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The Mayflower sets sail
The Mayflower set sail toward Virginia where the colonists had been authorized to settle by the British. The people on the ship landed at Plymouth, where they then drafted the Mayflower Compacts which covered rules and regulations and was the first self-governance document in the country. This group of colonists, however, struggled to attract new converts and settlers because of their strict views and were eventually overshadowed and absorbed by the Puritans, a group that looked for reform. -
Proclamation of 1763 issued
The Proclamation of 1763 forbade expansion from colonists past the Appalachian Mountains. Colonists believed that they contributed greatly to the French and Indian War and would have access to western land gained from the French loss as a result, but England thought otherwise and deemed them cowardly. This angered the colonists; they gave all they could to the war effort. The Proclamation was a massive slap in the face! -
Sugar Act of 1764 signed
The Sugar Act lowered taxes on molasses and sugar, which was a smart move by George Grenville in theory; it was meant to reduce smuggling that came as a result of the failures of the Molasses Act and allow colonists to be on the right side of the law and stop engaging in the black market. However, this act was also meant to support British business. The last thing the colonists wanted to do at this time was to give money to the crown, and they continued to engage in smuggling and bribing. -
Stamp Act of 1765 signed
As part of the debt crisis the British were facing as a result of the French and Indian War, the British were in need of monetary sources. They deemed the revenue from the Sugar Act insufficient, and imposed the Stamp Act. This act enforced a tax on all legal documents including newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, marriage papers, and more. This targeted the rich and middle class especially; they had more documents to sign and therefore gave more money toward the crown. -
Quartering Act of 1765 signed
The British began to be suspicious of how loyal the colonists really were. British troops, stationed in the colonies under the assumption that they were "protecting the colonies", were to be allowed into any home and provided shelter and board under the Quartering Act. In reality, they were invading the privacy of many colonial families to see who's truly loyal to the empire. This came about because previously signed acts had upset colonists and stirred up discontent. -
Boston Massacre
Tensions were high between the British and colonists; their loyalty had been tested time and time again. This led to a standoff in which projectiles, believed to be snowballs, were thrown at British guards of a customs house. This projectile cut a guard's head, and the guards then opened fire on the crowd and killed five. This was given major publicity, exposing strain in relations between the British and colonists. -
Boston Tea Party
In protest of Britain's taxation of the colonists without their representation in parliament, the Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians and dumped 342 chests ($1.8 millions worth of tax revenue) of tea owned by the East India Company into the harbor at Boston, Massachusetts. This resulted in increased tension between the colonies and the British, and ultimately led to the imposing of the Coercive/Intolerable Acts. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
The Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, are a series of acts imposed on the colonies by the British in response to outbursts and rebellion from colonists due to a lack of their representation in Parliament. These acts closed the port of Boston, outlawed assemblies and took total control over government in the colonies, and highly regulated trade and commerce. The Quartering Act was also enforced to a higher standard and taxes were raised even further, outraging the colonists. -
Second Continental Congress meets
Just a month after the first shots of the Revolution were fired at Lexington and Concord, all thirteen colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia to meet in the Second Continental Congress. The Olive Branch Petition, a petition requesting representation of the colonies, is sent to King George. Contrary to colonist expectation, it is quickly rejected by the King and he declares the colonies to be in open rebellion. Thomas Jefferson is then chosen to draft a Declaration of Independence. -
Publishing of Thomas Paine's 'American Crisis'
An ill equipped Continental Army is experiencing dangerously low morale less than a year after independence is declared. To combat this morale, Thomas Paine wrote a series of 9 essays he called 'American Crisis.' These writings reminded the army of their initial cause and immortalized them. George Washington, a military general at the time, read this aloud to his troops in an attempt to increase morale and reinvigorate his soldiers. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The British marched to Concord in an attempt to seize colonial goods and weapons to end a war before it begins, but are alerted that Samuel Adams and John Hancock are en route to Concord from Lexington. The British set out during dark to take out the leaders, but are spotted by colonial spies who raise alarm throughout the towns. 77 militiamen stand ground against 700 British and almost back down before a shot is fired. As the British retreat, they're followed and 250 are killed or wounded. -
Publishing of Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense'
Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' was written in response to intense fighting in and around Boston, MA. It was a brilliant propaganda piece designed to lay out a passionate case for independence in the language of common people. It massively distributed throughout the colonies and inspired many to realize the maltreatment and abuse the British were imposing on the American colonies against their will. -
Declaration of Independence signed
The signing of the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, marked a monumental turning point in American independence. The Declaration declared that the thirteen colonies regard themselves as an independent nation under the rule of no empire and listed reasons why the colonists should be free of British rule. It also outlines ideals of the new nation and complaints against the King. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a major turning point in the Revolutionary War. General John Burgoyne, leading an army that plans to move into the South, planned to meet up with two other British armies. They are going to face the Continental Army, but upon meeting the army, the other two British armies were nowhere to be seen. The Continental Army does to them what they planned to do to us; pinch then from the front and rear. Burgoyne had no choice but to surrender, landing America a major victory. -
Articles of Confederation adopted
The Articles of Confederation was adapted in the Second Continental Congress after much revision and debate. It was the first outline for the creation of a government for the colonies. It was a reflection of the trauma faced as a nation; it didn't allow an executive leader or a standing army such as Britain did. The Articles quickly failed and were gotten rid of after only six years. Most of the power was left to the states and held a weak central government. -
Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
In an attempt to protect the Royal Navy, British General Cornwallis retreats to the coast of Yorktown, Virginia for the winter. He is actually planning to lure Washington and his army because he knows they will be set on supplies from the navy, but the Continental Army won't. He wasn't aware that the British fleet had recently been defeated, and he found himself cornered. The French and Americans began to attack and he was forced to surrender his position. This ended major fighting in the war. -
Treaty of Paris is signed
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War; this won the independence of the United States of America. Britain feared more loss than what it was worth, so they opted to sign the treaty and end the war. America was granted all land between the Atlantic Ocean and Mississippi River and north to British Canada. -
Virginia and New Jersey Plans drafted
The Virginia and New Jersey Plans are foundations of a system for representation of the colonies. The Virginia Plan says states should get votes based on population. Surprise surprise, this benefits Virginia most with their massive population! The New Jersey Plan says that states should get equal representation no matter the population they hold. This was mostly a battle of state size; will the small states or the big states get what they want? This tension would lead to the Great Compromise. -
Connecticut (Great) Compromise agreement reached
The Connecticut Compromise, sometimes known as the Great Compromise, was a response to the stalemate that occurred between states when both the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan were proposed. The Compromise said that states were to have representation proportional to their population, a sort of "in between" compromise to the two plans. This proved that states could agree on a common cause and was major in furthering the strength of the Constitution. -
3/5 Compromise
The Virginia Plan stated that slaves should count as a person in votes, but the New Jersey Plan stated otherwise. The South, trying to increase their votes, wanted slaves to count to gain more representation in the House. The 3/5 Compromise was an agreement between both the North and South that said slaves would count as 3/5 of a person in any vote. The North would have rather had it based on the free population. but knew this compromise may be all they could get. -
Northwest Ordinance signed
As colonists emigrated West to the newly seized land from Britain, it was realized that the area west of the Appalachians needed to be governed. The Northwest Ordinance was then passed to organize that territory and create a process to admit new states into the union based on population. This allowed the citizens moving West to have an opportunity at representation in Congress. The Northwest Ordinance led to the creation of 5 new states, all of which outlawed slavery. -
The U.S. begins to operate under the Constitution
The Constitution of the United States was drafted and adopted in response to the failures of the Articles of Confederation. Nine of the thirteen colonies needed to ratify the Constitution in order for it to be put into effect, and some states rejected it due to the increase in power the federal government would gain rather than power being left to the states. These concerns would lead to the amendment of the Bill of Rights, appeasing anti-federalists. -
Washington's inauguration
Washington of Virginia was inaugurated as the first president of the U.S. and John Adams of Massachusetts became the vice-president. Under Washington, precedents were created that would be followed in years to come. With Washington's presidency came the establishment of the court system in 1789, establishment of the first presidential cabinet, Hamilton's financial plan (which created a national bank), The Whiskey Rebellion, The French Revolution, and Pickney's Treaty. -
Federal Judiciary Act of 1789 signed
The Federal Judiciary Act, passed by Congress in 1789, created an independent federal court system consisting of the Supreme and lower level courts. This appointed five Chief Justices to the Supreme Court and five associate justices (which has now been allowed up to nine judges). Upon the creation of the courts, Washington initially appointed John Jay. -
Bill of Rights is amended to the Constitution
In terms of human rights, many people were concerned with what the Constitution outlined; the Bill of Rights was added in order to assure citizens that their rights were protected. The Bill of Rights is also known as the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These amendments guarantee essential rights and civil liberties such as: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, trial by jury, and other essential rights that were all men were believed to have. -
Cotton Gin is patented
The Cotton Gin was invented by Eli Whitney in 1794. It removes the seeds from cotton fiber, essential to cotton farming. This invention made cotton more profitable and changed the course of the South. Previous to this invention, slavery and free labor had been on the decline, but with the addition of the Gin, cotton was made extremely profitable and the use of African slaves skyrocketed. Consequently, the South became ultra-dependent upon their free labor and the slave economy. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Passed by President Adams, The Alien Act allowed the president to deport any alien considered dangerous. The Sedition Act made it illegal for newspapers to print any material that is critical of the president or congress. Additionally, the naturalization act increased the amount of time immigrants had to live in the US before they could become citizens. Adams passed these laws so he could control the public in hopes of winning re-election if immigrants were unable to vote. -
Election of 1800
Although the XYZ Affair gained him the support of the American people, President Adams lost much of it by passing the Alien and Sedition Acts. This gave the election to the third president of the U.S., Thomas Jefferson. The peaceful transfer of power between Adams and Jefferson set a major precedent for future elections and strengthened the belief that the American government was successful. As a result, this is also known as the "Revolution of 1800." -
Marbury v. Madison
James Madison, a member of Jefferson's cabinet, finds a letter granting John Marbury a federal judgeship. Jefferson ordered Madison not to deliver it, but Marbury sues in order to get the position he feels is his. The Supreme Court sided with Madison and refused to grant Marbury the position because they find part of the Judiciary Act unconstitutional and void. In doing so, the Supreme Court claims the right of "judicial review" or the right to declare laws unconstitutional and strike them down. -
Louisiana Purchase signed
The Louisiana Territory, the land that made up western Mississippi basin, was purchased by Thomas Jefferson from Napoleon in 1803 for the final price of $27 million. President Thomas Jefferson then commissioned Lewis and Clark to cross the continent and explore the new frontier and make contact with the Indians that lived there, and they were instructed to make observations on the geography and the biodiversity and to potentially make deals with the Native Americans that lived there. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was the last battle in the War of 1812. The Treaty of Ghent was signed a month prior, but word had not yet reached America, so many assumed this was the battle that won the war. In this battle, the American forces were a multicultural motley band of experienced soldiers and warriors. American forces at New Orleans were led by Andrew Jackson, and he would be considered a national hero for what many believed was his winning of the war. -
Election of 1824
The Election of 1824 was the first election in which a president won the popular vote, but lost the presidency. Historians attribute this victory to what is called the "Corrupt Bargain", which led the third nominee, Henry Clay, who was also the speaker of the house, to use his influence to sway the electoral vote in Adams' favor. He was later given the position of Secretary of State by Adams. This caused widespread public discontent among the supporters of Andrew Jackson. -
Tariff of 1828 ("Abominations") passed
To further the economy of the United States, Congress issued a tax on foreign goods. This led the South to issue the Ordinance of Nullification and threaten to secede from the States. Seeing this as a threat to the union, Jackson issued the Nullification Proclamation which viewed the act of nullifying a law as treason, setting an important precedent for federal power. This was later controlled from getting out of hand through the Compromise Tariff of 1833. -
Indian Removal Act signed
The Removal Act created the Indian Territory on national lands acquitted in the Louisiana Purchase. This relocation would later be known as the Trail of Tears. They were promised money and reserved land to Native American peoples who would give up their ancestral holdings east of the Mississippi River. The Cherokees carried the defense of their land to the Supreme Court where they claimed the status of a "foreign nation". Jackson ultimately ignored the decision made under Marshall's court. -
First publication of William Lloyd Garrison's 'The Liberator'
William Lloyd Garrison was a printer, newspaper publisher, radical abolitionist, suffragist, and civil rights activist. Garrison's paper "The Liberator" advocates for abolitionism and denounced all people and acts that would prolong slavery including the United States Constitution. It was the most widely circulated anti-slavery newspaper during the antebellum period and throughout the Civil War. -
Ordinance of Nullification is adopted
South Carolina adopted an Ordinance of Nullification which declared the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 to be null and void. With this, they threatened secession if federal officials tried to collect duties. This ordinance was supported by the "states' rights" interpretation of the Constitution which was developed in The South Carolina Exposition and Protest which was written anonymously at the time by John C. Calhoun. Both sides would eventually settle on a compromise where they could both "win". -
The Reaper is patented
The Reaper, patented by Cyrus McCormick, was a revolutionary invention that skirted the boundaries of automation. Crops, such as wheat, could now be harvested faster and more efficiently without the use of huge amounts of labor. This lowered the price of goods in the American Market which led to a better lifestyle for many, as well as tidy profits for farmers who could now produce more than ever. Slavery was also affected by this, seeing as more work could be done with less manpower. -
Battle of the Alamo
Mexicans, having gained their independence, had large amounts of land that they could find no use for. In an attempt to develop it, they invited Catholic Americans to become citizens of Mexico in return for land. This led to widespread immigration of Americans into Texas. However, after the Mexican government started to enforce their laws, the Texans declared independence, which led to the Battle of the Alamo where every single Texan was slaughtered. They then asked for annexation by the U.S. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed to signify the end of the Mexican American War. Its terms included the Mexican session, which granted the U.S. rights to over half of Mexico's land. This was a great journey in the expansion of the country, since the United States was now a country that spanned from coast to coast with the ability to trade on both fronts of the continent and access to Asia and Europe. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention is considered a "starting pistol" for women's rights by kicking off the integration of women into the political sphere. During the convention, the Declaration of Sentiments was written which was closely modeled after the Declaration of Independence, only it discusses women's rights throughout the political and social spheres. This was a major milestone in women's roles as social influences. -
Compromise of 1850
Henry Clay, clearly an avid fan of compromises, helped to prevent a civil war on the issues of slavery and territorial expansion. According to the compromise, California would enter the Union as a free state, slave trade would be abolished in Washington D.C., strict fugitive slave laws are enacted nationwide, and territories applying for statehood will now be governed by the concept of popular sovereignty. This means that the state may enter the Union as a free or slave state based on a vote. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford Supreme Court decision
Dred Scott, a slave of African descent, sued for his freedom since he accompanied his owner into a free state and took up residence there before returning to a slave state. By this, he considered himself a free man. This case was then taken up by the Supreme Court after much deliberation which ruled that African Americans weren't citizens in the first place and were not entitled to their freedom. This was quite a setback in terms of abolition. -
Homestead Act passed
The Homestead Act was signed by President Lincoln in 1862. He believed the West wasn't creating jobs or furthering the economy, so this act gave 160 acres in the West to ANYONE who would farm it for five years, live on the land, and improve the land. This would greatly improve the conditions of the West and make it more profitable. This did, however, create tension with Native Americans in the area. Oftentimes land given to those who moved west were on Native American territories. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was single-handedly the bloodiest one-day battle in American history. There were about 22,717 casualties total, with more Union than Confederate casualties. Despite the increased casualties, it resulted in a major Union victory which eventually gave President Lincoln the confidence to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Emancipation Proclamation signed
The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. It stated "that all persons held as slaves" in the rebellious states, "are, and henceforward shall be free". Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't actually free the slaves. However, it does help to prevent European powers from supporting the South by clearly making the war about slavery. -
Battle of Gettysburg
At the battle of Gettysburg, both sides suffered thousands of losses, making it the bloodiest battle of the civil war with around 50,000 men lost. Regardless, the Union victory highly bolstered their war efforts and stopped further expeditions of the South into the North. The Gettysburg Address also reinforced the point that the war was about slavery, preventing foreign nations from coming to the South's aid as was expected. -
Wade-Davis Bill passed
Most Republicans in Congress at the time felt that Lincoln's 10% plan was insufficient and too lenient. This bill instead proposed that 50% of a state's voters had to swear oaths of loyalty to the Union. Additionally, only non-confederates were allowed to vote and hold political offices. Lincoln refused to sign this bill stating that it was too hard, but then he was assassinated shortly thereafter in 1865. -
Surrender at Appomattox meeting
After exhausting all of their ammunition, the Confederate army led by General Lee was intercepted by General Grant. This resulted in Lee surrendering to the Union army at the Appomattox courthouse, signaling the end of the final battle of the Civil War. Lee offered Grant his sword, but Grant actually gave it back to him. There was still some unrest in the Southern states after this surrender, however, which made bringing them back into the Union a trying task. -
Thirteenth Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment, ratified on December 6th, 1865, was a peak milestone in terms of abolition. It completely abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as a punishment for crime. Slavery had been legal in America for over a hundred years, and the system that had once ruled the economy of the South was destroyed. -
Andrew Johnson is impeached
Congress had passed the Tenure of Office Act, which meant the president could not remove some military officials without congressional approval, to protect some Radical Republicans in Andrew Johnson's cabinet. However, Johnson removed the secretary of war Edwin Stanton anyway. The House impeached Johnson for this, but the Senate fell one vote short of removing him from office. This rendered President Johnson entirely powerless. -
Rockefeller founds Standard Oil
Once the richest man in the world, John D. Rockefeller established Standard Oil. This became the largest oil company of the time, and while Rockefeller was well-known for his wealth, he was also famous for the ruthlessness in which he treated his workers, forcing them to work for long hours in dangerous conditions with a low pay. This left his workers in poverty and paved the way for reforms of working conditions. -
Election of 1876
According to the polls of the 1876 election, 100% of the South voted for Tilden. A recount was initiated after various reports of suspicion, and all three states eventually went to Hayes. The Constitution did not account for this type of crisis, so an election commission was created with 5 democrats, republicans, and Supreme Court justices. After negotiations, Hayes is named president and takes office, military oversight of the South was over. This marks the end of the Reconstruction period. -
Chinese Exclusion Act is passed
The Chinese Exclusion Act was an immigration policy that barred those of Chinese nationality from immigrating to the United States as a direct result of the economic and racial tensions present within the time period. Upon threat of deportation or arrest, it prevented both immigration and to the U.S. and prevented Chinese immigrants already in the country from gaining permanent residency. This prolonged the naturalization process and made it harder for Chinese Americans to fit in to society. -
Pendleton Act is passed
After President Garfield's death, Congress passed the Pendleton Act to establish a nonpartisan Civil Service Commission to fill jobs provided by the government by examination. The jobs would be awarded based on merit and the employees would be selected through competitive exams. This ended the Spoils System, in which the president may unfairly appoint only his supporters to high-paying government jobs. -
Interstate Commerce Act is passed
The Interstate Commerce act is a major turning point in the relationship between business and government. The commerce clause, which states that interstate and national commerce may be regulated by the federal government, gained the power to regulate railroad rates and make them "fair and just." This law prevented the companies from monopolizing on their services to the public and charging massive amounts for transportation that was vital and necessary to the country. -
Jacob Riis publishes "How the Other Half Lives"
Jacob Riis, a journalist, is the first to put into practice the idea of using photos to convey a more realistic and impactful story. He used photojournalism to document the terrible conditions that the working class were forced to endure in the New York slums and unveiled the horrors of tenement housing. His works greatly contributed to the housing and safety regulations that are present even now in today's society. -
Plessy v. Ferguson ruling
The Plessy v. Ferguson may be considered one of the first major "battles" of the abolitionist movement. The Supreme Court case challenged Jim Crows that discriminated against minority groups. The result was a ruling against Plessy; the court upheld the Jim Crow laws and stated that they were not wrong as both public facilities for each race were "separate but equal." In reality, this could never really be a possibility. This caused minorities' support of the government to waver. -
The USS Maine explodes
The U.S. anchored navy battleship, the Maine, is in Havana Harbor to protect U.S. citizens and economic interest in Cuba. The Maine exploded killing 260 American sailors in the night on Feb 15, 1898. The U.S. believed Spain caused the explosion, but it was later (decades) learned that it was an internal issue within the ship. This sparked wild patriotism and President McKinley sought approval of $50 million to prepare for war. The phrase "Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!" was adopted. -
Theodore Roosevelt takes office as president
Roosevelt, current Vice President at the time, became president in 1901 following the assassination of President McKinley. He aspired to break up so-called "bad trusts" in trust busting using the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Consumer reforms were also passed under Roosevelt with the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act, and the Elkins & Hepburn Act regulated railroad shipping rates. A lasting legacy Roosevelt leaves is the establishment of many of America's national parks/preserves. -
"The Jungle" is published
Upton Sinclair, a well-known muckraker, published his work "The Jungle" in order to expose the public to the terrible conditions of the meatpacking industry. Workers were pushed to the brink of exhaustion for terrifically low wages and worked in disgusting conditions that oftentimes resulted in contaminated meat. This was a major factor in the passing of the Food and Drug Act, ensuring quality of our food to this day. This also led to reforms within the workforce with better working conditions. -
Antiquities Act is passed
The Antiquities Act was signed into law under President Theodore Roosevelt. He was an avid outdoorsman and believed in the preservation of nature's wonders. This act gave President Roosevelt the authority to declare landmarks, historic structures, and other objects of interest to be a national monument. This resulted in the preservation, under the federal law, of many national parks and landmarks that are still present and thriving today. -
NAACP is founded
WEB DuBois founded the NAACP in 1909 to advocate for civil rights movements concerning equality for all races. DuBois was the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University, and as an important scholar and political thinker, advocated political actions and a civil rights agenda. He thought social change could be brought on by developing a small group of college-educated blacks he dubbed the "Talented Tenth." The NAACP carried well beyond the civil rights movement. -
Henry Ford puts the "moving assembly line" to use
Henry Ford is a pioneer of efficient manufacturing. He previously introduced the Model T car in 1908 for $850, increasing availability for the general public. Using an assembly line, he reduced the time it takes to produce a vehicle from 12 hours to 90 minutes and reduced the price to $820. This created a boom in the automobile industry and provided opportunities for manufacturing companies. This paved the way for the creation of suburbs and and benefits cross-country transportation. -
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal was planned to be built along the thinnest strip of land between North and South American continents to reduce time from coast to coast. The Colombians, though, wouldn't permit the building of the Canal. The United States led a revolt by the Panamanians and helped them gain independence in return for permission to build the Canal. Once completed, it opened easy access from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and boosted worldwide trade. -
The Zimmermann Telegram is intercepted
When a German U-boat sinks the Lusitania, the U.S. is greatly angered. Under pressure from the U.S., Germany stops unrestricted sub warfare. This weakens protection of their coast, however, so they continue sub warfare despite their agreements. Four U.S. ships were torpedoed furthering tensions between the two countries. The Zimmermann Note was intercepted by U.S. intelligence, in which Germany seeks an alliance with Mexico to attack the U.S.. The U.S. enters the war with the allied powers. -
President Wilson's "Fourteen Points"
Wilson's proposed plan (aimed at ending WWI and preventing future wars) for future peace followed 14 distinct points. Some of the points include no secret alliances, freedom of the seas, and reduction of arms. The points put no blame on Germany for the war and were very passive, and the Germans then agreed to the armistice believing that the treaty would be based on these points. Britain and France, however, believed that Germany should be punished and instead advocated on the opposing side. -
18th Amendment is passed
The 18th Amendment is passed in 1919, outlawing the manufacture, sale, distribution or importation of alcohol across the nation. This was a result of the growing temperance movement, turning it now into "prohibition." Many groups such as the Women's Christian Temperance Movement and Anti-Saloon League advocated for prohibition and believed it to be the "root of all evil." There was a nationwide increase of organized crime, speakeasies, and bootleggers after the amendment was passed. -
Treaty of Versailles is signed
Believing that they would be presented an armistice based on Woodrow Wilson's "Fourteen Points," Germany agreed to sign a peace treaty to end the Great War. Britain and France believed Germany should be punished for the war, though. Germany didn't have the resources to continue fighting and were essentially forced to sign the treaty. Germany thus accepted full responsibility for the war and had to pay massive reparations as a result. This punished Germany and ensured they wouldn't rise again. -
19th Amendment is ratified
The 19th Amendment states that any citizen of the United States may vote and not be denied of that right regardless of sex. This was the ultimate goal of the women's suffrage movement; to vote without discrimination. The movement greatly influenced the ratification of this amendment and was pioneered by activists such as Susan B. Anthony, Ida Wells, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton alongside the creation of organizations like the National American Women's Suffrage Association. -
Scopes "Monkey" Trial ruling
The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes trial, dubbed the Scopes "Monkey" Trial, condemned Scopes, a schoolteacher, for teaching the concept of evolution at school against the Bible. The Butler Act, which forbade the teaching of evolution in schools, was upheld and Scopes was charged a fine of $100. This rings out the shifting values within the U.S.; the country was following a more scientifically charged approach rather than religiously charged. -
The KKK marches on Washington
There was a rise in Ku Klux Klan membership and activity again in the 1920s. Membership eventually reached 5 million, proving their mainstream popularity. As a display of power and oppression, the KKK marched on Washington D.C. in 1926. The group would utilize violence, intimidation, and political means to achieve their goals in the form of white supremacy. Their violence was aimed at minority groups such as African Americans, Jews, Catholics, and immigrants. -
Bonus Army marches on Washington
WWI veterans had been due to receive a bonus in 1945 for their efforts in the war. The financial circumstances of the country prompted many veterans to demand the bonus immediately. Thousands of these veterans marched on Washington requesting their bonus, but their request was ultimately denied by the Senate. Some marchers, though, stayed on the grounds. Months later, Hoover called the army to disperse of the marchers and their camps were burned. The treatment of the veterans was cruel. -
FDR and the New Deal
In Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "First Hundred Days" as president, he enacted numerous reforms focusing on relief and recovery. This series of reforms was dubbed the "New Deal." By using the tactic of Keynesian Economics and the idea that the U.S. could consume it's way out of the depression, he let money loose and attempted to reinflate the economy until World War II came about, after which the economy recovered. -
The Works Progress Administration is established
Functioning as the biggest agency created by FDR, it employed 8 million citizens and had $2 billion in funds. It employed people to build structures such as bridges, reservoirs, irrigation, sewage, schools, and playgrounds. This program paid minimum wage to its workers, but pulled people off unemployment, charity, and soup lines. This was part of the "New Deal" enacted under FDR during the Great Depression to help provide jobs and solve the country's current financial crisis. -
Social Security Act of 1935 is passed
Under President Franklin Roosevelt, the Social Security Act was passed acting as a safety net for all Americans. A bit of every working citizen's paycheck would go to this fund to support it. This system, however, is based on a short lifespan and is only meant to supplement income. This caused problems in some ways, but people did have more incentive to retire. People would have previously lost all pay upon retiring, but the SSA gave them a reason to retire and allowed more into the workforce. -
FDR Supreme Court-Packing Scandal
FDR attempted to pack the Supreme Court with his own "yes men" that would be loyal to him through anything that passes through the Supreme Court. This was a result of backlash within the court for one of his New Deal policies. If FDR had been allowed to pack the court, the balance of power would've been tipped too far on one side and would essentially negate the whole reason for the existence of the Supreme Court. This would've set a negative precedent and encourage further presidents to do so. -
FDR signs Executive Order 8802
The need for workers was great during WWII, but most industries wouldn't hire blacks. Executive Order 8802 was signed to eliminate discriminatory hiring practices in the government and forced companies to hire blacks so the nation could meet wartime production demands. Black employment doubled as a result of this. This is a reflection of the Great Migration, as many blacks moved North to get a job. This gave the minority group a sense of freedom and purpose that carried beyond WWII. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
As another world war raged across Europe and Nazi Germany was taking over many nations, the U.S. attempted to remain neutral so they wouldn't enter a war amidst the depression. The attack on Pearl Harbor, a surprise airstrike that caused the death of many soldiers and losses in naval power, forced America's hand and pushed them to join the war against Germany on the condition that the allied forces would join the U.S. against Japan. -
FDR signs Executive Order 9066
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, harassment at the start of WWII was focused toward Asian Americans. FDR responded to anti-Japanese fears by issuing Executive Order 9066, which authorized the War Department to force Japanese Americans from their homes and relocate them to camps for the remainder of the war. This is looked back on as one of the biggest blunders of Franklin Roosevelt's presidency; the anti-Japanese fears were generally irrational and the executive order wasn't justified. -
D-Day
The Allied powers spent 18 months planning and training for Operation Overlord, dubbed "D-Day." It was the largest seaborne invasion in history and turned the tide of WWII. 156,000 Allied troops landed on the five beaches of Normandy in the early morning and were supported by almost 23,000 airborne troops that had landed on enemy lines the night before. Within a week, the Allies controlled 80 miles of the coast and broke the Atlantic wall, allowing the Allies to push inland. -
The G.I. Bill of Rights is issued
The G.I. Bill of Rights is America's thank you to its soldiers. This act pays for higher education (college, trade school...), gives lower interest rates on home loans, free healthcare, and provided low interest business loans for veterans. These benefits aided U.S. veterans and boosted home ownership, small business, and the U.S. economy. This also helped usher in the baby boom and rise of the middle class. -
Bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki
U.S. President Harry S. Truman, after being informed of successful tests of the atomic bomb, decided that the bomb would produce less casualties on both sides if dropped on Hiroshima, which was a city heavy in military infrastructure. After the first bombing, there was a lack of response from Japan. This led to the bombing of another Japanese city, Nagasaki. This ultimately led to Japan's surrender to the U.S. and officially ended World War II on the eastern front. -
Levittown homes begin to sell
A new model of community named after William Levitt alongside his company Levitt & Sons arose in 1947. Houses were no longer built on demand and Levittown homes would have only a few designs. This meant the builders of the homes would build more efficiently and could buy materials in bulk, making the homes cheaper and more affordable for the middle class. This led to an increase in suburbanization and ushered in the car-driven society we know today. -
Jackie Robinson becomes the first black major league baseball player
The first African American to enter the major leagues, Jackie Robinson was subject to intense hatred during his time playing baseball. He was spiked, beaned, threatened, and players refused to play with or against him. He was even refused service on the road, but the whole team retaliated and refused them. His courage, discipline, and success was an inspiration to millions of Americans, especially African Americans. This helped place African Americans in a new light and sparked inspiration. -
President Truman presents the Truman Doctrine to Congress
In the midst of the Cold War, Greece and Turkey endured communist revolts in 1947 and asked the U.S. for assistance. President Truman then asked Congress for $400 million in aid alongside U.S. troops to help Greece and Turkey defend themselves and fight back against the communist threats. This set the precedent for America's fight against communist revolts; the U.S. would give support to all countries facing the Soviet Union or communist revolts. -
Marshall Plan is enacted
America's plan to help reconstruct war-torn Europe was founded in the Marshall Plan. America helped modernize industrial equipment, create secure currencies and budgets, and expand and increase trade and exports. Economic cooperation among countries was increased and there was an increase in agricultural and industrial production. America helped rebuild any country that sought help from the Plan and rebuilt destroyed roads, bridges, schools, buildings, hospitals, and more. -
NATO is formed
Ten West European countries plus America and Canada signed the Washington Treaty, which created the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an alliance which brings together free and sovereign countries to create a collective security system. The main purpose of the alliance states that an armed attack against one or more countries will be considered an attack against all and will be treated as such. This created a strong force to combat communism and the Soviet Union. -
Brown v. Board ruling
In Plessy v. Ferguson, the discriminatory Jim Crow laws were upheld and schools could be separate if they were equal. They were far from equal, though, and black schools had worse equipment and less funding than other schools. Linda Brown had to walk past multiple white schools to get to her lower-quality black school. Thurgood Marshall represents Brown in the Brown v. Board case and overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson verdict. This paved the way for desegregation of schools. -
Warsaw Pact is created
The Warsaw Pact was a contract between the Soviet Union and the countries it had absorbed. This strengthened the Soviet military by accessing forces from all countries involved. This was a response to NATO, which the Soviet Union viewed as a direct attack. This was not the last situation in which the Soviet Union and America competed for world power, shown by the Cuban Missile Crisis. -
Rosa Parks sparks Montgomery Bus Boycotts
Rosa Parks challenged the prevailing Jim Crow laws in Montgomery, Alabama by refusing to give up her seat on the bus when asked to. She was arrested and black leaders took this as an opportunity to organize a boycott that lasted 382 days with over 40,000 black participants. The bus companies eventually joined in fighting the laws to end the boycott and regain a majority of their customers. This protest illustrated the power African American citizens had to exercise their economic influence. -
National Interstate and Defense Highways Act is passed
Also dubbed the Eisenhower Interstate Act, it highhandedly is the largest public works project in history. It updated and modernized America's roadways and connected the country together. It played on Cold War fears of needing easy evacuation and emergency runways. This fostered in the car and driving culture that is still prevalent today as cars became more of a necessity. They were symbols of freedom and status, and helped those living in the suburbs get to the city and urban areas. -
Elvis Presley appears on the Ed Sullivan show
The youth of the 50s was in heavily rebellion against the conformity of their parents, and they found an outlet within music and the emergence of rock. Rock began as 'black' music, but Elvis Presley introduced this music to white audiences with his appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. His music and dancing were like nothing seen before and it was met with harsh criticism from older generations, but was met with adoration from younger generations. -
The Little Rock 9 go to school
In Little Rock, Arkansas, a group of nine students begin to test the waters of desegregated schooling. The previous Brown v. Board ruling decided that the schools may integrate, but local laws in the South oftentimes stopped that from happening. Nine students enrolled in white schools and the governor of Arkansas denied them entrance. Whites protested and threatened these children. Eisenhower ordered the school to open and ordered troops of the 101st Airborne Division to escort them there. -
Election of 1960
Between Nixon, a proven politician with a big track record, and Kennedy, a young and unproven politician, the first live and televised presidential debate was held and greatly affected the outcome of the election. More than 46 million homes had TVs by this point and for the first time could see their candidates as they spoke. Kennedy, the younger and more attractive candidate, was more photogenic and proper and won over the public by being a better speaker through the TV medium. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
U.S. intelligence began to receive reports of Soviet missiles in Cuba. Aerial photographs from spy planes left no doubt that Russia was installing nuclear missiles in Cuba aimed toward the U.S.. Almost all major U.S. population centers were in range of the missiles, and John F. Kennedy ordered a naval blockade into place. In 1962, a Soviet ship crossed the quarantine line, but stopped after U.S. navy ships fired toward them. Khrushchev gave in to U.S. pressure and removed missiles from Cuba. -
March on Washington
The SCLC planned a rally on Washington, D.C. with support from many organizations such as the NAACP, SNCC, and CORE. Over a quarter million people were in attendance; people bussed in from all over the country to attend the event. Speakers such as Martin Luther King Jr., a pastor and activist. He employed tactics such as civil disobedience through his lifetime to gather an audience and public support. He delivered here his "I Have A Dream" speech, inspiring activism around the country. -
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Soon after the pledge given by John F. Kennedy to support civil rights, he was assassinated before any action could be taken. He was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. The presidency was promptly given to his Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson. Kennedy was a popular president and many were optimistic about his reelection for his second term in office; his assassination came as a shock to many. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
After the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson decided to continue to support Kennedy's support for civil rights. He managed to pass a bill through Congress regarding civil rights. Considered the "climax" of the civil rights movement, it brought joy to the African American population and activists alike. MLK Jr. was a key activist in the movement, but was later assassinated. Though this sparked outcries, he is still remembered for his efforts in the civil rights movement. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Despite the recently passed Civil Rights Act of 1964, there were still problems concerning voting rights. To protest, marchers attempted to march from Selma to Montgomery, but were attacked. In a later attempt, 25,000 successfully marched to the capitol. The act was signed into law by President Johnson and bans discrimination in local, state, and national elections and polling places, and bans literacy tests, intimidation, and physical violence. -
Environmental Protection Agency is founded
Considered one of Richard Nixon's greatest achievements as president, the Environmental Protection Agency was a unique law of it's kind. Nixon passed a bill through congress and signed into the law the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would protect nature and the environment by regulating pollution, emissions, and other things that would affect the natural environment. Alongside the Clean Air Act, these reforms remain popular today. -
The Watergate Scandal
The downfall of the Nixon presidency stained his administration forever. The Watergate Scandal took place under him and his administration and involved the moderating of Democratic party intelligence in Watergate and a break-in that took place at the Watergate Hotel. When he came to know of the break-in, he attempted to cover them up using his power and, when leaked to the public, sparked outrage and led to his resignation as president.