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Jacob Riis publishes "How the Other Half Lives"
Riis was a muckraker journalist and photographer who shed light on how people were living in the New York slums. His photography became very popular as middle and upper-class women saw it and felt sympathetic for the "other half." His work caused people to push for building codes and sanitation in the tenement housing in big cities. His muckraking along with the work of Lewis Hine, Lincoln Steffans, Ida Wells, and Ida Tarbell defined the Progressive Era. -
Passing of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act
President Hayes passed the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break up "bad trusts" and monopolies. President Roosevelt then used it to attack major railroad trusts and monopolies formed during the Gilded Age. He also used it to put restraints on "good trusts" and large companies so they would not become corrupt. This act laid the foundation for current anti-monopoly laws which are essential. Roosevelt's work in Consumer Reform also led him to sign the Meat Inspection Act which paved the way for the FDA. -
Plessy v. Ferguson Case
The Supreme Court ruled 7-1 in the Plessy v Ferguson decision that "separate but equal" accommodations of railroad cars conformed to the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection. This decision was used to justify segregating all public facilities in the South. Hotels, restaurants, hospitals, schools, and more were segregated with "Jim Crow" laws. This continued legally until May 17, 1954. The repeal of this decision launched the civil rights movement. -
Explosion of the U.S.S. Maine
When the U.S.S. Maine Battleship exploded in the port of Havana, Cuba, the U.S. immediately blamed Spain, with whom tensions were already high. This immediately launched into the Spanish-American War, in which the U.S. was helping fight for Cuban independence. The U.S. signed a law that gave them no claim to Cuba; however, the U.S. acquired Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Phillipines. The U.S. Navy also grew and the U.S. became a real world power. -
First Communication Sent via Radio
Although Radio wasn't a household item until the post-war boom of the 1920s, it was first used for military communication during WWI. Sports, news, music, and sermons could all be broadcast nationwide over the radio. It soon became essential and was often used by presidents to provide nationwide messages. FDR was well known for delivering "Fireside Chats" via the radio to make Americans feel connected to him and each other. Radio changed broadcasting and communication methods forever. -
Construction of the Panama Canal Begins
President Roosevelt's expansion of the Monroe Doctrine and belief in deterrence through military strength led him to fight for Panama's independence. Once the war ended, the U.S. funded the Panama Canal project. This allowed ships to travel across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans without going around the tip of South Africa. It is still used heavily and reduces costs and time for all international shipping. -
Passing of the Antiquities Act
President Roosevelt passed the Antiquities Act to preserve America's wild lands and State and National Parks. He established Yosemite National Park plus 4 others, and there are now over 400 National Parks across the U.S. The National Parks became major attractions for Americans and defined the culture of the early 1900s. As families had more time for leisure, spending time outdoors was seen as a grand adventure; National Parks became extremely popular and still attract millions each year. -
First Production of the Model T
Ford produced the Model T in 1908 and it was the first widely available and affordable car that changed America's landscape forever. Car culture erupted which expanded every other industry involved in automobile production. Other forms of transportation were hurt, but cars allowed people to live in the suburbs and travel freely. Ford also created the assembly line which made production much more efficient. The Model T made America a car-dependent society and shaped how we travel forever. -
Ratification of the 16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment was ratified under President Woodrow Wilson; he was the first democrat in 16 years and focused on reinstating democratic initiatives. This amendment gave the government the power to collect taxes on income without going through the states. The first income tax was established with the Underwood Tariff Act. The government only planned to tax the top 5%, but as they needed more money, that number quickly disappeared and taxes were raised. -
Interception of the Zimmermann Telegram
At the beginning of World War 1, Britain intercepted a telegram from Germany to Mexico asking them to ally with Germany and attack the U.S. The U.S. took this as an act of war and joined WW1 with the Allies. Once the U.S. joined the war, it secured its role as a world superpower and intended to make the world safe for democracy. These roles continued for decades, as did the influence of WWI economically and politically around the world. -
Creation of the War Industries Board
President Wilson created the War Industries Board to control American businesses and produce propaganda during WWI. This was a clear breach of power for the president, as the board controlled production, prices, and distribution of materials. All of these were unconstitutional abilities, and the Supreme Court dismantled the WIB in 1919 after reviewing it. However, during wartime, the overreach was dismissed, which set a standard for future presidents for misusing power during periods of war. -
Passing of the Sedition Act of 1918
The Sedition Act of 1918 extended the Espionage Act of 1917; both punished anyone who used speech "disloyal, profane, and abusive" of the U.S. government. Under the act, over 2,000 people were imprisoned during WWI. This violated the First Amendment but was allowed because the U.S. was at war. Although it was repealed in 1920, the act still exhibited the power of the government and was an outline for similar policies established during WWII and the Cold War. -
The Red Summer of 1919
The Red Summer of 1919 was two months full of race riots, racial violence, and supremacist terrorism. This was a result of the Great Migration which happened during WWI. Black people moved to the North to fill war-time jobs and escape the economic and political depression of the South. Although this gave them more opportunities, as the northern black population rose, so did racial tensions. The KKK rose to over 5 million people and committed horrible acts of violence which sparked many riots. -
Ratification of the 18th Amendment
Alcohol was a major concern in the United States for many decades. When the 18th Amendment passed, the manufacture, sale, distribution, importation, and drinking of alcohol was outlawed. Although this aimed to solve the many problems alcohol caused, it ended up leading to organized crime, speakeasies, bootlegging, and even NASCAR. The amendment was a failure and eventually reversed, but it demonstrated that laws couldn't be made to limit what Americans could do in their own homes. -
Signing of the Treaty of Versailles
All nations involved in WWI met at Versailles to negotiate a treaty; however, Germany was not allowed into the negotiations. President Wilson arrived with 14 Points he thought would suffice, instead, they created a treaty under which Germany's army was limited, they couldn't unite with any countries, and they owed $33 billion in reparations. Germany and the U.S. didn't sign this treaty, but it went into effect and destroyed Germany's economy. This depression caused Hitler's rise to power. -
Ratification of the 19th Amendment
After decades of the women's suffrage movement, western states began granting women the right to vote. Organizations like NAWSA funded campaigns, lobbyists, and protests to push the movement further east. In 1919 the Senate finally approved the 19th Amendment giving all women the right to vote. This gave women a political voice and the confidence to continue expanding their circle of influence. Younger women also became more radical, leading to an increase in working women breaking social rules. -
Sacco and Vanzetti Trial
Sacco & Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants with anarchist views, were accused of murder in 1920. They were found guilty and sentenced to death although there was little evidence to convict them; most people believed they were only convicted due to fear of their anarchist views. During the Red Scare, a tide of hate rose against communists and immigrants. The injustice in the Sacco & Vanzetti Trial showed how the fear became deadly and sparked nationwide debates over immigration & personal rights. -
Louis Armstrong Releases First Song: "Chimes Blues"
Although Armstrong was born in New Orleans, he moved to New York to pursue his music career and was a major artist of the Harlem Renaissance. The Great Migration led to a strong community of black people in the North and the ability to share common experiences through art. Money, pride, and expression grew in the black community and they started the Jazz Age. Louis's music, popular among black and white people, defined the Jazz Age and sparked the confidence of black communities. -
Black Tuesday Stock Market Crash
After years of economic prosperity and a booming stock market, the market crashed on Black Tuesday and again a week later. These crashes caused the Bank Run and subsequentially the Great Depression. Production declined, workers were laid off, and thousands of businesses and workers were quickly bankrupt. President Hoover provided little federal aid; banks closed, homes and farms foreclosed, and unemployment hit a record 25%. This was the worst economic drought in U.S. history. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
After decades of war and depression, Germans found hope in Adolf Hitler of the Nazi Party. Hitler blamed Jews and the Treaty of Versailles for Germany's condition and created solutions for both of the "problems." Hitler became chancellor of Germany and expanded the military and all industries. This was against the Treaty, but his defiance was popular with Germans so he continued expanding. Soon Germany marched into the Rhineland, the beginning of their defying invasions of WWI. -
National Industrial Recovery Act
FDR passed the National Industrial Recovery Act and the Federal Emergency Relief Act to provide immediate aid during the Depression. The FERA granted money to states to operate relief programs, while the NIRA set work hours, minimum wage, and prices. The NIRA helped a little but was unconstitutional and eventually dismantled after SCOTUS review. The NIRA gave FDR total control, another example of Congress allowing the president to regulate industry to improve a crisis. -
Creation of the Securities and Exchange Commission
FDR created the SEC to regulate stock market trade practices. The SEC made quarterly reports mandatory so that speculation wouldn't cause inflation like it did at the beginning of the Depression. He partnered the SEC with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation which closed and inspected all banks to ensure the health and safety of deposits. The SEC still regulates the Stock Market to prevent inflation and the occurrence of another depression. -
Creation of the Works Progress Administration
FDR created the WPA, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Civilian Conservation Corps to employ people during the Depression. The WPA was the largest program with 8 million employees and a $2 Billion fund. All of these built public works and managed public land, but money was spent that the U.S. didn't have. The U.S. became the largest employer on Earth during the Depression and pushed the U.S. into major debt. It also gave Americans a new dependence on the government that continues today. -
Social Security Act
Social Security was intended to supplement income for retirees to incentivize them to retire earlier. During the Depression, FDR hoped more retirees would open jobs for younger workers. However, this was based on a shorter lifespan and a large working class. Now, the U.S. has to annually pay $1.4 trillion for Social Security without it being enough for retirees to live off of. Although it was positive at the time, Social Security has become an economic burden that the U.S. is stuck with. -
FDR Court Packing Scandal
Although most Americans supported the New Deal, the SCOTUS declared 22 different provisions of the New Deal unconstitutional, usually in cases against large corporations. These decisions enraged FDR so he threatened to add 6 members to the Supreme Court to turn the majority. However, leaders from both sides opposed this change. These decisions influenced people today to continue standing by the precedent and avoiding a court-packing spiral for each party. -
Germany Annexes Austria
After appeasement by European countries, Germany again went against the Treaty and annexed Austria. Austrians were hopeless and wanted to share in German prosperity, but acquiring territory was still not allowed. However, Germany succeeded and gained more confidence to invade Czechoslovakia a year later. Months after invading Czechoslovakia, Hitler invaded Poland, and Britain, France, and Belgium all declared war. These invasions officially started WWII. -
House Un-American Committee Formation
As Russia grew in power, Congress established HUAC to investigate any communist threats to America. Anyone with influence who was critical of the government was considered communist and would be put on public trial and prosecuted. Joseph McCarthy said he knew of 205 communist State Department employees, which made people even more paranoid & aggressive. McCarthyism ruined thousands of lives, caused anti-communist witchhunts, and revealed the lack of personal rights during war times. -
Executive Order 8802
FDR signed Executive Order 8802 on the brink of WWII to end discriminatory hiring practices in all military industries. This order made companies more productive with a wider range of employees which helped the U.S. military. The order showed that pressure from African Americans could sway the government because FDR signed it in response to a possible protest. It also set a precedent for using executive actions to support racial equality on a federal level, which happened often. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
In an attempt to control the entire Pacific Ocean and retaliate against the U.S. for ending oil sales, Japan attacked the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii. Over 2,400 Americans were killed and the U.S. Pacific Fleet was close to destroyed. Within a day, the U.S. and Britain declared war on Japan and the U.S. officially entered WWII. Churchill said Japan awoke the "Sleeping Giant," as America's vast military and resources were now fighting for the Allies. -
D-Day
Eisenhower planned D-Day for 18 months as it was the largest Sea-Borne Invasion in history. 156,000 American and British troops stormed 5 Normandy Beaches. 23,000 paratroopers were dropped behind enemy lines, but many were lost and 3,000 died. Still, with over 12,000 casualties, the invasion succeeded and the Allies controlled over 80 miles of beach within a week. Resources could arrive freely, France was reclaimed, and the tide of the war turned in favor of the Allies. -
G.I. Bill
The government thanked WWII veterans with the G.I. Bill. This bill paid for post-secondary education and provided low-interest business and home loans. This allowed for a boom in employment, housing, and families. This led to the Baby Boom and generations of families that valued education. Thousands of veterans and their kids attended school because of the G.I. Bill. The U.S. economy was also boosted by the increase in businesses and industrial production to accommodate the baby boom. -
Iran Dispute of 1945
Shortly after the Potsdam Conference between Truman, Churchill, & Stalin, the USSR ignored the treaty and stayed in Iran after Britain pulled out. The US sent troops and asked the UN to mandate USSR removal, which finally made the USSR leave. However, it began Cold War tensions and assured the US that containing communism would be the focus of the next decade. The Truman Doctrine followed shortly after the dispute. -
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
After negotiations with Japan that did not result in a surrender agreement, President Truman ordered an atomic bomb to be dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later, another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan to force Japan to surrender and show the USSR the power of atomic weapons. These bombings are the only time in history that atomic bombs have been used in military conflict which started the Atomic Age. The scope of war changed leading to the Arms Race between the US and USSR. -
Jackie Robinson Debuts with the Dodgers
Robinson was the first black player in the MLB. He was one of the best players of all time, but teams still refused to play against him because of race. He was even attacked on and off the field. However, his team still found major success because of his play. His courage, discipline, and success were an inspiration to millions of children who would be adults at the height of the civil rights movement. Joining "America's Game" was also a major early step in the integration process. -
Truman Signs the Marshall Plan
President Truman signed the Marshall Plan to protect European countries from communism after WWII. The US believed restoring hope to Europe would keep them from Communism, so the US spent millions to modernize industries, expand trade, increase production, and improve transportation in European countries. The countries that accepted help prospered, and still do, which established the US as a benevolent superpower. Countries in the USSR couldn't be helped and are still economically behind. -
Operation Vittles
The USSR split Germany into a free West Germany and a USSR-controlled East Germany. Berlin was in East Germany but was also split 50/50. The U.S. aided West Germany and Berlin, but Stalin blockaded all shipments going through East Germany. The U.S. began Operation Vittles, 11 months of airlifting resources to West Berlin until the blockade ended. The airlift eventually won, and it showed the commitment of the U.S. to small democracies and their triumph over communism. -
Formation of NATO
Secretary of State Dean Acheson created NATO to protect allied countries from attack. Article 5 of the NATO agreement decrees that if any NATO member is attacked, every NATO member will ally with them. NATO started with 10 countries, but by 1962, every country west of the Iron Curtain was a part of NATO. This made it impossible for the USSR to attack any new countries. NATO continues to deter large countries like Russia from attacking smaller ones and has strengthened relations within NATO. -
USSR Tests an Atomic Weapon
After years of growing tensions between the US and the USSR, the Cold War firmly began when the USSR tested an Atomic Weapon. The US pushed back on the USSR's expansion, and when the USSR created its first atomic weapon, Mutually Assured Destruction was established. An arms race ensued, and within 10 years the USSR had over 1000 warheads and the US had over 18000. This arms race created the threat of nuclear warfare, something never thought of before the US and the USSR had atomic bombs. -
Brown v Board of Education
Linda Brown went to a run-down segregated school in Kansas but passed 4 white schools on her way there. She brought her case for attending a white school to court and won with the decision that separate schools are inherently unequal. This legally desegregated all public schools and made it possible for black children to receive a good education. Thurgood Marshall, her attorney, went on to win many more civil rights cases, advancing the movement by changing federal law. -
Arrest of Rosa Parks
The NAACP chose Rosa Parks to protest Jim Crow bus laws by refusing to give up her seat when a white man asked for it. She was arrested, and the next day a 40,000-person bus boycott began in Montgomery Alabama. After 382 days, the bus companies changed their policies and fought for the abolition of Jim Crow laws to save their buisness. This protest led to many others like sit-ins, Freedom Rides, and the March on Washington. Peaceful protests put the government on the side of civil rights. -
Elvis Presley Produces "Heartbreak Hotel"
The King of Rock and Roll debuted his first single in the 1950's and became an immediate sensation. Elvis's career exemplified the 50s. Although Rock and Roll started in black communities, he was the face of the genre and appealed to younger generations as a way to rebel. Subcultures were common during the 50s because older generations loved conformity and order after decades of depression and uncertainty. The youth found ways to rebel, however; like engaging with Elvis's music and dancing. -
Eisenhower National Interstate and Defense Highway Act
Eisenhower initiated the largest public works project ever to update and build more of America's roadways. This connected towns across the country, and was a major factor in cities' ability to grow. Businesses loved it because shipping and transportation became much more efficient. Some Americans questioned the reasoning and cost, but Eisenhower used Cold War fears to convince people. These roadways are essential to life in the U.S. and have shaped America's culture and economy. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Kennedy inherited a plan to overthrow Cuban Communist Dictator Fidel Castro using thousands of US-trained and equipped Cuban refugees. The soldiers would arrive in the Bay of Pigs with US Naval and Air support, however, once the soldiers stormed the bay, Kennedy pulled out all support. Every single soldier was killed, and although there was no US support, Cuba knew it was the US's plan. This major failure turned Cuba even more against the US and placed a USSR ally within 90 miles of the US. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
A US U-2 spy plane took photos of ICBM launch sites being built in Cuba by the USSR, putting almost all of the US in range of a nuclear missile. Once clear photos were taken of Russian nuclear missiles being brought to the launch sites, Kennedy intervened and sent a Naval Blockade to stop the shipments. It worked, and Russia removed all missiles from Cuba. This is the closest we've ever been to nuclear war and it changed the world's idea of how easily a nuclear war could begin. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
LBJ continued pushing for Kennedy's agenda when he took over the presidency, which included signing the Civil Rights Act. This act legally ended all Jim Crow Laws and forbade discrimination based on race or sex in hiring and firing practices. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed shortly after to strengthen the enforcement of Voting Rights by banning literacy tests, violence, & intimidation at polls. The Civil Rights movement culminated in these acts, making everyone equal under the law. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident occurred when a US ship patrolling the Pacific thought the Vietnamese had fired on it. After this incident and the invasion of South Vietnam by North Vietnam, LBJ signed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which essentially gave him a blank check to execute a war on Vietnam without declaring one. He cited the Domino Effect of losing countries to communism as a reason, but LBJ was hated for the Vietnam War. Americans saw the atrocities in Vietnam and opposed going to war. -
Election of LBJ in 1964
LBJ's presidency was unpopular but changed the US. The Great Society, his package of legislation, made the government even more active. Medicare, Headstart, Job Core, PBS, the Endowment for the Arts, and many college scholarship programs were all created by LBJ. He also pushed the US into the Vietnam War, reestablished the draft but made an exception for college students, and lied to the public about the status of the war. LBJ changed US governmental policies socially, militarily, & politically. -
Armstrong & Aldrin Land on the Moon
The Space Race was a large part of the Cold War because it was how both countries measured success. Although the USSR created the first ICBM, satellite, and sent a human into orbit, the US was the first to put a man on the moon. Neither country won the space race, but most Americans believed landing a man on the moon was a larger accomplishment and celebrated after the landing. The moon landing also sparked more space innovations like the ISS and decades of space research and discoveries. -
Title IX is Passed
Rep. Patsy Mink worked to have Title IX added to the 14th Amendment to prohibit discrimination based on sex in any federally funded education programs or activities. This gave women equal opportunities in high school and college sports; almost every woman in the US has been impacted by the ability to compete through Title IX. It was also part of a larger civil rights movement that included Roe v. Wade, U of Cal. v Bakke, and the Warren Court which protected personal rights and liberal ideals. -
Nixon Resigns after Watergate Scandal
After a successful presidency of ending the Vietnam War, relaxing Cold War tensions, and limiting US & USSR ICBMs and nuclear weapons, Nixon was impeached and resigned after the Watergate Scandal. Nixon didn't order the break-in of Watergate, but he tried to cover up for the criminals and was accused of interfering with the investigation. Nixon deserved this, but the distrust of the government after Watergate has continued to shape how we see Nixon's presidency and the government negatively.