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The Two Party System
The Democratic-Republicans and the Federalist parties were the two parties dominate in early American society. They were the first political parties, and included Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. These two political views set the stage for the different parties we have today. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
A tax on whiskey angered many farmers, and they began to protest. With this riot starting in the country, Washington sends troops to stop the rebellion. This was a very strong example of how the US government showed it's power early on. -
Washington's Farewell Address
George Washington's Farewell Address gave two warnings: for America to stay neutral and there to be no political differences or quarrel. Although only one of these warnings stayed (neutrality), they set the stage for precedents in the future to be used. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny is the term to describe the belief that Americans had during the time of expansion. In 1803 the U.S. purchased the Louisisana territory, doubling the size of America. Later, Spain gives us Florida and we acquire Texas and want to annex it into America. Manifest Destiny gave America new lands and resources for years to come. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a document established by the United states stating that Europe could not recolonize Latin America. It was also a warning that if any European nations tried to recolonize, we would use forceful ways to stop them. This document also symbolizes nationalism by showing the United States (growing) power in the world. -
Reform
Reform started when America noticed the flaws within the nation. Religious reforms (with the second Great Awakening), education, women's right, and abolition are just some examples of the controvercies that American people faced. These examples are important because, even today, there are reforms being made just like they were then. -
Invention, Immigration and Urbanization
Inventions, Immigration and Urbanization started in the late 1800's and changed America forever. Inventions like the telegraph and typewrite paved the way for America to grow, Immigration gave new people and a bigger population, and urbanization led to the growth of cities and growth of towns. This gave America new populations and growth, making it important for today. -
Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 was when Abraham Lincoln was elected as President of the United States. Beforehand, southern states promised to secede form the union if he won, and (obviously) they all started to secede in 1860 (with South Carolina as the first). They became known as the Confederate States of America, and ultimately this caused the Civil War, leaving a lasting impression on the U.S. to ultimately preserve the Union. -
Homestead Act
The Homestead act of 1862 gave new land in the west for people to settle and help domesticate the new land. This gave America expansion and new lands to move to. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a document made by President Lincoln to free the slaves in the Confederate States of America. It was considered a diplomatic document because it made Great Britain and France pull out of the south to not get into any conflicts. The Emancipation Proclamation is important because it gave new soldiers (African Americans), a reason to fight and a weaker south. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was delivered in Pennsylvania in honor of the soldiers who died in the war. It gave the best meaning of freedom for the nation and a value for everyone to have as the U.S. became unified. -
Knights of Labor
The Knights of Labor was the first union in the United States. Labor Unions pushed for better working conditions and better pay. This set the stage for reforms in industry and make the laws we have today (with working conditions) set. -
Panama Canalt
The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and is one of the most astounding inventions made by the U.S. Panama was recognized as an independent nation after the interference of America and we were able to make the transportation device/ -
Interstate Commerce Act of 1887
The Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 was an important law passed in America because it gave a ser railroad rate for all people and gave big business less power. This was one of the ways the Populist party gained people because they called for fair business treatment (like the farmers) and stood for the common man. -
Assimilation
Assimilation was when the U.S. government tried to make the Indians blend into American culture to solve all the problems in their culture. To do this, we passed the Dawes Severalty Act, which broke up reservation and sent many Indian children to boarding schools (became Americans; new names, beliefs, etc.). -
Imperialism
Imperialism was the expansion of American colonies to new places around the world for new markets and for the belief that we were superior to others. In this process, we gained Hawaii, Alaska, and later other countries. This was important to the U.S. because it gave us new territories and expansion beyond our borders. -
Disenfranchisement
Disenfranchisement is the act to take away a person's right to vote, which is exactly what happened to the African Americans living in the South. Literacy tests, poll taxes and grandfather clauses kept all unwanted voters out, and later led to the reforming of the American political system. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act made monopolies and trusts illegal in the United States. This rejected laissez-faire and made the government more involved in big business practices. -
Diplomacies
Diplomacies were by three men, starting in 1904 with President Roosevelt and going all the way to President Wilson in 1913. The three famouse diplomacies were Big Stick (Roosevelt-use military), Dollar Diplomacy (Taft-give money to get other countries to like America) and Missionary Diplomacy (Wilson-spread word of democracy around the world). These are all important because they are still used today and have left a lsting impression on politics. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire
The Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire was a huge fire that burnt an entire building to the ground and killed many because of lack of safety procedures in business. This led to the creation of new safety measures for industries and contributed to the progressive movement by creating improvements in an area that was believed to have needed them. -
Zimmerman Telegraph/unrestricked submarine warfare
The Zimmerman Telegraph was a communication device intercepted and uncovered the secret that Germany was trying to make Mexico revolt against the U.S. so they would not get involved in the war. It also stated that unrestricted submarine warfare would continue, and America declared war (ultimately) because of this. -
Fourteen Points
The Fourteen Points were statements made by President Wilson in his attempt to make peace. With it, the League of Nations, many decisons (Germany being responsible, etc.) and peace treaties were made in attempt to cure what happened in WWI -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment was a political gain during the progressive era for women. The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote and a new political freedom that had been fought over for many yaers. This gave new political perspectives in America and set the stage for more equality standards to be set for other minorities. -
Henry Ford
Henry Ford made a huge impact on America with his affordable automobile, the Model T. To make this, he used assembly lines, which made mass production of parts and affordable things. This became a role model for other industries to use for production. -
The Great Migration
The Great Migration describes the event of African American families moving north to make more money and to escape segregation in the south. This led to overcrowding in cities and jobs being taken over, angering the returning white soldiers. Even the north couldn't solve all the problems of the African-Americans. -
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was the intellectual price of African Americans in the United States. Langston Hughes and Zora Hurston were two influential writers of their time in the movement. This movement showed African American's role in soceity and how influential they could be with their ways and tradiditons, like jazz and poetry. -
Black Tuesday
Black Tuesday refers to the stock market crash, where America experienced a sharp fall in stock prices, resulting in a national scare. This crash led to the Great Depresssion, where the U.S. was in the worst economical state that it has ever been in. These things are important because they give us examlples on how speculation and buying on margin and having a loose economy can hrm us in the long run. -
Neutrality Acts
The Neutrality established the United States neutral during the beginnning of WWII. These showed isolationism practices in the U.S. and how we did not want to get involved in foreign affairs -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was the unannounced Japanse attack on the U.S. navy in Hawaii. A day later, America declares war on Japan, and a day after that (Dec. 9) Japan, Germany and Italy declare war on us. This is the reason the United States entered WWII. -
Policy of Containment
Policy of Containment was to limit the spread of communism in the world. This showed that the United States was against communism and that we would not let it spread into the western hemisphere. -
The Atomic Bomb
In the beginnning of the Cold War, the Soviet Union and United States began an arms race with the inventon of the atomic bomb. This lead to the stockpoile of nuclear weapons build up between the US and USSR. -
The Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights movement was the African American movement for equal rights in America. They exemplified through civil disobedience and other forms of rejecting discrimination that reform was needed for the black community. -
Vietnam War
The US sent troops to Vietnam to help contain communism. We send 'adversaries' to help with the falling country, but as time went on, we kept sending more and more troops over until we were in an (un)decleared war. This was (technically) one of America's losses in the terms of war and made our country's nationalism fall to the floor. -
Reagonomics
Reagonomics were referred to as trickle-down economics which gives the idea that the rich will eventually make the money go down to the poor. It also gave tax cuts to businesses and new jobs to Americans. -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall falling symbolized the end of the Cold War. It also was the point where the Soviet Union broke up and was no longer able to sustain itself. This marked the end of the fear of communism spreading to Americans as a whole. -
War on Terrorism
The United States was attacked with a plane destroying the twin towers. This marked the start of the war on terrorism which is the war that we are still struggling in today.
