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Assault on American Indian Life and Culture
During the 1800s the Indian Removal Act of 1830 started a domino affect of events towards Native Americans that included violence, discrimination, and loss of land. These actions led to immense suffering, loss of life, cultural trauma, and the erosion of Native languages, traditions, and spiritual practices. -
MANIFEST DESTINY
Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century doctrine that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This belief was driven by a sense of American exceptionalism, nationalism, and the perceived divine sanction to spread democracy and capitalism. It significantly shaped the nation's history and its geographical and political landscape. -
THE FREEDMEN’S BUREAU
The Freedmen's Bureau, which was originally created by Congress in 1865 and named as the Bureau of Refugees, It was created to aid freed slaves and impoverished whites in the South after the Civil War. The Bureau provided food, housing, medical aid, schooling, and legal assistance. It played a crucial role in the transition from slavery to freedom, though it faced significant opposition and limitations. -
THE IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON
The impeachment of President Andrew Johnson in 1868 was a pivotal event in American history, marking the first time a U.S. president was impeached. Johnson, who became president after Lincoln's assassination, faced intense opposition from Radical Republicans in Congress due to his Reconstruction policies towards the South. The House of Representatives impeached him, but he was acquitted by a single vote in the Senate, allowing him to remain in office. -
THE GILDED AGE
1870-1900 During this period, railroads, steel, and oil flourished, transformed the United States into a major industrial power. It also saw the rise of powerful monopolies, corruption, and labor unrest. Marked by displays of wealth among the elite, contrasted sharply with the harsh realities faced by workers, immigrants, and marginalized communities. This era set the stage for significant social and political reforms, as well as the emergence of movements for workers' rights and social justice. -
The Homestead Steel Strike
Centered at the Carnegie Steel Company's Homestead Steel Works near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the strike erupted when management, led by Henry Clay Frick, attempted to cut wages and break the workers union. In response, workers culminating in a violent clash between Pinkerton detectives hired by management and striking workers, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. -
POPULIST PARTY
formally known as the People's Party, emerged in the late 19th century in the United States, particularly gaining prominence in the 1890s. The Populist Party represented a coalition of farmers, laborers, and reformers discontented with the economic and political dominance of big business and the financial elite during the Gilded Age. The party's platform focused on agrarian issues such as currency reform, free silver, and government regulation of railroads to address rural economic hardships. -
The Spanish-American War
War began after the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, which the American public and media blamed on Spain, exacerbating tensions over Spanish colonial rule in Cuba. The conflict saw decisive American victories in both the Caribbean and the Pacific, notably the Battle of Manila Bay and the Battle of San Juan Hill, where future president Theodore Roosevelt gained fame with his Rough Riders. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris. -
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PANAMA CANAL
United States took over the project under President Theodore Roosevelt, who saw the canal as vital for American military and commercial interests. Through innovative engineering solutions, including the development of extensive lock systems, and the implementation of rigorous health measures to combat disease, the U.S. successfully completed the canal. -
THE MUCKRAKERS
early 20th-century American journalists and writers who sought to expose social ills, corporate corruption, and political injustices. Muckrakers exposed problems in American society and urged the public to identify solutions. Whether those problems were associated with corrupt machine politics, poor working conditions in factories, or the questionable living conditions of the working class (among others), muckrakers shined a light on the problem and provoked outraged responses from Americans. -
MODEL T FORD
the first automobile mass-produced on assembly lines with completely interchangeable parts, making it affordable for the average American. Priced initially at around $850 and eventually dropping to less than $300, the Model T's affordability and durability made car ownership accessible to the middle class. The introduction of the moving assembly line in 1913 significantly increased production efficiency, allowing Ford to produce millions of Model Ts and dominate the market. -
WWI
Sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, the conflict quickly expanded due to complex alliances and rivalries among European powers. The war pitted the Allied Powers, including France, the United Kingdom, Russia, and later the United States, against the Central Powers, led by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. Characterized by brutal trench warfare, widespread use of machine guns, tanks, and chemical weapons. -
Red Scare
The initial Red Scare was fueled by fears of Bolshevik revolution and anarchist violence, leading to widespread paranoia, government crackdowns, and the infamous Palmer Raids, where thousands of suspected radicals were arrested. -
SECOND KU KLUX KLAN
white supremacist organization originally established during Reconstruction. The Second Klan expanded its targets to include Catholics, Jews, immigrants, and anyone perceived as a threat to "American values." This iteration of the Klan capitalized on post-World War I social tensions, using modern marketing techniques and appealing to nativist sentiments to amass a membership that exceeded four million at its height. -
STOCK MARKET CRASH OF 1929
Known as Black Tuesday is widely regarded as the event that triggered the Great Depression. In the preceding years, the U.S. stock market experienced unprecedented growth, driven by speculative investments and easy credit. This speculative bubble burst in late October, with the market losing billions of dollars in value in a matter of days. Frantic selling ensued as panicked investors tried to liquidate their holdings, leading to a massive market collapse. -
THE DUST BOWL
Triggered by a severe drought, poor land management practices, and strong winds. This led to the erosion and depletion of topsoil, creating massive dust storms. The affected states, saw agricultural productivity plummet as crops failed and livestock perished. Tens of thousands of farmers and their families were forced to abandon their homes and livelihoods in search of better prospects elsewhere, leading to widespread economic hardship and human suffering. -
PROHIBITION
Nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. Initiated by the ratification of the 18th Amendment and enforced through the Volstead Act, Prohibition aimed to curb the social problems associated with alcohol consumption, such as crime, poverty, and domestic violence. However, instead of eliminating alcohol, Prohibition led to the rise of illegal speakeasies, bootlegging operations, and a surge in organized crime. -
WW2
The conflict saw the emergence of Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) against the Allied powers (United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and China). The war saw unprecedented mobilization of resources, technological advancements (including nuclear weapons), and the widespread suffering of civilians. It ended with the unconditional surrender of Germany in May 1945 and Japan in September 1945. -
THE COLD WAR
period of intense geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, along with their respective allies. It was characterized by ideological conflict between capitalism and communism, as well as a continuous arms race, including the development and stockpiling of nuclear weapons. The Cold War involved a variety of indirect conflicts and proxy wars, such as the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Soviet-Afghan War, where the superpowers supported opposing sides. -
THE WATERGATE CRISIS
Led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, the crisis began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. The investigation revealed that the burglary was part of a broader campaign of political espionage and sabotage conducted by members of Nixon’s re-election committee. Nixon and his aides attempted to cover up their involvement, leading to a series of revelations about abuses of power.