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The Great Railroad Strike of 1877
In July 1877, railroad workers across the United States staged a strike to protest against pay cuts and negative working conditions, leading to widespread violence. The strike escalated into violent clashes between strikers, local authorities, and military troops, resulting in a number of deaths and widespread destruction of property. The event was a landmark in labor history and was a sign of the escalating struggle between labor and management. -
The Dawes Act of 1877
The Dawes Act of 1887 was an American government policy attempting to assimilate the Native Americans into American society by giving them individual pieces of land. The act aimed to break up tribal land, decrease communal living, and promote agriculture but resulted in the loss of millions of acres of Native lands to whites. The policy was also further eroding the Native American sovereignty and culture and setting the stage for future controversy over land rights. -
The Pullman Strike of 1894
The Pullman Strike was a national railroad walkout that began in May of 1894 when Pullman Company employees rioted against pay cuts and increased rents on company-owned housing. The strike then spread to other railroads, bringing national railroad traffic to a standstill, and prompting President Grover Cleveland to send federal troops to disperse the strike. The bloody confrontation highlighted the tension between government authority and labor movements during that period. -
The Spanish American War (1898)
The Spanish-American War, sparked by the desire to liberate Cuba from Spanish rule, was fought over in 1898 and concluded with the U.S. rapidly defeating Spain. The war was followed by the U.S. obtaining the possession of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, paving the way for American imperialism. The war was a shocking shift in the position of the U.S. in the world and proved the power the media has in creating support for the war among the populace. -
Wright Brothers First Flight (1903)
On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully accomplished the first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and flew their plane, the Wright Flyer, for 12 seconds. It marked the beginning of the age of flight and changed the way the world transports people. Their invention led to the development of modern aviation and has today become a tribute to human innovation. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
A blaze at New York City's Triangle Shirtwaist Factory on March 25, 1911, had claimed the lives of 146 garment workers, the majority being young immigrant women. The conflagration brought to light perilous working conditions, under which many employees had been trapped behind doors and an absence of protective measures. The disaster led to public outrage, which pushed long-term reforms of labor legislation and workplace safety requirements. -
The Suffrage Movement
Women's suffrage movement culminated in 1919 with the ratification of the 19th Amendment that granted America's women their right to vote. Women suffragists like Susan B. Anthony and Alice Paul struggled for decades, seeking equal rights and a voice in democracy. The amendment's ratification was a landmark in gender equality and transformed American society. -
Stock Market Crash (1929)
The Stock Market Crash of October 1929 marked the beginning of the Great Depression, a bad economic period that affected millions. The crash, fueled by speculation and overvaluation of stocks, wiped out vast wealth, leading to unprecedented joblessness and poverty. The crash changed economic measures and prompted government intervention in an effort to stimulate the economy. -
Beginning of World War II
World War II began on 1 September 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, and Britain and France declared war on Germany. America was neutral at first but was forced to join the war after the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941. World War II reorganized international relations and the world power balance. -
The New Deal (1933-1939)
In response to the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated the New Deal, a collection of programs and reforms for economic recovery. The New Deal ensured job stimulation, social security, and financial reforms, attempting to alleviate the suffering of millions of Americans. The New Deal fundamentally changed the role of the federal government in the economy and laid the groundwork for future social programs. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor (1941)
Italy and Germany had already declared war on the United States on December 7, 1941, and the nature of World War II changed dramatically. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor killed over 2,400 Americans and destroyed much of the Pacific Fleet. The horrific event led the U.S. to be completely involved in the war, and historic military and social change ensued. -
The Holocaust
The Holocaust was the systematic murder of six million Jews and millions of others by the Nazi regime during World War II. As a campaign of racial purity, Jews, Romani, the disabled, and others were targeted by Nazis through concentration camps and mass killings. The Holocaust was among the darkest episodes in human history and has left a lasting legacy on international attitudes towards human rights. -
The Atomic Bombs get dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In August 1945, atomic bombs were dropped by the United States on Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's surrender and the conclusion of World War II. The bombings killed about 200,000 people instantaneously, and many more suffered in the long term from radiation poisoning. The bombings illustrated the horrific potential of nuclear weapons and raised moral questions about their use in war. -
The Cold War begins (1947)
The Cold War began after World War II as an era of political, military, and ideological rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. The two superpowers created nuclear weapons and proxy alliances during this period, with both sides attempting to project their influence around the globe. The Cold War had a deep influence on global relations, leading to proxy conflicts and wars globally. -
The Marshall Plan (1948)
The Marshall Plan, initiated in 1948, was an American economic assistance program to reconstruct European economies following World War II. The plan was intended to prevent the spread of communism by stabilizing war-torn countries and promoting economic stability. The plan contributed to the reconstruction of Western Europe to a large extent and provided U.S. leadership in the post-war period. -
NATO is formed (1949)
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established in 1949 as a Western defense alliance to provide collective defense against potential Soviet aggression. The alliance established a mutual defense obligation and strengthened political, economic, and military ties among the members. NATO is among the most powerful military alliances in modern history, and it played a significant role during the Cold War and afterward. -
The Korean War
The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when the North Koreans invaded South Korea, which was answered by the United States and the United Nations to defend the South. The war resulted in a vicious conflict that resulted in millions of casualties and the creation of a divided Korea along the 38th parallel. The Korean War cemented the Cold War division and shaped U.S. foreign and military policy in Asia. -
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
It was on May 17, 1954, that the U.S. Supreme Court made its historic decision in Brown v. Board of Education, declaring that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The decision overruled the "separate but equal" doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson and was a milestone of the Civil Rights Movement. It paved the way for other lawsuits targeting segregation and discrimination. -
The Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956)
The Montgomery Bus Boycott began on 5 December 1955 when Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her bus seat to a white person. The boycott, organized by civil rights activists like Martin Luther King Jr., lasted over a year and was in protest of racial segregation on public buses. The boycott was a turning point during the Civil Rights Movement and showed the power of nonviolent protest and unified action. -
The Sputnik Launch (1957)
It was on October 4, 1957, that the Soviet Union put the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, into space, and the space race between the USSR and the U.S. began. The successful launch put America into a panic about Soviet technology and led to large-scale investment in research and education. The launch of Sputnik led to the establishment of NASA and the acceleration of American space exploration programs.