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Period: to
1865-2003
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Reconstruction
This was the time in American history after the Civil War when the South was rebuilt. The South was struggling with the freed black population, rebuilding its economy and reestablishing its political position in the United States. -
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution began in the 1820s. This was a revolution because Americans established a national transportation system, harnessed electricity and began mass producing products. -
Appomattox
This was the one of the last battles of the Civil War. It was fought at the Appomattox courthouse in Northern Viginia. Confederate General Robert E. Lee ultimately surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. This loss was devastating to the South and shortly after Lee surrended the South surrendered and the war was over. -
Hawaii
Hawaii was a foothold for the sugar trade in the 19th century for America. After the Spanish American war, the US annexed Hawaii in order to extend its influence in the Pacific region. Hawaii did not become a state until 1959. -
Spanish-American War
This war started over Cuban independence. Spain had been fighting Cuban rebels for years and the US insisted that Spain allow Cuba to declare its independence. Spain refused and war was declared. The US victory also lead to the annexation of Hawaii, Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. -
Creation of the Panama Canal
The French started this project in the 19th century but did not have the funds to finish it. America took over the project and finished it in 1914. The Panama canal is a shipping canal connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. -
World War I
America entered the World War after 3 years of conflict in Europe. The US entered the war because German subs attacked American passanger ships. After a year of fighting, the allies won the and the Treaty of Versailles was signed. This set up an uneasy truce that laid the seeds for World War II. -
Roaring 20's
This was the decade between WWI and the Great Depression. It was a time of great prosperity and modernization. Woman were asserting more independence. The cities were bustling and black musicians were gaining acceptance. -
Prohibition
This is the time in US history when alcohol was banned from being manuafactured and sold. The 18th Amendment to the US Constitution prohibited the production, transport and sale of alcohol. This law sparked significant organzied crime to flourish. This law was so unpopular that it was repealed in 1933. -
Great Depression
The stock market crashed and banks failed which essentially destroyed much of the US economy. Roosevelt's New Deal helped many people but the beginning of World War II really brought America out of the Depression and on the road to economic dominance. -
The New Deal
This was President Franklin D. Roosevelt 's plan to help the country out of the Great Depression. This series of reforms did not end the Depression but it did help get people back to work. Essentially, the New Deal created the social safety net and stabilzed the financial and banking institutions. -
Pearl Harbor
This was an attack by the Japanese on the US naval fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack almost destoryed the US Navy. President Roosevelt declared war on both the Japanese and the Germans after this attack. -
World War II
After the events of Pearl Harbor, America declared war on Japan. With this sudden declaration of war, Germany and Italy allied themselves with Japan and America entered the Second World War. From 1941 until 1944 the US mainly fought Japan, but on D-Day (June 6, 1944) the Allies invavded France and within one year the Germans were defeated. The Germans surrendered on May 8, 1945. -
Atomic Bomb
The two atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the Second World War. Thousands of Japanese civilians were killed and President Truman justified this unprecedented attack because he believed it would finally end the war. -
The Cold War
This was a political fued between the US and the Soviet Union. This feud lasted approximately 40 years. This was a war that was fought politically and economically, not with the military. The Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union. -
Korean War
This was a war that almost started World War III. The North Koreans attacked the South Koreans to try and turn them into a communist government. America fought for South Korea but pulled out US troops in 1953 and there remains a standoff between the Koreas. -
Vietnam
This was a heated conflict between the North and South Vietnamese. After many years of battle, President Nixon ordered the withdrawl of American troops and South Vietnam was overrun by North Vietnam. This war was very controversial in the United States because many people did not support the goals of the war. -
Gulf War
This was a war that started with an invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein because he accused Kuwait of stealing oil. America and other western countries along with the countries surrounding Kuwait attacked Hussein's forces. The Iraqi forces were defeated after 42 days. -
9/11
This was the first large scale terrorist attack on American soil ever. This sparked the Global War on Terror. This was a wake up call to the US government that America is vulnerable to terrorist attack. -
Operation Enduring Freedom
On this date, America attacked Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 attacks. It was believed that the Al-Qaeda leaders that planned the 9/11 attack were in Afghanistan. This is still an on going operation. -
Invasion of Iraq
This started the Iraqi War. The President at the time was George W. Bush. -
Iraqi Freedom
This is the war in Iraq that ended on December 31, 2011. This attack occured because President George W. Bush thought that Iraq had weapons of mass destuction and was a threat to America.
