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The Albany Congress
After the growing threat of a European superpower with natives invading the colonies, Ben Franklin invited delegates of all states to "make alliances with the natives" but his real reason was to get them to unite. He circulated a political cartoon, "Join or Die", which symbolically meant that the colonies would either fall separately or stand united. The plan was unsuccessful but it did spread the idea of unity in ways like Galloway's rejected plan of union in the first Continental Congress. -
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LAND = OPPORTUNITY
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PERCEPTION TRUMPS REALITY
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The Stamp Act
Following the 7 Years War, Britain had a lot of debt and turned to the US for money. George Grenville passed the Sugar, Currency, Stamp, and Quartering Acts most of which affected mainly the middle/upper classes of people monetarily. To combat this, the Stamp Act Congress convened which resulted in boycotting British goods. Here the Sons of Liberty, a group of violent protesters against the Stamp Act, emerged with the principles of John Locke's freedom of life, liberty, and property. -
Daughters of Liberty Emerge
The Townshend Acts had been passed which taxed tea and supplies used for building houses/barns. The Stamp Act had been repealed through boycotts and resistance so the same happened for these acts. The Daughters of Liberty emerged to perform a second boycott of English goods by producing various items like clothing to decrease English imports. A few years later, Lord North repealed all the Townshend Acts except the one on tea as a result of English manufacturers complaining about the boycott. -
The Boston Tea Party
British troops came to the US for military coercion and protestors provoked some stationed soldiers leading to the Boston Massacre in 1770 which killed Crispus Attucks. These soldiers were sent to enforce acts such as the Tea Act which made all tea taxed except the East India Company's tea. Samuel Adams led his followers to Boston Harbor where they dumped the ships' tea to protest this. The British Parliament decided the colonists couldn't keep getting their way and passed 5 coercive acts. -
The Second Continental Congress
The British turned to violence to stop the colonial rebellion so the red coats attacked Bunker Hill. While this happened, delegates convened at the 2nd Continental Congress. The continental army led by George Washington was made and the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson was too after the failed olive branch petition previously. During this time, the colonies were split between patriots and loyalists. Thomas Paine releases Common Sense which persuaded people to want independence. -
The Victory at Saratoga (the turning point of the Revolutionary War)
During the Revolutionary War, the British had lots of advantages and kept taking more land. Congress struggled at keeping men in the army however, a victory at Trenton and T Paine's Crisis boosted morale. When British General Burgoyne's army was outnumbered by 2 American armies at Saratoga, he had to surrender. The loss of 1/4 of the British army led to the colonies gaining France as an ally who hastened the end of the war with their navy by cornering British General Cornwallis at Yorktown. -
The Articles of Confederation Ratification
After independence was declared, Congress needed a governing document so the Articles of Confederation were created. It was a reflection of all the trauma the colonists had so it had many flaws but it also created/organized the free northwest territories through the Northwest Ordinance. Shays' Rebellion tested and ended the use of the articles after showing that the federal government was too weak to handle any internal threats/rebellions. The Revolutionary War was already over by this time. -
The Great Compromise (emergence of Federalists vs anti-Federalists)
Shays' Rebellion incited a controversial movement of making a stronger federal government which led to the Philadelphia Convention. For representation in Congress, James Madison's Virginia Plan had population while the New Jersey Plan had equality. The Great Compromise took both and made a bicameral legislation. The argument over if slaves should be counted for representation led to the 3/5 compromise. Ratification was tough but eventually happened after James Madison drafted the Bill of Rights. -
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George Washington's Presidency
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Hamilton's Financial Plan
Hamilton's plan gained the trust of other nations by paying off their war debt (federal government assumed all debt). They raised revenue through tariffs and taxes which increased industry too. Virginia said that they had already paid off their debt so it would be unfair. Lastly, a national bank was created and Jefferson opposed it because he said it could be abused which showed his strict construction on the Constitution. Since Washington leaned towards being a federalist, the plan was enacted. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
Once the Constitution was ratified, George Washington became president and John Adams became VP. Like Shays Rebellion tested the articles, the Whiskey Rebellion was the test for the Constitution. A group of farmers refused to pay a tax so Washington led troops and let them open fire but not hit anyone. This dispersed the rebellion and upheld the strength of the Constitution. Unlike the Articles, the Constitution allowed the government to tax the people and use the army to uphold these taxes. -
The Treaty of Greenville
The US government made false treaties with the native tribes in Ohio which they repudiated. Many tribes joined together to form the Western Confederacy to defend their land. After the natives defeated some of Washington's forces, he doubled the size of the army in fear of a native-British alliance. An American victory caused the Greenville Treaty to be made and many people migrated to the newly won lands of Ohio. Later, the confederacy was revived but stopped early in the Battle of Tippecanoe. -
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John Adams' Presidency
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Alien and Sedition Acts
In order to repair relations with France after not helping with their revolution, president Adams sent diplomats but they wanted a bribe. This led to the XYZ Affair and many Americans wanted war but Adams negotiated with Napoleon instead. The backlash made Adams pass the Alien and Sedition Acts. He could censor/deport anyone which proved Jefferson's fears right. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions were made to nullify these laws but states shouldn't be able to decide what is constitutional. -
Revolution of 1800
In the election of 1800, the public was against incumbent John Adams due to his Alien and Sedation Acts so Thomas Jefferson became president easily. This was the first time there was a change in ideologies in the White House, ending the Federalist era and bringing the Jeffersonian era. This is called the Revolution of 1800 since Adams stepped down peacefully without any bloodshed. Adams tried to hold onto the judicial branch by filling new positions with loyal federalists (Midnight judges). -
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Thomas Jefferson's Presidency
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The Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson was worried about the access of the Mississippi River and New Orleans so he wanted to negotiate with France over the purchase of it since the Pinckney Treaty got the rights for 20 years. Napoleon offered the Louisiana territory instead. The Constitution mentioned nothing about acquiring new land so Jefferson would be going against his strict views. He put his views aside (tough) and bought the land doubling the size of the country and sent Lewis and Clark to explore the new territory. -
Marbury v. Madison
Recently in the Supreme Court, Adams had given out judgeships to loyal federalists who were called the midnight judges. Madison found the letter granting a judgeship to Marbury but Jefferson told him not to deliver it. The case went to the Supreme Court who sided with Madison. They believed that the act granting the judgeship was unconstitutional and void. The court gave itself the power to strike down laws, the judicial review. This made the judicial branch on par with the other 2 branches. -
The Embargo of 1807
With the US finally being stabilized and having good trade relations with both France and Great Britain, the European superpowers go to war again. They try to dictate who the US can trade with. Jefferson doesn't like that so he imposes an embargo on ALL foreign trade. He destroyed the American economy which was very unpopular especially among the business community but this also spurred a lot of industrialization. Using the new industries, the US might win the War of 1812 because of them. -
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James Madison's Presidency
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German Coast Uprising
Unlike the task system used in many rice farms, sugar and cotton plantations' slaves weren't given many privileges. They were given incentives but also whippings and female slaves could get sexually abused. The largest rebellion in the 1800s was the German Coast Uprising in New Orleans. Like Nat Turner's Revolt in 1831, they were poorly armed and eventually hunted. Rebellions never seemed to work and escape was hard too because you'd have to leave behind family so the best choice was to stay. -
The Battle of New Orleans
The War of 1812 was like a second Revolutionary War. The British impressed American sailors and armed natives. In the seesaw war, the Battle of Thames ended native resistance but the British burned DC. Fearing the war was lost, some northern states wanted to be their own country (Hartford Convention). The war was considered status quo ante bellum but no one in the US knew. The turning point of the war then happened: the Battle of New Orleans which Andrew Jackson won. He became a household name. -
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James Monroe's Presidency
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McCulloch v. Maryland
The Second Bank of the US was created by Clay and signed by Madison so the bank opened up branches in every state thus competing with banks in the states. Maryland legislature taxed the bank but it refused to pay leading to the court case: McCulloch v. Maryland. Maryland said a national bank was unconstitutional and that even if it was, they could tax it. However, chief justice John Marshall, a federalist, said it was constitutional under the elastic clause and Maryland couldn't tax it. -
The Missouri Compromise
Henry Clay's controversial Missouri Compromise ended with Missouri being added to the union as a slave state and Maine a free state. States had to be admitted as pairs so that the balance in the Senate is maintained and all new states above a specific latitude line will be free. Those below would be slave states. The problem was that congressmen were arguing over slavery. This compromise held for about 25 years along with other measures like the gag rule which tabled any issue regarding slavery. -
The Monroe Doctrine
Secretary of State John Quincy Adams did a lot under Monroe as he made the Adams-Onís Treaty securing Florida from Spain and setting the US-Canada border. He then made Monroe adopt a foreign policy that warned European countries that the Americas weren't to be colonized anymore especially Latin America and in return, the US wouldn't interfere with their matters. This became known as the Monroe Doctrine and set the groundwork for future foreign policies. This was following Washington's advice. -
Henry Clay's "American System"
At this time we begin to see technology, transportation, communication, economic, and geographic changes in the US. The recent war is also over so European investment money can come back to American businesses. The US is maturing so it needs to manage its money. The American System was similar to Hamilton's plan as it required a strong central bank and protective tariffs but it used the revenue on infrastructure instead. Although unsuccessful, it shaped Whig policies for decades to come. -
The Corrupt Bargain
In the election of 1824, John Q Adams and Andrew Jackson were close but neither got the majority so the decision went to the House. Henry Clay dropped out since he was the Speaker of the House and didn't want to seem corrupt. However, JQA met with Clay privately and no one knows what was said but Clay supported Adams who then won the election. Clay became the next Secretary of State however so Jackson's supporters called this a corrupt bargain. JQA didn't have a noteworthy presidency. -
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John Quincy Adams' Presidency
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The Spoils System
JQA attempted to be reelected with the Tariff of Abominations but Jackson easily won the election of 1828. Jackson supported farmers and he crowned "the common man" because he claimed he was one. He won because he had the first modern political campaign (emergence of the Democratic party) and his target audience, the white poor man, now had the franchise. He felt ordinary people could fill government jobs instead of wealthy so created the first spoils system. The Whig party arose to combat this. -
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Andrew Jackson's Presidency
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The Nullification Ordinance
South Carolina believed the JQA's tariff to be unconstitutional and John Calhoun threatened to nullify it. Trying to preserve the Union and fight nullification, Jackson passed a lower tariff but SC still wasn't happy and passed the Nullification Ordinance to nullify the tariffs. They said if the government would make them comply, they would secede. Jackson viewed this as treason and passed the Force Bill to use military force. Clay proposed the compromise tariff and SC repealed the ordinance. -
Jackson's Bank War
Jackson never understood how banks worked and didn't trust them. Many poor farmers believed that the Second Bank of the US was just there for rich people to get richer and they had too much foreign influence. For that reason, Jackson moved all federal money into state/"pet" banks which caused lots of land grabs and inflation. Consequently, he passed the Specie Circular in which the government would only take specie for land. Jackson left Van Buren with an economic panic/depression (1837). -
The Trail of Tears
The groundwork legislation for this happened under Jackson starting with the Indian Removal Act (widely supported) which made natives move west to a type of land they weren't adapted to. The Cherokee looked for justice using the Supreme Court in 2 cases: Cherokee Nation v Georgia and Worcester v Georgia. The court ruled that the US needed a treaty and that the Indian Removal Act was unconstitutional but Jackson didn't care. Under Van Buren, the trail was more of a deadly disorganized migration. -
The Alamo
The new Mexican government was scared the US was going to take away Texas so they let Americans come on a couple conditions. Once the government started taxing the Americans and taking away slavery, they declared independence and Americans came to support them. President Santa Anna killed every soldier guarding the Alamo and Van Buren didn't want to annex Texas in fear of a war with Mexico when there were already high tensions over slavery. Eventually, Texas was annexed under President Polk. -
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Martin Van Buren's Presidency
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Utopias At Their Peak
With the Second Great Awakening, religion was an integral part of people's lives and everyone was trying to perfect society. Many movements like transcendentalism were born however amidst the Panic of 1837, utopias were more common. These utopias were trying to make a small perfect community and all failed except the Mormons. Although due to violence because of their practice of plural marriage, they moved west to Utah. Utopian communities were far from normal and most of them were socialists. -
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William Henry Harrison's Presidency
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John Tyler's Presidency
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The Oregon Trail
Due to the idea of Manifest Destiny, the god-given right to expand westwards, and the useful harbors, people began moving towards Oregon. Additionally, some farmers sent back letters saying the climate and soil were good. Oregon fever emerged. Many people went on the Oregon Trail or others and stopped wherever they thought had the most opportunity. Conditions were tough as well and many people died. Some made it to Mexican California where many married Californios but didn't assimilate. -
The Election of 1844
Britain was telling Texas to remain independent so expansionists wanted it immediately as well as the entire Oregon country. Incumbent Tyler and Calhoun sent a treaty regarding Texas to the Senate (rejected). The Democrats didn't trust the ex-Whig so they nominated James Polk. His famous motto was 54 40 or fight. Whig Henry Clay ran against him and supported annexation for southern votes but lost northern votes to the Liberty Party, costing him the election. Polk was ready to expand the country. -
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James Polk's Presidency
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The Bear Flag Republic
Polk was trying to provoke Mexico into shedding the first blood so he could take their northern territories in a war started by them. Polk said that American blood had been shed on American soil and Congress voted for war. The US-Mexico War began. In California, the Bear Flag Republic was created to declare independence. Eventually, the US won and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave the US 50%+ of Mexico's land. Slavery in the new territories was argued. The Wilmot Proviso banned it (rejected). -
The Free Soil Movement Rises
After northerners were complaining about how slave states' representation is unfair due to the 3/5 compromise and that Democrats favor the south, the free soil movement arose. The free soil party opposed the expansion of slavery but not for moral reasons, rather that it would be a threat to republicanism. This resonated with a lot more people. In the election of 1848, the free soil party ran Van Buren for president who stole Whig votes causing the Democratic candidate, Zachary Taylor to win. -
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Zachary Taylor's Presidency
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The Compromise of 1850
As the problem of slavery became prevalent on the Pacific coast, Congress had to address it. While some preferred slavery in the territories or an extension of the Missouri compromise, popular sovereignty was the most popular. Henry Clay helped by making the Compromise of 1850 where California was admitted as a free state and among other provisions, a new Fugitive Slave Act was made (controversial). Uncle Tom's Cabin helped grow the abolition cause while personal liberty laws were enacted too. -
The Foreign Miner's Tax
The California gold rush in 1848 was a beacon of opportunity for immigrants so many came rushing in. Most of them were part of the 49ers but a lot of the gold was already gone. The native-born miners were drunk, gambling, and etc due to being so late and they took their anger out on immigrants. This included getting legislature proving it: The Foreign Miner's Tax which effectively got immigrants to leave the country. Soon after, an anti-immigrant party emerged: the American/Know-Nothing Party. -
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Milliard Fillmore's Presidency
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Franklin Pierce's Presidency
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The Ostend Manifesto
When Franklin Pierce came into office, he had one goal: expansion. He started by helping northern merchants by making the Treaty of Kanagawa which allowed them to refuel ships in Japan. Then Pierce switched to help the south as he made the Gadsden Purchase. Following this he supported adding Cuba into the US so he threatened war with Spain and supported filibustering. When diplomats told him to take it in the Ostend Manifesto, the north was against it so he didn't want to risk political suicide. -
Bleeding Kansas
With the Kansas-Nebraska Act repealing the Missouri Compromise and people trying to populate Kansas for the vote according to popular sovereignty, Bleeding Kansas happened. Armed proslavery men prevented a fair election resulting in slavery being admitted. This caused a lot of uproar and Kansas wasn't safe due to proslavery and abolition towns forming. Many radicals were born from this as well including John Brown who massacred some proslavery families and later tried to start a slave revolt. -
Landmark Supreme Court Case: The Dred Scott Decision
Scott was a slave who had moved with his owner to a free state so he argued that since they moved, it violated the state law and he should be free. The Supreme Court didn't think so and said the Missouri Compromise and Northwest Ordinance were unconstitutional. Northerners argued that this meant there was no such thing as a free state and slavery could exist everywhere. This increased tensions and combined with Lincoln's presidency a few years later, the north and south were beyond a compromise. -
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James Buchanan's Presidency
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Secession Starts
As John Calhoun of South Carolina leads the charge in secession because of rising tensions and many factors, the Civil War has started. Every southern state had seceded except for some border states since they don't have as many slave holders, their economy doesn't entirely depend on slavery, and it's risky to secede. US Forts are still in the south which they don't like and surround. Lincoln sends supplies to Fort Sumter but the south doesn't believe him and starts the bloodshed of the war. -
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Abraham Lincoln's Presidency
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The Homestead Act
Republicans wanted to fill up the Great Plains or Great American Desert with people who lived there so they made the Homestead Act. This gave anyone who was willing to apply 160 acres of farmland as long as the applicant lived there, improved the property, and farmed it. The government didn't realize that there were already people there: the natives. Natives' food sources were hunted to near-extinction and tensions were high. The Sand Creek and Fetterman Massacres were results of the tensions. -
The Battle of Vicksburg
Completing the Anaconda Plan, General Grant sieged Vicksburg and split the Confederacy in two. Securing the Mississippi River, the Union could attack from any angle which further lowered morale of the south especially after their loss at Gettysburg. Lincoln had already unveiled his Proclamation of Emancipation after the battle at Antietam and showed similar ideas in his Gettysburg Address. Then, Sherman went on his march, destroying anything in his way, and emphasizing the Union's win. -
Draft Riots
The Confederacy implemented the first conscription after there were less volunteers and a higher demand for soldiers. The Union also had a draft but in both cases, there were negative consequences. The south's citizens were getting fed up with regulations like the 1/10 tax and now rich people could buy their way out of being drafted or stay at home due to the 20 negro rule. In the north, draft riots occurred however Lincoln decided to enlist contrabands and other black soldiers ending the riots. -
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Andrew Johnson's Presidency
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The Civil Rights Act of 1866
At the start of reconstruction, plans to integrate the Confederacy back into the US were made such as the 10% plan (easy way) and then the Wade-Davis Bill (hard way) but both were never implemented. Black codes, southern laws to force black people in slavery, were nullified by the Civil Rights Act of 1886 and the Freedmen's Bureau was also created to help them. The 14th amendment was passed so that black people could become citizens and the 15th in 1870 so they couldn't be denied the vote too. -
The 1868 Election
Ulysses Grant won easily as the Republicans had a tight grip over politics whereas the Democrats were still recovering. The 15th amendment was passed under Grant and it was very unpopular loosening the Republicans grip. Grant also signed the Civil Rights Act of 1875 which made black people have equal access to transportation. This wasn't enforced after Grant like the Reconstruction Act of 1867. The act split the south into 5 military districts but military occupation ended soon after Grant left. -
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Ulysses S. Grant's Presidency
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Sharecropping Emerges
To replace the old labor system of slavery, the south turned to sharecropping which they preferred. They didn't have to pay for any needs of the black people, rather provide them some of the crops. Many refused to work under bad conditions which the white planters had to accept. Freedmen would give their labor in return for the use of the land and house mainly. Although, they were usually in a cycle of debt they couldn't get out of. Crop-lien laws and corrupt bookkeepers made sure of this. -
Women Try to Vote - National Women Suffrage Association (NWSA)
As black men got the vote, women hoped to get it too ever since the Declaration of Sentiments was drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton at the Seneca Falls Convention. However Radical Republicans had no reason to give the franchise to women especially since northern men didn't want it. After groups like the NWSA were made, some women tried to vote under the new amendments but were barred. In Minor v. Happersett, it was apparent that even the Supreme Court didn't believe women had the power to vote. -
The Election of 1876
As the Democrats overwhelmingly controlled the House and the Supreme Court was taking down Reconstruction legislature, the Republicans had to come back strong in the election of 1876. They nominated Rutherford Hayes against Democratic Samuel Tilden. Some states were uncertain on election night and were the difference between Hayes winning or losing. Republicans and Democrats sent their own electoral votes so Congress had 2 sets. A commission gave it to Hayes. Reconstruction formally ended now. -
Jim Crow Laws
Following the end of Reconstruction, the many laws made to protect the rights of freedpeople were becoming less enforced. In the south, Jim Crow laws began to take root and the north and federal government did nothing about it. Democrats made these laws in support of redemption, the idea to get back at Republicans for Reconstruction. These laws ensured segregation and ultimately arose in every southern state. In Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the Supreme Court even says that segregation is legal. -
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Rutherford B. Haye's Presidency
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Emergence of the Greenback-Labor Party (GL Party) and Unions
After the Great Railroad Strike (1877), the 1870s depression led to the formation of the GL Party which advocated for the regulation of corporations and protection of workers rights. As the party grew and won elections, Granger laws were passed. The Knights of Labor had similar viewpoints and grew rapidly until their fall at the Haymarket Square conflict. The Farmers’ Alliance kept the Knights’ views but only for farmers and the American Federation of Labor did the same for skilled workers. -
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Chester Alan Arthur's Presidency
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James A. Garfield's Presidency
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The Chinese Exclusion Act
European and Asian immigrants came to the US when they weren't doing well in their country. European immigrants were usually let into the country but Asians faced lots of racism and the Chinese Exclusion Act was eventually passed along with other acts to bar Chinese and later, other Asians from the US. Immigrants were cheap labor so they were hated by labor unions and loved by businesses. Political machines also liked them as they used them for votes until the Australian ballot was implemented. -
Pendleton Act Passed
The GOP and the Democrats were switching control over the presidency so neither of them wanted to remove the beneficial spoils system. Stalwarts in the GOP wanted to maintain it, mugwumps wanted reform and left the GOP, and the half-breeds saw the need for reform but didn't leave the GOP. With the split in votes, the Democrats won. Due to the growing desire for reform and President Garfield dying from an angry supporter, the Pendleton Act was passed which required federal workers to take a test. -
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Grover Cleveland's Presidency
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The Dawes Severalty Act
More reform-minded people believed in "killing the Indian and saving the man" or in other words, assimilation. This was already being done through boarding schools. Native American children were being taken from their parents to become Americanized and then returned years later when they would become unrecognizable. When the Dawes Severalty Act was passed (Homestead Act for natives using reservation land), many didn't take it because they didn't want to leave their tribe. Excess land was sold. -
Creation of the Hull House by Jane Addams
In an era of progressiveness, reformers created social settlements which were community welfare centers that helped the urban poor and gave them a political voice. The Hull House was the most famous and one of the first. Muckrakers also created reform by pointing out the flaws in businesses like working conditions. These careers were often pursued by women who then branched out to create reform in other areas like birth control or fair wages for a specific group (WTUL’s garment workers). -
The Battle at Wounded Knee
In battle and in court, Native Americans were getting handed defeat after defeat and their victories didn't last long. The Battle of Little Big Horn resulted in a native victory however the natives were hunted after that nonstop. Reservation conditions were terrible too so natives faced a wall both ways. Believing they had angered the gods, natives started the Ghost Dance Movement but this was feared by Americans so the US government suppressed it by using violence at the battle at Wounded Knee. -
The Management Revolution
More companies started departmentalizing their work and created managers to oversee workers' work. The management revolution went hand in hand with deskilling which made workers dispensable since the labor was so easy anyone could do it. Since there were many workers, conditions didn't have to be good since they were easily replaceable. Businesses also used vertical integration or horizontal integration with predatory pricing to control the market. Trusts would later be targeted by legislators. -
Rise and Fall of the Populist Party
As a response to high debt/unemployment and a fall in farm prices, the Populist party formed. It drew from farmers hatred of banks and big businesses and called for reform like a graduated income tax so the rich would pay more. In the 1896 election, they nominated William Jennings Bryan and so did the Democrats but he lost. The Populist party fell and merged with the Democrats causing a slight change in the values of the Democrats as they became more allied with labor compared to businesses. -
The Battle of San Juan and Teddy Roosevelt (TR)'s Legacy
Cubans were trying to rebel against the Spanish and after trade was affected, the de Lome Letter mocked the US, and the USS Maine exploded, the US went to war. The Teller Amendment said that the US would not conquer Cuba. TR fought bravely on Kettle Hill and made himself a war hero. After the war was won, US imperialism ended and the US now had many territories due to intellectuals like William Seward who negotiated treaties and advocated for a strong navy to secure foreign markets and influence -
New Leaders in the Black Community
Black people were suffering so new leaders like Booker Washington emerged. He said to accept discrimination and learn a trade to become indispensable to the economy which would earn the respect of whites. Other leaders like WEB DuBois later came and disagreed with Washington because he wanted to fight racism. He said there were the Talented Tenth of black kids that would become accomplished and he founded the NAACP. Ida Wells, a female muckraker, was also prominent. Marcus Garvey came later. -
Teddy Roosevelt (TR) becomes President
President McKinley was shot and killed so war hero TR became president. He put the country before his party. TR used the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break up bad trusts and was responsible for consumer reforms like the FDA and Hepburn Act. He was the first to side with labor rather than big corporations (Anthracite Coal Mine Strike). TR also preserved wild lands as national parks. All of this was part of his Square Deal which regulated businesses, protected consumers, and preserved the environment -
Roosevelt's Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
TR preferred a big stick diplomacy where intimidation is used to deter war. He also said that the US would intervene if European powers tried to control parts of the Americas (corollary). Taft preferred a dollar diplomacy where he would give money to countries to strengthen relations and get preferential treatment. TR didn't like that Taft didn’t extend his policies so he created the Bull Moose Party and went against him. Since Republican votes were split, Woodrow Wilson won the 1912 election. -
Teddy Roosevelt's New Nationalism
TR proposed a child labor law, more recognition for labor rights and women's rights, and a curb on the power of federal courts. This plan was radical because it limited the court’s power because they were limiting reforms like Lochner v. New York. Many of the reforms stemmed from incidents that happened like the Triangle Fire. Other radical reforms came from groups like the Industrial Workers of the World who opposed capitalism by striking. TR worked towards better conditions and hours though. -
The Clayton Antitrust Act
Similar to TR and Taft, Wilson was against monopolies and trusts so he gave the courts a little more power by passing the Clayton Act which made the Sherman Act more broad to determine what was illegal. The Federal Trade Commission also got broad powers to determine what was legal. Under Wilson, trusts were dissolved, a few acts were passed to help with labor (like Adamson Act), the 18th and 19th amendments were passed for women right to vote and prohibition of alcohol, and World War 1 occurred. -
The Election of 1916
Incumbent Wilson barely won against progressive Republican Hughes as he campaigned on keeping the US out of the war. However, the Zimmerman telegram soon changed that and the US was involved. Wilson created the War Industries Board to control all aspects of war production. The Sedition and Espionage Acts limited speech in the US. After the war, Wilson came up with 14 Points to prevent future wars but the Treaty of Versailles didn’t use them so the US didn’t sign it. Germany was very restricted. -
The Great Migration
Black people saw that men were leaving the workforce to serve and migrated to northern urban cities rapidly causing the Great Migration. Postwar, the Red Summer happened where many race riots occurred because black people were competing with white people for jobs and housing. Although, the Harlem Renaissance, a literary movement, also happened from the Great Migration as many black people moved to NY. A black leader, Marcus Garvey told blacks to go back to Africa and spread pan-Africanism. -
New Amendments
Rural, native-born Protestants wanted the prohibition of alcohol because of all it was associated with. During the war, a few other reasons like alcohol grains being scarce led to the 18th amendment. This banned the manufacture and sale of alcohol but Americans mostly ignored it and it was repealed in 1933. The 19th amendment gave women the vote. Women’s organizations contributed a lot to the war effort in order to get this amendment and it let women go on to fight for other reforms and split up -
National Origins Act
There was lots of fear about the spread of anarchism, socialism, and communism because of the Bolshevik revolution. The Red Scare showed the fear through deporting immigrants, raiding radical organizations (Palmer raids), and the murders of Sacco and Vanzetti. This fear combined with the perception that European immigration was the cause of moral decline led to the National Origins Act which severely restricted it. Nativist clans like the KKK (peak membership at this time) supported this act. -
The Rise of Automobiles and the Radio
Cars became quick to make with the assembly line so they were cheaper. This created many jobs in other industries related to cars (like petroleum) and suburbs. The radio was also widely used as it spread information so fast. Many new electric products were coming out to make life easier. Credit, which fueled the Great Depression, was invented so that people could get what they wanted now and pay later. Hollywood was becoming famous and influencing fashion styles like the flapper, a boyish girl. -
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff
After the stock market crashed and people buying on credit led to the Great Depression, the Hoover administration had to respond. He didn’t change the gold standard which would’ve helped. He used the Smoot-Hawley tariff instead which caused retaliatory tariffs and made the situation worse. Hoover’s programs weren’t aggressive enough to be effective. He also burned down Bonus Army encampments when they were protesting for their pensions. Lots of bad things were named after him like Hoovervilles. -
The First 100 Days of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)
After easily defeating Hoover, FDR became very popular through his fireside chats which created relations with the people. In his first 100 days, he created the New Deal which had a lot of reforms. Bank deposits were insured, crop prices were being raised to help farmers, businesses were controlled by the government to help the workers, and the government took in a lot of workers to build infrastructure. Many Republicans thought he had gone too far while Democrats thought he didn’t go far enough -
The Indian Reorganization Act
The New Deal affected minorities pretty positively. Black people were benefiting a lot so they voted for FDR meaning the party was supported by southern whites and blacks. The Native Indians had this act which gave them more religious freedom and control over their government but the BIA still interfered a lot. Immigrants were also helped especially by government jobs. The New Deal also protected against environmental disasters like the Dust Bowl and provided electricity to rural farms/areas. -
The Neutrality Act of 1935
As Hitler was spreading fascism across Europe, the US wanted to stay out of war so it declared a neutrality act to stop selling arms to warring countries. At home there was the Popular Front who wanted to end the spread of fascism in Europe but not always protect democracy. The more popular AFC was full of isolationists (antiwar). FDR brought the country closer to war as he had his 4 freedoms to show that the Nazis were in the wrong. The Atlantic Charter showed FDR’s support for the British too. -
Packing the Court
When critics were saying FDR didn't go far enough, he went farther. The US was a welfare state where the government provided many benefits and employed those who were unemployed. FDR was trying to spend his way out of the depression. However, some of his reforms did go too far like controlling goods prices and broke the law so the Supreme Court struck them down. Enraged, he threatened to pack the court with reformers. He never did but the courts never challenged New Deal legislature again. -
The "Double V" Campaign
Seeing similarities between Nazism and racism, black people wanted an end to racism. FDR wanted all attention on the war so he signed an executive order to make the FEPC and quiet the campaign. In the army, black people were the only people segregated. Although integrated, Mexicans were still discriminated against in the Bracero Program and zoot-suit riots from the mass urban migration. Natives were code talkers as no one could crack their language. Women entered the workforce in large numbers. -
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan wanted a pacific empire so they attacked the US to secure it. The US was now forced into the war and with the War Powers Act, FDR controlled all parts of the war effort/production. Japanese hate had risen a lot so FDR signed Executive Order 9066 which forced Japanese Nisei and Isei in to relocation camps. They were released soon as they contributed to the economy. At the end of the war, Truman gave the order to drop atomic bombs (Manhattan project) on 2 Japanese cities. Japan surrendered. -
D-Day
The Soviet Union was having a hard time against the Nazis so they asked the Allies for help. After months of planning, Operation Overlord was complete with the Americans, British, and Canadians fighting for control of the French beaches. After spreading misinformation, they attacked and D-Day was a long bloody day. In the end, the Nazis were pushed back and fell after the Battle of the Bulge. The Holocaust was over but the Nazis controlling Italy (Mussolini regime fell) stood a little longer. -
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944
The GI Bill gave veterans funds to go to college/trade school, get affordable housing, health care, and get loans. The following decades had the most educated workforce because many veterans took advantage of this bill. Additionally, the Veterans Administration (VA) helped veterans get homes with no downpayment spurring construction and the industries involved in that. The economy was doing very well due to a more educated workforce and plenty of new jobs opening up due to the demand for houses. -
The Bretton Woods Conference
At Bretton Woods, delegates from Allied countries created the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The World Bank was to provide Europe and newly-independent countries with loans (not Marshall Plan). The IMF was made to stabilize countries' currencies. This helped the US by creating foreign markets and letting foreigners invest in US capital while also providing stability in other countries. The US had a good economy due to the military-industrial complex (defense contractors) -
The Yalta Conference
FDR, Churchill, and Stalin met to talk about democracy vs communism of East Europe (specifically Poland), created the UN, and Russia entering war against Japan. At the later Potsdam Conference (1945), Truman replaced FDR and Germany was divided. He made the containment strategy for communism and the Truman doctrine. These were used by later presidents to justify backing oppressive regimes to fight communism. NATO alliance was made to fight Soviet threats and they made Warsaw Pact to counter this -
Affordable Houses in Levittown
William Levitt realized that by making pre-made houses he could make profit since they would be cheap and easy to make. Levittowns became popular and sprung up everywhere in suburbs. Not only were they cheap but the FHA and VA made home mortgages very affordable. As middle class whites were moving to the suburbs, the urban cities became places with poor conditions where blacks usually had to live. In Shelley v Kraemer the Supreme Court said blacks can live in suburbs but discrimination persisted -
"To Secure These Rights" - Truman Report
In a report from a civil rights committee, Truman asked Congress to do everything the report recommended. This included segregating the government and armed forces, abolishing poll taxes, and restoring the FEPC. This caused the southern Democrats to break off from the Democratic Party and form the States' Rights Democratic Party (Dixiecrats). They eventually went to the Republican Party. There were organizations like CORE and the NAACP fighting for civil rights at this time too using nonviolence -
The Marshall Plan
George Marshall proposed the Marshall Plan which gave funding to any recovery program by a European country including Soviet countries although they rejected. The new prosperity in Europe got rid of many communist parties and strengthened capitalism in western Europe. The rebuilt countries provided a market for US products and also strong allies (NATO). This was useful towards the NSC-68 report saying that the US needed a huge defense buildup in western Europe in addition to creating new bombs. -
The Election of 1948
Truman ran against Thomas Dewey, Republican, and Strom Thurmond, Dixiecrat, who favored racial segregation. Everyone thought Dewey was going to win but Truman won and as a part of Cold War liberalism, tried to pass the Fair Deal, an extension of the New Deal calling for national health insurance, civil rights legislation, etc. The Republican-controlled congress made this tough similar to when they passed the Taft-Hartley Act (1947) over his veto to make it more difficult for unions to organize. -
The Surprise Attack on Inchon
North Korea was communist and South Korea wasn't so the US backed up the south. The Korean War was one of the proxy wars fought against the Soviets. The north had a surprise attack and took over most of Korea but a surprise attack at Inchon led General MacArthur to taking over most of Korea for the south. However, China had a recent communist revolution and pushed the UN soldiers back to the 38th parallel. MacArthur wanted to invade China and became rogue so he was relieved of duty. End of war. -
The "New Look"
Once liberal-minded Eisenhower was elected in 1952 due to Truman's unpopularity, there was continuity in foreign policy and legislation even though he was Republican. Since he was a general, he was focused on the cold war and the New Look was to produce a hydrogen bomb and increase their range. Ike worked with Democrats and there was bipartisan agreement on the Cold War and legislation being passed. He was able to keep the moderate and conservative Republicans happy while signing benefit bills. -
McCarthyism Falls
Senator McCarthy accused many government officials, mainly Democrats, of being communist. The Rosenbergs execution and other trials showed that there were communists among us fueling McCarthyism. When he went to point out subversives in the army, he was called out and eventually censured. The HUAC had illegitimate hearings as well but some like the Alger Hiss case were more reliable. All of this stemmed from the Loyalty-Security Act which let officials investigate subversive employees (abused). -
The Start of Commitment to Vietnam
Vietnam defeated France and then was split so the US set up a government in the south while the communists were in the north. Eisenhower used the domino theory to justify putting someone into power. He was trying to get as many countries on the US side and signed many treaties like SEATO, NATO, etc. Vietnam wasn't popular since the Middle East was in the spotlight and the Eisenhower Doctrine stated the US would combat communism there. He was able to avoid war with Egypt but lost them as an ally -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
After the Plessy v. Ferguson case resulting in separate but equal to justify segregation, the NAACP was looking to the Supreme Court to overturn this. In this court case, Thurgood Marshall represented Brown and won overturning Plessy v Ferguson. Integration was slow but presidents like Eisenhower helped by protecting the Little Rock 9. Additional protests like the Montgomery Bus Boycott after Rosa Parks was jailed and the Greensboro Sit-Ins done by organizations like the SCLC and SNCC helped. -
The Emergence of the Beats
In the 1950s, teenagers had lots of spending power so the entertainment industry targeted them. Music styles like rock n roll were born. A white man who could imitate a black person would thrive in the music industry. Elvis Presley did just that. Parents were against this and thought it was encouraging rebellions, sex, interracial relationships, etc. Bebop, music genre, was the favorite of the Beats. They were writers who went against mainstream culture and had sex, used drugs, and were "free". -
The National Interstate and Defense Highways Act
Eisenhower passed this act to construct faster roadways since many Americans drove now. These roads would provide faster ways to cover long distances and would help those who live in suburbs. The roads were made to also help ease Cold War fears by providing a faster way to evacuate cities in case of a nuclear attack. It was larger than the New Deal. Although some primarily black neighborhoods were demolished to make this happen and showed the governments carelessness towards its black residents. -
The Baby Boom (The Peak)
From 1945 to 1965, the Baby Boom was the dramatic increase in the US birthrate. When soldiers came back from the war, people had the chance to do what they hadn't been able to for 25 years, settle down and start a family. The largest generation was targeted for consumption and advertising. When they were children, all kinds of toys came out and when they were teenagers, new clothing, movies, etc. were coming out for them. The rise of spending also came from the new TV and household products. -
The Treatment of the Poor
In the 1950s, an economic boom caused Americans to get wealthier and more equal. However not everyone was feeling the impact. In works like The Affluent Society, author Galbraith said the poor were the last people to be thought of by economists and politicians. No one was addressing the problem of poverty. Another book, The Other America, by Harrington called poverty the economic underworld and showed many cases of poverty. The top and middle class became closer but the lower remained behind. -
Fidel Castro Leads Communist Cuba
Communist Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban government so Eisenhower was planning to send Cuban exiles to fight against Castro with US support but when JFK came into office, he didn't want to use US support. The Bay of Pigs Invasion was unsuccessful because of this. In 1962, JFK saw that Soviet missiles were being built in Cuba so he blocked their ships from going into Cuba. The Cuban Missile Crisis was close to nuclear war. In 1961, JFK launched to PeaceCorps to show capitalism's power worldwide -
The Election of 1960
For the first time ever, Democrat JFK and Republican Richard Nixon had presidential debates on TV but since JFK appeared more presidential on camera, he won even though Nixon won the debates. JFK was the first Catholic president which raised concern. His cabinet, Camelot, was filled with smart people. Him, his wife, and his cabinet were media stars. JFK funded the space race and funded STEM, pushed for greater civil rights, couldn't prevent the Berlin Wall, and began sending troops into Vietnam. -
The Freedom Rides
CORE used SNCC's tactics and did the Freedom Rides after segregation in interstate commerce was deemed unconstitutional so they were testing them by driving around. KKK members beat up the riders in Birmingham and Montgomery while corrupt police officers let it happen. In Birmingham, MLK then protested for which he was jailed and wrote the Letter from Birmingham Jail. Afterwards, he marched on Washington where he gave his I have a Dream Speech with permission of JFK. Congress was under pressure. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Passed under LBJ, this act outlawed discrimination in employment based on race, religion, origin, and gender. This also banned segregation in schools and public places. The EPOC was created to look out for job discrimination. Now, blacks wanted the vote and tried to get it through things like the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party but failed. LBJ also passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which outlawed ways to prevent people from voting like literacy tests. Significant increase in black voters -
LBJ's "Great Society"
LBJ was a New Deal FDR supporter who assumed the presidency after JFK was assassinated. He declared the War on Poverty, formed Medicare and Medicaid, funded education, reformed immigration quotas, passed many environmental bills, and helped with urban development/housing as a part of his Great Society. This brought lots of conservative backlash for spending lots of money. LBJ was hated by his party for how he handled the Vietnam War and after gaining war powers from the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution -
Black Panther Party Formed
Inspired by Malcolm X who preached Nation of Islam, the radical Black Panther Party formed to protect blacks from police brutality. They believed in self defense however this often got them into violent situations and due to this, the FBI was onto them. They spread to other cities in the 60s and did many community-organizing projects like free breakfasts for children. Additionally, they also inspired many organizations for civil rights for other ethnicities and races like the YLO and MALDEF. -
The Watergate Scandal
Nixon was a popular president until he tried to cover up the Watergate break-in in which he committed crimes. He resigned but his VP, Ford, pardoned him to get Watergate over with. Nixon was able to create environmental policies (EPA), end gender-based discrimination in education, ended the Vietnam War, normalized relations with China (detente), helped integration, lowered voting age etc. When Ford was president, the US was in a deep recession and he just carried out the rest of Nixon's term. -
Jimmy Carter Tries to Fight the Depression
Jimmy Carter easily beat Ford in the election. Carter's poor relations with Congress made it hard for him to do much. Although, with the Iranian revolution resulting in American hostages, he was busy trying to free them. The Iranians didn't let Carter ever free them but did free them under Reagan. Carter made the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt for peace though. Even though Carter beat Ted Kennedy for the Democratic nominee in the 1980 election, Reagan was a favorite and won easily. -
Ronald Reagan's Landslide Victory in 1984 Election
Ronald Reagan beat Walter Mondale in the largest margin ever even though people had just been worried that he was too old for the job. In his first term, he implemented Reaganomics, was almost assassinated, put down a strike, invaded Grenada right after the Lebanon incident where marines died, and caused an economic revival. In his second term, the Iran-Contra scandal (illegal) was huge but he also made the USSR spend so much money that it broke up and the Berlin Wall fell as soon as Bush came