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Establishment of Jamestown, Virginia
In 1607, 104 men and boys arrived in North America. They chose Jamestown as the place for them to settle. This was named after King James I. This settlement became the first permanent English settlement in North America. This settlement had a big impact. It lasted around 100 years and it was the capital of the Virginia colony. -
Pilgrims Found the Plymouth Colony
The Plymouth colony was established by English Separatist Puritans in December of 1620. The Pilgrim left England looking for religious freedom and hopes for a better life. The impact o the colony was that it was the first English settlement in New England. It set the groundwork for others to come and settle in North American alongside them. -
The Salem Witchcraft Trials
The Salem Witch trials were a series of hearings about people being accused of witchcraft in the Massachusetts colonies. 30 people were found guilty and 19 people were hung because of it. The impact of the Salem Witch trials was seen in U.S. court procedures and people's right to legal representation. These were things that people were not guaranteed before the witch trials. -
The Battle of Fort Necessity
The Battle of Fort Necessity is widely regarded as the battle that marks the beginning of the French and Indian War. It took place in Fayette County Pennsylvania. It was Geroge Washingtons' only surrender of his military career. The impact of this was that it was the first major event in George Washingtons' military career. It was the start of a legendary career that has shaped the world into what it is today. -
The Battle of Quebec
In the Battle of Quebec the British achieved victory over the French. The British were led by General James Wolfe. They defeated the French on the Plains of Abraham. The impact of this British victory led to the conquest of Canada by Britain. This battle was a stepping stone in Britains journey of conquest. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was parliament passing a modified version of the sugar and molasses act of 1733 that was about to expire. This sugar act actually reduced the tax that was on sugar. This was an attempt to get the colonists to stop smuggling and purchase British products. The impact of this was American protest. Thid did nothing to stop smuggling. The Americans did not care about the money they wanted representation. They did not want taxation without representation. -
The Currency Act
The currency act was parliament assuming control over the colonial currency system. The act prohibited the issue of new bills and the reissue of existing currency. The impact of the currency act was the colonists boycotting British goods. They wanted to receive representation and have a say in the things that happened to them. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp act marks parliament's first direct tax on the American colonies. The purpose of this act was to raise money for Great Britain. It taxed newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, broadsides, legal documents, dice, and playing cards. The impact of the stamp act was huge protests from the colonists. They once again did not feel that it was fair that they were being taxed with no representation. They were very unhappy. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act required colonists to house any British troops that were staying in their town or village. Along with shelter they also had to provide food, drink, fuel and transportation to the British soldiers. The impact of this left some very angry colonists. They felt that this was an invasion of privacy. They protested and wer very against this act. -
The Declaratory Act
The declaratory act was a declaration by parliament that they could tax the colonies the same as in Great Britain. Parliament had been directly taxing the colonies for a few years now. The impact of this was not good. It did not convince the colonists of anything. It only strengthened their idea that a revolution was necessary. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a deadly riot that occurred on King Street in Boston. British soldiers opened fire and killed multiple colonists. This event received lots of publicity and it was written about in every newspaper in the colonies. The Boston Massacre had a major impact on the relations between the colonists and the British. It gave the colonists another reason to fight for their independence and it only made the division between the colonies and Great Britain stronger. -
The Tea Act
The tea act was an attempt by parliament to help the struggling East India company. Parliament was attempting to empty out warehouses and bring all the tea to the colonies to be purchased by the colonists. Although this did reduce the price of tea for the colonists it still made them worried. They thought that if parliament did this to their tea then it could also impact many other things. Colonists worried that England would limit where they could buy other things as well -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an American protest by the political group, The Sons of Liberty. Protestors snuck onto East India Company ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. The impact of this was that it was the first significant act of defiance by the colonists. This basically made a revolution inevitable and secured the fact that the relationship between Great Britain and the Colonists was beyond repair. -
The 1st Continental Congress
The 1st continental congress was a meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies. The purpose of this meeting was to determine a course of action for the colonies against the rule of Great Britain. The impact of this was the unity of the colonies. They were showing that they would stand together against the rule of England. -
The Shot Heard Around the World
The shot heard around the world was the opening shots at the battle of Lexington and concord. This began the revolutionary war and led to the United States earning their freedom. This also marked the United States' first victory against the British Army. The impact of this was that America has finally taken action to earn its freedom. This was the start of a long journey to becoming their own nation. -
Thomas Paine writes "Common Sense"
Common Sense is a 47 page pamphlet that was written by Thomas Paine. It's purpose was to convince people that the colonies needed independece from Great Britain. It was written with moral, logical, and political arguments. The impact of Common Sense was that it united the people behind the idea that the colonies needed independence. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written at the second Continental Congress meeting. The declaration announced the independence of the colonies from Great Britain. The declarations stated that Britain did not respect the colonies and from now on they would be independent. The impact of this was the start of a new nation. The colonists fought and won the war for independence and it all started with their Declaration of Independence. -
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation are the first centralized government that was created once the colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. The impact of this was a form of government that would govern all 13 colonies. This did not last very long as it was more of a collection of fears the colonists had of what England had done to them. It would later be replaced by a new form that is still used today. -
The Battle of Brewton Hill
The Battle of Brewton Hill, also known as The Capture of Savannah. In this battle, the British were beginning their push into the south. Local Militia and the continental army met British forces on Brewton Hill. The British won the battle and remained in control of Savannah, an important economic city. The impact of this was that the British began to focus on securing British colonies in the south. They felt that by securing the south it would be much easier to secure the North as well. -
French Troops land in Rhode Island
Beginning in 1776 the French had been secretly helping the colonists fight their war against Great Britain. They had been shipping supplies to help them with their army. In 1780 the French decided to send soldier to help the colonists. The French troops were led by General Rochambeau. The impact of this was that the colonists were no longer alone in their fight against the british. They had a world power in France fighting alongside them. The French Navy also helped significantly. -
Treaty of Paris officially ends the Revolutionary War
The Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris by British and American delegates. It officially ended the revolutionary war. The united states had earned their independence. The impact of this is that a new nation was formed. The United States had earned their independence. -
Shay's Rebellion
This was a rebellion in Massachusetts. It was an armed uprising against high taxes. Many citizens in that area were struggling to get by and taxes were eating up a lot of their income. The impact of this was that it showed the flaws in the Articles of Confederation. It led to a call for a stronger national government. It also led to the drafting of the constitution in 1787. -
First Bank of The United States
The First Bank of The United States was established in Philadelphia. It was chartered for a term of 20 years. The bank acted as the federal government's fiscal agent. It secured the government's funds, made loans to the government, transferred government deposits, and paid the government's bills. The impact of this bank was that there was now something in place to help fund the publics debt after the revolutionary war. -
The Cotton Gin is invented
In 1793 Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. The cotton gin is a machine that made separating cotton fibers from their seeds much easier and faster. This increased production of cotton in the south. This had a huge impact, southern profits skyrocketed. They were able to produce cotton much faster than before and in much larger quantities. -
The XYZ Affair
The XYZ affair was a political disagreement between the United States and France. The XYZ affair was caused when the U.S. signed the Jay treaty with Great Britain. The French felt that this violated their alliance with the U.S. They retaliated by seizing American ships. Attempts at a compromise failed and it led to a political standoff between the U.S. and France, they eventually resolved the issue. The impact of this was that the alien and sedition act was passed. -
Alien, Sedition, and Naturalization Acts
These were a collection of 4 laws passed by congress. These laws raised the residency requirement from 5 years to 14 years. This also gave the president the authority to deport aliens, permit their arrest, imprisonment, and deportation during wartime. They were signed into law by John Adams. The impact of this was that many immigrants were being targeted by the government. Their first amendment rights were violated and they could be removed at any time for no reason at all. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the purchase of the Louisiana territory by the United States. They purchased it from France. They paid 15 million dollars for the land, 18 dollars per square mile. The United States acquired a total of 828,000 square miles The impact of this was that the U.S. doubled in size. The country acquired a large number of resources and this was the beginning of the expansion Westward. -
The Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was between the Americans and the British. This ended the War of 1812. The treaty stated that all conquered lands must be returned. The U.S. did not accomplish their goal of acquiring land from the British, but they did acquire land from the French when they were defeated by the spanish. The impact of this treaty was that the great lakes region was opened up for settlement by the United States. This allowed for more expansion and growth for the U.S. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri compromise was a political compromise that stopped the North from prohibiting the expansion of slavery. Missouri was admitted as a slave state and Maine was admitted as a free state. The Compromise stated that any states below a certain line would be slave states and any states above would be a free state. The impact of the Missouri compromise was an uproar that it was unconstitutional. This led to the bleeding Kansas and the beginnings of the civil war. -
Jackson's Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by Andrew Jackson. The president granted lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indian land within state borders. The impact of this was that more room was made for the U.S. to expand to the west. Another impact was an increase in tension with the Native Americans. They were being forced off their land and onto less desirable land. -
McCormick's Reaper is invented
Cyrus Black a Virginian blacksmith invented the mechanical reaper in 1831. This revolutionized farming in the United States. His invention was a horse-drawn machine that harvested wheat. It changed the way that we farmed. The impact of this was that we could now cut more wheat in a day than 6 farmhands. The machine increased crop yields and helped make farming more profitable. -
Gold is Found in California
At the time California was relatively unknown and not many had explored it. There were rumors and many people suspected that there was gold in California. In 1848 James Marshall discovered gold in California. The impact of this was a huge rush of people to California. They wanted to find gold and get rich. This brought thousands to California and many people began to populate the area. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
This was a Supreme court case that had a decision made in 1857. It was a shocking decision to the entire nation. The Supreme court basically said that it was ok to own slaves in the North. Dred Scott was not freed despite being held as a slave in a norhtern state. The impact of this was that the Missouri Compromise was made invalid based on this ruling. This basically stated that congress had no power to abolish or forbid slavery. -
John Brown Raids the Federal Arsenal
John Brown was an anti-slavery leader who had gained lots of followers. He often had violent revolts against slavery. This plan involved raiding a Federal Arsenal and stealing weapons to give to free slaves. He wanted to arm the slaves for a revolt against their masters and earn their freedom. His attempts ultimately failed and he could not steal the weapons from the arsenal. The impact of this was more tension between the north and the south. This tension ultimately led to civil war -
South Carolina Secedes
After Abraham Lincoln was elected president South Carolina seceded from the Union. This secession made a civil war inevitable. This had a huge impact on U.S. history. It was a key event in the starting of the civil war. -
The Confederates Fire on Fort Sumter
The Union Fort Sumter was a fort located in South Carolina. The men in the fort were stranded and they were running low on supplies. President Lincoln sent men to resupply the fort with food and other essential supplies. South Carolina thought this was a trick and that they were bringing military supplies to fight against the south. South Carolina opened fire with artillery and the fort was later surrendered. The impact of this was the beginning of the Civil War. -
Confederates win the Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the Civil War. The battle was fought in Prince William County, Virginia. It ended with a confederate victory. It reseulted in the loss of thousands of American lives. The impact of this was that the northerners realized that this would not be as quick of a victory as they once thought. The North realized that this was going to be a long and hard war to reunite the nation. -
Transcontinental Railroad Act
The Transcontinental railroad act was an act that stated that railroad would be built from coast to coast covering the entire United States. They were going to fund this through federal subsidies, giving away of land, and loans. Two railroad companies were employed to complete this and they started on opposite coasts. The impact of this was significantly reduced travel time from coast to coast. It also led to the homestead act and helped many people to expand to western parts of the country. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was a battle that stopped the Confederate advance into Maryland. This advance was regarded as the greatest confederate threat to Washington D.C. This battle resulted in a Union victory. The union victory at Antietam led to the emancipation Proclamation which granted slave freedom. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was released by president Lincoln in the 3rd year of the war. The Proclamation declared that all persons held as slaves are and henceforward shall be free. This allowed for the union to gain support from slaves and many joined their fighting cause once they were freed. The impact of this is that many slaves were freed and their burden of slavery was finally over. They would be able to change their situation and help future generations. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
The battle of Gettysburg is widely considered the most important battle of the Civil War. Union and Confederate forces clashed at the crossroads of the town of Gettysburg. This was the largest battle of the civil war and it is the largest battle ever fought in North America. The union won the battle of Gettysburg. The impact of this is that the souths hopes of becoming an independent nation were crushed. It became inevitable that the union was going to win the Civil War. -
Sherman's March to the sea
Union General William T. Sherman 60,000 men embarked on a 285-mile march from Atlanta to Savannah. Sherman wanted to march all the way to the sea. He did this to frighten Georgia's people into abandoning the Confederate cause. The impact of Sherman's march was a detrimental blow to the morale of the south. Everything in Sherman's path was destroyed. This wrecked morale in the south. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders
General Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse. He surrendered his 28,000 troops to General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union Army. He surrendered after one of the longest battles of the Civil War. The impact of this was that it ended the Civil War. The confederates had failed in becoming independent and they would once again become a part of the Union. -
Abraham Lincoln is Assassinated
After General Lee's surrender, there were still some people in the south that felt that the confederacy could still be restored. One of these people was John Wilkes Booth. With this thought in mind, he shot and killed President Lincoln. The impact of this was that Andrew Johnson took over as president of the United States. Ultimately the Confederacy was never saved and the south would rejoin the Union. -
The Reconstruction Act
The Reconstruction Act outlined the terms for readmission into the Union of the Southern states. The bill divided the confederate states into military districts. All of them would have to qualify and apple to be admitted as a state. They also had to get rid of black codes and ratify the 14th amendment. The impact of this is that the United States was beginning to reunite and come back together. -
The Panic of 1873
The panic of 1873 was a financial crisis in 1873. It affected much of America and Europe. This weakened the country's economic leadership and put a lot of stress on the people of the country. This was the first Great Depression in United States history. It was the first time that many had run into financial struggles and the economy had struggled during this time. -
The Battle of Little Bighorn
The Battle of Little Big Horn was fought in the ravines of the Little Bighorn River. It was between the United States and the Native Americans of the area. The Indians defeated the United States in this battle slaughtering almost every man in the U.S. force that day. The impact of this was that the United States people had more hatred for the Native Americans. Tensions were at an all-time high between the two. -
The Pendleton Act
The passing of the Pendleton Act effectively ended the spoils system. It made it so that government officials would earn their job ton the basis of merit. Government employees would be selceted through competence exams. The impact of this is that government jobs would no longer be given to someone because of their political affiliation. People would receive jobs based on their abilities as a worker. -
The Dawes Act
The Dawes Act was put forth with intentions to split up Native Americans and try to end their tribes. It authorized the president to divide up Native American lands into communal landholdings for individual families. This was an attempt to split up Native American tribes. The impact of this was a backlash from the Native Americans. They wanted to stay in their tribes. Very few took the president up on this offer. Many chose to stay with their tribes. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson is a supreme court case that ruled that the "separate but equal" policy is ok. It was a 7-1 majority vote by the court. This advanced separate but equal laws and reaffirmed that this is an ok action even though it is not. The impact of this is that these laws continued to happen and now they were even considered fully legal laws. -
The De Lome Letter
The De Lome Letter was a letter written by a Spanish ambassador. The letter called the president weak and only concerned with gaining the favor of the crowd. This made the president very angry. The impact of this was the Spanish-American war. The president was outraged by this and he was not going to let it slide. He defeated the Spanish and kept his pride. -
America Declares War on Spain
On April 22, 1898, the U.S. declared war on Spain. This started the Spanish-American war. The U.S won the war and it ended in a peace treaty. The impact of the Spanish American war was that the Spanish had to relinquish their claims over Cuba and cede sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. -
New York State Tenement House Act of 1901
In 1901 New York passed one of the first laws that would ban the construction of dark, poorly ventilated tenement buildings in the state of New York. These building were dangerous unsafe and very unsanitary. According to the new law building were required to have outward-facing windows, indoor bathrooms, proper ventilation, and fire safeguards. The impact of this was safer and more sanitary living conditions. This was very beneficial for many people who lived in New York at the time. -
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is established
On June 30, 1906 Theodore Roosevelt signed the FDA into law. The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The impact of this is that public health becomes safer and there are more regulations so that things are done in a cleaner way. -
The NAACP is created
The NAACP is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. It was created in an effort to advance justice for African Americans. The NAACP played a big role in the civil rights movement. They planned many protests and helped to fund a huge movement during this time period. The impact of the NAACP was that it provided a platform to help boost the civil rights movement and help African-Americans to gain more rights. -
The Federal Reserve Act
The Federal Reserve Act was signed into law by Woodrow Wilson on December 23, 1913. It created the federal reserve system consisting of twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks jointly responsible for managing the country's money supply, making loans and providing oversight to banks, and serving as a lender of last resort. The impact of this was that the country now had a bank that would help manage the money of the U.S. and it helped support the economic stability of the U.S. -
U.S. enters WW1
On April 6, 1917, the United States officially entered World War 1. They entered the war due to Germany's constant submarine attack on American passenger and merchant ships. The impact of this is that the U.S. entered one of the biggest armed conflicts in the history of the world. The war ended in 1918 with a German surrender. -
The Sedition Act
The Sedition act was one that is controversial and against some of the original principles of the United States. The Sedition act limited free speech during times of war. It was geared against expression or speech that criticized the government or any of the things that it did. The impact of this was limited criticism of the government and many people did not feel free in a society that was supposed to be free. -
The 19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment guaranteed all American women the right to vote. This was a victory for women that had taken decades of hard work to accomplish. Women were finally given the representation that they deserved and a vote in our society. The impact of this is that women now received a vote and the landscape of elections in America would change forever. -
The Treaty of Versailles
The treaty of Versailles officially ended WW1. The treaty was very harsh towards Germany and other central powers. The treaty resulted in a loss of territory, military reductions, and reparation payments to allied powers. The treaty forced Germany to assume all responsibility and blame for WW1 and the damage that it caused. The impact of this was an unfair treaty and a poor german economy that was sent spiraling into a deep economic depression. -
The Stock Market Crashes
In 1929 the American stock market crashed. The causes of the stock market crash of 1929 were low wages, the proliferation of debt, a struggling agricultural sector and an excess of large bank loans that could not be liquidated. The impact of the stock market crash was The Great Depression. This was a period of high unemployment and economic crisis in the United States. -
FDR is elected as the 32nd president
In 1932 FDR was elected as the 32nd president of the United States. During FDR's presidency, he implemented many programs and made many changes that helped the U.S. Some of the programs that he implemented include the CCC, CWA, FSA, NIRA, and the SSA. All of these programs helped the U.S. and supported the people in some way. The impact of FDR's presidency was a period of stability during a challenging time for many Americans. -
Unemployment reaches All-time high
In May of 1933, unemployment in the U.S. reached an all-time high at 25.6%. This marked the peak of the Great Depression. After this FDR implemented many programs to help ease the pain of the depression. The American people were suffering and he was attempting to put an end to that suffering. The impact of this is that it was the peak of the depression and a high point in the suffering of the American people. -
Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) is created
The Securities and Exchange Commission oversees securities exchanges, securities brokers and dealers, investment advisors, and mutual funds in an effort to promote fair dealing, the disclosure of important market information, and prevent fraud. The impact of this was that laws were enforced against stock market manipulation so that something like the Great Depression could hopefully never happen again. -
The Social Security Act
The Social security act was signed into law by FDR. The law created the social security program and well as insurance against unemployment. The Social Security program in the United States provides protection against the loss of earnings due to retirement, death, or disability. The impact of this is that it helped many american to retire and it allowed for many jobs to open up and it helped the economic growth of the country. -
Hitler Invades Poland
In 1939 Adolf Hitler invaded the neighboring country Poland. Germany invaded Poland to regain lost territory and ultimately rule their neighbor to the east. The German invasion of Poland was a primer on how Hitler intended to wage war–what would become the “blitzkrieg” strategy. The impact of this was the start of World War 2, a war that had a huge impact on the world and one that involved many countries. -
The Fall of Paris
Paris fell to Nazi Germany on June 14, 1940, one month after the German Wehrmacht stormed into France. Eight days later, France signed an armistice with the Germans, and a puppet French state was set up with its capital at Vichy. The impact of this was that it was the first major country taken by Germany. This showed the true power that Hitler had and that he was a force to be reckoned with. -
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. They decimated much of America's Pacific fleet but they missed a few key aircraft carriers that were out at sea. This awakened a sleeping giant and it vaulted the U.S. into WW2. The impact of this was that the U.S. entered WW2 and they helped to turn the tide of the war so that it would result in an allied victory. -
The United States declares war on Japan
On December 8, just one day after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor the United States declared war. The attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the main motivators for the U.S. to enter so quickly. They couldn't allow themselves to be disrespected in the way that they were by Japan. The impact of this is that the U.S. joined the fight and helped the allied powers win the war. -
The Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a major battle on the pacific front of the war. This battle was fought almost entirely with aircraft and it resulted in an American victory. The United States was able to destroy Japan's first-line naval strength and the majority of its best-trained pilots. The impact of this battle was a turning point on the pacific front of the war and it put the Americans on the offensive. -
Axis forces surrender North Africa
The Axis defeat at El Alamein meant that North Africa would be lost to Hitler and Mussolini. The defeat was due to a variety of factors. These included insufficient Axis numbers, overextended supply lines, and Allied air superiority. The impact of this was that the allied forces were pushing the Axis powers back and they were on the run. The war was turning in the favor of the allies. -
Battle of The Bulge
The Battle of The Bulge is a battle that is often called the greatest American battle of the war. It was the last major offensive by the German military. They were attempting to drive a wedge between the allied forces and split them up. Allied forces were victorious and left the Germans with significantly more casualties. This resulted in Germany being on the defensive for the rest of the war. The impact of this was that it almost sealed the fate of Germany and put them on their heels. -
D-Day
Troops from the UK, the US, Canada, and France attacked German forces on the coast of northern France, on 6 June 1944. It was the largest military naval, air, and land operation ever attempted and marked the start of the campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied north-west Europe. The impact of this was a huge turning point in the war. The Allied forces began to regain ground in mainland Europe. This was a huge step in the allies' victory of WW2. -
Allies cross the Rhine
The US Third Army carried out four river assaults in late March. The 5th Infantry Division undertook the first on March 22, 1945, crossing the Rhine at Oppenheim, south of Mainz. They crossed without the use of artillery preparation which was a big surprise to German forces. The impact of this is that allied forces were now able to rapidly move into the interior of Germany. -
Germany Surrenders
On May 7, 1945, German forces surrendered. After lots of heavy fighting Allied forces were nearing Hitler's command bunker. Hitler committed suicide and days later the Germans surrendered. the impact of this is that the war was almost over. The allied forces had defeated the Germans. Their focus has now almost completely shifted over to the Japanese. -
Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
When the United States dropped the atomic bombs it was a monumental shift in how wars were fought. It was the first time that the world had ever seen the use of weapons this powerful. Truman elected to drop the bombs due to the very high casualty count that the war would have had if there were a full-scale invasion of Japan. The weapon was used to bring the war to a speedy end. The impact of this was that the atomic bombs changed how wars will be fought forever and they give great power. -
Japanese Surrender
The atomic bombs caused devastating damage to Japan. They were unable to sustain damage like this and allow many inncoent people to die. As a result they surrendered to the allies. The impact of this was that World War 2 was finally over. Many countries would begin rebuilding from the damage that the war caused, economies would begin to recover and the world would begin to become more united again. -
United nations founded
The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, and promoting social progress, better living standards, and human rights. The impact of this is that there were organizations being put in place to help the world become safer and to prevent things like another World War from happening again. -
The Marshall Plan
The Marshall plan was signed by President Truman in 1948. It was a plan for the U.S. to provide economic assistance to other countries to help them recover from the damage that they received from the war. The plan helped to bring back the economies of 17 different Western European countries. The impact of this was that many European economies were able to recover relatively quickly and return to their pre-war form. -
First Levittown is built
Levittowns were created by William J. Levitt. It was created with the plan that you could choose from 4 house designs in a suburban area. Since there were only 4 designs construction workers became very efficient at building these houses and it helped to make houses very affordable. This allowed for lots of houses to be built in short amounts of time. The impact of this was a revolution in suburban living. Many people were able to afford a house for their family that they may not have before. -
The Berlin Airlift
In June of 1948, Stalin began a blockade of West Berlin. This was an attempt to suffocate West Berlin and force the allies to surrender it to communism. The U.S. refused to let this happend. They began a program called the Berlin airlift. All supplies that were needed were dropped out of aircraft and parachuted to the ground in West Berlin. The impact of this is that the U.S. showed the true lengths that they were willing to go to resist communism. They showed that they would not tolerate it. -
NATO is founded
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. NATO was the first peacetime military alliance the United States entered outside of the Western Hemisphere. The impact of this was that it was a deterrent against other nations to start a war and there would be several other countries ready to help. -
North Korea Invades South Korea
ON July 25, 1950, North Korea launched a surprise invasion of South Korea. This marked the beginning of the Korean war. A war between the communist North and the democratic South. The impact of the war was another example of American resilience to communism. The war also had a big effect on the Korean people. It destroyed lots of their industry and their economy took a big hit as a result of the war. -
Dwight D. Eisenhower is elected President
Eisenhower was an impactful president with a top-notch resume that helped him to get the job. He had many accomplishments during his service. He signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and sent Army troops to enforce federal court orders which integrated schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. His largest program was the Interstate Highway System. He promoted the establishment of strong science education via the National Defense Education Act. All of these things did a lot to help the nation grow. -
National Interstate and defense highways act
The National Interstate and defense highways act was signed into law by Dwight D. Eisenhower. This act authorized the building of highways throughout the nation, which would be the biggest public works project in the nation's history. This connected the country and allowed people to travel much faster than before. The impact of this was that a big nation was just made smaller and more connected. -
Brown V. Board of Education
This was a very impactful and influential supreme court case. Brown v. Board established that racial segregation in public schools directly violated the 14th amendment. This meant that schools had to be desegregated. The impact of this was that it was a huge step in the civil rights movement. Many schools would resist this change but it eventually would happen and all schools would be one instead of separate. -
Emmett Till is murdered
Emmett Louis Till was a 14-year-old African American boy who was abducted, tortured, and lynched in Mississippi in 1955, after being accused of offending a white woman in her family's grocery store. The impact of this was a spark in the upsurge of activism and resistance that became known as the Civil Rights movement. The sight of his brutalized body pushed many who had been content to stay on the sidelines directly into the fight. -
Rosa Parks Says NO
Rosa Park was an activist in the civil rights movement. She was an integral piece in starting the Montgomery bus boycott. She sat down on a bus and refused to give her seat up for a white man. She was arrested for this and it created a great uproar in the black community. The impact of this was one of the biggest protests of the civil rights movement. This brought lots of attention to their movement and they saw results when bus companies did away with their separation rules. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery bus boycott was a 13-month boycott of riding buses in Montgomery Alabama. It was sparked by Rosa Parks and her arrest. It ended when the supreme court ruled that segregation on buses was unconstitutional and not allowed. This had a huge impact. It was a huge step in the right direction for the civil rights movement and it made many headlines bringing lots of publicity to the movement. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) is founded
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is an African-American civil rights organization based in Atlanta, Georgia. SCLC is closely associated with its first president, Martin Luther King Jr., who had a large role in the American civil rights movement. The SCLC helped to organize many protests and different things during the civil rights movement. The impact of this was that the civil rights movement had something that was guiding and leading it to the end goal. -
Integration of Little Rock High School
In September of 1957 9 African-Americans were going to attend Central High School in Little Rock Arkansas. Upon hearing about this the governor of Arkansas mobilized the national guard in an effort to prevent these kids from entering the school. As a result, President Eisenhower sent the 101st Airborne Division to escort the kids to school. They attended the high school and they made history as the first to desegregate these schools. This had a huge impact on the desegregation of schools. -
Greensboro, North Carolina Sit-ins
The Greensboro sit-in was a civil rights protest that started in 1960, when young African American students staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and refused to leave after being denied service. The sit-in movement soon spread to college towns throughout the South. This had a huge impact as many of these restaurants began serving black people due to the business that they had lost because of the sit-ins./ -
The Freedom Riders
Freedom Riders were groups of civil rights activists who went to segregated southern communities to challenge the laws that the supreme court had set. The Freedom Rides helped the civil rights movement in a huge way. They helped to demonstrate the violence that people used to combat against segregation laws in the south. -
JFK is Assassinated
The 35th president of the United States was assassinated on November 22, 1963. He is seen as one of the most influential presidents in American history. The reason JFK was assassinated remains relatively unknown with many different theories about his death. Upon his assassination, Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president. The impact of this was that presidential security became much stricter and the president became much better protected in the following years. -
Civil Rights Act
n 1964, Congress passed the civil rights act of 1964. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Provisions of this civil rights act forbade discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as, race in hiring, promoting, and firing. This had a huge impact, all of the work that African Americans had been doing to earn more rights was paying off. There was a serious change that was happening and they began to gain many rights. -
First U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam
The U.S. entered the Vietnam War in an attempt to prevent the spread of communism, but foreign policy, economic interests, national fears, and geopolitical strategies also played major roles. Vietnam was in a similar situation to North Korea. They were being taken over by communism and the U.S. was attempting to stop the spread of that. The impact of this was a war that had waning public support the longer it lasted and it hurt the image of the president in a bad way. -
Voting Rights Act
This act was signed into law on August 6, 1965, by President Lyndon Johnson. It outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War, including literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting. This had a huge impact as it made it possible for an entirely new demographic to vote. This helped shape many elections in the future and the future of the nation. -
MLK is Assassinated
Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Christian minister and activist who became the most visible spokesman and leader in the civil rights movement. MLK was one of the single most influential people in the civil rights movement. He walked so that others could run. The impact of this was that a major leader was assassinated and it fueled the civil rights movement to fight for something that one of their leaders was very passionate about. -
The Moon Landing
On July 20, 1969 the United States put the first man on the moon. They won the space race and beat the USSR to the moon.This was a big step in space exploration for the U.S. and for the entire world. The impact of this was that we were finally discovering what is out there and what is beyond the limits of the sky and beyond. -
The Watergate Scandal
The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal in the United States involving the administration of U.S. President Richard Nixon from 1972 to 1974 that led to Nixon's resignation. It was a number of illegal activities that were done by members of Nixon's administration. The impact of this was that Nixon resigned and the image of what was once a good president would forever be overshadowed by a scandal that he could have easily avoided. -
Roe v. Wade
The Roe v. Wade case was a supreme court case that legalized abortion. The case established a woman's legal right to an abortion. This is something that is still very controversial today and there are many disagreements about this issue. The impact of this was that abortion was legalized and women would have their rights to this reserved if it was something that they desired to do.