmit the defeated Confederate states to the Union. These plans included the 13th Amendment establishment, swearing loyalty to the Union; and paying off their war debt. Then they could re-write their state constitutions, hold elections, and send representatives to Washington. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment freed all slaves without compensation to the slave owners. It legally forbade slavery in the U.S. African Americans got to enjoy a period when they were allowed to vote, actively participate in the political process, acquire the land of former owners, seek their own employment, and use public accommodations. Yet, they still faced extreme discrimination. They struggled to establish their own households, farm their own lands, and establish community institutions and churches. -
14th & 15th Amendments
Post-Civil War, freed African Americans were still facing extreme discrimination and racism. Because of this, they established the 14th and 15th Amendments, which require states to give all citizens due process rights and guarantee equal protection of the law. Its purpose was first to allow former slaves immediate US citizenship, but its language also allowed it to be used to allow rights for ALL people in ALL states. The 15th Amendment guaranteed African-American men the right to vote. -
U.S.S Maine
On February 15, 1898, the battleship U.S.S. Maine was sent to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban revolt against Spain, the battleship exploded suddenly, without warning, and sank quickly, killing nearly three-quarters of the crew. The cause and responsibility for the sinking remained unknown. This is important because it was one of the many factors that led to the Spanish-American War. After the war was won, the U.S. obtained three major territories, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. -
Teller Amendment
On April 11, 1898, McKinley sent a war message to Congress urging armed intervention to free the oppressed Cubans. This was favorably received by Congress which responded with a declaration of war. The Teller Amendment was an amendment to this declaration that declared that when the United States had overthrown Spanish rule of Cuba it would give the Cubans their freedom. The imperial powers of Europe were skeptical, however, the United States withdrew from Cuba in 1902 as promised. -
Spanish-American War
The Cuban rebellion against Spain, Yellow Journalism, the explosion of the USS Maine, and the DeLome Letter all are said to be causes of this short war, lasting only ten weeks. The war was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States. Fought mainly for the issue of Cuban independence from Spain. U.S. victory in the war produced a peace treaty that compelled the Spanish to resign claims on Cuba and to cede sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. -
National Child Labor Committee Formed
One of the main issues addressed by the Progressive Movement was labor conditions, especially for children. Muckraking journalism and action from social and labor activists led to the formation of the National Labor Committee. As part of their charge, the committee investigated labor conditions around the nation. Photos of the investigation by the famed photographer Lewis W. Hine. The first real effective child labor legislation was passed more than thirty years later during the New Deal. -
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal was built in 1881 by a French company but the company stopped working in 1899 when the company went bankrupt. President Theodore Roosevelt asked for the Panama Canal to be built and appointed a civilian commission to lead the project. The Panama Canal was built because the trip across oceans was dangerous. The Panama Canal changed international trade by making it much quicker, safer, and easier to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, just as Roosevelt had hoped. -
Suffrage Parade in D.C.
the National American Woman Suffrage Association organized a large parade in Washington, DC, the day before Wilson’s inauguration. The movement continued with large-scale protests. A handful of American activists took on the more radical civil disobedience methods of British suffragettes of Pankhurst’s Women’s Social and Political Union. A 1915 poster for the parade declares that if a woman is responsible for taking care of her family, then she must have a voice in politics to protect them. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
The British ocean liner's demise contributed indirectly to the United States' entry into World War I. In 1915 it was sunk by a German U-boat, resulting in the death of 1,198 people, including 128 Americans. President Wilson immediately broke off all relationships with Germany. But despite the outrage over the incident, the U.S. government continued to pursue a policy of neutrality for another two years. However, German submarine warfare was cited when the United States declared war in 1917. -
The Great Migration
The Great Migration was the movement of 6 million African-Americans out of the rural Southern United States to the urban Northeast, Midwest, and West that occurred between 1916 and 1970. The second significant cause of the Great Migration was the desire of black Southerners to escape segregation, known euphemistically as Jim Crow. Rural African American Southerners believed that segregation - and racism and prejudice against blacks - was significantly less intense in the North. -
Zimmermann Telegram
The Zimmerman Telegram was a diplomatic communication, done in secret, that came from the German Foreign Office in January 1917. The British intercepted a telegram, and after decryption, the British found out that the Germans were trying to set an alliance with Mexico. Due to this and the continuance of Germany attacking American merchant ships, America declared war on Germany. The merchant ship attacks lead America into the war. -
Selective Services Act
The Selective Service Act was a law passed by the U.S. Congress during WWI. The law required all men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for military service. The law was designed to increase the size of the army and to ensure that the U.S. had enough soldiers to fight in the war. The law was controversial and was criticized for violating the rights of individuals who opposed the war or who has religious or moral objections to military service. -
Espionage and Sedition Acts
The Espionage and Sedition Acts were two laws passed by the U.S. Congress during WW1. The Espionage Act made it illegal to interfere with military operations or to promote the success of the country's enemies. The Sedition Act made it illegal to speak out against the government or criticize the war effort. The laws were designed to suppress dissent and opposition to the war, and they were used to prosecute individuals who spoke out against the war or the government. -
Harlem Renaissance Begins
The New York City neighborhood of Harlem became a major cultural center for African Americans, following the Great Migration. Black artists, musicians, and writers based in Harlem created a social and artistic community, producing major works and challenging barriers created by Jim Crow. Prominent figures included Duke Ellington, Arna Bontemps, Langston Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston. Many of the music, art, and overall culture formed a new life for African- Americans, still seen today. -
Fourteen Points
President Woodrow Wilson put forth his 14-point proposal for ending WWI in his War Aims and Peace Terms speech to Congress on January 8, 1918. The points included proposals to ensure world peace in the future: open agreements, arms reductions, freedom of the seas, free trade, and self-determination for oppressed minorities. The points served as a basis for the terms of the German surrender and were negotiated, but most of the points were abandoned in the Treaty of Versailles ending World War I. -
Red Scare
Fears of Communism shown in the Espionage and Sedition Acts led to deportations of immigrants, violence against suspected radicals, and the ousting of Socialists from the government. After radicals sent dozens of bombs to prominent government officials and American businessmen, an anti-Red campaign was initiated. Palmer ordered a series of raids on radical individuals and organizations. The raids turned up little evidence of violent intentions, but hundreds were deported anyway as a result. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment was a law that was passed that gave women the right to vote. Before this law, no women could vote in a majority of the states. The amendment helped pave the way for greater gender equality in the U.S. Women was able to participate more fully in political progress, they were able to advocate for their own rights and interests. The amendment was a major milestone in the fight for women's suffrage, and it helped to bring about significant social and political change. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was the peace settlement signed after World War 1 had ended in 1918. The first thing Treaty stated was that Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war. Germany also had to pay over $33 Billion in reparations. Germany was forbidden to have an army of over 100,000 men, they had no marines or airforce. Lastly, Germany lost territory and colonies to Britain and France. The Treaty and its punishments were extremely upsetting to Germany and were a main cause of WW2. -
Palmer Raids
The Palmer Raids were a series of government-led raids that took place in the U.S., led by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer. They were intended to root out suspected anarchists and radicals. The raids resulted in the arrest of thousands of people, many of whom were deported or held without trial. The raids were controversial and were criticized. They caused fear and suspicion, and they helped fuel anti-immigrants.The raids helped to highlight the need for greater respect for civil liberties. -
Prohibition Begins
Prohibition in the United States was the period from 1920 to 1933, during which the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol were banned in the US as said in the 18th Amendment. Prohibition was aimed to lower crime and corruption, reduce social problems, and improve health and hygiene in America. However, Prohibition made alcohol more dangerous to consume. Organized crime increased and corruption of police and public officials occurred. -
The Immigration Act (Johnson-Reed Act) of 1924The Immigration Act (Johnson-Reed Act) of 1924
The Immigration Act of 1924, was a US federal law that limited the number of immigrants who could be admitted from any country to 2% of the number of people from that country who were already living in the United States in 1890, down from the 3% cap set by the Immigration Restriction Act of 1921 based on a Census of 1890. It was aimed at restricting the Southern and Eastern Europeans as well as prohibiting the East Asians and Asian Indians. -
KKK March in Washington DC
Ku Klux Klan known as the KKK preached Americanism based on racism, anti-Catholicism, anti-Communism, nativism, and anti-Semitism. At its peak in the Roaring 20s, approximately 4 million people were members of the KKK. The march on Washington demonstrated the public acceptance of the KKK and its views. Ku Klux Klan members march to show support for the KKK. -
1929 Stock Market Crash
When the stock market crashed it made a major impact on the economy. Wealth distribution was not equal and most people didn't have an increase in their income, individuals lost their fortunes as they were strongly dependent on credits, banks had invested in markets and lost their money, and overseas exports were coming to an end as Americans had to tighten their spending money. This was a leading cause of the Great Depression that would soon hit the nation. -
Revenue Act of 1932
The Revenue Act of 1932 was a law passed by the U.S. Congress during the Great Depression. The law was designed to raise revenue for the federal government by increasing taxes on individuals and businesses. The law raised the top income tax rate from 25% to 63% and introduced new taxes on items such as gasoline, tobacco, and luxury goods. The law was controversial and was criticized for exacerbating the economic downturn by reducing consumer spending. -
First New Deal
President Franklin Roosevelt's program to alleviate the problems of the Great Depression focused on relief for the needy, economic recovery, and financial reform. Roosevelt began his administration with a broad, if not specific, strategy in mind: a combination of relief and recovery programs designed to first save the patient (in this case, the American people), and then to find a long-term cure (reform through federal regulation of the economy). -
Neutrality Acts of the 1930s
The Neutrality Acts of the 1930s were a series of laws passed by the U.S. Congress in response to the growing threat of war in Europe. The acts were designed to keep the U.S. out of the conflict by prohibiting American citizens from selling arms or lending money to nations at war. The laws also restricted travel on hostile ships and prohibited the arming of American merchant ships. The Neutrality Acts reflected a strong isolationist view in the U.S., but they ultimatey proved tp be ineffective. -
Second New Deal
The Second New Deal was focused on guaranteeing that Americans would be protected against unemployment. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration (WPA), giving millions of Americans jobs by constructing bridges, roads, etc. The WPA also sent out many artists to paint buildings and paint murals. The Social Security Act was established to ensure unemployment insurance, aid to the elderly and disabled and aid to families. The First New Deal was able to accomplish more than the Second. -
Atlantic Charter Conference with Churchill
The Atlantic Charter Conference was a meeting between British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The two leaders met aboard a British warship off the coast of Newfoundland and issued a joint declaration known as the Atlantic Charter. The charter outlined a vision for a post-war world based on principles such as self-determination, free trade, and disarmament. The charter helped to strengthen the alliance and laid the groundwork for the United Nations. -
Pearl Harbor Attacked
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base. The attack led to the U.S.'s entry into WW2, and it ultimately helped to shift the balance of power in the conflict. The attack was devastating, resulting in the loss of over 2,400 American lives and the destruction of numerous ships and aircraft. It was a pivotal moment in American history, and it helped to shape the course of the war and the world in the years to come. -
D-Day
The day in World War II on which Allied forces invaded northern France by means of beach landings in Normandy. It was the beginning of the Allied powers' invasion. Operation Overlord saw the largest naval assault in history in an effort to gain a hold in Nazi-occupied France. D-Day was the beginning of the end for not only the Germans but Hitler most of all. D-Day forced the Germans to fight a two-front war again just as they had in WWI. The U.S. had finally stopped the fascist powers. -
Yalta Conference
The Yalta conference was a meeting held during World War II, between February 4, 1945 - February 11, 1945, by the heads of the state of the Allied nations (Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill). The meeting was held to plan out the occupation of post-war Germany. Following the end of the Yalta conference, the Allies finished their invasion of Germany, and in July 1945, the United States dropped an Atomic Bomb on Japan following the infamous incident at Pearl Harbor. -
Truman becomes President
The 33rd U.S. president succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt upon Roosevelt's death in April 1945. Truman, who led the country through the last few months of World War II, is best known for making the controversial decision to use two atomic bombs against Japan in August 1945. After the war, Truman was crucial in the implementation of the Marshall Plan, which greatly accelerated Western Europe's economic recovery. -
Hiroshima & Nagasaki
The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were two atomic bomb attacks launched by the U.S. against Japan during the final stages of WW2. The bombings killed over 200,000 people, most of whom were civilians, and led to Japan's surrender and the end of the war. The effects were devastating, with the destruction of two cities. The bombings had a significant impact on the war in all. Yet, it also marked the beginning of the nuclear age and raised many questions and fears of nuclear war. -
National Securities Act of 1947
The CIA was enacted to pursue and conduct espionage and analyze information and facts concerning the actions of foreign countries. It also became involved in undercover operations to destroy operations made to be hostile toward the U.S. and this transformed the old Navy and War departments into a new Department of Defence. In addition, the Securities Act instituted another new arm of the executive branch, the National Security Council, with broad authority over planning foreign policy. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine established the fact that the United States would provide political, military, and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces. The Truman Doctrine effectively reoriented U.S. foreign policy, away from its usual stance of withdrawal from regional conflicts not directly involving the United States, to the possible interventions in far-away conflicts. He ultimately feared communism, and this would help containment. -
Marshall Plan
The purpose of the Marshall Plan was to assist in the recovery of war-torn Europe. Between 1948-1951, the Marshall Plan provided economic aid to 16 European countries struggling to rebound from the destruction of World War II. The Marshall Plan was officially called the European Recovery Program. The program has come to be called the 'Marshall Plan' because theSecretary of State George C. Marshall was instrumental in developing it. Diplomat George F. Kennan also played a role in its development. -
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949, which sought to create a counterweight to Soviet armies stationed in central and eastern Europe after World War II. From its founding, NATO's primary purpose was to unify and strengthen the Western Allies' military response to a possible invasion of Western Europe by the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact Allies. -
McCarthyism
As a result of the recent escalation of the Cold War and the spread of communism throughout the world, domestic fear concerning communist infiltration increased. This laid the foundation for the investigations of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Taking advantage of this "Red Scare" was Senator Joseph McCarthy who utilized the fear and panic of United States citizens to advance his own interests. Though many Americans believed the investigations were wrong, few said anything. -
Korean War Begins
The Korean War was sparked on June 25, 1950, due to the invasion of South Korea by 75,000 members of the North Korean People's Army. The U.S. joined two days later, primarily because of the threat of Communist expansion by China, along with the fear that the Soviet was working with China to create dangerous bombs. With a US victory, South Korea remained non-Communist while North Korea remained Communist. The North and South were still divided but this was a major turning point in The Cold War. -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
Linda Brown's father felt his daughter should not have to walk past several white schools to get to her segregated colored school that was disadvantaged and lacked sufficient resources. Mr. Brown felt the schools should be integrated. The Supreme Court ended up striking down the 'separate but equal doctrine of Plessy for public education and required the desegregation of schools across America. Although it took time for this to occur, it was eventually successful. -
Rosa Parks + Bus Boycotts
Rosa Parks was an African-American woman who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus to a white person. Her arrest led to a boycott of the city buses by African Americans, lasting over a year. The boycott had a major impact on the Civil Rights Movement because it brought national attention to the issue of discrimination. This led to many more peaceful protests. Ultimately, the boycott desegregated the buses, a small but meaningful victory for the African- American community. -
Sputnik launched leads to NASA being established
Sputnik was the first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the USSR. The launch of Sputnik had a significant impact on the Cold War, as it demonstrated the USSR's technological superiority and led to increased investment in science and technology in the U.S. In response to the launch of Sputnik, the United States established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958,with the goal of advancing space exploration and technology. NASA has made many significant achievements. -
U-2 incident
The U2 spy plane was an ultralight glider-like plane designed to fly higher than the Soviets could detect and for four years the plane took valuable photos of the Soviet Union's military situation. The USSR successfully shot down a U2 spy plane and captured its pilot; Gary Powers. According to the USSR Powers had confessed to being on a spying mission. This was a severe embarrassment for the US government and Khrushchev demanded an apology and that all spying flights stopped. -
Election of 1960
Brought about the era of political television. Between Kennedy and Nixon. Issues centered around the Cold War and the economy. Kennedy argued that the nation faces serious threats from the Soviets. Nixon countered that the US was on the right track under the current administration. Kennedy won by a narrow margin. The two factors that helped Kennedy win the 1960 presidential election were his strong, forceful personality and his response to the arrest of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a CIA operation to overthrow, Communist, Fidel Castro by landing 1200 disgruntled Cuban exiles in the Bay of Pigs. This fails miserably and was a major embarrassment for President Kennedy. The USSR understood that the U.S. was unwilling to get directly involved with Cuba. Kennedy was made to look weak in front of his own administration and international leaders. And ultimately, it strengthened Castro's position in Cuba forcing Cuba ever further into Communism. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
An American U-2 spy plane spotted what seemed to be a Russian Surface to Surface missile base over the island of Communist Cuba. President JFK confronted the Soviet Union to demand the removal of missiles. Kennedy put all soldiers on high alert and set up a blockade to stop Russian boats from bringing more missiles into Cuba. The US gave the USSR one day to remove all of the missiles from Cuba; in exchange for the Americans to extract the missiles in Turkey. This was the closest to nuclear war. -
The March on Washington
The March on Washington was a massive civil rights demonstration in Washington, D.C. The march was organized by a union of civil rights, labor, and religious organizations. This attracted around 250,000 people to whom, MLK gave his famous"I Have a Dream"speech. The march helped to raise awareness of the struggle for civil rights and put pressure on the government to enact change. The march was a passage of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was another important moment for equality and change. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act is a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It had a profound effect on American society. It helped to end segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination. The act also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate complaints of discrimination and provide remedies. Overall, it was a major step forward in the fight for civil rights and equality in America. -
Selma to Montgomery March
The march was a peaceful protest led by civil rights activists in 1965. The marchers were advocating for voting rights for African Americans, and they faced violence and opposition from police and white supremacists. The march helped to bring attention to the issue and eventually led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. This law helped ensure that all Americans, regardless of race, had equal access to the voting booth. The march was a very pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Nixon Resigns
Nixon was the 37th president, and his presidency was, marked by a controversial foreign policy and domestic reforms that included the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the opening of relations with Cina. However, Nixon was also implicated in the Watergate scandal, which involved the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the subsequent cover-up by the Nixon Administration. Nixon resigned from office, in the face of pressure from Congress and the public. -
Ronald Reagan Elected
Reagan served as the 40th president, his presidency was marked by a conservative agenda that included tax cuts, deregulation, and a strong foreign policy. Reagan is credited with ending the Cold War and improving relations with the Soviet Union. However, his presidency has many controversies, including the Iran-Contra scandal and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Reagan was seen as very popular yet still controversial to this day. -
Iran-Contra Scandal
The Iran-Contra scandal was a political scandal that occurred during the Reagan administration. The scandal involved the illegal sale of weapons to Iran, which was then under an arms embargo, and the use of the proceeds from those sales to fund the Contras, a rebel group in Nicaragua. The scandal was controversial and led to the indictment, of Oliver North, a National Security Council staff member. The scandal raised many questions about the legality of U.S. foreign policy.