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Rise of the Ku Klux Klan
A white supremacist terrorist group formed to intimidate and oppress African Americans and those who supported their rights. -
Period: to
Reconstruction Era
Period of federal intervention in the South to rebuild the nation and protect the rights of formerly enslaved people. -
End of the Civil War
Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the Civil War. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, five days after the Confederacy surrendered. This event significantly impacted Reconstruction plans. -
13th Amendment
Abolished slavery throughout the United States. -
14th Amendment
Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves. -
Transcontinental Railroad
Connected the East Coast to the West Coast of the United States, facilitating westward expansion and economic growth. -
Knights of Labor (founded 1869)
One of the first major labor unions in the United States, advocating for a variety of social and economic reforms. -
15th Amendment
Prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. -
Compromise of 1877
Unofficial agreement that resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election. In exchange for Republican Rutherford B. Hayes winning the presidency, federal troops were withdrawn from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction. -
American Federation of Labor (AFL)
A skilled-craft union focused on higher wages and shorter workdays. -
Haymarket Square Riot
Violent clash between police and workers in Chicago, damaging the reputation of the labor movement. -
Dawes Act
Federal legislation that aimed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American society by dividing tribal lands into individual allotments. -
Jim Crow Laws (Late 1800’s)
State and local laws enacted in the Southern states to enforce racial segregation and disenfranchise African Americans. -
Industrial Revolution (late 1800s)
Rapid growth of manufacturing and industry, driven by technological advancements and mass production. -
Rise of Big Business (late 1800s)
Emergence of powerful corporations and industrialists, such as Andrew Carnegie (steel) and John D. Rockefeller (oil). -
Rise of Labor Unions (late 1800s)
Workers organized into unions to fight for better wages, working conditions, and rights. -
Rise of Populism(Late 1800s)
Political movement that advocated for the rights of farmers and working people, challenging the power of big business and banks. -
Manifest Destiny (19th century)
The belief that the United States was destined to expand westward across North America. -
Wounded Knee Massacre
.S. Army troops killed hundreds of unarmed Lakota Sioux men, women, and children in South Dakota, marking the end of major armed resistance by Native Americans. -
Westward Expansion(Late 1800s)
Continued movement of settlers westward, driven by the search for land, gold, and opportunity. -
Gilded Age (late 1800s)
Era of rapid economic growth and social change, characterized by both great wealth and widespread poverty. -
Immigration (late 1800s)
Large influx of immigrants from Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world. -
Rise of Nativism (late 1800s)
Anti-immigrant sentiment and discrimination against immigrants. -
Rise of American Imperialism(Late 1800s)
Expansion of U.S. power and influence beyond its borders, including through military intervention and colonial expansion. -
Homestead Strike
Violent labor dispute at Andrew Carnegie's steel plant in Pennsylvania. -
Ellis Island (opened 1892)
Immigration processing center in New York Harbor. -
Pullman Strike
Nationwide railroad strike that paralyzed much of the country. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine. -
Spanish-American War
War between the United States and Spain, resulting in the acquisition of overseas territories by the United States.