-
Period: to
US History: VHS Summer 2: Alex Hamad
This timeline is a collection of events that have happened in the history of the United States. Some are events and others are themes or ideas. -
The Great Upheaval
The Great Upheaval was a violent revolt by laborers. Their working conditions were harsh and dangerous and they did not like how their bosses treated them. They closed the railroads, damaged public property, and fought with police and militia. More on The Great Upheaval. -
Chinese Exclusion Act is signed
The Chinese Exclusion Act was caused by racism. It dissallowed Chinese citizens to immigrate to the United States. The U.S. defended themselves by saying that the immigrants were taking too many jobs at a time when the economy was depressed. More on the Chinese Exclusion Act. -
Spanish-American War
Cuba was the center of the conflict between the Americans and the Spanish. Both wanted to claim it as their own colony. One day, the American battleship the U.S.S. Maine exploded and sunk in the Havana Harbor. The U.S. gave up the fight for Cuba but started an all out war with Spain. The Americans were victorious. More on Spanish-American War. -
Annexation of Hawaii
The Hawaiian Islands had always been an interest of the Americans. They had resources and had a great geographic location. The U.S. eventually forced the Hawaiians to join the union with the McKinley Tariff. This made sugar imports more expensive and brought the islands into depression. The Hawaiians had no choice but to join as a territory and later became the 50th state. More on the Annexation of Hawaii -
Natural Disasters
There have been many devastating natural disasters around the world and in the United States. The San Fransisco earthquake in 1906 killed 500 people and destroyed 4 square miles of the city. Hurricane Katrina left around 1,836 dead and resulted in around $81 billion of damage. These events were catastrophic and affected the lives of thousands of people. More on Natural Disasters. -
United States enters World War I
The U.S. first entered the war as a neutral country. They were already leaning to the side of Britain and France when they intercepted the Zimmerman telegram. This message was sent from Germany to Mexico inducing them to go to war against the United States. This and the attacking of navy ships by Germany prompted the U.S. to engage fully in the war. More on U.S. in WWI. -
First meeting of League of Nations
The purpose of the League of Nations was to ensure that a war like this one would never happen again. It was based in Geneva, Switzerland since the Swiss were neutral in the war. Many countries were represented not including Germany who was accused of starting the war. The League of Nations was a precursor for the United Nations. More on the League of Nations. -
Harlem Renaissance
The roaring ‘20s was filled with cultural discoveries. Thousands of African Americans moved to the North and found a home in Harlem. Many black authors and poets became popular. The revolutionary musical style of jazz swept the nation. Musicians like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong became famous. More on Harlem Renaissance. -
Stock Market crashes
The United States during the 1920s were the most prosperous country in the world. Just when it seemed that things could not get any better, everything fell apart. The stock market crashed and no one knew what was going on. In a matter of a few months, the whole nation was experiencing poverty. The devastating period after the crash lasted over a decade and is known as the Great Depression. More on the Stock Market Crash. -
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
This was a tragic day in United States history. The Americans had been a neutral party in the war but relations with Japan became increasingly hostile. The U.S. had anticipated an attack by the Japanese but was extremely surprised that Pearl Harbor was the target. 3,000 Americans were killed by the attack and this guaranteed the U.S.’s entry in the war. More on the attack on Pearl Harbor. -
Atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima
The Manhattan Project was successful. The U.S. had developed the first nuclear bomb. Truman was forced to decide whether to use it on Japan or not. This ultimate blow could finally end the war. When Japan refused to surrender, the bomb was dropped. 70,000 people were killed instantly and many more would follow in the coming years due to burns and radiation sickness. More on the bombing of Hiroshima. -
Communism
Communism was the main reason for the Cold War. It is a type of government that relies on collective labor and good to equal out the classes. Many coummunist states including the USSR, China, and North Korea wanted to spread their communist ideas and command other countries. More on Communism. -
Invention of ENIAC
The ENIAC was the first computer ever invented and was initially meant for the U.S. army's research. This computer started it all; it led to further more advanced computers, the internet, and the world wide web. The information age took over and these inventions have been extremely important to society. More on the ENIAC. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was the longest lasting war in U.S. history. It cost the government billions and billions of dollars and resulted in over 60,000 deaths. And yet, the U.S. failed to complete their goals. As the war drew on, the people of the U.S. began to oppose and protest against the war and the government realized that there was no way to win it. More on the Vietnam War. -
Rosa Parks Bus Boycott
On this day, Rosa Parks got onto a bus and sat in the fifth row. African-Americans were forced to sit in the black rows while whites occupied the front. The bus driver asked her to move to the back of the bus. Parks refused to move and she was arrested. This incident led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The Court eventually ruled the segregation of blacks and whites on buses unconstitutional. More on the Rosa Parks Bus Boycott. -
Space Travel
Space Travel has been a topic of great excitement and enthusiasm. The thought of worlds outside of our own is astounding. The Americans were the first to set foot on the moon in 1969. This infused more excitement about space travel and their have been attempts to send robots to planets millions of miles away. More on Space Travel -
Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech
This speech was delivered to over 200,000 people on the steps of the Lincoln memorial. This speech was the turning point of the Civil Rights movement because of King’s delivery and inspirational words. He touched the hearts of millions of Americans. His speech prompted President Kennedy to progress the civil rights legislation. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize that year. More on the "I Have a Dream" speech. -
Reaganomics
President Ronald Reagan implemented a plan that was just what the U.S. needed. The economy was in turmoil and Reagan used a strict program to bring it back up. He started by shrinking the government and cutting taxes. Then he encouraged augmented social spending. This plan was revolutionary. More on Reaganomics. -
NAFTA is signed by President Clinton
The ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement truly united the three main countries of North America. It removed all trading barriers between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. It greatly helped negotiations between the countries and improved their relationships with each other. More on the NAFTA. -
The September 11 Attacks
September 11, 2001 was the most devastating day in U.S. history. Four commercial passanger airplanes were hijacked by 19 Al-Qaeda members. Two of the airplanes were intentionally crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost and each year those that perished are remembered on this day. More on the Attacks of September 11.
