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Jamestown Colony Founded
104 Englishmen, sponsored by the Virginia Company of London and chartered by King James I, sailed for North America to start the first English colony there. The colonists, led by captain John Smith, faced many problems, such as starvation, brackish water supply, and tenuous relations with the Native Algonquian Americans. The colonists struggled until they were able to discover and grow the cash crop tobacco, which made the venture extremely profitable and attracted others to the colony. -
French and Indian War begins
The French and Indian War lasted from 1754 to 1763 and was a theater of the Seven Years' War (in which Great Britain declared war on France), which began two years later. The British colonies in North America fought against the French, with both sides being supported by various Native American tribes. Eventually, the French lost and were forced to give up all lands east of the Mississippi River to Britain, as well as giving French Louisiana to Spain in return for Spain losing Florida. -
Proclamation of 1763
In response to Pontiac's Rebellion in the same year, The British government issued the Proclamation of 1763, which forbade colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. Colonists were extremely upset because they thought they deserved to be able to settle the new lands won from the French and Indian War as a reward for their efforts in the war. Many colonists ignored the proclamation and settled the lands anyways. -
Stamp Act
This act required many printed materials to be produced on stamped paper produced in London, which was taxed. They purpose of this tax was to pay for British troops stationed in the American colonies after the French and Indian War. Colonists were upset about this tax because they did not have any representation in Parliament to protest the tax. The Act was repealed in 1766 because of colonial resistance, but the British government asserted their power to tax the colonies in the Declaratory Act. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts, which were proposed by Chancellor of the Exchequer Charles Townshend, taxed various goods imported to the American colonies. The Townshend Acts taxed things such as glass, lead, paints, tea, and paper. Colonists viewed this as a violation of their rights because it was taxation without representation. The Townshend Acts were intended to raise revenue to make up for the French and Indian War and also to pay the salaries of governors and judges in the colonies. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a confrontation in Boston which was the result of tensions between British soldiers and civilians. A mob formed around a British sentry, who was then backed up by seven additional soldiers, who were hit by clubs, stones, and snowballs. Eventually, one soldier fired, leading the others to fire as well, killing 3 instantly, including Crispus Attucks, who is generally recognized as the first death of the Boston Massacre and the American Revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political and mercantile protest by the Sons of Liberty at Griffin's Wharf in Boston, MA. In response to the Tea Act (1773), which colonists viewed as an infringement of their rights because of taxation without representation, the Sons of Liberty dumped an entire shipment of tea (around 92,000 pounds or 340 chests) costing an estimated $1.7 million in today's money into the water. This directly led to the passing of the Intolerable/Coercive Acts. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The British wanted to take Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill to be able to bombard the Americans from a distance with cannons. The British captured the hills, but at the cost of twice as many deaths as the Americans. It was one of the earliest battles of the Revolutionary War and gave colonists confidence that they could fight off the British in battle, leading many to join the Revolutionary cause. -
Declaration of Independence ratified
The Declaration of Independence was created by the Second Continental Congress to announce and explain the separation of the colonies from Great Britain to form the USA. This event is significant because it is viewed as the birthday of the USA. The Declaration of Independence also inspired revolutionary movements outside of the US. -
Siege of Yorktown ends
The Siege of Yorktown was the final major battle of the Revolutionary War. With the arrival of French troops, Washington was able to surround Cornwallis' army at Yorktown with the French fleet in the Chesapeake Bay and American and French troops occupying all of the trenches surrounding Yorktown, forcing Cornwallis to surrender. This resulted in the British losing a third of their military power in the Americas, which directly led to their decision to give up the war. -
Treaty of Paris (1783)
Signed in Paris by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the USA, the Treaty of Paris (1783) ended the Revolutionary War, not to be confused with the Treaty of Paris (1763), which ended the Seven Years' War. As a result of the treaty, Britain gave up all its lands in North America to the USA and recognized it as a sovereign country. This treaty was very generous for the USA because Britain hoped they would become a valuable trading partner, which they did. -
Constitutional Convention begins
The Constitutional Convention was called to revise the Articles of Confederation which had served as the founding laws of the US until that point because of events such as Shay's Rebellion which demonstrated the weakness of the federal government. The Articles of Confederation were replaced by the Constitution by the end of the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. -
Election of George Washington to Presidency
Because of George Washington's role in the US victory in the Revolutionary War, he was immensely popular, leading him to be elected as president even though he didn't want the role. John Adams received the second highest number of votes and was appointed the vice-president. Many of Washington's actions set a precedent for future presidents, such as choosing a Cabinet, being addressed as Mr. President, and no lifetime appointment. -
Creation of the First Bank of the United States
Hamilton asked Congress to charter the Bank of the United States, which would be jointly owned by shareholders and the US government. Hamilton argued that the bank would stabilize the economy by giving loans to merchants, handling government funds, and issuing bills of credit. Although it was opposed by Anti-Federalists such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison who argued that it was unconstitutional, George Washington signed it into effect because he was a Federalist and agreed with Hamilton. -
Eli Whitney Invents Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney applied for a patent on his cotton gin on October 18, 1793, which was granted a few months later. This invention allowed cotton to be processed much more quickly than before, allowing the cotton industry in the US to flourish and cotton to become the US's main export. Although the cotton gin was very successful, Whitney did not make much money off of it because of patent-infringement issues. -
XYZ Affair begins
American diplomats were sent to France to negotiate the protection of US trading vessels. After French foreign minister Talleyrand demanded a bribe and loan before beginning negotiations with US diplomats, the diplomats refused to pay the bribe and left, telling everyone in the US what happened, which led to significantly heightened tensions and a period of undeclared naval warfare (Quasi-War) until the Convention of 1800. -
Jefferson Elected as President (Revolution of 1800)
Thomas Jefferson was elected as the president in the Election of 1800 (defeating incumbent President John Adams), marking a peaceful transfer of power from an opposing party to another (Federalists to Anti-Federalists) and proving that the government system of the US could work. Aaron Burr was elected as vice-president. Thomas Jefferson is pictured on the left and John Adams on the right. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory from Napoleonic France by the US for 15 million dollars, which was an extremely good deal for the US (around 60 cents per acre in today's money). The purchase double the size of the US at the time. Jefferson was criticized for being a hypocrite for doing something not explicitly stated in the Constitution despite being an anti-Federalist (strict interpretation of the Constitution). -
Embargo Act
It was a general trade embargo on all foreign countries in response to the British impressment of US merchants accused of being British deserters, the Chesapeake-Leonard Affair, and France seizing US merchant ships that stopped in British ports. Although it was a massive failure because it overestimated Britain and France's dependence on US trade and underestimated the effect on US merchants, although it did succeed in stimulating domestic manufacturing in the US. -
War of 1812 begins (US declares war on Britain)
Officially, the US went to war because Britain because Britain had violated the US's trading rights as a neutral nation (impressment of US merchants) and supported Indian resistance to US expansion in western territories, but historians agree that the largest cause was because people wanted to seize western Indian lands and to trade through New Orleans. -
Treaty of Ghent signed
It ended the War of 1812, maintaining the prewar borders of the United States. Because news of the treaty reached the US after General Andrew Jackson's troops crushed British forces attacking New Orleans in the Battle of New Orleans (which occurred after the treaty was signed), people attributed Jackson's victory with the ending the war, making him extremely popular. -
Second Bank of the United States Chartered
Henry Clay (Speaker of the House at the time) pushed legislation through Congress to create the Second Bank of the United States and persuaded President James Madison to sign it. -
McCulloch v. Maryland Decided
When the Second Bank of the US was created, it was given the power to set up state branches that competed with state-chartered banks. In response, the Maryland legislature began to tax the Second Bank branch's banknotes. The Supreme Court ruled that the state of Maryland did not have the power to tax the Baltimore branch of the Second Bank. James W. McCulloch was the cashier of the Baltimore branch who refused to pay the tax. -
Missouri Compromise
Proposed by Henry Clay, it allowed Maine to enter the Union as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. This preserved the balance of the Union between slave and free states and set a precedent for future admissions to the Union. -
Monroe Doctrine
President James Monroe declared that, in exchange for foreign countries not further colonizing the American continents, the US would not interfere in the "internal concerns" of European nations. The Monroe Doctrine contributed to the "Era of Good Feeling" that permeated Monroe's presidency. -
American Temperance Society Founded
They believed that alcohol was the root of all evils. Their goal was to stop the consumption of alcoholic beverages, which they worked toward using revivalist methods, such as group confession and prayer, women as spiritual guides, and sudden emotional conversion. They were very successful, leading the annual consumption of spirits to fall dramatically. -
Andrew Jackson Elected as President
John C. Calhoun ran as Andrew Jackson’s vice president. Because John Quincy Adams won despite losing the popular and electoral vote in 1824, there was increased voter turnout, and Jackson won by a large margin. -
Indian Removal Act Signed Into Law
The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830 and authorized the president to negotiate with Indians living within existing state borders to relocate onto lands west of the Mississippi River. A few tribes went peacefully, but many resisted the policy. The Act was strongly enforced under both Jackson's and Van Buren's administrations. The Act was very popular with the citizens because it allowed settlers access to more land and led to the Trail of Tears. -
Jackson "Kills" the Second Bank of the United States
Jackson vetoed the rechartering bill of the Second Bank, condemning the bank as subverting the rights of states, declaring that Congress did not have constitutional authority to charter a national bank, and pointing out that British aristocrats owned much of the Second Bank's stock, saying that such a powerful institution should be purely American. Jackson's attack on the Second Bank carried him to victory in the 1832 presidential election. -
Gag Rule in Congress instated
The Gag Rule was a series of rules that forbade the raising, consideration, or discussion of slavery in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Gag Rule was created because Congress was flooded by anti-slavery petitions but was controlled by supporters of slavery. Senator John C. Calhoun attempted to create a similar rule in the Senate, but the Senate rejected the proposal. -
Trail of Tears
The Cherokee people, claiming the status of a foreign nation, took the defense of their lands to the Supreme Court, which ruled that their territory was guaranteed by the United States. This ruling was ignored by the US government, which enforced the Treaty of New Echota (negotiated by a minority Cherokee faction), forcing 14,000 Cherokees to march 1,200 miles on a journey that became known as the Trail of Tears. -
Brook Farm Built
Brook Farm was a short-lived utopian experiment in communal living located in West Roxbury, MA. It was organized and directed by George Ripley, a former Unitarian minister. Its goal was to combine thinkers and workers and prepare a society of educated people. Brook Farm was one of many experiments in communal living in the first half of the 19th century, but is better known than most because of the distinguished literary figures and intellectual leaders associated with it. -
End of Gag Rule
The House rescinded the gag rule on slavery on a motion made by John Quincy Adams. This led to slavery being able to be debated in Congress, which led to increased tensions (such as the caning of Charles Sumner) and hastened the beginning of the Civil War. -
Start of Mexican-American War (Thornton Affair)
After President James K. Polk sent US troops to occupy disputed land along the Nueces River (Nueces Strip) and a diplomat to negotiate the purchase of the land (Mexico did not negotiate because any president who said they wanted to try was viewed as treasonous), Mexican cavalry attacked a 70-man US patrol led by Captain Seth Thornton, killing 11 American soldiers and capturing 52. This was first armed conflict of the Mexican-American War. -
California Gold Rush Begins
The Gold Rush began when gold nuggets were discovered in the Sacramento Valley, leading thousands of hopeful miners to migrate to California in search of gold. This led the population of California to boom from around 1,000 to over 100,000 from the beginning of 1848 to 1849. This sped up California's admission to the Union as the 31st state. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Signed
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War with extremely favorable terms for the US. As part of the treaty, Mexico ceded 55% of its territory to the US, relinquished all claims to Texas, and recognized the Rio Grande river as the southern border of the United States. In return, the US paid Mexico $15 million. -
Compromise of 1850
It consisted of 5 separate bills that acted as a compromise between slave and free states over the territories acquired in the Mexican-American War brokered by Henry Clay and Stephen A. Douglas. It admitted California as a free state to the US and the slave trade (not slavery) was abolished in the District of Columbia in exchange for a strict Fugitive Slave Act. It delayed the beginning of the Civil War, but could not prevent it. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas–Nebraska Act created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and allowed the territories to vote to become either slave or free states (popular sovereignty). It was drafted by Democratic Senator Stephen A. Douglas and signed into law by President Franklin Pierce. It effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise and contributed to "Bleeding Kansas" because of anti-slavery and pro-slavery supporters flooding into Kansas to influence the vote. -
Caning of Charles Sumner
After a speech Charles Sumner gave two days earlier that fiercely criticized slaveholders, Preston Brooks (who was related to Andrew Butler, a person targeted in Sumner's speech) attacked Sumner with a cane on the Senate chamber floor, severely injuring Sumner (Sumner survived). Brooks was praised as a hero in the South for his actions, while Sumner became a martyr in the North. This led to even higher tensions between free and slave states and showed the polarization of America over slavery. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry Begins
After the Pottawatomie massacre, John Brown and a party of 22 others raided a federal armory in Harper's Ferry for weapons to use in his plan to free and arm slaves all across the South. By morning, the armory was surrounded by federal forces, who, after two days, overran the armory and captured John Brown and some of the surviving followers (a few managed to escape). Brown was tried for treason and murder and executed for his actions. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected as President
Lincoln was elected as president in 1860, beating out John C. Breckinridge (favored candidate for the South) because the anti-slavery states had more electoral votes than the pro-slavery states. Lincoln's victory was the reason that Southern states began to secede because they believed that Lincoln would end slavery, which was not true (Lincoln opposed the spread of slavery to new territories but promised not to interfere with slavery in the South). Lincoln's running mate was Hannibal Hamlin. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
It was the first armed engagement of the Civil War. After Lincoln's administration attempted to resupply the fort, Fort Sumter was bombarded by Confederate forces (at the time the SC militia) near Charleston SC. The battle ended with the garrison at Fort Sumter surrendering. this led to increased support in both the North and the South for further military action. -
Lincoln Issues Emancipation Proclamation
The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states are free. The Proclamation did not free slaves in the loyal border states or the North (this was later accomplished in the 13th Amendment). By issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln shifted the focus of the war from reunification to slavery, which persuaded foreign countries that were anti-slavery (i.e. Britain) to stop supporting the South. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse
After his escape routes were cut off by Grant's army, Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Grant, leading all of the other Confederate armies to follow suit, ending the Civil War. The Confederate troops were given lenient terms, allowing them to return home while keeping their horses, sidearms (no rifles), and other belongings. Grant's generous treatment of the Confederates set a precedent for all of the other Confederate surrenders. -
14th Amendment Passed
It was a Reconstruction Amendment that guaranteed that any person born or naturalized in the United States is a citizen and is entitled to the rights of life, liberty, and property except through due process of law. The amendment was passed to protect the rights of recently freed slaves from the Civil War and the 13th Amendment. This amendment was able to overturn President Johnson's veto because Radical Republicans held the supermajority in Congress. -
15th Amendment Passed
Because the Radical Republicans retained their supermajority in Congress after the 1868 election (Grant elected as president), they were able to pass the 15th Amendment, which protected male citizens' right to vote regardless of race, color, or "previous condition of servitude". Women were not included in the Amendment because Radicals feared it would make it harder to pass, leading to a split between abolitionists and women's suffragists. -
Coinage Act of 1873
The Coinage Act of 1873, signed into law by Ulysses S. Grant, ended bimetallism in the U.S. and placed the nation firmly on the gold standard. The act had controversial results and was denounced by critics as the "Crime of '73", largely because holders of silver bullion were suddenly no longer allowed to coin it. The gold standard was brought back into law in 1900 with the Gold Standard Act under William McKinley. -
Battle of Little Bighorn/Custer's Last Stand
After the US government demanded the Lakotas sell their land because of the discovery of gold on it, natives from various tribes gathered to live in one massive village of over 7000 people for mutual protection, prompting the US to send the Army to drive the natives back to their reservations. A small detachment led by Lt. Col. Custer made a mistimed assault on the camp, resulting in Custer's soldiers being nearly wiped out, leading to a much stronger military response against the natives. -
President James A. Garfield is Assassinated
After Charles J. Guiteau was denied a position in Garfield's administration for his support of Garfield (Guiteau actually did very little to support Garfield and was likely a narcissistic schizophrenic), Guiteau decided to assassinate Garfield, which he did by shooting Garfield at a train station. Vice President Chester A. Arthur took over the role of president and sparked public awareness for the need for civil service reform legislation, leading to the passing of the Pendleton Act. -
Cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty Pedestal is Laid
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the US. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and built by Gustave Eiffel, the Statue of Liberty became one of the most recognizable symbols of the United States in the world. Arriving immigrants in New York were greeted by the statue and what it represented: liberty and justice for all. -
Dawes Severalty Act Passed
The Dawes Act, created by Massachusetts Senator Henry L. Dawes, sought to divide Indian reservations into individual landholdings, encouraging the Indians to assimilate. Although created in good faith, the Dawes Act was extremely damaging for the Indians because of exploitation and fraud, leading many Indians to lose their land allotments, along with shrinking the size of reservations by selling surplus land and forcing Indians to adopt to a completely new lifestyle far too quickly, -
Sherman Antitrust Act is Passed
The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 is a United States antitrust law which protects consumers from predatory pricing and ensures fair competition in business. It was named for Senator John Sherman, its principal author, and was signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison. This act was the first of multiple US antitrust acts and led to the breakup of several large corporations, such as Standard Oil. -
Anti-Saloon League is Founded
The Anti-Saloon League was one of the major temperance organizations that helped begin Prohibition with its campaigning and lobbying. The beginning of Prohibition led to an increase in organized crime and smuggling and a decline in tax revenue, and when Prohibition was ended with the 21st Amendment, the Anti-Saloon League lost much of its power. -
Plessy v. Ferguson Decided
Homer Plessy, a New Orleans resident (1/8 black), was forced to leave the first-class car of a train and move to a "colored" car. After he took the case to court, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation did not violate the 14th Amendment if the facilities were "separate but equal". "Separate but equal" was a myth, with segregated facilities in the South being obviously inferior. The ruling led to segregation being the norm in the US until the Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954. -
USS Maine Sinks in Havana Harbor
After the USS Maine sank in Havana Harbor, (most likely because of a design flaw), Spain was blamed, escalating into the Spanish-American War. Although President McKinley assumed the sinking was an accident, a naval board of inquiry blamed it on an underwater mine, leading McKinley to issue an ultimatum to Spain: make peace with the Cuban rebels or the go to war with the US. Spain chose the latter, leading to the decline of Spain as a global superpower after losing the war. -
U.S. Steel Formed
J.P. Morgan formed the U.S. Steel Corporation by buying and merging the Carnegie Steel Company, the Federal Steel Company, and the National Steel Company. At the time, it was the largest steel producer and largest corporation in the world. US Steel took advantage of Black Codes and convict leasing in the South to obtain labor at a fraction of the cost, allowing its subsidiaries to grow in the South. The size and scope of U.S. Steel furthered the public opinion opposing trusts. -
Wright Brothers Apply for a Patent on their "Flying Machine"
The Wright Brothers, who invented and flew the first powered glider, filed the patent for their "Flying Machine" on this day. This represents the beginning of the aerospace industry, including everything from commercial travel to military technology. Airplanes meant militaries could deliver ordnance and troops wherever they pleased, giving the side holding air superiority a massive advantage. It also allowed countries to spy on each other, which they did extensively in the Cold War. -
US Takes Control of Construction of Panama Canal
The US formally took control of the construction of the Panama Canal on this day after purchasing the French equipment and infrastructure and helping Panama separate from Columbia in exchange for rights to the land the canal was built on. The Panama Canal significantly reduced travel time between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but was controversial because of how the US took control of it and created what was effectively a colony that bisected Panama. -
"The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair is Published
Although Sinclair wrote "The Jungle" to advance socialism in the US, its most significant effect was exposing the health violations and unsanitary practices in the meatpacking industry in the US at the time. The public outcry and investigation that followed its publication (such as Teddy Roosevelt visiting one such meatpacking plant) led to the passing of the Meat Inspection Act and was a prominent example of the muckraking that happened in the time period. -
Ford Model T is Launched
The Ford Model T was the first affordable automobile on the market because of the production lines used in Henry Ford's factories. The Model T became a symbol of wealth for the middle class and the US's modernization. Its introduction helped create the car culture that dominates the US to the present day, spurred many related industries (rubber, metal, glass, road construction, etc.) and allowed the middle class to move away from the city into suburbs. -
Woodrow Wilson elected
In the 1912 presidential election, Democrat Woodrow Wilson defeated incumbent Republican President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt because of the Republican split. Wilson's "New Freedom" platform called for tariff reduction, banking reform, and new antitrust regulation. Wilson's presidency would last through WWI and shaped the aftermath with his Fourteen Points, which included creating the League of Nations, open treaties, and free trade. -
Lusitania Sunk by German U-Boat
The Lusitania, a British ocean liner, was torpedoed by a German U-boat while on a trans-Atlantic voyage. Since the Lusitania was carrying over 128 American citizens on that voyage, their deaths were a major factor in building American support for the war. Before the Lusitania, the public sentiment in the US was to stay out of WWI, but after the Lusitania was destroyed, public opinion in the US shifted against Germany and contributed to the US's decision to join WWI against Germany. -
US declares war on Germany
The combination of the Zimmerman Telegram, declaration of open submarine warfare by Germany, and the sinking of the Lusitania turned American public opinion against Germany and led to the US declaring war on Germany. The entry of the US into WWI turned the tide of the war, which had been stuck in a stalemate on the Western Front (trench warfare). After the war, Britain and France's insistence on Germany accepting blame for the war and paying reparations contributed to the start of World War II. -
18th Amendment ratified (Prohibition begins)
After decades of effort by the Temperance Movement, the 18th Amendment was ratified, declaring the production, transport, and sale (but not consumption) of intoxicating liquors illegal and marking the beginning of Prohibition. Enforcement of Prohibition proved difficult, and after public sentiment turned against Prohibition in the 1920s, the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition in 1933. Prohibition allowed gangsters such as Al Capone to rise to power and also lowered government tax revenue. -
Teapot Dome Scandal
On this day, Secretary of the Interior Albert Bacon Fall granted the Mammoth Oil Company exclusive rights to the Teapot Dome oil reserves. In exchange, he and his family received over $200,000 in Liberty Bonds from Mammoth Oil. Fall was convicted of accepting a bribe and imprisoned, while the revelations of the scandal took a toll on President Warren G. Harding's health and may have contributed to his death in office. -
The Great Gatsby is Published
The Great Gatsby, a 1925 novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, depicts Nick Carraway's interactions with the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and Gatsby's obsession with his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. The Great Gatsby gives insight into the values, social classes, and lifestyles of the Jazz Age and is considered one of the greatest American novels of all time by critics, as well as one of the most recognized. -
Invention of Television
The electric television was invented by Philo Farnsworth and transmitted its first image on this day. The television had massive effects on the public, connecting the people to national and international events more than ever before. News could be broadcast instantly and accompanied with videos. Television played a significant role in the American public's opposition to wars, fear of airships, and the end of McCarthyism, and has affected nearly every important event since its creation. -
Black Thursday (part of Wall Street Crash of 1929)
Black Thursday had the largest sell-off of shares in US history and is considered the first day of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, marking the beginning of the Great Depression. The Great Depression was characterized by slow economies both inside the US and overseas. Herbert Hoover's refusal to allow government intervention in the US economy resulted in massive unpopularity and the election of FDR, whose actions turned the US into the welfare state that it currently is. -
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) elected
FDR defeated Herbert Hoover in a landslide victory (Hoover was extremely unpopular because he didn't provide government aid during the Great Depression) to become president. FDR's "first hundred days" passed a series of 15 major bills to provide aid and fix the economy. Although the benefits of the bills were varied, FDR's willingness to try new things and his Fireside Chats broadcast on radio reassured the American population and made him extremely popular. -
First of 3 Neutrality Acts Passed
The first Neutrality Act passed by Congress prohibited the export of "arms, ammunition, and implements of war" from the United States to foreign nations fighting in wars. This Act was passed in response to indications in Europe and Asia that another world war might begin soon. The Neutrality Acts represented US foreign policy at the time, which was shaped by the isolationist sentiment of the American public, but became irrelevant after the Pearl Harbor attack and the US joining WWII. -
The Hindenburg (Airship) Explodes
While attempting to dock with its mooring mast, the German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed at Naval Air Station Lakehurst in New Jersey. Its destruction, caught on film and in photos, marked the end of the airship industry, as the general public lost faith in the safety of airships. This demonstrated the power of media in influencing the public, since previous disasters never had the effect that the Hindenburg did. -
Einstein–Szilárd Letter Sent to President Franklin D. Roosevelt
The letter, written by Szilárd and signed by Einstein, warned FDR that Germany might develop atomic bombs and urged America to start its own nuclear program, prompting action from FDR that eventually resulted in the Manhattan Project and the creation of the atomic bomb. The creation of the atomic bomb and race between the US and USSR to improve its capabilities were central to the Cold War and gave humanity the capability to wipe itself out for the first time in history. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Despite America's intent to remain neutral in the war, the Japanese feared that the US would join the war, and after the US stopped shipments of oil to Japan, Japan decided that they needed to prevent the US Pacific Fleet from interfering with their operations in Asia by attacking Pearl Harbor. The attack directly led to the US entering WWII, helping turn the tide of the war against the Axis Powers and establishing the US as a global superpower, which also set up events for the Cold War. -
D-Day
D-Day was the beginning of the Allied invasion of Europe, in which thousands of Allied troops landed on the coastal beaches of Normandy in the face of heavy resistance. Stalin had argued for an earlier invasion by the US and Britain to minimize Soviet casualties but was rejected, leading to tensions between the USSR and US that contributed to the start of the Cold War. Nevertheless, the Allied invasion was a success and kept Germany on the retreat for the rest of the war. -
Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima
Hiroshima was the first city ever struck by a nuclear bomb, followed by Nagasaki 3 days later. The atomic bomb in Hiroshima killed between 90,000 and 146,000 people and the bombs convinced Japan to surrender without an invasion by American troops, which would've cost many American lives. -
Truman Doctrine Announced
The Truman Doctrine was revealed by US President Harry S. Truman in a speech to Congress seeking aid for Greece and Turkey. The doctrine was seen by the Communists as an open declaration of the Cold War and contributed to the rising tensions between the US and USSR in the following decades. The Truman Doctrine served as the basis of American Cold War policy in Europe and around the world and emphasized tolerating and containing communism rather than changing it. -
Senator Joseph McCarthy First Accuses Government Officials of Being Communists in Lincoln Day Speech
During a Lincoln Day speech to the Republican Women's Club of Wheeling, West Virginia, McCarthy produced a piece of paper that he claimed contained a list of Communists working for the State Department. McCarthy's baseless accusations kicked off the Red Scare and McCarthyism, an era of hysteria caused by fear of Soviet spies living in the US. Regardless of innocence, the accused were ostracized from society, being fired from jobs and shunned by their peers for fear of also being accused. -
Korean War begins
Following clashes along the border and rebellions in South Korea, North Korea invaded South Korea with the goal of reunifying the Korean Peninsula. South Korean troops were pushed back until the arrival of US reinforcements, which allowed them to push back the invaders and into North Korean territory. Chinese troops then joined the war and forced the war into a stalemate, with fighting ending after an armistice (but no peace treaty). -
Dwight D. Eisenhower elected
After serving as the Supreme Commander of Allied forces in WWII, Eisenhower was a hero to the American people and easily won the election against Adlai Stevenson II. Eisenhower created the Interstate Highway System, secretly opposed McCarthyism, authorized NASA to be established, and sent army troops to enforce integration in Little Rock, AR. The Interstate Highway System is arguably his largest achievement, connecting the country for anyone who could drive. -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Decision
The Supreme Court ruled that U.S. state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools is inherently unconstitutional and public schools should be integrate as soon as possible. The case was a huge success for the Civil Rights Movement and was a huge step in racial equality. -
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis began when Israeli armed forces pushed into Egypt toward the Suez Canal after Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the canal, which was previously owned by British and French shareholders. US intervention (threatening financial damage to Britain by selling pound sterling bonds) led to a withdrawal and demonstrated the end of Britain as a global superpower and the global political strength of the US. -
NASA founded
NASA was founded by the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 signed by President Eisenhower. NASA was founded to counter the USSR's own space program and began the Space Race, a significant part of the Cold War. The Space Race was a competition over technological advancement and was seen as necessary for national security. After détente and the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russian and US crews began to cooperate in space-station programs. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
After Fidel Castro took control of Cuba and nationalized American businesses there, Cuban exiles formed a counter-revolutionary military brigade which was funded and trained by the CIA. After the international community found out about the ongoing invasion, JFK decided to withhold further air support, leading the invading force to be defeated and captured. This strained relations between the US and Cuba and set the stage for the Cuban Missile Crisis. -
Cuban Missile Crisis begins
In response to American Jupiter ballistic missiles in Italy and Turkey and the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion of 1961, the USSR agreed to Cuba's request to place nuclear missiles on the island to deter a future invasion. In response, JFK placed a naval "quarantine" around Cuba to prevent more missiles from reaching it. After days of negotiations, the USSR agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for a public declaration by the US to not invade Cuba and the secret removal of US missiles in Turkey. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Passed
The Civil Rights Act banned segregation in public places and banned employee discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, or national origin. Although the powers given to enforce it were weak initially, they were strengthened in later years, making the act much more effective than previous ones. LBJ used the memory of JFK to push the bill through Congress and signed it into law, marking the passage of one of the crowning achievements of the Civil Rights Movement. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
It was an international confrontation that involved both a proven confrontation on August 2, 1964, carried out by North Vietnamese forces in response to covert operations in the coastal region of the gulf, and a second, claimed confrontation two days later between ships of North Vietnam and the United States in the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. The incident led to the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and US involvement in the Vietnam War -
Voting Rights Act of 1965 Passed
The act banned literacy tests, allowed federal oversight of voter registration in areas where less than 50% of the non-white population had registered to vote, and authorized investigations by the Attorney General of the use of poll taxes in state and local elections. It is considered to be the most effective piece of federal civil rights legislation ever enacted in the country and "one of the most far-reaching pieces of civil rights legislation in U.S. history" (history.com). -
Kerner Commission Created
President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Kerner Commission (named after its chair Otto Kerner Jr.) with Executive Order 11365 to investigate the causes of the 1967 summer riots. After 7 months of investigation, the Commission issued the Kerner Report, which found that the riots resulted from black and Latino frustration at the lack of economic opportunity. Although their recommendations were not implemented by LBJ, the report served to spread awareness of racial inequality in the US. -
Moon Landing
Apollo 11 was the first spaceflight to land humans on the moon and was broadcast on live television across the world. The moon landing was a victory by the US over the USSR in the Space Race and the last achievement of the Space Race as détente eased tensions between the two countries. The moon landing demonstrated to the world the technological advancement of the US and was a significant step in space exploration. -
Nixon ends the US Gold Standard
Also known as the Nixon Shock, in response to increasing inflation, Nixon cancelled direct international convertibility of the United States dollar to gold, effectively ending the Bretton Woods system (gold standard). Although a political success, the Nixon Shock brought on the "stagflation" of the 1970s and led to the instability of floating currencies. -
Watergate Hearings begin
After the attempted break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Washington, D.C. Watergate Office Building, the efforts by the Nixon administration to cover up their involvement led to the resignation of Nixon and conviction of many top officials in the administration. Although Nixon was pardoned by his successor Gerald Ford, the scandal caused massive loss of faith in politicians in the US population and the pardon contributed to Gerald Ford losing the 1976 election. -
Bill Gates and Paul Allen Found Microsoft
After securing a contract with IBM, Microsoft rose to dominate the computer operating system market and became one of the largest corporations in the world. Microsoft had and still has a large impact on the US economy, creating jobs, innovating, and engaging in philanthropy. -
Jimmy Carter Sworn in as President
After defeating Gerald Ford in the 1976 election, (partially due to the Watergate Scandal), Jimmy Carter was sworn in as president. During his presidency, Carter pardoned all Vietnam War draft evaders, escalated the Cold War with a grain embargo on the USSR after their invasion of Afghanistan, and led the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott in Moscow. -
US Boycotts Summer Olympics in Moscow
Led by the United States, 66 countries boycotted the games in response to the Soviet–Afghan War. The action strengthened tensions between the US and USSR, inhibiting détente and furthering the Cold War, which contributed to Carter's unpopularity. -
US Invades Grenada
The U.S. and a coalition of six Caribbean nations invaded the island nation of Grenada after the house arrest and execution of the previous leader and second Prime Minister of Grenada Maurice Bishop and the establishment of the Revolutionary Military Council. The invasion resulted in a democracy being established, but was condemned by the United Nations as violating international law. It was the first armed overthrow of a Communist government and represented a departure from containment. -
September 11 (9/11) Attacks
The 9/11 attacks were a series of four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by the militant Islamic extremist network al-Qaeda on US soil. The terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners mid-flight and used them to crash into the World Trade Center twin towers and the Pentagon. The fourth was intended to hit a federal government building in Washington DC but was stopped by a passenger revolt. The events of 9/11 sparked the "War on Terror" and a global economic recession.
