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The Gilded Age
The Gilded Age was a period following the Civil War and Reconstruction that brought new innovations and new ideas to the table in America. However, it was filled with great corruption in both the government and companies. It ended with a short depression, and led into the Progressive Era. -
Alexander Graham Bell Invents the Telephone
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Hayes becomes President
Rutherford B. Hayes wins the presidential election by mere inches, despite suspicious circumstances. -
Railroad Strike
Railroad workers walk off the job from the Baltimore and Ohio railroad at Camden Junction Maryland. -
Garfield becomes President
James Garfield wins the presidential election by a margin of 59 electoral votes, despite only getting just over 7,000 more votes than his opponent. -
Assassination
James Garfield is assassinated by Charles Guiteau. He is only the second president to be assassinated, but he would not be the last. He is succeeded by Chester A. Arthur. -
Time Zones
Time Zones are created in order to standardize railroad travel. The Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific time zones are created. -
Cleveland becomes President
Grover Cleveland is elected President. He defeated the Republican candidate James Blaine, as well as the Greenback and Populists candidates. He won by over 62,000 votes. -
Another Strike
The Knights of Labor lead a strike against the Wabash Railroad, which is successful. This leads to a dramatic increase in membership. -
Haymarket Riot
A rally by the Knights of Labor ends when a bomb is thrown killing six police officers and wounding sixty others. Despite the perpetrators not being affiliated with the Union, membership drastically decreases. -
American Federation of Labor is founded
The American Federation of Labor, an alliance of unions, is founded. Samuel Gompers is selected to serve as its first president. -
Harrison becomes President
Despite losing the popular vote, Benjamin Harrison wins the presidential election, beating Grover Cleveland by sixty-five Electoral College votes. -
Homestead Steel Strike
When strikers refused to work, Andrew Carnegie locked them out, and brought in new people to work for them. The old worker stopped them from entering, leading to a battle. Seven strikers and three Pinkerton detectives were killed. -
Cleveland Reclaims the Presidency
Grover Cleveland wins the presidency again, ousting Benjamin Harrison from a second term. He wins the popular vote for the third election in a row and this time, get the Electoral College votes as well. -
Pullman Strike
Pullman Company workers go on strike when George Pullman refuses to reduce rent for workers to match announced wage cuts. Eugene Debs instructs other workers not to handle Pullman cars in support of the striking workers. Grover Cleveland sends federal troops to Pullman to enforce a court order prohibiting American Railway Union leadership from encouraging striking workers. When Eugene Debs arrested for violating the court order, the Pullman strike ends in defeat for the workers and the union. -
William Jennings Bryan Nominated
The Democratic Party nominates William Jennings Bryan for the presidency. The Populist party endorses the nomination, thus leading to an assumed victory for Bryan. -
McKinley wins Election
Despite the support for Bryan, Republican nominee William McKinley wins the presidential election by half a million votes. -
U.S.S. Maine Explodes
The U.S.S. Maine explodes in Havanna Harbor. While not anyone specific's fault, this caused journalists to call for war with Spain. -
U.S. Declares war on Spain
Congress officially declares war on Spain. -
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Spanish American War
The United States goes to war with Spain in the Caribbean over control of Cuba and surrounding territories. The U.S. gains control of Spain's colonies as a result. -
Manila Bay Battle
The U.S. and Spain clash in Manila Bay which was the first major battle of the war. The result was a decisive victory for America. -
Battle of San Juan
American forces clash with the Spanish in San Juan Cuba. Once again, the U.S. is victorious. -
Battle of Santiago Bay
The U.S. Navy destroys the Spanish fleet at Santiago Bay, effectively winning the war for the Americans. The Spanish would surrender only two weeks later. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris is signed by both the Spanish and the Americans, ending the war. It would be ratified by Congress on February 6th, 1899 -
Turn of the Century
The 19th Century came to an end, bringing a new Era, the Progressive Era, for America.