US History: VHS Summer November "Rachel" Wrede

The Golden Spike

May 10, 1869

http://www.ushistory.org/us/36a.asp
The coasts were connected by railroad when the Union Pacific and Central Pacific rails were joined.

US History: VHS Summer November "Rachel" Wrede

Period: 1877 to 2011

I am studying US history from 1877 to the present. This picture from Rene Magritte "Evening Falls" tries to get the viewer to put the pieces of history together.

Chinese Exclusion Act

1882

http://www.ushistory.org/us/38c.asp
The US Government passed legislation to make it very difficult for people of Chinese descent to become citizens.

The building of the Panama Canal

1903

http://www.ushistory.org/us/44g.asp
The Panama Canal connected the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, saving American businesses from having to go all the way around South America in their trips. Originally, the US treaty with Columbia to obtain land fell through, so the US supported the Panamanian revolution, afterwards forming a treaty with the Panamanian government.

American Isolationism

1914

http://www.ushistory.org/us/45.asp
For most of its history, America tried to "stay out" of all conflicts outside US borders. The US tried this during the first world war and the second world war but eventually did join both conflicts.

America enters World War I

Apr 6, 1917

http://www.ushistory.org/us/45.asp
Although the war began in 1914, America kept an isolationist policy until 1917 when they joined the allies. America joined primarily because of the Zimmerman Telegram. America's entrance into WWI was decisive for the ending of the war.

The Red Scare

1919

http://www.ushistory.org/us/47a.asp
Russia was full of political unrest after WWI, leading to a successful Communist revolution in Russia. As labor activism grew in the US, the fear of a Bolshevik Revolution occurring in America festered. America was terrified of Communism, brutally stamping out anything related to Communism. Many suspected Communists were arrested, and many American people reacted to labor unions in a violent manner.

Prohibition

1919

http://www.ushistory.org/us/46b.asp
The Eighteenth Amendment was ratified, and the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol were illegal. Prohibition was considered ineffective and was repealed only fourteen years after.

The Harlem Renaissance

1920

http://www.ushistory.org/us/46e.asp
The Harlem Renaissance was a period of great creativity. African-American poems, music (like jazz and blues), books, and productions (ex. "Shuffle Along") became noticed by white people. The white community could no longer ignore the black community.

Women Get the Right to Vote

Aug 26, 1920

http://www.ushistory.org/us/42c.asp
The nineteenth amendment was passed on August 26, 1920. This gave women the right to vote.

The Great Depression

1929

http://www.ushistory.org/us/48.asp
A host of economic problems resulted in the stock market crashing, leading the American economy into crumble. People lost everything, banks failed, and unemployment sky-rocketed. People became desperate to end their suffering, doing anything they could to make a couple dollars.

America enters World War II

Dec 8, 1941

http://www.ushistory.org/us/51.asp
After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, America joined the war the next day. President Roosevelt's address to Congress on December 8 1941 indicated that it was "obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago."

Japanese-American Internment

1942

http://www.ushistory.org/us/51e.asp
Over 127,000 United States citizens of Japanese ancestry were imprisoned in concentration camps. People were scared, fearful that Japanese-Americans would be spies for the Japanese government, even though many hadn't even been to Japan.

Little Rock Nine

Sep 3, 1957

http://www.ushistory.org/us/54c.asp
Nine African-American students enrolled in Central High School, a formerly all-white school. Arkansas Governor Faubus enlisted the National Guard to stop them from going in. People all over the nation began supporting integration and the Little Rock Nine as they witnessed the events on television.

Environmental Reform

1962

http://www.ushistory.org/us/57e.asp
After Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, came out in 1962, the general public's concern for the environment increased immensely.
President Johnson signed the Wilderness Protection Act, the Water Quality Act, and the Air Quality act as a response to public outcry.
More and more gave attention to the environment's health, resulting in media like Woodsy the Owl and more government acts.

Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society"

1964

http://www.ushistory.org/us/56e.asp
After the assassination of John F Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson was left to tie together unfinished work from the late president. After passing the promised Civil Rights Bill and the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, it seemed like Johnson's legacy would be one of domestic reform. But as tensions increased, he shifted his funds to the Vietnam War.

Roe v. Wade

Jan 22, 1973

http://www.ushistory.org/us/57d.asp
The United States Supreme Court ruled that states couldn't restrict abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy. This was a huge step forward for women's freedom over their own bodies, however, it is still controversial today.

Reaganomics

1980

http://www.ushistory.org/us/59b.asp
Ronald Reagon tried to fix the nation's "economic mess" by proposing tax cuts as well as increased military spending. The idea was that money would "trickle down" from the upper classes to the lower classes, however, Reaganomics tripled the nation's debt and harmed future generations.

The Creation of the Internet

1984

http://www.ushistory.org/us/60d.asp
The internet was developed by the US government in the 1970s and remained closed to the public until 1984. The internet has changed everything, and the public now uses it for everything.

Immediate Nuclear Forces Treaty

Dec 8, 1987

http://www.ushistory.org/us/59c.asp
The United States and the Soviet Union signed an arms control treaty requiring both parties to eliminate all nuclear missiles with 500 to 5,500-kilometer ranges. This was the first time the two superpowers had agreed on the elimination of an entire nuclear weapons class.

Operation Desert Storm

1990

http://www.ushistory.org/us/60a.asp
When Iraq invaded Kuwait (a major supplier of oil to the United States), America sent troops to neighboring Saudi Arabia and threatened to attack the Iraqi force if they didn't leave Kuwait. Iraq left Kuwait.

Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

Jun 26, 2015

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States
On June 26, 2015, bans on same-sex marriage were removed, and same-sex marriage was legalized in all fifty states.