Jonathan Edwards sparked the First Great Awakening, 1734
Known for his "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God "sermon. Leading theologian (religious thinker) of First Great Awakening, a massive religious movement that swept through the colonies, which emphasized the community of all Christians. He preached anew
Why 1754 - 1800 was chosen as the dates for period 3
This time period represents the end of the 7 Years' War through the first two presidential administrations (Washington and Adams)
French and Indian War, 1754-63
Part of the 7 Years' War, Great Britain & France fought for control of the Ohio Valley & Canada. The colonies fought under British commanders and won; resulted in France being pushed out of N. America and massive British war debt
Impact of 7 Years' War
France removed from North America; Great Britain in massive debt, began to consolidate control over colonies - taxes; many colonists resisted
Common Sense
Pamphlet written by T-Paine, and Enlightenment thinker. Urged that it was "Common Sense" that colonies should break away from Great Britain
Reasons for Patriot Victory in Revolutionary War
Colonists' familiarity with the land; political and military leadership (Washington); ideological commitment (Natural Rights); Support from European Allies (France after Saratoga)
Northwest Land Ordinance
Passed under Articles - banned slavery in NW territory (OH, MI, IN, etc.); created a process for admitting new states (60,000 inhabitants)
White-Indian Conflicts after 7 Years' War
Due to encroachment on Native lands; Pontiac's Rebellion led to the Proclamation Line of 1763
Proclamation of 1763
Created to alleviate relations with natives after the French and Indian War and stated that Americans were not permitted to pass the Appalachian Mountains. Angered struggling colonists who had no other option but to find fortune and life on the frontier.
Stamp Act, 1765-66
It imposed tax on newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, deeds, wills, licenses;.many colonial groups formed such as Sons of Liberty and tarred or feathered tax collectors, organized non-important movements (boycotts)
Boston Tea Party, 1773
American colonists calling themselves the Sons of Liberty, disguised as Mohawk Native Americans, boarded three British ships and dumped British tea into the Boston harbor.
First Continental Congress, 1774
Convention of delegates from the colonies called in to discuss their response to the passage of the Intolerable Acts (
Lexington and Concord, 1775
First battle in the Revolutionary War, (AKA "shot heard round the world") fought in Massachusetts on April 19, 1775.
Second Continental Congress, 1775
a convention of delegates from the 13 Colonies, managed the colonial war effort, sent The Olive Branch Petition,moved incrementally towards independence, adopted the Declaration of Independence, acted as the de facto national government.
John Locke
English Enlightenment philosopher and political thinker who believed in government based upon natural rights of the people (life, liberty, and property) the will of the governed.
Declaration of Independence, 1776
The fundamental document establishing the US as an independent nation, adopted on July 4, 1776. It declared the 13 colonies independent from Britain, offered reasons for the separation laid out the principles for which the Revolution was fought
Treaty of Alliance, 1778
Alliance between France and the America in the American Revolution, formed after the Battle of Saratoga which showed France that the Americans had a chance to beat England.
Battle of Yorktown, 1781
last major battle of Revolution. French navy and ground troops were crucial to victory.
Articles of Confederation went into effect, 1781
first constitution of the US. Put into effect during Revolutionary War. Based on equality of states, with each getting one vote. National government was very weak, with no power to tax. Laws required 9/13 vote to pass, changes to AOC required unanimous vo
Peace of Paris, 1783
Treaty that ended American Revolution, granting US independence. Negotiated by John Adams, John Jay, Benjamin Franklin. Secured American fishing rights, territorial boundaries end American persecution of loyalists, and agreement to honor debts
Northwest Ordinances of 1787
1787, the NW Ordinance dissolved the Ordinances of 1784-85; created a process for statehood with freedom of religion, trial by jury, and no slavery., raised money for gov't via the sale of public land
Shay's Rebellion, 1786
This MA conflict caused criticism of the Articles of Confederation; weak govt; increased calls for a Constitutional Convention to revise the Articles
Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, 1787
1787 Philadelphia convention that produced the present Constitution of the United States, drafted largely by James Madison.
The Federalist Papers published, 1787-8
85 newspaper essays by Madison, Hamilton, and John Jay on the importance of having a new Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation. This explained the importance of a strong central government. It was published to convince New York to ratify t
Constitution
Replaced the Articles - series of compromises (Great, 3/5, Slave Trade); provided limits on federal power (separation of powers); did not address problems of slavery
Alexander Hamilton
Washington's Treasury Secretary; helped put in place the basic economic foundations of the new government with the overriding goal of strengthening the national government's role. Key elements include: assumption of state debts (to centralize economic lif
Samuel Slater
Father of the American Factory System" brought British textile technology to America with a few modifications fit for America.
Bill of Rights, 1791
The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. Proposed to assuage the fears of Anti-Federalists
Cotton Gin, 1793
a machine invented by Eli Whitney; revolutionized cotton production by greatly speeding up the process of removing seeds from cotton fiber.
Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality, 1793
Washington declares United States neutrality in the face of emerging European conflicts leading to a strong sense of isolationism kept the US from being drawn into constant European wars that might threaten the existence of the young fragile nation
Whiskey Rebellion, 1794
Small farmers of the back country distilled (and consumed) whiskey, which was easier to transport and sell than the grain that was its source.
Republican Motherhood
Expectation that women would instill Republican values in children and be active in families; helped increase education for women
Washington's Farewell Address, 1796
Urged Americans to avoid excessive political party spirit and geographical distinctions. In foreign affairs, warned against long-term alliances with other nations -
Alien & Sedition Acts, 1798
passed by Federalists, signed by President Adams;; increased waiting period for an immigrant to become a citizen from 5 to 14 years, empowered president to arrest and deport dangerous aliens, & made it illegal to publish defamatory statements about the fe
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, 1798-99
Written by Jefferson and Madison, in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts; argued states had the power to declare federal acts unconstitutional.
Why 1800 - 1848 was chosen as the dates for period 4
Beginning with Jefferson's presidency (Revolution of 1800), ending with the Seneca Falls Convention and Mexican American War
Federalists
Political Party led by Hamilton - pro-British; supported by the wealthy; pro-merchants and trade; Favored the National Bank (BUS); loose interpretation
Democratic-Republicans
Political Party led by Jefferson - pro-French; supported by middle-class and farmers; pro-agriculture; against the BUS; strict interpretation
Election of 1800
Jefferson elected; defeats Adams, first peaceful, orderly transfer of power via competitive elections Called "Revolution of 1800
Midnight judges, 1801
The Judiciary Act of 1801 created 16 new federal judgeships and other judicial offices. Federalists attempt to secure the Federalists a position of power in the new government after losing the congressional and presidential election of 1800
Marbury v. Madison, 1803
SCOTUS decision; established the right of the courts to determine the constitutionality of the actions of the other two branches of government (Marshall Court)
Louisiana Purchase, 1803
Jefferson sent Monroe to Paris to purchase New Orleans; Monroe ended up spending $15 million, because he was able to get all of Louisiana, Jefferson conflicted about the purchase, since he didn't feel he had the authority to do so under the Constitution,
Why 1491 - 1607 was chosen as the dates for period 1?
1491 is one year prior to the arrival of Columbus and Europeans, and 1607 is the year England established a permanent settlement at Jamestown
maize cultivation
The spread of ____________ from present-day Mexico northward into the American Southwest and beyond supported economic development and social diversification among societies in these areas. EX: Anasazi, Pueblo
Pre-Columbian economy in Northwest and areas of California
a mix of foraging and hunting. EX: Chinook of Pacific Northwest
Pre-Columbian economy in Great Basin and the western Great Plains
Societies responded to the lack of natural resources in the _____ and ________ by developing largely mobile lifestyles.
Pre-Columbian economy in the Northeast and along the Atlantic Seaboard
a mixed agricultural and hunter-gatherer economy that favored the development of permanent villages. EX: Iroquois & Algonquian
Columbian Exchange
a series of interactions and adaptations among societies across the Atlantic, including plants, animals, disease, people, etc.
Colombian Exchange, from Americas to "Old World
potatoes, corn, tomatoes, squash, beans, chocolate, syphilis, etc
Columbian Exchange, from "Old World" to Americas
smallpox, livestock (pigs, cows, sheep), bees, bananas, coffee, sugar
Spanish and Portuguese exploration and conquest of the Americas led to...
widespread deadly epidemics, the emergence of racially mixed populations, and a caste system defined by an intermixture among Spanish settlers, Africans, and Native Americans
caste system
a system of segregation of people who are born into a caste and stay for life regardless of ability
mestizo
is a term traditionally used in Spain and Spanish-speaking America to mean a person of combined European and Native American descent
encomienda system
In the economies of the Spanish colonies, Indian labor, used in the _______________ to support plantation-based agriculture and extract precious metals and other resources. EX: sugar, silver
Role of the Spanish and Portuguese traders
Settled heavily in South America, reached West Africa and contributed to the development of the African Slave Trade.
European goods that transformed Native life (Name three)
Horses - improved hunting and warfare for Natives (especially in the Great Plains and Basin), weapons and alcohol helped increase the destructiveness of warfare
American goods that transformed European life (Two or more)
Maize, potatoes, and other crops - helped increase European population and the shift from feudalism to capitalism
Technologies that allowed for increased trade and contact
Sextant - helped determine longitude and latitude, Caravel - more maneuverable sailing ship, Joint-Stock companies - finance exploration with reduced risk
How did Europeans justify the subjugation of Africans and Natives?
White racial superiority, Bible, view of groups as "savages
Examples of Africans seeking to preserve autonomy
Africans ran away and formed maroon communities, and combined elements of Christianity and African religions
European exploration and conquest were fueled by...(Three G's
a desire for new sources of wealth, increased power and status, and converts to Christianity. (god, glory, gold)
New crops from the Americas stimulated...
European population growth (particularly from corn and potatoes)
New sources of mineral wealth from the Americas facilitated the European shift from...
feudalism to capitalism.
Christopher Columbus
Italian explorer who "discovers America" in 1492 when searching for a sea route to the Far East .
capitalism
an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state or hereditary noble class
joint stock companies
Businesses owned by shareholders that invested in exploration and colonization, enabiling more investors to profit with less risk
Juan de Sep�lveda
Spaniard who supported the Spanish Empire's right of conquest and colonization in the New World. Sep�lveda also argued in favor of the Christianization of native Americans.
Bartolom� de Las Casas
Spaniard who fought against the enslavement and colonial abuse of native Americans.
Maroon Communities
African refugees who had escaped slavery in the Americas and developed their own communities in Brazil and the Caribbean.
African American religion in the colonial period
African slaves mixed African beliefs and practices with Catholic rituals and theology, in Haiti (referred to as "voodoo"), Santeria in Cuba,
Why 1607 - 1754 was chosen as the dates for period 2
1607 = 1st English permanent settlement in Jamestown; 1754 = start of the 7 Years War (AKA "French and Indian War")
The Enlightenment
Philosophy focused on reason and promoting new forms of government (Locke, Montesquieu); influenced the American Revolution
Mercantilism
Economic policy that focuses on making $ for the mother country. It favors a positive balance of trade for the mother country and the accumulation of gold and silver
What led Europeans to develop diverse patterns of colonization?
Differences in imperial goals, cultures, and the North American environments that different empires confronted
What did European colonization efforts in North America stimulate?
intercultural contact and intensified conflict between the various groups of colonizers and native peoples.
What led to colonial resistance to Britain?
Britain's desire to maintain a viable North American empire in the face of growing internal challenges and external competition inspired efforts to strengthen its imperial control, stimulating increasing resistance from colonists who had grown accustomed
What were general characteristics of Spanish colonization?
Spain sought to establish tight control over the process of colonization and to religiously convert and/or exploit the native population.
What was the general character of French and Dutch colonization?
French and Dutch colonial efforts involved relatively few Europeans and used trade alliances and intermarriage with American Indians to acquire furs and other products for export to Europe.
What was the general character of English colonization?
Unlike their European competitors, the English eventually sought to establish colonies based on agriculture, sending relatively large numbers of men and women to acquire land and populate their settlements, while having relatively hostile relationships wi
How did the European colonial powers differ regarding intermarriage with native populations?
Unlike Spanish, French, and Dutch colonies, which accepted intermarriage and cross-racial sexual unions with native peoples (and, in Spain's case, with enslaved Africans), English colonies attracted both males and females who rarely intermarried with eith
What factors led to the emergence of the Atlantic slave trade?
The abundance of land, a shortage of indentured servants, the lack of an effective means to enslave native peoples, and a growing European demand for colonial goods led to the emergence of the Atlantic slave trade.
indentured servitude
System of labor in which a company or individual paid a person's passage to America in return for a contract of repayment through servitude (usually seven years).
chattel slavery
A chattel slave is an enslaved person who is owned for ever and whose children and children's children are automatically enslaved. Chattel slaves are individuals treated as complete property, to be bought and sold.
middle passage
the brutal journey of slaves in bondage across the Atlantic to America.
Describe slavery in the British colonies
Reinforced by a strong belief in British racial and cultural superiority, the British system enslaved black people in perpetuity (forever), altered African gender and kinship relationships in the colonies, and was one factor that led the British colonists
Jamestown, 1607
first permanent English colony in North America, founded in Virginia in 1607 - 13 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in Massachusetts - Initially, the settlers spent too much time trying to find gold and neglected to prepare for the winter. The
First Africans brought to modern day United States
A Dutch ship brought 20 Africans to Virginia, the first Africans to arrive in the present-day United States. Until 1680, indentured servants from Europe were far more numerous in the English colonies than African slaves. After 1680, the number of indentur
How did Africans resist slavery?
Africans developed both overt and covert means to resist the dehumanizing aspects of slavery. Resistance to slavery included rebellion, sabotage, and escape. Rebellion was the least common, usually unsuccessful, and resulted in harsher conditions for othe
Stono Rebellion, 1739
South Carolina slave revolt that prompted the colonies to pass stricter laws regulating the movement of slaves and the capture of runaways.
New York Conspiracy, 1741
A plot by slaves and poor whites to burn New York. Over 170 people were arrested for participating in the plot. Most were hanged, burnt, or deported.
Describe the general characteristics of the New England colonies
The New England colonies, founded primarily by Puritans seeking to establish a community of likeminded religious believers, developed a close-knit, homogeneous society and � aided by favorable environmental conditions � a thriving mixed economy of agricul
What were the New England colonies?
Plymouth (later absorbed into Massachussetts), Massachussetts Bay Colony, New Hamphire, Connecticut, Rhode Island
Mayflower Compact, 1620
The Mayflower Compact, signed by 41 English colonists on the ship Mayflower on November 11, 1620, was an early step toward written frameworks of government in what is now the United States. The compact was drafted to prevent dissent among Puritans and non
Puritans
English Protestants who wanted to create a "community of saints" or "city upon a hill" that would serve as a model of Christianity. Often seen as the beginning of "American Exceptionalism" - the idea that America has a unique story, or God-given destiny
Great Migration of Puritans to Massachusetts, 1630's and 1640's
Beginning with 700 people led by Governor John Winthrop, a great migration of Puritans from England brought over 20,000 people�mostly families� to New England over a ten-year period. No group has played a more pivotal role in shaping American values than
Roger Williams
Colonial leader who was banished from Salem, MA for holding unorthodox views. Founded colony of Rhode Island based on religious toleration, separation of church and state, and political democracy. Lead to immigration into Rhode Island of persecuted religi
Salem Witch Trials, 1692
The Salem witch trials occurred in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft�the Devil's magic�and 20 were executed. Eventually, the colony admitted the trials were a mistake and compensated t
Describe the general characteristics of the Middle Colonies
The demographically, religiously, and ethnically diverse middle colonies supported a flourishing export economy based on cereal crops (wheat, corn, barley, etc)
William Penn
Penn established Pennsylvania as a haven for Quakers, guaranteeing liberty of conscience and granting freemen the right to alter the government. Founded by William Penn, 1681 who received a colonial charter from King Charles II in payment of a debt owed t
Quakers
Religious group that settled Pennsylvania. Often known as the "Society of Friends," Quakers believed in an "Inner Light" that would guide them toward religious truth and were pacifists (opposed violence) who had good relations with Native Americans
Describe the Chesapeake colonies (Virginia and Maryland) and North Carolina
they relied on the cultivation of tobacco, a labor-intensive product based on white indentured servants and African chattel.
Describe the general characterstics of the British West Indies and the Southern Colonies (South Carolina & Georgia)
The colonies along the southernmost Atlantic coast and the British islands in the West Indies took advantage of long growing seasons by using slave labor to develop economies based on staple crops; in some cases, enslaved Africans constituted the majority
Barbados
British West Indies colony whose plantation system and harsh slave codes became the model for Southern colonies in North America
Headright System
The grant of 50 acres of land for each settler brought to Virginia by a colonist. Established a pattern of small wealthy planter elite and a large, landless, powerless majority that would characterize politics/society in the South until the Civil War and
Georgia, established 1732
Founded by James Oglethorpe as a haven for debtors, and as a buffer colony to protect the profitable Carolinas from attacks by Spanish Florida, Georgia became the last of the original 13 British colonies in North America.
What did the European colonies in North America focus on?
gaining new sources of labor, producing and acquiring commodities such as furs and tobacco, that were valued in Europe.
What were the big issues that separated England and its colonists? (Prior to French and Indian War)
territorial settlements, frontier defense, trade and other issues.
Molasses Act, 1733
A British law that established a tax on imports of molasses, sugar, and rum from non-British colonies. The law was loosely enforced and New England imported great quantities of West Indian sugar for manufacturing rum. Example of mercantilism
smuggling
As a way of ignoring British restrictions on colonial trade, colonists engaged in widespread smuggling. Smugglers who got caught were often often freed by sympathetic American juries.
How did Europeans help increase the intensity and destructiveness of American Indian warfare?
By supplying American Indian allies with deadlier weapons and alcohol, and by rewarding Indian military actions
King Phillip's War
The last significant effort by the Indians of southern New England to drive away English settlers. The Indians were led by Metacom, the Pokunoket chief whom English setters called "King Philip.
Pueblo Revolt, 1680
An uprising of Indians in Santa Fe against Spanish colonization. The Pueblo killed 400 Spanish and drove the remaining 2,000 settlers out of the province. Twelve years later the Spanish returned and were able to reoccupy New Mexico with little opposition.
How did the Spanish and English differ in their views of Native American culture?
Spanish colonizing efforts in North American, particularly after the Pueblo Revolt, saw an accommodation with some aspects of American Indian culture; by contrast, conflict with American Indians tended to reinforce English colonists' worldview on land and
Casta system
A system in colonial Spain of determining a person's social importance according to different racial categories.
Mulatto
A person who had one parent who was white and another parent who was black. If mulattos were born into slavery in a Spanish colony (i.e., their mother was a slave), they would be slaves also, but if their mother was free, they were free.
mestizo (AKA M�tis)
A person of mixed race who had one white parent and another parent who was American Indian.
triangular trade
A system of trade between Africa, Europe, and American colonies that involved slaves, cash crops, and manufactured goods.
What factors promoted Anglicization in the British colonies?
the growth of autonomous political communities based on English models, the development of commercial ties and legal structures, the emergence of a trans-Atlantic print culture, Protestant evangelism, religious toleration, and the spread of European Enlig
House of Burgesses, 1619
The first elected lawmaking body in North America, established by the Virginia Company to allow representative government in Virginia.
Navigation Acts
Attempt by England to assert its control over American trade by passing a series of laws that regulated colonial trade to England's benefit.
salutary neglect
Unofficial British policy of non-enforcement of trade laws. Salutary neglect lasted throughout most of the 1600s and 1700s. Considered good because the colonies grew economically and learned to govern themselves
Bacon's Rebellion, 1676
Armed rebellion in Virginia against Governor William Berkeley, who had the support of the British government. Forces from England came to Virginia to suppress the resistance and reform the colonial government to one that was more directly under royal cont
First Great Awakening, 1730s-1760s
Evangelical religious revival that swept through Britain's North American colonies. The Great Awakening strengthened beliefs in religious freedom and challenged the status of established churches.
George Whitefield
Christian preacher whose tour of the English colonies attracted big crowds and sparked the First Great Awakening.
Lewis and Clark expedition, 1804-6
From 1804-1806 they traveled up the Missouri River, through the Rockies, and to the mouth of the Columbia River; bolstered America's claim to western lands
The Embargo Act, 1807
Attempt by President Thomas Jefferson and the U.S. Congress to punish Britain and France for interfering with American trade while the two major European powers were at war
War of 1812, 1812-1815
US v Britain:fought over trade restrictions caused by British-French war; the impressment of American sailors, British support of American Indian tribes against American expansion,
Hartford Convention, 1814
A meeting of Federalist delegates from New England inspired by Federalist opposition to the War of 1812;contributed to the death of the Federalist Party during the "Era of Good Feelings
Battle of New Orleans, 1815
Last major battle of the War of 1812; making Andrew Jackson a national hero and propelling him later to the presidency.
The American System, 1815
Policies devised by the Whig Party and leading politician Henry Clay: national bank, high tariffs, and internal improvements
Era of Good Feelings, 1815-24
Period of strong nationalism, economic growth, territorial expansion under the presidency of James Monroe. Only one major political party at the time (Republican)
McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819
SCOTUS ruling based on Supremacy Clause; no state can tax institutions created by Congress - MD attempted to tax 2nd BUS
Missouri Compromise, 1820
Compromise - Maine enters as free state, Missouri as slave state, prohibited slavery in Louisiana Territory north of 36�30? , preserved balance in US Senate - first LA Purchase territory to apply for statehood
Democrats
Party led by Jackson - "Common Man"; pro states' rights; against the BUS
Whigs
Political Party led by Henry Clay! Favored the BUS and the American System; strong legislative branch; against "King Andrew I
Marshall Court
Asserted federal power over states (McCulloch v. Maryland, Gibbons v. Ogden, Cohens v Virginia); judicial branch determined the meaning of Constitution (Marbury v. Madison)
Second Great Awakening
Inspired many to achieve perfection on earth; helped influence reform movements (abolitionism, women's rights, temperance, etc.)
Xenophobia
Fear of foreigners - helped give rise to a nativist movement that was Anti-Catholic
American System
Henry Clay's! idea to unify the economy through: BUS, internal improvements, and tariffs. More successful in unifying the North and Midwest than South
Market Revolution
Drastic changes in transportation (canals, RRs), communication (telegraph), and the production of goods (more in factories as opposed to houses)
Lowell factories
Utopian society for young women; hired girls from 15-25; expected to work 1-3 years, earned their own wages, encouraged by education. Criticisms included: long hrs , poor working conditions
Monroe Doctrine, 1823
US foreign policy regarding Latin American countries stated that further efforts by European nations to colonize land or interfere with states in North or South America would be viewed as acts of aggression, requiring U.S. intervention.
Election of 1824
John Quincy Adams elected President on February 9, 1825, after the election was decided by the House of Representatives in what was termed the Corrupt Bargain.
Indian Removal Act, 1830
Passed by Congress on May 28, 1830, during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. It authorized the president to negotiate with Indians tribes in the Southern U.S. for their removal to federal territory west of the Mississippi River in exchange for their homel
Nat Turner's revolt, 1831
slave rebellion that took place in Virginia, led by Nat Turner. Rebel slaves killed anywhere from 55-65 people, the highest number by any slave uprising in the South.
Nullification Crisis, 1832-33
A sectional crisis during the presidency of Andrew Jackson created by the Ordinance of Nullification, an attempt by the state of South Carolina to nullify a federal law - the tariff of 1828 (AKA the "Tariff of Abominations"). Jackson got Congress to pass
Second Bank of the United States, 1833-36
Bank whose renewal was vetoed by Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson d because he saw it as a tool of eastern financial elites against the interests of democracy and the common man.
Panic of 1837
US financial crisis touching off a major recession thru the mid-1840s. caused by speculative lending practices in western states, a sharp decline in cotton prices, a collapsing land speculation bubble, international specie (gold) flows
Trail of Tears, 1838
Andrew Jackson favored pushing all Amerindians west of the MS River. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 provided for federal enforcement of this policy, Jackson defied the Supreme Court in the case of Worcester v. Georgia in 1832, which would allow Indians to
Election of 1840
Martin Van Buren vs. William Henry Harrison MVB hurt by Panic of 1837. Significance: massive voter turnout & use of slogans: "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too", "Log cabin and hard cider" Created second national two-party system
Why 1844 - 1877 was chosen as the dates for period 5
Beginning with Polk's election (US expansion and Manifest Destiny) through the end of Reconstruction
Nativist Movement
Discrimination against immigrants (notably Irish and Germans), heavily anti-Catholic, sought to limit power of immigrants (Know-Nothing Party)
Term "Manifest Destiny" first used, 1845
Coined by John L. O'Sullivan, this expression was popular in the 1840s. Many people believed that the U.S. was destined to secure territory from "sea to sea," from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and spread the American way of life, by force if necessar
Annexation of Texas, 1845
Texas was annexed to the U.S, in 1845, it was this action that caused the Mexican War. It was the 28th state and came in as slave state.
Mexican-American War, 1846-48
A war fought between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. The United States won the war, encouraged by the feelings of many Americans that the country was accomplishing its manifest destiny of expansion. US gained approximately half of Mexico's
Wilmot Proviso, 1846
The Wilmot Proviso was a rider to a bill proposed by Pennsylvania Congressman David Wilmot in 1846 that sought to ban slavery in any territories or new states acquired from Mexico. Essentially the argument was over whether there would be slavery in Texas,
Mormons migrated to Utah, 1847-48
The Mormons (founded by their profit Joseph Smith) were persecuted so they migrated west along the Oregon Trail. Led by Brigham Young after Smith's death, the Mormons created a large settlement near the Great Salt Lake, which is now Utah. Utah has a large
Seneca Falls convention, 1848
Site of the first modern women's rights convention, and the start of the organized fight for women's rights in US history. At the gathering, Elizabeth Cady Stanton read a Declaration of Sentiments modeled on the Declaration of Independence listing the man
Mexican Cession, 1848
Land that Mexico ceded to the United States in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. This territory included CA, NM, NV, AZ, UT, TX, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. The addition of so much land to the United States exacerbated conflict over the expa
California gold rush, 1849
Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world, mostly young men, came to California in 1849 after gold was discovered in search of instant riches. Led to quick population of California, and new conflicts over slavery as California petitioned for a
Compromise of 1850
North: California admitted as free state, Texas gave up claims to disputed lands in New Mexico, Slave trade in DC was banned, but slavery was legal. South: Popular sovereignty in Mexican Cession lands, Texas was paid $10 million for land lost, stricter f
Abolitionists
Minority in the north; used fierce arguments (Garrison's Liberator), helping slaves escape (Underground RR), and violence (Nat Turner, John Brown at Harpers Ferry)
Slavery as a Positive Good
Argument used by John C. Calhoun and many in the South to justify slavery
Republican Party
Emerged as a sectional party in the North and Midwest; sought to keep slavery from expanding (free-soil) - as seen in Lincoln's election in 1860
Emancipation Proclamation
Changed the purpose of the Civil War; allowed African Americans to fight in the Union Army; Kept Europe from aiding the South
Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1852
Most important book in US history. Portrayed horrors of American slavery, especially slave auctions. Helped intensify Northern abolitionism and contempt for the South, thus contributing to likelihood of war. International bestseller that helped move publi
Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854
Proposed by Senator Douglas (Illinois) and advocated popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska territories (vote by people of territory whether they would be slave or free state). Douglas wanted it to facilitate the building of the transcontinental railr
Creation of the Republican Party, 1854
In the wake of the demise of the Whigs in the early 1850s over the slavery issue, the Republican Party organized in 1854 by antislavery Whigs, Democrats, Free Soilers and abolitionists in response to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act; nominated John
Dred Scot v. Sandford, 1857
Chief Justice Taney ruled that Dred Scott was not a citizen and had no standing in court; Scott's residence in a free state had not made him free, that blacks have "no rights a white man is bound to respect," & Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in
Lincoln-Douglas debates, 1858
A series of seven debates for US Senate in Illinois between Lincoln (R) and Senator Douglas (D). The debates previewed the issues that Lincoln would face in the aftermath of his victory in the 1860 presidential election. The main issue discussed in all se
John Brown's raid, 1859
John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry was an attempt by the white abolitionist John Brown to start an armed slave revolt in 1859 by seizing a United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Brown's raid, accompanied by 20 men in his party, was defeated by
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln became president! Major "realignment" of parties as new Republican Party (formed from ashes of "Free Soil Party") adopted an anti-slavery platform that attracted former Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats. The election led to the secession, c
Southern secession, 1860-61
Immediately following Lincoln's victory in November 1860 election, 11 southern states seceded from the US, led by South Carolina, to form the Confederate States of America (CSA) because they feared the Republican Party under Lincoln would try to abolish s
Fort Sumter, 1861
Located in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. One of only two federal forts that had not fallen to Confederacy. The troops needed provisions, or would have to surrender to seige. Lincoln informed the South Carolinians that he would send provisions
Homestead Act, 1862
Act that allowed a settler to acquire as much as 160 acres of land by living on it for 5 years, improving it, and paying a nominal fee of about $30. Land was given away to encourage a rapid filling of empty spaces and to provide a stimulus to the family f
Morrill Land-Grant Act, 1862
Transferred public acreage to the state governments which could sell land and use proceeds for the establishment of agricultural colleges (for example, Texas A&M). Called "Land-Grant" colleges, it help spread public education in America.
Emancipation Proclamation, 1863
After the Union victory at Antietam, Sep. 23, 1862, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which declared slaves free in territories still in rebellion. Did not apply to border slave states because Lincoln feared it would push them into CSA, also fe
Battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg, 1863
The two victories at Gettysburg, PA and Vicksburg, MS, turned the Civil War in the Union's favor. Culminating within a day of each other, Gettysburg and Vicksburg respectively put Lee on the defensive in the East and opened the Mississippi in the West, pa
Appomattox Court House, 1865
A village in Virginia where General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant in April 1865, effectively ending the American Civil War. The Confederates were treated with respect after their surrender
Abraham Lincoln assassination, 1865
On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth, a famous actor and Confederate sympathizer, fatally shot President Abraham Lincoln at a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. The attack came only five days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his
Freedman's Bureau, 1865
Set up to help freedmen and white refugees after Civil War. Provided food, clothing, medical care, and education. First to establish schools for blacks to learn to read as thousands of teachers from the north came south to help. Lasted from 1865-72. Attac
13th Amendment
Abolished slavery; led to the rise of sharecropping in the south
Radical Republicans
Most fervent abolitionists; Sought to change racial and cultural attitudes of the South; strongest advocates of African American rights in Congress
Purchase of Alaska, 1867
Russia wanted to sell its Alaskan territory, fearing that it might be seized if war broke out with Britain. Reactions to the purchase in the United States were mixed, with opponents calling it "Seward's Folly", feeling that U.S. Secretary of State William
Radical Reconstruction began, 1867
Radical Republicans won a victory in the 1866 congressional midterm elections giving them a huge veto-proof (over 2/3rds). Congress decided that they, not President Johnson (who was a pro-Southern racist that opposed helping freedmen), would handle recons
Andrew Johnson impeachment trial, 1868
Johnson was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on the primary charge of Johnson's violation of the Tenure of Office Act. Specifically, he had removed Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton (whom the Tenure of Office Act was largely designed to prot
14th Amendment, 1868
Grants citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the US"; it forbids any state to deny any person "life, liberty or property, without due process of law" or to "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of its laws." Most im
15th Amendment
Provided suffrage for all adult MALES; divided the Women's Rights Movement
Transcontinental railroad completed, 1869
A railroad that crossed North America by linking the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. It was built by two companies. Central Pacific heading east from west coast and was built primarily by Chinese workers. Union Pacific headed from east to west, built largely
Standard Oil created, 1870
John D. Rockefeller organized Standard Oil in Cleveland in 1870. Through ruthless competition and superb organization, the Standard Oil Trust controlled 90 percent of oil refining in the United States by 1879. Its controversial history as one of the world
Knights of Labor created, 1869
the largest and most important American labor organizations of the late 1870s & 1880s. The Knights promoted the social and cultural uplift of the workingman, rejected Socialism and radicalism, demanded the 8-hour day, and promoted the producers ethic of w
Wyoming gave women right to vote, 1870
an act granting the women of Wyoming the right of suffrage. In the West, women were seen as equals because they did just as much work
Battle of Little Big Horn, 1876
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also called Custer's Last Stand, was an engagement between the combined forces of the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne tribes against the 7th Cavalry of the United States Army. The most famous of all of the Indian Wars, the r
Election of 1876
one of the most disputed presidential elections in US history. Tilden (D) outpolled Ohio's Rutherford B. Hayes (R) in the popular vote, and had 184 electoral votes to Hayes' 165, with 20 votes uncounted due to problems in three states (Florida, Louisiana,
Why 1865 - 1898 was chosen as the dates for period 6
1865 begins with the end of the Civil War and 1898 marks the beginning of the Civil War
Gilded Age
Coin termed by Mark Twain; period from 1870s - 1890s, businesses grew at a rapid rate and many problems lied below perceived prosperity
Social Darwinism
Charles Darwin's ideas applied to humans, "survival of the fittest." Used by wealthy to justify their position in life
Labor Unions
Knights of Labor - skilled and unskilled; AFL - skilled labor only; sought to improve working conditions and increase pay
Great Railroad Strike, 1877
A large number of railroad workers went on strike because of wage cuts. After a month of strikes, President Hayes sent troops to stop the strike (example of how government always sided with employers over workers in the Gilded Age). The worst railroad vio
Chief Joseph surrendered, 1877
US government broke a land treaty with the Nez Perce, forcing the group out of their homeland in Wallowa Valley in the Northwest for relocation in Idaho. Chief Joseph learned that three young Nez Perce warriors, angry at the loss of their homeland, had ma
James Garfield assassinated, 1881
On July 2, 1881, President Garfield was assassinated by Charles J. Guiteau who was disgruntled because of his unsuccessful attempts at securing a federal post. His death gave momentum to civil service reform, which would pass with the Pendleton Civil Serv
Booker T. Washington founded Tuskegee Institute, 1881
A normal and industrial school led by Booker T. Washington in Tuskegee, Alabama. It focused on training young black students in agriculture and the trades to help them achieve economic independence. Washington justified segregated, vocational training as
Chinese Exclusion Act, 1882
law that suspended Chinese immigration into America. The ban was supposed to last 10 years, but it was expanded several times and was essentially in effect until WWII. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the first significant law that restricted immigra
Pendelton Civil Service Act, 1883
is a federal law established in 1883 (signed by President Arthur in the wake of Garfield's assassination by a deranged patronage-seeker) that stipulated that government jobs should be awarded on the basis of merit. The act provided selection of government
Haymarket Square Riot, 1886
bomb is thrown at a squad of policemen attempting to break up a labor rally. The police responded with gunfire, killing several people in the crowd and injuring dozens more. It set off a national wave of hysteria, as hundreds of foreign-born radicals and
American Federation of Labor created, 1886
founded by Samuel Gompers. The AFL was considered more conservative than the Knights of Labor or the IWW, and campaigning for basic "bread and butter" issues for workers such as 8-hour days, higher wages, and better working conditions. For decades, the AF
Dawes Severalty Act, 1887
adopted by Congress in 1887, authorized the President of the United States to survey American Indian tribal land and divide it into allotments for individual Indians. Those who accepted allotments and lived separately from the tribe would be granted US ci
Jane Addams founded Hull House, 1887
Settlement home in Chicago, IL designed as a private welfare agency for needy families, particularly recent immigrants. It provided social and educational opportunities for working class people in the neighborhood as well as improving some of the conditio
New South
Idea that the south should industrialize after the Civil War. Despite calls for industrialization, sharecropping and tenant farming persisted in the South
Sharecropping
Persisted in the South (especially for African Americans.) They had to give a share of their crops to plantation owners. Way for southerners to get around the 13th amendment.
Mechanized Agriculture
Using machines in farming to increase farm production; displaced many farmers; farmers created organizations to resist corporate power (Grange)
People's (Populist) Party
Created in response to the growth of corporate power; called for political reform (election of senators, secret ballot) and increased government involvement in economy
Political Machines
Appealed to immigrants and urban poor; provided services in exchange for support. Think Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall
Settlement Houses (Notably Jane Addams' Hull House)
Helped immigrants adjust to American life. Focused on providing education and other skills for women, immigrants, and children
Decimation of the buffalo
Buffalo almost became extinct due to westward expansion and over hunting of buffalo (buffalo hide); impacted Native Americans
Social Gospel
Protestant Church Movement that sought to improve the conditions of cities
Assimilation of Native Americans
Process of making Natives "America"; Dawes Act - assimilated through cutting hair, changing tribal identities, providing individual land plots
The "Gospel of Wealth" 1889
book written by Andrew Carnegie that described the responsibility of the rich to be philanthropists. This softened the harshness of Social Darwinism as well as promoted the idea of philanthropy, meaning to use their wealth for the benefit of society by sp
Jacob Riis published How the Other Half Lives, 1890
book by muckraker photojournalist John Riis that showed the public the squalid conditions tenements in NYC (slums that housed many recent immigrants in highly unsanitary conditions). Was very graphic and caused people to re-evaluate tenement houses and he
Sherman Anti-Trust Act, 1890
First federal action against monopolies, it was signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison and was later extensively used by Theodore Roosevelt for trust-busting. However, it was first misused AGAINST labor unions
Wounded Knee massacre, 1890
US army killed 200 in order to suppress the Ghost Dance movement, a religious movement that was the last effort of Indians to resist US invasion. Ended Native American resistance in the Great Plains
Ellis Island opened, 1892
An immigration center in New York in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty for all incoming immigrants from the Atlantic. Opened to conduct more rigorous tests on incoming immigrants in order to restrict immigration.
Homestead Strike, 1892
On June 29, 1892, workers belonging to the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers struck the Carnegie Steel Company at Homestead, Pa. to protest a proposed wage cut. Henry C. Frick, the company's general manager, determined to break the union.
Panic of 1893
Serious economic depression beginning in 1893. Began due to railroad companies over-extending themselves, causing bank failures. Was the worst economic collapse in the history of the country until that point, some say as bad as the Great Depression of the
Pullman Strike, 1894
A staged walkout strike by railroad workers upset by drastic wage cuts. The strike was led by socialist Eugene Debs but not supported by the American Federation of Labor. Eventually President Grover Cleveland intervened because it was interfering with mai
Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896
The court case in which the Supreme Court validated the South's segregationist social order; ruled that "separate but equal" facilities were constitutional under the "equal protection" clause in the Fourteenth Amendment; in reality the quality of African
Election of 1896
William McKinley wins! The presidential election of 1896 demonstrated a sharp division in society between urban and rural interests. William Jennings Bryan (Democrat & Populist) was able to form a coalition that answered the call of populist groups and ru
Why 1890 - 1945 was chosen as the dates for period 6
1890 begins with the "closing" of the frontier and 1945 marks the end of WWII
Closing of the Frontier
Frederick Jackson Turner's Frontier Thesis argued the frontier was "closed." Led many Americans to call for overseas expansion
Spanish-American War, 1898
The Maine mysteriously blew up in the Havana harbor from internal explosion. Yellow journalists like Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst sensationalistically influence public opinion in newspapers ("Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain"). Americ
Open Door policy, 1899
Statement of U.S. foreign policy toward China issued by U.S. Secretary of State John Hay. The policy proposed to keep China open to trade with all countries on an equal basis; thus, no international power would have total control of the country. The Open
Filipino rebellion, 1899-1901
After its defeat in the Spanish-American War of 1898, Spain ceded the Philippines to the US. Filipinos led by Emilio Aguinaldo sought independence rather than a change in colonial rulers. The ensuing Philippine-American War lasted three years and resulted
William McKinley assassinated, 1901
The 25th President of the United States, William McKinley, was shot and fatally wounded on September 6, 1901, inside the Temple of Music on the grounds of the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. McKinley was shaking hands with the public when he
Theodore Roosevelt mediated coal miner's strike, 1902
The coal strike threatened a national energy shortage. After TR threatened to run the mines with US troops the mine operators agreed to negotiate with the workers. The agreement resulted in the workers getting more pay for fewer hours, but with no union r
Wright Brothers flew first airplane, 1903
Orville Wright credited with the design and construction of the first practical airplane. They made the first controllable, powered heavier-than-air flight along with many other aviation milestones, also showing the beginning of the individual progressive
Northern Securities Company broken up, 1904
Supreme Court refused railway promoters' appeal and ordered the Northern Securities Company to be dissolved, angered big businesses, enhanced TR's reputation as a trustbuster
Roosevelt Corollary, 1904
Roosevelt's extension of the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the United States has the right to protect its economic interests in South And Central America by using military force. we were the "police of the western hemisphere" Example of US imperialism in
Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty, 1904
agreement between Panama and the US that gave us a 99 year lease to build a canal on a ten mile wide strip of land across panama isthmus. Secured after Teddy Roosevelt ensured the success of the Panama rebellion by using the US Navy to prevent Columbia fr
Progressive Era
1890 - 1920, Progressives tended to be women, middle class, and live in urban areas. Progressives sought to use government influence to solve societal problems.
Transition from Rural to Urban Society
US society adjusted as more people moved to cities - 1920 census - more people live in cities than rural areas
Upton Sinclair published The Jungle, 1906
Sinclair wrote the novel to portray the lives of immigrants in the United States in Chicago and similar industrialized cities. He exposed the health violations and unsanitary practice of the American meatpacking industry. In response to his novel, it help
Model T introduced, 1908
The Model T was created by Henry Ford. It was the first car that was made affordable for a majority of Americans. With the help of the Model T, Ford was able to optimize the use of an assembly line for mass production. The Model T allowed Americans to be
NAACP organized, 1909
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Organized by the Niagara Movement leaders in 1909, including W.E.B. DuBois. The largest and most successful civil rights organization in US history. They used the law and law courts to campai
Election of 1912
Woodrow Wilson wins! When Theodore Roosevelt broke from the Republicans to form the Bull Moose (AKA "Progressive") Party, he hoped to win back the presidency. His presence split the Republican vote resulting in a win for the Democrat, Wilson. Wilson led a
16th Amendment, 1913
Authorized the collection of a progressive income tax. "Progressive" means as you make a higher income, you pay a higher percentage. This tax does not apply to money made on investments or in the stock market. Today, this is the primary source of revenue
17th Amendment, 1913
Established that senators were to be elected directly by voters (instead of by state legislatures as under the Constitution originally). This law was part of the Progressive Era effort to curb the power of political parties and open up the government with
Federal Reserve System created, 1913
After the Panic of 1907, this law reformed the banking system and created the Federal Reserve (the central bank of the US) and the Federal Reserve Board which oversaw a nationwide system of 12 regional district banks. The "Fed" has the power to issue pape
Clayton Anti-Trust Act, 1914
It added to the Sherman Anti-Trust Act's list of objectionable trust practices by forbidding price discrimination (i.e. setting different prices for different people), and interlocking directorates, meaning the same people serving on "competitors" boards
Birth of a Nation, 1915
An American silent film directed by D. W. Griffith. The film was a commercial success, but was highly controversial owing to its portrayal of African-American men as unintelligent and sexually aggressive towards white women, and the portrayal of the Ku Kl
Pancho Villa's raid, 1916
On March 9, 1916, several hundred Mexican rebels led by Francisco "Pancho" Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico killing 17 Americans. General John J. Pershing launched an expedition into Mexico to capture Villa, but failed. Resentment over the U.S. intrusi
United States entered WWI, 1917
British-owned ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed by German U-boats, killing 1,201 passengers, including 128 Americans. Foreign Minister Alfred Zimmerman sent a message to Mexico and Japan to provoke them into attacking the U.S., but it was decoded by the
The Fourteen Points, 1918
A statement given on January 8, 1918 by Wilson declaring that WW I was being fought for a moral cause and calling for postwar peace in Europe. The speech laid out a policy of free trade, open agreements, democracy and self-determination. Point 14 advocate
18th Amendment, 1919
The 18th Amendment (proposed by Congress on December 19, 1917) banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States and its possessions. Contrary to common belief, it did not prohibit the purchase or consumption of
Versailles Treaty defeated, 1919
The Treaty of Versailles (signed on June 28, 1919) ended WWI. However, it was not ratified by the US Senate due to Wilson's lack of cooperation/compromise with Senate Republicans. Thus, the US did not join the League of Nations and the postwar arrangement
Palmer Raids, 1920
Attorney General Palmer's campaign to arrest and deport radical leftists, especially anarchists, from the US. Occurred in November 1919 and January 1920 as more than 500 foreign citizens were deported, including a number of leftist leaders. U.S. Departmen
19th Amendment, 1920
Ratified on August 18, 1920 (drafted by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton), prohibits any United States citizen from being denied the right to vote on the basis of sex. The Constitution allows the states to determine the qualifications for votin
Harlem Renaissance
Celebration of African American culture through music, poetry, and writing. Key people - Langston Hughes, Claude Monet, Zora Neale Hurston
World War I
US entrance in 1917. US played a relatively minor role in the war, but large role in postwar negotiations.
Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations
Treaty that ended WWI; League led to debates over the role of the US in the world; ultimately, the US did NOT join the League
Great Migration
Mass movement of African Americans from the South to the North during WWI for economic opportunities
Red Scare
Fear of Communism after WWI, caused by: Russian Revolution, labor strikes post WWI, nativism; led to a crackdown on immigrants and radicals (suppression of rights)
Restrictive Immigration Quotas
1921 and 1924 acts that severely limited immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe ("New immigrants")
National Origin Act, 1924
Act which restricted immigration from any one nation to 2% of the number of people already in the U.S. of that national origin as recorded in the 1890 census. Severely restricted immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, and banned Asians entirely (ex
Teapot Dome Scandal, 1923-24
Scandal surrounding the illegal leasing of federal oil reserves by the secretary of the interior, Albert Fall to private businesses in return cash and no interest loans. Harding died before the full extent of the crimes had been determined. Scandal reveal
Scopes Trial, 1925
Tennessee legal case involving the teaching of evolution in public schools. Scopes, a biology teacher, was tried for teaching Darwinism in public school. Clarence Darrow was one of Scopes' attorneys, while William Jennings Bryan, a leading Christian funda
KKK marched on Washington, 1925
The second KKK reached its peak in 1925 with over 4 million members, and demonstrated its power with a massive march on washington. It was later hurt by a series of financial and sex scandals. New KKK was not only anti-black, but also anti-immigrant, anti
Charles Lindbergh's flight, 1927
US aviator who in 1927 made the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. His plane was the "Spirit of St Louis" flew from Long Island, New York to Paris, France. Total flight time: 33 hours, 30 minutes, 29.8 seconds. He gained great publicity
Sacco and Vanzetti executed, 1927
Italian immigrants who in 1921 had been convicted in a Massachusetts court of committing robbery and murder. Liberals protested that the two men were innocent, and that they had been accused, convicted, and sentenced to die simply because they were poor I
The Jazz Singer, 1927
The first movie with sound, this "talkie" was about the life of a fictional jazz singer, portrayed by actor Al Jolson. It was the first movie that included dialogue and music on the filmstrip itself. Before The Jazz Singer, there were silent films that we
Stock Market crash, 1929
A severe downturn in stock prices that occurred in October of 1929 in the United States, and which marked the end of the "Roaring Twenties." Despite a few attempts at recovery, the stock market continued to languish, eventually falling almost 90% from its
Hawley-Smoot Tariff, 1930
Passed under President Hoover, it raised tariffs up to sixty percent which became the nation's highest protective tariff during peacetime. Hoover & Republicans hoped it would help US economy, but instead it resulted in retaliatory tariff increases against
Stimson Doctrine, 1932
Issued by Secretary of State, Henry L. Stimson, it was in response to Japan's violation of the Open Door policy when it attacked Manchuria in 1931. It stated that United States would not recognize any territorial acquisitions achieved by force. It was ign
Great Depression
Worst financial crisis in US history, led to calls for the creation of a stronger financial regulatory system
Bonus march, 1932
WWI vets were promised a bonus in 1945. Since many were suffering in the Depression, there was a bill proposed in the Senate to pay the bonus immediately. Thousands of vets and their families gathered in a huge Hooverville (shanty town) in DC to support b
First New Deal, 1933
FDR's policies to help ease the Great Depression during the 1st two years of his presidency. Much of it passed in the 1st 100 Days, in an unprecedented flurry of laws. It aimed for the three R's: relief, recovery, reform. Included Bank Holiday, Glass-Stea
New Deal
Drew on ideas from the Progressive Era, sought to address causes of the Depression; faced opposition by the left and right; left a legacy of reforms that are still around today
Good Neighbor Policy, 1933
Since the days of Teddy Roosevelt's Roosevelt Corrolary, the US had intervened many times in Latin America militarily and economically to benefit US businesses, enraging many Latin Americans. FDR's "Good Neighbor" policy promised to end these intervention
Schecter v. the United States, 1935
a decision by the Supreme Court of the US that declared regulations of the poultry industry that were part of the New Deal unconstitutional. This was a unanimous decision that rendered the National Industrial Recovery Act, a main component of President Ro
Dust Bowl, 1935
a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the US prairies during the 1930s; severe drought and a failure to apply dryland farming methods to prevent wind erosion caused the phenomenon.
Second New Deal, 1935
Began in 1935 after the midterm congressional elections in 1934 which further expanded Democratic majorities in Congress thus giving FDR a mandate to go further with the New Deal. Created Works Progress Administration which put over 3 million people to wo
Wagner Act, 1935
officially "National Labor Relations Act"; established National Labor Relations Board to administer labor laws and union elections; protected the rights of most workers in the private sector to organize labor unions, to engage in collective bargaining, an
Social Security Act, 1935
Provided old-age pension (retirement), and a program of unemployment insurance (temporary aid to help people who lose jobs to find a new job), and federal welfare program (aid for very poor). Most famous and important legacy of New Deal. Has resulted (alo
Huey Long assassinated, 1935
The Share the Wealth society was founded in 1934 by Senator Huey Long of Louisiana, generally considered a left-wing demagogue. He called for the confiscation of all fortunes over $5 million and a 100% tax on annual incomes over $1 million. He was assassi
Congress of Industrial Organization created, 1935
Formed to encourage the AFL to organize workers in mass production industries along industrial union lines (skilled and unskilled workers as opposed to trade union lines - meaning only skilled workers) by eight international unions of the AFL. Union organ
FDR's court-packing plan, 1937
Upset the Supreme Court had ruled New Deal unconstitutional, FDR's plan would allow the president to appoint a new Supreme Court justice whenever an incumbent judge reached 70 and didn't retire. Constitutional crisis began as many saw FDR's proposal as a
Roosevelt recession, 1937-38
in an effort to reduce deficits, in 1937 FDR and Democrats cut back on New Deal spending, triggering a new recession as government spending stimulus was removed. Revealed that Great Depression wasn't over. Massive government spending for WWII would provid
Lend-Lease Act, 1940
US supplied Great Britain, the USSR, Free France, the Republic of China, and other Allied nations with weapons and other necessary materials to fight Axis powers between 1941 and August 1945. US became the "arsenal of democracy
Atlantic Charter, 1941
Pledge signed by US president FDR and British PM Winston Churchill not to acquire new territory as a result of WWII amd to work for peace after the war. Also to set up new international organization to mediate disputes between nations that would come in t
Pearl Harbor, 1941
The Japanese wanted to continue their expansion within Asia in the late 1930s and early 40s but the US had placed an extremely restrictive embargo on Japan in the hopes of curbing Japan's aggression. The Japanese decided to launch a surprise attack agains
World War II
US remained neutral until Pearl Harbor; US and Allies won due to: political and military cooperation, industrial production, and scientific advancements; US emerged as a world power
Japanese-American internment, 1942
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, many Americans feared that there were Japanese-American spies who are helping the Japanese to secretly bring the U.S. down. Due to this growing fear, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an Executive Order 9066 in Febru
Normandy invasion, 1944
Normandy Invasion, also called Operation Overlord, during World War II, the Allied invasion of western Europe, which was launched on June 6, 1944 (the most celebrated D-Day of the war), with the simultaneous landing of U.S., British, and Canadian forces o
G.I. Bill, 1944
The G. I. Bill of Rights or Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 provided for college or vocational education for returning World War II veterans (commonly referred to as GIs or G. I.s) as well as one-year of unemployment compensation. It also provided l
Yalta Conference, 1945
FDR, Churchill and Stalin met at Yalta. Russia agreed to declare war on Japan after the surrender of Germany and in return FDR and Churchill promised the USSR concession in Manchuria and the territories that it had lost in the Russo-Japanese War
Potsdam Conference, 1945
The final wartime meeting of the leaders of the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union was held at Potsdamn, outside Berlin, in July, 1945. Truman, Churchill, and Stalin discussed the future of Europe but their failure to reach meaningful agreements
Decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan
Many reasons - save American lives, end the war quickly, etc.; raised questions about American values
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 1945
The two Japanese cities on which Truman ordered the dropping of atomic bombs; August 6 and August 9, 1945, respectively. About 250,000 Japanese died, either immediately, or as a result of prolonged suffering caused by radiation poisoning as a result of th
Why 1945 - 1980 was chosen as the dates for period 8
1945 = End of WWI/Beginning of the Cold War; 1980 = election of Ronald Reagan, conservative movement
Containment
Coined by George Kennan; urged the US to keep communism from spreading (Contain communism)
Iron Curtain" speech, 1946
Term coined by British PM Winston Churchill referring to a political barrier that after WWII isolated the peoples of Soviet-dominated communist Eastern Europe from the US-dominated democratic capitalist Western Europe. "Iron Curtain" would last until many
Truman Doctrine, 1947
stated that the U.S. would support Greece and Turkey with economic and military aid to resist internal left-wing (and therefore it was assumed "communist") movements and prevent them from falling into the Soviet sphere. Early example of application of "co
Marshall Plan, 1947
A plan that the US came up with to revive war-torn economies of Europe. This plan offered $13 billion in aid to western and Southern Europe on condition they wouldn't go communist. Helped contain communism in Europe and helped our economy as Europe bought
Taft-Hartley Act, 1947
anti-union law passed by increasingly conservative Congress over Truman's veto. Prohibited the closed shop (union only), permitted states to ban union-shop agreements (to become anti-union "right to work" states), forbade union contributions to candidates
National Security Act, 1947
Major reorganization of US military after WWII to fight Cold War. It creating the Department of Defense (replacing Dept. of War) in a new building - the Pentagon. Also established the National Security Council (NSC) to advise the president on security mat
Berlin Airlift, 1948
In June 1948, the USSR-who wanted Berlin all for themselves-closed all highways, railroads and canals into Berlin from West Germany. This, they believed, would make it impossible for the people who lived there to get food or any other supplies and would e
NATO formed, 1949
North Atlantic Treaty Organization was an alliance to stand against the Soviet Union (USSR). The organization constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party. NATO
Joseph McCarthy attacked the State Department, 1950
Joseph McCarthy, a relatively obscure Republican senator from Wisconsin, announces he has a list of 205 communists who have infiltrated the U.S. State Department. In widely publicized hearings, McCarthy bullied defendants under cross-examination with unla
Korean War, 1950-1953
began as a civil war between North and South Korea (which had been established by the USSR and US respectively), but the conflict soon became international when, under U.S. leadership, the United Nations joined to support South Korea and China entered to
Korean War
Example of Containment; US sided with South Korea against communist North Korea; some minor domestic opposition to the war
Military-Industrial Complex
Eisenhower warned of a drastic military buildup in his farewell address
Baby Boom
Post WWII drastic increase in births in the US (1946 - 1964); led to future issues with Social Security
Suburbanization
More and more Americans moved to suburbs after WWII (cars, Interstate Highway System, Levittown)
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed, 1953
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a married couple convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage in 1951, are put to death in the electric chair. The execution marked the dramatic finale of the most controversial espionage case of the Cold War. Specifically, they
Brown v. Board of Education, 1954
unanimously held that the racial segregation of children in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Brown claimed that Topeka's racial segregation violated the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause because the city's bl
Geneva Accords, 1954
a 1954 peace agreement between Ho Chi Minh's communists and the French after the French loss at Dien Bien Phu that divided Vietnam into communist-controlled North and non-communist South until unification elections could be held in 1956. Diem cancelled th
Joseph McCarthy condemned for misconduct, 1954
McCarthy's anti-communist witch hunt during the Second Red Scare, bullying tactics, and lack of evidence caused the public to turn against him, especially after his army hearings were televised. The Senate condemned him for his actions.
Montgomery bus boycott, 1955-56
The Montgomery Bus Boycott, was a political and social protest campaign against the policy of racial segregation on the public transit system of Montgomery, Alabama. The campaign lasted from December 1, 1955, when Rosa Parks, an African American woman, wa
Interstate Highway Act, 1956
25 billion dollars for the construction of the Interstate Highway System over a 20-year period, it was the largest public works project in American history through that time. Passed under Eisenhower, it was justified in part by the necessity for internal
Integration of Little Rock H.S., 1957
On 1st day of school at Central High, a white mob gathered, and Gov. Orval Faubus deployed state police to prevent the black students from entering. In response, the NAACP sued & won a court injunction to prevent the governor from blocking the students' e
Civil Rights Activists
Used various techniques (sit-ins, legal challenges, etc.); post-1965, debates emerged over the proper role of activists
Brown v. Board of Education
1954 Supreme Court Case that ruled separate facilities based on race inherently unequal. Reversed Plessy v. Ferguson
Sunbelt
VA to FL, extending to CA; saw a large population increase after WWII and rise of key industries
Sputnik, 1957
First man-made satellite put into orbit by the USSR. This caused fear in the US that the Soviets had passed them by in science & technology and the arms race. Democrats scorched the Republican administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower for allowing the United
U-2 aircraft shot down by USSR, 1960
An American U-2 spy plane flown by Gary Powers is shot down while spying over the USSR. The incident derailed an important summit meeting between Eisenhower and Soviet leader Khrushchev. At first the US tried to deny what had happened, but was forced to a
Greensboro sit-ins, 1960
nonviolent protest against a segregated lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C., that began on Feb. 1, 1960. Its success led to a wider sit-in movement, organized primarily by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), that spread throughout the Sout
Eisenhower's Farewell Address, 1961
In his Farewell Address, Eisenhower warned of the necessary, but dangerous combination of the military and the industrial sector he called the MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. This combination ensured that the U.S. would constantly be prepared for war. Althou
Bay of Pigs, 1961
The Bay of Pigs was a failed invasion of Cuba, planned under Eisenhower, implemented under JFK. Cuban exiles living in the US were trained by the CIA and landed in Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. They believed it would start an uprising of the Cuban people again
Freedom Riders, 1961
civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated southern U.S. in 1961. They wanted to challenge local laws or customs that enforced segregation in seating and bus terminals and the non-enforcement of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions,
Peace Corps, 1961
JFK called for volunteers who help third world nations and prevent the spread of communism by fighting poverty in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The work is generally related to social and economic development. Volunteers went abroad to work with govern
Cuban Missile Crises, 1962
13 days in October 1962 when the world came the closest it ever has to nuclear war. After the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba by CIA-trained Cuban exiles, Castro agreed to allow the USSR to have Soviet nuclear missiles placed in Cuba pointed at the US
Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique, 1963
(1963) Best-selling book by feminist thinker Betty Friedan. This work challenged women to move beyond the drudgery of suburban housewifery to demand a larger role in society on the basis of equality. Helped launch what would become second-wave feminist mo
March on Washington, 1963
a large political rally that took place in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech advocating racial harmony at the Lincoln Memorial during the march. Widely credited as helping lead to t
John F. Kennedy assassinated, 1963
In 1963 in Dallas, riding in a parade to drum up support for the upcoming presidential election in 1964, JFK was shot twice by ex-Marine Lee Harvey Oswald and pronounced dead at Parkland hospital. JFK's Vice President LBJ was immediately sworn into office
The Great Society, 1964-65
LBJ & Democratic social reforms that sought the elimination of poverty and racial injustice. New major spending programs that addressed education, medical care, urban problems, and transportation were launched during this period. The Great Society in scop
Civil Rights Act of 1964
a landmark piece of civil rights legislation in the United States that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at t
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, 1964
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress passed on August 7, 1964 in direct response to a minor naval engagement known as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. It is of historical significance because it gave U.S. President Lyndon
Great Society
LBJ's platform; increased the size and involvement of the government in society. Extension of New Deal programs and Civil Rights (24th amendment, Civil Rights Act of 1964.)
Immigration Laws of 1965
Reversed discriminatory quotas acts from the 1920s; favored immigrants from Latin America and Asia
Vietnam War
US aided the South (non-communist); led to sizeable, passionate, and sometimes violent protests, especially as the war went on
Counterculture
Movement most represented by the Hippies - protested Vietnam War; rejected many ideas of their parents' generation (war, materialism, etc.); used marijuana; helped start a sexual revolution
D�tente
Easing of Cold War tensions between the US and Soviet Union (Examples include: SALT I and Salt II)
Environmental Problems
Brought to the attention of the public by Rachel Carson and Silent Spring; helped lead to the creation of the EPA and Clean Air Act
Malcolm X assassinated, 1965
renamed himself X to signify the loss of his African heritage; converted to Nation of Islam in jail in the 50s, became Black Muslims' most dynamic street orator and recruiter; his beliefs were the basis of a lot of the Black Power movement built on sepera
Vietnam War escalated, 1965
On August 2, 1964, gunboats of North Vietnam allegedly fired on ships of the USNavy stationed in the GULF OF TONKIN. They had been sailing 10 miles off the coast of North Vietnam in support of the South Vietnamese navy. When reports that further firing oc
Voting Rights Act, 1965
a landmark piece of federal legislation in the US that prohibits discrimination in voting. Signed by LBJ during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Designed to enforce the voting rights guaranteed by the 14th & 15th Amendments, the Act allowed for a
Watts riots, 1965
a race riot that took place in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles from August 11 to 17, 1965. The six-day unrest resulted in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, 3,438 arrests, and over $40 million in property damage. It was the most severe riot in the city's hi
Miranda v. State of Arizona, 1966
(Warren) Criminal suspect's rights include being informed of rights to counsel and to remain silent.
Tet Offensive, 1968
The Tet Offensive was one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War, launched on January 30, 1968 by forces of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army against the forces of South Vietnam, the United States, and their allies. It failed militaril
Johnson withdrew from presidential race, 1968
On March 31, 1968, following Kennedy's entry into the election, the president announced that he was suspending all bombing of North Vietnam in favor of peace talks. Johnson concluded his speech announcing that he was withdrawing from the election because
Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated, 1968
On April, 4th 1968 MLK was assassinated in Mephis, Tennesse. This caused an outrage in the black community and riots across the nation.
Robert Kennedy assassinated, 1968
while running in Democratic primary in 1968 promoting civil rights and other equality based ideals he was assassinated. Nixon, a Republican, won presidency that year. Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian/Jordanian immigrant, was convicted of Kennedy's
Anti-war riots at the Chicago Democratic Convention, 1968
Where 10,000 antiwar protestors gathered outside as Hubert Humphrey was decided upon as the Democratic candidate in 1968. Gave impression of Democrats as the party of disorder, helping Nixon win with "law and order" & "silent majority" (meaning pro-war, a
AIM created, 1968
Native American activist organization in the United States. In October 1973 the American Indian Movement gathered its forces from across the country onto the Trail of Broken Treaties, championing Indian unity. The national AIM agenda focused on spirituali
Election of 1968
At the end of a difficult year, the presidential election of 1968 was held. Republican candidate Richard Nixon appealed to a nation tired of violence and unrest as the "law and order" candidate. Nixon vowed he would end the Vietnam War and win "peace with
Neil Armstrong walked on moon, 1969
Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first humans on the Moon, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on July 20, 1969. This won the race to the moon against the USSR, who had beaten the US with Sputnik (first artificial satellite) and Yuri Ga
Vietnamization, 1969
The US policy of withdrawing its troops and transferring the responsibility and direction of the war effort to the government of South Vietnam. It is important because it would bring the end of the Vietnam war in 1973.
My Lai massacre made public, 1969
The Pentagon Papers revealed American troops brutally massacred innocent women and children in the village of My Lai. Led to the opposition to the war of Vietnam
Kent State, 1970
Students protesting against the expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia by Nixon; the national guard opens fire, killing to 4 students. The impact of the shootings was dramatic. The event triggered a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of co
Pentagon Papers, 1971
Secret document papers, leaded by Daniel Ellsberg, published by the New York Times in 1971, showed the blunders and deceptions that led the United States that led to the Vietnam war. Revealed the government misleading the people of its involvement in Viet
Nixon visited China, 1972
Nixon, who was a leading anti-communist, was the 1st US president to visit China since its 1949 communist revolution. He took advantage of growing conflicts between China and the USSR over the "true" form communism, and drove a further wedge between them
Watergate break-in, 1972
five men arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee's executive quarters in the Watergate Hotel. Senate investigations revealed they were trained by the CIA and that the White House was involved. Nixon later admitted to complicity in the
SALT I and the policy of detente, 1972
The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) were two rounds of bilateral talks and corresponding international treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union�the Cold War superpowers�on the issue of armament control. The policy of D�tente- The t
Roe v. Wade, 1973
(Burger) Certain state criminal abortion laws violate the Due Process clause of the 14th Amendment, which protects against state action the (implied) right to privacy in the Bill of Rights (9th amendment). Abortion cannot be banned in the 1st trimester (1
OPEC oil embargo, 1973
During the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Arab members of OPEC imposed an oil embargo against the US in retaliation for the US support for Israel. The price of oil in the US tripled causing widespread economic hardship.
Nixon resigned, 1974
The Watergate scandal led to the discovery of multiple abuses of power by the Nixon administration, articles of impeachment, and the resignation of Republican Richard Nixon, the President of the United States, on August 9, 1974�the only resignation of a U
Panama Canal Treaty, 1977
Passed by President Carter, these called for the gradual return of the Panama Canal to the people and government of Panama. They provided for the transfer of canal ownership to Panama in 1999 and guaranteed its neutrality. Condemned by many of Carter's op
Camp David Accords, 1979
The Camp David Accords were the peace accords signed by Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat after the 1973 Arab-Israeli War to finally end the Israeli-Egyptian disputes. The achievement by Carter is considered his greatest while in office.
Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, 1979
December 24, 1979 was the day that Soviet forces, after a series of perpetual pleas for assistance by the Afghan government, invaded Afghanistan, marking the beginning of the Soviet War in Afghanistan that lasted about 9 years. The two opposing sides cons
Iranian hostage crises, 1979-81
On November 4, 1979, 52 American citizens and diplomats were taken hostage by a group of supporters as the Iranian Revolution took control of the US Embassy in Tehran. These hostages were held captive for 444 days. To Iran, the asylum that was granted to
Why 1980 - Present was chosen as the dates for period 9
1980 = election of Ronald Reagan, conservative movement through present day (including war on terrorism)
Foreign Policy "failures
Helped lead to public distrust in government; example is Iran Hostage Crisis
Taxation and deregulation as victories for conservatives
Tax rates decreased under Ronald Reagan and government regulation of businesses decreased as well
Denouncing "Big Government
Reagan criticized the growth of the federal government over the previous years (Great Society)
Reagan Administration
Elected in 1980, focused on denouncing "Big Government", decreasing taxes, increased military spending
Reaganomics began, 1981
refers to the economic policies promoted by President Reagan in the 1980s and is supported by most conservatives today. The policies are similar to laisezz-faire policies of the Gilded Age and 1920s Republican presidents. The five pillars of Reaganomics i
Beirut embassy bombed, 1983
On April 18, 1983, the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon was attacked by a suicide bombing that killed 63 people in total. Up to that time, it was the deadliest attack on a U.S. diplomatic mission and is often thought of as the beginning of anti-U.
Mikhail Gorbachev
Soviet leader that saw improved relations with Reagan, instituted glasnost and perestroika which helped lead to the downfall of the Soviet Union
Bellicose Rhetoric
Early in his administration, Reagan used aggressive words towards the Soviet Union: "Evil Empire
Invasion of Grenada, 1983
Ronald Reagan dispatched an invasion force to the island of Grenada, where a military coup had killed the prime minister and brought Marxists to power ----Americans captured the island quickly demonstrating Reagan's determination to assert the dominance o
Iran-Contra scandal, 1987
The Reagan Administration illegally sold weapons in secret to the Islamic Republic of Iran while it was fighting Saddam Hussein's Iraq (also supported by the US), then used the money to illegally support brutal right-wing Contras in their attempt to overt
INF Treaty, 1988
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) is a 1987 agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union. The treaty eliminated nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with intermediate ranges, defined as betwee
Berlin Wall torn down, 1989
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by East Germany in 1961 that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and East Berlin. In 1989, after hundreds of thousands of East Germans had fled westward via Hungary and Czechoslovakia, the
Persian Gulf War, 1991
Saddam Hussein's Iraq invaded Kuwait over oil dispute on the border against US wishes (Saddam had formerly been US ally). US invaded Iraq to liberate Kuwait; Iraq set Kuwait's oil fields on fire so the Americans couldn't gain the oil; this conflict caused
Soviet Union dissolved, 1991
The Revolutions of 1989 that started in Eastern Europe ended with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the end of Cold War. 1989 saw the Soviet people making a democratic choice for the first time since 1917 when they elected the new Congress of Peopl
Oklahoma City bombing, 1995
Attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It remained the most destructive act of terrorism committed in the United States until 9/11/01. Killed 168 people. Destroyed or damaged 324 buildings($652 million
Clinton impeachment trial, 1999
Two charges, one of perjury and one of obstruction of justice(no infidelity charge!). Second time in history that the House had impeached the President of the United States. Fifty Senators voted to remove Clinton on the obstruction of justice charge and 4
September 11th terrorist attacks, 2001
Four coordinated terrorist attacks launched by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda upon the US in NYC and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Four passenger airliners were hijacked by terrorists. 2 crashed into the World Trade Center in NYC. A third
Conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq
Afghanistan - response to 9/11; Iraq - concerns over WMDs and terrorism (no WMDs were found); both resulted in prolonged wars, the Iraq War in particular hurt Republicans and Bush as many Americans felt misled into war.
War on terrorism
Response to 9/11, US would actively fight terrorism throughout the world
Free Trade Agreements
Goal is to increase trade among countries by reducing tariffs (NAFTA - no tariffs between US, Canada, and Mexico)
Climate Change
Continuing of the environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Overwhelming scientific consensus (97%) is that human beings are accelerating climate change, but many conservatives continue to deny scientific evidence. Debates over sources of energy warp
Barack Obama elected, 2008
First African American president. First years in office witnessed many important new laws: Affordable Care Act (AKA "Obamacare") extended health care to millions but was controversial. Financial reform after the economic collapse at the end of the Bush Ad
Alexander Hamilton's economic plan
assumption of state debts, creation of the First Bank of the US, strong support for manufacturing (proposed protective tariffs)