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Puritan Education
The court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony decided to give populous towns a school. This was the foundation of public education for the United States. -
Eighth Amendment
The Eight Amendment is ratified, prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment for inmates. This later becomes reinforced by prison reform movement groups in the later future. -
Seeds of Prohibition
The sale of alcohol to drunkards is outlawed in Indiana, in addition to licenses needed to purchase alcohol. -
Boston English
The first public high school in the United States opens. -
American Temperance Society
The first move to prohibiting the consumption of alcohol. It was seen as immoral and irreligious as it sometimes ruined families. -
American Anti-Slavery Society
The founding of the Abolitionist group led by William Lloyd Garrison with Fredrick Douglass as a popular speaker. Although it had support, it often faced opposition resulting in violence. -
Horace Mann
Horace Mann, the secretary of Massachusett's board of education, created many of the modern styles of education, including separated grade levels and providing text books. -
Dorothea Dix
Dorothea Dix begins her reform movement for treating the poor mentally insane, and improve jail conditions for the mentally unstable. She also helped develop mental asylums. -
Oneida
The founding of the most well-sustained Utopian community focused on the lack of child-bearing. Its economy was supported by metal production. -
First Illegal Death Penalty
Michigan becomes the first state to dismiss the death penalty for all crimes, except treason. -
Declaration of Sentiments
The first large women's rights convention in Seneca Falls. The Declaration of Sentiments gave a list of tasks that outlined the future of women's rights. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The proclamation announced by President Lincoln that freed slaves in the United States. However, it only freed the areas that were not in rebellion against the union at that time. -
Thomas Nast
A very popular, but controversial, political cartoonist that focused on exposing New York City's political machine. -
National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)
The merging of the two largest women's rights groups to form the NAWSA. Focused on individual states, rather than the entire country, to help guarantee rights for women. -
Progressive Era Movement
The general beginning of the Progressive Era, involving a number of social reforms that worked to solve the negatives of American society. -
NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was formed to promote the education opportunities for African Americans to advance their chances for equal rights. -
The 19th Amendment
The women's suffrage amendment, originally written by Susan B. Anthony, is ratified by congress. It gave women the right to vote. -
Beginning of Prohibition
The official start of national Prohibition, resulting in the banning of consumption and production of alcohol. It was, however, later revoked. -
Native American Citizenship
An act of Congress is released which deems Native Americans as citizens of the United States.