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Jim Crow Laws
Began in 1877 and operated primarily, but not specifically only, in southern and bordered states between 1877 and the mid-1960s. A collection of laws that legalized and maintained racial segregation after the Civil War ended. -
Tuskegee Institute
Founded by Booker T. Washington for the purpose of training teachers in Alabama. It also had a program dedicated to providing students with both academic and vocational training. It is now a private, coeducational institution of higher learning but its history and significance remain. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
A law passed to restrict or exclude Chinese immigrants to the U.S. because of competition for jobs. -
Interstate Commerce Act
A law that required railroads to charge fair rates to their customers and publicize the rates. It also gave Congress power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and between states, as well as railroad rates. -
Jane Addams - Hull House
The Hull House was Chicago's first social settlement was a place for immigrants to gather to learn, eat, debate, and acquire the necessary tools to settle down in the new country. It provided many things for immigrants including child care, practical and cultural training, and education. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
The first measure passed to prohibit trusts was the first Federal act that outlawed monopolistic business practices. Many similar laws were passed in states but they were limited to intrastate businesses. A trust is when a stockholder of many companies transfer all the shares to one set of trustees. Made based on the power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. -
Plessy v Ferguson
A landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that deemed racial segregation did not violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment under the "separate but equal" doctrine. -
McKinley Assassinated
President William McKinley was fatally shot by an American laborer and anarchist, Leon Czolgosz, at the Pan-American Exhibition in Buffalo, New York. Czolgosz was later executed. -
Coal Miner Strike - 1902
Mine operators refused to meet with representatives of the United Mine Workers of America and refused to work because of pay and work hours. The strike ended when they won a ten percent increase in pay and a nine-hour workday. -
Ida Tarbell - "The History Of Standard Oil"
A book Ida M. Tarbell wrote that exposed the business practices of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company that had destroyed not only her father's oil business but also many other small oil-related companies in Pennsylvania, where she grew up. -
Teddy Roosevelt's - Square Deal
The Square Deal was a set of policies, as well as the slogan for Roosevelt's 1906 presidential campaign, that attempted to prevent further labor abuses and improve workplace safety, protect the natural landscape, and improve the overall heal and well-being of Americans. Historians know it as the "three C's" of consumer protection, corporate regulation, and conservationism. -
The Jungle Published
The Jungle was a book by Upton Sinclair, another now well-known Muckraker, to expose the appalling working conditions in the meat-packing industry. He goes into detail about the diseased, rotten, and contaminated meat. This led to the new federal safety laws. -
Niagara Movement
The movement/organization founded in 1905, lasted till 1910. It was an organization of black intellectuals led by W.E.B. Dubois that was dedicated to obtaining civil, political, and social rights for African-Americans. -
Roosevelt-Antiquities Act
This act was the first United States law to provide general protection for any general kind of cultural or natural resorces. It is the first national historic preservation policy for the U.S. Made to protect certain land and areas. -
Federal Meat Inspection Act
An act that prohibited the sale of adulterated or misbranded livestock and derived products as food and ensured sanitary slaughtering and processing of livestock. Passed the same day as Food and Drugs Act. -
Food and Drug Act
An act that prohibits interstate commerce in misbranded and adulterated foods, drinks, and drugs. Passed same day as the Meat Inspection Act. -
Taft Wins
Taft wins the election giving Republicans their third straight presidential election victory. (25-27 Presidents were all Republican.) Taft had 321 Electoral college votes and 7,676,598 popular votes. -
Muller v. Oregon
A U.S. Supreme Court case determined whether or not states could limit the hours of work a woman can do. (Only women, not limiting hours for men.) Ruled in favor of Oregon because the law protected women's health. -
NAACP formed
Founded in 1909 because of a deadly race riot in the city of Springfield in 1908 that was the tipping point in the creation of the NAACP. Consisted of the following individuals: W.E.B. Dubois, Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, Mary White Ovington, and others concerned for African-Americans. Still exists today. -
Muckrackers
(1889-1920) A group of American writers identified with pre-World War I reform and exposé writing. They help expose issues and corruption in America. Examples of some famous Muckrakers include Ida Tarbell, Florence Kelley, Lincoln Steffens, and Upton Sinclair. -
Urban League
Created with the intention of eliminating racial segregation and discrimination and helping not only African Americans but also other minorities fit into all phases/parts of American life. The establishment was led by George Edmund Haynes. -
Triangle Shirtwaist fire
A fire at a manufacturer of women's blouses killed 146 factory workers. It brought awareness to the poor working conditions in factories and led to better and increased regulations to protect workers. -
Federal Reserve Act
A law created to provide a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system was signed by President Woodrow Wilson. It created the Federal Reserve System. -
Underwood-Simmons Tariff
The Underwood Tariff Act, also known as the Revenue Act, was the provision for levying and income tax to make up for the loss of revenue for the government.
Act that imposed tax to make up for the loss of revenue. -
16th Amendment
Gave Congress the power to lay and collect income taxes. Passed on July 2, 1909, and was ratified on February 2, 1913. -
Department of Labor Established
Established by President William Howard Taft hours before Woodrow Wilson took office. It was made to help job seekers, employers, and retirees of the U.S. by improving their working conditions. It better the opportunities for employment and protects the benefits that workers receive. -
17th Amendment
U.S. senators are chosen through direct election by the voters of the states. Passed May 13, 1912, and was ratified April 8, 1913. -
Clayton Antitrust Act
Enforced by the Federal Trade Commission to prevent unfair methods of competition. It prohibited unethical corporate behaviors such as predatory and discriminatory pricing, and anti-competitive mergers. -
Trench Warfare
(1914-1919) This was a defensive military tactic used by both sides that gave soldiers some protection while also hindering troops from advancing which prolonged the war. A lot of illness that was easily spread and lack of sanitation and space caused poor health. -
Federal Trade Commission Act
"An Act to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies" - www.ftc.gov
An Act that prevented unlawful restraints and monopolies. Protected the marketplace from deceptive and unfair practices.
Created the Federal Trade Commission or FTC. -
Federal Trade Commission
Created when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Trade Commission Act. It was created to prevent unfair methods in the marketplace and the battle to "bust the trusts". Enforced the Clayton Antitrust Act. -
Booker T. Washington
(1856-1915) He was the first president and principal developer of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute. He educated African-Americans (the institute was a powerhouse for their education) and his institute also became a political influence. He urged other African-Americans to deal with the discrimination and focus on hard work and education. -
The Birth of a Nation
A film that represents racism and is at the foundation of what becomes Hollywood. It opened many eyes to racism and the lack of people of color being nominated for the Oscars and having a part in American life. Based on the novel The Clansman by Thomas Dixon. -
Lusitania Sunk
A British-owned steamship that was torpedoed by a German U-boat, led to the death of many innocent lives including American lives. This event was one of the major events that led to the U.S. entering World War I. -
Wilson Elected
The 28th President, a Democrat, was also a leader of the Progressive Movement. He campaigned on a program called the New Freedom, which stressed individualism and states' rights because he regarded himself as the personal representative of the people. Won the 1919 Nobel Prize for Peace and the Nineteenth Amendment was passed and ratified during his second term. -
Zimmerman Telegram
A telegram that was intercepted by the British from the Germans intended for Mexico. In the telegram, they offered significant financial aid as well as U.S. territory in exchange for joining their cause and becoming their ally (German and Japan). Another event that contributed greatly to the U.S. entry into World War I. -
Espionage Act
This prohibited obtaining, recording or copying any information related to the national defense with intent or reason to believe that the information will be used against the United States or to give any foreign nation an advantage. -
Wilson Asks for War
President Woodrow Wilson request a declaration of war against Germany to the Congress and led Americans into war in order to apparently make the world safe for democracy. He was unable to remain impartial after the death of innocent Americans and the Zimmerman Telegram. -
18th Amendment
Passed 1917, ratified 1919, and repealed by 21st Amendment in 1933. This Amendment prohibited the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors".
Banned sale, production of, and drinking alcohol. -
Hammer v. Dagenhart
The U.S. Supreme Court case brought to eyes the limits of the federal government's power under the understanding of the court. A prohibition from the Keating-Owen Act exceeded federal authority and was seen as unwarranted encroachment on state powers. -
Wilson-Fourteen Points
A proposal was made by President Woodrow Wilson in a speech before Congress that outlines his visions/ideas for ending WWI so as to prevent another war or fight to occur again. -
Sedition Act
This act curtailed the free speech rights of U.S. citizens during the war and made it so that it was a crime to utter anything bad about the government of the U.S. -
Armistice Day
Armistice Day, also known as Veteran Day now, is that is known as the end of World War I when the Allied powers signed a ceasefire agreement with Germany at Compiégne, France, at 11:00 a.m. President Dwight Eisenhower changed it to Veterans Day in order to honor all veterans, not just WWI veterans. -
Versailles Peace Conference
A conference was held to establish the terms of peace after World War I. This resulted in Germany taking the blame and having to make reparations to the Allied powers. -
Treaty of Versailles to Senate
Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles because Wilson failed to take senators' objections to the agreement into consideration. Their concerns were not addressed properly about this treaty that forced the Central Power and Germany to take the blame for WWI and face the consequences such as loss of territories, reduction in military forces, and paying reparations to the Allied powers. -
19th Amendment
Gave women the right to vote. All citizens allowing to vote regardless of gender/sex. Passed in 1919 and was ratified on August 18, 1920. -
Wilson Stroke
President Woodrow Wilson suffered from a major ischemic stroke which left him incapacitated. This was kept a secret for as long as possible because he was treated by his loyal friend and personal physician, Admiral Cary Grayson. The U.S. was unable to join the League of Nations without Woodrow Wilson's support, and without American support, the League of Nations would prove to be powerless. League Of Nations was unable to prevent the rise of Adolf Hitler. -
Rise of KKK
(Early 20th century) The Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1865. The film 'The Birth of a Nation' supposedly revived the Ku Klux Klan. Even though the KKK continued to promote white supremacy, they also started targeting immigrants, particularly Catholics and African Americans. -
League of Nations
An organization for international cooperation for resolving international disputes. Created by Part I of the Treaty of Versailles. It was created to prevent war, settle disputes through negotiation and diplomacy, and improve global welfare. The organization ended up failing. -
W.E.B. Dubois
(1868-1963) The first African-American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University. A sociologist, historian, author, editor, and activist, one of the most important protest leaders. He is claimed to be the first American sociologist to develop a structural analysis of social inequality. He believed that African Americans will get their citizenship and equal rights through education rather than fighting or protesting. Similar to Booker T. Washington.