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Historical Figure: George Washington (1732-1799)
He was the first president of the united states and helped lead the Continental Army as commander. He was elected president in 1789 and helped write the U.S constitution. He lived to the age of 67 and died on his plantation in Virginia. During the revolution he motivated his army when things were going South. Specifically, during the winter of 1777 through 1778 marks a huge moment for George Washington for he was able to inspire the soldiers he was with to keep moving onward in difficult times. -
Historical Figure: Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
Jefferson was one of the founding fathers and a huge contributor to the Declaration of Independence. He also served as Secretary of State during George Washington’s presidency. By being one of the major authors for the Declaration of Independence he helped promote democracy and liberty which helped inspire American colonist to separate from great Britain’s rule. He also helped represent Virginia in the Continental Congress during the revolution. -
The Shot Heard Around the World
On April 18th, 1775, is when the famous “Shot heard around the world” was made when 100 of the British troops marched all the way from Boston to Massachusetts (specifically near Concord). The first recognition of the Revolutions starts and important to the colonies. -
Overview: Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War spanned 1775-1783 and was between the colonies and the Great British. It kicked off in Lexington and Concord in April 1775. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a result of the Revolutionary war. This document is the law of the land and was written in mid-June of 1776 by John Adams, Benjamin franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. They created a draft informal statement of what the colonies wanted. Congress then adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, known today as Independence Day. It includes 5 sections which are the introduction, a preamble, the body which is divided into two sections, and a conclusion. -
Primary Source: Thomas Paine's American Crisis No.1
Published as a pamphlet in Philadelphia, PA and read the troops before the crossing of the Delaware River and the victory at the Battle of Trent. https://americainclass.org/sources/makingrevolution/war/text2/painecrisis1776.pdf -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was on October 19th, 1781. The British Army was led mu General Lord Charles Cornwallis and was forced to surrender to George Washington’s army and the French allies. This occurred in Yorktown, Virginia and was huge for it marked the last big battle during Revolution. The continental army really needed this win and did not have a lot of troops stationed. There is only about 2500 American soldiers and 4000 French soldiers against 8000 British troops. -
Treaty of Paris
The signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3rd, 1783. This is the official document that makes the colonies separate from Britian and was signed in Paris. This was a big step for the colonies to start a new nation on its own separate from the monarchy. -
Historical Figure: Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906)
Women’s suffrage was another issue tackled during this timeframe. The largest women’s suffrage group created during this time was led by Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton, the NAWSA (National American Woman Suffrage Association). Their biggest accomplishment was achieving the right to vote for women with the passing of the 19th amendment. Elizabeth Stanton wrote a book with Susan B Anthony and Matilda Gage, and Ida Harper titled History of Woman Suffrage. -
Historical Figure: Peter J. McGuire (1852-1906)
McGuire is the founder of Labor Day and May Day. He convinced union activists around the country that a national federation was necessary. He persuaded workers to organize together, abolish the wage system, and create a system of cooperative production and distribution. He organized St. Louis carpenters and won them a wage gain. This later formed the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. He then led more than 30,000 marchers into the city to parade on the first Monday of September. -
National Labor Union Founded
This was the first national labor federation in the US that was made to unite labor unions to ensure they can advocate for workers’ rights together. -
Historical Figure: W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963)
Events throughout the Progressive Era led to the creation of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) which was formed by black and white Americans. Du Bois was one of the founders and leaders of the NAACP, playing a huge role in advocating for civil rights. Du Bois wrote a book called The Souls of Black Folk, highlighting social and political inequality and demanding change such as ending disenfranchisement and legalizing segregation. -
Historical Figure: Cordell Hull (1871-1955)
Hull was FDR’s Secretary of State from 1933-1944. One of Hull’s greatest accomplishments came after he attended the Pan-American Conference. There he won the trust of all the Latin American diplomats in attendance, laying a solid foundation for the later developed Good Neighbor Policy, establishing cooperation and trade amongst Central and South American countries. -
Overview: Labor Movement
The Labor Movement was workers fighting for better working conditions. They also wanted to ensure they were making enough money to support their families and secure a retirement, so they didn’t have to work forever. -
Primary Source: Building a New American State
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Historical Figure: Lucy Randolph Mason (1882-1959)
Mason got the community to begin to support state labor laws that would provide safer working conditions, end child labor laws, raise minimum wages, and shorten work hours. She traveled to persuade the consumers to raise labor standards as well. She was an active speaker in her community through the Union Label League. The National Consumers League was able to improve labor codes and have consumers only buy goods and services made by workers who had livable wages and decent working conditions. -
Historical Figure: Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945)
FDR was the 32nd president of the United States and the face of the New Deal. He was the longest serving president, serving more than two terms. FDR created the New Deal and established all of its programs, lifting the United States out of the Great Depression. -
Overview: Progressive Era
The Progressive Era, from 1890-1920, was a time of problem solving. Many Americans viewed the economy and the political system negatively. Large businesses left work conditions extremely poor, paid minimal wages and extended hours for workers unreasonably. Many people lived in poverty and children were forced to work at ages younger than 15. Women were paid far less than men and were still unable to vote. Americans believed that these issues needed to be fixed, calling for reform. -
Labor Day Established
This holiday is important because it now marks a national holiday. It allows workers a break from labor and to rest and recreation. Labor Day was significant and a turning point because it created eight-hour workdays, child labor laws, and workplace safety. It is a reminder of the struggles and successes of labor unions and activists who fought for workers’ rights. -
Meat Inspection Act of 1906
Journalists took action by muckraking or writing about poor conditions to draw attention to business owners. They used the new technology of adding pictures to bring their experiences to life. One book, The Jungle, written by Upton Sinclair, aimed to tackle the issue of labor conditions of meat packing workers but instead led people to be disgusted by the conditions in which their food was being packaged. This book led the way for the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act of 1906. -
Springfield Riot
Two black men were accused of sexual assault and murder of a white female and male. To protect these men from the riots forming outside the jail, the men transported to an Illinois jail. When protesters heard about the move, they began to destroy black owned businesses, homes, as well as becoming violent toward the black community. Lynching became widely spread during this time. -
Primary Source: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
A fire in a New York City garment factory that killed 146 workers, which was made up mainly of young women. This showed the unsafe working conditions in factories and led to significant labor reforms and improved safety standards.
https://trianglefire.ilr.cornell.edu/primary/testimonials/ootss_RoseCohen.html -
16th Amendment Added
The 16th amendment added in 1913 was a direct reflection of the case Pollock v. Farmers’ Loan & Trust Co. which ruled the taxes levied by the Wilson-Gorman Act a “direct” tax and unconstitutional. The 16th amendment grants Congress the authority to impose income taxes on individuals and corporations. -
18th Amendment Ratified
Finally, the 18th amendment ratified in 1919 prohibited the making, transporting and sale of alcohol. As part of all other reform movements, alcohol abuse was a target for reformers. The goal was to reduce and prevent alcoholism and the abuse that inadvertently followed drunkenness. -
FDR Elected President
In 1932, FDR was elected president and took office in March of 1933. FDR proposes various government programs and employment opportunities to get the United States back on track following the Great Depression. The Civilian Conservation Corps was one of the earliest New Deal programs to be established, relieving employment by providing conservation work for young men throughout the nation. -
Tennessee Valley Authority Established
In 1933, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was established. The TVA helped harness power from the Tennessee River. The region surrounding the river was finally lifted out of poverty due to the supply of cheap electricity, the prevention of floats, and improved navigation throughout the entire region. -
Overview: New Deal Era
Before the New Deal, the United States was suffering through the Great Depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt designed programs, projects, and reforms to lift the United States out of the Great Depression. -
Securities Exchange Act Passed
In 1934, the United States Congress passed the Securities Exchange Act. The act regulates security transactions in the secondary market. The goal of the act is to ensure a fair environment for investors in an attempt to prevent fraudulent activities and another economic collapse like the Great Depression. -
Works Progress Administration Created
In 1935, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was created. The WPA provided work for millions of Americans that lost their jobs during the Great Depression. With more Americans working, the economy was stimulated and began to grow back to what it was before the Great Depression. -
Primary Source - Relief Employee
This is a picture of a relief employee in Oklahoma. The man is a migrant worker in Oil City, which held a large population of immigrants right outside California. -
Fair Labor Standards Act
This is a federal law where it has an impact on labor conditions in the US and influences labor law today. It established a minimum wage, overtime pay, child labor restrictions, recordkeeping, and coverage and exemptions. -
Historical Figure: Evelyn S. Field
Field was a teacher for three decades and played an active role in the Civil Rights movement in New Jersey, protesting and raising funds. She is credited to be one of the founding women of the reproductive justice movement, fighting for civil rights for black women within healthcare. She, along with the other twelve women to establish the term reproductive justice, would later become a part of the Women of African Descent for Reproductive Justice. -
Overview: Reproductive Justice
The term “reproductive justice” was coined in 1994. At the core of the reproductive justice movement there are three key beliefs: all women have the right to have children, not have children, and to nurture children in a safe environment. Reproductive justice is the right for women to control their sexuality, gender, work, and reproduction. -
Historical Figure: Toni M. Bond Leonard
Leonard was one of the twelve women of color that developed the concept of reproductive justice. In 1996, she co-founded the first Black women’s reproductive justice organization in the United States. In 2019, she was named an Auburn Seminary Coolidge Scholar and continues to complete research as a womanist theo-ethicist. -
Reproductive Justice Movement Begins
Twelve women created the Reproductive Justice movement for women after participating in the International Conference on Population and Development. This was the foundation of the movement towards Reproductive justice. -
SisterSong Established
SisterSong, a company devoted to reproductive and sexual health for all women of color, was formed. SisterSong not only spreads awareness but also hosts events to inform and train people in reproductive justice. -
Primary Source: Original Broadcast of FDA Announces Approval of Abortion Pill
The FDA approves the abortion pill opening up reproductive health opportunities for more women from different economic backgrounds (original broadcast).
https://americanarchive.org/primary_source_sets/reproductive-rights/7-507-0z70v8b371 -
Affordable Care Act
In 2010, the act was created to reform the cost of health insurance. The three goals of this act are to make healthcare more affordable and available for more people, to expand medicaid to people with lower incomes, and to support medical care processes designed to lower the cost of healthcare. The Affordable Care Act helped make contraceptives more accessible for women who were unable to afford them prior and helped more women to become insured. -
Primary Source: Affordable Care Act
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Push for Social Change Through Sex Education
After 94% of back women voted for Hillary Clinton, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, rebranded their company with a mission to push social change through sex education. This helped spread awareness of the lack of resources for people of color, specifically women of color.