Studied by 11 people
1898 Spanish American War
USS Maine was sunk by a Spanish mine in Havana Harbor. US declares war on Spain, defeats them, and seizes Spanish possessions (Cuba and Philippians), giving the US a “world empire”.
1898
Hawaii is annexed by the United States.
1914
the Panama canal was completed in this year.
1914 - 1918
this is when World War I happened. A series of global alliances took effect as a small war between Austria and Serbia grew into a full-scale global conflict with more deaths than any other war this century.
1929 Stock Market Crash
this is what begins the Great Depression.
1941 - 1945
this is when World War II happened. A war between European powers escalates around the world and the United States is drawn into the war in December of 1941, after being attacked in the Hawaii Islands by the Empire of Japan, which was an ally of Germany.
1957 Sputnik I
the launch of 1st artificial satellite triggered the space race between the US and the USSR and the NDEA
1968 MLK Assassination
ended the non-violent approach to the Civil Rights movement and resulted in race riots nationwide.
1969
this was the Moon Landing; Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first humans to ever land on the moon.
1991 Cold War Ends
46 years of tension between the US and USSR ends; leading to changes in foreign policy and defense spending practices.
2001 Terrorist Attacks
radical Muslims attack NYC and the Pentagon, killing 2977 people and began a global War on Terror.
2008
this was when Barack Obama was elected as the 1st black President. He was the first and only black president.
1896 Plessy v. Ferguson
set a precedent of Separate but Equal; meaning that racial segregation is constitutional as long a the facilities provided for the blacks and whites are roughly equal.
1954 Brown v. Board
Unanimously overturned Plessy v. Ferguson; ruled that segregated schools are inherently unequal; mandated desegregation.
Imperialism Era
during this Era, Henry Cabot Lodge, Alfred T. Maham, Theodore Roosevelt, and Sandford B. Dole are significant.
Alfred Thayer Mahan
argued a strong navy was necessary to protect an empire but that without the empire, a navy could not be sustained.
Theodore Roosevelt
as president, he moved the US into an important position by using his “Big Stick” policy to build our empire and influence in Latin America and the Pacific; supported the building of the Panama Canal.
1897 - 1920 Progressive Era
a period of widespread social activism and political reform across the United States that focused on defeating corruption, monopoly, waste, and inefficiency. During this era, Upton Sinclair (writer), Susan B. Anthony (women), Ida B. Wells (anti-lynching), and W.E.B. Dubois (blacks) were significant.
W. E. B. Dubois
Founder of N. A. A. C. P. (National Association for the Advancement of Colored Persons) in 1909.
1920s Era
during this Era, Clarence Darrow, William J. Bryan, Henry Ford, Glenn Curtiss, Marcus Garvey, and Charles Lindbergh were significant.
Charles Lindbergh
made the world’s first transatlantic solo flight in 1927.
Henry Ford
created a productive assembly line using standardized parts. Through this process, he was able to create affordable automobiles.
Clarence Darrow
in 1925, he defended John Scopes at his trial for teaching evolution.
William Jennings Bryan
gave the “Cross of Gold” speech (populist issue); as opposed to the teaching of evolution at the Scopes trial.
1929 - 1939 Great Depression Era
during this Era, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Eleanor Roosevelt were significant.
Military Leaders
J. J. Pershing (WWI), Omar Bradley, Dwight Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, Chester Nimitz, George Marshall, and George Patton (WWII).
Medal of Honor Recipients
Alvin York (WWI), Vernon Baker (WWII), and Roy Benavidez (Vietnam).
1954 - 1968 Civil Rights Era
during this Era, Martin Luther King, Jr., WEB DuBois, Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, Hector P. Garcia, and Betty Friedan were significant.
Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta
co-founders of United Farm Workers to help migrant farm workers.
Martin Luther King Jr.
civil rights leader in America in the mid-1900s. Organized a peaceful “March on Washington” where he gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. He became a symbol for the peaceful American Civil rights movement.
Betty Friedan
wrote the feminine Mystique and argued that women should break out of the traditional roles of wives/mothers.
Hector P. Garcia
WW2 veteran, worked to get Hispanics equal treatment in Texas.
Status Quo Enforcers
George Wallace, Orval Faubus, Lester Maddox, Congressional bloc of southern Democrats.
1775 - 1783
American Revolution; 13 of Great Britain’s North American colonies threw off British rule to establish the sovereign United States of America.
1787
The United States Constitution is written.
1861 - 1865
American Civil War; began as a result of a long-standing disagreement over the institution of slavery, fought between the United States of American and the Confederate States of America (collection of 11 southern states that left the Union in 1860-1861).
1898 Spanish American War
Spain attempts to stop the Cuban independence movement, the US intervenes after USS Maine and claims various Spanish possessions as a result of the war.
1914 - 1918 World War I
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by a Serbian. Austria declares war on Serbia, Russia (allied to Serbia) declares war on Austria, Germany (allied to Austria) declares war on Russia and Serbia, England and France allied to Russia, declares war on Germany; so on and so forth. A communist revolution starts in Russia, Russia makes peace with Germany to get out of the war. The war officially ends with the Treaty of Versailles.
1917
United States enters WWI, fighting with England and France.
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
threatened American shipping. All boats in British waters would be sunk, even if neutral.
Trench Warfare
the common war of fighting in WWI was to dig massive trenches from which each army fought.
1939-1945 World War II
Germany invaded Poland, and England and France declared war on Germany and its allies. After signing a treaty with the Soviet Union, Germany attacks them, drawing the Soviet Union onto the side of the allies.
Axis Powers
Germany, Italy, Japan, etc.
Allied Powers
England, France, United States, Soviet Union, etc.
December 7, 1941
Japan attacks the US naval base at Pearl Harbor drawing the United States into WWII.
1942
internment of Japanese Americans begins, violating civil rights
June 1942
US victorious at the Battle of Midway, turning the tide of the war with Japan
June 6, 1944 D-Day
Allied powers invade mainland Europe in order to take it back from German control. The attack begins on the Normandy coast of France.
Atomic Bomb
The US drops 2 nuclear bombs on Japan to avoid invading Japan (it would take a lot of American lives). The two bombs remain, to this day, the only nuclear weapons ever used in aggression.
Holocaust
the name given to the systematic murder of millions of Jews and other ethnic groups by the Nazy government of Germany during the years of and around WWII
Economic Impact on US
rationing, increased female employment, and end of the Great Depression
1950 - 1953 Korean War
US went to war in Korea in order to stop the communist takeover of the country. The war ends in a stalemate. Korea was eventually split into 2 halves. The US still maintains military bases for the protection of South Korea.
1964 - 1973 Vietnam War
undeclared war in Southeast Asia; a war to stop the spread of communism; due to the high loss of life and civil rights movements in the United States, public support for the war was limited. Citizens began to distrust the government’s intentions and the US should leave Vietnam.
Tet Offensive
causes moderates to turn against the war. 1973, the US pulls out of Vietnam and leaves fighting to the Vietnamese people. Only war ever lost by the US.
1991 Operation Desert Storm
US responded to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait
1998 Clinton impeached
charged with perjury and obstruction of justice
Sept. 11 2001 Terrorist attacks
al Qaeda-sponsored hijackers took control of 4 planes and led a direct attack on symbols of US prosperity (Twin Towers of NYC, the Pentagon, and Washington DC); resulting in a global war on terrorism; USA PATRIOT Act and TSA created
2005
Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans.
Communication
telegraph and telephones united the country by making business, military, and personal communications faster and easier.
Telegraph
long-distance communication using Morse code signals.
Electrical Power
inventions such as the Generator in 1870 and Light Bulb in 1879 emerged. This was more convenient, safer, and less expensive than wood, coal, and other fossil fuels. Factories could be built anywhere.
Petroleum Based Products
made possible the development of products such as fertilizer, medicines, plastics, and building materials. Its successful use created a dependence on these products that are now almost all imported from other countries (increasing world trade).
Computers
earliest 1940, personal computers 1980s; enables fast storage, retrieval, and manipulation of data; simplified complex calculations. Creates new industries and fuels economic growth.
Medical Vaccinations
Polio 1954, 1961 and Measles 1963 emerged; new developments in these medicines decrease the infant mortality rate and increased life expectancy of these diseases.
Standard of Living
the quality of living conditions and income levels of citizens over time will raise or lower this standard.
Transportation
improvements in transportation technology led to an increase in the standard of living; more affordable choices improve competition and make it more available to the masses.
Checks and Balances
Each branch of govt. can use checks or controls over others in order to maintain a balance of power within the govt.
Federalism
a system of government in which the power is divided between a central government and smaller political units (such as states)
Free Press
this is vital to a democratic society in order for people to speak out against the government without fear of punishment, and to hold the government accountable for its actions
Free Speech
the ability to speak, act, or demonstrate for or against anything in any way that does not endanger any citizen of the country
Individual (Unalienable) Rights
rights guaranteed by the Constitution under the Bill of Rights. (Rights that cannot be taken away by a government because they are given by God. (EX: Life Liberty & Pursuit of Happiness)
Limited Government
the government and those in it must remain obedient to laws; they are subject to those laws like all citizens
Popular Sovereignty
a government in which the people rule by their own consent. The people maintain the ultimate power within a republican form of government.
Republic
this is a type of democracy (rule by the people) in which representatives are elected to make the decisions and run the government for the good of the people they represent
Republicanism
the power of voting for their representatives rest solely with the people
Separation of Powers
government responsibilities and powers are split into 3 independent branches (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial)
Magna Carta
influenced by the US Bill of Rights, including the concept of trial by jury and limited government
English Bill of Rights
influenced by the Bill of Rights (elections; forbade cruel and unusual punishment and restated right to trial by jury)
1776
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation
first attempt at a national government by the American colonies; its weakness was the lack of a strong central government
Federalist Papers
written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay articles that were written to create support for a new constitution
Treaty of Versailles
ends WWI; Germans are forced to pay reparations and fulfill the “War guilt” clause. Creates massive economic troubles for Germany. (League of Nations forms out of the negotiations, US doesn’t join)
U.S. Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments; they guarantee individual freedoms (or unalienable rights) discussed in the Declaration of Independence
13th Amendment
this abolished slavery in the US
14th Amendment
gave the right of citizenship to all persons born in the United States; it also added new restrictions on the actions of state governments
15th Amendment
gave black men the right to vote
16th Amendment
gave Congress the power to levy income taxes
17th Amendment
allowed for the direct election of senators
18th Amendment
prohibition: made the production, distribution, and consumption of alcohol illegal
19th Amendment
gave women the right to vote (suffrage); maintained that voting rights could not be limited based on gender
Social Security Act
welfare program; mandatory retirement/unemployment insurance gathered by taxes
GI Bill of Rights
this was a bill guaranteeing educational benefits, unemployment insurance, low-interest loans to soldiers serving in the armed forces
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization; this is a mutual defense pact between the US, Canada, and several European allies
1964 Civil Rights Act
prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, origin, or gender; equal public facilities
24th Amendment
Abolition of Poll Taxes; maintained that the government could not tax elections, therefore no one could be charged a fee for voting
26th Amendment
establishes the voting age at 18
Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America
outlined that there are 5 critical values crucial to America’s success: liberty, egalitarianism (everyone is equal), individualism, populism (value of the average man), and laissez-faire (limited governmental intervention in business).
14 Points
President Wilson’s plan for peace after WWI; proposed a league of nations which was never adopted by the US because it required intervention in European conflicts.
Civil Rights Movement
a movement beginning in the 1950s to bring about social change in order to maintain the treatment of all citizens under the constitution as equal
1947 - 1991 Cold War
struggle between the capitalistic US and the communist Soviet Union which desired to spread communist ideas throughout the world. US policies countering communism led to the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Note
Flashcard