PART 1: wars & eras (active recall)

Revolutionary War (1775–1783)

• What: American colonies fought Great Britain to gain independence.

• Impact: Ended with the Treaty of Paris (1783); the U.S. became an independent nation.

• Significance: Created the foundation for American democracy; inspired other revolutions globally.

War of 1812 (1812–1815)

• What: Fought between the U.S. and Britain over trade restrictions, impressment, and frontier conflicts.

• Impact: Ended in a stalemate (Treaty of Ghent), but U.S. nationalism surged.

• Significance: Marked the end of Native resistance in the Northwest and led to the “Era of Good Feelings.”

Mexican-American War (1846–1848)

• What: War over the annexation of Texas and border disputes.

• Impact: U.S. gained vast territory (Mexican Cession) via Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

• Significance: Expanded U.S. territory significantly, intensified slavery debates, and set stage for Civil War.

Civil War (1861–1865)

• What: Conflict between the North (Union) and South (Confederacy) over slavery, states’ rights, and secession.

• Impact: Union victory, abolition of slavery (13th Amendment).

• Significance: Preserved the Union, redefined federal power, and began the long struggle for civil rights.

Spanish-American War (1898)

• What: U.S. intervention in Cuba’s fight for independence from Spain.

• Impact: U.S. gained Guam, Puerto Rico, Philippines.

• Significance: Marked beginning of U.S. imperialism and emergence as a global power.

World War I (1917–1918 U.S. involvement)

• What: U.S. joined the Allies late in WWI after German provocations.

• Impact: U.S. helped secure Allied victory; Wilson pushed for League of Nations (not ratified).

• Significance: Shift toward global involvement, followed by return to isolationism in the 1920s.

World War II (1941–1945)

• What: U.S. joined after Pearl Harbor; fought in Europe and Pacific.

• Impact: Helped defeat Axis powers; U.S. and USSR emerged as superpowers.

• Significance: Ended isolationism, began Cold War, and drastically expanded federal power and economy.

Korean War (1950–1953)

• What: U.S. and UN forces aided South Korea against North Korea (supported by China/USSR).

• Impact: Armistice left Korea divided at the 38th parallel.

• Significance: First military conflict of the Cold War; showed U.S. commitment to containment.

Vietnam War (U.S. involvement: 1955–1975)

• What: U.S. supported South Vietnam in its fight against communist North Vietnam.

• Impact: U.S. withdrawal in 1973, fall of Saigon in 1975; major domestic opposition.

• Significance: Shattered trust in government, fueled anti-war movement, led to War Powers Act.

Gulf War (1990–1991)

• What: U.S.-led coalition drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.

• Impact: Quick military victory; restored U.S. confidence post-Vietnam.

• Significance: Showed effectiveness of modern U.S. military; strengthened U.S. global leadership.

Afghanistan War (2001–2021)

• What: Response to 9/11; aimed to dismantle al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban.

• Impact: Longest U.S. war; Taliban returned to power after U.S. withdrawal.

• Significance: Redefined national security policy; prompted debate over foreign intervention.

Colonial Era (1607–1754)

• What: Founding of British colonies; early self-government and transatlantic trade.

• Key Themes: Mercantilism, Native relations, regional differences (New England, Middle, South).

• Presidents: None (pre-constitutional).

• Significance: Set roots for American identity and democratic governance (e.g., Mayflower Compact, town meetings).

Revolutionary Era (1754–1789)

• What: French & Indian War, rising tensions with Britain, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution.

• Key Events: Stamp Act, Boston Tea Party, Coercive Acts, Revolutionary War, Constitutional Convention.

• Presidents: None (Washington elected in 1789).

• Significance: Creation of an independent democratic republic; Enlightenment ideals enshrined in government.

Early Republic (1789–1824)

• What: Formation of political parties, foreign policy challenges, and growing nationalism.

• Key Events: Washington’s Farewell, War of 1812, Era of Good Feelings.

• Presidents: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe.

• Significance: Defined federal authority, expanded territory (Louisiana Purchase), and set precedent for peaceful transfer of power.

Antebellum Era (1824–1860)

• What: Sectionalism rises, Second Great Awakening, reform movements, and growing tension over slavery.

• Key Events: Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Dred Scott.

• Presidents: Jackson, Van Buren, Polk, Buchanan.

• Significance: Led to increasing division that culminated in the Civil War.

Civil War & Reconstruction (1861–1877)

• What: War over slavery and union; postwar attempts to integrate freed slaves.

• Key Events: Emancipation Proclamation, 13th–15th Amendments, Reconstruction Acts.

• Presidents: Lincoln, Johnson, Grant.

• Significance: Abolished slavery, but Reconstruction failed to ensure lasting racial equality.

Gilded Age (1877–1900)

• What: Rapid industrialization, urbanization, labor unrest, immigration, and political corruption.

• Key Events: Sherman Antitrust Act, strikes, rise of monopolies.

• Presidents: Hayes, Garfield, Cleveland, McKinley.

• Significance: U.S. transformed into an economic powerhouse but saw deep social inequalities.

Progressive Era (1900–1920)

• What: Reform movement to address Gilded Age problems.

• Key Events: Trust-busting, Pure Food and Drug Act, women’s suffrage.

• Presidents: Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson.

• Significance: Expanded federal government’s role in economy and society; major social reforms.

Roaring Twenties & Great Depression (1920–1939)

• What: Economic boom followed by collapse; rise of mass culture and modernity.

• Key Events: Stock Market Crash, New Deal programs.

• Presidents: Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, FDR (from 1933).

• Significance: Led to long-term government intervention in the economy (New Deal).

World War II & Early Cold War (1940–1960)

• What: WWII victory followed by global U.S.-Soviet rivalry.

• Key Events: Marshall Plan, NATO, Korean War, GI Bill.

• Presidents: FDR, Truman, Eisenhower.

• Significance: Created military-industrial complex, expanded federal government, and ushered in global leadership.

Civil Rights Era & Vietnam (1960–1975)

• What: Struggles for racial justice and growing anti-war sentiment.

• Key Events: Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, Tet Offensive.

• Presidents: Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon.

• Significance: Expanded rights for many but deeply divided the country politically and culturally.

Late Cold War & Reagan Era (1976–1991)

• What: Détente, conservative resurgence, end of Cold War.

• Key Events: Iran Hostage Crisis, Reaganomics, Fall of Berlin Wall.

• Presidents: Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr.

• Significance: Conservatism strengthened, Cold War ended, but social/economic divides remained.

Post-Cold War & War on Terror (1991–Present)

• What: Globalization, terrorism, polarization, and cultural shifts.

• Key Events: 9/11, Iraq/Afghanistan Wars, Great Recession, Obama’s election.

• Presidents: Clinton, Bush Jr., Obama, Trump, Biden.

• Significance: U.S. navigated global leadership, internal divides, and questions of national identity.