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Jamestown
Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America and it was established in 1607. The Virginia Company sent settlers over there to make money. This resulted in desperate people choosing to move there as a sign of opportunity. Due to unknown methods of survival, many died of starvation and disease in a time called "Starvation Time" where there was an 80% death rate. Tobacco rises as the #1 cash crop and gives hope for more settlements. -
John Locke and The Enlightenment
John Locke was an extremely influential English philosopher during the Enlightenment. He published many works such as "Essay Concerning Human Understanding" and "Two Treatises of Government". The second work mentioned above was the more influential of the two as it mentioned people having the right to be involved in government. The idea of life, liberty, and property was derived from Locke. These ideas would later shape the arguments brought up by colonists in the American Revolution. -
Whitfield and Edwards Lead The Great Awakening
In the 1730s, America began experiencing religious revivals in New England after Germans brought the Pietist movement to America. Two prominent men led the way for colonists named George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards. Whitfield had a calm appearance and spoke in a way that encouraged people while Edwards would scare his audience through his sermons. They led to the creation of the New Lights and the Old Lights, who opposed New Light ways. This would create an inevitable division in the country. -
The Sugar Act of 1764
The Sugar Act is the first major act to be put into place as a way for the British to make money to pay off debts from the Seven Years War as a replacement for the Molasses Act. Trade of foreign molasses was made legal and the tax rate decreased from 6 to 3 pence per gallon so molasses could be more profitable. Americans revisited their fear of not being treated as equals by the English and it caused constitutional issues. Individuals ended up smuggling and bribing officials as a rebuttal. -
The Stamp Act of 1765
George Grenville and Parliament pass the Stamp Act in order to 60000 Euros a year to pay off war debts. The act required a tax stamp on all printed items such as newspapers, diplomas, documents, etc. The rich were more affected by it because of printed items with higher priority were priced higher. Radical ideas such as Ben Franklin’s suggestion of “Give us members in your Legislature, and Let us be one People” began to emerge. -
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were rebellious merchants and artisans who grouped up and protested the Stamp Act and other reforms made by the British to protect their political liberty. The protests were sometimes nonviolent but turned violent through the destruction of property and riots. Another tactic used was threatening and intimidation towards royal officials. Colonists were filled with patriotic motives and it spread to every single colony. -
Townshends Acts of 1767
Charles Townshend came into power in 1767 and wanted a new source of revenue through America. He issued the Townshend Acts which placed a tax on colonial imports of tea, glass, and lead paper to raise 40000 Euros a year. The revenues would be used to pay salaries of royal officials already being paid by colonists. These financially independent individuals now had the power needed to enforce laws. Constitutional debates over taxation occurred and colonists expressed their disregard to the taxes. -
Boston Tea Party
The colonists expressed their disapproval for the Tea Act on the day of December 16, 1773. They viewed the British tea as a public evil and corrupt as they excluded Americans from profits. Artisans and laborers disguised themselves as Indians and boarded the ships in order to dump the tea into the harbor. They managed waste 342 chests of tea. Colonists knew that there would be a huge consequence from the British either in the form of an act or violence. -
Coercive Acts
The British found a way to retaliate after the Boston Tea Party through the Coercive Acts. The Coercive Acts on Massachusetts closed Boston Harbor to shipping, prohibited town meetings, put in place the Quartering Act, and the Justice Act. The Quartering Act mandated new barracks for the British troops and the Justice Act allowed trials to be transferred to Britain. Patriot leaders were riled up and rallied support for Massachusetts. A sense of unity was created in the colonies. -
The Continental Congress
As a response to the Coercive Acts, the leaders of the Patriots created the Continental Congress. Twelve of the colonies sent representatives on their behalf to Philadelphia. There was, however, a difference in ideas between these individuals. Southern representatives suggested an economic boycott to introduce a new style of government. The delegates from New England demanded political union and defensive military preparations. The Middle Atlantic delegates wanted a compromise over anything. -
Battle at Lexington and Concord
General Thomas Gage, the governor of Massachusetts at the time, ordered British troops to seize armories as tensions began rising. The Patriots formed a defensive force called Minutemen. Later in 1775, Lord Dartmouth proclaimed Massachusetts to be in rebellion and Gage dispatched 700 soldiers to capture the Patriot leaders. Paul Revere and others warned them and it led to confrontation and eventually a skirmish. This resulted in a British retreat and marked the start of the war. -
Battle of Bunker Hill/Breed's Hill
Very shortly after Lexington and Concord, 3000 British troops attacked Patriot forts in Boston. The Patriot militia wasn't strong enough and the British handled them very well. John Adams was very impressed by the way the men fought and wanted to persuade Congress to build a continental army. George Washington was chosen to lead the army. Not everyone was convinced of the idea since Patriots and Loyalists had begun skirmishing due to different views due to the idea of America's ability in war. -
Declaration of Independence
Patriot conventions began urging to break out of the British rule and finally ended up doing so through the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote it and used European Enlightenment ideas to compose it. Some concepts from famous writer, Thomas Paine, were also used. Jefferson established the political values of the new nation and it gained worldwide support. Americans were ready to fight for "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the war. The British outnumbered the Americans by quite a lot and would try and attack New England from all sides in order to isolate it. However, one of the British armies was slowed down due to swamps. American reinforcements make their way around the swamp in order to help the army in New England. British general John Burgoyne is forced to surrender due to no help. Americans capture 5000 troops and convince the French to ally with them. -
Articles of Confederation
Soon after America declared independence, the Articles were formed, but they weren't ratified until after the end of the war. However, the Articles were a mirror of the American fears. There were to be no executives due to their experience with the king, no army due to the Quartering Act, the government couldn't tax because of the pain brought by taxes, and that the states would have more power than the federal government. The Articles would soon be challenged and prove to be a failed attempt. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the final major battle and marked the end of the American Revolution. General Washington and General Cornwallis led their armies into battle. Cornwallis kept retreating in order to make the Americans suffer during the winter in Yorktown. He expected British forces on the sea to be ready to help, but the French had taken them out. The British were stuck and forced to retreat. America is now an official country and showed the world that they can revolt successfully too. -
Shay's Rebellion
The first obstacle for the Articles of Confederation would come in the form of Shay's Rebellion. Daniel Shay, a veteran, was struggling due to his farm struggling and debt piling on from the war. Many veterans were losing their farms to the banks for the same reason as Shay. A group led by Shay went to the courthouse and wreak havoc. Wealthy individuals had to spend money and fund a private army in order to shut it down. This pointed out the flaws of the Articles and why it wouldn't work. -
The Constitution
The Constitutional Convention in 1787 led to the new governing document called The Consitution. Federalists and Anti-Federalists had opposing views on government power and state power. They reached a compromise and included the Bill of Rights for the Anti-Federalists and The Consitution for the Federalists. The Constitution would work to fix the faults within the Articles as per government and army. Another huge outcome was the 3/5 compromise in which slaves were now considered of worth. -
Northwest Ordinance 1787
The longer the United States was free, the more curious the citizens became. They started moving west toward Kentucky and Tennessee and wanted there to become an addition to the States. The government recognized this and passed the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 which helped settled territories become future states through certain requirements. These would be ones that were population-based to develop the area the best. A modern idea of slavery being banned was also in effect, -
George Washington: The President
Due to suspicion about executive power, USA needed someone whom everyone loved. George Washington was unanimously elected as president. As president, Washington set many precedents for those to follow such as an inaugural address, a farewell address, and the two-term limit. He managed to establish the first court system called the Supreme Court and had a Presidential Cabinet to advise him. Washington also made sure that he wasn't clear about his political side so he wouldn't divide the country. -
Whiskey's Rebellion
The first test for the Constitution had arrived through Whiskey's Rebellion. This was also George Washington's first big challenge as a president. Pennsylvania farmers refused to pay the tax on whiskey until someone made them. This came in the form of the newly added army because of the Constitution. George Washington led the militia and shut the rebellion down. The Constitution passed its first test and would prove to be a successful document for the government. -
The Treaty of Greenville
Native Americans were not willing to give up their lands as they hadn't been conquered and America wanted to expand and take over more land. Native tribes began uniting to create the Western Confederacy as a way of prevention. America feared the British allying with them and defeated the confederacy prior to any allying.The Treaty of Greenville acknowledged Native ownership of land but made natives cede most of Ohio and accept American sovereignty. This sparked a huge wave of American migration. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
John Adams was chosen as the second president of the USA. His presidency was not known for good things. The Alien Act allowed the president to deport any "alien" considered dangerous. The Sedition Act made it illegal for newspapers to print material that was critical of the president or Congress. These acts resulted in limited rights for the citizens as their freedom of the press was restricted. It also gave the president rights that would be considered unconstitutional in the present day. -
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
Henry Clay, Senator of Kentucky, worked with Thomas Jefferson to write this. The resolutions stated that the constitution was a pact between the federal government and states and that anything considered unconstitutional could be nullified by the states. A positive was that the Alien and Sedition Acts could be made void and declared unconstitutional. A negative was that states could void laws that didn't benefit them and it would take away from the unity of the country. -
The Election of 1800
In the Election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson beat John Adams due to Adams's poor presidency. This marked the end of the Federalist Power. Jefferson's victory was also known as "The Revolution of 1800". This was the first drastic change of power for the first time in all human history. The rest of the world thought that there can be no change in power without bloodshed. The USA proved that their way of running a country can be successful. -
Louisiana Purchase
Worried about Pinckney's Treaty, Jefferson sent James Monroe to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans. Napoleon offers the Louisiana territory for $15 million instead of just New Orleans. Jefferson believed that you only have the power to do what is written in the Constitution and it didn't say anything about acquiring land. Jefferson decides to purchase the land because it was the best for the country. The purchase doubled the size of the country and helped the expansion westward. -
Embargo of 1807
The Embargo of 1807 was Jefferson's last attempt at a cherry on top, but it didn't go as he planned. Great Britain and France were at war and Jefferson wanted to remain neutral due to having decent trading relationships with both of them. He imposed an embargo ban on all foreign trade. This is extremely unpopular among merchants, traders, and the business community. It also does great damage to the American economy, but it does, however, encourage the growth of domestic manufacturing. -
James Madison and the start of the War of 1812
James Madison began his second term as president in 1812. The British Navy was taking American sailors from the ships and forcing them into service on British ships which was called impressment. The British army was also supporting Native American resistance against the US. The effects of this were America having an inferiority complex and wanting to prove to Britain and the world that the American Revolution wasn't a fluke. -
Battle of Thames
In the Battle of Thames, the British and Indian forces fought against the Americans and it resulted in an American victory. The Indian forces included extremely influential individuals by the name of Tecumseh and The Prophet. Both of them were killed in this battle and a small massacre afterward. Indian resistance was officially over in the Ohio Valley. This also leads to colonists moving to Indiana and making it an official state. -
Battle of New Orleans
Prior to this battle, the Treaty of Ghent was signed which ended the war officially. News of this hadn't been received down south so Andrew Jackson was preparing for a battle. He assembled a group of experienced soldiers and warriors and planned to dig a ditch and create a levy. He told the best shooters to go on the hill and fight. The USA killed 2042 British soldiers and only lost 71 soldiers. This resulted in Andrew Jackson's rise to popularity. He was now associated with winning the war. -
Missouri Compromise
Authored by Henry Clay (he's back!), The Missouri Compromise seeked to solve problems between slavery and anti-slavery states. The Missouri Compromise stated that Maine would be entered as a free state and Missouri would be allowed to enter as a slave state. It also said that slavery would be prohibited in most of the Louisiana Purchase. There was now a precedent set on future admissions The compromise would increase the sectional conflict over slavery leading to more controversy soon. -
Election of 1824
There were four candidates running for president in 1824, but it eventually comes down to Adams and Jackson and neither gets the majority of votes. It came down to the House of Rep. and Henry Clay is the Speaker and could influence decisions. Adams held a closed-door meeting with Henry Clay and soon after, Adams is chosen as the president and made Henry Clay Secretary of State. Many think this was corrupt and it divides the country even more. as one side wants to oppose everything Adams does. -
Jackson is President
In the Election of 1828, Jackson brings out the Jeffersonian coalition of Northern farmers and artisans, Southern slave owners, and farmers with small land holdings. He created the first political party known as the Democrats. He has the first modern political campaign and ends up winning in a landslide. The elites ended up mocking Jackson while the common man respected him a lot. -
Tariff of Abomination
The Tariff of 1828, also known as The Tariff of Abomination, aimed to protect US products from competition with foreign imports. Northerners really liked the idea of the tariff because foreign goods were made more expensive, making more people buy US goods and the US industry benefited greatly. The South was unhappy as European countries would retaliate by buying less cotton and the southern economy would plummet. It deepened tensions in the country and contributed to the Nullification Crisis. -
Indian Removal Act
Andrew Jackson issued the Indian Removal Act where he tried to convince Native American tribes in the USA to move west so "his people" could use it. The Worcester tribe took the state of Georgia to court where John Marshall ruled in favor of the tribe. Jackson responds with disregard for Marshall's ruling and tells him to enforce his decision. As a result, the event known as "The Trail of Tears" happens and the natives got the worst of it once again. -
Jackson's Bank War
Andrew Jackson's Bank War refers to Jackson's best efforts as per getting rid of the Second Bank. 80% of the bank was privately owned and these private owners were rich. This opposed the idea of the common man and Southerners opposed it greatly. Jackson believed that states should control the bank and state banks began being used. The effects of the "war" were inflation and others that led in to Van Buren's presidency such as bankruptcy, unemployment, and an economy crash. -
Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner, a slave who was influenced by the Second Great Awakening ideas to think that he was chosen by God to free his people, led a slave revolt. This resulted in the death of 55 white people. There was now a fear of slave revolts going through the USA and the South made stricter slave laws. It also helped spread the idea of abolitionism which would eventually lead America to its breaking point. -
Texas Declares Independence
The Mexican government was giving land for free to encourage movement into Texas. Americans had to follow certain rules such as becoming Mexican citizens and converting to Catholicism. Mexico eventually has an immigration problem and closes the border. Mexico tries to enforce their previous conditions and it results in Texas declaring independence. As a result, many Americans go to help the Americans living in Texas and show true fighting spirit. It shows a sense of unity among Americans. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadulupe Hidaglo was signed at the end of the Mexican-American War which resulted in an American victory. This meant that America would lead the negotiations and they ended up getting Texas and making the border of it the Rio Grande and they get the Mexican Cession. The cession would allow America to make states and add them to the union as well as increasing the expansion westward. Gold is eventually discovered in California which was part of the territory that the USA got. -
Seneca Falls Convention
15 years after the opening of Oberlin College, the first women's college, the Seneca Falls Convention was held. This was the first women's rights convention and it marked the start of the women's suffrage movement. As a result of this convention, women started also fighting for slave rights as they related to them in the way that they were treated. The Declaration of Sentiments was a product of the convention and it expressed the women's desire for equal rights. -
Compromise of 1850
Henry Clay makes his last hurrah through the Compromise of 1850 which had 4 main parts. California enters the union as a free state, the slave trade is abolished in Washington D.C., strict fugitive slave laws are enacted nationwide, and territories applying for statehood will now decide if they are slave or free state through popular sovereignty. As a result of this, both the North and South get part of what they wanted. Bleeding Kansas also happens which shows the possibility of corruption. -
President Lincoln
Lincoln manages to impress through his debates with Stephen Douglas and eventually gets nominated for president. He beats Douglas in the election of 1860. The South was fearful that Lincoln would abolish slavery and South Carolina even secedes from the Union after Lincoln is elected. The inevitable has now happened and the country is split in two. Lincoln's being elected was the catalyst for the Civil War ad possibly the end of slavery. -
Attack at Fort Sumter
The attack at Fort Sumter was the event that marked the start of the war. The South was worried that they would get invaded through the forts. Lincoln sends a convoy with food and other resources to the fort, but it was viewed as a way for Lincoln to get weapons to his soldiers. Prior to the convoy reaching the fort, the South attacks it. The North surrenders in the first encounter and the war has officially begun. -
Battle of Bull Run
In the Battle of Bull Run, the first battle, the Union loses. This was a shock to the North as they had come in to the war cocky. They had more advantages such as numbers, weapons, and food, and they were expected to win. The South came into this battle as an underdog and fought like they wanted it more. As a result, the North realizes that the war won't be that easy and that they need to be aggressive which may require a general switch. -
Lincoln's 10% Plan
Lincoln's plan consisted of the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. Pardons would be given to any Confederate leaders who swore an oath to the Union and Constitution and also agreed with the emancipation. Any state could also be readmitted to the Union once at least 10% of its voters had sworn loyalty oaths. These states also had to form new state constitutions that outlawed slavery. After Lincoln's assassination, Johnson models his Reconstruction plan after this plan. -
Homestead Act
The Homestead Act of 1862 was issued by Lincoln and it gave land out west to any American that was willing to develop and farm it. Individuals could claim up to 160 acres of land and they were willing to do so because land equals opportunity. The east was also being overpopulated due to immigration. The west was now being more and more populated and utilized. The economy of the country could also be improved as the western frontier kept developing. -
Battle of Antietam
In arguably the most important battle of the Civil War, the North "wins" or at least that's what they think. It was the deadliest one-day battle in American history. It was considered a tactical draw, but Lincoln needs some type of draw/victory in order to publish the Emancipation Proclamation. He issues it anyway.This frees the slaves in all states in the Confederacy and it ends up preventing Great Britain and France from siding with the Confederacy as they don't want to be seen as pro-slavery. -
Transcontinental Railroad Project
The idea of the Transcontinental Railroad came into play in 1863 when Lincoln wanted to bring the country together using a railroad. The project was completed in 1869 and helped with the expansion and development of America as the travel time was cut down to just 7 days. This would result in the transportation of goods speeding up and the economy benefiting through the trade. -
Siege of Vicksburg
After Lincoln beats General George McClellan in the Election of 1864, he seeks to find a new general to lead the Union, and sees that he has a general in the west who keeps winning by the name of Ulysses Grant. Grant helps the Union succeed in their Anaconda Plan and they attack from all sides in the siege and capture thousands of Confederate soldiers. The Union have now found their merciless general who matches up perfectly against Robert E. Lee -
Wilderness and its outcomes
General Ulysses S. Grant goes against General Robert E. Lee in the battle called Wilderness. Lee and his men keep taking defeats and aim to retreat to regain supplies, but Grant keeps pursuing him and showing aggression. Grant splits his army in half and pursues Lee to Appomattox where Lee is forced to surrender. This gives the Union momentum going into the final battles where they confirm their victory and the war ends and accomplishes Lincoln's goal of unifying the country. -
Francis Willard and the Women's Christian Temperance Union
The Union started in 1874, but really skyrocketed when Frances Willard became the leader. She advocated against alcoholism and really shined a light on domestic violence and how to combat it. As she investigated alcohol abuse, Willard confronted poverty, hunger, unemployment, and other industrial problems. She also introduced the idea of women's voting rights. It truly educated women as the WCTU had taught women how to lobby, raise money, and even run for office. -
The Election of 1876
Samuel Tilden, the Democratic nomination, was leading and held the popular vote. There was evidence of fraud and intimidation by Democrats. Republican officials decided to certify all three of the remaining states for Republican Rutherford B. Hayes. Congress received two sets of electoral votes and had to resort to an electoral commission. The commission awarded the election to Hayes. The last Republican administrations in the South were destroyed and Reconstruction officially ended. -
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877
After depression and wage cuts struck in 1873, thousands of railroad workers walked off their jobs. The strike brought rail travel and commerce to a halt. Thousands of people in major cities began to protest the economic injustice wrought by railroads. The 1877 strike resulted in 50 casualties and $40 million worth of damage, primarily to railroad property. In the aftermath of the strike, The US government created the National Guard intended to enforce order at home. -
President James Garfield is Shot
A man named Charles Guiteau pulls out a gun and shoots President James Garfield after Chateau was refused a position in the government by Garfield. Guiteau was a vocal supporter of Garfield during the election so he could be selected for a job. The spoils system was still intact and considered the primary reason behind the assassination. Garfield suffered for 11 weeks but eventually dies. The Pendleton Act is put into place so those qualified for federal jobs get them, ending the spoils system. -
The Dawes Act
The Dawes Act was passed in 1887 and was similar to the Homestead Act but for Native Americans. It offered land to Native Americans if they would live on and farm the land. Many citizens and religious groups urged them to take this chance as it would aid them economically and speed up assimilation. The government's true motive was to break tribal ties and gain access to Indian lands. Natives had all their grant lands taken from reservations and set up for sale to white settlers. -
The Depression of 1893
Problems arose as Grover Cleveland took office for the second time. Hard times were prompting European investors to pull money out of the United State and farm foreclosures and railroad bankruptcies signaled economic trouble. Many investors panicked and the stock market crashed. Suddenly, the unemployment rate had now soared over 20%. This led to many labor uprisings such as the 1886 Haymarket violence, 1892 showdown at Homestead, massive Pennsylvania coal strike, and Pullman railroad boycott. -
Anthracite Coal Strike
Coal miners go on strike in order to receive higher wages, smaller workdays, and recognition for their union. The strike threatened to shut down the winter fuel supply to all major cities. President Teddy Roosevelt gets involved and demanded that the owners negotiate or the US military will take over the mine. Many considered this a misuse of power. The strike ended and both sides got what they wanted. This is a big shift as the government sides with labor over business for the 1st time. -
Teddy Roosevelt and the Square Deal
As his first term was nearing the end, Teddy Roosevelt decides to encourage every American to get a Sqaure Deal. It called for the regulation of corporations and protection of consumers and the environment. This continued Roosevelt's mindset of trust-busting as it denounced special treatment for the large capitalists. The deal was meant to embody the idea that all corporations are there to serve the public. Roosevelt goes on to comfortably win his reelection and continues to attack trusts. -
The Wisconsin Idea
Roosevelt dubbed Wisconsin a laboratory of democracy under Governor Robert La Follette's policy called the Wisconsin Idea. This policy vouched for greater government intervention in the economy for policy recommendations. restricts lobbying and voting to remove unpopular politicians from office and voting directly on a proposed law, rather than leaving it in the hands of legislators. This leads to more states and the federal government adopting this idea along with citizens reaping its benefits -
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Emerge
The nation confronted a daring wave of radical labor militancy in 1905 led by the Western Federation of Miners created the IWW. "The Wobblies" were dedicated to organizing unskilled workers to oppose capitalism. They advocated direct action by workers through sabotage and general strikes in order to overthrow capitalism. The group had internal conflicts but helped spark a number of local protests during the 1910s. However, the leaders were prosecuted and the group was unsuccessful. -
Muller v. Oregon
Women's working rights activists scored big with the triumph of the 1908 Muller v. Oregon case. This upheld an Oregon law limiting women to working ten hours a day. It went against the Court's ruling three years earlier in Lochner v. New York. The main argument presented was that women's health needed to be protected for motherhood. While Muller v. Oregon did establish a basis for protecting worker's rights, it divided women's rights activists who believed that this was discriminatory. -
The Election of 1912
Retirement did not suit Teddy Roosevelt and he was itchng to get back into politics so he announced himself as a candidate for the Republican Party. Taft and him have a close battle, but the party decides to go with Taft. Roosevelt goes on to form the Bull Moose Party and run for election through that. However, the split in the Republicans led to the Democratic candidate coming out on top: Woodrow Wilson. He is the third of the progressive presidents and would go on to break up many trusts. -
The Federal Reserve Act
The banking system had almost collapsed in 1907 and a change had to be made. The Federal Reserve Act made the banking system more resistant to such crises through setting the money supply level, thus influencing the rate of growth of the U.S. economy, and seeking to ensure the stability of the U.S. monetary system. The outcomes of this act were quite positive as it strengthened the banking system's stability and discouraged risky speculation on Wall Street. -
Clayton Anti-Trust Act
Wilson's trend of destroying trusts continued through the passing of the Clayton Anti-Trust Act. It amended the Sherman Act, giving more power to the justice department to pursue anti-trust cases in order to prevent monopoly power. It also specified that labor unions could not generally be prosecuted for restraint of trade. The Federal Trade Commission received broad powers in order to decide what was fair. However, the act left the definition for illegal practices quite flexible. -
Zimmerman Telegram
While Wilson tried his best to keep America out of the war, after he broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, a telegram from Germany is intercepted and published in the news. The telegram urged Mexico to join the Central Powers, promising that if the United States entered the war, Germany would help Mexico recover the lost territory of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The public is outraged and America considers this an act of war, causing them to join as part of the Allies. -
The Eighteenth Amendment
In 1917, the long fight for prohibition was over and the 18th Amendment was passed. It was ratified over the next two years by nearly every state and it prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors anywhere in the United States. Defenders of prohibition celebrated their victory over sin, but the law was being blatantly ignored. More affluent urban drinkers flocked to speakeasies, or illegal drinking establishments. The amendment was long-term and quite ineffective. -
The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was officially signed in 1919 and in accordance to the Fourteen Points. He worked with the other Allies and created nine nations that would work as a buffer to protect Western Europe from communist Russia. It assigned sole responsibility of the war on Germany, gave them an astounding debt, demilitarized them completely. and they lost all their territories. This resulted in terrible long-term consequences for Germany and a thought of revenge for future decades. -
The Red Scare
Europe's unrest caused some tensions to grow at home like political radicalism being a threat to the country. The wartime hatred of Germans carried on to the Bolsheviks. Groups such as the newly formed American Legion decried socialists, communists, and the anticapitalist Industrial Workers of the World were characterized as un-American. Hysteria sweeped the country and this led to many government raids and accusations throughout the 1900s. -
The American Plan
Business leaders and their political allies began their fight back against organized labor through an idea called The American Plan. They would be refusing to negotiate with unions and deny workers the right to organize by forcing them to sign contracts pledging not to join a union. The support that they received from Calvin Coolidge led to his support and an eventual nomination for the vice-president from the Republican Party. -
The Immigration Act of 1924
After a flurry of Europeans and Asians scurrying into the United States, the government decides to create the Immigration Act of 1924. The fears of new ideas and immigrants in general along with nativism at its peak led to this. The act itself limited the number of immigrants that entered the US to only 2% of the number of people from that country in the US in the 1890 census. This resulted in America going against its "Land of Immigrants" ideal. -
The Stock Market Crash
In a series of ups and downs between October and November of 1929, the stock market lost approximately 40 percent of its value. This was due to the easy credit which had fueled years of excessive stock speculation. This inflated trade companies' values higher than they actually were. It symbolized the weakening economy that followed the Roaring Twenties. The stock market crash was the last straw at the beginning of the Great Depression -
The Dust Bowl
During the early 1930s, the states of Oklahoma, texas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas experienced the economic disaster known as The Dust Bowl. Due to the overproduction and single-crop farming, years of drought followed and the soil was incredibly dehydrated. This caused many sandstorms and crops turned to dust along with homes being buried. Food becomes scarce and families have to move. It takes about a decade for farming to return even close to normal. -
Roosevelt and the Establishment of the New Deal
Cousin of renowned Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected as President in 1932 amidst the Great Depression. He won comfortably against the hated Herbert Hoover and he promised programs to address the Depression. The New Deal is aimed at creating new agencies and programs to protect people from economic disasters and provide temporary relief or temporary work. Roosevelt increases government spending and creates numerous programs. The New Deal gave the Americans a new sense of hope. -
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
The country was in a state of mistrust with the banking system and stability needed to be insured. FDR creates the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation which provided deposit insurance for bank accounts and other assets in the U.S. if a bank fails. FDR declares a bank holiday to perform bank inspections and determine which banks were healthy and to only allow them to be in practice. This allows the people of the country to get hope and the banking system is becoming stable -
Social Security Act of 1935
One of FDRs New Deal ideas, the Social Security Act is created and acted as a safety net for all Americans. It had three parts which were old-age pensions for workers, a joint federal-state system of compensation for unemployed workers, and a program of payments to widowed mothers and the blind, deaf, and disabled. It was supposed to be an incentive for young people to take jobs and old people to retire. However, people became too reliant on the govt. and didn't save money, leaving them broke. -
Court Packing Scandal
During FDR's legislation, some individuals, businesses, and states begin to challenge the constitutionality of the New Deal. The Supreme Court declares 22 different provisions of the New Deal unconstitutional. FDR becomes enraged and threatens to expand the Supreme Court to 15 people meaning that he would nominate 6 new SCOTUS members. As much as people loved FDR, he received heavy criticism for threatening the Supreme Court. Coincidentally, no more cases were ruled against the New Deal after. -
The Munich Conference
Hitler's aggression kept growing and he was determined to annex Austria and take control of Czechoslovakia. Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, and Hitler have a meeting behind closed doors. It ends with Chamberlain agreeing to give in to Hitler's demands In exchange for Germany stopping aggressive action. Chamberlain famously said, "There will be peace in our time." Shortly after, Hitler takes over Czechoslovakia and Chamberlain is removed from his position. -
Executive Order 8802
During the preparations for the war, Roosevelt realized that there could be no divisions in the country and they would have to fight as one. He issued Executive Order 8802. The order prohibited “discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, color, or national origin". The Fair Employment Practice Committee was set as a watchdog. However, the committee had no say and the total impact of the order was limited. It did lead to wartime developments. -
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
As tensions between Japan and USA increased, Japan got a point where they believed that attacking the US would provide them an easy win and an increase in territory. In the morning of December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor using different warfare. Japan dealt a seemingly crippling blow to the US Pacific and began its quest for a Pacific Empire. The US was forced to join World War II and Germany and Italy declare war on the US. -
D-Day
The Allies realized hat they must come up with a plan in order to reduce German divisions. They spent 18 months planning and training for D-Day. Operation Overlord was prior to the actual D-Day where General Dwight Eisenhower gave a speech in order to inspire his men. D-Day was the largest seaborne invasion in history and the true turning point in the war. Within 7 days, the Allies controlled 80 miles of the coast and they didn't stop. -
G.I. Bill of Rights
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act, also known as the GI Bill of Rights, was an influential program created for those who served in our armed forces. It provided education, job training, medical care, pensions, and home loans for men and women for these specific individuals. It gave low-interest business loans and low-interest home loans leading to a boom in the economy through business and an increase in urbanization. It would eventually lead to the big baby boom in the 1950s. -
Atomic Bombing on Japan
On the 6th and 9th of August 1945, America detonated two atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Roosevelt ordered this since he knew that Japan would never surrender until their country faced terrible ruin. The unfortunate deaths of innocent civilians and the destruction did, in fact, force Japan to surrender. The forces of the Axis powers were destroyed and peace was restored while destroying many countries. However, the signs of the Cold War were becoming apparent. -
Yalta Conference
To decide the status and future of the world, the leaders of the Allies: Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Franklin Roosevelt. They discussed the treatment of Germany, the status of Poland, the creation of the UN, and Russian entry into the war against Japan. They divided Germany into 4 parts and divided Berlin which would soon later lead to trouble between Stalin and Truman. The United Nations till this day, plays an important role in maintaining peace and world politics. -
The Marshall Plan
Named after Secretary of State George Marshall, the Marshall Plan sought to aid European countries who were in their rebuild phase. The plan said to provide economic assistance to almost every country in Europe of over $13 billion. The rebuild will help open up opportunities for the USA to trade with the countries. It also allowed the USA to combat communism as communism is most successful in areas with poverty and despair. -
Formation of NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, known as NATO was a military alliance with the US, Canada, and Western European nations to counter possible Soviet threats. An example of a Soviet threat was the renowned Berlin Blockade where Stalin threatened the US to not send any supplies to West Germany. The alliance meant that an attack on one of them would be considered an attack against all. The Soviets responded with the Warsaw Pact and the Cold War issues are beginning to become serious. -
Truman Involves US in Korean War
Problems arise in Korea, as South Korea wants a republic government and North Korea is dominated by communist powers. After North Korea's surprise invasion and capture of Seoul, Truman immediately orders his army to help South Korea as South Korea is weakened. The army is led by General McArthur. In the initial parts, McArthur is defeated and the communist movement seems to keep rolling. However, Truman's decision to send troops was without permission from Congress and set a future precedent. -
The Eisenhower Interstate Highway Act
As Cold War kept getting more and more serious, the fears of the government and the people kept increasing. President Eisenhower creates the Interstate Highway Act which would update and modernize America's roadways and connects the country. This was the largest public works project in history. The American people agree to this because they knew that USSR could strike them with a missile any time. This act also contributed to the boom of housing and transportation through cars. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Prior to the case of Brown v. Board, Plessy v. Ferguson had resulted in the legality of "Separate, but Equal". Linda Brown was a colored student who walked past a white school every day in order to get to her school. She saw the fewer resources and services provided at her school. The case goes to the Supreme Court where Justice Thurgood Marshall represents her. They would win the case and the Plessy v. Ferguson case would be overturned officially. However, the fight wasn't close to over. -
Little Rock, Arkansas
Even after Plessy v. Ferguson had been struck down, integration was being blocked by local and state governments in the South. By law, blacks could go to white public schools, but there was no guarantee of their safety. 9 students in Little Rock were the first to attempt integration but were blocked by the Governor of Arkansas. Eisenhower uses military force in order to ensure the safety of the children who make it inside the school. This was monumental as the first school had been integrated. -
Election of 1960
Television played a huge role in the Election of 1960. Richard Nixon was a politician with a proven track record who was a State Congressman and Senator. John F. Kennedy was a young and unproven politician who had been a Senator. Nixon was expected to win by a landslide but the first televised debate changes everything. JFK looks like the more appealing candidate during the debate. He wins the debate+election and goes on to focus on civil rights and the space race during his term. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
After the Bay of Pigs Invasion was quite unsuccessful, Kennedy reveals that US spy planes have caught an image of what looked like Russians installing nuclear missiles in Cuba. These ICBMS would be destructive to the US. He announced the US would impose a blockade on all military equipment on its way to Cuba.His threat eventually led to the Grozny, a Russian ship carrying nuclear missiles, being sent back. Negotiations between Kennedy and Khrushchev result in no invasion for no missiles in Cuba. -
March on Washington
Civil rights leaders had to take advantage of their long-planned march set in Washington. This would help them work to end Jim Crow racial discrimination and launch a major jobs program to bring needed employment to black communities. Thousands of volunteers across the country worked together to deliver a quarter of a million people to the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech and King shined as the leading spokesperson for the movement. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
JFK believed that civil rights were a moral imperative and he would go on to approve the most far-reaching civil rights law. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination in employment on the basis of race, religion, national origin, and sex. It also guaranteed equal access to public accommodations and schools. It was controversial and gave blacks the opportunity to do many things, but it was unsuccessful when it came to making a change. It resulted in protestors back on the streets. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
After the Civil Rights Act of 1964 failed to make a lot of progress, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed by LBJ. It outlawed the literacy tests and other devices that prevented African Americans and others of color from registering to vote. It also authorized the attorney general to send federal examiners to register voters in any county where registration was less than 50 percent. The act was quite successful as the number of black elected officials began to climb and they held office. -
First Man on the Moon
The United States, amidst the Space Race, had finally landed astronauts on the moon. It fulfilled JFK's challenge of landing a man on the moon before the decade was out. While Russia had gotten a man into space, this was a first. Americans felt a sense of national pride. It worked in America's favor during the Cold War and as a country since there was social and political upheaval around that time. -
Watergate
As re-election was approaching, Nixon wanted a second term badly. Men working for Nixon's campaign arranged a break-in at the Watergate Office Building specifically at the Democratic headquarters. Nixon arranged hush money for the burglars and instructed the CIA to stop an FBI investigation into the affair. As investigations furthered, Nixon knew his fate so before he was impeached, he submitted his resignation. Nixon's actions led Freedom of Information Act and Ethics in Government Act . -
Roe v. Wade
In the 1960s, abortion was illegal in almost every US state, but this was bound to change as the women's movement made reproductive rights a main goal. After a series of cases, Roe v. Wade protected the right to abortion causing a lot of heads to turn. It set a new standard that abortions performed during the first trimester were protected by the right of privacy. The women movement had a massive triumph, but the religious community was massively against it. -
The Jimmy Carter Take Over
After Nixon's resignation, Gerald Ford took over, but he made one huge mistake during his term which was pardoning Nixon and led to him losing key states in the election. Carter pledged to restore morality and the fact that he was a common man prior to politics. Initially,the people were happy. However,his relations with Congressional leaders were poor and his inability to heal the economy was his downfall. Industries failing and high inflation caused Carter's support ratings to collapse to 30%. -
Reagan is President
Ronald Reagan created a new hope for the Republican Party after their falters in the 60s and 70s. After Carter's efforts failed to impress the Americans, the country was on the Reagan train. Reagan believed that government was the only one standing in the way. His approach to saving the economy was Reaganomics which consisted of budget cuts. Reaganomics failed to succeed, but the economy had improved and the people were happy leading to his reelection in 1984. -
Economic Recovery Tax Act
Reagan used the Republican control of the Senate in order to pass his laws. This led to the Economic Recovery Tax Act which was a massive tax cut that put supply-side principles into practice. It reduced income tax rates for most Americans by 23 percent over three years. It trimmed the taxes paid by business corporations by $150 billion over a period of five years. While this seemed like a good plan to Reagan, it failed miserably as the govt. lost over $200 billion in possible revenue.