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Fort Sumter
By this time, 7 states had seceded from the Union, South Carolina being the first. The South Carolina government demands they leave, as they are no longer part of the United States. Major Robert Anderson and his men on the island fort refuse to leave. Lincoln sends a supply ship of food and clothes to the soldiers. This causes the South, commanded by P.G.T Beauregard, to begin firing on the fort. -
The battle of the Ironclads
The battle of the ironclads, occurred between the U.S.S. Monitor and the Merrimack during the American Civil War and was history’s first naval battle between ironclad warships. It was part of a Confederate effort to break the Union blockade of Southern ports. The battle was a draw, but after this every wooden ship in the world became obsolete. -
The Homestead Act
The federal government passed the Homestead Act to encourage American and immigrant families to move west. Any person who was the head of a family or was at least 21 years old could become the owner of a homestead. They offered 160 acres of land free to anyone. -
The battle of Antietam
South's first attempt to invade North. The battle is a draw, but considered a Northern victory because the Southern army must retreat back to the South. It was the bloodiest single day battle of the war, with between 20,000 and 25,000 casualties. -
The Sand Creek Massacre
Some bands of Cheyenne warriors attacked miners and soldiers in southeastern Colorado. About 1200 Colorado military led by Colonel John Chivington opened fire on a peaceful Cheyenne village located along Sand Creek. Cheyenne raids on wagon trains and settlements 150-500 people slaughtered. -
Freedmen's bureau
The Freedmen’s Bureau was established in 1865 by Congress to help millions of former black slaves and poor whites in the South in the aftermath of the Civil War. The Freedmen’s Bureau provided food, clothing, jobs, medical care, and education. -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment states that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction. -
Purchase of Alaska
Alaska was purchased from the Russians for 7.2 million. This purchase wasn't appreciated by the Americans in the beginning. Later on, they found valuable resources like coal, tin, fish, gold, and oil which made this a good deal. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment granting African-American men the right to vote was adopted into the U.S. Constitution in 1870. Despite the amendment, by the late 1870s discriminatory practices were used to prevent blacks from exercising their right to vote, especially in the South. -
Susan B. Anthony was arrested
Susan B, Anthony was arrested because she was trying to vote for Grant as president. Later she was brought to trial in Rochester. Fifteen other women are arrested for illegally voting at the election. -
Jim Crow laws
Jim Crow laws were state and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States. They were passed by Southerners. The Jim Crow laws were enforced until 1965. -
The Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act was released in 1882. It prohibit all immigration of Chinese laborers. Building on the 1875 Page Act, which banned Chinese women from immigrating to the United States, the Chinese Exclusion Act was the first. -
The Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge in New York City, spanning the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Opened on May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first fixed crossing across the East River. It's one of the longest bridges in America and it proved to the world what American engineers can do. -
The Dawes act
To encourage Native Americans to become farmers. Henry Dawes, he wants the Indians to wear civilized clothes cultivate the ground, live in houses, ride in Studebaker wagons, send children to school, drink whiskey and own property." -
Gospel of Wealth
Andrew Carnegie publishes an essay called the Gospel of Wealth, it expressed his opinion on the social structure. He also stated his opinion on capitalism. It describes the responsibility of philanthropy by the new upper class of self-made rich. -
Gibson gril
The Gibson girl was created by Charles Gibson in drawings that appeared in popular magazines of the time. He portrayed her as an
equal to men. The Gibson girl had tall hair and tiny waist. -
Invention of basketball
Basketball is built into the fabric of Springfield College. The game was invented by Springfield College instructor and graduate student James Naismith. He invented basketball in 1891, later it became one of the most popular sports all around the world. -
The first open of Ellis Island
1892, Ellis Island opens its doors to all the immigrants. In the next half-century, 12 million people will pass through those doors to a new life in America. Today, it is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, accessible to the public only by ferry. -
Ida B. Wells crusades against lynching
Ida B. Wells was a former school teacher in Memphis. Her friends were murdered by a Memphis mob. The police refused to arrest the killer, she started a national anti-lynching campaign later. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
It's a case that made the Supreme Court state that segregation was legal as long as facilities were separate but equal. A doctrine that came to be known as "separate but equal." The decision legitimized the many state laws re-establishing racial segregation that had been passed in the American South after the end of the Reconstruction Era. -
The sinking of Maine
A massive explosion of unknown origin sinks the battleship USS Maine in Cuba’s Havana harbor. One of the first American battleships, the Maine weighed more than 6,000 tons and was built at a cost of more than $2 million. It's one of the starting factors of the war. -
Congress declares war on Spain
The ensuing Spanish–American War resulted in a decisive victory for the United States. Spain saw its days of empire fade, as the United States saw the prospect of overseas empire emerge. The war was ended by the Treaty of Paris signed. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
It was a major battle of the Spanish–American War. Theodore Roosevelt led the Rough Riders to victory at the battle of San Juan Hill. It made him gained fame and reputation, which helped him later on becoming the president. -
1912 Election
The 1912 United States presidential election was the 32nd quadrennial presidential election. The 1912 presidential election was the first in which every modern mainland state in the union could vote. This is the most recent presidential election in which a top two finisher was neither a Democrat nor a Republican. -
16th Amendment
It allows Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states on the basis of population. It was passed by Congress in 1909 in response to the 1895 Supreme Court case of Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. It effectively overruled the Supreme Court's ruling in Pollock. -
17th Amendment
In 1913, the 17th Amendment gave people the right to vote for their senators instead of the state legislature. This is called direct election, where the people choose who is in office. -
Panama Canal
The construction of the Panama Canal is finished. It became a US territory until the 1990s. It greatly shortens the travel time from the Atlantics to the Pacific. -
The sinking of Lusitania
The American ship Lusitania was sunk by the Germans. Because the Germans were able to confirm that it was carrying ammunition, so it was attacked by German submarines. The Americans were outraged about it it's one of the reasons why America was in WWI. -
The Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and cultural revival of African American music, dance, literature, theater and politics. It entered in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, spanning the 1920s and 1930s. NY became the largest black urban community. -
Battle of Belleau Wood
It was the first large scale battle. It occurred during the German Spring Offensive in World War I, near the Marne River in France. The battle was fought between the U.S. 2nd and 3rd Divisions along with French and British forces. -
The treaty of Versailles
After the Central Powers were exhausted by the war, it sought an armistice. The Treaty of Versailles was signed between the Allied powers. It destroyed the German economy and the morale of the
German people. -
Schenck v. U.S.
It was a landmark decision of the US Supreme Court concerning enforcement of the Espionage Act of 1917 during World War I. In ordinary times the mailing of the leaflets would have been protected by the 1st Amendment. Every act of speech must be judged acc. to the circumstances in which it was spoken. -
18th Amendment
The Eighteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution established the prohibition of alcoholic drinks in the United States. The amendment was proposed by Congress on December 18, 1917, and was ratified by the requisite number of states on January 16, 1919. -
19th Amendement
Aug 20, 1920 the 19th Amendment became part of U.S. Constitution. Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify it. It allowed women to vote. -
First non stop flight from NY to Paris
Charles Lindbergh lands at Le Bourget Field in Paris, successfully completing the first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight and the first ever nonstop flight between New York to Paris. His single-engine monoplane, had lifted off from Roosevelt Field in New York 33 1/2 hours before. -
Black Tuesday
It was a major American stock market crash that occurred. On this date, share prices on the New York Stock Exchange completely collapsed. This is one of the causes of the Great Depression. -
The Smoot–Hawley Tariff
It's an act passed by the Hoover Government. It raises the tariff on us imports up to 50% which stops a lot of trading. It's one of Hoover's biggest flaws. -
Revenue Act of 1932
It was the largest peacetime income tax increases. It raised United States tax rates across the board, with the rate on top incomes rising from 25 percent to 63 percent. The estate tax was doubled and corporate taxes were raised by almost 15 percent. -
The bonus army
The bonus army was made up of a bunch of veterans that wants their bonus which was supposed to be paid by 1945. They protested in Washington D.C. It was put down with the army. -
The new deal
The New Deal was a series of programs and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Major federal programs and agencies included the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Civil Works Administration (CWA), the Farm Security Administration (FSA), the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933 (NIRA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA). They provided support for farmers, the unemployed, youth and the elderly. -
Hawaii became a state
Hawaii became a state on this day of 1959. It was the 50th state. It's been almost 60 years since it became a territory of the US.
