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Louisiana Purchase
President Thomas Jefferson authorized the purchase of Louisiana, an agreement in terms of land between North America and France, in which the U.S. acquired roughly 827,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River for $15 million. -
The Beginning of the Civil War
A transitional war, it truly affected America. Between technology, helping to put an end to slavery, defining our country "one nation," a framework for working through struggles of rights and equality (together with the Civil Rights Movement), and women were beginning different roles and focused on protecting their loved ones and working while their significant other fought for America. -
The 13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment, ratified together with put into the Constitution. It helped to put an end slavery in the United States, meaning no one could be legally owned or forced to work without approval. For millions of Black Americans, this marked the legal end of centuries of brutal enslavement, and while freedom didn't erase the injustice, it was powerful, progress toward equality. -
The 14th Amendment
Granted citizenship to people born or naturalized in the U.S., furthermore, formerly enslaved people, and promised "equal protection under both the state and federal law." In other words, "You're noticed, you're important, and the law must treat you in that way." Definitely the framework for so much of the future civil rights victories, even though equality was (and of course continues to be) a work in progress. -
The National Woman Suffrage Association
Formed by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the NWSA helped women hold the right to vote with no compromises. They focused on changing the U.S. Constitution and weren't afraid to voice how important this would be and it would significantly affected women. This group helped pave the way for the 19th Amendment and showed that women were so done waiting for equality and the right to vote "immediately, not at some future, undetermined date." 💪🏼💕 -
The 15th Amendment
A promise to political power, told African American men the right to vote. No one could be denied the vote in connection to "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." It was an extreme win for democracy, even though many racist barriers (like literacy tests and poll taxes) made an attempt to diminish that power for decades after. -
Hiram Revels
Hiram Revels became the first African American U.S. Senator, representing Mississippi during Reconstruction. The election revealed that real change truly is possible, even if discrimination and segregation made it difficult to last. -
The Homestead Steel Strike
An extremely violent and dangerous dispute between the Carnegie Steel Company and most of the workers in Homestead, Pennsylvania. Workers were fighting for fair wages and better conditions, but when the company brought in armed guards (Pinkertons), everything went downhill. This moment in history revealed how difficult the fight for workers' rights were, especially in terms of power and money. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 truly changed American history and marked a milestone in the long struggle to extend civil, political, and legal rights and protections to African Americans, together with former slaves and their descendants, and to end segregation everywhere. Definitely powerful change, however, a painful fight for justice and equality for people enduring the lasting effects of slavery and systemic racism. It didn't fix everything overnight, but offered hope.