American History

Key Events in American History

• Civil War begins in 1861 with the secession of Confederate States and the first battle of Bull Run.
• Emancipation Proclamation issued by Lincoln in 1863, freeing slaves in states in rebellion.
• Gettysburg battle in 1863, a major Union victory and the bloodiest battle in American history.
• Reconstruction follows the Civil War from 1865-1877, and Lincoln's assassination in 1865.
• Jim Crow laws and Black Codes enforced segregation and restricted African American rights.
• Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 establishes "separate but equal" doctrine.
• Manifest Destiny, imperialism, and Yellow Journalism lead to Spanish American War in 1898.
• Panama Canal opened in 1914, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
• World War I begins in 1914, and the US enters in 1917 after the Zimmerman Telegram.
• World War II sees the US become a global superpower, with key events including Pearl Harbor, D-Day, and the use of atomic bombs on Japan.
• The Holocaust occurs during World War II, with the systematic persecution and murder of over 6 million Jews.
• The Cold War follows World War II, with the US and Soviet Union engaging in an undeclared war and the threat of atomic war.

Key Events in U.S History

• Important events from the Civil War era include the start of the war at Fort Sumter, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the surrender of the Confederacy at Appomattox Courthouse.
• The Reconstruction period saw the end of slavery and the passage of the 14th Amendment, but also the rise of Black Codes and Jim Crow Laws.
• The Battle of Little Bighorn and the Wounded Knee Massacre marked the end of major Indian wars and the forced relocation of Native Americans.
• The late 19th century was marked by imperialism, social Darwinism, and yellow journalism, culminating in the Spanish-American War and the building of the Panama Canal.
• The Progressive Era saw the rise of muckrakers and the push for social and political reform, including the prohibition of alcohol.
• World War I and the subsequent Spanish Flu pandemic had a major impact on the world, as did the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.
• The lead-up to World War II saw the rise of fascist leaders like Mussolini and Hitler, culminating in the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• The war in Europe was marked by major battles like D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, while the Pacific Theater saw the Battle of Midway and the famous flag raising on Iwo Jima.
• The end of World War II saw the surrender of the Japanese Empire and the trial of war criminals like Hideki Tojo.
• The Cold War era was marked by the fear of Soviet expansion and the policy of containment, including the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan.
• The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s saw major events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• The 1960s and 70s were marked by major cultural and political shifts, including the Vietnam War, the counterculture movement, and the Watergate scandal.

Key Events in U.S History

• Important events from the Civil War era include the start of the war at Fort Sumter, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the surrender of the Confederacy at Appomattox Courthouse.
• The Reconstruction period saw the end of slavery and the passage of the 14th Amendment, but also the rise of Black Codes and Jim Crow Laws.
• The Battle of Little Bighorn and the Wounded Knee Massacre marked the end of major Indian wars and the forced relocation of Native Americans.
• The late 19th century was marked by imperialism, social Darwinism, and yellow journalism, culminating in the Spanish-American War and the building of the Panama Canal.
• The Progressive Era saw the rise of muckrakers and the push for social and political reform, including the prohibition of alcohol.
• World War I and the subsequent Spanish Flu pandemic had a major impact on the world, as did the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.
• The lead-up to World War II saw the rise of fascist leaders like Mussolini and Hitler, culminating in the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• The war in Europe was marked by major battles like D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, while the Pacific Theater saw the Battle of Midway and the famous flag raising on Iwo Jima.
• The end of World War II saw the surrender of the Japanese Empire and the trial of war criminals like Hideki Tojo.
• The Cold War era was marked by the fear of Soviet expansion and the policy of containment, including the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan.
• The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s saw major events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• The 1960s and 70s were marked by major cultural and political shifts, including the Vietnam War, the counterculture movement, and the Watergate scandal.