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Founding of Jamestown
Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America and would struggle to thrive in early years; however, with the help of Native Americans would manage to survive. The town was essentially a business as they were required to give investors something to encourage further investment. -
Albany Plan
The Albany Plan was the first attempt made by the thirteen colonies to unite under a single government. The French and Indian War had begun in 1754 and the Northern colonies wanted a way to strengthen themselves as an individual colony was much weaker than a coalition of them. Ultimately the plan failed; however, it once again demonstrated how major political change almost always started in the North in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. -
Seven Years War
The Seven Years' War was a global conflict between England, Spain, and France. The British colonies had a significant part in helping England during the war; however, the British would force the colonists to help pay off the debts through taxes, and barring them from expanding west of the Appalachian Mountains. -
The Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was a law created by the British government forbidding colonists from expanding further west past the Appalachian Mountains. This was heavily disliked by the colonists and would serve as one of the first major grievances of Britain’s towards the colonies that would spark the American Revolution. This battle also took place right after the French and Indian War and people were upset that they were unable to enjoy the land they earned from the war. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was the first piece of legislation to be passed in attempts to make the American colonies pay for the war debt that England had assumed. Major protests in the colonies would cause England to lower them two years later, demonstrating the power of protest. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was another attempt from Britain to tax the colonies in order to pay the debts they accumulated from the French and Indian War. The act enforced a tax on all paper documents, which impacted nearly every colonist. This further reinforced the colonists belief in “No taxation without representation”. The Stamp Act would lead to events in direct response to it such as the Stamp Act Congress. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a riot that took place in the streets of Boston that served as heavy propaganda for the revolutionary cause. Several colonists were shot by British soldiers that were controlling the city of Boston, and this would cause a massive uproar that would further destroy relations between the colonies and Britain. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was led by the Sons of Liberty who in protest of the Tea Act, dumped hundreds of crates of tea into the Boston harbor. Disguised as Native Americans, the Sons of Liberty infuriated the British government by costing them millions of dollars in today’s economy. This further cemented the belief that the colonies could not be taxed without representation. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was assembled to tackle the issues of the Intolerable Acts. It consisted of twelve of the thirteen colonies, Georgia not being there, and they managed to focus on making sure that the King and Parliament understood how unbearable the acts were to the thirteen colonies. They agreed on the “Plan of Union of Great Britain and the Colonies” as a good solution to the current problems between the mother nation and the colonies. -
Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord can be seen as the precise start of the American Revolutionary War. The British Army was planning on marching through the towns of Lexington and Concord and seizing rebel supplies; however, the British would order the rebels to lay down their weapons to which someone from one side fired the first shot known as “the shot heard round the world.” The battle showed that the colonial army could stand up to the strongest army in the world at the time. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress convened after Lexington and Concord, in which they would organize aa Continental army and select a Commander in chief. They also would send the Olive Branch Petition as an alternative to the violence that would be soon to come. Eventually, they would decide to draft the declaration of Independence created by Thomas Jefferson and ratified on July 4th, 1776. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was a last ditch effort by the Second Continental Congress to come to a peaceful resolution with Britain. The colonists attempted to plead to the king himself by stating they were unhappy with the parliamentary policy rather than his; however, King George wouldn’t even read the petition as he had no sympathy left for the colonists and didn’t believe they had any right to negotiate with himself. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” was a book that presented several arguments for the Revolution, as well as demonstrating how Britain’s laws were unfair to the colonists. The book would be a massive hit with the colonies and would serve as fuel for the American Revolution. “Common Sense” helped convince a majority of colonists to support the revolutionary cause and help fund and support it. -
The Crossing of the Delaware
Washington had hoped to defeat the British in a surprise attack on Christmas, in the town of Trenton, New Jersey, where hired mercenaries were not expecting an attack. So in the freezing cold weather, Washington and 3000 men crossed the Delaware river and alongside the French navy, forced the British to surrender which would end the American Revolutionary War. This move would paint Washington as a brilliant strategist and a great leader, leading to him becoming the first president of the USA. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were the first outline of government within the United States. Colonial fears over a powerful government would taint the document and give the federal government an extremely limited amount of power that would be tested and show the failures of this attempt at a federal government. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris forced Britain to recognize the United States as an independent nation. In addition, it declared that there must be a permanent peace between the United States and Britain, as well as a framework for Westward expansion in the future. The treaty would take a while to reach the United States, prompting battles such as the Battle of New Orleans to take place. -
Shays' Rebellion
The economy of a newly born from war country was terrible; especially for farmers who had sacrificed a lot for the war and now were required to pay so much in taxes they were falling into debt. This led to riots that became organized under Daniel Shay. This was the first true test of the Articles of Confederation; which held a weak federal power that failed to quiet the rebellion and demonstrated that the United States could not succeed under the Articles of Confederation. -
Connecticut Compromise
The Connecticut Compromise helped solve the issue of representation for smaller states versus the larger states. It set up the two houses of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate gives each state two representatives while the House of Representatives gave each state a number of representatives proportional to the state's population. -
Constitutional Convention
As problems became clear with regards to the Articles of Confederation high level politicians realized the need for a replacement. The Constitution gave much more power to the federal government, which the Federalist party liked; whilst the Bill of Rights spoke of individual rights which were much more appealing to the Democratic-Republican party. An important part of its passage was that it would be left able to be amended. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was a rebellion again, of farmers against the unfair taxes such as the whiskey tax that had been enacted by Congress. President George Washington sent the US militia, a power now held under the Constitution. Regardless of the rebellion's motives, the Whiskey Rebellion would be the example of how the Constitution could hold up to rebellion. -
Jay's Treaty
Jay's Treaty was made between the United States and Britain to deal with the rising tensions between the two countries. The United States did not have much leverage against Britain; however, Britain was facing war with France as Napoleon rose to power and settling disagreements with the United States would be beneficial. -
Pickney's Treaty
Pickney's treaty was the treaty between Spain and the United States that gave the United States a temporary right to the Mississippi River. Under John Adams, his bitter rival Thomas Jefferson believed that it was necessary for the government to find a permanent solution to this issue as the economy west of the Appalachian Mountains would continue to grow. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Then president John Adams was frustrated by the Democratic-Republican press that was criticizing him and Congress over the XYZ affair which almost caused war between France and the US. He therefore, with the help of the Federalist dominated Congress passed the act, violating the First amendment right to freedom of speech and the press. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was made by Jefferson as a means to secure access to the Mississippi River. Jefferson, however, did not believe that he as president should have the power to approve of such a purchase. It would be extremely good for the country, doubling its size and would make Jefferson extremely popular. -
Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 was passed by the then president Thomas Jefferson, who did not want to be caught in between France and England who were two major world powers. He was not much of an economist and decided that he would end trading with either country. This initially devastated the US economy; however, it would encourage domestic industrial growth. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was a massive victory for the United States, and the assorted groups of people were led by General Andrew Jackson. Britain was attempting to infiltrate the city of New Orleans from the coast; however, Jackson and his army took strong defensive positions that led to massive casualties for the British army. -
Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 demonstrated the instability of the newly formed United States. The panic started with a dramatic decline in cotton prices and the failure of the Bank of the United State's to curb inflation. It ended relatively quickly; however, the citizens of the United States would be left much more hesitant about trusting the federal government. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was named after President James Monroe, the doctrine itself having set the standard for foreign relations with the United States. The United States said that any foreign nations that try to attack countries in North America will be faced with the power of the United States. -
John Quincy Adams elected by the House of Representatives
The election of 1824 was complicated with it being undetermined which of the four candidates had won, so with direction from Henry Clay they opted to choose Quincy Adams over Jackson as they feared Jackson was too much of a radical democrat. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was implemented by President Andrew Jackson, and would allow for the federal government to forcibly remove Native Americans from land that was theirs. Additionally, it allowed for the shrinking of reservations and would lead to tragedies such as the Trail of Tears. The law was implemented as the idea of Manifest Destiny started to become widespread in the United States. -
Worcester v. State of Georgia
The case of Worcester v. Georgia ruled that states couldn't impose regulations on Native American land; however, then President Andrew Jackson would entirely ignore the ruling and continue passing legislation in direct contradiction with the ruling. Native Americans were already being forced on to reservations that were increasingly shrinking. -
Oberlin College
Oberlin College was the first college to allow for black students to attend as well as the first to allow women to get a degree. The college was a major step in both civil rights and abolitionist thought as well as the advancement of the women's suffrage movement. -
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was the result of Andrew Jackson's financial policies, as he had not renewed the charter on the National Bank. However, Van Buren inherited the problem and it would continue on for much of the duration of his term. Prices went down, wages decreased, and westward expansion was forced to pause while families were unable to even think of making such a costly journey. -
Know-Nothing Party Formation
The Know-Nothing party was heavily against immigration as immigrants from Europe were able to take jobs in the North(as they didn't want to compete with slave labor in the south.) The party wouldn't last for very long as they seemed primarily centered on immigration policy. -
Texas Annexation
Texas was briefly an independent country and while Texas was at a point seen as Mexican territory; the people were extremely independent. The US President James K. Polk allowed to vote for annexation and Texas would narrowly vote to be annexed; however, this was a massive portion of Polk's legacy and a step in the expansion of the United States out west. -
Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American war was the result of Texas joining the United States and there having been disputes in where the border of Texas ended and Mexico began. Eventually this led to Mexico slaughtering the Texan army prompting outrage from the American people; giving President James K Polk the green light to send an army to defeat the Mexican army and that army kept going till it reached the capital city. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first convention to address women's rights. Additionally, the meeting helped to organize a movement central to women's suffrage; however, many of the women were mocked to the point that some took back the things they had written down. -
The Compromise of 1850
Within the hostilities of the pre-Civil War era the Compromise of 1850 was passed under the guidance of Henry Clay to help alleviate tension. The bill admitted California as a free state and banned the slave trade in Washington D.C; however, to appease the South they passed the Fugitive Slave Act that allowed for runaways to be recaptured in the Northern states and sent back to the South. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The act separated and organized the territories; however, there was fierce opposition from the abolitionists who did not want to extend slavery into any further states. The act also was intended to appease both sides; doing so by repealing the Missouri Compromise; however, it most importantly allowed for the state's population to decide whether it would be admitted as a free or slave state. -
South Carolina Seccession
South Carolina seceded from the Union after it became clear that Abraham Lincoln would become president of the United States. The growing tensions combined with the belief in the South that Lincoln was an extreme abolitionist resulted in South Carolina's secession. -
Homestead Act
The Homestead Act was passed by Lincoln and the radical-republican Congress during the Civil War. The act allowed for people to go out in to the western land and be granted 160 acres so long as they were being used. The bill was designed to encourage migration out into the new territory and boost the economy of the United States. This land would be giving to homesteaders for a mere eighteen dollar purchasing fee. -
Pacific Railway Act
The Pacific Railway Act funded the creation of a bicoastal railroad that connected the entire United States. The radical-republican Congress needed a way to fund the bill and therefore allowed for railroad companies to claim lands adjacent to the railroads, which would assuredly become valuable once the railroad was completed. -
Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act
The Act allowed for the federal government to maintain plots of land for the development of colleges in the United States. This was another example of a major economic bill being passed during the Civil War, and ultimately it would help to establish many colleges that we now know today. The colleges were originally intended to help educated primarily on agriculture and mechanic arts; however, the fields of expertise would change as science evolved. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was made by Abraham Lincoln that promised to rid slavery in all Confederate territory. The proclamation allowed for slavery to continue in all parts of the Union that had slavery; meaning that it was by no means a complete promise to destroy slavery. This served as a threat to the Confederacy who now understood that failure to win the Civil War would mean the certain removal of slavery. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was a pivotal point in the American Civil War as it was a major victory for the Union. If the Union had lost, they would have been forced to negotiate for peace; however, by preventing a successful invasion of Union territory they succeeded in changing the tide of the war. -
Wade-Davis Bill
The Wade-Davis Bill was a far more radical bill that was vetoed by President Lincoln. Lincoln wanted to allow for the South to be admitted back in to the Union far easier. The bill required half of all voters in confederate states to pledge allegiance to the Union, as well as abolishing slavery within all the rebel states. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated shortly after the Civil War at Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth. The assassination would leave the country in the hands of Andrew Johnson, who held sympathy for the Confederate cause and commonly talked with southern plantation owners. The country, at least in the North, was heavily upset over the incident and it led to an extremely large manhunt for the murderer. -
Thirteenth Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment officially abolished slavery within the entire United States. The amendment was passed by Abraham Lincoln and while slavery was already being forced out of the former-confederate states, Union states with slavery would be forced to abolish slavery as well now. -
Fourteenth Amendment
The Fourteenth Amendment was the second Reconstruction era amendment to be passed. The amendment gave citizenship and legal rights to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States." The law gave all former enslaved people their rights as a citizen. -
Fifteenth Amendment
The 15th amendment gave African-American men the right to vote, the third and final amendment of the Reconstruction Era. While the amendment was meant to guarantee this right for black men to vote, Jim Crow Era practices would prevent them from voting until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was the last major Reconstruction statutes, which guaranteed African Americans the right to public transportation and public accommodations and services; however, the Supreme Court would rule the law unconstitutional regardless of the 13th and 14th amendment and allow for the continued discrimination in government services. The Supreme Court’s ruling would reduce the power of the two amendments up until the Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
Munn v. Illinois
Munn v. Illinois was the Supreme Court case that gave the federal government the power to regulate private industries. The justices decided that state power to regulate extends to private industries that affect the public interest. Later court cases would limit the extent of power the government had on regulation of business; however, private businesses could no longer do as it pleased without being checked by the government. -
President Garfield's Assassination
Garfield was assassinated by Charles J. Guiteau who blamed him for the divide being created within the Republican party. Garfield wouldn’t be immediately killed from the second bullet, as the doctors attempting to save him would actually lead to infection that resulted in Garfield’s slow impending death. The massive infection took hold in the president’s body and he died 200 days later. The nation entered a period of mourning and would help unite America to some extent. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act was the first major legislation that restricted immigration, creating a 10 year ban on Chinese laborers immigrating to the United States. The law would transform in the coming years; however, at its core it introduced anti-Chinese sentiment within the United States. This act and its many forms would only end after China became a member of the Allied Nations during World War II. -
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act was initially intended to help Native Americans break out of systems of poverty; however, the act was extremely controversial and arguably worsened Native Americans freedoms and dismantled their tribal traditions. The Act allowed for the President to break up reservation land, which was extremely damaging to Native Americans. The land given to Native Americans was extremely desert-like and unsuitable for farming. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
The Sherman Antitrust Act was the first legislation passed to limit the power of trusts. By 1910 trusts had become a dominant force in many major industries that destroyed competition and allowed for higher market prices. The act gave the federal government the power to regulate these trusts that were restraining trade or commerce with foreign nations or several states. -
Andrew Carnegie Founds Steel Industry
Carnegie was an immigrant that found massive economic success within the United States with his Carnegie Steel Company. He utilized the Bessemer steel process that was originally founded in Britain to more efficiently create steel. Steel was becoming increasingly important in an industrial America helping his business stay afloat during the Great Depression. Carnegie would go on to donate his entire wealth he had made as he became the wealthiest man in the world to philanthropy. -
Atlanta Compromise
The Atlanta Compromise was a speech given by Booker T. Washington where he declared that the South must work to improve social and economic relations between the races. The speech called for providing opportunities for black people in the South and was combative of the deeply rooted racism within the country. Booker T. Washington played a significant role in the advancement of black civil rights and helped produce the idea of strictly peaceful protests. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Supreme Court ruled that segregation did not violate the equal protection clause, as the 7-1 court preached the notion of “separate but equal.” This enabled segregation to take root within American society, and limited African Americans from access to quality education and other resources as they received significantly less funding than white schools and other institutions. This ruling would stand for over half a century and created a deeper divide in the nation. -
Nikola Tesla invention of the Radio
Tesla was able to develop a radio-controlled robotic boat which he showed was able to drive a boat remotely around water. This invention wasn’t hailed as significantly important at the time; however, his invention would transform communication within the military as well as messaging as a whole. As people entered the 1920’s living up to the middle-class ideal many owned radios that allowed them to receive news about events as they happened. -
Sinking of the U.S.S Maine
Cuba had been facing a revolution backed by the American people who viewed it as similar to their own American revolution. This led the navy to bring their U.S.S Maine in the Havana harbor as a threat to any Spanish reconquering attempt. An explosion caused by the steam engine(not known at the time) would result in the sinking of the battleship and cost 268 Americans their lives. While Spain had no involvement, the United States would be quick to blame them and led to the Spanish American War. -
Square Deal
The square deal focused on labor, citizenship, parenthood, and Christian ethics. Roosevelt used the term after describing a mining strike, because he wanted a peaceful coexistence of big business and labor unions. The three major parts of the Square Deal were conservation of natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer protection. Roosevelt’s Square Deal sparked the Progressive era. -
Anthracite Coal Mine Strike
The Anthracite Coal Mine Strike was the result of mine operators refusing to meet with union representatives to negotiate higher wages and shorter work weeks. This resulted in a massive strike in which coal prices would double and forced Theodore Roosevelt to form a commision to investigate the company. The union would soon end the strike and the commission would grant them a ten percent pay increase as well as decreasing the work week. -
Publication of the Jungle
The Jungle was a publication from Upton Sinclair, a famous socialist writer. Originally intended to advocate for a socialist society, the book instead exposed the conditions of Chicago stockyards. This would prompt major legislation to create a cleaner society in America. Upton Sinclair was a famous muckracker and exposed the awful conditions of meat packing plants. -
Meat Inspection Act
The Meat Inspection Act was passed under Theodore Roosevelt who read “The Jungle” and refused to stand for the awful industrial conditions and the hazards they presented. The law put regulations on the meatpacking industry and presented a balance between the federal government and industry. The law would initiate major reform within all industry itself and propagate better living standards within the United States. -
Founding of the NAACP
The NAACP was founded by a group of major civil rights advocates W.E.B Du Bois, Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, and many others. They developed several successful strategies to strive for equal rights with court cases, protests, and boycotts. They strived to end segregation within the United States and end discrimination within the employment process. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire killed 146 workers and was made famous by the preventable nature of the accident, as safety features had been heavily neglected and represented a growing shift in worker safety and sanitary conditions within the workplace. It highlighted how sweatshops functioned at maximum efficiency at the cost of worker safety and health. -
Election of 1912
The Election of 1912 resulted in a decisive victory for the Democratic party because of the Bull Moose Party dividing the Republican vote. Theodore Roosevelt ran because of his deep resentment towards Taft’s presidency who he believed to have not upheld the Square Deal to its full extent. -
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall was a political machine run by “Boss Tweed” predominantly through the 1910s; however, it was taken over by Tweed in 1869. Tweed was able to sway new immigrants' votes and provide them low paying jobs and poor housing in exchange for their votes. This allowed for significant corruption in New York City that gave Tweed more than $200 million dollars. -
16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment gave congress the ability to place federal income taxes on U.S citizens without any civilian approval as beforehand the states held the power over levying income taxes creating issues of funding federal programs. The amendment was ratified as a direct result of the Supreme Court’s 1895 decision in Pollock v. Farmers’ Loan and Trust Co. -
Federal Reserve Act
The Federal Reserve Act was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson after the Panic of 1907 convinced Americans that a central banking system was a necessity. The act allowed for the United States to easily make loans and provide oversight to banks and provided a safety net for the federal government. The bill created the national banking system that we rely on still to this day. -
Clayton Antitrust Act
The Clayton Antitrust Act was enacted under Woodrow Wilson and strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act that previously held extremely vague language that allowed corporations to find loopholes. The legislation prevented the creation of monopolies through other corporate measures. The act would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. -
Keating Owen Act
The Keating-Owen Act of 1916 was the first statute put to restrict child labor, preventing products from mines that were produced by children under the age of 16 from being transported across states. The act ended employment of 250 thousand children; however, this did not affect children that worked on farms. -
Zimmermann Telegram
The Zimmermann telegram was sent by the German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmermann to the German minister in Mexico. The telegram requested that Mexico join the war effort and attack the United States on the home front in order to cut off the Entente supply chain from the United States. The message was intercepted by the British and would prompt the United States to join the war effort. -
US entry into WWI
The United States entered World War I two and a half years after the war began in Europe. The American public had long expressed a desire to stay out of the war; however, as German atrocities were published in the media they began to shift more towards potential war. The Zimmerman Telegram was also a significant component to the U.S joining the war effort. -
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance stemmed from the Great Migration creating pockets in the north where the population was primarily African Americans. From these pockets a greater sense of African American culture blossomed in music, theater, visual arts, and literature that united the soul music with the newer age music. The Harlem Renaissance created a more centralized African American culture. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote which came after WWI. Women had played a significant role on the home front and certainly pulled their weight in ensuring victory for the United States. However, after the war they were expected to quit their jobs and go back to managing the home and children which was met with an even greater Womens’ Suffrage Movement that eventually gave women the right to vote. -
Stock Market Crash
As stocks began to decline in value, Americans who viewed the stock market as something that could only make money became scared and began to pull investments and the issue snowballed into stocks plummeting in price. Those that bought off the margin would face severe debt and over 50 percent of banks closed. This resulted in the Great Depression, the worst economic period of time for the United States. -
Bonus Army March
The Bonus Army March was the result of the Great Depression putting many World War veterans into poverty as well as the failure of President Hoover to provide these veterans with the bonuses they were promised. As the Great Depression continued Hoovervilles would emerge where communities of extreme poverty existed and these veterans would create a Hooverville right in front of the White House, putting the crisis of the Great Depression on the doorstep of Hoover. -
Emergency Banking Act
The Emergency Banking Act was the first piece of legislation within the New Deal under FDR and was designed to help restore confidence in the banking system. The law created a four day banking holiday that shut down the banking system, including the Federal Reserve and would later allow for banks to start reopening as examiners found them to be financially secure. -
Social Security Act
FDR passed the Social Security Act in 1935, which established the Social Security system we still use today. The system serves as a federal safety net for elderly, unemployed, and disadvantaged Americans. The main stipulation of the original Social Security ACt was to pay financial benefits to retirees over age 65 based on lifetime payroll tax contributions. The boost in income helped many families to jump out of the Great Depression and find a better standing within society. -
Court Packing Scandal
FDR in his attempt to push New Deal legislation was being checked by the Supreme Court who ruled that many of the laws he signed were in fact unconstitutional. This infuriated FDR, leading him to plan to allow him to appoint one new justice for every sitting justice that was above the age of 70. This prompted major controversy and even FDR supporters wouldn’t back this plan. -
Selective Training and Services Act
This act was the first law requiring a peacetime draft as it required all men from 21 to 36 to register with the Selective Service System. This act still is in place today and is seen as an expectation of US citizens to be willing to serve to protect the United States if a war were to break out. The law was narrowly passed through Congress as it was seen as a harsh contrast from the freedom we associate our country with. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Japan using bomber planes dropped several bombs on Pearl Harbor that devastated the US navy fleet. The bombing killed over 2400 Americans and many more were wounded. While the United States had not already entered into WWII, the attack on Pearl Harbor guaranteed the US entry into the war and would give rise to significant discrimination against Japanese-Americans. -
D-Day
D-Day commenced under the direction of Dwight D. Eisenhower, and would start with paratroopers being taken directly to the interior of France followed by the deployment of six divisions; three U.S, two British, and one Canadian. D-Day was a pivotal moment of WWII as up until that point the Axis powers had managed to win the upperhand. D-Day leveled the playing field and turned the tide of the war in favor of the allies. -
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was a vital meeting in which the allied superpowers came together and discussed how to reorganize Europe after Germany’s inevitable defeat. The failure of the Treaty of Versailles to prevent further war among nations presented a growing need for an outline to peace and prosperity within a war torn Europe. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was proposed by George Marshall: they wanted to help fund rebuilding in Europe especially in countries closer to Russia in order to prevent the spread of communism. As World War II came to an end cities were obliterated and the vulnerability of these European countries could have led to them being overthrown under a communist regime. The Red Scare would grow as Russia was deemed the United State’s most powerful threat as they stood as the only two superpowers. -
Founding of NATO
NATO was founded to unite European countries as well as North American countries against the spread of communism, as well as Soviet Union expansionism. The premise of the alliance was that if one country is attacked by a foreign nation the aggressors would face the full military power of the alliance. -
Start of the Korean War
Tension had grown on the Korean peninsula until finally the North invaded South Korea. With the Soviet Union aiding the northern communist regime, and the United States aiding the southern democratic nation presents a clear proxy war that was happening during the Cold War. The fear of the spread of communism was a large reason for the US intervention and the war never conclusively ended sitting at a stalemate still to this day. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court decision over Brown v. Board of Education was a unanimous decision that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court case served as a cornerstone for the civil rights movement. The case was brought up after a young black girl was denied admission into an elementary school because she was not white, and the choice of this little girl by the NAACP helped with the success of the case. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery bus boycott was initiated after Rosa Parks stood her ground and would not allow herself to be forced to give up her seat to a white man. She was arrested and immediately the entire black population in Montgomery would begin boycotting the bus companies leading to an immense drop in profits for the company. This would lead to major civil rights legislation that mandated that all races be entitled to equal public services. -
Interstate Highway Act
The Interstate Highway Act was passed under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, as he was an extremely significant leader in the path to the allies victory during WWII. With the time period being during the Red Scare, the threat of Soviet invasion was ever present and the bill outlines the creation of major interstates throughout the nation that were required to have a mile of straight flat road for every ten miles of road. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
An American U-2 spy plane was able to photograph nuclear missile sites being built by the Soviet Union in Cuba, presenting an immediate threat to the entire United States. This discovery could have led to a third world war; however, JFK was able to negotiate a way for the missiles and missile sites to be removed. While there was the option of launching airstrikes to the missile sites, the negotiation prevented further escalation. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The passage of the law was a major breakthrough for the NAACP and civil rights activists as a whole. It guaranteed all citizens of all races the right to vote. -
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was an atrocity committed by the US Army during the Vietnam War. Innocent civilians were killed and assaulted by the soldiers and then the U.S Army attempted to cover it up. The incident would lead the American people at home to look at the soldiers that were involuntarily drafted as evil despite most of them having not been involved. -
MLK Jr Assassination
MLK Jr was assassinated because of his efforts and impact in leading the charge for civil rights. His speeches would cause thousands and hundreds of thousands of people to listen and hear what he spoke of. His idea of peaceful protest helped to obliterate the racist stereotype of African Americans being labeled violent and brutal. He was assassinated by James Earl Ray, who was an escaped fugitive, where he would later admit to his crimes. -
Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade set a legal precedent for abortion within the United States. Simply put, Roe v. Wade said the first amendment clearly outlined that a woman has the right to privacy when it comes to their medical history. This would continue to be the president for the next fifty years and was a major part of the fight for women’s rights. -
Richard Nixon Resignation
Richard Nixon resigned as a result of the Watergate scandal that had become the center focus of his presidency. The Watergate scandal was when five men broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in an attempt to wiretap it. The lies surrounding the scandal and Nixon’s involvement would ultimately be what led to his downfall. -
Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords were a peace agreement signed in 1978 between Egypt and Israel with the help of the US. They outlined a framework for peace, including the withdraw of Israeli troops from Sinai. The accords were a significant diplomatic achievement, but it also generated controversy and criticism from various groups. -
Iran Hostage Crisis
The Iran Hostage Crisis occurred in 1979 when a group of Iranian militants seized the United States Embassy in Tehran, holding 52 American diplomats and citizens hostage for 444 days. The crisis ended in 1981 with the signing of the Algiers Accords, which secured the hostages’ release but strained US-Iran relations for decades to come.
