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Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown is the first permanent English settlement in the United States. This was the beginning of the country. This settlement thrived for almost 100 years as the capital of Virginia. It was burned during Bacon's Rebellion but was quickly rebuilt. But it was abandoned due to the capital changing to Williamsburg in 1699. -
Voyage of the Mayflower
The Mayflower is a ship that held many colonists from England to Plymouth. It was a hope for the people on board to start a new and fresh life. The Mayflower took 66 days to cross the Atlantic Ocean. They reached Plymouth Harbor on December 16, 1620, and the colonists began building their town. -
Anne Hutchinson being exiled
Ann Hutchinson was an advocate for womens' rights. She believed that man and woman should be equal in all ways, including in religious ways. She led a bible study which was not something women were allowed to do. They were not allowed to be in a leading position for any organization. She was exiled for going against the views of the church. She was banished to the Massachusetts Bay Colony by calling her a woman who was not fit for their society. -
Bacon’s Rebellion
Bacon’s Rebellion was a rebellion in Virginia. It was led by Nathaniel Bacon. The cause of this was due to Native American land grab being denied. Even in the midst of this chaos, there was one significant aspect of this rebellion. This was the first time where there was a call to unite black and white indentured servants with black slaves against the colonial government. This was never done before with slavery being a huge thing. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts and started in 1692. Many were accused during this time. Over 150 men and women were imprisoned because they were accused of witchcraft. nineteen men and women were hanged, one man was crushed and seven people died in prison. This was a combined result due to church politics, family feuds, and hysterical children. -
The Water Quality Act
The water quality act was put in place to help improve the bad water qualities and standards in the United States. This act helped billions of pounds of pollution be kept out of our rivers. Also, the number of waters that meet clean water goals nationwide was doubled due to this act. This act caused drinking water quality to increase, public health to be more safe, recreation, and wildlife to enjoy fresh water.This helped the population since less people were getting sick due to the water. -
The Albany Plan
The Albany Plan was a plan made by Ben Franklin. He saw that the country was not unified and wanted to fix that. So he created the Albany plan as a way of unifying the nation. He knew that the war against Britain and France would be lost if we were not united. It was Franklin's way of being proactive and unifying the colonies as a means of protection. In the end, the plan did fail, but it planted seeds of the idea that we are stronger together than apart. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act allowed the military soldiers to knock on your door and you would have to open your home to them. This was the government's attempt to have government people in the lives of citizens so they can hear anything and everything. The crown also did not want to pay for extra housing and food for the soldiers so they were told to live in the homes of the colonists. This was not a popular act amount the citizens as it destroyed any sense of privacy. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act of 1764 was an act passed in response to the molasses act. The molasses act was not working as well as the government hoped so they lowered the tax in this new act. This was to prevent the smuggling of molasses. Even with taxes being lowered, molasses continued to be smuggled. It was continued to be smuggled because the citizens did not like being under the rule. They were not smuggling for the price, they were smuggling because they wanted to go against the government. -
Proclamation of 1763
The proclamation of 1763 was a proclamation that was issued by the King. We were still under the rule of Great Britain and citizens (future Americans) were not happy about this treaty. It angered them that the King and issued this. The proclamation stated that the colonists were prohibited from being able to move west of the Appalachian Mountains. The colonists were angry because they thought that this was Great Britain's way of keeping an eye on the citizens and being able to control them. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was an act that put taxes on stamps. These stamps were stamps that were needed to legalize a document. Without paying money and getting that stamp on your legal documents. that document is not legal. The act stated that if you wanted the government to recognize a document, you would have the stamp. Some examples of these required documents were things such as birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and property documents. This act mainly affected the wealthy. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a massacre in Boston on March 5, 1770. It was a confrontation between the British and the citizens. In this massacre, British soldiers shot and killed several people whom they perceived to be a mob. The event was heavily publicized by leading Patriots such as Paul Revere and Samuel Adams. It was called a massacre so that the citizens would be furious, but in reality, there were not that many lives lost. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress took place in Philadelphia. It was a month after the revolution had begun with shots at Lexington and Concord. In the first Continental Congress, not all thirteen colonies were present, but in this one they all were. It was split into two factions; the conservatives and radicals. The conservatives were led by Johnn Dickenson and the radicals were led by John and Samuel Adams. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The battle of Bunker Hill was the first stage of the Revolutionary War. The British were trying to keep control of the city and control its valuable seaport. The British decided to take two hills, Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill, in order to gain a tactical advantage. The American forces heard about it and went to defend the hills. The actual victory goes to the British, but due to the losses that they suffered the colonies claimed the victory. -
Battle of Trenton
The battle of Trenton was not a huge battle, but it was a pivotal moment in Revolutionary War. The Continental Army had suffered many losses before this war. But this war was a victory for Washington's troops which greatly boosted the morale of the soldiers. The significance of the conflict was that the Hessian army was crushed which raised the morale of the Americans. -
The Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga took place in September and October 1777. This battle was during the second year of the war. It was a major win for the Continental Army and a pivotal point as well. This victory demonstrates to the rest of the world that the United States is a force to be reckoned with and that France should assist them in their fight against the British. It helped persuade the French to provide military assistance to the US. It ended with a surrender of the sword. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution that established a national government. It was established to regulate the functions of the national government after independence. In this constitution, the congress had the authority to declare war, select military officers, negotiate treaties, form alliances, appoint foreign ambassadors, and control relations with Indians. It put all the power in the government, and not a lot in the people. -
Battle of Yorktown
The battle of Yorktown took place in Yorktown, Virginia. This was the last major battle of the revolutionary war. The army entrapped a major British troop on a peninsula at Yorktown, Virginia. The British army had to surrender. It also cemented Washington's reputation as a great leader which eventually led to the election as the first president of the United States. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was an organized rebellion of western farmers and countrymen against the state of Massachusetts. The main cause of this revolt was the collection of taxes on land to pay off war debts. If the debt was not paid, then farmers would lose their land. There were major effects of the rebellion. It brought a huge change to the government because they saw the flaws in the current system. It showed that the Articles were too weak and gave too much power to the individual colonies. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was a treaty signed by the United States, Great Britain, Spain, and France. It ended the revolutionary war. America also gained new land. That newly acquire land previously belonged to Great Britain. France also gave up all its territories in mainland North America. This act of giving up land ended any foreign military threat to the British colonies there. It also caused The British to acknowledge the independence of the US. -
XYZ Affair
The XYZ Affair was a diplomatic incident that took place in 1797. It was between the United States and France. Three men (unnamed so we call them "XYZ" ) went to France to keep the peace. They ended up declining a bribe and reported what had happened to the US congress. The incident of the declining of the bribe by the three diplomats is what is known as the XYZ affair. -
The Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention, a formal meeting held in 1787, created a constitution for the United States. This took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The founding fathers were going to decide how America was going to be governed. The convention was originally to revise the existing Articles of Confederation, but many delegates had much bigger plans than just revising. An issue that was prominent at the Convention was whether the federal government or the states would have more power. -
The Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance is considered one of the most important legislative acts of Congress. The Ordinance established a government for the Northwest Territory. It also outlined the process for admitting a new state to the Union, and guaranteed that newly created states would be equal to the original thirteen states. It also protected civil liberties and outlawed slavery in the new territories. -
The Connecticut Compromise
The Connecticut Compromise was a major compromise at the Connecticut Convention. It created a two-house legislature, with the Senate having equal representation for all states and the House of Representatives having representation proportional to state populations. This compromise was agreed upon by both parties and it was adopted on July 16th. -
Washington's Election
After America gained independence with a huge effort for George Washington, citizens were looking towards him for the new America. He was elected as the first president of the United States in 1793. He received 69 of the 69 first-round votes cast in the electoral college. Washington is the first and only president of the States who was elected by a unanimous vote. Due to his popularity, he has re-elected that following term. He set the precedent by leaving the house after his second year. -
Creation of the Cotton Gin
Cotton was the most popular crop in the South, but acquiring that cotton was not an easy thing to do. The seeds in the cotton crop were extremely difficult and time-consuming. Eli Whitney saw the potential for a machine to help with that process. So he created a device to help make that difficult process easier. This in theory would reduce slavery, but due to the demand, it increased slave labor. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts allowed the president to deport any "alien" considered dangerous. The criteria of this were not stated so the president could deport anyone who wasn't a citizen for any reason. The sedition act made it illegal for newspapers to print any material that was negative of the president of the congress. The sedition act was aimed directly at the press and Jefferson. This act was passed by Adams to help keep him in power. -
Marbury v. Madison
Marbury v. Madison was a case that the supreme court got over the conflict of judicial review. This was an important case because it established the U.S. Supreme Court's right of judicial review which means the third branch of the government had the power to determine if a law was constitutional or not. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was a deal made between France and the United States. Napoleon Bonaparte, leader for the french, sold the land because he needed money for the Great French War. President Jefferson thought that the deal was a necessary purchase for future protection, expansion, prosperity, and the mystery of unknown lands. This eventually doubled the size of the United States, which greatly strengthened the country materially and strategically. This started the idea of westward expansion. -
The Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act was passed as a way of punishing Britain and France for interfering with American trade. It was an act approved by President Jefferson. It prohibited American ships from trading in foreign ports. All of the U.S. ports were closed to export shipping in either U.S. or foreign vessels. It also added restrictions on imports from Great Britain. Jefferson hoped that this act would do one thing, but it ended up doing something different than what Jefferson thought Europe would do. -
Burning of the Capitol
In 1814, the British army invaded the United States and marched towards Washington DC. Once they got there, they set fire to the US capital and the white house. During this night, Dolly Madison become a national hero. She risked her life by going back into the white house and taking some artifacts. Those artifacts are some of the only ones that we have and it was all due to her heroism. This was very important symbolically. -
The Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was the treaty that put an end to the war of 1812. It was signed in what is Belgium now on December 24. The treaty was signed by British and American representatives. There were many great things that came out of the Treaty of Ghent including Great Britain's agreement to relinquish claims to the Northwest Territory. Another outcome of this treaty was that both countries pledged to work toward ending the slave trade. -
Battle of New Orleans
The battle of New Orleans was a great battle for the confederate forces. This battle took place on January 8th. Troops, led by Andrew Jackson, defeated the much larger British force. This was great for the morale of the American soldiers and added hope for a quick end to the war. The goal of this battle was to create barriers and isolate the United States. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
In McCulloch v. Maryland, Congress has implied powers derived from those listed in Article I, Section 8. The “Necessary and Proper” Clause gave Congress the power to establish a national bank. The result of this court case was that Congress had the power to establish a national bank. It also stated that Maryland did not have the power to tax branches of the federal government that are carrying out powers legal in the Constitution. -
Election of 1824
The Election of 1824 was the election that Adams got voted for president. The results were that Jackson looks like he won, but the constitution said the majority wins. But there was no majority winner. Henry Clay dropped out of the race and William Crawford dies. This only leaves John Adams and Andrew Jackson. Both remaining candidates had a private meeting in which no one knows what was talked about. But in the next few days, Clay publically supports Adams making him the next president. -
Tariff of Abominations
The Tariff of Abominations was a tariff that wanted to protect northern and western agricultural products from the competition with foreign imports. The way the Northerns saw this was that if foreign goods were made more expensive through the tax, then citizens would want to buy more US-made goods. Buying these goods will help increase northern industrial business. But the Southern saw this as foreign countries not buying cotton in retaliation which hurt the Southern business. -
Indian Removal Act
It was an act that allowed for the removal of Indians from their native land. It let the president grant lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands within existing state borders. This act was signed by Andrew Jackson on May 28th. The main reason for this act was to make westward expansion easier for the American citizens. The indians definitely did not like this and this started the broken relationship between the natives and the American government. -
Creation of the Reaper
There were many farms in the 1830s with huge amounts of crop. It was not easy to cut that amount of crops. Cyrus McCormick saw this issue and wanted a solution for it. He created the Reaper in 1831. This device took the place of scythes. It increased the number of crops that were cut while reducing the time it took to cut them. This helped the farm owners by decreasing their crop cutting time but was not beneficial for the workers on that land because the reaper took away a few jobs. -
The Compromise Tariff
The Compromise Tariff was a tariff that Henry Clay proposed. He suggested that there be a new tariff in place that would reduce tariffs over the next ten years. The Compromise Tariff stated that 10% less tax will be paid each year, and eventually after 10 years, there will be no taxes. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War. Mexico also gave up all claims to Texas and recognized the Rio Grande as America's southern boundary. The treaty allowed the United States to purchase California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado for fifteen million dollars. Which doubles the size of the United States. While it did double the size of the US, it also displaced millions of Mexican citizens in new American territory. -
Morrill Land Grant Act
The Morrill Land Grant Act was an act that was passed which granted every state land. They had the opportunity to accept or deny that land. But that land was given to create and establish a public university. Due to this act, almost every state in the current United States has a public university. -
The Pacific Railway Act
The Pacific Railway Act was an act that was signed into law which helped create the framework for the Transcontinental Railroad. Lincoln realized that the way to expand the United States and take it to another level was connecting the union economically. This railroad allowed to do just that. It connected the east side to the west which meant products can be shipped to all parts of the country faster and more efficiently. It also allowed for goods from other countries to be moved across the US. -
Sand Creek Massacre
The Sand Creek Massacre was a massacre that happened in an accident. The tribe had agreed to their terms of moving away from the reservations peacefully and was willing to go without violence. But there was a miscommunication about where they were supposed to go. To the American government, this looked like a movement of resistance. Due to what the government thought it led to many lives being lost. Many of these lives were the lives of women, children, and the government. -
Passing of the 13th Amendment
The 13th amendment was passed in 1865. It was passed by North senators because the South seceded. They were not allowed to vote due to their secession. The 13th amendment banned the institution of slavery as a whole. If the Southern states wanted to be reentered as a state, then they would have to accept the 13th amendment. This helped abolish slavery in the nation. -
Pendleton Act
The Pendleton Act was an act that changed the way federal government jobs were appointed. They were first given by the means of the spoils system, but that was not liked by many. This new act stopped the spoils system and started a new way which appointed jobs based merit. This method of hiring people was widely liked because of the fairness. It also made it unlawful to fire or demote employees solely for political reasons. -
Pendleton Act
The Pendleton Act was created due to the assassination of President Garfield. Garfield was assassinated by Charles Gluten. Charles felt like he had done a great deal in helping with the president's campaign and thought that he was entitled to a federal job. Garfield said he didn't have any jobs which angered Charles. He shot the president and because of this assassination, the Pendleton Act was created. It stated that it was required to pass a civil service exam to get a federal job. -
The Dawes Act
The Dawes Act, which is sometimes called Dawes Severalty Act, was like the homestead act but for Native Americans. The government issued this act as a way of dividing into the Native American colony so they could not get powerful enough to riot. The act offered 1460 acres of land to each Native American family or 80 acres for single men. Any Native Americans who took up this offer had to live and farm on that land. The citizens thought this was actually good and urged them to take it. -
The De Lome Letter
The De Lôme Letter was written by the Spanish Ambassador to the United States. Enrique Dupuy de Lôme wrote a letter that criticized American President William McKinley. Dupuy de Lôme called the President weak and someone who is only concerned with gaining the favor of the crowd. We know about this letter because it was intercepted and published in the newspaper by a big newspaper company. He also wrote how Spain was not planning on following the peace agreement with Cuba. -
USS Maine
At 9:40 pm on February 15th, 1898, the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor. That explosion killed 268 men which shocked and angered many US citizens. It was a US naval ship that was originally thought to be blown up by Spain. This was the tipping point for the president to agree to war. The ship is mainly described as an armored cruiser or second-class battleship. After further investigation a few years later revealed that Spain had nothing to do with the explosion; it was an internal issue. -
Teller Amendment
Cuba was under the Spanish region and wanted an out but didn't have the means to do so. America had connections in Cuba and didn't like that Cuba had an uncertain future. Senator Teller's solution to this issue was to create an amendment that stated that the US will help Cuba be free without gaining any of Cuba's land. This eased the minds of the Cubans because they didn't want to be under someone's rule again. This resulted in the creation of deep relations being forged between the US and Cuba. -
"Cross of Gold" Speech
The "Cross of Gold" speech was delivered by William Jennings Bryan who was a Nebraska representative. He delivered his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. His speech was to advocate for bimetallism. Bimetallism is the system of allowing unrestricted currency of two metals as having a fixed ratio to each other. This was advocated for the lower classes that could not afford the expensive gold dollar. -
"How the Other Half Lives"
Jacob Riis was a photo journalist who took pictures of uncomfortable topics. He did not shy away from topics just because they were uncomfortable. He also wrote a book, How the Other Half Lives, which brought up a topic that was prominent but not talked about. He brought to life the horrors of tenement housing by exposing their living conditions through his words and his pictures. Now that these issues could no longer be avoided, building codes were added to make life safer. -
"The Jungle"
Upton Sinclair was a socialist who wanted to write a book on the reality of capitalism. He did this in form of a fictional story of a working father. As he illustrated the horrible and unsanitary conditions of factories, many were sickened to think that they were putting their trust in these types of factories. President Roosevelt was disgusted by this and ordered the passing of two bills, The Meat Inspection Act and The Pure Food & Drug Act, to stop this from happening again. -
Meat Inspection Act and Pure Foods Act of 1906
The Meat Inspection and Purefood Acts of 1906 have changed the way companies produce their meat products. It guaranteed sanitized and healthier items at the grocery stores. These acts began to hold companies to a higher standard of what they could put into their products and what was fit to sell. Instead of making meat that made many sick, companies couldn’t be cheap and had to start being truthful in their packaged food and goods.This cleaned up the meat industry into providing healthy meat. -
Victory Gardens
Victory gardens are important parts of history because it showed how out nation can come together in a time of crisis. It shows the power of civilians and the people. It shows that the government had power over laws and acts, but the real power lies with the people. Throughout the war,the campaign served as a successful means of boosting moral and expressing patriotism. This also helped to feed our troops overseas. -
Espionage and Sedition Acts
Woodrow Wilson and the Congress passed 2 laws, the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918. The acts criminalized negative talk of the war. This included disloyal or abusive language towards the nation or president, with punishments of up to 20 years in prison. These acts are now deemed unconstitutional since it is an infringement of the 1st amendment. The acts were a wartime measure but now represent unconstitutional actions that the government took. These acts are no longer valid. -
18th Amendment Ratified
Following the strength of women's suffrage and temperance groups there was the push and then ratification of the 18th amendment. This amendment banned the manufacture and transport of alcohol. While this was first designed to stop "man's flaws", the prohibition era was a failure. This led to and created the rise of crime and mafia bosses. People still consumed alcohol through illegal means which made the 18th amendment a failure. -
19th Amendment
The 19th amendment was ratified in 1919 which granted women the right to vote. The woman's suffrage used rallies, marches, articles, debates, and more to further their cause, and getting the opportunity to vote was a big accomplishment. This victory took decades but it was a defining achievement. -
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance created the opportunity for new art and music and culture to enter the United States. It was a golden age for Black artists, writers and musicians. It gave black creators pride that they were apart of an experience that represented their culture and set the stage for the civil rights movement. This was the starting point for African Americans to start taking pride in the color of their skin and the deep culture that they hold. -
Stock Market Crash
In 1929 the Stock Market had a major crash which caused severe economic trouble. Due to this economic crisis, the United States fell into the decade long Great Depression. Nearly a quarter of all Americans were unemployed and starving. Many banks failed, the homeless rates shot through the roof, and deflation was at an all time high. But the Great Depression the United States the birth of the Social Security System and the first national minimum wage. -
The Dust bowl
The dust bowl created drought, winds and dust clouds. This led to the destruction of important crops like wheat and corn. This caused ecological harm and poverty. Prices for crops dropped which caused widespread panic for farmers and their families. Banks started to fail on a huge scale. Also, the deposits were uninsured causing many people to lose all of their life's savings. The government now sees how this affected the US and has put in actions to prevent situations like these from happening. -
The National Anthem
In 1931, President Woodrow Wilson signs that the Star Spangled Banner would be the United States’ national anthem. This is important to us then and now because it shows who we are and what we represent. This also shows the struggles we overcame as a country.The Star Spangled Banner our top example of patriotism. This sends the same message it did many years ago as it does today. That the United States is a united front against any harm. -
The New Deal
In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected as the new president of the US. He had a plan to bring the United States out of the Great Depression. FDR's New Deal was a series of federal programs launched to stop the nation's decline. New Deal programs put people back to work, helped banks rebuild their capital, and restored the country's economic health. This deal saved countless lives and showed the strength of FDR. This impacts us today because of the chances the New Deal opened us up to now. -
FDR's Election
After the hatred for Hoover, FDR's entrance into the presidential office was won by a landslide. Once in office, Roosevelt immediately created the "first 100 days" precedent. He created this to overcome the Depression. His "100 days" precedent brought agencies like the AAA, FDIC, TVA, and NIRA. All these agencies attacked the depression and put people back to work.This was a huge deal economically and gave hope to the millions of Americans who felt the sufferings of the Great Depression. -
The Second New Deal
Following Roosevelt's first attempt of ending the depression through the New Deal, he learned that more assistance was needed.So the second New Deal was created in 1935. This New Deal brought forth the Social Security Act, Wagner Act, breakup of holding companies, and the Banking Act of 1935.The Social Security brought the gov. into the lives of citizens and the Wagner act defended worker's rights to organize. The second New Deal was more thought out and brought a security net for citizens. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike. It was led by the Japanese Navy Air Service against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. This event took place early morning on Sunday, December 7, 1941. The United States was a neutral country at the time but this attack led the United States to make a formal entry the next day into World War II. -
Japanese Internment Camps
The Japanese Interment camps were placed in a time of fear for the US. Countless of innocent Japanese-Americans were sent into internment camps all on their race or familial race. This strikes fear in the people who were of different color because they saw what happened to the Japanese. Internees were sent to better homes and were given better wages to make up for the losses. They were forced to take because of fear. This is an embarrassing topic in the nation's history and and bring shame. -
D-Day
D-Day was a remarkable event for the United States and put us as a leading superpower. this changed the course of the war forever. This showed the world just how powerful the United States can be and that we were not as country to be messed with.The D-Day landings broke the Atlantic wall. Breaking the Atlantic war was thought to be unbreakable at the time. This allowed the Allies to successfully complete the liberation of Western Europe. -
G.I Bill of Rights
The G.I Bill of Rights was created by the US government as a way of thanking the soldiers. The bill include many benefits for members and their families. The government payed for education, gave low interests and home loans, and provide low interest business loans. This is important to the US today because this encourages many soldiers to go into the military today while also ensuring that soldiers will be well taken care of for their sacrifices.This set up the future generations of members. -
Operation Overlord
After the Conference in May of 1943, the allies decided to focus on Germany first. To free mainland Europe, the allies devised "Operation Overlord". This would be an attack of allied nations on Northern France in an effort to push Germans out. This also would create a safe landing zone.The attack did kill 4140 Americans and thousands more allied but it marked the start of the end of Nazi Germany. The attack ultimately led to the surrender of Germany. Which in term meant Japan as well. -
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization founded by countries who were committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing relations among nations and promoting social progress. Creating the United Nations was an important step in national peace because it established the US as a world superpower, and more importantly, led to strong alliances that stand today. If any country in the UN is in need of help, the rest work together to overcome the obstacle. -
V-E Day
Following the failed defensive of Berlin surrendered to the Allied forces on May 8th. The surrender marked the end of the war in Europe and introduced the Nuremberg Trials and Reconstruction of Europe. The surrender also led to the focus-fire on Japan which led to the future Cold War. Due to Germany's surrender, it retained no land which set the stage for the Cold War in Europe, Berlin Wall and Berlin Airlift. -
The Baby Boom Generation
After World War II ended, soldiers started heading home and many couples were reunited. This led to the baby boom generation. Between the years of 1946 to 1963 the US population had soared to over 30 million with recorded births almost every ten seconds. The Baby Boom impacted the time economically since thousands of jobs were in demand jobs. It also created jobs as the generation grew older. This generation is the largest and had the greatest impact economically. -
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson was the first black baseball player to enter a previously all white league.He entered the leagues in 1947. He was recruited for the Dodgers and made them the first integrated American sports team. This showed to he world that skin color doesn't determine competence. There was a lot of back lash when he was first signed but he knew he was playing a major role in history.This made a huge impact in our society back then and still does because of the opportunities it opened. -
The Hollywood 10
The Hollywood 10 were a group of filmmakers that were accused of being communist and bringing communism ideals into the Hollywood movie industry. HUAC tried to forced them to answer questions but they didn't since they had freedom of speech under the 1st amendment. Since they didn't speak, were accused and black listed. This shows the power of the government and how if mistreated it can lead to negative things. This put fear into people that they could not speak freely. -
The Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was created under the Truman Doctrine. The Marshall Plan offered financial aid to countries affected by the War in order to rebuild Europe and stop spread of communism. While it was offered to soviet-captured countries, Stalin declined. Over the course of four years,the United States gave $14 billion and rebuilt European markets while creating a capitalist foothold in European countries. This prevented the communist take-over in ,any small and underdeveloped countries. -
Operation Vittles
Operation Vittles was an operation to send foods and other goods to areas in Germany that were blocked. This impacted the view the world had on the US then and also now. Operation Vittles proved that airlift could sustain a large population surrounded by hostile forces. This also showed the resilience of the United States and the innovation and dedication. Planes of food ans other goods ere dropped over the towns hat were in need of supplies all while never stepping on German soil. -
Establishment of N.A.T.O
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created by the US, Canada, and Western European nations to provide security against the Soviet Union. It was originally made to stop the spread of communism. But with Article 5, it creates lasting peace for any country that is apart of NATO. NATO is the first peacetime military alliance the US entered into. It’s important today because of the protection and relief it provides the United States while solidifying peaceful international relations. -
McCarthyism
Joseph McCarthy started McCarthyism and scared the US citizens that there were soviet spy apart of the US government and other institutions that held power in law. Because of him, hundreds of citizens were accused and lost their jobs and lives. McCarthyism had created a culture of paranoia that caused people to fear anything slightly different. This impacted how we live now because that fear of something different still is apart of our lives. -
Levitt Towns
In 1951 a company called Levitt and Sons had bought a large field and started building houses that had the same build in close proximity of each other. This started the suburbs which is what the majority of today’s US population live in. The cost of each house was significantly less than houses at the time due to how they were made. Each house had almost the same build which drastically cut down the cost. This led to the American Dream of home ownership. -
Bert the Turtle
"Duck and cover" was a popular idea taught to kids by Bert the Turtle. Bert was important in the cold war because it warned kids what to do in case of a nuclear bomb attack. This shows the fear and paranoia the United States lived in. It showed that the scare was so strong, the kids had to learn what o do in the form of a cartoon. Bert the turtle showed that even as a super power nation, there had been times we lived in fear. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Efforts to protest segregated public transport was done by the NAACP and SCLC with the start of the stage arrest of Rosa Parks. This movement lasted for more than a year and had spread nation-wide. Most of the bus companies revenue was through blacks and that loss was too much for them to handle. Eventually it led to federal public transport integration in 1956 which ended the boycott. This was the first movement against public transportation and helped MLK gain fame through his contribution. -
Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956
America's internal road network needed to be reinvented which gave Eisenhower the idea to create the largest public works ever, the Highway Act. He shortened distances between cities which improved trade and commuting. Eisenhower created the interstates as a means of rapid evacuation in case of a nuclear attack. The act led to a generation of being cars and gas reliant. And also greater consumer opportunities through a connected nation. -
Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education
Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education was a court case that declared that racial segregation in public schools violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This overturned the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson court case which had ideas of "separate but equal." Linda Brown was a young Black school girl that had to walk past two white school just to get to her own school. This is where the case was formed. This is important because it was the first step of black equality in education. -
The Little Rock 9
The Little Rock Nine were a group of 9 Black students who fought in the Civil Rights Movement by going to a previously all white high school. They were the first students to start desegregation of public schools. Black parents were afraid to let their kids go to all white school so the Little Rock 9 showed great strength and bravery. This inspired other schools to desegregate. This was a major step to equality because it inspired other lack students to fight for their equality as well. -
The Race to Space
The race up to space was a race between Russia's USSR and the United States. It was deemed necessary that space needed to be conquered to maintain national security. The race to be the first was so important because it would show dominance. While the USSR did make it up to space first, the United States wasn't far behind. While Russia's USSR did win the race to space, the race to the moon was won by United States. -
U2 Incident
Wanting information on the USSR, the US commissioned and flew the U2 spy plane over Soviet territory. Thought to be invincible from ground weapons and interceptors the plane was flown near but was shot down over the USSR in May of 1960. The US denied espionage but the pilot was put on trial in Russia and eventually traded for and brought home. The U2 Incident led to the collapse of the Paris Summit and also revealed the US's equipment and spy tactics to the USSR and the world. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
With Castro's control over Cuba he had been talking to the Soviet Union about an alliance that scared the United States. This was a scare because it would mean that communism and atomic weapons would be close. President Eisenhower planned to overthrow the Cuban gov. with Cuban exiles. By the time that was in order, presidential power had changed to JFK. In fear JFK pulled back leaving Cuba to defend itself. This shows the fear of JFK and that even a leading power can have it's weak moments. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Fidel Castro had his communist revolution in Cuba which made the CIA create a plan to train Cuban exiles to win the country back. This was overseen by Eisenhower and the plan included American air and sea attacks followed by the rebels on land. With the election of 1962, Kennedy inherited the plan and immediately started to scale it down. The US was shamed for the failure. It strengthened Castro and led to his proclamation of Communist alliance with USSR. This alliance led to the Cuban Crisis. -
Klu Klux Klan
The Klu Klux Klan is a white supremacists group that were known for their hate against African Americans. They tortured, killed, and terrorized African Americans any age and gender.This group was terrorizing the African American community for decades, their height was in and around the years of 18963. This is an important part of history because it shows how far the United Sates has come in terms of racial segregation. -
March to Washington
Many Americans of all colors had showed up for the March in Washington DC. They were fighting for equality of jobs and freedom in the nation's capital. The march was successful into pressuring the administration of John F. Kennedy to start a strong federal civil rights bill in Congress. They came to see MLK and heard is all time famous "I have a Dream" speech. It was important it those times because it showed the unity of all colors coming together. Now it shows the unity and freedom we have. -
JFK's Assassination
While campaigning in Texas for the presidential election, JFK was shot while in motorcade by Lee Harvey Oswald. Thw world still doesn't know Oswald's true intention for the assassination but speculations have been made. Dying later that day, the country was shocked. LBJ was sworn in and led to the "Great Society" and environmental and Civil Rights Acts. Kennedy was forgiven for his past mistakes and having his proud moments highlighted. -
The Medicare and Medicaid Act
The Medicare and Medicaid Act was a vital step in America’s health. This act helped provide Americans with the money to pay for costs of hospital bills and health checks. It also removed the racial segregation practiced by hospitals and other health care facilities. This helped ensure the same care was given to all races. By ensuring access to care, American's were getting better care. Medicare has contributed to a life expectancy that is higher than it was before law was passed. -
Selma to Montgomery March
After being told no of the African American woman's right to vote in Selma, the community planned a march to Montgomery. many marchers were beaten along the way. But the resilient MLK led the next march but turned it around before violence. The crowd was confused at this action but still held faith in him. On the third try, LBJ dispatched the army to defend the marchers and they successfully made it to Montgomery. The march led to Voting Rights Act of 1965, securing the African American vote. -
Miranda V. Arizona
After the confession of Ernesto Miranda to his crimes, Miranda sued Arizona. The Supreme Court judge, Thurgood Marshall, ruled that criminals must be informed their rights. The ruling upheld the 5th and 6th amendments and guaranteed individual freedom rights as well as right to fair trial. The case is important to society today because it led to fairer court trials. It also eradicated the power of intimidation from the police. -
The Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act signed in 1967 by president Richard Nixon. This act improved American public health. It cut pollution and protected the health of American families and workers. This meant fewer premature deaths and illnesses. It also helped Americans live longer lives, live a better quality of life, lower medical expenses, and better worker productivity. This had overall improved us as a nation to work healthier. This still impacts us today because it set the ground work for Americans today. -
MLK's Assassination
While going to attend a protest, James Earl Ray shot MLK. This led to protects and guards being sent to Memphis. On trial, Ray pleaded not guilty as he stated "he was the victim as well" and was "just a pawn". Believing Ray, MLK's family pardoned Ray. MLK's death led to the Equal Housing Act as well as an increase of Black Panthers and the King Holiday, signed into law by Reagan in 1983.This also struck fear in the African Americans as they saw their leader and guide being assassinated. -
Watergate Scandal
In order to find dirt on Nixon's opponents, he ordered a search of the Democratic Headquarters in Washington DC. He also told them to bug rooms and communications, and steal documents. Even after being caught, Nixon denied any involvement even with major evidence. This led to the public losing support and faith in Nixon. The scandal dominated his career and led to his resignation. He received a pardon by Gerald Ford which was controversial. The pardon also added to distrust of the government. -
Roe V. Wade
A challenge to Texas legislation,Jane Roe brought abortion rulings to the Supreme Court. The court ruled that anti-abortion laws were unconstitutional under the 14th amendment.Also, the court made abortion legal, which was a great moment for feminists and Liberal activists. But this also angered conservative and religious members. This case gave women support and a victory. -
Oil Crisis of 1973
Following the US support of the 6 Day War in the Middle East,an embargo was placed on western countries. The embargo created an oil-less America which stopped US production, transportation, and recreation. This crisis was the first time the US economy was at a stand still since WW2. The crisis also created shorter work weeks, restricted business, and less heating and driving and revealed western reliance on Eastern fuel. Driving around was a pass time, but now it was only for necessity.