Historical Eras in US History

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    The Gilded Age – Post Reconstruction [1877] - 1900

    A period of expansion, industrialization, immigration and urbanization with significant effects on
    Native Americans, workers, immigrants, and the rise of big business in the late 19th century.
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    Age of Imperialism and Reform – 1898 - 1919

    During the early 20th century the U.S. entered a new historical era: an Age of Expansionism
    beyond our natural borders as the country moved from isolationism. U.S. imperialism led to
    involvement in the Spanish-American War, changing policies in Latin America and Asia and
    eventually to World War I. At home, reformers made efforts to correct economic and social
    abuses of the Gilded Age.
  • George S. Patton

    George S. Patton
    commander of u.s. forces in north africa and sicily
    led third army across Europe
    thought u.s. should turn on & fight Russians after Germany's surrender
  • sixteenth amendment

    The congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
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    sixteenth amendment

    The congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
  • seventeenth amendment

    The senate of the united states shall be composed of two senators from each states, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote.
  • Woodrow Wilson

    Woodrow Wilson
    president from 1913-1921
    advocate from women's suffrage
    president during ww2
    propsed fourteen points as a basis for post war peace
    supported u.s. membership in league of nations; u.s. failed to join
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    World War I – 1914 – 1918

    This was an era in which the global conflict of World War I and its effects had an impact on all
    Americans.
  • John J. Pershing

    John J. Pershing
    Named Commander of America Expeditionary Force (AEF) during WW1 by Woodrow Wilson.
    Led forces at Battle of Argonne Forest.
  • eighteenth amendment

    After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intox icating liquors within, the imoirtantion thereof into, or territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes in hereby probhibited.
  • nineteenth amendment

    The right of citizens of the united states to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the united states or by any states on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
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    The Roaring 20s

    This was also an era of significant prosperity and social change as Americans became more
    isolationist and responded to significant change in social norms, consumerism, technological
    advances and artistic achievement
  • Warren G. Harding

    Warren G. Harding
    President from 1921-1923
    Called for a "return to normalcy"- less foreign involvement; emphasis on prosperity at home.
    Appointed friends to positions; Teapot Dome scandal tainted his reputation.
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    Great Depression: 1930s

    Beginning with the Stock Market Crash in 1929, this era is marked by severe depression and
    the increasing role of the Federal government to improve the economy.
  • Douglas MacArthur

    Douglas MacArthur
    commander of U.S. army in the pacific during ww2
    commander of U.S. forces in Korean conflict
    Disagreement with truman over use of nuclear weapons in north korea and china
    public critism of truman led to his removal
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    Rise of Dictators and World War II – 1930s and 1940s

    The rise of totalitarian governments in Europe and East Asia led to World War II and
    involvement of the United States in that conflict
  • George Marshall

    George Marshall
    Army Chief of Staff and advisor to Roosevelt during WW2.
    Churchill referred to him as the "organizer of victory".
    Served as Truman's secretary of state.
  • Franklin D Roosevelt

    Franklin D Roosevelt
    President from 1932-1945 (elected to 4 terms)
    Pulled country out of Great Depression with New Deal.
    Declared war on Japan after bombing of Pearl Harbor - U.S. entered WW2.
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    Cold War – Post WWII through the 1980s

    This post-war era is marked by issues of communism vs. democracy in Europe and America
    after World War II. It includes the United States and the Soviet Union as competing
    superpowers in the balance of power. The escalation of the Cold War from containment to the
    outbreak of the Korean War and foreign policies of the Kennedy / Johnson years including the
    growing conflict in Vietnam as well as the ending of the Cold War in the 1980s.
  • Chester W Nimitz

    Chester W Nimitz
    Commander of Pacific Fleet during WW2
    Commander at Battle of Midway victory.
    Successfully organized halt of Japanese advances
  • Omar Bradley

    Omar Bradley
    World War 2 general
    Selected by Eisenhower to lead U.S. forces into France after Normandy invasion.
    Commander during Battle of the Bulge.
    Pushed his troops for the final offensive into Germany.
  • Harry S. Truman

    Harry S. Truman
    President from 1945-1953
    Used atomic weapons against Japan to bring WW2 to an end
    Assisted in the founding of the United States
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    Civil Rights – 1950s, 1960s and beyond

    This era highlights the issues of emerging rights for minorities and the leaders and critical
    events of the modern 20th century civil rights movement.
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Dwight D. Eisenhower
    supreme commander of D-day & allied invasion of europ in ww2
    president from 1953-1962 (2 terms)
    created the interstate highway system in 1953
    extended u.s. containment of communism policy to middle east
  • Joseph McCarthy

    Joseph McCarthy
    conducted hearings is identify communists he claimed infiltratedUS. government
    no roof of his allegations ever provided
    led to a "witch" hunt for communists
  • Martin Luther King Jr.

    Martin Luther King Jr.
    Clergyman, activist & leader in the Civil Right Movement.
    Advanced civil rights using non-violent civil disobedience (influenced by Gandhi)
  • Rosa Parks

    Rosa Parks
    Arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white person.
    Her actions led to Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56); led to intergrated buses and thrust her into the national spotlight.
  • John F. Kennedy

    John F. Kennedy
    president from 1961-1963
    supported space race- john glenn orbited earth
    embarrassed by bay of pigs invasion (unsuccessful attempt to overthrow castro)
    created alliance for progress & peace corp-programs to promote progress in under-developed countries to discourage the spread of communism
    avoided nuclear shoedown - cuban missile crisis
  • Betty Friedan

    Betty Friedan
    Leader in Women's Liberation Movement.
    Wrote The Feminine Mystique - challenged the traditional role of women.
  • Hector P. Garcia

    Hector P. Garcia
    mexican american physician & surgeon during ww2
    human rights advocate and founder of american G.I forum
    first mexican american to serve on the u.s. commission on civil rights
    awarded presidential medal of freedom (highest civilian honor) in 1984
  • Richard Nixon

    Richard Nixon
    president from 1969-1974
    normalized (reopened) relations with red china (1972)
    introduced detente with soviet union (relaxing of tension and de-escalating arms race)
    resigned office to avoid impeachment after watergate scandal
  • Phyllis Schlafly

    Phyllis Schlafly
    conservative activist
    founder of Eagle forum opposes modern feminism
    campaigned against equal right amendment
  • Cesar Chaves

    Cesar Chaves
    Leader of Chicano movement to eliminate racism against Mexican Americans.
    Organized farm workers in California.
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    Late 20th Contemporary Issues 1980s – 2000

    An era of change as the U.S. experienced the end of the Cold War, new conflicts in the Middle
    East, the impeachment of a President and a controversial election to begin a new century
  • Sandra Day O’Conner

    Sandra Day O’Conner
    Appointed to Supreme Court in 1981.
    First female Justice.
    Established her voice as a swing vote between conservatives & liberals
  • Ronald Reagan

    Ronald Reagan
    President from 1981-1989
    Reduced taxes & regulations to encourage business activity- Reaganomics
  • Bill Clinton

    Bill Clinton
    President from 1993-2001 (2 terms)
    balanced federal budget- cut spending, raised taxes on rich and closed military bases
    supported NAFTA - gradually phased out traffic
    stood against human right abuse in Kosovo and China
    avoided impeachment - vote went along party lines
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    21st Century

    Early in this century America dealt with a new threat of terrorism at home with the attacks on the
    World Trade Center on 9/11 and a decade of the “War Against Terror”. This era also marked the
    election of the first African-American President of the United States in 2008.
  • Barack Obama

    Barack Obama
    1st African American to be elected President
    appointed sonia sotomayor to supreme court
    supported health care reform & banking reform