APUSH big ideas
Unit 1 (1491-1607)
Natives were diverse people with diverse societies
Their cultures were shaped by the environments in which they lived, leading to a variety of traditions, languages, and ways of life.
Europe - growing populationled to increased competition for resources, which subsequently fueled exploration and colonization efforts in the Americas. This era marked the beginning of significant interaction between the Old and New Worlds, leading to profound social, economic, and political changes.
Columbian Exchange - food, materials, disease
Feudalism (peasants work for nobles) to Capitalism (Rise of joint stock companies)
Spain focused on agriculture to make money, not just gold and silver
Importation of africans for slavery, hard to maintain encomienda system
Casta System
Peninsulares (Spaniards born in spain)
Criollos (Spaniards born in Americas)
Castas:
Mulattoes (Spanish + African blood) and Mestizos (Spanish + Native blood)
Africans
Native Americans
Las casas vs. Sepulveda
Unit 2 (1607-1704) - Establishment and Development of Early Colonial Societies
French - relatively few people settled
Focused on trade and commerce, French colonial efforts were more concentrated on establishing economic partnerships with Native Americans than on mass settlement
Dutch - Also focused on economics like french , the Dutch established their colonies primarily for trade and commerce, notably through the founding of New Amsterdam, which became a key trading hub.
low interest in converting the natives
British - New economic opportunities, and new lands to seek those opportunities
Also to seek religious freedom and improve living conditions
Jamestown - joint stock company (investors who collects profit ) and funded the establishment of the first permanent English settlement in North America, aiming to capitalize on the resources and land of the New World. JAMESTOWN = FOR PROFIT
1612 - tobacco found marketable
Used indentured servants = more servants needed for more tobacco, meant more labor and land
Started taking land from natives, indians retaliate and raid farms = BACONS REBELLION
Bacons rebellion - bacon leads farmers and servants to fight against the indians and turn their milita towards the plantations owned by the governor (rebellion eventually squashed)
made wealthy elites afraid of using indentured servants, led to usage of african slaves
NEW ENGLAND COLONIES
Economic diversification: The New England colonies developed an economy based on fishing, shipbuilding, and trade, which reduced reliance on agriculture compared to southern colonies.
Colonies made for religious freedom
MIDDLE COLONIES
Cultural diversity: The Middle Colonies were characterized by their diverse population, including various ethnic and religious groups, which fostered a vibrant society.
Economic activity: The economy in the Middle Colonies was also marked by a mix of agriculture and commerce, with grains and livestock playing significant roles in trade.
Pennsylvania - self governing structure, religious freedom
Mayflower compact - organized government
House of Burgesses (Virginia) - self gov
Dominated by the elite
Spanish - Motivated by a quest for gold, silver, and the spread of Catholicism, the Spanish established vast colonies in the Americas, leading to significant cultural and economic exchanges, but also intense conflicts with indigenous populations.
Triangular Trade - A system of transatlantic exchanges in which enslaved Africans were transported to the Americas, raw materials were sent to Europe, and manufactured goods were traded back to Africa, significantly impacting the economies and societies of all involved regions.
New england (rum to africa for enslaved)
Middle passage (Slaves to carribean)
Sugarcane and goods back to new england
Mercantilism - profit for the mother country
Establishing colonies
Navigation Acts - some items have to exclusively go through British ports
Chattel slavery introduced to support the economy of the colonies and provide labor for cash crops such as tobacco and sugar.
Covert resistance - secretly maintain culture and tradition
Overt resistance - public resistance
Stono Rebellion - SC, small group of slaves stole weapons and killed owner, killed whites and burned plantations before rebellion was squashed
King Philips War/Metacom’s War
Open conflict between Native Americans and English settlers, resulting from land disputes and cultural clashes.
Caused due to British encroachment on native land, leading to a series of violent confrontations that ultimately decimated several Native American populations and significantly altered the power dynamics in New England.
THE ENGLIGHTENMENT
movement in Europe that emphasized rational thinking over tradition and religious revelation
John Locke
Natural Rights
Republican motherhood
Checks and Balances - split gov in 3 parts
Social Contract
New light clergy - preached against enlightenment
LED TO:
THE GREAT AWAKENING - massive religious revival
intense Christian enthusiasm
Jonathan Edwards - New England minister known for his fire-and-brimstone sermons that emphasized the need for personal salvation.
George Whitfield - Anglican preacher who played a significant role in the Great Awakening, renowned for his charismatic preaching style and ability to draw large crowds.
first vestiges of true american idenity
UNIT 3 - How America transformed into a distinct nation/identity
French and Indian War - 7 year war between britain and france for the colonies/land
British Wins the war, leading to the acquisition of significant territory in North America, but also setting the stage for increased tensions between Britain and the colonies due to heavy taxation and the imposition of new laws.
Proclamation of 1763 - no more colonial expansion west of appalacian mountains
Expensive: british starts taxing more
taxation without representation
Salutary neglect ends as Britain enforces stricter control over the colonies, leading to growing resentment and ultimately, revolutionary sentiment.
stamp act, townsend, etc
Women ended up boycotting
1770 - Boston Massacre: A confrontation where British soldiers killed five colonists, increasing anti-British sentiments and unifying the colonies against British authority.
1773 - Boston Tea Party: A political protest by the Sons of Liberty against the Tea Act, where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor, which further escalated tensions between Britain and the colonies.
1774 - First Continental Congress: A gathering of delegates from twelve colonies to organize resistance against British rule, leading to the formation of a unified colonial response to oppressive legislation.
Independence - mostly considered by elites until:
COMMON SENSE by Thomas Paine
Sizeable opposition = Loyalists
Delecatarion of indepenced written
Continental Army - Led by George Washington
French ally with the Americans
Treaty of Paris (1783) - Officially ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.
Articles of Confederation written - states hold power, weak central gov
Northwest Ordiance of 1787 (only success of the articles)
Planned how statehood could be applied, abolished slavery in the northwest territory
Shay’s Rebellion - rebellion by farmers who wanted to protest high taxes and economic hardships, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles and the need for a stronger federal government.
Constitutional Convention of 1787 - Drafted the constitution
Federalist - wanted constitution
Anti-Federalist - wanted states to maintain power
Bicameral legislature
3/5s compromise
3 branches
Constitution went into effect 1789
Included Bill of Rights
Republican motherhood - raising virtuous sons under the idea of republicanism
Federalists vs. Democratic Republicans
Washington’s Farewell Address
warns against political parties
warns against foreign alliances
War between Britain and France
French demands bribe by diplomats (XYZ) to stop seizing American trade ships
Alien and Sedition Acts - legal and easy to deport non citizens, especially immigrants, and illegal to criticize gov publicly
KY and VG resolution - states can nullify unconsitutional laws
The resolutions asserted that states had the right to interpose themselves between the federal government and the citizens, aiming to protect their rights and liberties.
UNIT 4 (1800-1848) - American expansion (territorial and economic) and the Rise of new social and political forces
Fierce debates between federalists and democratic republicans
Scope of federal power: strict constitution vs. loose interpretation
Louisiana Purchase - a significant land acquisition in 1803 that doubled the size of the United States and facilitated westward expansion.
Jefferson - expanded gov power (against his own ideals), but deal was TOO GOOD 😋
Lewis and Clark - traveled thousands of miles to explore territory
John Marshall - Marbury v. Madison = landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review, empowering the Supreme Court to invalidate laws that conflict with the Constitution.
Muculloch v. Maryland - fed law over state law
WAR OF 1812
War between France and Britain, however both countries kept seizing American ships
British impressment
HARTFORD CONVENTION
talked about New England seceding from the union
made federalists look bad, party ends up fading
LED TO ERA OF GOODFEELINGS
No national bank now, states began to have more control over their economies, which led to greater regionalism and competition among states.
HENRY CLAY’S AMERICAN SYSTEM
Federally funded internal improvements - Jefferson vetoes this
Implementation of protective tariffs
Re-establish Bank of the United States
Missouri applies for statehood in 1819
Tallmadge amendment - attached amendment prohibiting slavery in the new state
Missouri Compromise (Compromise of 1820)
Missouri admitted as a slave state, Maine a free state
territory above 36 30 is free
Adam Onis Treaty - treaty to resolve border disputes between the US and Spain, giving US Florida and settling southern border
Monroe Doctrine - policy asserting that European nations should no longer colonize or interfere in the Americas, marking a significant step in American foreign policy.
MARKET REVOLUTION
Linking of northern industries with western and southern farms which was created by advances in agriculture, industry, communication, and transportation
New Technology - Cotton Gin, Spinning Machine
Interchangeable Parts - Allowed for mass production of goods, increasing efficiency and reducing costs in manufacturing.
Division of tasks, mass productions
Canals created
Railroads - Revolutionized transportation, facilitating the movement of goods and people across vast distances, further enhancing economic growth and connectivity.
Industrial cities exploded in populations - more labor for nothern industry
Tenements
Immigrants able to establish their own cultural institutions
GROWING MIDDLE CLASS
Cult of Domesticity - Role of Women during this time
Woman’s identity/purpose was childbearing, working at home
Men would work outside
Lower class - women still had to work of course
EXPANSION OF DEMOCRACY
more people demanding right to vote aside from just white property owning men
Panic of 1819
CAUSES
Irresponsible banking practices
Decreased demand for exports
EFFECTS
working men demand the franchise/suffrage
By 1825, most eastern states had lowered or eliminated their property qualifications for voting - influx of new voters
New voters = Growth and Realignment of political parties
1824 election - Split in the Democratic republican party
National Republicans - expansive view of federal power
Democrats - restrictive view of federal power
4 Candidates chosen by various factions within the party, leading to a contentious election with no clear majority.
Jackson wins popular vote, however no one wins the electoral majority
Goes to house of representatives
Clay is speaker of the house, gives the presidency to Adams in return Adams appoints clay as secretary of state
CALLED THE CORRUPT BARGAIN
Election of 1828 - Jackson ends up winning this time
AGE OF JACKSON BEGINS - Man of the people
Democratic party led by Jackson
Whigs emerge, led by Henry Clay
Major issue = scope of federal power
Tariff of 1828
north likes the tariffs, southern hates them
John C. Calhoun starts practice of NULLIFICATION, arguing that states have the right to invalidate federal laws they deem unconstitutional.
SC decides not to pay the taxes, claims south carolina would secede from the union if forced to pay taxes
Jackson passes the FORCE BILL
Uses federal troops to enforce federal law
SC decides to stay in union with agreement with Jackson, but nullifies the force bill keeping the idea of nullification
Jackson vetoes 2nd National Bank
INDIAN REMOVAL
Implementation of the Indian Removal Act, leading to the forced relocation of Native American tribes, most notably the Trail of Tears.
TRANCENDENTALISM - European romanticism
Emphasized the power and beauty of nature
Extremists created utopian communities
SECOND GREAT AWAKENING
A religious revival movement that swept the United States in the early 19th century, promoting individual piety and social reform.
included everyone, regardless of gender or social status, emphasizing the belief that all individuals could achieve salvation through personal faith and moral living.
Started new reform movements
Temperance Movement
Against consumption of alcohol
Abolitionism
Lloyd argued against slavery through moral values, not violence
Not all in north was abolitionist - some feared abolition due to cotton and crop trade
Women’s Rights movement
Caused by abolitionism movement (women needs rights to argue against slavery)
Seneca Falls Convention
First women’s rights conference
Drafted declaration of sentiments
Declared equality in education, legal rights, and voting
Fruit of the movement did not come to bear for a long time, but was the start of the movement
THE SOUTH
plantations expand west along with westward expansion
plantation owners went great lengths to control black laborers in fear of uprisings
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
1831 - was a significant slave revolt that heightened tensions between slaveholders and the enslaved, resulting in harsher laws and increased oppression in the South.
Most whites southerners didn’t own slaves, however they believed in the institution of slavery
UNIT 5 (1844-1877) - Tensions and sectional conflict
Manifest Destiny
Posses whole continent through their God-given right
Discovery of gold in California
James K. Polk - wanted to add Texas and Oregon
Texas wanted to be an independent state, causes Mexican American War
MEXICAN AMERICAN WAR
Texas wants to be annexed by US, however Mexico opposed this move, leading to heightened tensions that ultimately escalated into conflict.
Polk annexed Texas regardless
Mexico ends up killing American soldiers at the border (most likely in Mexican territory), which President Polk used as justification to declare war on Mexico in 1846, framing the conflict as a defense of American honor and territory.
America wins = Signing of Guadalupe Hidalgo treaty where Mexico ceded California and New Mexico to the US for 15million dollars
Wilmot Proviso - any land gained from the treaty would be off limit from slavery (was voted down but shows increasing tensions over slavery)
COMPROMISE of 1850
Southern position: slavery was a constitutional right, and slavery had been decided in the Missouri Compromise
Free Soil Movement: Compromised of Northern Democrats and Whigs, who wanted new territories acquired to be the dominion of free laborers
more economic based than moral based
Abolitionists: wanted to ban slavery altogether
Popular Sovereignty: people living in the territory should decide on slavery
Highlights increased tensions between all 3 viewpoints
Clay comes with the compromise which states:
Mexican Cession divided into Utah and New Mexico territories and would practice popular sovereignty
California admitted as a free state
Slave trade banned in Washington D.C.
Stricter fugitive slave law would be enforced
Slightly lessened tensions
IMMIGRATION
Most lived in slums and poor conditions
More immigrants = more opposition to these immigrants
Creation of the Know-Nothing Party
Single Issue party against immigration
North:
Economy stimulated by free wage laborers working manufacturing jobs
South
economy fueled by enslaved labor working on agricultural plantations
INCREASED SECTIONAL CONFLICT
Failure of compromise Pre-Civil War
Bleeding Kansas
Kansas and Nebraska were made free/slave states based on popular sovereignty
Violence eruptedas pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers clashed over the issue of whether Kansas would be admitted to the Union as a free state or a slave state
Dred Scott Decision
Court claimed that slaves had no citizenship, and enslaved people were property
NEW PARTY SYSTEM:
Whigs split on belief of slavery
Democrats supporting slavery
Republican Party born in 1854
former Know Nothing party members
abolitionists
Free Soilers
Conscience Whigs
Argued slavery should not spread
SECESSION
1860 election: Abraham Lincoln wins against Douglass
This victory sets the stage for Southern states to consider secession.
SC Secedes in 1860 before Lincoln’s inauguration, and other states follow
MAIN REASON: PROTECT SLAVERY
CIVIL WAR - Military conflict
South
Fought a defensive war
Possessed far greater and more experienced military leaders
North
4x Population of South
Possesed robust navy
Controlled economic advantage
Well established gov
Both sides had opposition
Union Strategy: Anaconda Plan - blockade southern ports and control the Mississippi River
Southern Strategy: Foreign aid - King Cotton = Britain and France aid, however this did fail slightly
EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION OF 1862
freed all slaves in states in active rebellion against the Union
War now about eradicating slavery in the south
Appomattox Courthouse 1865 - Lee surrenders to Grant, ends the war
GOVERNMENT Policies during the Civil War
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation: Declared the freedom of all slaves in Confederate-held territory, reshaping the purpose of the war.
European support for south ends (Europe cannot support slavery in south)
Allowed former slaves to join Union
Gettysburg Address
Unify the Nation
Portray the struggle against slavery as the fulfillment of America’s founding democratic ideals
RECONSTRUCTION
Lincoln’s plan: Ten-Percent Plan
Could reestablish their state governments if 10 percent of the 1860 electorate pledged loyalty to the Union
State legislature had to ratify 13th amendment
Lincoln assassinated before plan is put into place
Andrew Johnson replaces Lincoln
States adopt Black Codes
Radical Republicans wanted to punish the south more heavily
Set up the Freedmen’s Bureau
14th amendment - grants citizenship to blacks
South divided into 5 military districts and occupied with federal troops
Johnson Impeached over his violation of the Tenure of Office Act, reflecting the intense political conflicts during Reconstruction.
15th amendment - voting rights for blacks
FAILURES OF RECONSTRUCTION
System of Sharecropping
White Supremacy continued: KKK
End of reconstruction: election of 1876 between Tilden and Hayes
Resulted in the Compromise of 1877, which led to the withdrawal of federal troops from the South and effectively ended the Reconstruction era.
Democrats start to dominate again, blacks left with no protection in the south
UNIT 6 - Industrialization and Innovation
Increase of railroads
Expansion of the economy: Railroads catalyzed trade, increased movement of goods, and stimulated other industries such as steel and agriculture.
New monopolies arise
Carnegie: vertical integration
Rockefeller: horizontal integration
Extreme Laissez Faire gov
Hands off gov regarding buisiness
SOCIAL DARWINISM
If the world’s wealth was concentration into the fittest, it would be best
GOSPEL OF WEALTH (supported by Carnegie)
Wealthy should share their wealth - god given duty
1890 - Sherman Antitrust Act
Made monopolies illegal, however pretty unsuccessful
GROWING MIDDLE CLASS
White collar workers
Laboring class - low wages, long hours, not enough income
Creation of LABOR UNIONS
Agitate for better wages and conditions
Great Railroad Strike - workers went on strike, however strike went violent and 100 were killed
did help improve wages
Pullman Strike - workers at the Pullman Company protested against wage cuts and high rents, and were all fired
Eugene v. Debs led the American Railway Union to support the strikers, advocating for better working conditions and fair treatment.
Corporations usually ended up winning, and almost always had the backing of the federal gov
MAJOR UNIONS:
Knights of Laborers
Open to ALL members (blacks and women included)
Abolish trusts
Stop child labor
HAYMARKET SQUARE RIOT
Bomb explodes during the protest
associated with the knights of labor, and group lost members rapidly
American Federation of Labor
Association of craft unions
Over a million members
Higher wages and better conditions
IMMIGRATION
Population tripled, mostly to Europeans
Opposition to immigrants rose
Especially labor unions as they began to see immigrants as a threat to job security, leading to increased tensions and calls for stricter immigration policies.
Nativists - American Protective Association (against Catholics)
WESTWARD EXPANSION
Hope of self-sufficiency and independence
Chinese came through pacific ocean due to gold rush
CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT: Enacted in 1882, this law suspended Chinese immigration and denied citizenship to Chinese immigrants, reflecting growing nativism and racial tensions in U.S. society.
Closing of the frontier
Frederick Jackson Turner - Argued that the closing of the frontier was troublesome
Reservation system
Reserved territory for the Natives
Most refused to follow the reservements
Sioux Wars - victory against the US army
1871 - Indian Appropriation Act
natives no longer seen as a sovereign nation
Assimilation movement
DAWES ACT
Divided up tribal lands into individual plots for Native American families, undermining communal land ownership and promoting the Americanization of Indigenous peoples.
SHIFT in Agriculture
More dependent on cash crops
New machines for farming = most farmers unable to buy machine, cant compete in the market
Railroads transportations expensive
NATIONAL GRANGE MOVEMENT
Brought farmers together, ended up becoming political
Success - led to the establishment of collective bargaining processes which empowered farmers to advocate for their interests and influence legislation.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT
Railroad prices have to be fair and just
URBANIZATION
Suburbanization - the growth of areas on the fringes of urban centers, where people moved to find more affordable housing and a higher quality of life.
POLITICAL MACHINES
Tammany Hall
A powerful political machine based in New York City that became synonymous with corruption and patronage during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Boss Tweed - The infamous leader of Tammany Hall, known for his role in orchestrating graft and political corruption.
SETTLEMENT HOUSES
Hull House - Jane Adams
Education and social services to poor
Largely led by women
Women’s Suffrage/movement
Took up temperance
Carry A. Nation
Social Gospel - Christian principles applied to right societal wrongs
THE SOUTH
THE NEW SOUTH
Economic diversity and industrial growth
Most places were still a mainly segregated agricultural economy
Plessy v. Ferguson
Separate but equal
Jim Crow Laws
public areas all segregated
Blacks not allowed on jury
Booker T. Washington
Economic sufficiency is more important than political participation
CORRUPTION OF GOVERNMENT
MAJOR PARTIES:
Republicans vs. Democrats
Republicans
Blacks, middle class business men, Protestants
Democrats
Big city political machines, immigrants
No strong party agenda
PATRONAGE: The practice of granting government jobs and favors to party supporters, which often led to corruption and inefficiency in local governments.
Civil Service - A system intended to reduce corruption by requiring government jobs to be awarded based on merit rather than political affiliation.
Pendleton Act - based on merit
Shift in politicians from relying on the party faithful to fund and work on their campaigns over to a handful of wealthy individuals
Money Supply
Famers and entreupuneurs wanted more paper money into circulation, later advocated for silver coinage
Others wanted gold standard
Tariffs
Industry benefits, however farmers and consumers suffering
Led to a new political party
NEW POLITICAL PARTY: THE POPULISTS
First met in 1892, wanted to correct the concentration of economic power held by banks and trusts
Omaha Platform
Direct election of senators
Enact the use of initiatives and referendums
Unlimited coinage of silver
Graduated income tax
8 hour workday for laborers
No populist candidate won an election, however:
Democratic party took up some of the main tenets of populism into their own platform, importantly the coining of silver
William McKinley (republican) still wins the election of 1896
More gold found in Alaska, increased the money supply and both parties are happy about the money supply
UNIT 7 (1890-1945) - A LOT
IMPERIALISM
Growing hunger for expansion, outside of the US
Imperialist:
More sources for raw materials, more markets, social Darwinism (Racially driven), also to spread christianity
Anti-Imperialist
Self Determination for all nations
Isolationism - roots in George Washington’s speech
SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
Cuba tries to escape Spanish rule
Yellow Journalists argue American intervention in Cuba was the humanitarian thing to do
1898, American ship explodes, accuses Spain
Congress declares war
America wins
US pays 20 mil to Spain to take possession of the Philippines
America also annexes Hawaii after overthrowing queen
Anti-imperialists are against phillipines
Congress adds phillipines to US territory
Phillipine insurrection: US grants them independence in 1946
OPEN DOOR POLICY
Open Door Policy: Advocates for equal trading rights for all nations in China, aiming to prevent any single power from monopolizing trade.
TEDDY ROOSEVELT - 1901
Big stick diplomacy
aggressive method of imperialism
Panama canal
Roosevelt Corollary
PROGRESSIVE ERA
Concerns:
Rising power of big business
Uncertainties in the economy
Violence between labor groups and employers
Influence of political machines
Jim Crow segregation (not all concerned)
Rights of women
AMERICAN SOCIETY NEEDED VIGOUROUS GOVERNMENTAL INTERVENTION to fix societal wrongs
Muckrakers:
Ida Tarbell - corruption of Standard Oil
Jacob Riis - horrors of tenements
Upton Sinclair - unsafe conditions of meatpacking industry
Secret Ballot
a voting method that ensures privacy and reduces the influence of corruption in elections.
Direct election of Senators
17th amendment passed
Initiative, referendum, recall
Initiative: legislator must consider bill
Referendum: citizens vote on bill directly
Recall: remove corrupt politician before their term was up
W.E.B Du Bois - blacks need to be recognized as politically equal first
NAACP
Progressive presidents:
Teddy Roosevelt
Led congress to pass laws adressing consumer protection
Pure Food and Drug Act
Meat Inspection Act
Conservation laws
Trust-Busting - good vs. bad
Square Deal
A domestic program initiated by President Theodore Roosevelt aimed at ensuring fairness for workers, consumers, and businesses.
William Howard Taft
2x the Trust busting
Dollar Diplomacy
Woodrow Wilson
Lowered Tariffs
Federal Reserve Act - 1914
Trusts - continued breaking more trusts
WOMEN:
Temperance
Led to 18th Amendment/Prohibition
Suffrage
19th Amendment passed
WWI
Sinking of the Lusitania 1915
German submarines sink passenger ship from America
America threatens germany with war, germany backs off
Germany continues unrestricted submarine warfare
ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAM
Germany asked mexico to keep US busy, and would help mexico fight US after war
April 2nd 1917, US enters war
HOMEFRONT DURING WW1
Wartime mobilization
industry - turned to wartime manufacturing
Rationing
control of railroads
GREAT MIGRATION
jobs and less segregation
Espionage Act
Supreme Court supports espionage act
speech can be limited by gov in clear and precedent danger
TREATY OF VERSAILLES 1919
Wilson’s 14 points
most important: League of Nations
US senate refuses to ratify treaty.
Red Scare - anti communist ideals
Further immigration restraints
THE ROARING 20s - 1920s
Harding promises normalcy
economic boom
increased productivity
Henry fords assembly line
Increase of oil and power for automobiles
Gov. headed back to more laissez faire approach
CULTURE IN THE 20s
Urban centers offered jobs for women
Flappers: rejected cultural norms
Big spike in Immigration
Nativism
Passage of the Immigration Quotas
Harder for immigrants to come to US
Art and Literature
The lost generation
Harlem Renaissance
The radio
Movies
Protestant conflicts: urban and rural
Modernists: believed their Christianity was wide enough to embrace new values
Fundamentalists: taken bible literally
Scopes Monkey Trial: a landmark legal case in 1925 that challenged the teaching of evolution in schools, highlighting the clash between modernist and fundamentalist views.
THE GREAT DEPRESSION
Stock market collapses on October 29th, 1929 (Black Tuesday)
Overproduction
Hoovervilles: the slums
FDR - expand federal government
THE NEW DEAL
Relief, Recovery, Reform
Employment for infrastructure
Increase banking regulations
Social Security
Court packing deal - bad rep for FDR
POLITICAL REALIGNMENT:
long term: blacks and working class led to democratic party whom they believed tried to help them in the midst of their suffering during the Great Depression
WWII
Rise of Fascism
Gradual aid toward the allies
Cash and carry
Lend Lease act
PEARL HARBOR
Japan attacks US, US joins the war
Federal spending increases hugely to produce what the nation needs to go to war
New spending and production pulls us out of the Great Depression
Japanese Americans sent to internment camps
D-Day - large invasion, US able to establish a foothold in Europe, marking a significant turning point in World War II.
Germany surrenders in 1945
Atomic Bomb dropped on Japan twice, leading to Japan's surrender and effectively bringing an end to World War II in the Pacific theater.
US rises as a dominant power after the war
UNIT 8 (1945-1980) - Involvement in the COLD WAR
COLD WAR
Growing tensions between US and USSR
Truman in power as cold war begins
USSR keeps the nations as communists, without allowing these nations to maintain the right of self-determination and democracy
Splitting of germany
Truman Doctrine - US would provide economic and military support against communism
US support of Greece
Marshall Plan
economic aid plan to help new european nations build after the war
NATO created for democratic nations (western europe)
WARSAW PACT - alliance of communist nations
ARMS RACE
Race between US and USSR regarding nuclear weapon development, leading to significant military buildup and tensions during the Cold War.
PROXY WARS
Korean War - Conflict between North and South Korea from 1950 to 1953, involving significant US military intervention to prevent the spread of communism in Asia.
Vietnam War - Prolonged conflict from 1955 to 1975, where the US supported South Vietnam against the communist North, resulting in substantial debates over US foreign policy and military engagement.
2nd RED SCARE
House Unamerican Activities Committee
A committee formed in 1938, reactivated during the Second Red Scare, which investigated alleged disloyalty and subversive activities among US citizens, particularly targeting communists and leftist organizations.
MCCARTHYISM
GI BILL
Veterans able to go to college and got housing funds
BABY BOOM
Increased demand for housing construction
Suburbs including:
Levittown
Middle class moves to suburbs (Sun Belt) leaving urban areas poor and divided
TV introduced
Helped connect the nation
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Landmark Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, serving as a significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement.
Stiff resistance in the South
Montgomery Bus Boycott
MLK rises to prominence
Sit in Movement
March on Washington
MLK “I have a dream” speech
Led to civil rights act of 1964 - no discrimination
Voting Rights act 1965 - no discrimination in voting
New tactics for civil rights - use of violence
Malcom X - Black Panthers
Race riots in 1965
WOMENS RIGHTS MOVEMENT
The feminine Mystique
women should seek fulfilment in professional careers
NOW
Equal Rights Amendment - fell short of vote
Counterculture:
Movement by young people who cast aside societal restraint with rebellious style of clothing, drugs, music, etc.
Woodstock
Counter culture fizzles out due to excesses and drug addictions
Change in sexuality and norms
Decolonization
newly independent nations needed aid
US vs. USSRO
Opposition to Vietnam
GREAT SOCIETY
War on poverty
Medicare
Medicaid
Immigration Act - no more immigration quotas
Nixon - ends war in Vietnam
Stagflation
Watergate Scandal
Conservatism vs. Liberalism
ROE v. WADE
Ruled in favor of abortion
Environmental movement
EPA created
UNIT 9 (1980-Present)
Politics:
Conservative resurgence in the 60s and 70s
Ronald Reagan elected as president
Reduced taxes
Cut government spending
Appointed conservative judges to supreme court
REAGONOMICS: Economic policies implemented by President Reagan aimed at promoting growth through supply-side economics.
Increased gov defense and military spending
Deregulate industries
END OF COLD WAR: 1991
9/11 - AL QUEDA
Patriot Act
Department of homeland security