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Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 was an informal, unwritten deal that settled the disputed 1876 U.S. Presidential election; through it Republican Rutherford B. Hayes was awarded the White House on the understanding that he would remove the federal troops from South Carolina, Florida and Louisiana. -
First electric power plant
he Pearl Street Station, opened in 1882 by Thomas Edison in New York City, was the first purpose-built central electric power plant, pioneering the commercial distribution of electricity for lighting and powering homes and businesses. It's significant for ushering in the age of electric power and serving as a blueprint for future power plants. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
In the 1896 case Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine, allowing states to maintain segregated facilities as long as they were ostensibly equal. This ruling legitimized Jim Crow laws and deeply impacted the lives of African Americans for decades, until overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. -
Wright Brothers' first flight
On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orville, achieved the first sustained, controlled, and powered flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft, the Wright Flyer, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, marking a pivotal moment in aviation history and the beginning of the modern aviation age. -
World War 1 begins
World War I began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in June 1914, triggering a chain reaction of alliances and declarations of war that engulfed Europe, and ultimately the world, in a devastating conflict, which was significant for its scale, innovation, and long-term consequences. -
The Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution, a period of political and social upheaval in 1917, led to the overthrow of the Romanov dynasty and the establishment of the Soviet Union, marking a significant turning point in history with lasting global implications. -
The Great Depression
The Great Depression, a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939, is significant because it was the worst economic crisis in modern history, leading to widespread suffering, unemployment, and profound changes in economic policies and political landscapes. -
World War 2 begins
World War II began with Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, triggering declarations of war from Great Britain and France, and is significant for being the deadliest conflict in human history, resulting in a global upheaval and the deaths of an estimated 70-85 million people. -
End of WW2
World War II ended with Japan's surrender in September 1945, following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war and invasion of Manchuria, marking the end of a devastating global conflict. This event was significant as it led to the end of the war, the creation of the United Nations, and the emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as global superpowers. -
Formation of NATO
NATO, formed in 1949 with the North Atlantic Treaty, was a response to the Cold War and the perceived threat of Soviet expansion, establishing a collective security system where an attack on one is an attack on all. Its significance lies in its role as a deterrent to Soviet aggression, fostering transatlantic unity, and evolving into a broader security organization addressing diverse threats. Attack on one, is an attack on all. -
Korean War
he Korean War (1950-1953) was a Cold War conflict sparked by North Korea's invasion of South Korea, resulting in a stalemate and a continued division of the peninsula, with significant global implications. -
Sputnik Launched
On October 4, 1957 at 7:28 PM, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, sparking the Space Race and a period of heightened Cold War tensions. This event was significant because it demonstrated Soviet technological capabilities, leading to increased US investment in science, technology, and education. -
Civil Rights Movement
The sit-in movement produced a new sense of pride and power for African Americans. By rising up on their own and achieving substantial success protesting against segregation in the society in which they lived, Blacks realized that they could change their communities with local coordinated action. -
JFK Assassination
On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, while riding in a motorcade, and the event remains one of the most significant and enduring mysteries in American history, sparking numerous conspiracy theories and investigations. -
First Moon Landing
On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 achieved the first manned lunar landing, with Neil Armstrong becoming the first person to walk on the Moon, uttering "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." This event was a culmination of the Space Race and a monumental achievement in human exploration, demonstrating technological prowess and inspiring future generations. -
End of Vietnam War
The Vietnam War concluded on April 30, 1975, with the fall of Saigon to North Vietnamese forces, marking the end of the war and the unification of Vietnam under communist rule. This event, and the preceding Paris Peace Accords, had significant long-term impacts on both Vietnam and the United States, including the Indochina refugee crisis, the Vietnam syndrome, and a shift in US foreign policy. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, symbolized the end of the Cold War and the division of Europe, paving the way for German reunification and a new era of European cooperation. -
Gulf War
The Gulf War, also known as Operation Desert Storm, was a 1991 conflict triggered by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, resulting in a U.S.-led coalition liberating Kuwait and setting precedents for future military interventions. -
9/11 Terrorist Attacks
On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes, crashing two into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a fourth into a field in Pennsylvania, killing nearly 3,000 people and forever changing American security and foreign policy. -
2008 financial crisis
The 2008 financial crisis, a global economic downturn, stemmed from a bursting housing bubble fueled by subprime mortgages, leading to widespread defaults, financial institution failures, and a global recession. Its significance lies in its long-lasting impacts on economies, financial systems, and societal trust.