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Second Industrial Revolution
The second industrial revolution began 1870 due to the expansion of technological advancements. Things like electricity and steel production were spreading fast during this time period. Because of the widespread use of electricity, there was a mass production of goods which lowered the cost of production and goods increased their availability. -
Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American War was the US’ shortest war. The first battle took place inthe Philippine Islands, where the US would ultimately help Filipino people gain their independence. As the war spread to Cuba, American volunteers found success in defeating the Spanish troops. At the end, The Spanish and the US agreed to stop fighting and signed the Treaty of Paris to officially end the war. As a result of the war, America would be seen as a World Power that controlled territories around the world. -
Immigration and Expansion
During the beginning of the 1900’s, many immigrants came to the United states for better job opportunities and to escape famine, diseases, religious/ political persecution. Many of the immigrants were from Eastern and Southern Europe. The Irish immigrants came to the US to escape the Potato Famine, where they would be persecuted for being Roman Catholic and discriminated against for their language and traditions. Most of the immigrants settled in urbanized areas for better job opportunities. -
World War I
Due to past issues and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, war broke out in Europe between the Allied Forces and the Central Powers. Initially, President Wilson claimed the US as “neutral”, but in 1917, Wilson declared war on Central Powers in an attempt to “make the world safe for democracy.” Germany surrendered in 1918. The Treaty of Versailles was signed stating: Germany would be to blame for the war, would be required to pay war reparations, and would be demilitarized. -
Roaring Twenties
After WWI, there were many social changes in the US including the role of women taking a leap forward when the 19th amendment was passed, Women embraced new fashion trends, personal freedoms, and new ideas that challenged the traditional role of women, African Americans garnered cultural respect through music and literature, and a greater cultural moral divide between rural and urban life. -
Great Depression
Americans invested in the Stock Market due to economic prosperity in the 20's. As stock prices rose, investors began buying more stocks than they could afford, increasing price of stock. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates to discourage buying stocks, hurting the US economy. Stock prices steadily declined until the sharpest drop occurred and the stock market collapsed(Black Tuesday). Americans rushed to withdraw their money, but banks were unable to return money due to market crash losses. -
Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act raised taxes on imported goods, encouraging consumers to buy American-made products. This caused foreign nations to retaliate, reducing trade with the US, and led to the decline in international exports and further damaged the US economy. -
The Holocaust
(1933-1945) When Hitler and Nazis took control of Germany, they launched a genocide to eliminate European Jewish population. Jews were stripped of their citizenship, jobs, and property rights. Many feld and migrated to the US; however, those who remained were forced into ghettos and then sent to concentration camps. In these camps, Jews and other victims faced inhumane confinement and were subjected to mass extermination. Death toll was estimated around 11 million people (approx. 6 million Jews) -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Before joining the war, the US remained neutral, but supported the Allied countries. The Japanese invasion of China caused the US to ban trade with Japan. The Embargo restricted Japan’s access to essential goods (Oil Steel). On December 7th, 1941, Japan retaliated by attacking Pearl Harbor naval base, destroying US military vessels and killing thousands of Americans. The next day, President Roosevelt asked Congress for a declaration of war (quickly approved). -
US enters World War II
US entered the war young men volunteered for military service. Americans supported war efforts by purchasing war bonds to help government finance. Victroy gardens were planted to reduce demands for commercially grown food/increased food availability for soldiers. The US governement rationed goods and surge in Federal spending brought end to Great Depression. Women minorities worked in wartime production/took on nontraditional jobs in agriculture, business, the military to support country. -
D-Day
When Allies secured presence in S. Europe, attention turned to W. Europe. They had plans to launch the largest land-sea-air invasion against the German-occupied city of Normandy, France. On June 6th, 1944, General Eisenhower led an invasion on Normandy Coast. Allies faced fierce resistance from Germans and fortified beaches with mines, machine-guns nests, and barbed wire. Despite heavy casualties, D-Day was a success. Allies gained control of most of France and prepared to advance into Germany. -
The Atomic Bomb
President Truman took over and learned of the Manhattan Project(Scientists in New Mexico were secretly developing an atomic bomb). Since Japan refused to accept terms of a surrender and a ground invasion was expected to cause heavy Allied casualties, Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Bombings forced Japan to surrender and brought end to WWII. Use of atomic bombs had long-term effects that changed international relations/shaped the structure of the postwar world. -
Cold War
A rivalry between the US and Soviet Union, competing for dominance, power and worldwide influence. The US focused on stopping spread of communism Soviet Union tried to take over Greece and Turkey to continue the spread of communism. The US began providing aid to Turkey and Greece due to threats from the communist regime (Truman Doctrine). To protect themselves from potential attacks by Soviet Union, the US and sevreal democratic European countries formed a military alliance(NATO). -
Korean War
China (communist) supported communist North Korea. They wanted the whole peninsula ro be communist controlled, but South Korea did not follow communist ideals. North Korea invaded South Korea with the help of China. Executive Order 9981: desegregated US military which led to major civil rights victories for minorities. General MacArthur drove the North Korean army out of South Korea (then invaded North Korea) The 38th Parallel was established to seep Korea divided into two countries. -
Vietnam War
Communist North Vietnam invaded pro-Western South Vietnam. The US believed in the Domino Theory. In early 60’s, US sent supplies/military advisers to South Vietnam to stop spread of communism. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed: president gains military powers to use force w/out declaration of war. This helped take large numbers of age-eligible men drafted send them to war. 1968: North Vietnam launched Tet Offensive, where South Vietnam cities were captured, eroding American public support. -
Martin Luther King Jr. Involvement
Martin Luther King Jr. organized a peaceful bus boycott in Montgomery, Al that lasted over a year. He led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference which used peaceful protests. In 1963, civil rights leaders organized a march on Washington for Jobs and freedom to advocate for equality for African Americans. Dr. King was the event’s final speaker. He gave his “I Have a Dream” speech that advocated for an inclusive society where people weren't judged by their color of skin but by character. -
Space Race
This began when Soviets launched Sputnik I into space. To keep up with the Soviet Union, US increased funding for math, science, and technology education in hopes of creating a new generation of engineers. America established and invested money into a federal agency devoted to space exploration (aka NASA). John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960 and set goal of landing an American on the moon. In1969, US achieved its goal when Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans on the moon. -
Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs began when Fidel Castro, ally of the Soviet Union, led a revolution in Cuba that overthrew the government and established a communist regime. The US attempted to remove Castro and his communist government through the Bay of Pigs invasion. The nvasion failed, and the Soviet Union saw this as a sign of weakness in President Kennedy’s leadership and used it as an opportunity to send nuclear missiles to Cuba. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Tension between the US and the Soviet Unions escalated when a US spy plane discovered missile bases being built to house nuclear weapons being shipped to Cuba. In response, President Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of the island to stop future shipments of Soviet missiles. With the world watching, the Cuban Missile Crisis was resolved through diplomatic negotiations; the US and the Soviet Union agreed to a peaceful solution. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Began when announcements were made that were misinterpreted about the opening of the border. Many East Germans gathered at the checkpoints, demanding to cross to W. Germany. After the borders opened, people started chipping away at the wall. Eventually, the Eastern German government began dismantling the wall. The Fall of the Berlin Wall led to the reunification of East and West Germany and a more unified European continent. -
9/11
On this day, al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked 4 commercial airplanes and caused 2 of them to crash into the World Trade Center in New York City. Both towers collapsed and left massive destruction in the city. Of the remaining 2, one crashed into the Pentagon in Virginia and the other crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Close to 3,000 people passed away, leaving a deep impact on American society and foreign policy. It also led to increased security in airports and several other public places.