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1492
Columbian Exchange Begins
When Christopher Columbus discovered the New World, it soon led to an exchange network between the Old and New World, exchanging things such as food, animals, plants, people, and diseases. This led to an increased amount of food in the Old World and a decrease in starvation as new food items were introduced, such as the potato, and an increase in precious metals such as silver. However, it devastated the Old World, as European diseases would wipe out entire native populations. -
Jamestown is Settled
In 1607, a group of English men were sent to America by the British government in hopes of forming a successful settlement in the New World. However, these settlers were met with a harsh reality, as starvation and disease ravaged the settlement and the death rate among Jamestown was 80% within the first year. But they were eventually able to move past the hardship and created a functioning settlement that would make huge profit off of tobacco, and lead to the creation of the U.S. we know today. -
Great Awakening
The first Great Awakening was in its prime from about 1730 to 1740, and was the revival of the Protestant religion, which created a shared national religious experience across America. The need for a revival was due to people thinking religion was becoming dry, dull, and distant, and was more ritual instead of having a genuine faith in God. This caused ministers such as George Whitfield and Jonathon Edwards to take the stage and ignite the fire of religion within thousands of people. -
French and Indian War Begins
The French-Indian War, or the 7 Years War, was a war between Great Britain and France in North America, caused mainly by disputes over land and territories. The French gained Native American support against the British, as they were angry about the them continuously taking claims of their land, and the Indians soon become equipped with French weaponry and fought in battle against the British. It is estimated that around 11,000 people died throughout this war, both from battle and disease. -
Albany Congress
The Albany Congress was formed by Benjamin Franklin, calling representatives from each colony to discuss the plan of action against the French, along with forming a treaty with Native Americans. Franklin proposed the Albany Plan, which suggested that the colonies unify and work together under a central control in order to defend themselves against the French. Although this plan was ultimately rejected, it set the stage for colonial unification, leading to victory in the Revolutionary War. -
Treaty of Paris, 1763
The Treaty of Paris of 1763 ended the French-Indian War, and led to France giving up all of its North American territory, ending major foreign threats to the British colonies. This led to major land gain for both the British and Spanish, yet also laid the groundwork for the Revolutionary War. This is due to multiple disputes regarding the land acquired from France between Britain and the colonies (especially pertaining to frontier policies), and the paying of the war's expenses. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was set by Britain and declared colonists to not settle any further east of the Appalachian Mountains on the new land acquired from the French-Indian War. This outraged colonists, as they had played a major role in the defeat of the French in the war, so they felt that they deserved to expand onto the lands that they fought for. This acted as a catalyst for the Revolutionary War, as it really represented the power and lack of empathy Britain had towards the colonies. -
Boston Massacre
On March 5, 1770, 9 British soldiers were stationed outside a royal house in Boston, when colonists began to harass and throw objects at the soldiers. The soldiers weren't reacting until one got hit in the head with a rock, causing them to open fire upon the colonist crowd. This would kill 5 Americans, and majorly contributed to the Revolutionary War, as it caused severe anger among the colonists. This is largely due to the fact the British soldiers faced no punishment for their actions. -
Boston Tea Party
Angered by the Tea Act, a group of American patriots known as the Sons of Liberty raided a trade ship and dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston harbor (equating to $1.8 million). As a result, the angry British government passed a series of "Intolerable Acts" upon the colonies, which included shutting off any trade in and out of the Boston harbor, which caused a severe hit to the colonies. This event and the results of it acted as one of the most major catalysts of the Revolutionary War. -
Coercive Acts are Passed
As a response to the Boston Tea Party, England passed the Coercive Acts, a.k.a. the "Intolerable Acts". These acts included closing the port of Boston, outlawed assemblies and allowed England to take total control of the colonial government, and all royal officials accused of a crime were to be tried in England. This resulted in a dictatorship over the colonies, and colonists were outraged. This would lead to the first Continental Congress, and was essentially the final straw before war. -
First Continental Congress is Held
The First Continental Congress was held in response to the Coercive Acts, and included delegates from each colony (except Georgia). It was led by Benjamin Franklin, and it was at this meeting that the colonies agreed that they would be willing to remain apart of Britain, provided that concessions be made for representation and limited taxing authority. This was extremely significant because it was the first time the colonies acted as a single unit under one central authority. -
Lexington and Concord
On April 19, 1775 British soldiers planned to march to Concord, MA to seize weapons that colonists had been storing. However, when they got there they were met with 70 American militia men guarding the weapons. This is when the "shot heard 'round the world" was fired, leading to both sides opening fire on another -- 17 men would be killed. This battle is extremely significant in U.S. history, as this marked the official start of the Revolutionary War, and eventually led to American Independence. -
Second Continental Congress is Held
The Second Continental Congress was held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and contained delegates from all 13 colonies. Led by notable colonial figures such as John Hancock and John Jay, this congress led to some of the most important decisions of the war. Business of this congress included creating the Olive Branch Petition, establishing the Continental Army, appointing a general to lead that army, creating a paper currency system, and organizing a committee to deal with foreign affairs. -
"Common Sense" is Published
"Common Sense" was a patriotic pamphlet published in 1776 by writer Thomas Paine. The pamphlet was a propaganda piece that presented a very passionate case for American independence in the face of the war, and instilled a strong sense of patriotism in many Americans, and helped persuade lots of people to joining the war effort. Many historians credit "Common Sense" in part for the war's victory, as it gave thousands of Americans a cause to fight for their independence and liberty. -
Declaration of Independence is Adopted
Thomas Jefferson was appointed by delegates of the Second Continental Congress to write the Declaration of Independence, so he creates the first draft, allows delegates to revise it, then the congress takes a vote to approve it. This declaration announced the colonies separation from Great Britain and how they plan to run their new country through democracy instead of monarchy. The ideas presented in this document were revolutionary, and changed the nature of government throughout the world. -
Battle of Saratoga Begin
The Battle of Saratoga took place in Saratoga, New York, between the British and Continental Army, which would arguably become the most crucial turning point in the Revolutionary War. British General John Burgoyne and his army planned to move south to New York to meet with two other British armies to face the Continental. However when Burgoyne's troops arrive, the other British armies weren't there, and they were quickly surrounded by American troops and forced to surrender. -
Articles of Confederation are Fully Ratified
The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress and served as the first U.S. constitution. The articles established a country of sovereign states, and declared that there would be no executive, no standing army, the government would have no taxing authority, all power to the states with a small federal government, and the Northwest Ordinance. While this constitution was only in effect for 9 years and ultimately failed, it served as a basis for the present-day constitution. -
Battle of Yorktown
After a campaign by the British through the Southern colonies, Gen. Cornwallis retreated to Yorktown VA for the winter and for the protection of the Royal Navy. However Cornwallis wasn't aware the French had defeated the British navy, meaning that when him and his troops arrived at Yorktown they were surrounded by the French navy at their backs and the American army before them. With no where to turn, Cornwallis was left no choice but to surrender to the US, ending the major fighting of the war. -
Treaty of Paris 1783
Nearly 2 years after the surrender of General Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown, the Treaty of Paris was signed by representatives of King George III and the United States. This treaty officially ended the Revolutionary War, and granted the US all British lands between the Atlantic Ocean and Mississippi River, and north to British Canada, and forced Great Britain to finally recognize the US as its own independent nation, leading to American expansion and the formation of the US we know today. -
Constitutional Convention Begins
Due to the instability of the U.S. under the Articles of Confederation, powerful members of the government decided to form the Constitutional Convention. It included 74 chosen state delegates, including notable figures such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison. This convention played a major role in shaping American history, as the Three-Fifth's Compromise, the Connecticut Compromise, the Federalists papers, and the Bill of Rights were all created during the span of it. -
Northwest Ordinance
The purpose of the Northwest Ordinance was to organize the territory gained from the British and merge it into the US. It divided the territory into self-governing districts, organized by a rectangular grid pattern. It also declared that territories could apply for statehood once it had a population of at least 60,000 and drafted it's own constitution, along with outlawing slavery in all of the new territories. This ordinance not only expanded the U.S., but contributed to the abolition movement. -
Shays' Rebellion is Put Down
In opposition to high taxes and the strict economic state of the country following the Revolutionary War, many working class men became angry, as they were going bankrupt and losing their property. As a result a man named Daniel Shays rounded up 1200 men to attack a MA federal arsenal in protest of these problems. While, the attack was put down by MA militia, this uprising highlighted the flaws of the Articles of Confederation, and contributed to the formation of the Constitutional Convention. -
George Washington Becomes President
After being unanimously voted in by the Electoral College, George Washington became the first US president. Washington's presidency is one of the most important as he set many precedents that still hold today. Some of his accomplishments include the establishment of the court system, the Federal Judiciary Act, and the presidential cabinet, along with adopting Hamilton's Financial Plan in order to pay off leftover war debts. He also used his power to exercise the strength of the new Constitution. -
Hamilton's Financial Plan is Proposed
In response to the economic crisis the new US was suffering from, Washington's secretary of treasury Alexander Hamilton proposed a financial plan. The goals of this plan were to pay off war debt, implement tariffs to raise government revenue and encourage American industry, and to create a national bank, which would issue a national and uniform paper currency. This plan helped bring the country out of financial strife, and allowed for the economy to stand on its own feet for the first time. -
Pinckney's Treaty
Pinckney's Treaty was signed between the US and Spain, in which Spain gave the US the right to travel on the Mississippi River and use the port of New Orleans. This was a huge gain because New Orleans was a large port city, allowing for immense economic gain, along with increased transportation from the MS River. However the treaty was only supposed to last for 20 years, which would eventually help the decision of making the Louisiana Purchase because it permanently secured the port and river. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
John Adams' presidency is notorious for the unconstitutional Alien and Sedition Acts. Caused by Adams lack of support from the general population, he created these acts to ensure his victory in the next election. The Alien Act allowed the president to deport any immigrant considered dangerous, and the Sedition Act made it illegal for newspapers to print any material that was critical of the president or of congress. However these acts backfired and made Adams' and his authority even more hated. -
Louisiana Purchase
Under the Jefferson Presidency, the U.S. purchased 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River. This doubled the size of the U.S., and would strengthen the country economically and materialistically, and urged the growth of westward expansion. It also secured New Orleans and the Mississippi River, which the U.S. only temporarily had use to, due to Pinckney's Treaty. However, this decision caused heavy controversy over the ideals of loose construction and strict construction. -
Louis and Clark Expedition Begins
The Louis and Clark Expedition was led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark under the direction of President Thomas Jefferson. The goal of this expedition was to explore the new western territory gained from the Louisiana Purchase, create trading relationships with the Native Americans, and to try and find a water route that connected to the Pacific Ocean. The expedition helped eastern Americans learn what the western environment was like, and helped expand trade beyond the Appalachians. -
Embargo of 1807
In 1807, Great Britain and France were at war once again, and were beginning to interfere with neutral U.S. merchant ships. So in a desire to maintain neutrality, President Thomas Jefferson imposed an embargo (a ban) on all foreign trade. While this decision was made with good intent, it was extremely popular and caused great damage to the American economy. However, because no goods could be imported, it greatly encouraged the growth of domestic manufacturing and production. -
War of 1812 Begins
The War of 1812 was fought between England and the US, caused by England impressing American sailors and ships, supporting Native American resistance against the US, and the US wanting to prove that they are worthy of respect from the rest of the world. The war lasted over two years, and ended with the Treaty of Ghent on Dec. 24, 1814. The effects of the war were great for the US, as it invoked a sense of nationalism, allowed for more foreign trade, and ended Indian resistance in the Midwest. -
Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention was a secret meeting between Federalists delegates from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire in which these delegates proposed seceding from the Union. This was caused by their unhappiness with James Madison's policies and the progression of the War of 1812, and the fact that the South had more political power. These states did not end up seceding, but it was the first time that there was a threat of the Union splitting. -
Tariff of 1828 (Tariff of Abominations)
The Tariff of 1828, aka the Tariff of Abominations, was created under the John Q. Adams presidency, and it placed high taxes on all foreign imported goods. Northern states were pleased with this, as it encouraged domestic production, which would cause the industrial north to profit. However, the South was outraged by these tariffs as they believed it would anger European countries and they would retaliate by buying less Southern cotton, leading to the Southern economy to suffer immensely. -
Second Great Awakening Begins
The Second Great Awakening roughly spanned from the 1820s to 1840s and was a revival of the Protestant religion across the U.S. The revival was very emotionally driven and emphasized the notion of free will, with notable speakers such as Charles Finney and Lyman Beecher. The Church also began to be viewed as a vehicle for social change, which led to multiple reforms that would effect the U.S. for years to come. Some of these social reforms included the temperance movement and women's suffrage. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was created by the Andrew Jackson administration, and its goal was to remove Native Americans from their lands in order for Americans to continue settling. Indians were to be removed from their ancestral lands and relocated to designated "Indian territory" west of the Mississippi River. Many natives refused to comply leading to the US army using force and brutality against them. The result was devastating, as thousands of natives lost their homes, families, and even lives. -
The Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was fought between Texas and Mexico in the fight for Texan Independence. The Texan and American militia were staying inside an old mission called the Alamo, when Mexican military forces started attacking them from the outside. At the end of the battle, every single person in the Alamo was killed and this sparked outrage across the country. This battle was significant because it got the U.S. involved in the war with Mexico, and led to Texas being annexed by the U.S. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the official end to the Mexican-American War, and required Mexico to follow three terms. The first term was that Mexico must give the Mexican cession to the U.S., Mexico must recognize Texas as independent, and Mexico must recognize as the Rio Grande River and America's southern boundary. This was huge for the U.S., as it gained us 525,000 sq. miles and what would eventually be 7 different states. It also permanently ended all land disputes with Mexico. -
Seneca Falls Convention
Led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, the Seneca Falls Convention was the first all-women convention, which played a major role in the women's rights and suffrage movements. Advertised as a place to discuss the social, civil, and religious conditions of women, the convention did just that, which can be seen through the Declaration of Sentiments. This declaration declared that women are equal to men, and should be given the same rights to citizenship that are denied to them by men. -
Compromise of 1850
With California being added to the Union, there was much debate over whether or not it would be entered as a free state. Henry Clay came up with a resolution to this, known as the Compromise of 1850. The compromise proposed that CA would enter as a free state, new territories applying for statehood would now be governed by popular sovereignty when it came to slavery, Washington D.C. would abolish the slave trade, and fugitive slave laws would be enacted nationwide. -
Bleeding Kansas Begins
During Kansas' election on whether or not it would allow slavery, a group of pro-slavery "border-ruffians" took hold of Lawrence KS and change all the abolitionist votes to 100% pro-slavery, causing KS to become a slave state. This sparked outrage across KS and the surrounding areas, and led to an outbreak of multiple violent confrontations between pro-slavery and abolitionist groups for multiple years, including the Pottawatomie Massacre. This added even more fuel to the growing Civil War fire. -
Dred Scott Case
This was a Supreme Court case in which slave Dred Scott went to court and argued for his freedom, because his master moved him from a slave state to a free state, and Scott believed that he shouldn't still be bound while living in a free state as it went against the Missouri Compromise. However, the Supreme Court overruled this, saying that black people have no rights and should still be bound to their owners regardless of where they are, further increasing tensions between the North and South. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was a military garrison in Charleston, South Carolina that was being occupied by Union forces when the South declared the secession. Threatened by the Union presence in the South, Confederate forces decided to strike first and launch an attack against the fort. It led to a relatively minor battle that only lasted two days and had no deaths, but led to a Union surrender. This battle marked the official start of the Civil War, leading to the bloodiest conflict in American history, -
Morrill Land Grant Act
The Morrill Land Grant Act was sponsored by Vermont Congressman Justin Smith Morrill, in which each state was granted 30,000 acres for each of its congressional seats. All funds from the sale of the land would be used for public universities, whether it be building a new one of fixing a preexisting one, with almost each school focusing in agriculture and mechanics (A&M colleges). This act was huge for American education, as it allowed formal education to be much more accessible to most citizens. -
Homestead Act of 1862
Due to overcrowding in urban areas and the lack of people in the western territories, Lincoln came up with the Homestead Act to combat this. The act offered 160 free acres of land in the West to anybody who claimed it, and it was open to everyone regardless of race or gender. All that was required was that the recipient would have to live on, farm, and improve the land for 5 years. This act was great and heavily expanded westward growth, but would cause future problems with Native Americans. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was arguably one of the most decisive points in the war, and was the deadliest day in American history. Confederate General Robert E. Lee had planned to capture Washington D.C. with hopes of influencing congressional decisions and getting European countries to recognize the Confederacy as independent. Confederate forces met Union forces in Sharpsburg, Maryland and the fighting began. After only 12 hours of fighting, there were 23,000 casualties, ending in a Union victory. -
Lincoln's 10% Plan
After the Union victory of the civil war, many began to question how the Confederate states would reenter the Union. Lincoln proposed the Ten Percent Plan, in which an ex-Confederate state could reenter the Union once at least 10% of its voters had sworn loyalty oaths to the U.S., and they formed new state constitutions that outlawed slavery. This would essentially become the beginning of the Reconstruction era, and led to all ex-Confederate states rejoining the United States. -
The Freedman's Bureau is Created
After the Union victory of the Civil War, hundreds of thousands of slaves were freed, but many had no money, places to stay, or any life plan at all. In order to help, the US government created the Freedman's Bureau, which aimed to help newly freed blacks transition into a life of freedom by starting schools, negotiating labor contracts, securing loans, helping find and purchase land, and providing legal aid. This helped countless black people with their journey of creating lives for themselves. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was an extremely progressive decision at the time, as it gave citizenship to all African Americans, and offered some protection against the South's "black codes". This decision was very unpopular in the South and even originally vetoed by Pres. Andrew Johnson, and the North feared that Democrats would overturn the act if they regained power, so they sought to find a more permanent solution. This would directly lead to the creation of the 14th amendment. -
William H. Seward Purchases Alaska
In 1867 Sec. of State William Seward instigated the US purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million from the Russians. This was significant because it rid the continent from another foreign power, and some Americans believed that Asia would become an important market for US products and Alaska would serve as a base for US-Asian trade. However, many Americans disagreed with this purchase and thought it was a waste of US attention and assets, while it was left unattended and neglected for multiple decades. -
14th Amendment is Ratified
The 14th Amendment declared that all people that are born in the U.S. are full citizens, all people that are naturalized are full citizens, all U.S. states are required to protect U.S. citizens with full protection through laws and legal processes, former confederacy leaders could not hold political office, and if a state denied people their voting right they lost representation in congress. This was huge for the civil rights movement at the time, and played a big role in Reconstruction as well. -
Pacific Railway Act
The Pacific Railway Act is responsible for the creation of the first transcontinental railroad. The Act hired the Union Pacific Railroad company for the east, and the Central Pacific Railroad company for the west, and each company was promised at least $4000 and 10 square miles of land for every mile of track they lay. The railroad was completed in 1871 (4 years ahead of the predicted end date), and exponentially improved not only transportation, but domestic trade and production as well. -
President James Garfield is Shot
During the latter half of the 1800s, corruption ran rampant within the U.S. government. One of the largest examples was seen through the spoils system, in which whoever was in political power could handpick other people to work in the government with them. A large supporter of Garfield, Charles Guiteau, was extremely angry with Garfield, as he had spent years supporting him, yet was not benefited by the spoils system and put into office, causing Guiteau to shoot Garfield out of anger. -
Booker T. Washington Founds Tuskegee Institute
Booker T. Washington was a famous black leader and activist in the late 1800s who pushed for equality in the U.S. Washington opened the first institution for higher learning for African Americans - the Tuskegee Institute, and it provided both academic and vocational training. The goal of this was to elevate, educate, and give back to the black community, and was the first demonstration in the US that African Americans are just as capable as their white counterparts given the right opportunities. -
The Dawes Act
Similar to the Homestead Act but for Native Americans, it offered benefits to Natives who were willing to leave their tribes and become independent homesteaders. It offered 160 acres of land to native families for free, but they were required to live on and farm the land. While many whites viewed this as extremely generous from the government, it permanently changed the lives and culture of American Indians, leading to non-communal living, fewer tribe ties, and assimilation into white culture. -
Jane Addams Founds Hull House
The Hull House, founded by Jane Addams, was one of the many settlement houses that were emerging in urban areas. These settlement houses were aimed at helping the poor, especially immigrants, and provided services such as legal aid, child care, providing basic necessities or material assistance, and classes including teaching immigrants English. These houses changed thousands of peoples lives, helped immigrants integrate into US society, and helped advocate for better conditions in urban areas. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was the first legislation made by Congress to regulate big business, by aiming to prevent concentrations of power to interfere with trade and reducing economic competition. It also aimed to prevent big business from monopolizing by making any attempts of monopolization upon trade or commerce illegal within the U.S. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was huge, especially in the Industrial Era, and it allowed for the economy and even more companies and businesses to flourish. -
NAWSA Establishes
Originally headed by suffragettes Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucy Stone, the National American Women's Suffrage Association had a goal to push the ratification of enough state suffrage amendments to force Congress to approve a federal amendment. The organization recruited college-educated, privileged, and politically influential members of society that would better contribute to the cause, and this group played a huge role in the eventual ratification of the 19th Amendment. -
Ellis Island Opens
Ellis Island, in New York, served as the main immigration processing center in America during the Industrial Revolution and the first half of the 20th century, processing over 12 million immigrants until its close in 1954. The process usually included a review of an individual's legal papers and a health inspection. It served as a major symbol of America's mass waves of immigration during the turn of the century, and played a huge role in the diversification of the United States. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Plessy v. Ferguson supreme court case played a major role in America's racial history, as it essentially legalized racial segregation. The case ruled a 7-1 vote, that as long as accommodations were "separate but equal" between whites and blacks, that segregation conformed to the 14th amendment. This would be used to justify segregation of all public places, including schools, stores, restaurants, etc., and the ruling would be held until the Brown v. Board case in 1954. -
The de Lome Letter is Published
In 1898, a letter written by the Spanish minister was stolen by Cuban revolutionaries and given to U.S. officials, and was published nationwide by Hearst Press on February 9th. The letter criticized the U.S. president William McKinley, and admitted that Spain had no intention of honoring a deal with the U.S. The publication of this letter fostered anger towards Spain and public support for a war against them, and was one of the final straws for the declaration of the Spanish-American War. -
The "Maine" Battleship Explodes
Directly preceding the Spanish-American War, the US had anchored a navy battleship called the "Maine" in Havana Harbor in order to protect the US citizens and US economic interests in Spanish-occupied Cuba. With tensions already running high between the US and Spain, the "Maine" explodes in the harbor, killing 260 Americans. The US took that as an act of war from the Spanish, and Pres. William McKinley asked Congress for $50 million to fund a war with Spain, leading to the Spanish-American War. -
Anthracite Coal Strike
Coal miners went on strike after mine operators refused to negotiate with them to meet their demands of better working conditions and higher wages. The miners threatened to stop production entirely, which would've devastated the U.S. economy. Roosevelt stepped in and demanded that mine owners negotiate with the demands or he would use the U.S. military to take control of the mines. This was huge as it represented the first time in US history that government sided with labor over big business. -
Upton Sinclair Publishes "The Jungle"
Upton Sinclair became one of the most famous muckrakers of the progressive era due majorly to his novel, "The Jungle". "The Jungle" was made to expose the terrible conditions of the meat packing industry, giving grotesque descriptions of meat and appalling descriptions of the conditions of the factories. This shocked the nation, and it was a huge factor in the creation of the Meat inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, which led to the eventual creation of the FDA we know today. -
Antiquities Act
The Antiquities Act was created by President Theodore Roosevelt, and it was the first law to provide protection of historic, prehistoric, and scientific features on Federal lands. It allows presidents to protect historic and natural sites, ranging from national parks such as Yosemite to historic sites such as the Statue of Liberty. This law has allowed a lot of the natural beauty of America to be preserved, while providing knowledge, appreciation, and entertainment for generations to come. -
The Pure Food and Drug Act
Many people in the progressive era began to question how safe the food and drugs they were consuming actually were, and this concern was brought to the forefront by Upton Sinclair's 1906 novel "The Jungle", which exposed the unsanitary practices in the meat packing industry. Pressured by public outrage, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act which prohibited the sale of misbranded or adulterated food and drugs, and laid the foundations for the US's first consumer protection agency, the FDA. -
Henry Ford Invents the Model T
Henry Ford created the first mass made vehicle, the Model T, by creating a highly efficient moving assembly line that revolutionized industry, in which he was able to produce a mass amount of uniform vehicles and sell them for very low rates. Not only did this create a massive boom in the automobile industry, but it also supported other industries such as steel, glass, oil, etc. The production of the Model T is responsible for the mobilization of America and the advancement of the US as a whole. -
The Great Migration Begins
The Great Migration was one of the largest population movements in history, with millions of African Americans migrating from the South to Northern industrial and urban areas. Historians argue upon the exact duration of the migration, but many agree that it peaked during WWI, when millions of white men went overseas and left millions of jobs behind, giving African Americans opportunities they had never had before. This migration gave way to future black movements, such as the Harlem Renaissance. -
Federal Reserve is Created
The Federal Reserve was created under President Woodrow Wilson by Congress in order to provide the U.S. with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system. Before this, the nation was struck by financial crisis, which caused people to withdraw all their money from banks, causing thousands of banks to collapse. Thus the Federal Reserve was created, to provide an emergency reserve for banks to fall back upon in times of crisis and to prevent further major bank collapses. -
Germany Sinks the Lusitania
German U-Boats sinking the passenger ship the "Lusitania" served as one of the first encounters of America with the first World War. This deadly act resulted in the death of over 1200 passengers, including 128 American citizens. It led to the creation of the Sussex Pledge, which prohibited Germany from sinking any U.S. passenger ships without giving adequate warning. Germany would end up breaking this in 1916, providing yet another cause for the U.S. to officially enter WWI on April 4, 1917. -
Selective Service Act
Six weeks after America's entrance into World War I, Congress passed the Selective Service Act, which required all men in the U.S. between ages 21 to 30 to register for military service. This was because of the Allies were in desperate need of new troops to replace their exhausted soldiers in order to keep fighting against the Central Powers, which led President Woodrow Wilson to urge congress to push for American military conscription in order to better aid the Allies like he had promised. -
War Industries Board is Founded
The purpose of the War Industries Board (WIB) was to ensure adequate and sufficient production of wartime supplies in the US during WWI. The WIB was given enormous power to regulate and control American business, including being able to manipulate what was being produced, set quotas for some industries, determine min. and max. prices for certain products, and oversee the distribution of raw materials. Many question the constitutionality of the WIB, but they did help the US economy during WWI. -
18th Amendment - Prohibition
The 18th Amendment, or the Volstead Act, outlawed the manufacture, sale, distribution, or importation of any and all alcohol nationwide. This was the beginning of the prohibition era, and was caused by years of temperance movements and a looming pressure to ban alcohol. However, this plan backfired and gave results far from it's intended positive affects, including an influx of organized crime, speakeasies, bootleggers, and an increase in alcohol consumption across the country. -
Harlem Renaissance Begins
The Harlem Renaissance was a flourish of black artistic expression that took place in the 1920-30s. Its roots can be traced back to the Great Migration, which caused African Americans to spread across the country, and created countless black enclaves in which this movement was able to flourish. Before this, there was never a widespread appreciation or celebration for black culture in the U.S., and resulted in the creation of jazz, new styles of art, poetry, and other forms of black-inspired art. -
19th Amendment is Ratified
The fight for women's suffrage began in the mid-1800's, and saw multiple generations of women fight for their right to vote as an American citizen. The battle for suffrage amplified during the progressive era and the beginning of the 1900's, as organizations such as NAWSA began to arise, and more and more feminist figures started to emerge, such as Alice Paul. After countless protests, petitions, and years of fighting, congress passed the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote. -
Immigration Act of 1924
The Immigration Act of 1924 limited the amount of immigrants allowed entry into the US through a national origins quota, providing visas to only two percent of the total people of each nationality, with a total quota of only 165,000. However, this act completely prohibited immigrants from Asia, including China and Japan, and also unfairly targeted Eastern and Southern Europeans. This act created an even further divide between races in America, and helped heighten hatred and fear towards Asians. -
Sacco and Vanzetti are Executed
While they were anarchists, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were Italian immigrants that were found guilty of a crime they did not commit. They were accused of robbery and murder, and while there was no evidence connecting them to the crimes, they were sentenced to death and executed, out of the growing hysteria and bias towards immigrants due to the Red Scare of the 1920s. Animosity towards immigrants and those associated with "unamerican" political parties was highlighted in this case. -
Stock Market Crashes
This crash, known as Black Monday, marked the start of the decade-long Great Depression. There are multiple causes of this crash/depression, including the fact that the US had a ballooning stock market, which led to too many people buying "on margin". The US also became a creditor nation after WWI, providing loans to countries abroad who could not afford to pay us back. This all resulted in millions of Americans becoming unemployed, losing their homes and businesses, and a terrible economy. -
FDR Proclaims a Bank Holiday
Only 36 hours after FDR was inaugurated amidst the Great Depression, he declared a national bank holiday. The American banking system was collapsing and millions of people were losing their money, so FDR had federal workers inspect every bank in America, allowing only healthy and stable banks to reopen; he also insured individual bank deposits to create further security. While the constitutionality of this act is questionable, it restored confidence in the financial system among Americans. -
FDIC is Created
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was established by the Banking Act of 1933 during the Great Depression and period of severe financial insecurity. It's job is to insure deposits (up to $250,000 as of 2008) in case of bank failure, in examines and supervises financial institutions for soundness and consumer protection, and helps with the American financial institution as a whole. The FDIC completely changed the American financial system as a whole, and is still around today. -
Works Progress Administration is Created
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was created during the Great Depression to help some of the millions of unemployed Americans find work. It was the biggest government agency, employing over 8 million people. The WPA focused on public works projects, such as building bridges, reservoirs, schools, parks, and more. In the end, the WPA created millions of minimum wage jobs that helped countless people get back on their feet, and improved US infrastructure in ways that are still visible today. -
Social Security Act of 1935
The Social Security Act was proposed by FDR as part of the New Deal in hopes of giving people an incentive to retire. The SSA provided a financial safety net for all Americans, as it paid a percentage of a person's average paycheck after retirement or disability. It inclined older people to retire, opening up more spots in the work force to combat the Great Depression. It ultimately didn't have too large of an impact, but it has influenced American views on retirement and is still around today. -
Pearl Harbor
In December 1941, Japan attacked the U.S. naval base Pearl Harbor, because they were angry that the U.S. imposed an oil embargo upon them. It was a five-phase attack, and Japan used multiple weapons and strategies of attack, including dropping many bombs. There was over 4,500 U.S. casualties, and it dealt a huge blow to the U.S. Pacific Naval Fleet. This was the first international attack to happen upon U.S. soil, and caused the official entrance of the United States into WWII the very next day. -
Executive Order 9066
Issued by President FDR, this authorized the forced removal of all Japanese and Japanese Americans from the West Coast to internment camps farther inland, as they were seen as threats after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Japanese Americans that were displaced lost their homes, jobs, and everything else, while being housed in poorly built and strictly run camps in very harsh climates. This only heightened tensions between Asians and whites, and ruined the lives of many innocent families. -
D-Day
D-Day was an amphibious attack by the Allies upon the French beaches of Normandy, in order to regain control of France from the Germans. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history, and took 15 months of planning from multiple Allied leaders. 156,000 Allied troops crossed the English Channel on 5,400 ships, landing the troops on five different beaches. The invasion miraculously succeeded, and the Allies were able to overthrow German control of France, and acted as the turning point of WWII. -
G.I. Bill of Rights
The G.I. Bill of Rights was the government's way of saying thank you to U.S. veterans, and gave immense benefits that changed American society forever. It provided free education to both college and trade schools for all veterans, gave low interest home and business loans, and helped with health care/insurance. This allowed millions of people to get a formal education, which had never been possible before. It created thousands of new jobs and businesses and advanced society as a whole. -
The Baby Booms Begins
The period between 1946-1963 represented the Baby Boom, a period where babies were being born at an extremely high rate. This happened because the period after WWII seemed to be the first economically and socially stable time for the first time in decades, and many Americans viewed it as a great time to finally start a family. This immense population increase led to more industries being created, more jobs and employees being needed, and the economy expanding and improving overall. -
Berlin Airlift
Nicknamed "Operation Vittles", the Berlin Airlift was a result of the USSR imposing a complete blockade surrounding West Berlin, which was under ally (mainly American) control. Truman counteracted this by delivering goods to West Berlin by dropping the goods out of planes. This process of delivering goods lasted from June 1948 to May 1949, with over 200,000 plane trips made. The USSR finally lifted the blockade in may 1949, after realizing the U.S. would never give up on helping West Berlin. -
Kinsey Report is Published
Developed by Dr. Alfred Kinsey, the Kinsey Reports presented a new view and idea of sex and sexuality that was quite controversial to Americans at the time. The report brought sexuality to the forefront of discussion, which had never been done before, and exposed a higher degree of premarital sex, marital infidelity, homosexuality, and "deviant" behavior. While many of Kinsey's findings and methods were questionable, this greatly changed the American view on the previously taboo topic of sex. -
The Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was developed by Secretary of State George C. Marshall, and it aided Europe in its recovery and reconstruction from the devastation of World War II. However, the deeper goal behind this effort was to create better living conditions and more prosperity in order to combat the spread of Communism abroad. The U.S. ended up footing more than $15 billion to different European countries for their reconstruction, and permanently changed the infrastructure of Europe for the better. -
NATO is Established
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was an idea developed by U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson that would create an alliance between multiple countries across the globe in order to create a collective security system against the rising threat and spread of communism. Original members include the US, the UK, Canada, France, and Italy, and it now has over 30 members. This organization gave teeth to democracy's threats against communism, and prevented potential Soviet invasions abroad. -
Korean War Begins
The Korean War was a part of the Cold War, and was caused by Communist control over North Korea and the Democratic US control of South Korea. N. Korea had launched an attack on S. Korea, which was interpreted as an attempt to spread communism. The US immediately sent troops to Korea to help the S. Koreans fight against the North. At one point the North almost had complete control, but the Allies were able to push N. Korea back to Chinese borders. This was a very significant part of the Cold War. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court ruling of Brown v. Board of Education overturned the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling, which essentially legalized segregation. The case was represented by black lawyer Thurgood Marshall as he argued that it was unconstitutional that schools were segregated, and black and white schools were not equal as required in the Plessy ruling. The Supreme Court overturned Plessy v Ferguson in a unanimous vote, making segregation unconstitutional, and inspiring further civil rights actions. -
Eisenhower Interstate and Defense Highway Act
The Eisenhower Interstate Act created a complex system of over 41,000 miles of highways throughout the U.S. Eisenhower sold this idea as something that would update and modernize the US's roadways and infrastructure, but also played upon Cold War fears by claiming that this interstate system would make evacuation from large cities much easier and faster in light of nuclear attack. This was the largest public works project in history, and forever changed transportation and the economy in the U.S. -
Little Rock, Arkansas Desegregation
While Plessy v. Ferguson had been stuck down, integration was still being blocked by most Southern governments. So civil rights activists gathered a group of 9 black high school students, called the "Little Rock 9", to be the first attempt of integration in Southern schools. AR governor ordered the AR National Guard to deny the kids' entrance, causing Eisenhower to order federal troops to make sure the kids made it to school everyday. This was huge and allowed for further integration of schools. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis began when American spy planes captured photos of what appeared to be an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) launch site in Communist Cuba, who was in cahoots with the Soviets. Upon further digging and spying, we found out that there was indeed a nuclear launch site in Cuba, and that Russia was delivering multiple ICBMs to Cuba by ship. American ships blockaded Cuba and were able to stop the missile delivery, but this event unleashed even more hysteria in the U.S. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a result of the hard work of the Civil Rights Movement which lasted over a decade, earned by protests, civil disobedience, legal action, and other brave work done by the black community and other supporters. The Act outlaws segregation in public areas and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin. This was monumental to the Black community, as it allowed them the freedoms and equality they had been waiting for for over a century. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Signed into law by President LBJ, the Voting Rights Act banned discrimination in local, state, and national elections and polling places, along with banning literacy tests, intimidation tactics, physical violence, and polling taxes. Any state that was caught not complying with this law would lose their representation in Congress. This law was a result of civil unrest by the black community after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as it still did not ensure that black citizens had the right to vote. -
The Moonlanding
The goal to land on the moon was motivated by the Space Race between the U.S. and the USSR during the Cold War. It was performed through NASA, which was created in 1958 to help win the Space Race. Astronaut Neil Armstrong was chosen to be the first man on the moon, and it fulfilled JFK's promise of landing a man on the moon before 1970. It demonstrated America's advancement of science, math, and technology, put an end to the Space Race, and was one of the most iconic moments in American history. -
Watergate Break-in
The infamous Watergate scandal took place in 1972 when 5 men broke into the Democratic headquarters and stole information on the Democratic plan for the upcoming election. The men were arrested, and President Richard Nixon was questioned about his knowledge of the break-in. Over the span of two years, Nixon denied his knowledge of the scandal and attempted to cover it up until tapes were finally found in which Nixon admitted knowledge of the break-in. This led to Nixon's resignation in 1974. -
Ronald Reagan Reelected
In 1984 Ronald Reagan was reelected in the biggest landslide vote in American history, with a 525-13 electoral vote. He was by far the most popular president, and left behind a strong legacy. He helped recover the terrible economy of the 1970s, ended the Cold War, lowered taxes and reduced government interference in the economy, but was involved in the Iran-Contra scandal. Reagan is responsible for the longest-period of economic growth and prosperity in US history and united America politically. -
Iran-Contra Affair is Exposed
The Iran-Contra Affair was a scandal in which the officials under the Reagan Administration participated in multiple illegal activities between foreign groups and countries. It was exposed when White House officials revealed to the press that the U.S. was illegally selling Iran large quantities of weapons, which was illegal. It heightened when it was exposed that the money from these illegal deals was being given to the Nicaraguan rebel group called the Contra's, which was also deemed illegal.
