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APUSH - Hour 4 Name _______________________________
Due Date April 8
Change & Continuity in American History Project
1. Colonial History Andy G.
1607-The first permanent English colony called Jamestown was established along the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.
1619-This was the first year slaves were brought to America or at the time the colonies.
1620-This is the year that the pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower and the Plymouth colony was established in Plymouth,
Massachusetts.
1636-The first legal code in North America is enacted in the Plymouth colony.
1639-The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut are established.
1647-The “witch hunt” takes place and 14 women are executed because of being accused of witch craft.
1649-Maryland Toleration Act was enacted in the Maryland colony. It was the first act in America to legally allow any type of
freedom of religion.
1676-The Native American and colonist war otherwise known as King Phillips war ends and Bacon’s Rebellion takes place.
1735-Era of the Great Awakening, first Methodist church was established in America.
1754-The French and Indian war also known as the seven years war begins.
1763-The French and Indian war ends with the French losing. Britain is now clearly the dominant super power in the world.
2. American Revolution Drew M.
1763: The Treaty of Paris - The Treaty of Paris ends the nine year French and Indian War in which the French would lose all of
their territory
1765: The Stamp Act and Quartering Act – the stamp act was a tax on printed materials and the quartering act required that
colonists provide quarters for British troops both of which angered the colonists and was a small park in the revolution
1767: The Townshend Acts – the Townshend Acts put a tax on glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea. Also this tax was made
payable at American ports unlike the Stamp Act
1770: The Boston Massacre – the Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770. The Boston Massacre was when a crowd of
people taunted a group of redcoats and the troops opened fire and killed or wounded eleven citizens. One of the first to die was
a man named Crispus Attucks
1773: The Boston Tea Party – The Boston Tea Party occurred on December 16, 1773. This event is when about a hundred
people disguised as Indians boarded ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston harbor.
1775: Battle of Lexington and Concord – These were the first two battles of the American Revolution and also called the shot
heard around the world.
1776: Declaration of Independence and Thomas Paine’s Common Sense – The Declaration of Independence was America
breaking away from Britain and Common Sense was Thomas Paine basically calling for war
1777: Battle of Saratoga: The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the American Revolution
1778: French-American Alliance – In the Treaty of Alliance between the United States and France, France sent their army and
navy in aid of the United States
1781: Yorktown – Yorktown is the place where the British and Cornwallis announced their surrender
1783: Treaty of Paris – The Treaty of Paris was signed this year between the British and the United States. The British also
recognized America’s independence
3. Confederation to Constitution Sarah W.
1781- Articles of Confederation:
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States of America and legally established the union of the
states. The Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to draft the Articles in June 1776 and the ratification process
was completed in March 1781, legally creating the "United States of America".
1783- Treaty of Paris:
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The Treaty of Paris was signed on the 3 of September, 1783, by the Congress of the Confederation and the King of Great
Britain, formally ending the American Revolutionary War between the Great Britain and the United States of America.
1786- Annapolis Convention:
The Annapolis Convention was a meeting at Annapolis, Maryland of 12 delegates from five states that called for a constitutional
convention. They produced a report which was sent to the Congress and to the states asking for a broader meeting to be held
the next May in Philadelphia. The result was the Philadelphia Convention held in 1787.
1787- Philadelphia Convention:
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The Philadelphia Convention (now also known as the Constitutional Convention) took place from May 25 to September 17 ,
1787, in Philadelphia. It was held to address problems with the Articles of Confederation following independence from Great
Britain. The Convention’s purpose was to revise the Articles of Confederation although the result was a brand new United States
Constitution.
1789- Judiciary Act of 1789:
The United States Judiciary Act of 1789 was adopted on September 24th, 1789 in the first session of the First United States
Congress. It established the U.S. federal judiciary system (The Supreme Court).
1790- The Compromise of 1790:
The Compromise of 1790 was the first of three political compromises made in the United States by the Northern and Southern
states in an effort to keep the Union together.
1791- Bill of Rights:
In the United States of America, the Bill of Rights is the name by which the first ten amendments to the United States
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Constitution and came into effect on December 15 , 1791. They established the basic rights of American citizens.
National Period Justin H.
The Constitution of the United States (1789) - The supreme law of the United States, the United States Constitution was
written and signed by 39 of the 55 Philadelphia Convention delegates. It provides the framework for the U.S. federal government
and for its relationship to the states, people, and all others. There are three main branches of government set up in the
constitution; a legislature (bicameral congress), an executive branch led by the President, and the judicial branch headed by the
Supreme Court. Of course the overall feeling in the Americans of the time was a new beginning and optimism for the future.
The Fugitive Slave Act (1793) - Guaranteed the right of a slaveholder to recover an escaped slave. It also allowed the states to
apprehend escaped fugitives from the law, which were not the same. Escaped slaves could be seized by any state and brought
before a magistrate and returned to their masters. This also made it illegal to aid an escaped slave to freedom and made the
escaped slaves fugitives for life. This gave the South a huge advantage in their desire of slavery and forced people who were
not necessarily for or against slavery to abide by the law if they had knowledge of an escaped slave, and made it more difficult
anti-slavery people to help escaped slaves.
The "XYZ Affair" (1797) - A relation between France and the U.S. that was bitter at best. France demanded major payments
from the U.S. as a condition for continuing bilateral peace negotiations which included 50,000 pounds sterling, a $100 million
loan from the U.S., a $250,000 personal bribe to the French foreign minister of the time, and a formal apology for comments
made by U.S. President John Adams. This little tiff between the two countries also led to an undeclared war called the Quasi
War which took place from 1798 to 1800.
The Louisiana Purchase (1803) - This was the U.S. purchase of the French Louisiana territory for a whopping amount of
$11,250,000 and a French debt cancelation of $3,750,000 bringing the total to $15 million, which in reality was a total steal on
America's part. The territory included in the purchase today covers all or part of 14 current U.S. states and two Canadian
provinces. This purchase doubled the size of America, and did it for a great price. This created a new goal of exploring new and
uncharted lands.
The Embargo Act of 1807 - A bill which banned trade between the U.S. and other nations. This bill also prevented many ships
from leaving American ports thus hindering exploration efforts. It was created in request of President Thomas Jefferson to try
and prevent American involvement in Napoleonic Wars. This Act can be attributed as the cause of an economic depression and
was unpopular and unenforceable. It was repealed in 1809. This made for a disliking of the administrative decisions in this time,
causing a desire for a situation of "sticking it to the man".
The War of 1812 - Fought between the U.S. and the British Empire, the War of 1812 lasted until 1815 and was fought chiefly on
the Atlantic Ocean and on the land, coasts and waterways of North America. Causes of the war can be traced to the series of
trade restrictions in 1807 in which Britain introduced to impede ongoing American trade with France, which was the mortal
enemy of Britain. Also the impressments of American citizens into the Royal Navy, and Britain's military support of the Native
Americans who were attacking American settlers moving into the Northwest. The struggle for independence in the country is not
yet over and Americans have the desire to end it for once and for all.
Burning of Washington (1814) - During the War of 1812, the British made an attack upon Washington, D.C. They destroyed
many public buildings including the White House by setting fire to them. This sent a message of fear to the U.S. citizens,
especially with the image of their capital burning to the ground, which made for a blast back to reality of how much more
powerful Britain was compared to the U.S.
Missouri Compromise (1820) - An agreement passed in 1820 between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the U.S.
Congress involving primarily the regulation of slavery in the western territories. This compromise prohibited slavery in the former
Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36°30' north except within the boundaries of the proposed state of Missouri. We see here
that it is a push by the government to keep the slavery dispute at a neutral level, but tensions still rose within the country.
Monroe Doctrine (1823) - This was a policy that stated that any increased efforts by European countries to colonize land or
interfere with states in the Americas would be viewed by the U.S. as acts of aggression requiring U.S. intervention. It also stated
that the U.S. would not interfere with existing European colonies nor in the internal concerns of European countries. This would
stop prevent disagreements on the decision of warfare if the U.S. was to ever be put in this situation.
The Election of 1828 - Andrew Jackson is elected president. Americans get "whipped into shape" with his legal tactics.
Tariff of 1828 - Also known as the "Tariff of Abominations" by its southern detractors, the Tariff of 1828 was a protective tariff
passed by Congress which was supposed to protect industry in the northern and southern U.S., which were being driven out of
business by low-priced European (particularly British) manufactured goods. This prompted the U.S. to put a tax on imported
goods. The South, however, was harmed by having to pay higher prices on goods the region did not produce. Basically the
South just got really whiney and angry, but what's new?
Tariff of 1832 - This was passed as a reduced tariff to fix the conflict from the tariff of 1828, yet there were still many
unsatisfactory feelings from the southerners at the time.
4. Sectionalism to Reconstruction Connor E.
1820: Sectionalism in the United States manifests itself in 1820 through the Missouri compromise and the difficulty in reaching
that agreement. The compromise came after years of disagreement between pro and anti slavery states as to which growing
territories would be admitted to the Union as slave states or free states. Missouri, as part of the compromise, was admitted as a
slave state. In turn. all future slavery was banned in the are of the Louisiana Territory, north of 36˚ 30’. The compromise lasted
34 years, although it left both sides dissatisfied as each made painful concessions. The great difficulty in coming to this
conclusion and the ill-feelings remaining afterward, show the growing sectionalism in the United States.
1832: The Nullification crisis occurs in 1832 when South Carolina resolves to essentially ignore federal law. The South
Carolinian ordinance stated that the state believed the tariff’s of 1828 and 1832 unconstitutional, and therefore they would not
apply within the state’s boundary’s. This insubordination is a clear representation of sectionalism rising within the union, as the
South begins to deny the authority of the federal government. The issue divided the White House itself as John C. Calhoun
sympathized with the nullifiers. The Force Bill sent federal troops to South Carolina, a beginning of violence between the
regions, and signifying the growing frustration between the two groups. They eventually reached a compromise, only after this
force was applied.
1846: It was in 1846 that the United States saw the annexation of Oregon as a territory after intense negotiations between the
U.S. and Britain. The compromise angered many Northerners who believed that southern members of government sold them
short by conceding more land to Britain in order to tip the free-slave state balance in their favor. The outbreak of the American-
Mexican war also caused sectional tensions between anti-slavery and pro-slavery groups. The territory in dispute was seen by
many as territory of the Mexican government, and war over it seemed to like to many, the south’s drive to increase their territory.
Sectionalism between the North and South was not the only case, many pro-expansionists also found themselves at odds with
those disagreeing with imperialistic ambitions.
1850: 1850 brought with it the controversial Compromise of 1850, which included the widely despised Fugitive Slave Law.
California was admitted as a free state, while New Mexico and Utah were left to popular sovereignty. The slave trade, although
not slavery itself, was outlawed in the District of Columbia. The Fugitive slave act, however, imposed stricter laws regarding run
away slaves. It denied them the right to a jury, and allowed anyone to be conscripted into the search for a runaway slave,
outraging abolitionists. The difficulty in reaching this compromise and the tension that remained still after testifies to the growing
sectionalism in the United States.
1852: The election of 1852 quickly evolved into a campaign against the two candidates’ personalities, Winfield Scott and
Franklin Pierce. The issue of slavery and it’s resulting sectionalism split the Whig party in two, eliminating any voting power it
may have been able to muster. This division eventually lead to the death of the Whig party, a victim of the growing sectionalism
in the United States.
1854: Stephen A. Douglas, a Democratic senator from Illinois, introduced the compromise that would become the Kansas-
Nebraska act. It admitted the two territories into the Union stating that their individual slavery status would be decided by popular
sovereignty. An effort to appease the growingly agitated factions, North and South, the act in fact frustrated both sides, as
Northerners saw it as a favorable to the South and vice versa. This frustration lead to the creation of the Republican party in the
North, further entrenching each side in their beliefs.
1857: 1857 brought the controversial Dred Scott decision. The Supreme court ruled that if a slave is brought into a free state or
territory, the slave will still remain under the ownership of their master. This infuriated abolitionists as it essentially legalized
slavery in all states, yet another blow after the Kansas Nebraska Act eliminated the boundaries established in 1850. The
decision split the democratic party and further infuriated both sides as the south grew frustrated with the North’s unwillingness to
follow the ruling.
1858: In 1858 a series of debates began between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, aptly named the “Lincoln-Douglas”
debates. These debates set the stage for Civil war politics as the topic of slavery and the Dred Scott decision was discussed. It
ended in a senate victory for Douglas, but left his party badly divided, and with the south a desire to abandon the Union. The
south did not appreciate his belief that popular sovereignty should overrule Supreme court decisions (Freeport Doctrine). They
did not appreciate Douglas’s opposition to the Lecompton Constitution for Kansas which did not sit well with Southern
Democrats either. The debates revealed the rising degree of separation between the north and the south, and created the
political climate in which Abraham Lincoln would be elected.
1859: John Brown, a rigid abolitionist who took his convictions very seriously, laid siege on Harper’s Ferry, an arms depository,
in hopes of gaining the needed supplies to mount a massive slave revolt. This event represents the beginning of the
sectionalism in the United States resulting in large scale violence, as federal troops fought John Brown to a bloody end.
1860: In this pivotal year, Abraham Lincoln emerges victorious in a four way presidential election, a candidate not even allowed
on the ballot in ten southern states. With this victory, South Carolina then seceded from the United States. In an attempt to calm
the south the Crittenden amendments were created, but was shot down by Lincoln since it allowed the extension of slavery. With
the lines of sectionalism clearly drawn, bloody conflict was imminent.
1863: The Emancipation Proclamation was drafted during this period, a clear attempt both to rid the United States of the evils of
slavery and serve a direct blow to the opposing section’s economy. At this point the views and ambitions of the two sections
could not be any more different.
1865: During this climatic war, the peak of sectionalism was reached, and General Lee’s surrender brought with it the falling
action of the Civil War plot, and the first step towards reconstruction.
1867: The Reconstruction Act was created in this year. The Reconstruction Act divided the South into 5 military districts and laid
out the requirements for re-admittance into the Union.
1877: In this year the process of Reconstruction was concluded, the Compromise of 1877 solving the presidential race deadlock
and removing federal troops from the last two southern states.
American Expansion Becca D.
Land Ordinance Act (1785)- The goal of this ordinance was to raise money by selling land in the territory in the west because
congress did not have the power to raise money by direct taxation of U.S. citizens. The act also established the foundation for
the Public Land Survey System- land was systematically surveyed into townships.
The Louisiana Purchase (1803)- The U.S. bought the Louisiana territory from the French, removing the French presence from
the Western border of the U.S.
The Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)- This resulted with Spain’s cession of East Florida and the Sabine Free State. Spain also gave
up any claims to the Oregon Country.
The Monroe Doctrine (1823)- This stated that European efforts to colonize land or interfere with states in the Americas would
be seen as acts of aggression which required U.S. intervention. It declared that the western hemisphere could no longer be
colonized by European countries, and the U.S. would not interfere with existing European colonies.
The Webster-Ashburton Treater (1842)- finalized the border between the United States and Canada, which was a British
colony during that time.
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The Annexation of Texas (1845)- Texas became the 28 state on December 29, 1845. President John Tyler signed a treaty of
annexation with Texas in April 1844, even though Mexico still claimed Texas. Mexico acknowledged the loss of Texas and New
Mexico in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which was signed on February 2, 1848.
Oregon Territory (1846)- Before 1846, the Oregon Country was controlled by the U.K. and the U.S. On June 15, 1846, the
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Oregon Treaty divided the territory at the 49 parallel. The San Juan Islands were also claimed and jointly occupied by the U.S.
and the U.K. from 1846-1872.
Mexican Cession (1848)- The Mexican-American War resulted in the capture of Mexican cession lands. The U.S. paid $15
million and paid claims made by American citizens against Mexico which amounted to $3 million. New Mexico was captured by
the U.S. Army in August 1846, and was administered separately from Texas.
The Gadsden Purchase (1853)- The United States bought a strip of land along the Mexican border for $10 million. The territory
was meant to be used for a southern transcontinental railroad.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Ostend Manifesto (1854)- The Kansas-Nebraska Act created the territories of Kansas and
Nebraska, repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, and allowed settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to determine whether or
not to allow slavery within their boundaries (popular sovereignty). Also in 1854, the Ostend Manifesto was created because the
U.S. wanted to buy Cuba from Spain. It implied the U.S. would declare war if Spain refused. The Ostend Manifesto became a
rallying cry for Northerners during Bleeding Kansas events, and was a setback for the Pierce Administration. This ended any
possibility of Cuba’s annexation until after the American Civil war. The Manifesto was never acted upon.
Annexation of Hawaii (1898)- American planters wanted to annex Hawaii in order to overcome the McKinley Tariff of 1890. a
minority of whites successfully revolted in 1893 and overthrew Queen Liliuokalani and gained control of Hawaii. President
Cleveland withdrew the treaty to annex Hawaii that was presented to the Senate because of the tension between Hawaii natives
and Americans. Hawaii was later annexed by a joint session in congress in 1898.
Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines, Wake Island, and American Samoa (1899)- Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines
were ceded by Spain after the Spanish-American War in the Treaty of Paris in 1898. Wake Island was annexed in 1899, and
American Samoa was occupied in 1899.
The Panama Canal (1903)- On November 6, 1903, Phillipe Bunau-Varilla, Panama’s ambassador to the U.S., signed the Hay-
Burnau Varilla Treaty. This granted rights to the U.S. to build and administer the Panama Canal. Under President Theodore
Roosevelt, the U.S. began working on the canal on May 4, 1904. The canal was completed in 1914 and formally opened on
August 15, 1914. The total death toll for the construction of the Panama canal was around 27,500 workers.
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18 & 19 Century Wars Tyler W.
1754 French and Indian War begins between Great Britain and France in the Ohio valley where Washington
emerged as a strong leader, the colonists were becoming more angered at the British, and later, the war developed into the
Seven Years War.
1763 French and Indian War (Seven years war) ends with the British control of Canada, the Proclamation line of 1763 was put
into place which angered the colonists even more, but most importantly the idea of revolution was sparked after the end of this
war.
1775 American Revolution was led by George Washington in the colonists fight for freedom; this would lead the colonies into
independence from Britain, making the United States of America.
1783 American Revolution ended by Treaty of Paris, where Britain recognized the colonies independence, a critical time in
History approached with the formation of a new republic.
1812 War between America and Britain was a small war (mostly fought on the seas and coast with only a few thousand deaths),
America tried to invade Canada, but failed, and the fall of the Federalist Party resulted after the war. However a second war for
independence seemed to be won and America still stood as a strong democratic nation.
1814 Treaty of Ghent signed ending the War of 1812, but the Battle of New Orleans was fought after the treaty was signed.
America was swept with strong nationalism and the era of good feelings began.
1846 Spanish-American war begins with the annexation of Texas which Mexico claimed to be its territory. War was declared on
the basis of (1) unpaid claims and (2) Slidell’s rejection to buy California from Mexico.
1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed ending Mexican-American War with the acquisition of the Mexican Cession.
1861 American Civil War begins with the firing of Fort Sumter. The civil war came about after the southern secession from the
union primarily because of states’ rights, but later was fought over slavery.
1865 American Civil War, the bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil, ends at Appomattox Court House, and later slavery
ended in the United States.
1898 In violation of the Monroe Doctrine, and of the supposed attack on the U.S.S Maine, America
declared war on Spain mainly to relieve the oppressed Cubans and to halt European expansion in the
Americas.
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5. 20 Century War Mike S-B.
1900
1917.) World War I – Zimmerman
telegram and unrestricted submarine
warfare brings the then-merchant US into
the war. Result: US becomes incredibly
wealthy and a superpower 1941.) World War II – Pearl Harbor
brings American entrance into the war, US
wins pivotal battles such as Midway and
D-Day. Atomic Bombs dropped on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki end the war in
1950.) Korean War – North Korea the pacific. Result: All superpowers
invades South crossing the 38th parallel. except US and USSR eliminated, US
Forces led by Douglass MacArthur dominates western hemisphere,
intervene and push past parallel. Chinese
insurgence forces a stalemate at parallel.
Result: Communism “stopped,” 36000+
US fatalities
1959.) Vietnam War – Communist
Vietnamese Viet Cong force out France at
1990.) Gulf War – Saddam Hussein’s Dienbienphu, forcing American intervention.
Iraq invades Kuwait, and an Guerilla war fought by both sides, with
international defense force moves into massive atrocities committed by both sides as
Kuwait to defend it. Combined task force well. Sparked the anti-war movement at
successfully repulses Iraqi advances. home. US forces pulled out, Viet Cong took
Result: Kuwait successfully defended, Saigon. Result: Vietnam reunified under
international sanctions put into place communist control, 50000+ US fatalities,
against Iraq, worsening of US-Iraq anti-war movement started.
relations.
2000
Immigration Katie M.
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): Following the Panic and the resulting depression of 1873, masses of immigrants came to the
United States in hopes of finding riches. People of the West Coast attributed declining wages and economic troubles to the
hated Chinese workers. To appease them, congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, halting Chinese immigration
into America.
Immigration Restriction League (1894): The members of the league felt it necessary to oppose the avalanche of supposedly
"undesirable immigrants" that were coming to the United States from southern and eastern Europe. Many people in the U.S. at
this time felt that these immigrants were threatening what they saw as the American way of life.
Gentlemen’s Agreement (1907): In 1906, San Francisco’s school board segregated the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean
students to make room for white students. The Japanese were insulted by this action and threatened war. President Roosevelt
invited the entire San Francisco Board of Education to the White House to settle the dispute. TR broke the deadlock and the
Californians were persuaded to repeal the segregation and to accept what came to be known as the “Gentlemen’s Agreement.”
The Japanese agreed to stop the flow of immigrants to the United States.
Immigration Act (1917): Increased the entry head tax to $8. People who were now excluded from the United States included:
"all idiots, imbeciles, feeble-minded persons, epileptics, insane persons; persons who have had one or more attacks of insanity
at any time previously; persons of constitutional psychopathic inferiority; persons with chronic alcoholism; paupers; professional
beggars; vagrants; persons afflicted with tuberculosis in any form or with a loathsome or dangerous contagious disease; persons
not comprehended within any of the foregoing excluded classes who are found to be and are certified by the examining surgeon
as being mentally or physically defective, such physical defect being of a nature which may affect the ability of such alien to earn
a living; persons who have been convicted of or admit having committed a felony or other crime or misdemeanor involving moral
turpitude; polygamists, or persons who practice polygamy or believe in or advocate the practice of polygamy; anarchists, or
persons who believe in or advocate the overthrow by force or violence of the Government of the United States
Emergency Quota Act (1921): The first of the series of laws passed during the “New Immigration” of the 1920s, restricting
newcomers from Europe in any given year to a definite quota of 3 %. This was pushed because of spreading of isolationist
Americans that felt they had no use for immigrants.
National Origins Act (1924): Also known as the Immigration act of 1924, replacing the Quota Act of 1921 and cutting quotas for
foreigners from 3% to 2%. This marked the end of unrestricted immigration to the United States. Congress abolished the
national-origins quota system in 1965.
National Origins Immigration Act (1929): The National Origins Act of 1929 used the following proportion to calculate the
number of people to be admitted yearly from each nation. The ratio was established as that nations ethnic population in the
United States in 1920 to 120 million, in regards to 150,000. In other words, if there were 60 million people from a certain country,
the yearly immigration ceiling from that country would be 75,000 people, preserving the ethnic ratio of the United States.
Immigration and Neutralization Act (1952): Kept limited immigration based on ethnicity, but made allowances in the quotas for
persons displaced by WWII and allowed increased immigration of European refugees. It also tried to keep people from
Communist countries from coming to the U.S. People suspected of being Communists could be refused entry or deported.
Immigration Act – Hart-Cellar Act (1965): This not only allows more individuals from third world countries to enter the US
(including Asians, who have traditionally been hindered from entering America), but also entails a separate quota for refugees.
Under the Act, 170,000 immigrants from the Eastern Hemisphere are granted residency, with no more than 20,000 per country.
One hundred twenty thousand immigrants from the Western Hemisphere, with no “national limitations,” are also to be admitted.
The significance of this bill was that future immigrants were to be welcomed because of their skills/professions, and not for their
countries of origin.
1980s-1990s Immigration: Immigration policies were further altered when the U.S. government granted amnesty (in 1986) to
illegal aliens, primarily Mexicans who had begun crossing the border in growing numbers in search of work.
6. Business
1791: Samuel Slater builds first US textile factory, which introduces factories, mass-produced products and factory labor to the
US.
1816: The Tariff of 1816 passes, which provides the federal government with money to give industrialists and raises the price on
imported goods to match the price of domestic goods.
1828: The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad begins construction, which is the first common carrier railroad ever constructed.
1832: Cyrus McCormick invents mechanical mower-reaper, which increases agricultural output exponentially.
1877: The Bell Telephone Company is formed, which provides the country with instant communication and connection through
the telephone.
1886: The American Federation of Labor is formed, which is one of the first labor unions to be formed in the United States in
order to protect laborers.
1887: The Interstate Commerce Act passes, which protected consumers from railroad companies that shipped products. This
made buying and transporting goods easier.
1890: The Sherman Antitrust Act passes, which serves to protect consumers from trusts and monopolies.
1902: The American Automobile Association is founded, which kicks off a new era of automobile industry.
1903: Ford Motor Company is founded, which provides cars for transportation in America and kicked off the automobile industry.
1906: The Hepburn Act passes, which increases the power of the Interstate Commerce Committee and the Interstate Commerce
Act, giving consumers even more protection when buying goods.
1913: Ford introduces the assembly line, which allows factories to produce a lot more product at a much faster rate.
1914: Federal Trade Commission is created, whose purpose is to protect consumers from monopolies. This was the first
organization tasked with this job.
1930: The 1st U.S. Supermarket, King Kullen, opens, which is the first multi-purpose store created.
1939: The 1st Commercial on Television is broadcast, which opens up a whole new door to advertising and increases product
awareness and sales.
Agriculture Kevin A.
1619- The first African slaves are brought to Virginia; this started the movement of agriculture from indentured servants to slave
labor.
1793-Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin, which revolutionizes the cotton farming and increases the demand for slave labor in the
South. It also caused the economy of the South to rely almost solely on cotton.
1834-John Lane starts making plows with steel blades. This made plowing fields much faster and easier.
1862- The U.S. Department of Agriculture was founded. This oversaw all farming activity and was responsible for enforcing laws
about farming.
1867- The American Agricultural Movement demonstrates at Washington protesting for more rights and protections for farmers.
1877- The U.S. Entomological Commission was founded to work on ways to control grasshoppers that were eating Midwest
farmers’ crops.
1878-John Wesley Powell states in a report to Congress that most of the land west of the Mississippi is arid. He said that most of
this arid land cannot be farmed using traditional methods without massive irrigation.
1886- The Great Plains are hit with a heavy drought and due to overgrazing as much as 60% of the total cattle population in the
Plains die as a result
1887- The worst storm of all the blizzards in the north Great Plains lasts for 72 hours and kills millions of cattle and farmers living
in the area.
1890- New farm technology arrives and makes the American farm mush more mechanical and efficient.
1892- John Froelich built the first gasoline tractor
1920s- There was a huge migration of the population away from farms and agriculture. People went to the cities to look for jobs
and to be in the center of culture. As a result, for the first time in American history more people lived in the cities than on farms.
1933- To help aid farmers, who were hit very hard by the Depression, FDR created the Agricultural Adjustment Act in 1933,
which paid the farmers to eliminate excess cattle.
1961- There was wayyyy too much wheat being grown. Billions of bushels were left over and wheat prices went way down, so
farmers were losing a lot of money.
Labor Justin M.
1869- Knights of Labor- Formed in 1869 and led by Terrence V. Powderly. They sought to include all workers in one big union
and campaigned for economic and social reform, including codes for safety and health.
1886- Haymarket square massacre- Police tried breaking up a strike called to protest against brutalities by authorities. A bomb
was thrown which killed many civilians and authorities. The Knights of Labor were blamed for the strike which eventually led to
their downfall.
American Federation of Labor- Founded in 1886 and led by Samuel Gompers. This consisted of an association of self-governing
national unions and sought for better wages, hours, and working conditions.
1892- Homestead strike- Began June 30, 1892 as an industrial lockout and strike between strikers and private security agents. It
occurred in Pittsburgh as a dispute between Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers and the Carnegie Steel
Company. The union was defeated and setback the efforts to unionize steel.
1894- Pullman strike- The Pullman strike was a nationwide conflict between labor unions and the railroads when employees of
Pullman Palace Car Company began a strike in response to wage reductions.
1902- Coal Strike- Coal miners in Pennsylvania demanded a 20% raise in pay and a decrease in workday from ten to nine
hours. President Roosevelt was forced to act. He threatened to operate the mines with federal troops. A deal was soon struck
with the coal miners to receive a 10% pay increase and a shorter workday.
1914- Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914- This act enabled a presidentially chosen commission to oversee industries
engaged in interstate commerce.
Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914- lengthened list of business practices that were deemed objectionable. Also, it sought to exempt
labor and agricultural organizations from anti-trust prosecution while legalizing strikes and picketing.
1935- Works Progress Administration- Provided employment on useful projects such as construction of buildings and roads, and
even painting murals.
Collapse of the NRA- The NRA was designed to assist industry, labor, and the unemployed. The NRA collapsed in 1935 with the
Supreme Court’s Schechter decision.
Resettlement Administration- In 1935 this administration was set up to move near farmless farmers to better lands.
Wagner Act- This law created a powerful National Labor Relations Board and reasserted the rights of labor to engage in self-
organization and to bargain collectively through representatives.
Committee for Industrial Organization- The CIO led a series of strikes including a sit-down strike at the General Motors factory.
1938 – Second Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938- continued conservation payments, if farmers obeyed acreage restrictions on
specific commodities they would be eligible for parity payments.
Fair Labor Standards Act- Industries involved in interstate commerce were to set up minimum-wage and maximum-hour levels,
labor by children under age 16 was forbidden.
1947- Taft-Hartley Act- Outlawed the “closed” shop, made unions liable for damages that resulted from jurisdictional disputes
among themselves, and required union leaders to take a noncommunist oath.
1981- PATCO strike- The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization declared a strike, in 1981, seeking better working
conditions, pay, and a 32 hour work week. Reagan declared the strike as a peril to national safety and ordered them back to
work under the terms of the Taft-Hartley Act.
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19 Century Supreme Court Mackenzie C.
1803- Marbury v. Madison- It established the concept of judicial review. The courts could oversee and nullify actions of another
branch of government.
1819- McCulloch v. Maryland- The suit involved an attempt by the state of Maryland to destroy a branch of the Bank of the
United States. The Supreme Court decided that a branch of the Bank of the United States was constitutional by the Hamiltonian
doctrine.
1824- Gibbons v. Ogden- The United States Supreme Court held that the power to regulate interstate commerce was granted to
Congress by the Commerce Clause of the United States.
1832- Worcester v. Georgia- The United States Supreme Court decided that the Cherokee Native Americans were entitled to
federal protection from the actions of state governments that would inflict on the tribes sovereignty.
1857- Dred Scott v. Sandford- It was a decision by the United States Supreme Court that ruled people of African descent
imported into the United States and held as slaves, or their descendants were not protected by the Constitution and could never
be citizens of the United States. It also held that the United States Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in federal
territories.
1866- Ex parte Milligan- The United States Supreme Court ruled that the application of military tribunals to citizens when civilian
courts are still operating is unconstitutional.
1886- Wabash v. Illinois- This Supreme Court decision severely limited the rights of states to control interstate commerce. It
also led to the creation of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
1896- Plessy v. Ferguson- The United States Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation even in public
places (particularly railroads), under the doctrine of "separate but equal".
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7. 20 Century Supreme Court Eric E
1904: The US Supreme Court upheld the government’s dissolution of the Northern Securities Company in 1904. In March 1904,
the Supreme Court, by a five-to-four decision, declared that Northern Securities was a trust; an unfair business
operation that overwhelmed competition.
1908: Muller v. Oregon: justified both sex discrimination and usage of labor laws during the time period. The case upheld
Oregon state restrictions on the working hours of women as justified by the special state interest in protecting
women's health.
1936: This was FDR’s attempt to restructure the courts to favor his New Deal policy. He tried to pass a law enabling him to
select a new justice for every already-existing one over the age of 70 that wouldn’t retire. It failed miserably.
1944: The Supreme Court upheld the legality of Executive Order 9066, which ordered Japanese citizens into internment camps
across the US during World War II.
1954: Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka: The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the state laws establishing
separate public schools for black and white students and denying black children equal educational opportunities
unconstitutional. This overruled the Plessy v. Ferguson case of 1896.
1962: The Supreme Court ruled that the New York-sponsored reading of a nondenominational prayer at the start of the school
day violated the "establishment of religion" clause of the First Amendment. This was the first in a series of cases in
which the Court used the establishment clause to eliminate religious activities of all sorts, which had traditionally
been a part of public ceremonies.
1963: Gideon vs. Wainwright: The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that it was a constitutional right to have an attorney
appointed to you if you could not afford to provide your own. This overruled their 1942 decision of Betts v. Brady.
1966: Miranda v. Arizona: The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that those arrested of a crime have a right to be notified of their basic
rights, such as the right to an attorney present during interrogation, and the right to remain silent.
1971: New York Times v. United States: (aka the Pentagon Papers case) ruled 6-3 that the Nixon administration’s previous effort
to stop the New York Times’ publishing of certain “classified information” was unconstitutional and violated the
First Amendment.
1973: Roe v. Wade: The Supreme Court ruled that a woman's right to an abortion fell within the right to privacy (recognized in
Griswold v. Connecticut) protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. The decision gave a woman total autonomy
over the pregnancy during the first trimester and defined different levels of state interest for the second and third
trimesters. As a result, the laws of 46 states were affected by the Court's ruling.
1974: Nixon v. United States: The Court held that neither the doctrine of separation of powers, nor the generalized need for
confidentiality of high-level communications, can sustain an absolute, unqualified, presidential privilege to withhold information.
The Court granted that there was a limited executive privilege in areas of military or diplomatic affairs, but gave preference to
"the fundamental demands of due process of law in the fair administration of justice."
Domestic Agenda: Megan L.
Henry Clay – American System
1820- Missouri Compromise ~ Maine free state and Missouri a slave state, established 36° 30’
1850- Compromise of 1850 ~ admission of California as a free state, Utah and New Mexico without slavery provisions,
prohibition of slave trade in District of Columbia.
Polk – Expansionism
1845- Texas admitted into Union
1848- Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ~ peace treaty ended Mexican-American war. With treaty acquired California, Nevada, Utah,
most of Arizona, parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming
Theodore Roosevelt
1905- Monroe Doctrine ~ allows United States to “exercise international policy power”
1906- Meat Inspection Act ~ banned misleading labels and preservatives having harmful chemicals
1907- Gentleman’s Agreement ~ banned all school segregation
Wilson
1913- Federal Reserve System ~ is the central banking system of the United States, Underwood Tariff 40% to 25%.
1916- Federal Farm Loan Board ~ this policy provided low-cost long-term mortgages to farmers
Herbert Hoover
1930- Hawley-Smoot Tariff ~ this tariff raised tariffs on thousands of imported goods
1932- Emergency Relief and Construction Act ~ provided money for public works programs; Reconstruction Finance Corporation
~ gave government loans to financial institutions, railroads, and farmers.
FDR – New Deal
1933- Emergency Banking Act ~ a plan to close down some banks and reorganize and re-open banks that would survive; New
Deal Agencies: CCC, Reconstruction Finance Corporation, AAA, NIRA
1934- WPA, National Relief Agency, Social Security Act made Social Security
Eisenhower – continued New Deal, including Social Security
1956- Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956
1957- “Eisenhower Doctrine”
JFK- internationalism
“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”
1962 – Cuban Missile Crisis
LBJ- Great Society Program
1964- Civil Rights Act ~ outlawed most forms of racial segregation
1965- Great Society Program goal: eliminate poverty and racial injustice, programs in education, Medical care, urban problems,
and transportations.
Reagan – “Reaganomics”
1981 – “Reaganomics” reduce government spending, reduce income and capital gains, marginal tax rates, reduce government
regulation of economy, control supply to reduce inflation.
8. 1987 – “War on Drugs” $1.7 billion to fight drugs, Nancy Reagan’s main cause as the First Lady, “Just Say No.”
Economic Health Melissa R.
1819~ Panic of 1819 was the end of the Era of Good Feelings. It was caused by over speculation in the west and to many the
bank was considered the devil. It resulted in deflation, depression, bankruptcies, bank failures, unemployment, and debtor’s
prisons.
1837~ Panic of 1837 was caused by over speculation (get rich quick), the Bank War, Specie Circular, and crop failures. Results
were bank collapses, price and revenue drops which eventually lead to the Divorce Bill. Blamed on President Martin Van Buren
1857~ Panic of 1857 was the result of gold inflated currency and over speculation. Many banks and businesses failed while
unemployment was high and northern agriculture was slumping. Proposed solutions were protection for farmers and higher
tariffs.
1873~ There was a crash of gold premiums that lead to a 7 year depression, also caused by bad loans made by banks and all
credit went downhill. Many people lost their savings as they crashed into the banks for their money. There was severe inflation
and all currency was changed to silver.
1893~ Panic of 1893 was caused by the failure by railroad companies (railroad bubble similar to today’s housing bubble) and
inflation of silver. There was sever depression with a great spike in unemployment and bank failures, many people lost their
savings. The Populist Party rose in favor of labor rights, examples are Coxey’s army and the Pullman Strike.
1920’s~ The era was called the Roaring Twenties after a brief recession from 1920-1921, there was mass consumption with
new technologies and inventions, and urbanization. It was a time of prosperity until the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Was caused
mainly by stock speculation, overproduction, easy credit, and unequal distribution of wealth. Many people lost all their money
which lead to the Great Depression.
1930’s~ The Great Depression Era personal income, tax revenue, profits and prices dropped, and international trade dropped
by a half to two-thirds with unemployment rising to 25%. Deepest depression that touched almost the whole world. FDR’s New
Deal set up many programs to help stimulate economy.
1940’s~ Great Depression ends with WWII. The war industry booms bringing back many jobs to stimulate economy back to
health, post war production doubles from pre war levels. WWII created stability in the economy leading into the 1950’s.
1970’s~ Economic growth rates lowered considerably during this time, and manufacturing industries began to decline. There
was also higher inflation than previous years. Oil crises also peaked, with rationing of oil, which effected the economy greatly.
1980’s~ Reagan created economic failure with expanding the debt by tax reduction and increased military spending. There was
great debt the median famlily income dropped, called “ Reaganomics”
1990’s~ There was much economic expansion during this time, especially at the end of the Clinton presidency. Poverty reduced
while the stock exchange grew and productivity rose. Globalization grew also with an increase of productivity.
Political Parties Leo F.
1792: The first political parties were formed in 1792. The Federalist Party, formed by Alexander Hamilton, and the Democratic-
Republican Party, formed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, were the first two parties.
1816: This election marked the start of the death of the Federalist Party. By 1820 they would not exist any longer as a political
party.
1824: The election of 1824 is known as the “Corrupt Bargain”. Parties were virtually irrelevant, as all four candidates were
Democratic-Republicans, and the election was settled, for the first time, in the House.
1828: This election marked the forming of the National Republican Party, led by John Q. Adams, and the Democratic Party, led
by Andrew Jackson. The National Republican Party did not do so well in the election, losing the Andrew Jackson.
1840: This election marked the coming to power of the Whig Party when William Henry Harrison won the vote. The Whig Party
replaced the National Republican party.
1848: The Free Soil Party was formed. This was not the first independent third party formed, but it was the first to advocate for
less slavery in the U.S.
1860: The Democrats Split into Northern and Southern Democrats because of North/South tensions. Return of Republican
power because of this split.
1892: This election marked the beginning of the Populist Party. The Populist Party rallied against large scale agriculture which
would put them out of business.
1912: This was the formation of the Progressive Party under Theodore Roosevelt. The Progressive Party formed because
Roosevelt did not like what was happening in the government and he wanted to “fix” it.
1936: Franklin Roosevelt was elected and the Democratic Party had almost complete control of the government. T his was the
start of the conservative and liberal ideas that we have today.
1948: This election marked the formation of the States’ Rights Democratic Party, also known as Dixiecrats. They were in support
of conserving the “Southern” way of life because the government was leaning towards desegregation.
1968: This election marked the formation of the American Independence Party. They were a segregationist party formed in
response to the civil rights movement.
9. Native-Americans Kseniya Z.
1763 – Proclamation of 1763; It prohibited colonists from crossing west of the Appalachians. Also acknowledged lands of the
Natives and white settlers were to be removed from their area.
1828 – Treaty with Potawatami; The tribes give land to the U.S. near Lake Michigan. Money was given to the Natives to
compensate their loss.
1838 – Trail of Tears; General Scott with the U.S. Army invades the Cherokee Nation and pushes out all of the Cherokee west.
1864 – Colorado War; Militia man Chivington of U.S. launch campaign of violence against Cheyenne and their allies. Attacked all
and razed villages. Due to Gold Rush because whites move west but Natives refuse to move therefore many outburst of
violence.
1867 – Treaty of Medecine Lodge; A set of three treaties between U.S. and various Native American groups like the Kiowa and
Commanche in October. It assigned reservations of diminished size to the tribes.
1871 – Dawes Act; Division of tribally held lands into individually owned parcels. Also opened “surplus” lands to settlement by
non-Indians and for railroad construction.
1890 – Wounded Knee Massacre or Battle of Wounded Knee; Last armed conflict between Sioux and U.S. December 29, 365
troops of the U.S. with guns surround Sioux camp. Miscommunication between gunfire leads to the U.S. shooting and killing all
but a few of the Sioux.
1924 – Indian Citizenship Act; Granted full U.S. citizenship to Natives. Proposed by Homer R. Snyder of New York.
1932 – Hopi and Navajo Native American Census.
1953 – House Concurrent Resolution; Announce federal termination of relations with Menominee and Klamath tribes. Passed
the act on tribe by tribe basis. Included the end of federal recognition and federal aid.
1969 – Occupation of Alcatraz; By group “Indian of All Tribes” (IAT) which lasted for 19 months. Wanted to build a center for
Native American studies, American Indian Spiritual Center, Ecology Center and an American Indian Museum.
1973 – American Indian Movement (AIM); An organization started in MN by Russel Means. Formed to address issues
concerning Native Americans like poverty, housing, treaties, and police harassment. Had a standoff at Wounded Knee, South
Dakota in memory of the Wounded Knee Massacre.
African-Americans Andrew D.
1619
Nineteen Africans are shipped to Jamestown, Virginia, on Dutch ships, as indentured servants.
1793
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 was passed to enforce the constitutional clause of escaped slaves. The act allowed a slave
owner to seize an escaped slave, present the slave before a federal or local judge, prove that the slave was theirs’, and retake
the slave. A person hiding an escaped slave could be fined up to $500.
1808
Although the Constitution prohibited Congress from abolishing the slave trade before 1808, individual states were free to ban
slavery whenever they pleased. New Jersey and Rhode Island were first, then came Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York
soon following. By 1806, South Carolina was the only state that had not banned the slave trade. After many years of debate over
slavery, Congress bans the importation of slaves from Africa in 1808.
1857
The Dred Scott case outcome from 1957 said that Congress did not have the right to ban slavery in states and also that
slaves were not citizens. It also struck down the Missouri Compromise as unconstitutional, because it deprived slave
owners of their right to take their “property” (slaves) anywhere in the United States.
1859
John Brown and 21 followers capture the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, in an attempt to launch a slave revolt, but the
attack failed. Within 36 hours, Brown's men had fled or been killed or captured by local farmers, militiamen, and U.S. Marines
led by Robert E. Lee.
1863
President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring "that all persons held as slaves" within the
Confederate states "are, and henceforward shall be free."
1865-1870
During the time, the “Reconstruction Amendments” or “Civil War Amendments” were passed. These three amendments,
the 13th, 14th, and 15th, all helped African Americans gain more civil rights. The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery.
The Fourteenth Amendment gave the basic rights to African Americans, and finally the Fifteenth Amendment granted voting
rights regardless of race or color.
1896
Plessy v. Ferguson was a landmark Supreme Court decision that held racial segregation as constitutional. It was started by
a man named Homer Plessy who boarded a train that was specifically only for white people. It paved the way for the
repressive Jim Crow laws in the South in the future.
1910
W.E.B. Debois forms the NAACP and writes The Crisis, which was a journal that called for increased political representation
for blacks in order to guarantee civil rights.
1920s
The Ku Klux Klan was a racist group that operated in over twenty-seven states in America with memberships over 4.5 million
members by 1924. The Harlem Renaissance also flourishes in the 1920s and 1930s. It accepted literary, artistic, and
intellectual movements of African Americans, and fostered a new black cultural identity.
1954
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kans. declares that racial segregation in schools is unconstitutional
1957
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), a civil rights group, is established by Martin Luther King. Also in
1957, Ovral Faubus, governor of Arkansas, sent the National Guard to prevent 9 black students from enrolling at Central High
School. Eisenhower sent troops to escort the kids to class.
1963
Martin Luther King is arrested and jailed during anti-segregation protests in Birmingham, Alabama. He is eventually released,
and gives his “I Have A Dream” speech in Washington where about 250,000 people attend, making it the largest
demonstration ever seen in the nation's capital.
1964
President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act which prohibited discrimination of all kinds based on race, color, religion, or
national origin. Martin Luther King also receives a Nobel peace prize.
1965
Malcolm X, a black nationalist, is assassinated. Congress also passes the Voting Rights Act of 1965, making it easier for
Southern blacks to register to vote.
1970s
Milliken v. Bradley in 1974 blindsided school integrationists when it ruled the desegregation plans could not require students to
move across school-district lines. African American civil rights movement dies down when Martin Luther King Jr. is no longer
around.
10. Women Grace C.
Republican Motherhood— the patriotic ideals and roles of women which centered on the belief that children should be
raised to uphold the ideals of republicanism, creating the ideal citizens of the new nation. It put a strong emphasis on
civic duty and education.
Cult of Domesticity was the idea of women’s place in the home it had four main values for women to live by: piety, purity,
submission, and domesticity. The movement was especially encouraged by the Industrial Revolution and saw a revival
during the 1950’s.
1848— The first women's rights convention is held in Seneca Falls, New York. A set of 12 resolutions is adopted calling
for equal treatment of women and men under the law and voting rights for women.
1869—Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton form the National Woman Suffrage Association. The primary goal
of the organization is to achieve voting rights for women by means of a Congressional amendment to the Constitution.
1893—Colorado is the first state to adopt an amendment granting women the right to vote
1896—The National Association of Colored Women is formed, bringing together more than 100 black women's clubs
1916—Margaret Sanger opens the first U.S. birth-control clinic in Brooklyn, N.Y.
1920—The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote.
1920—the feminine liberation movement had a strong effect on women's fashions, the corset was discarded, and a new
era of sexual freedom for women started.
1928—the Inter-American Commission of Women (IACW) was established to study the civil and political status of
women in the Americas.
1963—Betty Friedan publishes her highly influential book The Feminine Mystique, which describes the dissatisfaction
felt by middle-class American housewives with the narrow role imposed on them by society.
1963—Congress passes the Equal Pay Act, making it illegal for employers to pay a woman less than what a man would
receive for the same job.
1964--Title VII of the Civil Rights Act bars discrimination in employment on the basis of race and sex. At the same time it
establishes the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to investigate complaints and impose penalties.
1966The National Organization for Women (NOW) is founded by a group of feminists including Betty Friedan. The
largest women's rights group in the U.S., NOW seeks to end sexual discrimination, especially in the workplace, by
means of legislative lobbying, litigation, and public demonstrations.
1972--The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. Originally
drafted by Alice Paul in 1923, the amendment reads: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by
the United States or by any State on account of sex." The amendment died in 1982 when it failed to achieve ratification
by a minimum of 38 states.
1973--As a result of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court establishes a woman's right to safe and legal abortion.
1982—Ratification efforts for an Equal Rights Amendment fail.
1982—Brenda Berkman begins her career as a New York City firefighter after winning a federal sex discrimination
lawsuit
1989—Over 600,000 marchers demonstrated for women's reproductive rights in Washington, D.C.
1989—Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, the Supreme Court upheld a Missouri statute that said that human life
began at conception, barred the use of public funds for abortion, prohibited abortions at public health facilities and
required physicians to test for fetal viability after the 19th week of pregnancy.
11. Literature Kaitlyn A.
1776- Classical Era: Writers focused on traditional values and writing with a definite purpose.
Thomas Paine- Common Sense (1776)- This political pamphlet got many Americans to consider complete separation
from the British crown.
Declaration of Independence (1776)- Sent to the King of England, it told the King that US no longer wanted to be under
colonial rule. It exemplifies typical classical writing characteristics.
Thomas Paine- An American Crisis (late 1770s)- Another political pamphlet that focuses on soldier’s struggles at Valley
Forge while their neighbors are selling out to the British for money.
1787- Writing of Constitution- Another piece of classical literature
Olaudah Equiano- The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano (1789)- The first American novel that focuses on
describing the evils of slavery.
1825-1863- Romanticism: Focused on celebrating the individual, self-expression, and emotion rather than facts or logic.
(Includes two offshoots: transcendentalism and American gothic).
William Lloyd Garrison- The Liberator (1831) is first published, focusing on slavery, displaying the tension between
different regions of the country.
1832- Louisa May Alcott is born, later becoming one of the earlier female figures in American literature.
Knickerbocker Magazine (1833) begins publishing, starting off the magazines’ widespread circulation and general
informing kick.
1835-1860- Transcendentalism- Focused on harmony between humans and nature, discovering one’s “true self” and living true
to that, and the inherent goodness of all humans. Common authors: Emerson, Thoreau.
1835-1860- American Gothic- Focuses on motives behind reasons, bizarre and often violent situations, and the darker side of
human nature. Common authors: Hawthorne, Poe, Melville.
1835- Mark Twain born, later giving life to the American realism movement.
1835- Short stories of Edgar Allen Poe publish, recognizing the beginning of the American Gothic movement.
1836- Transcendental Club forms as transcendentalist idea begin to popularize.
Ralph Waldo Emerson- Self-Reliance (1841) stresses individuality, reflecting rugged individualism within the US.
Edgar Allen Poe- “The Raven” (1845)- Poe continues to focus on the distorted mentality of the individual as this poem
popularizes.
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Margaret Fuller- Women of the Nineteenth Century (1845)- Fuller is one of the first to focus on 19 century status of the
American woman.
Frederick Douglass- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845)- A direct novel focusing directly on the troubles of
slavery as the abolitionist views popularize and the US drifts toward the Civil War.
Henry David Thoreau- Civil Disobedience (1849)- Explores the individual’s role in keeping a government fair.
Nathaniel Hawthorne- The Scarlet Letter (1850) marks the continuation of writing in the gothic style.
Herman Melville- Moby Dick (1851)- continuation of American gothic.
Harriet Beecher Stowe- Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) causes society to explode into abolitionist fever as it sells one million
copies in one year.
Walt Whitman- Leaves of Grass (1855) marks the appearance of sensuality in common literature.
1857- Atlantic Monthly begins publishing, continuing to inform readers of all regions.
Abraham Lincoln- “Gettysburg Address” (1863)- Lincoln gives one of the world’s most renowned speeches.
1865-1910- Realism: Marks the end of romanticism and its two sections because people no longer wanted to celebrate anything
after the Civil War. Realism emphasizes possible situations and an objective point of view. Common authors: Mark Twain.
Louisa May Alcott- Little Women (1868) focuses on thoughts and feelings of women.
1873- Mark Twain coins the term “the Gilded Age”, depicting common opinions on the times.
Mark Twain- Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) focus on everyday
situations in the south, debating racism and morality.
Emily Dickinson- Poems (1890) published after her death, marking first American female poet.
Jacob Riis- How the Other Half Lives (1890) focuses on corruption, the widening gap between rich and poor, and how
the masses truly live.
1893- 1914- Naturalism: Anti-romanticism off shooting from realism focusing on human’s inability to bend nature or control
outside forces. Common authors: Stephen Crane, Theodore Dreiser.
Stephen Crane – Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (1893) becomes the first brutally honest fiction, astonishing Americans
with gruesome depictions on street life.
1893- McClure’s Magazine begins publishing, eventually turning into a muckraking source.
Stephen Crane- Red Badge of Courage (1895) explores courage during the Civil War era.
Kate Chopin- The Awakening (1899) was a shocking novel that brought out silenced components of femininity.
Theodore Dreiser- Sister Carrie (1900) has a similar effect to Crane’s Maggie.
Ida Tarbell exposes US oil in McClure’s- History of the Standard Oil Company (1902)
Upton Sinclair- The Jungle (1902) focuses on the meat packing industry in Chicago, prompting Roosevelt to take
regulatory action.
Lincoln Steffens- The Shame of the Cities (1902) focuses on the poor masses in the cities, displaying unevenness in
social classes.
1906- Muckraking exposes showcase progressive journalism.
Ray Baker- The Railroads on Trial
David Phillips- Treason of the Senate
1910- Death of Mark Twain, symbolizing the end of American realism.
Jane Addams- Twenty Years at Hull House (1910) is a reflection of the settlement house movement during this time
period.
1915- Robert Frost begins publishing poems, marking the transition into modern poetry.
1917- Pulitzer prizes established, crediting talented authors.
1920-1930- Lost Generation: These post WW I authors focused on the loss of traditional values in the 1920s and the despair
that many Americans still felt from the devastations of WW I. Common authors: F Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway,
William Faulkner.
1923- 1935- Harlem Renaissance: African American authors expressed themselves and finally received attention. Common
Authors: Langston Hughes
F Scott Fitzgerald- The Great Gatsby (1925) criticizes the shallowness and concerns of prohibition-filled America in the
roaring twenties.
Ernest Hemingway- The Sun Also Rises (1926) exemplifies common lost generation themes.
Langston Hughes- The Weary Blues (1926) expresses troubles of being an African American, focusing on Harlem
Renaissance values.
William Faulkner- The Sound and The Fury (1929) focused on the US’s labor dispute-rich society.
John Steinbeck- The Grapes of Wrath (1939) stresses differences between social classes and the need for organized
labor .
1945-2006- Post-modernism: Capitalizes on serious themes mixed with surprising humor. Common authors: Harper Lee,
Truman Capote.
John D Salinger- The Catcher and the Rye (1950) shocked Americans with its depiction of teenage culture on the
1950s.
1957-1963- Beat Generation: Praised individual freedom and attacked materialism, militarism, and consumerism in society.
Harper Lee- To Kill A Mockingbird (1960) attacks racial stereotypes and unfairness in southern society.
1963- Robert Frost dies after sparking the modern poetry movement.
Hunter Thompson- Fear and Loathing in Vegas (1971) analyzes disappearing social values and the use of recreational
drugs.
1974- Nixon’s farewell address after he resigns the presidency in disgrace, stating that he had made some “judgments”
that were “wrong”.
12. American Art & Architecture Molly S.
Paul Revere- (1735-1818) Engraved a scene, called a chromolithograph, of the Boston Massacre. The picture showed
Americans being brutally treated and became propaganda that justified Americans fight against the British.
John Singleton Copley- (1738-1815) He was known as a Loyalist during the Revolutionary war. When he returned to England to
complete his studies as an artist, he became the official court painter there. He is famous for a painting of Paul Revere. In this
picture he challenged the conventional style by portraying an artisan in working clothes. This reflected a new democratic spirit.
He is also well known for the “Copley Family Portrait”.
George Catlin- (1796-1872) He was one of the first to advocate for the preservation of nature as a national policy. The majority
of his paintings showed landscape and often Native Americans who were found in the area where he was painting at the time.
He proposed the creation of national parks as well.
Thomas Jefferson- (1743-1826) He designed the architecture of the University of Virginia. He was known as the “architect of
revolution”. He brought back the classical designs of the Greek and Romans to the United States. He also created many other
inventions that continue to be used in architecture today.
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Hudson River School- The school was a mid 19 century movement by a group of landscape painters. They were greatly
influenced by the romanticism movement. They depicted the Hudson River Valley and also reflected three American themes:
discovery, exploration, and settlement.
Matthew Brady- (1822-1896) He took Civil War photographs that brought the images of war to people near and far from the
battles. He is said to be the father of photo journalism. He also photographed president and celebrities.
Thomas Nast- (1840-1902) He was a caricaturist and did editorial cartoons. Often these involved politicians of the time. He is
said to be the father of the American cartoon.
John A. Roebling- (1806-1869) He was a civil engineer who is most famous for his designs of wire rope suspension bridges. He
designed the Brooklyn Bridge. His work was devoted to improving river navigation and canal building.
Louis Sullivan- (1856-1924) He greatly contributed to the design of skyscrapers. He supplied the idea that “form follows
function”. He allowed many steel skeleton high rises to be built in places such as Chicago. He is known as the most famous
architect of the age.
Frank Lloyd Wright- (1867-1959) He designed architecture with the materialism and functionalism idea of the time. He helped
advance the theory that buildings should grow from their sites rather than imitating Greek and Roman styles.
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Modernism- This refers to the idea of a culture shift. It occurred in the 19 century. It was the idea that “traditional” styles of art
and architecture were now outdated in the changing society.
Postmodernism- This refers to the idea of denial of an objective truth or global culture narrative. It more closely examines the
motives of creation.
Georgia O’Keefe- (1887-1986) She was a major figure in art in the 1920’s. She challenged the boundaries of American modern
style. She is best known for her paintings of flowers, rocks, shells, etc. She also brought American style art to Europe for a
change.
Dorothea Lange- (1895-1965) She was an influential photographer during the Depression. She is known best for her photo
documentation and photo journalism. Her photographs captured America’s suffering during the Depression.
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Norman Rockwell- (1894-1978) He was a 20 century painter and illustrator. He appealed to Americans with his depiction of
everyday events shown on the covers of The Saturday Evening Post. He created Rosie the Riveter.
Andy Warhol- (1928-1987) He was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker. He is best known as a commercial illustrator
and for his creation of pop art.
13. American Lifestyles Anna S.
New England Colonies
People in New England made money through fishing, whaling, shipbuilding, trading in its port cities and providing naval supplies.
Towns and villages were very important in the daily lives of New Englanders. Their social lives revolved around village events
and attending church.
Civic events were also central to New England life.
The Sabbath or Sunday was a high point of the week. Work was not allowed and it provided an opportunity to visit one another.
Women did not play a major role in business or public life of New England. They did a lot of the work around the home.
Men held just about every possible position in the working and political community.
More free blacks lived in New England than in any other colonies. They had the right to own land; some even ran their own
farms. Slavery STILL remained legal.
Chesapeake Colonies
Southerners in the Chesapeake area strongly believed in the use of slavery.
The Chesapeake region had a “cash crop” get rich quickly mentality. This aristocratic region consisted of Virginia and Maryland,
two colonies that seemed to be exceedingly materialistic. The lives of the colonists were based more on their liquid assets than
on God or family.
Tobacco soon became the primary crop seen growing on almost every one of these wealthy men’s plantations, which created
tremendous amounts of money to add to their fortunes.
Almost every plantation had African slaves working on the land. These colossal estates came to depend on their slaves to run
their farms and slavery became a common, yet feared, way of life for many Africans.
Due to swampy land in much of the area, towns were not part of the landscape or lifestyle as they were in the north. These
colonies became a place of fierce competition with a very minute sense of community.
The strong focus on family, education or religion was not a main highlight in the lives of Chesapeake colonists
Many colonists hoped they could improve their social status even more by gaining large profits from growing and selling such
items as tobacco. (ARISTOCRATIC)
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Early 19 Century
80% of Americans worked on a farm.
Boarding houses and tenements were popular in the cities and one-room log cabins in the country.
Monroe announced 'The Era of Good Feeling'. People flocked to the exciting cities creating a high demand for goods of all
kinds. An industrial revolution was starting.
Women had no political rights and for the most part did not work outside of the home. They were responsible for looking after
the children and taking care of the house.
Industrialization
The Industrial Revolution itself refers to a change from hand and home production to machine and factory.
Industrialization in America involved three important developments. First, transportation was expanded. Second, electricity was
effectively harnessed. Third, improvements were made to industrial processes such as improving the refining process and
accelerating production.
In 1846, Elias Howe created the sewing machine, which revolutionized the manufacture of clothing. Clothing began to be made
in factories as opposed to at home. More women were now also employed in this field and it provided them opportunities to
work outside the home.
As industries and factories arose, people moved from farms to cities. This led to other issues including overcrowding and
disease.
In 1844, Samuel F. B. Morse created the telegraph and by 1860, this network ranged throughout the eastern coast to the
Mississippi.
The Cumberland Road, the first national road, was begun in 1811.
Railroads were of supreme importance to the increase in trade. Railroads further opened the west and connected raw materials
to factories and markets
The 1920’s
Women drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, and wore shorter dresses and smaller shirts.
During World War I, women took jobs previously closed to them.
In 1920 all women got the right to vote.
The 18th Amendment prohibited the sale, distribution, and consumption of any alcoholic beverages, changing the American
society from being “wet” to “dry”.
Although many thought that taking away liquor would reduce the growing amount of violence that was seen, it actually increased
the amount of violence.
Gangs were a part of the twenties. Once prohibition came into play, gangsters ran the streets of big cities such as New York,
and Chicago.
The KKK began their reign over America in the 20s. The KKK looked down upon Catholics, Jews, African Americans, and other
people who were against their organization.
New dances and music were all the rage, the 'Charleston', the 'Black Bottom' and
Jazz. Jazz evolved from black music and became almost the only way that Blacks
could be successful in America.
The 1920s, and to a lesser extent the 1930s, was the 'Golden Age of Hollywood'.
American’s could afford to attend sporting events regularly.
Radio was widely used for advertising and helped to fuel the economic boom of
the 1920s.
More people lived in cities than in rural areas for the first time in history.
WWII
The war ended the Depression.
Roosevelt tried unsuccessfully to increase tax on incomes over $25,000, while Congress enlarged the base downward. By 1944
nearly every employed person was paying federal income taxes (compared to 10% in 1940).
Many controls were put on the economy. The most important were price controls, imposed on most products and monitored by
the Office of Price Administration. Wages were also controlled.
The unemployment problem ended in the United States, stepping up wartime production and creating millions of new jobs.
Women also joined the workforce to replace men who had joined the forces, though in fewer numbers. “Rosie the Riveter”
became the symbol of women laboring in manufacturing.
Labor shortages were felt in agriculture, even though most farmers were given an occupational exemption and few were drafted.
Rationing of goods and supplies became a part of everyday life.
1950’s
The 1950s was a decade of unprecedented economic and population growth for the United States.
The baby boom that had begun in the years immediately following World War II continued well into the decade.
Nobody worried about war, nobody worried about how they were going to feed their children and keep a roof over their heads
because everyone had jobs and the economy was doing great.
Rock and roll was introduced to the country and it let people forget about their morals for a while and just let loose to have fun.
The civil rights movement began in this era. (Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks)
In the 50's American's were able to enjoy a much higher standard of living because of higher paying jobs.
U.S. produced half of all the worlds’ goods.
60% of Americans were now part of the middle class.
One major thing that had come around to average people in the 1950's was the television.
Medicine also played a very important role in happier living. (Polio vaccination)
1970’s
There was a growing disillusionment for America's government and its leaders.
The Vietnam war continued to divide the country.
Higher divorce rates, increased pre-marital sex, and fewer women having children resulted changing acceptable social
standards.
Rise in female-headed households, an increasing number of women working, and more equality was given to women and
blacks.
Decline in mainstream, mainline Christian attendance. (Protestant and Catholics)
Intolerance Julia B.
1798 – Alien and Sedition Acts: While America was on the brink of a war with France, immigrants came pouring through
the US borders from France and Ireland, which was suspected of being aligned with the French. To prevent political
threats, Congress passed a series of four laws called the Alien and Sedition Acts to silence those suspected of being
anti-American and opposed to the government.
1853 – The Gadsden Purchase was instituted in this year. The treaty helped resolve issues with dispute over the
Mexican-American border. This was the final settlement on the topic of this border.
Reconstruction: After the Civil War, the Republican Party dominated Congress and wanted to restore that part of the
nation. The treatment of blacks during this time wasn’t much better than behavior towards them during times of slavery.
Black Codes were enacted in the South, preventing them from many freedoms that whites enjoyed.
Jim Crow South from 1877-1964: After the Civil War in America, many southern states passed anti-African American
legislation. The series of laws were called Jim Crow laws, which discriminated against blacks in several public locations
including schools, restrooms, restaurants and movie theatres. Segregation enraged African Americans throughout this
87-year period until President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964 which made racial discrimination
illegal.
1919: After World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, anti-Red hysteria swept over the United States in a
hunt for communists who supposedly want to overthrow the American government. 6,000 immigrants were arrested
during the Palmer Raids and 600 Russians were deported from the US. No due process of law followed the incidents.
1920s: The 1920s were a time of immense change in America. In a time of increased feelings of nativism, Congress
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passed the National Origins Act in 1924, which cut immigration per country to 2% of what it was in 1890. The 18
Amendment was also passed, prohibiting the selling, buying, and use of alcohol. The bottom line with regards to issues
in the twenties, though, was the fundamentalists versus the modernists. The Scopes Trial, for example, showed just how
high the tensions raged between the two groups, debating whether or not evolution should be taught in schools.
World War II- Because of the ongoing war with Japan, many “true” American citizens showed hatred towards Japanese
Americans. The US government set up several concentration camps around the country to relocate that part of the
population.
1950s- In the 1950s, gays and lesbians were thought to have mental illnesses and were placed in mental institutions.
Many organizations were established during the 1950s in order to liberate those who were unfairly treated.
Power Protests of the 1970s- Also known as the Black Power Uprising, the “power” protests of the 1970s were led by
many African-American institutions, people, and groups in order to address discriminatory issues that the government
failed to look upon and improve. Students and citizens, angered by segregation, wanted to exemplify black pride and
civil rights.
14. Modern History Michael B.
1981- Ronald Reagan becomes president and gets Iran to release 52 American hostages who had been held for 444 days.
1986- Space Shuttle Challenger blows up 73 seconds after launch killing 7 passengers. American planes launch attacks on
various targets including Tripoli and Benghazi in Libya.
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1989- George H. W. Bush becomes President. November 9 the Berlin Wall is officially opened, but Germans celebrate the
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official tearing down on November 17 .
1991- Marked the end of the Cold War as the Soviet Union collapsed. United States is hard at war in the Gulf War.
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1993- Bill Clinton becomes President. World Trade Center is bombed from underground on February 26 . 18 American soldiers
of the U.N. force were killed in a gun battle in Somalia on a peace keeping mission for civil unrest.
1998-1999- U.S. embassies were bombed in Kenya and Tanzania, they were said to be the work of Osama bin Laden. President
Clinton was impeached by the House but the Senate could not acquit him. U.S. leads a successful air campaign on Kosovo to
withdraw Yugoslavs from their province.
2000- George W. Bush becomes President. USS Cole attacked by suicide bombers, said to be the work on Osama bin Laden.
2001- 9/11 Attack on New York and Washington D.C. again the work of International Terrorist Osama bin Laden. Anthrax scare
hits Washington and Capitol. Mega Corporation Enron falls to Bankruptcy.
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2002- Congress authorizes forces against Iraq in search of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD’s). United Airlines 2 largest
airline files for bankruptcy.
2003- U.S. invades Iraq in March and by May President Bush announces the end of all major Combat operations.
Elections Jake H.
1800- also known as the revolution of 1800, this was when Thomas Jefferson defeated incumbent John Adams. This was a start
to the Democratic-Republicans rise and the Federalists demise. The first peaceful transfer of power from one political faction to
another.
1824- All running as Democratic-Republicans; Andrew Jackson (west) , John Quincy Adams (northeast) , William Harris
Crawford (south) , and Henry Clay (west) represented their respective regions in the U.S.. After the vote, Jackson had the most
popular votes and the most electoral votes but did not have the majority so the election was decided by the House of
Representatives. Clay’s policies were closer to Adams so he threw his support to him and Adams won the election.
1860- Republican Abraham Lincoln defeated Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge, Northern Democrat Stephen A.
Douglass, and John Bell. Lincoln’s victory led to the succession of South Carolina.
1876- Republican Rutherford B. Hayes beat Democrat Samuel J. Tilden by a narrow margin of one electoral vote. There were 20
electoral votes that were in dispute that were rewarded to Hayes in a deal that included the removal of northern troops from the
south.
1912- Woodrow Wilson (Dem.) won the election over William Taft and Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy was not nominated as the
republican candidate so he decided to run on his own under the progressive party.
1928- Republican Herbert Hoover defeated democrat Al Smith. It was not much of a race because Smith was less popular due
to his Catholicism, anti-prohibition stance, and bad legacy at Tammany hall.
1948- Incumbent President Harry Truman defeated Republican Thomas Dewey. This was considered one of the greatest
surprises because all polls indicated a Dewey victory.
1960- Democrat John F. Kennedy defeated Republican Richard Nixon in a close election. This was the first election in which
there were televised debates. Kennedy was the first catholic president.
1968- Republican Richard Nixon defeated Democrat Hubert Humphrey. This was a crazy election with the assassinations of
John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. and the Vietnam War.
1992- Democrat Bill Clinton defeated Republican George H. W. Busch. Clinton only won a plurality of the votes.
2000- Republican George W. Busch received less of popular vote than Democrat Al Gore but won the electoral race and
became president.
Land Acquisitions Nicole H.
(1783) Original U.S. Land Mass- the Treaty of Paris, signed by the British, ceased British rule of the original colonies, and
acknowledge the United States as a land mass for the first time.
(1803) Louisiana Purchase- acquired from France during Jefferson’s presidency by Robert Livingston for the price of $15 million.
Originally the U.S. had sought to just buy New Orleans, a major port city, but France’s circumstances changed and Napoleon
needed the money to fund war and also needed to reduce his burdens.
(1818) Red River Basin- used to acquire land of northwestern Minnesota and North Dakota. This land was acquired from the
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British and determined the 49 parallel as the official border between the U.S. and Canada up to the Rocky Mountains, by
means of the Treaty of 1818.
(1819) Florida- acquired from Spain it included Florida and also stipulated that Spain surrendered any claims in the Oregon
Country. Through the Adams-Onis treaty the U.S. paid $50 million to spain.
(1845) Texas- Texas was annexed by the United States in 1845, despite the fact that the Mexican leader still considered it to be
part of Mexico.
(1846) Oregon Country- The Oregon Country had been jointly shared by the British and the U.S. until the Oregon Treaty divided
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the territory at the 49 parallel.
(1846) Southwestern state- Through the Mexican-American war, the U.S. took control of California and other southwestern
states. The U.S. eventually paid $15 million for this land.
(1853) Gasden Purchase- The U.S. paid Mexico $10 million for a strip of land (present day Arizona and New Mexico) in order to
build the southern transcontinental railroad.
(1867) Alaska- purchased from Russia, which had overextended itself in North America, decided to sell the U.S. Alaska before
the British won it. Secretary of State, William Seward was originally criticized for the $7.2 million purchase.
(1898) Hawaii- was finally annexed under William Mckinley in 1898. Grover Cleveland, the previous president, had been a friend
of the Queen of Hawaii and had temporarily halted expansionists.
(1898) Peurto Rico, Guam and the Phillipines- acquired by the U.S. as a result of the Spanish-American War. The U.S. gave
Spain $20 million in compensation as part of the 1898 Treaty of Paris.
(1904) Panama Canal- in 1904 construction began in the U.S. owned Panama Canal region during the Presidency of Theodore
Roosevelt, for $40 million.
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15. 19 Century Congressional Acts Alyssa R.
1801- The Judiciary Act of 1801 was one of the last important laws passed by Adams’s expiring Federalist Congress and
created the “midnight judges.”
1807- The Embargo Act of 1807 was Jefferson’s idea of “peaceful coercion” during a war in Europe. It hurt the American
economy before harming Britain or France.
1828- The Tariff of Abominations, passed by John Q. Adams, was extremely high and was thus hated by the South. The idea of
nullification came about because of this law.
1830- The Indian Removal Act, created by Jackson, forced all Native American tribes to move east of the Mississippi River.
Forced removal was needed for the 5 civilized tribes.
1836- Specie Circular helped cause the financial crisis after Jackson left office by requiring all public lands to be bought with
metallic money.
1850- The Fugitive Slave Law paid commissioners more if the slave wasn’t freed and took away due process for runaways.
Northerners could be forced to join slave-catchers.
1862- The Homestead Act of 1862 pulled pioneers westward with free gold nuggets and land and favored the North’s economic
boom.
1863- First federal conscription law created during the Civil War. Wealthy men could hire substitutes to go in their places or buy
exemption for $300.
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1868- The 14 Amendment provided citizenship and equal protection under the law. All Southern states had to ratify it in order to
rejoin the Union.
1878- The Bland-Allison Act allowed the government to buy silver coins to inflate prices and make the face value to be greater
than the metallic value.
1882- The Chinese Exclusion Act stopped further immigration from China because the laborers worked cheaper wages than the
Californians and got the jobs.
1883- The Pendleton Act established the Civil Service Commission to make federal jobs based on competitive examinations
rather than “pull.”
1886- The Interstate Commerce Act forbade discrimination against shippers, outlawed charging more for a short haul and set up
Interstate Commerce Commission.
1887- The Dawes Act wiped out tribal ownership of land and dissolved tribes in an attempt to turn Indians into rugged
individualists. Over half of their land was lost.
1890- The Sherman Anti-Trust Act made trusts and monopolies illegal. Overall it was ineffective but it was the first step toward
fair competition.
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16. 20 Century Congressional Acts Jake H.
1903
The Elkins Act allowed for heavy fines to be placed on railroads that gave rebates and on the shippers that accepted them.
1906
The Hepburn Act of 1906 restricted free passes and expanded the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to extend to
include express companies, sleeping-car companies, and pipelines.
The Meat Inspection Act of 1906 stated that the preparation of meat shipped over state lines would be subject to federal
inspection.
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was designed to prevent the adulteration and mislabeling of foods and
pharmaceuticals.
1913
The Federal Reserve Act created the Federal Reserve System and the central banking system of the United States of
America.
1914
The Federal Trade Commission Act authorized a presidential appointed commission to oversee industries engaged in
interstate commerce, such as the meatpackers.
The Clayton Anti-Trust Act lengthened the Sherman Act's list of business practices that were deemed objectionable. It also
sought to exempt labor and agricultural organizations from anti-trust prosecution, while legalizing strikes and peaceful
picketing.
1917
The Espionage Act prohibited any attempt to interfere with military operations, support America's enemies during wartime, to
promote insubordination in the military, or interfere with military recruitment.
The Draft Act required the registration of all males between the ages of 18 and 45. It didn’t allow for a man to purchase his
exemption from the draft.
1918
The Sedition Act forbid the use of disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language toward the United States government,
its flag, or its armed forces or caused others to view the American government or its institutions with contempt. It also
allowed the Postmaster General to refuse to deliver mail that met those same standards for punishable speech or opinion.
Was only in effect during times of war, at its core the act restricted the freedom of speech.
1919
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The Volstead Act reinforced the 18 amendment, the prohibition of alcohol in the United States. This act allowed the
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executive branch to enforce the 18 amendment, but bootlegging and speakeasies didn’t decrease.
1924
The Immigration Act of 1924 cut quotas for foreigners from 3% to 2%. Different countries were only allowed to send an
allotted number of its citizens to America every year, but the Japanese were out right banned. Canadians and Latin
Americans were exempted from the act. The Immigration Act of 1924 marked the end of an era of unrestricted immigration
to the United States.
The Adjusted Compensation Act gave every former soldier a paid-up insurance policy due in 20 years.
1933
The Emergency Banking Relief Act of 1933 gave the president power to regulate banking transactions and foreign exchange
and to reopen solvent banks.
The Glass-Steagall Banking Reform Act created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). A reform program
which insured individual bank deposits up to $5,000.
The Federal Emergency Relief Act created the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) which was headed by
Harry L. Hopkins. FERA granted about $3 billion to the states for direct relief payments or for wages on work projects.
FERA created Civil Works Administration (CWA).
The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) gave relief to farmers by making available millions of dollars to help farmers meet
their mortgages.
1935
The Social Security Act of 1935 provided for federal-state unemployment insurance. It provided security for old age;
specified categories of retired workers were to receive regular payments from Washington.
The Neutrality Act of 1935 stated that when the president proclaimed the existence of a foreign war, certain restrictions
would automatically go into effect. No American could legally sail on a belligerent ship, sell or transport munitions to a
belligerent, or make loans to a belligerent.
1944
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944(GI Bill) made provisions for sending the former solders to school and one year
of unemployment compensation. It also provided many different types of loans for returning veterans to buy homes and start
businesses.
1947
The Taft-Hartley Act outlawed the "closed" (all-union) shops, made unions liable for damages that resulted from jurisdictional
disputes among themselves, and required union leaders to take a noncommunist oath. The Taft-Hartley was a major
obstacle for organized labor in the years following WWII.
The National Security Act created the Department of Defense, which was headed by a new cabinet officer, the secretary of
defense. Under the secretary were the civilian secretaries of the navy, the army, and the air force. It created the Joint Chiefs
of Staff which were the uniformed heads of each service was brought together. It also established the National Security
Council (NSC) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
1950
The Social Security Act of 1950 extended the coverage of social security to elderly Americans and raised the minimum
wage.
1956
The Interstate Highway Act of 1956 assigned $25 billion for the construction of 41,000 of Interstate Highways over a 20-year
period. Largest government construction project to date.
1958
The National Defense and Education Act (NDEA) authorized $887 million in loans to needy college students and in grants
for the improvement of teaching sciences and languages.
1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned racial discrimination in most private facilities open to the public. Strengthened the
federal government’s power to end segregation in schools and public places. It created the federal Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to eliminate discrimination in hiring.
1965
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished the quota system that had been in place since 1921. It doubled the
number of immigrants allowed to enter the country annually.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed discriminatory voting practices in many southern states after the Civil War, including
literacy. Sent federal voter registers into several southern states.
