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Period: 500 BCE to Jan 1, 1500
Middle Ages
Difficult time for Europeans. Crusades between Christians and Muslims and the creation of nation-states helped bring dramatic changes in Europe. -
400 BCE
Mayans
Began their rise around 400 BC. Built large pyramids, developed a writing system and number system that used the number zero -
400
Pre-Colonial Era & Exploration (Chapter 1)
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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Document that placed limits on royal power. Established no taxation without representation and the right to trial by jury. Became basic principles of English law. After the Revolutionary war, became a part of American law. -
Jan 1, 1300
Renaissance
French word for "rebirth." New era of learning and creativity that began in Italy. Led to reformation. -
Jan 1, 1400
Aztecs
Miltaristic. Formed a large empire in present-day Mexico. Tenochtitlan, today's Mexico City, was the Aztec capital. -
Jan 1, 1400
Native American Groups
Trade brought various Native American cultures together. Hohokam (Southwest) farmed in the desert using irrigation systems. Anasazi (Southwest) built homes of adobe; ancestors of Pueblo Indians. Adena and Hopewell Indians known as Mound Builders b/c they buried their dead in large earth mounds. Iroquois in the Eastern Woodlands lived in longhouses (rectangular buildings made of logs and bark). -
Period: Jan 1, 1451 to May 20, 1506
Christopher Columbus
An Italian sailor who attempted to sail west to reach Asia. On August 3, 1942, he set sail with about 90 men. On October 12, they landed on a small island in the Bahamas, which Columbus mistook for the Indies in Asia. Columbus's voyages began the process of European colonization of the Americas. -
Period: Dec 3, 1460 to Jul 1, 1521
Juan Ponce de Leon
The first Spanish explorer to reach mainland Florida. Claimed Florida for Spain. -
Aug 1, 1492
Columbian Exchange
The exchange of plants and animals among Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans. Had tragic consequences as Native Americans had no way to resist European diseases; thousands were wiped out. -
Period: Jan 1, 1495 to May 21, 1542
Hernando de Soto
Traveled widely in the Southeast, as far north as the present-day Carolinas and Tennessee. His expedition also discovered the Mississippi River. -
Period: Mar 13, 1499 to Jan 3, 1543
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
Sailed north from Mexico, exploring the coast of California. Sailed into present-day San Diego Bay and Monterey Bay. -
Jan 1, 1500
Viceroyalties
Provinces ruled by viceroys, direct representatives of the monarch. Viceroyalty of New Spain included much of the American Southwest, present-day Mexico, Florida, Central America, part of Venezuela, and the Caribbean islands. -
Jan 1, 1500
Middle Passage
Difficult trip across the Atlantic (from West Africa to the West Indies) for slaves. Caused tremendous human suffering. -
Period: Jan 1, 1510 to Sep 22, 1554
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
Led a European expedition that traveled as far as present-day Kansas. Other men in the expedition went into present-day Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. First Europeans to see the Grand Canyon. -
Jan 1, 1517
Reformation
Reform movement. Caused by a German monk named Martin Luther who criticized church practices and challenged church officials to a public debate. -
Period: Sep 7, 1533 to
Queen Elizabeth I
Reigned from 1558-1603. Acted on Spain's claims to the Americas. Built England into a sea power. -
Period: Jun 19, 1566 to
King James I
Issued a charter that divided North America between two groups of investors, the London Company and the Plymouth Company. -
Spanish Armada
Fleet of 130 ships sent by the Spanish king to invade England. Defeated by English navy. -
Puritans/Pilgrims/Separatists
Puritans were English Protestants who didn't think the Reformation went far enough. Separatists were Puritans who wanted a total separation from the established church. Pilgrims were Separatists who left England for America. -
Indentured Servants
Agreed to work as servants for a certain number of years in return for food, shelter, and a paid trip to America. -
Northern Colonies
Massachusetts Bay Colony inspired the Great Migration. From 1620-1643, around 16,000 men, women, and children crossed the Atlantic Ocean in order to settle in New England. Connecticut was settled by believers of a more democratic government. Rhode Island was settled by Roger Williams who believed church and state should be separate, and that settlers should buy land from the Indians instead of just taking it. New Hampshire was founded by a man who left Massachusetts Bay Colony. -
Period: to
Middle & Southern Colonies
New York was composed of many diverse nationalities and religions. New Jersey was formed when the owner of NY gave a large tract of land to two proprietors. North Carolina was home to mostly small farmers, while South Carolina was full of rich rice plantations and slave labor. Pennsylvania was founded by Quakers who believed in personal communication with God. Maryland was founded as a haven for English Catholics. Georgia was formed as a military buffer zone between Carolinas and S Florida -
Jamestown, Virginia
Settled in 1607, the first English colony that survived. Encountered many hardships along the way, such as starvation or disease from contaminated water. -
House of Burgesses
America's first legislature, or law-making body. -
Mayflower Compact
A legal contract in which Pilgrims agreed to make laws to protect the general good. -
Period: to
King Charles II
Established proprietary colonies because he owed money and favors to many people. Another one of his debts led to the founding of the colony of Pennsylvania. -
Period: to
John Locke & Two Treatises of Government
An Enlightenment thinker who established natural rights and social contract theory. Wrote Two Treatises of Government (1690) in which he stated it was the government's duty to protect citizens' natural rights. His ideas influenced Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. -
Navigation Acts
Series of laws restricting colonial trade passed by Great Britain to ensure the colonies remained profitable to their home country. Angered American colonists. -
Plantation
A large farm with an unskilled labor force that grows one cash crop, such as sugar or tobacco. Created a wealthy and influential class of planters. Largely dependent upon slavery. -
Federalists
Supporters of the Constitution, formerly called nationalists. Believed a strong national government was necessary for the survival of the nation. Federalist cause was generally popular in cities and among the wealthy. -
Antifederalists
People who opposed the Constitution. Feared that a strong national government would lead to a tyranny. Worried that the central government would abuse both states' rights and individual liberties. -
Period: to
George Washington (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics. First President of the United States. Washington's cabinet introduced Democrat-Republicans and the structure of the court system. -
Period: to
John Adams
Washington's vice president. Became president when Washington refused a third term. Wanted to improve the relationship between the United States and France. His XYZ affair allowed Congress to pass several repressive laws. -
Period: to
King George III
Took the throne in the midst of the French & Indian War. The policies of his prime minister pushed the colonists and Britain farther apart. -
Period: to
Thomas Jefferson
Member of the Second Continental Congress. John Adams's vice president. Best known as the writer of the Declaration of Independence. -
Period: to
Thomas Jefferson (as President)
Historical Theme: Domestic Policy. Nation's third president. Most important accomplishment as president was the Louisiana Purchase. Presidency was guided by two essential principles: a) reducing the size and influence of the federal government and b) cutting back the taxes passed under Hamilton's financial plan -
Period: to
Industrial Revolution
The birth of modern industry and the social changes that accompanied the resulting industrial growth. Occurred from the mid-1700s to the mid-1800s. -
Period: to
James Madison
Secretary of State. Refused to deliver a commission to one of the midnight judges, resulted in the power known as judicial review. -
Period: to
James Madison (as President)
Historical Theme: Domestic Policy. Fourth President of the United States. Composed first drafts of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights; earned the nickname “Father of the Constitution." -
Period: to
French & Indian War
France and Indian nations attacked England. Effects of the war included colonial unity, new boundaries, war debt, and an alliance among almost all the Upper Midwest Native Americans. -
Period: to
Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of the treasury. Led the Federalists. His financial plan had 3 major steps: the federal government should take on both state and national debts, the government should raise revenue by passing tariffs, and the United States should create a national bank and a national mint to stabilize the banking system. -
Period: to
James Monroe (as President)
Historical Theme: Foreign Policy. Famous Monroe Doctrine. During his presidency, the economy grew rapidly and a spirit of nationalism and optimism prevailed. One newspaper called the time the "era of good feelings." -
Period: to
The Revolutionary Era (Chapter 2)
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Treaty of Paris 1763
Officially ended the French & Indian War. -
Proclamation of 1763
Proclamation that drew a line along the Appalachian Mountains, reserving land on the western side for Native Americans. British officials hoped this would prevent more conflicts with Native Americans on the frontier, but the British government was unable to enforce the ban and colonists continued to settle on these western lands. -
Stamp Act
Repressive act that required colonists to pay for a official government stamp on certain paper items. The first time Parliament had taxed the colonists directly. Americans openly protested the stamp tax and it was eventually repealed by Parliament. -
Period: to
Andrew Jackson (as President)
Historical Theme: Economics, Geography Opposed the Second Bank of the United States. Signed the Indian Removal Act that caused the Trail of Tears so white settlers could acquire their land. -
Period: to
John Quincy Adams (as President)
Historical Theme: Technology & Innovation. Proposed a progressive national program, including federal funding of an interstate system of roads and canals and the creation of a national university. Administration weakened by scandal and criticism. Americans believed Adams was out of touch with the people. -
Boston Massacre
5 deaths caused by British soldiers firing into an angry crowd. -
Period: to
Wiliam Henry Harrison (as President)
Historical Theme: N/A because he was only President for one month before he died of pneumonia. -
Battle of Lexington
700 British troops vs 70 minutemen, resulted in 8 colonist deaths. -
Thomas Paine (Common Sense)
A colonist who published "Common Sense," a pamphlet that stated in clear terms why the colonies should break free from British rule. Strengthened support for the American Revolution. -
Declaration of Independence
Document that formally announced the colonies' break with Great Britain. Expressed three main ideas: a) men had "inalienable rights," b) explained that King George had passed unfair laws and taxed the colonies unfairly, and c) declared that colonies had the right to break away from Great Britain because King George had violated the social contract. -
Period: to
Battle of Saratoga
Took place in New York. Considered the turning point of the Revolutionary War. -
Articles of Confederation
America's first national constitution. Established an association of independent, sovereign states with common goals. Had many weaknesses: no executive branch, 9 out of 13 states had to agree on any law, all 13 had to agree to amend the Articles. -
Period: to
Battle of Yorktown
Last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Ensured American victory. -
Period: to
Martin van Buren (as President)
Historical Theme: Society & Culture. Extended the 1o-hour workday to other employees. -
Treaty of Paris 1783
A treaty in which Britain recognized the independence of the United States; ended the Revolutionary War. -
Period: to
Zachary Taylor (as President)
Historical Theme: Society & Culture. Led the nation during its debates on slavery and Southern secession. -
Great Compromise
Compromise between Virginia Plan (large state plan) and New Jersey Plan (small state plan). Featured a bicameral legislature. In the lower house, each state's number of representatives is determined by population. In the upper house, each state has an equal number of representatives. -
Bicameral Legislature
Two-house legislature. Key accomplishment of the Convention. -
The Constitution
Created due to frustration with the Articles of Confederation. Bicameral legislature balanced large and small states and northern and southern interests. -
The Federalist Papers
A series of 85 essays that supported the Constitution. Main purpose was to persuade New York delegates to ratify the document by explaining its advantages; also brilliant explanations of the principles of federalism. -
Ratification
Official approval. For example, Federalists and Antifederalists battled over ratification of the Constitution, which was ratified in 1788. -
Period: to
John Tyler (as President)
Historical Theme: Geography. Made Florida part of the union. Approved of the annexation of Texas. -
Period: to
Whiskey Rebellion
Farmers in Western Pennsylvania objected violently to Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey. They attacked tax collectors and burned barns of snitches. -
Period: to
James Buchanan (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics Pledged not to interfere with slavery where it existed, but events during his term made tensions worse. -
Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments to the Constitution. Protected both individuals and states against what people feared might be too much government power. Most of the amendments echoed the rights listed in the Virginia Declaration of Rights. -
Democratic Party
A new political party created by Andrew Jackson and his supporters. First Democratic national convention held in 1832. -
Eli Whitney/Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, which separated the seeds from the usable part of the cotton. The cotton gin had a major impact on life in the South. -
Period: to
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Corporate leader with staggering fortunes. Invested in railroads during the Civil War. His holdings soon stretched west to Michigan and north to Canda. -
Period: to
James Polk (as President)
Historical Theme: Geography. Supporter of annexation. Began the Mexican-American War. -
Democratic-Republicans
Others who saw a more rural than urban country, with power residing closer to the people, in the state governments. Led by Jefferson and Madison. -
Nationalism
The belief that the interests of the nation as a whole are more important than regional interests or the interests of other countries. -
Sectionalism
The belief that one's own section, or region, of the country is more important than the whole. -
Period: to
Millard Fillmore (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics Best known for supporting and signing into law the 1850 Compromise, which angered both pro- and anti-slavery factions. -
Period: to
Nat Turner
Led an uprising that became the deadliest slave revolt in American history. -
Louisiana Purchase
One of Jefferson's major achievements was purchasing Louisiana from France. Roughly doubled the size of the United States. -
Marbury v. Madison
Established the Supreme Court's right to declare that a law violates the Constitution. -
Period: to
Lewis & Clark
Meriwether Lewis was Jefferson's secretary and William Clark was an experienced frontiersman. Led the most famous expedition in which they reached the Pacific Ocean. -
Period: to
Franklin Pierce (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics Saw the abolitionist movement as a fundamental threat to the unity of the nation -
Period: to
William Lloyd Garrison
An outspoken abolitionist who founded the American Anti-Slavery Society, the first major abolitionist group to call for the immediate end to slavery in the United States. -
Period: to
Robert E. Lee
Took command of the Confederacy's Army of Northern Virginia. -
Period: to
Jefferson Davis
A former United States senator from Mississippi, chosen as the President of the Confederate States of America. -
Period: to
Andrew Johnson (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics Determined to keep control of Reconstruction. Northerners were upset by Black Codes and the return of Confederates to power. -
Period: to
Abraham Lincoln (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics Issued the Emancipation Proclamation which began the process of freedom for America's slaves. Strong supporter of the Thirteenth Amendment that formally ended slavery in the United States. -
Period: to
War of 1812
The second war between British and American forces in North America. American victory. The United States felt it had proved itself as a nation. -
Period: to
Stephen A. Douglas
Illinois senator who suggested dropping the Missouri Compromise's ban on slavery. -
Period: to
Developing a National Identity (Chapter 3)
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Second Bank of the United States
National bank overseen by the federal government, established in 1816 by Congress with a 20-year charter. -
Period: to
Frederick Douglass
Supporter of the women's rights movement. Best known for his role as a leading abolitionist. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
Landmark Supreme Court case in which Chief Justice John Marshall sided with the national government on the issue of a national bank. Made it clear that national interests were to be put above state interests. -
Missouri Compromise
An agreement in which Missouri was admitted to the Union as a slave state and Maine was admitted as a free state, kept the balance between free and slave states, banned slavery in the northern part of the Louisiana Territory. -
Second Great Awakening
Religious movement similar to the First Great Awakening. -
Temperance Movement
A movement to eliminate or lessen the use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance = moderation. -
Transcendentalism/Ralph Waldo Emerson
One of the most remarkable movements of the Reform Era. The belief that knowledge is not found only by observation of the world but also through reason, intuition, and personal spiritual experiences. Key transcendentalists were Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. -
Period: to
Underground Railroad
An informal, constantly changing network of escape routes in which sympathetic white people and freemen provided escapes with food, hiding places, and directions to their next destination. -
Period: to
Harriet Tubman
One famous conductor on the Underground Railroad. Had escaped slavery herself and helped many others on their journey to freedom. -
Period: to
Susan B. Anthony
Formed the National Woman Suffrage Association. Tested the law by voting before women were allowed to. -
Period: to
Ulysses S. Grant (as President)
Historical Theme: Domestic Policy Enforced civil rights laws and fought Ku Klux Klan violence. Encouraged passage of the Fifteenth Amendment, which gave protection to African-American voting rights. Signed the Civil Rights Acts of 1870 and 1875 guaranteeing equal rights to African-Americans. -
Period: to
Rutherford B. Hayes (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics Oversaw the end of Reconstruction, began the efforts that led to civil service reform, and attempted to reconcile the divisions left over from the Civil War and Reconstruction. -
Monroe Doctrine
Declared America was off-limits to European colonization. The United States would stay out of European affairs and it expected Europe to stay out of American affairs. -
National Republicans
John Quincy Adams and his supporters were known as the National Republicans. -
Erie Canal
363-mile long canal that connected the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. Provided a quick, economical way to ship goods. -
Period: to
Chester Arthur (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics, Domestic Policy Supported government reforms. Advocated for civil service reform. -
Abolition Movement
Formed to help end slavery. Largely the work of American women. Most religious people in the North saw slavery as a clear moral wrong that went directly against their religious beliefs. -
Indian Removal Act
An act that called for the relocation of the five nations to an area west of the Mississippi River called Indian Territory. -
Period: to
George Pullman
Corporate leader with staggering fortunes. Made his fortune by designing and building sleeper cars that made long-distance rail travel more comfortable. -
Period: to
James A. Garfield (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics. Attacked political corruption and won back for the Presidency a measure of prestige it had lost during the Reconstruction period. -
Period: to
Benjamin Harrison (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics Signed the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 into law. Supported bills that promoted voting rights of African Americans in the South. -
Period: to
Andrew Carnegie
Corporate leader with staggering fortunes. Dominated the American steel industry with the Carnegie Steel Company. -
Period: to
Grover Cleveland (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics Best known as a political reformer. Blamed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act on the Panic of 1893, a depression in which stock prices fell and millions lost their jobs. -
Period: to
Trail of Tears
Term that symbolizes the suffering of all the nations as many Native Americans were forced to march hundreds of miles west to Indian Territory. -
Period: to
John D. Rockefeller
Corporate leader with staggering fortunes. Owner of the company Standard Oil. -
Samuel Morse/Telegraph
Samuel Morse invented the telegraph, which is a device that sends messages using electricity through wires. Most important communication advance of the Industrial Revolution. -
Period: to
William McKinley (as President)
Historical Theme: Domestic Policy, Foreign Policy Established the gold standard as the official backing of American currency. Strove to end sectionalism between the North and the South. Led the nation to a decisive victory in the 1898 Spanish-American War. Established the Open Door policy to China making trade with the Chinese be open to all western nations equally. -
Period: to
Mexican-American War
The United States declared war on Mexico after the annexation of Texas, a boundary dispute, and manifest destiny and expansionism. Effects were the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the Mexican Cession, and Gadsden Purchase. -
Period: to
Thomas Edison
One of America's most amazing inventors. Invented the first phonograph and telephone transmitter. First to come up with a safe electric lightbulb that could light homes and street lamps. Brought an electricity network to New York City. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Ended the Mexican-American War. Under the treaty, the Mexican Cession occurred. -
Seneca Falls Convention
First women's rights convention held in America. Raised an important issue: equality for American women. -
The American Party (The Know-Nothings)
Secret fraternal organization against immigrants. Called Know-Nothings because when asking about their group's activities they would say, "I know nothing." -
Manifest Destiny
The belief that it was America's God-given right to settle land all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Major western trails were well established by 1850. The Santa Fe Trail led from Missouri to New Mexico. The Oregon Trail was the longest and most famous trail; 2,000-mile long trail from Missouri to Oregon Country. The Mormon Trail was a route that many Mormons used to migrate West to find a place where they could practice their religion freely. -
Period: to
The Union in Crisis (Chapter 4)
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Compromise of 1850
Admitted California to the Union as a free state, ending the equal number of free and slave states. Tries to settle the dispute over expansion of slavery into the Mexican Cession by using popular soverreignty. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Uses popular sovereignty to decide the question of slavery in Kansas and Nebraska territories. Causes the North and the South to compete to settle the territory. Leads to guerilla warfare between pro-and antislavery settlers. -
Period: to
Booker T. Washington
Born into slavery, Washington believed that African Americans had to accept segregation for the moment. -
Period: to
Woodrow Wilson (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics, Economics Established Federal Reserve, Federal Trade Commission, and passed the Clayton Antitrust Act. Prevented economic disaster with 8-hr workday proposal. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
A slave sued for freedom, arguing that living on free soil made him free. The Court ruled against him, saying the Fifth Amendment protected the property rights of slaveholders. -
Period: to
William Howard Taft (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics Strengthened ability to negotiate rates with railroads. Undertook civil service reform and improved the performance of the postal service. Passed the Sixteenth Amendment. Promoted "Dollar Diplomacy," to further the economic development of Latin American and Asian nations. -
John Brown/Harpers Ferry
Abolitionist John Brown was planning a raid on the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, to get guns for a slave revolt. -
Period: to
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Emphasize the divisions over the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision. Bring Lincoln's opposition to slavery's spread to a national audience. Cause Douglas to lose support in the North and the South. -
Period: to
Theodore Roosevelt (as President)
Historical Theme: Politics, Domestic Policy Well known for his conservation accomplishments and his work to regulate big businesses. -
Period: to
Industrialism & Progressivism (Chapter 5 and 6)
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Election of 1860
Northern and Southern Democrats split over running Douglas for President. Democratic Party splits, allowing Lincoln's election as president. Both houses of Congress are in northern hands, and an opponent of slavery now will head the executive branch. -
South Secedes/Confederate States of America
South Carolina fears a Northern-controlled government will act against slavery and withdraws from the Union. Several other slave states follow South Carolina's lead and form the Confederate States of America. -
Fort Sumter
Confederate artillery opened fire on Fort Sumter, marking the beginning of the Civil War. -
Battle of Bull Run
Chaotic battle that ended both sides' hopes for a short war. -
Battle of Shiloh
Union victory. Ended northern hopes that the rebellion would collapse on its own. -
Homestead Act
Allowed any head of household over age 21 to claim 160 acres of land. -
Battle of Antietam
Bloodiest day of the Civil War. Union and Confederate casualties combined exceeded 23,000. Considered a Union victory because Lee's invasion was stopped and he returned to Virginia. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Signed by President Lincoln, this document freed enslaved people in all areas that were in rebellion against the United States. -
Period: to
Battle of Gettysburg
Major battle in which Lee decided to invade the North again. The skirmish developed into a historic three-day battle. Confederates retreated. -
Thirteenth Amendment
Ended slavery in the United States. -
Period: to
Reconstruction
Period of time when the United States made policies to rebuild the South. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Did not live to see the war end or to carry out his Reconstruction plan. His death would change the course of American history. -
Ku Klux Klan
Private group formed to maintain white control in the South. Began terrorizing African Americans and whites who supported their rights. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
Granted citizenship and the same rights enjoyed by white citizens to all male persons in the United States "without distinction of race or color, or previous condition of slavery or involuntary servitude." -
Period: to
W. E. B. Du Bois
Believed that African Americans should strive for full rights immediately. -
Fourteenth Amendment
Required states to grant citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" and promised "equal protection of the laws." -
Fifteenth Amendment
Protected the voting rights of African American males and went into effect in 1870. -
Sharecropping
A system in which freedmen worked for a share of their employer's crop instead of wages. -
Tenant Farming
Tenant farmers rented their land from the landowner and could grow any crop. -
Period: to
Enforcement Acts
Three laws passed by Congress. Set heavy penalties for anyone trying to prevent a qualified citizen from voting. Also gave the army and federal courts the power to punish Klan members. -
Period: to
Second Industrial Revolution
Another great leap forward in technology and society. New innovations in steel production, petroleum and electricity led to the introduction of public automobiles and airplanes. -
Liberal Republicans
Those who broke with the party over the Enforcement Acts and corruption scandals in the Grant administration. -
Women's Christian Temperance Union
Led by Frances Willard from 1879-1898. Powerful force for temperance and for the rights of women. -
Period: to
Battle Of Little Bighorn
Government ordered all Sioux to leave in order to stop raids on settlers. Sitting Bull led thousands of Native Americans in an attack against George Armstrong Custer, a young cavalry officer. Great and last victory for the Sioux Indians. -
Jim Crow Laws
Laws passed by Southern state legislatures to create and enforce segregation in public spaces. -
Period: to
Upton Sinclair
Novelist who exposed the wretched and unsanitary conditions at meatpacking plants. Ignited a firestorm of criticism aimed at meatpackers. -
Progressivism
Reform movement in the late 1800s that arose to address many of the social problems that industriaization created. -
Dawes Act
Broke up some reservations and divided the land among individuals. -
Settlement Houses-Jane Addams
Jane Addams founded one of the first American settlement houses, a place where volunteers offered immigrants services such as English-language and job-training courses. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
Act passed by Congress that made it illegal to form trusts that interfered with free trade. -
National American Woman Suffrage Association
Merging of the National Woman Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage Association. -
Wounded Knee Massacre
Some 300 Sioux men, women, and children were killed. Massacre shocked Americans and broke Native American resistance on the Plains. -
Populist Party
A coalition of Alliance members, farmers, labor leaders, and reformers. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Court upheld segregation. Ruled that "separate but equal" facilities did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment. The Plessy decision allowed legalized segregation for nearly 60 years. -
Square Deal
Roosevelt's 1904 campaign slogan, also the framework for his entire presidency. Promised to "see that each [person] is given a square deal, because he is entitled to no more and should receive no less." Called for limiting the power of trusts, promoting public health and safety, and improving working conditions. -
Brownsville Incident
167 African American were discharged after being accused of going on a shooting spree in town. Years later, it was revealed that the soldiers in the Brownsville incident had been falsely accused. -
NAACP
Members of the Niagara Movement, founded by Du Bois, later founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). -
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Gruesome disaster in New York that galvanized Progressives to fight for safety in the workplace. More than 140 women and men died in the fire. -
Sixteenth Amendment
Granted Congress the power to levy taxes based on an individual's income. -
Seventeenth Amendment
Amendment gave voters, rather than state legislatures, the power to directly elect their U.S. senators. -
Federal Reserve Act
Created a central fund from which banks could borrow to prevent collapse during a financial panic. -
Clayton Antitrust Act
Prohibited companies from buying the stock of competing companies in order to form a monopoly. -
Eighteenth Amendment
Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages. -
Prohibition
Called for a ban on making, selling, and distributing alcoholic beverages. Reformers believed alcohol was responsible for crime, poverty, and violence against women and children. -
Ferdinand & Isabella of Spain
Spanish monarchs who provided ships and crews for Columbus's "Enterprise of the Indies" voyage