-
Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election. It was decided that Rutherford B. Hayes would become president in exchange for the granting of home rule in the South, as well as the withdrawal of federal troops.This officially ended the Reconstruction Era. -
Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American War ended Spain’s colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere. The United States's victory produced a peace treaty that ceded sovereignty over Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico to the United States, as well as causing Spain's claims on Cuba to be relinquished. This established the United States as a power in the Pacific. -
U.S. Joins WWI
President Woodrow Wilson went before Congress and requested to declare war against Germany on April 2, 1917. Two days later, the Senate voted in support of his request. The involvement of the United States in this war essentially shaped the world we live in today. -
18th Amendment is Ratified
The 18th amendment prohibited the sale, making of, and transportation of alcohol. This heavily increased the illegal production and consumption of alcohol, as well as the rise of organized crime. This also led to huge economic hardships. -
19th Amendment is Ratified
The 19th amendment granted women their long awaited right to vote. This expanded the electorate greatly and paved the way for female representation in politics. This also increased the amount of women joining the workforce and increased their educational opportunities. -
Lindbergh Flies Solo
On May 21, 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh completed the first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight in history. This spanned from Long Island, New York, to Paris, France. New York hotel owner Raymond Orteig offered a $25,000 prize for the completion of the first nonstop flight between New York and Paris, which Lindbergh worked to win this prize. This started the “Lindbergh boom” in aviation. -
Stock Market Crash
Over four days, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped from 305.85 points to 230.07 points, a decrease of 25%. This caused a huge economic crash, bank failures, and a global impact on the global economy. -
The New Deal
President Roosevelt enacted the New Deal, a series of wide reaching economic, political, and social reforms, in response to the Great Depression. This restored a sense of security as it put people back to work. -
Germany Invades Poland
Germany, under the command of Adolf Hitler, launched a surprise attack on Poland, initiating the European phase of World War II. This led to the German occupation of Poland, the Holocaust, and caused millions of people to die. -
Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor
Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This resulted in over 2,000 American deaths and the damage and loss of numerous ships and aircraft. This triggered the United States to declare war. -
Executive Order 9066
Signed by President Roosevelt, this authorized the forced removal and internment of Japanese American citizens from the West Coast during World War II. Families were separated and were treated poorly, with over 120,000 citizens being affected. -
D-Day
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, in a massive amphibious assault. This is considered a turning point in the war, marking the beginning of Allied troops pushing into Nazi-occupied Europe. -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During World War II, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This resulted in immense casualties and destruction. This ultimately let to Japan's surrender, effectively ending World War II. -
Korean War Begins
Korea was divided into North, communist, and South, democratic, after World War II by the 38th parallel. Conflict sparked between the two and escalated quickly, the North being supported by the Soviet Union and China, and the South being supported by the United Nations. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The US Supreme Court unanimously ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson. This case was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement, striking down the legal basis for segregation in public education. -
Polio Vaccine is Introduced
The first successful polio vaccine was developed by Jonas Salk in 1955.The first dose of the IPV vaccine was administered to children in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on February 23, 1954. Following this, a nationwide vaccination campaign was put out that significantly reduced the number of polio cases in the country. -
USSR Launches Sputnik 1
Sputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite launched into space by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. This marked the beginning of the space race, increasing tensions between the US and the USSR. -
Martin Luther King Jr. is Assasinated
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while in Memphis, Tennessee. King's death led to widespread mourning and riots in many cities across the United States. Despite his death, his legacy continues people around the world to continue fighting for justice and equality. -
Berlin Wall Falls
On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall, a symbol of the Cold War and division, fell. This pivoted history and paved the way for German reunification. This was seen as an end to the Cold War and a symbol of freedom. -
Pentagon and World Trade Center Attacked
Nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes, two planes flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the fourth plane crashing into a field in rural Pennsylvania.The 9/11 attacks were the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil since the attack on Pearl Harbor, starting the War On Terror.