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Chinese Exclusion Act
As the number of Chinese laborers increased, so did the anti-Chinese sentiment among American workers. This act aimed to eliminate job competition by prohibiting immigration from China. -
Dawes Act
Similar to the Homestead Act, this provided 160 acres of low-quality land to Native Americans in the Great Plains. Children were sent to boarding schools as the Government attempted to assimilate them into American culture. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Supreme Court determined that segregation is constitutional if the facilities are "separate but equal". -
Spanish American War
Spain refused to withdraw from Cuba, criticizing the United States as "weak" for not interfering. The war lasted 3 months, and was ended by the Treaty of Paris. Spain withdrew, and the U.S. gained Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Guam. They were introduced to overseas commercial markets and became established as a world power. -
Theodore Roosevelt Elected
As the 26th President, Roosevelt helped establish National Parks and pass the Pure Food and Drug Act in response to the unsanitary meat factory conditions. -
"The Jungle" Published
Published by Upton Sinclair, this novel exposed the corruption within government and businesses. It encouraged public outcry against the unsanitary conditions of the meat packing industry. -
16th Amendment Passed
Passed by President William Taft, this amendment grants Congress the power to impose income tax. It drastically changed the way the federal government could gain revenue. -
Beginning of World War 1
The Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, causing Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia. The world's alliance system prompted the domino effect to take place, ending in a rivalry between the Allied Forces and Central Powers. New weapons and tactics emerged, from trench warfare to poison gas. It was ended by the Treaty of Versailles, requiring Germany to take blame for the war. -
19th Amendment Passed
First introduced by activist Susan B. Anthony, this amendment gave women the right to vote. Advocates for women's suffrage met at Seneca Falls. -
Beginning of Great Depression
It was mainly prompted by the stock market crash on "Black Tuesday", in which many ran to the bank in an attempt to withdraw their money. During the Depression, unemployment, bankruptcy, and foreclosures followed the economy in a downward spiral. Meanwhile, the Dust Bowl hit the Great Plains, causing a severe drought that turned soil to dust. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt Elected
The longest serving President, Franklin D. Roosevelt was known for the Relief, Recovery, and Reform movements after the Great Depression, which included his "New Deal". This policy encouraged an expansion of Federal power to protect U.S. economic stability. He is also known for the "court packing" scheme, in which he attempted to appoint 3 new Supreme Court justices to support his policies. -
Beginning of World War 2
Dictators rose to form the Axis Powers, including Adolf Hitler of Germany. The Treaty of Versailles, which put the blame on Germany, allowed Hitler to rally allies to support his cause. It began with the Invasion of Poland, which led France and Great Britain to declare war. The Holocaust began as Jews and other minorities were targeted and placed into Concentration Camps. -
Japan Surrenders
Atomic bombs were developed in America's "Manhattan Project", overseen by President Harry S. Truman. Japan refused to surrender, so a bomb was dropped on the city on Hiroshima. Another was placed on Nagasaki after their continued refusal, finally leading to their surrender and end of World War 2. -
NATO Formed
In response to the perceived threat of Communism and its spread, NATO was created to provide security for the world powers. If one nation is attacked, the others fight back in response. -
Korean War
North Korea, a Communist nation, invaded the Democratic nation of South Korea. The United States, with its policy of containment, provided aid to the South. China, on the other hand, helped the North. Executive Order 9981 was passed by President Truman, desegregating the military. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This ruling overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine established in the Plessy v. Ferguson case of 1896. As supported by the NAACP and the Sweatt V. Painter case, schools became officially desegregated. -
Little Rock Crisis
The Governor of Arkansas used the National Guard to prevent 9 African American students from entering school. In response, the President sent Federal Troops as an escort, earning the students the nickname of "Little Rock Nine". This showed how, despite the rulings of Brown v. Board of Education, many communities attempted to maintain their "status quo" of discrimination. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Fidel Castro, a Soviet ally, had established a Communist regime in Cuba. The U.S. attempted an invasion, known as the "Bay of Pigs," but they failed. The Soviets saw this as a weakness, sending nuclear missiles to Cuba in response. Upon seeing these missile bases, the U.S. established a naval blockade of Cuba. The two managed an agreement, with the U.S. agreeing to not invade Cuba and the Soviets removing their missiles. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Passed by Lyndon B. Johnson, this act prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, or national origin within employment, public accommodations, etc. It was supported by the 24th amendment, which outlawed anything that prohibited people from voting, such as literacy tests or poll taxes. -
U.S. Lands on Moon
The Apollo 11 mission made Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin the first humans to walk on the moon. This brought an end to the "Space Race" which was between the Soviet Union and America. This race led the U.S. to increase funding for math, science, and technology education, as well as establish NASA to achieve their goal.