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US History: VHS Summer: Sarra Bridges
This timeline will begin in 1877 and end in 2011. It will span events and ideas from immigration and industrialization to globilization and americanization. -
The Great Upheval
Railraod laboreres in Martinsburg, West Virginia decided to strike by blocking off the railroads when they were given a 10% pay cut. It was the beginning of the Railroad Strike.
Source: http://www.ushistory.org/us/37a.asp -
The Harlem Renaissance Begins
Starting with the Great Migration of African Americans to the North from the South the Harlem Renaissance began. It continued through the 1920’s with the development of jazz, literature and plays. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/46e.asp) -
Sinking of the USS Maine
The sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor signaled the start of the Spanish-American War because the United States assumed the explosion was caused by the Spanish even though they didn’t have proof.
Source: http://www.ushistory.org/us/44c.asp -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish American War. The United States gained the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico for its win. Spain got $20 million and Cuba became independent.
Source: http://www.ushistory.org/us/44d.asp -
Socialism
Socialists based their beliefs off of the German philosopher Karl Marx. They believed that the government should own all businesses and distribute the profit amoung the workers so that they earned the money they deserved and the CEO's did not get it all.
Source: http://www.ushistory.org/us/37e.asp -
Completion and Opening of the Panama Canal
After getting Britain to agree to it and helping Panama become independent of Colombia, the Panama Canal was finally finished in 1914 after 5 years of construction. It cost $345 million but opened up a new highway for trade, both imports and exports that would be important for the economy in coming years. -
The Beginning of World War I
Austria declares war on Serbia after the Archduke of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by Serbs. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/45.asp) -
US Declares War on Germany
Once Germany announced unrestricted submarine warfare they sunk many commercial American ships. The American lives lost at sea are what convinced the United States to declare war on Germany. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/45a.asp) -
Black Thursday
The beginning of the stock market crash. Investors were selling tons of their stock. It was so drastic that wealthy people tried to buy a lot to counter all the selling. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/48a.asp) -
Isolationism
Although isolationism had been around since George Washington, most Americans strongly supported this idea during the 1930’s. After seeing the damage caused by WWI and being in the middle of the Depression, they did not like the idea of becoming involved in another world conflict. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/50a.asp) -
Pearl Harbor
Japan bombed Pearl Harbor killing almost 3000 Americans. This event sent President Roosevelt to Congress asking for a declaration of war which he got with almost no opposition. This event shifted Americans from their isolationist attitudes. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/50e.asp) -
McCarthyism
Joseph McCarthy, a member of the United States Senate, was a republican set on removing anyone with an past or prior affiliations to communism from the government. He made many claims but the cases had little substantial information. Some of the Republican Party supported him but others disagreed with what he was doing. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/53a.asp) -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Inspired by Rosa Parks’ refusal to move to the back of the bus upon the request of white passenger, Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Abernathy organized the Montgomery bus boycott. Despite violence such as bombings and the arrest of both King and Abernathy, the boycott continued with participation from 99% of the African American population in the city. This eventually led to a Supreme Court ruling to end segregated busing. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/44g.asp) -
Feminism
The publishing of Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique initiated a whole women’s movement during the 1960’s. Feminists wanted equality of the sexes including in the workplace. Not all women wanted to he housewives anymore; they wanted to pursue careers of their own and get paid equally to men. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/57a.asp) -
Kennedy Assassinated
While driving through Dallas, Texas in an open top convertible President John F. Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald. He was rushed to a hospital but still died. It is still undecided if Oswald is truly the assassin and if he acted alone. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/56d.asp) -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
James Earl Ray shot Martin Luther King Jr. caused outrage from citizens all across America. He unofficially led the civil rights movements and did so nonviolently. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/54f.asp) -
Inauguration of Ronald Reagan
– Ronald Reagan beat incumbent president Jimmy Carter with 489 electoral votes to Carter’s 49. He was soon known as “the great communicator” and introduced “Reaganomics” to the U.S. government. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/59.asp) -
Invention of the World Wide Web
With access to the internet among average Americans, instead of just scientists and government/military officials, the world would never be the same again. Primarily for commercial use at first the WWW soon transformed into a place for chat rooms, research data and e-mail. Opinions were mixed at first, but nevertheless, the WWW prevailed. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/60d.asp) -
Operation Desert Storm
After Operation Desert Shield did not work the United States began bombing Iraq. This bombing lasted for weeks. The objective was to get Iraq out of Kuwait, the main oil supplier of the U.S. A ceasefire was eventually reached. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/60a.asp) -
Globalization
Around the beginning of the new millennium the world started to become more unified in terms of economic status, culture and communication. The United States had taken the lead in almost all aspects of a country for quite a while but soon America would slow down while the rest of the world started catching up. (http://www.gapminder.org/videos/hans-rosling-on-cnn-us-in-a-converging-world/#.U_aa-PldUpo)
