Key Events and Legislation in U.S. History (1917-1945)

Espionage Act (1917)

Law that prohibited interference with military operations or support for U.S. enemies during WWI.

Sedition Act (1918)

Extended the Espionage Act to criminalize speech that criticized the government or military.

Schenck v. U.S. (1919)

Established the 'clear and present danger' test for limiting free speech during wartime.

Red Scare (1919-1920)

A period of intense fear of communism and radical leftism in the U.S. following the Russian Revolution.

19th Amendment (1920)

Granted women the right to vote.

Palmer Raids (1919-1920)

Government crackdowns on suspected communists and anarchists during the Red Scare.

Prohibition (1920-1933)

A nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol under the 18th Amendment.

Teapot Dome Scandal

A bribery scandal involving the Harding administration and oil reserves.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural, artistic, and intellectual explosion centered in Harlem, celebrating Black culture.

Stock Market Crash (1929)

Triggered the Great Depression; occurred on Black Tuesday.

New Deal

FDR's program of government intervention to provide relief, recovery, and reform during the Depression.

Social Security Act (1935)

Provided retirement pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid to families.

Fireside Chats

FDR's radio addresses that built trust with the American public during the Depression.

Wagner Act (1935)

Guaranteed workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively.

Lend-Lease Act (1941)

Allowed the U.S. to supply Allied nations with war material before entering WWII.

Pearl Harbor (Dec 7, 1941)

Japan attacked U.S. naval base; led to U.S. entering WWII.

Japanese Internment (WWII)

Over 100,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated under Executive Order 9066.

D-Day (June 6, 1944)

Allied invasion of Normandy, France—turning point in the European Theater.

Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki (1945)

Ended WWII; Japan surrendered after bombs were dropped in August 1945.

GI Bill (1944)

Provided education and housing benefits to WWII veterans.

Nuremberg Trials (1945-1946)

Tried Nazi leaders for war crimes after WWII.

Truman Doctrine (1947)

U.S. policy to contain communism by aiding countries resisting Soviet influence.

Marshall Plan (1947)

U.S. economic aid to rebuild Western Europe and prevent spread of communism.

Start of the Cold War

Tensions between the U.S. and USSR after WWII, symbolized by the Iron Curtain and containment.

WWI portrayal

Portrayed as glorious; Wilson used federal authority and propaganda in media.

WWI oil use

2 million tons daily; led to fuel-saving and regulatory agencies.

WWI farming boom

Overproduction helped war effort but later harmed farmers post-war.

Paris Peace Conference (1919)

Wilson introduced 14 Points; aimed at global peace and democracy.

Ho Chi Minh in WWI

Appealed to Wilson at peace conference for Vietnamese independence.

Second Industrial Revolution

Mass production, consumer culture, and rise of entertainment like movie theaters.

Farm crisis of 1920s

Overproduction led to low prices and unpayable loans.

Herbert Hoover

Ordered removal of Bonus Army; viewed as authoritarian in protests.

Dust Bowl (1930s)

Massive dust storms and agricultural collapse in the Great Plains.

22nd Amendment

Limited U.S. presidents to two terms.

FDIC (New Deal)

Insured bank deposits to prevent future banking crises.

SEC (New Deal)

Regulated the stock market to protect investors.

Fair Labor Standards Act

Established minimum wage and protected worker rights to discuss pay.

Totalitarianism

Government controls all aspects of life; no privacy or opposition.

Benito Mussolini

Italian fascist dictator; considered the father of totalitarianism.

Traits of Fascism

Nationalism, disdain for rights, media control, militarism, and fraudulent elections.

Neutrality Acts (1930s)

Banned arms sales and loans to nations at war.

Cash and Carry Policy

Allowed countries to buy U.S. arms with cash and transport them themselves.

Loosening Neutrality Acts

FDR shifted policy to aid Allies before joining WWII.

Selective Service Act (WWII)

Drafted men based on birthdate; expanded U.S. military.

Operation Barbarossa (1941)

Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during WWII.

U.S. embargo on Japan

U.S. cut off fuel, iron, and oil exports in response to Japanese aggression.

Pearl Harbor attack (1941)

Japan's surprise attack on U.S. naval base led to U.S. entry into WWII.

U.S. war production (WWII)

Industrial cities like Pittsburgh outproduced Axis powers.

Tehran Conference (1943)

First major meeting of Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin; planned D-Day.

Yalta Conference (1945)

Big Three discussed postwar Europe and USSR's role in Japan.

Island Hopping

Strategy in Pacific War to capture key islands leading to Japan.

Truman's use of atomic bomb

Intended to end war quickly, reduce U.S. casualties, and contain Soviet power.