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Populist Party
The Populist party was a political party that formed in response to economic and social issues facing farmers and workers in the South and Midwest. They wished for the government to regulate monopolies, establish a graduated income tax, create a national currency and a national banking system. Instead of the Gold Standard they wanted to apply a Silver Standard, causing inflation. Their most famous leader was William Jennings Bryan who ran for president in 1896. -
Muckrakers
The Muckrakers are a group of journalists that exposed social, economical, and political problems in America. Some topics they focused on was child labor, working conditions, and food safety. There work led to reforms in said areas. Some famous muckrakers are: Upton Sinclair, Jacob Riis, Lincoln Steffens, and Ida B. Wells. -
Plessy v Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson was a US Supreme Court case in 1896 that upheld racial segregation in public facilities under the "separate but equal" doctrine. The case involved a Louisiana law that required racial segregation on trains. Homer Plessy, who was of mixed racial ancestry, challenged the law, arguing that it violated his rights under the 13th and 14th Amendments. The Court ruled against Plessy, stating that segregation was constitutional as long as the separate facilities were equal in quality. -
Temperance
Temperance was a movement to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption in the US, driven by concerns about crime, poverty, and family violence. Temperance societies were formed to promote abstinence, and advocates lobbied for laws regulating alcohol and, ultimately, Prohibition. Although Prohibition failed, temperance influenced the rise of women's suffrage and modern public health policies. -
Women's Suffrage
Women's suffrage was the movement to secure the right to vote for women in the United States. Women's suffrage advocates argued that women should have the same political rights as men. The movement gained momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, culminating in the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. The amendment granted women the right to vote, marking a significant milestone in the fight for gender equality. Some important figures were Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. -
Wisconsin Idea
It was created by Robert La Follette, governor and senator of Wisconsin.The Wisconsin Plan was a welfare reform initiative implemented in Wisconsin in 1904.The plan aimed to reduce welfare dependence by requiring recipients to participate in work or job training programs in exchange for benefits.It also implemented time limits on benefits and provided support for childcare and transportation.The Wisconsin Plan served as a model for welfare reform efforts in other states and at the federal level. -
Square Deal
The Square Deal was a domestic policy platform introduced by Theodore Roosevelt in the early 1900s. It aimed to promote social justice and equality by regulating big businesses, protecting consumers and workers, and preserving natural resources. The Square Deal included measures such as the Pure Food and Drug Act, the establishment of national parks and wildlife reserves, and the regulation of railroad rates. It set a precedent for future progressive policies. -
Panama Canal
President Theodore Roosevelt oversaw the construction of the Panama Canal, a waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The canal was completed in 1914 and revolutionized global shipping, reducing travel times and costs. The project was not without controversy, however, as it involved the US supporting a rebellion in Panama to gain control of the Canal Zone, and cost thousands of lives due to disease and dangerous working conditions. -
The Model T
The Model T was a car produced by the Ford Motor Company from 1908 to 1927. It was the first car to be mass-produced on an assembly line, which made it affordable for the average American. The Model T was designed to be simple and reliable, with only a few basic options and a top speed of about 45 mph. It became a symbol of the American automobile industry and revolutionized transportation in the US. The production of the Model T also contributed to the growth of the US economy. -
Great Migration
The Great Migration was the movement of six million African Americans from the rural South to cities in the North and West between 1916 and 1970. The migration was driven by factors such as Jim Crow laws, discrimination, and economic opportunities in northern cities. It transformed American society and culture, contributing to the development of the Civil Rights Movement, urbanization, and the growth of African American communities in the North and West. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
The sinking of the Lusitania was a major event in World War I in 1915, when a German submarine torpedoed and sank the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania off the coast of Ireland. The ship was carrying 1,198 passengers and crew, including 128 Americans. The sinking, which was widely condemned as an act of terror against innocent civilians, played a role in the US entering the war. -
Ku Klux Klan
The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is a white supremacist organization that has existed in various forms since the 19th century.The group is known for its use of violence, intimidation, and terrorism to promote its racist ideology and advance its political agenda.The KKK has targeted African Americans, Jews, and other minority groups throughout its history. Despite facing legal challenges and declining membership in recent decades, the KKK continues to exist as a fringe extremist group in the United States. -
Zimmerman Telegram
The Zimmerman Telegram was a secret message sent by the German government to Mexico in 1917, proposing a military alliance against the United States in the event that the US entered World War I. The message was intercepted and decoded by British intelligence and then shared with the US government. The revelation of the telegram helped to galvanize public opinion in favor of US entry into the war and contributed to the eventual defeat of Germany. -
Wilson's Fourteen Points
President Woodrow Wilson's 14 points were a set of principles for world peace that he outlined in a speech to the US Congress in 1918 during World War I. The points included the call for open diplomacy, the reduction of armaments, free trade, and self-determination for all peoples. The 14th point called for the establishment of a League of Nations to provide a forum for international cooperation and to prevent future wars. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was the peace agreement that ended World War I in 1919. It imposed heavy penalties on Germany, including reparations payments and territorial losses. It also established the League of Nations, an international organization aimed at promoting peace and resolving conflicts. The treaty is widely regarded as a flawed peace settlement that contributed to the rise of Nazi Germany and the outbreak of World War II. -
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement in the 1920s and 1930s that celebrated African American art, music, literature, and culture. It aimed to challenge racial stereotypes and promote African American identity and pride. It produced significant works of literature and art, had a lasting impact on American culture, and contributed to the development of the Civil Rights Movement. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified in 1920, granting women the right to vote. The amendment was the result of decades of activism by women's suffrage advocates, who argued that women should have the same political rights as men. The amendment was a significant milestone in the fight for gender equality, and it paved the way for further advancements in women's rights. -
Prohibition
Prohibition, also known as the Noble Experiment, was a period in American history (1920-1933) when the production, sale, and transportation of alcohol was banned by the federal government. The law was enacted to reduce crime, corruption, and social problems associated with alcohol abuse, but it ultimately led to the rise of organized crime and a black market for alcohol. Prohibition was largely seen as a failure, and the 21st Amendment to the Constitution repealed the ban on alcohol. -
Immigration Act of 1924
The Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the Johnson-Reed Act, limited the number of immigrants allowed to enter the United States each year and established a quota system based on national origin. The goal was to restrict immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe and other regions deemed "undesirable" by the American government. The act heavily favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe and was part of a broader nativist movement in the United States. -
Stock Market Crashes
The Stock Market Crash of 1929 was a sudden and devastating collapse of the US stock market, marking the beginning of the Great Depression. On October 24, 1929, panic selling set in as investors lost confidence in the market. By October 29, the market had lost over 40% of its value, erasing billions of dollars in wealth. The crash led to widespread economic hardship, bank failures, and mass unemployment, and is widely regarded as one of the most significant events in US economic history. -
Great Dust Bowl
The Great Dust Bowl was a severe environmental disaster that occurred in the Great Plains region of the United States during the 1930s. Drought and poor farming practices led to soil erosion, which caused massive dust storms and destroyed crops and livestock. The Dust Bowl forced hundreds of thousands of people to migrate to other regions in search of work and led to the development of new agricultural practices and conservation programs to prevent future disaster. -
The New Deal
The New Deal was a series of domestic policies and programs introduced by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s in response to the Great Depression. It aimed to promote economic recovery, reduce unemployment, and provide relief to the American people. The New Deal included measures such as the creation of public works programs, financial reforms, and the establishment of social welfare programs such as Social Security. The New Deal helped shape the moderrn US welfare state -
Social Security Act
The Social Security Act of 1935 created a system of social welfare programs in the United States, including old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid to dependent children. It was designed to provide a safety net for individuals and families during times of economic hardship and was a key component of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. The act established a payroll tax to fund the programs, and it has since been expanded and modified to provide benefits to more Americans. -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was a surprise military attack by the Japanese on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. The attack resulted in the deaths of 2,403 Americans and destroyed or damaged numerous ships and aircraft. The attack brought the United States into World War II and led to a declaration of war against Japan by the US Congress. The attack on Pearl Harbor remains a significant event in American history and a key turning point in World War II. -
Japanese Internment Camps
During World War II, the US government forcibly removed and interned approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans, most of whom were US citizens, into internment camps. The decision was made based on fears that Japanese Americans were a threat to national security. The internment camps were overcrowded and lacked adequate facilities, leading to poor living conditions. The policy was later recognized as a grave injustice and a violation of civil rights. -
GI Bill of Rights
The GI Bill of Rights, also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, was a law that provided educational and employment opportunities for World War II veterans. It offered financial assistance for college education, vocational training, and home loans. The bill was intended to help veterans readjust to civilian life after their military service and stimulate economic growth. The GI Bill of Rights helped shaped life after the second World War. -
D-Day
D-Day was a military operation in World War II in which Allied forces invaded German-occupied France. The operation began on June 6, 1944, with a massive amphibious assault on the beaches of Normandy. Over 156,000 troops from the US, UK, and Canada landed on the beaches, supported by air and naval bombardments. The operation was a significant turning point in the war, opening a second front in Europe and ultimately leading to the defeat of Nazi Germany. -
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were nuclear attacks on the Japanese cities by the United States in August 1945, during World War II. The bombings killed over 200,000 people, mostly civilians, and devastated the cities. The bombings forced Japan's surrender, ending the war in the Pacific, but sparked controversy over the morality of using atomic weapons and their long-term effects on the environment and human health. -
Baby Boom Generation
The Baby Boom Generation refers to the large demographic cohort born in the United States between 1946 and 1964, following the end of World War II. This period saw a significant increase in birth rates and marked a major shift in American demographics. The Baby Boomers were raised in a time of unprecedented economic growth and prosperity, and their collective experiences shaped many aspects of American society, including popular culture, politics, and social movements. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was a policy announced by US President Harry S. Truman in 1947, which aimed to contain the spread of communism and Soviet influence around the world. The doctrine provided military and economic assistance to countries threatened by communism, such as Greece and Turkey, and marked a shift towards a more interventionist US foreign policy. The Truman Doctrine set the stage for later US interventions, including the Korean War and the Vietnam War. -
Red Scare
The Red Scare was a period of political and social unrest in the United States during the early 20th century characterized by a fear of communism and radical leftism. The Red Scare was fueled by a combination of factors, including the Russian Revolution, labor unrest, and anarchist bombings. The government responded with a series of measures to suppress political dissent, including the Palmer Raids, a series of raids and arrests of suspected radicals. It led to widespread fear of Communism. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was a US initiative announced by Secretary of State George Marshall in 1947 to aid in the economic recovery of Europe after World War II. The plan provided financial and technical assistance to help rebuild the infrastructure, industry, and agriculture of war-torn countries. The goal was to stabilize these economies and prevent the spread of communism in Europe. The plan provided over $13 billion in aid to 16 European countries and provided the Uas with multiple alliances. -
NATO Formed
NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was formed in 1949 as a military alliance between North American and European countries to provide collective defense against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The original members included the United States, Canada, and 10 European countries. NATO's main objective was to promote stability and security in Europe and to prevent the spread of communism. The alliance remains a key part of transatlantic security and defense cooperation. -
Korean War
The Korean War was a conflict between North and South Korea that lasted from 1950 to 1953. The war began when North Korea, with support from China and the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea. The United Nations, led by the US, intervened on behalf of South Korea. The war was marked by intense fighting and significant loss of life, with an estimated 2.5 million casualties. The war ended in a ceasefire and the establishment of a demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark US Supreme Court case in 1954 that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The case was brought by African American families in Kansas who challenged the "separate but equal" doctrine established by the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson case. The Court ruled that segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, paving the way for the desegregation of schools across the United States. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance established in 1955 between the Soviet Union and several Eastern European countries, including Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania. The alliance was created in response to the formation of NATO and was intended to provide a collective defense against the perceived threat from the West. The Warsaw Pact was dissolved in 1991 as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a political and social protest campaign in 1955 and 1956 in Montgomery, Alabama, aimed at ending racial segregation on the city's public transit system. The boycott began after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white person. The boycott was led by Martin Luther King Jr. and lasted for 381 days, during which African Americans organized carpools, walked, and used other means of transportation to protest the segregated buses. -
National Interstate and Defense Highway Act
The National Interstate and Defense Highways Act was signed into law by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, providing funding for the construction of a nationwide system of highways.The law aimed to improve transportation infrastructure for both civilian and military purposes, and helped enhance national defense and economic growth. The act provided funding for the construction of the Interstate Highway System, which now spans over 46,000 miles and connects cities and regions across the United States. -
Space Race
The Space Race was a Cold War competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to develop advanced space technologies and achieve firsts in space exploration. The Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957, and the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin, in 1961. The US responded with the Apollo program, which sent astronauts to the moon in 1969. The Space Race ended with the joint US-Soviet Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. -
Little Rock 9
The Little Rock 9 were a group of African American students who were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957, following the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Their enrollment was met with violent protests, and Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus ordered the National Guard to prevent the students from entering the school. After intervention by Dwight D. Eisenhower, the National Guard was replaced with federal troops, and the students were able to attend school. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a political and military standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1962. The crisis was triggered by the discovery of Soviet missile sites in Cuba, which posed a threat to US national security. John F. Kennedy demanded the removal of the missiles and imposed a naval quarantine on Cuba. After a tense standoff, the Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for US assurances not to invade Cuba and the removal of US missiles from Turkey. -
The Great Society
The Great Society was a set of domestic policies and social reforms introduced by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s. The Great Society aimed to eliminate poverty and racial injustice, promote economic growth, and improve access to education and healthcare. Key programs included the Civil Rights Act, Medicare and Medicaid, the War on Poverty, and the creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Great Society had a lasting impact on American society, -
March on Washington
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a historic civil rights demonstration that took place on August 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C. Over 250,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to advocate for equal rights and an end to racial discrimination. The march culminated in Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, which called for an end to racism and a society that judged people by the content of their character, rather than the color of their skin. -
JFK Assassination
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, while riding in an open car during a parade. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and charged with the assassination but was himself shot and killed while in police custody. The assassination was a traumatic event that shocked the nation, and conspiracy theories about who was behind the killing have persisted for decades. The event led to increased security for public officials and the creation of the Warren Commision. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark US federal law that prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The law ended segregation in public places and prohibited employment discrimination. The Act also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to investigate and enforce discrimination complaints. The law was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement and marked a turning point in the struggle for equal rights. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a conflict that lasted from 1955 to 1975, fought between North Vietnam, supported by communist allies, and South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other anti-communist allies. The war was marked by intense fighting, guerrilla warfare, and the use of chemical weapons. The conflict sparked protests and political unrest in the US, and ultimately ended with the withdrawal of US troops and the unification of North and South Vietnam under communist rule. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark federal law that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. The act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and aimed to overcome barriers to voting faced by African Americans in the South. It prohibited literacy tests and other discriminatory practices that had been used to prevent African Americans from voting. The act was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement. -
Watergate
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal in the 1970s that resulted in the resignation of Richard Nixon.The scandal involved the discovery of illegal activities by Nixon's administration, including a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex.Nixon was accused of obstructing justice and abusing his presidential powers.The scandal led to the indictment and imprisonment of many of Nixon's top aides, and Nixon himself resigned before facing impeachment. -
Roe v Wade
Roe v. Wade was a landmark 1973 US Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide. The case was brought by a woman, Roe, who challenged a Texas law that criminalized abortion, except to save the life of the mother. The Court ruled that the right to privacy under the 14th Amendment included a woman's right to choose to have an abortion. The decision was controversial and remains a highly debated issue in the United States, with ongoing legal and political challenges to abortion rights. -
Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords were signed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in 1978, with the help of US President Jimmy Carter, at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland. The agreement aimed to establish peace between Egypt and Israel by resolving long-standing disputes over land and security. The agreement included a framework for peace negotiations, the establishment of a demilitarized zone, and the return of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt.