Decades Review

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    Mayflower Compact (1600-1650)

    The Mayflower compact was one of the very first documents that established self-governance amongst the colonists. (1620)
  • Headright System (1600-1650)

    This system began in the Jamestown colony as an attempt to combat labor shortages due to the demanding cultivation of tobacco.
  • Bacons Rebellion (1650-1700)

    This was a rebellion held by Virginia settlers against Colonial Governor William Berkeley and was one of the first acts of colonial rebellion (1675-1676).
  • Great Awakening (1700-1750)

    The Great Awakening was a large religious revival in the British American colonies (1720-1740)
  • French and Indian War (1700-1750)

    The British American colonies were against the French and Britain ended up gaining huge masses of territory (1754-1763)
  • Salutary Neglect (1760's)

    This was a period in which the colonies were left to do their own thing because Britain was busy handling their own issues.
  • Stamp Act Congress (1760's)

    Also known as the first Continental Congress, this was a meeting held in New York between British colonists.
  • Quartering Act (1760's)

    This was the requirement that colonists had to house British soldiers if and whenever needed.
  • Boston Massacre (1770's)

    This was a confrontation between British soldiers and colonists where several people ended up being shot and killed. This attack was seen as unprovoked but it is really unclear as to what officially happened.
  • Boston Tea Party (1770's)

    The Boston Tea Party was when colonists threw hundreds of boxes of tea belonging to Britain into the ocean in protest of high tariffs/taxes and unfair treatment from the mother country (Britain).
  • Shay's Rebellion (1780's)

    This was an armed uprising against the raising of taxes from the colonists,
  • Great Compromise (1780's)

    This compromise created two legislative bodies within congress.
  • Whiskey Rebellion (1790's)

    The Whiskey Rebellion was a protest against the tax on whiskey imposed by congress to aid the growing federal deficit.
  • Bill of Rights (1790's)

    The bill of rights was created to outline the individual guaranteed rights of American citizens.
  • Pinckney's Treaty (1790's)

    This was a treaty between the U.S and Spain which created a boarder between the U.S and Florida.
  • Marbury V. Madison (1800's)

    This was the very first court ruling in which the supreme court declared an act of congress as unconstitutional.
  • Judicial Review (1800's)

    Federal Courts have the ability to declare legislative and executive acts unconstitutional.
  • Embargo Act (1800's)

    This was when congress prohibited American ships from trading in any foreign ports amidst the French and British War.
  • Hartford Convention (1810's)

    This was a series of meetings in which new England federalists met to discuss their grievances with the ongoing war of 1812.
  • Monroe Doctrine (1820's)

    This doctrine establishes that North and South America are no longer open to colonization. It prohibits European countries/powers from interfering with independent governments in the Americas.
  • Era of Good Feelings (1820's)

    The Era of Good Feelings (1815-1825) was a relatively tame era in U.S history in which there was national patriotism and unity amongst Americans after the War of 1812.
  • Trail of Tears (1830's)

    The Trail of tears was a series of forced displacements of over 60,000 Native Americans by the U.S government per the "Indian Removal Act".
  • Bank War (1830's)

    This was a political argument over whether or not the second Bank of the United States should be renewed. President at the time Andrew Jackson strongly opposed the bank which created strong debates over what exactly should be done.
  • Whig Party (1830's)

    Started by Henry Clay the whig party believed in a strong federal government.
  • Webster Ashburn Treaty (1840's)

    This treaty solved boarder issues between the U.S and British North American colonies.
  • Manifest Destiny (1840's)

    Manifest Destiny was the belief that it was the will of God for America to spread democracy and expand as far out across the world as possible.
  • Seneca Falls Convention (1840's)

    This was known as one of the very first women's rights conventions.
  • Mexican-American War (1840's)

    This war was started due to westward expansion and boarder issues over Texas.
  • Fugitive Slave Act (1850's)

    This Act was a part of the Compromise of 1850 and it required that run-away slaves be returned to their owners even if they were already in a free state.
  • Uncle Tom's Cabin (1850's)

    Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book which fueled the abolitionist cause/movement as it made people sympathy.
  • Ostend Manifesto (1850's)

    This was a document which describes the rationale for the United States to purchase Cuba from Spain. Denial from Spain would mean cause for War.
  • Emancipation Proclamation (1860's)

    This was signed by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and it declared that all slaves in Rebel States were free. This was a huge part and turning point of the war.
  • Radical Reconstruction (1860's)

    This was the period of time in which the government was filled with radical republicans who passes a series of legislation in favor of civil rights (1863-1877).
  • Salvation Army (1860's)

    This was founded by an Evangelical minister with the goal of feeding and housing the poor.
  • 13th Ammendment (1860's)

    This ammendment abolished slavery in the United States during the midst of the civil war.
  • Tenure Office Act (1860's)

    This act was created in order to limit the power of the president to remove office-holders without the approval of the Senate first.
  • Granger Laws (1860's)

    These laws were a series of laws that supported/favored farmers after the civil war. The Granger Movement began after the civil war.
  • Credit Mobiler Scandal (1870's)

    This was an event which damaged the image and carreers of several prominent Gilded Age Politicians. This was also a prime example of political corruption (1872-1873).
  • Battle of Little Bighorn (1870's)

    This battle a loss for the U.S and a win for Native Americans. This battle was the worst defeat of the plain wars.
  • Munn V. Illinois (1870's)

    This was a supreme court case which resulted in the limitation of the rights of states to control or impede pm interstate commerce.
  • Haymarket Square Riot (1880's)

    This was a peaceful protest of laborers which turned into a violent riot after bombs were thrown at police officers. Laborers were protesting their low wages and poor working conditions.
  • Chinese Exclusion Act (1880's)

    This not only prohibited Chinese immigrants but usually Asian immigrants in general.
  • Dawes Act (1880's)

    This act allowed the U.S to divide Native American land into small smaller factions to be sold.
  • Interstate Commerce Act (1880's)

    This was a law designed to regulate the railroad industry and control it's monopolistic practices.
  • Yellow Journalism (1890's)

    This was one of the first limitations on freedom of speech and press as it highlighted the dangers of unlimited speech.
  • Pullman Strike (1890's)

    The Pullman Strike was a widespread railroad boycott that disrupted railway traffic. The U.S government had to issue federal troops to contain the violent strikes.
  • Atlanta Compromise (1890's)

    This was the idea that black people should achieve social responsibility from learning working skills in their education.
  • Jim Crow Laws (1890's)

    The supreme court ruled that separate but equal was constitutional which supported segregation.
  • Plessy V. Ferguson (1890's)

    Racial segregation was constitutional according to the ruling of the supreme court.
  • Teller Ammendment (1890's)

    The Teller Ammendment essentially declared that the U.S could not annex Cuba but would instead help Cuba to gain independence then completely withdraw U.S troops. This ammendment was a result of the Spanish-American War.
  • Platt Ammendment (1900's)

    This ammendment listed the stipulations of the U.S withdrawal of troops from Cuba at the end of the Spanish-American War.
  • Big Stick Policy (1900's)

    President Theodore Roosevelt's approach to dealing with Latin-America was through his so-called "Big Stick Policy" which was how he handled foreign affairs.
  • Northern Securities Case (1900's)

    This supreme court case ruling ruled against the stockholders of the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroad companies who has basically formed a monopoly.
  • The Jungle, Upton Sinclair (1900's)

    This book highlighted the unsanitary conditions of the meat industry which eventually influenced the founding of the FDA and public health and safety being taken more seriously.
  • Great White Fleet (1900's)

    This was the U.S almost showing off it's naval abilities to the rest of the world.
  • Dollar Diplomacy (1900's)

    A foreign policy tactic which was used to establish good relations with Latin America.
  • New Nationalism (1910's)

    This was when President Theodore Roosevelt visitied Kansas and proposed his ideal of a "new nationalism" free from special protections for businesses.
  • 16th Ammendment (1910's)

    This ammendment allowed congress to assign and collect taxes on various incomes without interference from the state.
  • Federal Reserve Act (1910's)

    This act was made to implement economic stability in the U.S by introducing a central bank.
  • Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1910's)

    This act declared strikes, boycotts, and labor unions legal under federal law.
  • Creel Committee (1810's)

    This Committee was created to fuel public support of World War One.
  • Zimmerman Note (1910's)

    This was a secretive communication issued from the German force that proposed a millitary alliance between Mexico and Germany if the United States entered WW1.
  • Volstead Act (1910's)

    This Act was made to enforce the 18th ammendment by prohibiting the sale and manufacturing of alcohol.
  • Treaty of Versailles (1910's)

    This treaty officially marked the end of world war one.
  • Normalcy (1920's)

    Normalcy was President Warren G. Harding's campaign slogan for the election of 1920's.
  • Lost Generation (1920's)

    The lost generation describes the people who came of age during the 1920's and refers to the post-war generation.
  • Washington Naval Conference (1920's)

    The objective of this conference was to limit the naval arms race and establish security agreements in the Pacific after World War One.
  • National Origins Act (1920's)

    This act made quotas more strict and heavily limited immigration.
  • New Deal (1930's)

    The New Deal was a series of programs created by Franklin D. Roosevelt to better the economy and American citizens after the Great Depression.
  • National Industrial Recovery Act (1930's)

    This allowed the president to regulate business industry for fair wages and prices that would stimulate the economic recovery.
  • Agricultural Adjustment Act (1930s)

    The Agricultural Adjustment Act was a part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. The New Deal was a series of programs that were designed to guide Americans and the economy out of the great depression.
  • Neutrality Acts (1930's)

    These were a series of acts to keep America out of war and was a result of an attempt to remain isolationist.
  • Wagner Act (1930's)

    This act established the National Labor Relations Board which addressed the relationship between workers unions and employers.
  • National Labor Relations Act (1930's)

    This was established to protect the rights of employees and employers to prevent practices that can harm the workers.
  • Works Progress Administration (1930's)

    This was a part of Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal which was a series of programs created to help carry the U.S out of the Great Depression.
  • Japanese Interment (1940's)

    Executive Order 9066 ordered all Japanese Americans to be sent to interment camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
  • Korematsu V. U.S (1940's)

    The supreme court ruling of this case against Japanese Internment was that public discrimination was not prohibited because it was not a state act.
  • GI Bill of Rights (1940's)

    This was a law that provided benefits for returning veterans from World War Two.
  • Baby Boomers (1950's)

    This was the generation born post World War Two. The birth-rate increased after the war (1946-1964)
  • NATO (1940's)

    NATO or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an international government/military's alliance between 30 European and North American countries established after the threat and spread of communism resulting from the Cold War.
  • Korean War (1950's)

    This War started as a result of the U.S's attempt to contain communism. This was one of the first actual military actions of the Cold War.
  • Brown V. Board of Education (1950s)

    Brown V. Board of Education was a supreme court case that was a huge success for the civil rights movement. This case rules racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
  • Greensboro Sit-Ins (1960's)

    This was a Civil Rights protest against segregation in which Black-Americans would perform sit-ins at "white only" dinners across the U.S.
  • Peace Corps (1960's)

    This was established to help the people of the countries involved gain training and to promote world peace.
  • Bay of Pigs (1960s)

    The Bay of Pigs was the failed invasion of Cuba in an attempt to remove Fidel Castro from power. This is important because it fueled the "Cuban Missile Crisis" which most believe was the height of the Cold War.
  • Great Society (1960's)

    Proposed by President Lyndon B. Johnson was the great society which would declare war on poverty.
  • Voting Rights Act (1960's)

    This act outlawed discriminatory voting practices adopted after the civil war.
  • Miranda V. Arizona (1960's)

    This ruling declared that criminal suspects prior to police questioning must be informed of their rights (Miranda Rights/Miranda Law).
  • Equal Rights Ammendment (1970's)

    This was passed by congress and it established a guaranteed gender equality for both men and women.
  • Watergate (1970's)

    This was when police arrested burglars in the Democratic National Committee headquarters at Watergate in Washington D.C. This was linked to President Richard Nixon's reelection.
  • Camp David Accords (1970's)

    These were a set of political agreements between Egypt, Israel and the U.S president at Camp David in Washington D.C.
  • Iran-Contra (1980's)

    The Iran-Contra Affair was a political scandal which occurred during the administration of Ronald Reagan (1985-1987).
  • Gulf War (1990's)

    This war was in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait arising from oil disputes.
  • 9/11 (2000's)

    This was a devastating terrorist attack by the Islamic group Al-Qaeda against the U.S targeting the twin towers in the WCT.
  • Osama Bin Laden Killed (2010's)

    Osama Bin Laden was the founder of the first Islamic militaria group who was killed by the U.S in 2011.