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The American Dream
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the American Dream is the notion that the American social, economic, and political system makes success possible for every individual -
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Timeline
This timeline will show what I have learned in the US History: VHS Summer course. It will span from 1877-2011 and include what I believe to be the most influential events in our history. -
The Great Upheaval
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The Great Upheaval was the first mass strike in America. It was the first cause that could unite so many different people over such a large area. It began with the Martinsburg strike, but quickly spread to the Midwest. The strikes were either put down by force or died out; however, just because the strikes didn't appear to be successful doesn't mean they didn't influence future pay cuts. The workers proved they meant business. -
Wounded Knee Massacre
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The Wounded Knee Massacre was the last showdown between the Native Americans and the United States Army. A Paiute holy man recieved a vision in 1888 that an Indian Messiah would save them in 1891, so he and followers chanted and performed a "ghost dance". The movement spread and, although it preached nonviolence, worried the Americans. A massacre broke out and 300 Sioux Indians were killed. The frontier was closed. -
Hawaiian Annexation
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The annexation of Hawaii is important because it was one of the first imperialistic moves the United States made. Without presidential approval marines stormed the island and raised the American flag in Honolulu. The queen was forced to abdicate and, despite presidential dissaproval, the island eventually was annexed due to its military advantages. It remained a territory until it bacame a state in 1959. -
Americanization
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Americanization: the influence of the U.S. on the popular culture, technology, business practices, political techniques or language, of other countries. -
Sinking the Lusitania
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The sinking of the Lusitania changed everything concerning the Americans view towards getting involved with the war. The Germans had warned the U.S. about the dangers of oversea travel, so when they believed the Lusitania was carrying munitions they torpedoed the ship without warning. 1,198 innocent passengers were sent to a watery grave. The President was outraged and America began to lean toward the Allied side. -
The Harlem Renaissance
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The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920's. Caused by the Great Migration of African-Americans from the South to the North into urban slums to escape hate crimes, the Harlem Renaissance introduced new ideas of literature, entertainment, and music to America. Many influential writers and poets emerged during this time, as did jazz music. Whites were forced to recognize this growth. -
The League of Nations
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The League of Nations was formed by Woodrow Wilson after WWI to prevent further wars. It was based off fourteen points to lead to a safer, more peaceful world. However, America did not want to be a part of the League of Nations because it was believed to be exactly the sort of thing George Washington warned against in his Farewell Address. Germany could not join nor could Russia. The League failed quickly. -
The Great Crash
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The Great Crash refers to the Stock Market Crash of 1929 that sparked the Great Depression. After reaching an all time high, the Stock Market reached its capacity. Too many people had purchased stocks on margin hoping to strike it rich. After the beginning panic and widespead selling of stocks, it only took a mere ten weeks for the value of the entire market to be cut in half. Suicide, unemployment, and despair swept America. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
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Pearl Harbor was a defining moment in American history. A US naval base located at Pearl Harbor, HI was surprise attacked by the Japanese. 6 out of 8 battleships were destroyed. This event cost 2,403 Americans their lives and was the event that thust the US into WWII. It united the people in their view towards the war. -
Feminism
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feminism: the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities -
D-Day
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D-Day was when 156,000 American, British, and Canadian troops landed on 5 beaches along a 50 mile stretch in France. It was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history, and only occured due to an intricate and deceptive plan. It eventually led to the liberation of France and the surrender of Germany. It has been called the beginning of the end of the war in Europe. -
McCarthyism
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McCarthyism: a vociferous campaign against alleged communists in the US government and other institutions carried out under Senator Joseph McCarthy in the period 1950–54. Many of the accused were blacklisted or lost their jobs, although most did not in fact belong to the Communist Party. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
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The Montgomery Bus Boycott began with Rosa Parks when she refused to give up her seat on the bus in the colored section for a white man. She was arrested and people were outraged, Martin Luther King Jr. decided to stage a peaceful boycott of the bus system for equality and was supported by 99% of African Americans in the area. The bus company decided to change their rules, and this was the first gain in the civil rights movement. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
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The Cuban Missile Crisis was the first major showdown of the Cold War, and also the closest point to a WWIII which would be a nuclear war. The USSR planned to store nuclear weapons in Cuba, President Kennedy issued a public warning and "quarantined" Cuba. The Soviets agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba so long as the US promised not to invade. The US and USSR never openly threatened war again. -
Kennedy's Assasination
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President Kennedy became the fourth President to be assasinated when he was visiting Dallas, Texas and was on his way to speak at a luncheon. He was riding in a convertible with the top down when gunshots rang out and minutes later, Kennedy was dead. Lee Harvey Oswald, an avowed communist was arrested for the murder. He was later killed when being transfered between prison facilities, leaving many questions unanswered. -
Roe Vs. Wade
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This is perhaps the most important case in American history concerning women's rights and abortions. Women argued that the illegality of abortion forced women to seek black market methods or perform the dangerous procedure at home, the court ruled with a 7-2 verdict that abortion should be legal. Womens groups were overjoyed but then recieved opposition from the church, a battle which is still going on today. -
Globalization
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Globalization: the process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through communication, transportation, and trade. The term can also refer to the transnational circulation of ideas, languages, or popular culture. -
Iran-Contra Affair
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This was the date that congress issued a report that stated that President Reagan bore "ultimate responsibility" in the Iran-Contra Affair. It was a clandestine action not approved by the Congress in which the United States supplied weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages. The hostages were released but later replaced with new ones, rendering any deals with Iran meaningless. -
Impeachment of Clinton
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Bill Clinton became one of only two Presidents to be impeached. He was impeached on one count of perjury and one on obstruction of justice. He was convicted of perjury for misleading a Federal grand jury about the nature of his relationship with his intern. His count of obstruction of justice accused him of inducing others to lie to conceal his affair with Monica Lewinsky, his intern.
