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Period: to
Colonial Period
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Massachusetts Act of 1647
The "Old Deluder Satan Act" that required towns with at least 50 households to hire a schoolmaster to teach children to read and write, and required towns of 100 households or more to have a school that would prepare children to attend Harvard College. -
The Hornbook
The hornbook is a wooden paddle with a single piece of paper glued to it and to protect a thin transparent layer of bull's horn over it. The paper the ABC's, some pairs of letters, and a religious verse, often the Lord's prayer, printed on it and was used to teach reading and writing. -
Vernacular School
Vernacular schools were for lower-class males that teaches reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion. -
Grammar School
Grammar school was for upperclass males and taught subjects necessary for admission to college. Formal schooling was reserved for boys of European descent in the northern colonies, although some girls attended primary school. -
Dame School
Most girls who attended school went to women’s homes, where they learned housekeeping skills. -
Period: to
Young Nation Period
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McGuffey Readers
McGuffey Readers were the primary texts for reading instruction. Each book in the McGuffey series was graded according to reading level. Not only did each book in the series provide an eclectic mix of poetry and prose, but the books also stressed moral, ethical, and religious principles. -
Monitorial System
Around 1810 to 1820, the monitorial system of providing training for teachers, which had been developed in England, was introduced in the United States. Monitors were older and better students, who were taught by experienced teachers and who instructed younger pupils. This system provided low-cost education, helped train children for future jobs, and provided hands-on experience for the monitors, many of whom went on to become teachers themselves. -
Common School
The common school was an elementary or primary school that came into existence in the period between 1830 and 1850, reflecting the school movement that began in the early 19th century. This movement was based on the belief that free education would strengthen the nation and that all children had the right to a free, public education. -
Normal School
Schools devoted to teacher preparation were known as normal schools. These schools focused on teaching methodologies, especially the humanistic and individualistic approaches developed by Johann Pestalozzi. These approaches represented a radical departure from the existing method of learning by rote memorization. Normal schools were based on a belief that teaching was a "science". -
Morrill Act of 1862
The Morrill Act of 1862, also known as the Land Grant College Act, gave every state a grant of 30,000 acres of land, to be used for colleges, for every senator and every congressman in its congressional delegation. The states were to sell this land and use the proceeds to establish colleges in engineering, agriculture, and military service -
College Board Formed
Formation of the College Entrance Examination Board in 1900. This organization, set up by presidents of 12 leading universities administers admissions tests. The purpose is to standardize the admissions process administratively and to force New England boarding schools to adopt a uniform curriculum. In 1901, the first College Boards were conducted. Exams were done in essay format for specific subject areas. -
Period: to
Progressive Nation Period
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National Education Association (NEA) Founded
The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest labor union in the United States. It represents public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become teachers. -
World War I
World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War, or the War to End All Wars, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. -
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Founded
The American Federation of Teachers is an American labor union that primarily represents teachers. The union was founded in Chicago in 1916, with Margaret Haley credited as its founder and first leader -
World War II
World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, although related conflicts began earlier -
Period: to
Postwar Period
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National Defense Education Act (NDEA)
In 1958, President Dwight Eisenhower signed the National Defense Education Act to provide federal aid for education in the United States at all levels, public schools and private. The launching of Sputnik the year before pointed to urgent needs for advances in U.S. science and mathematics education. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson declared a nationwide war on poverty and the causes of poverty. In 1965, as a part of this war on poverty, President Johnson signed into law the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which provided federal guidance and funds to school districts with large numbers and disadvantaged students. -
Higher Education Act
A federal program that provides grants and loans to students in college (often in the form of Pell grants). -
Title VII
Title VII is a federal program that provides financial aid for the education of students with limited English, ability (also known as the Bilingual Education Act). -
Title IX
Title IX is a federal act providing equal opportunities regardless of gender. -
Period: to
Modern Period
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Persian Gulf War
The 1991 Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations mandated by the United Nations and led by the United States.The lead up to the war began with the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 which was met with immediate economic sanctions by the United Nations against Iraq. -
Invasion of Afghanistan/War on Terror
The war in Afghanistan followed the 2001 United States invasion of Afghanistan. Supported initially by the United Kingdom, the US was later joined by the rest of NATO, beginning in 2003. -
Iraq War
The Iraq War was a protracted armed conflict that began in 2003 with the invasion of Iraq by a United States-led coalition that toppled the government of Saddam Hussein. -
Barack Obama Takes Office
Obama was inaugurated on January 20, 2009, succeeding George W. Bush. Obama officially assumed the presidency at 12:00 pm, EST, and completed the oath of office at 12:05 pm, EST. He delivered his inaugural address immediately following his oath. -
Osama Bin Laden Killed
Osama bin Laden, the founder and head of the Islamist group Al-Qaeda, was killed in Pakistan on May 2, 2011, shortly after 1:00 am PKT by United States Navy SEALs of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group.
