Unit 1: Washington to Jackson

Unit 1: Washington to Jackson

• Whiskey Rebellion: Farmers protested a whiskey tax, showcasing the federal government's ability to enforce laws.
• 1824 Election Controversy: No candidate won a majority, so the House chose the winner, John Quincy Adams, after an alleged "corrupt bargain" with Henry Clay.
• Washington's Foreign Policy: Washington favored neutrality, avoiding foreign alliances to keep the nation out of conflicts. He warned against political parties, believing they could divide the country.
• Causes of Political Parties: Disagreements over government power and foreign policy led to the formation of political parties.
• Adams' Presidency & Washington's Beliefs: Adams' policies (XYZ Affair, Alien and Sedition Acts, Quasi-War with France) contradicted Washington's emphasis on neutrality and avoiding foreign entanglements.
• Worcester v. Georgia: The Supreme Court ruled Georgia couldn't force Native Americans off their land. President Jackson ignored the ruling, leading to the Trail of Tears, a forced relocation of the Cherokee.

Unit 2: Mexican-American War to Reconstruction

• Dred Scott v. Sanford: The Supreme Court ruled a slave was not a citizen, denying his right to sue and declaring Congress couldn't ban slavery in territories. This deepened the slavery divide.
• California Gold Rush: Gold discovered in California in 1848 spurred significant migration, seeking wealth.
• 13th, 14th, & 15th Amendments: The 13th abolished slavery; the 14th granted citizenship and equal protection, and the 15th granted African American men the right to vote, increasing federal power to protect civil rights.
• End of Reconstruction: The Compromise of 1877, resolving the disputed 1876 election, led to federal troops withdrawing from the South, marking the end of Reconstruction.
• Key Terms:
• Monroe Doctrine: Warned Europe against interfering in the Americas.
• Sectionalism: Loyalty to regions (often over slavery) rather than the nation.

Unit 3: Gilded Age & Progressive Era

• Rise of Labor Unions: Poor working conditions, long hours, and low wages spurred the formation of labor unions fighting for better treatment.
• Anti-Monopoly Legislation: The Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) and the Clayton Antitrust Act (1914) regulated monopolies and unfair business practices.
• Social Darwinism: Applied Darwin's "survival of the fittest" to society and the economy, justifying laissez-faire capitalism.
• Plessy v. Ferguson: The Supreme Court ruled segregation legal under the "separate but equal" doctrine, allowing its continuation.
• Haymarket Affair & Pullman Strike: The Haymarket Affair, involving a bombing during a labor rally, led to the suppression of labor movements. The Pullman Strike highlighted worker-employer tensions.
• Key Terms:
• Muckrakers: Journalists exposing corruption.
• Progressive Era: Era of social reforms.
• 19th Amendment: Granted women the right to vote.
• Nativism: Hostility toward immigrants.
• Immigration Ports: Places immigrants entered the U.S. (e.g., Ellis Island).

Unit 4: Imperialism & WWI

• U.S. Entry into WWI: The sinking of the Lusitania, unrestricted submarine warfare, and the Zimmermann Telegram drew the U.S. into WWI. Woodrow Wilson argued for "making the world safe for democracy."
• Wilson's Post-War Vision: Wilson aimed to create the League of Nations for international peace.
• Treaty of Versailles Impacts: Harsh treatment of Germany led to economic hardship and resentment, contributing to WWII.
• Spanish-American War: The war marked America as a world power, gaining territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

Unit 5: Roaring 20s & The Great Depression

• Hoover vs. FDR on the Great Depression: Hoover favored minimal government intervention, while FDR's New Deal emphasized large-scale government programs for relief, recovery, and reform.
• Palmer Raids: The Palmer Raids were a response to the fear of communism and anarchist bombings in the U.S. following the Russian Revolution.
• 18th Amendment: The 18th Amendment (Prohibition) banned alcohol, leading to organized crime and law violations.
• 1920s Clash of Values: The 1920s saw a conflict between modernism and traditionalism, impacting areas like religion, women's rights, and science (e.g., the Scopes Trial).
• New Deal Controversy: The New Deal faced criticism for expanding government power.
• Stock Market Crash of 1929: Speculation, overconfidence in the market, and economic inequality contributed to the devastating crash.

Unit 6: WWII & the Cold War

• WWII Strategic Challenges: The U.S. fought simultaneously in Europe and the Pacific.
• United Nations Purpose: Established to promote international peace and prevent future wars.
• WWII & Civil Rights: WWII highlighted racial inequalities, furthering activism and civil rights progress.
• WWII as a Turning Point in Warfare: WWII significantly altered warfare with advanced technology (like atomic bombs) and established the U.S. and Soviet Union as superpowers.
• Post-WWII Superpowers: The U.S. and the Soviet Union emerged as global superpowers. The Cold War was a period of high tension between them, without direct war.

Unit 7: Cold War through 50s & 60s & The Civil Rights Movement

• Sputnik's Significance: The first artificial satellite, Sputnik, launched by the USSR, triggered the space race and fears of Soviet superiority.
• Civil Rights Groups: Non-violent groups (e.g., SCLC, NAACP) emphasized peaceful protests, while militant groups (e.g., Black Panther Party) used more confrontational tactics. Both aimed for racial equality.
• LBJ's 1968 Decision: LBJ's declining popularity, owing to the highly unpopular Vietnam War, prevented him from seeking re-election.
• United States v. Nixon: The Supreme Court case forcing Nixon to release tapes related to the Watergate scandal reinforced the rule of law.

Unit 8: Modern Presidents

• Watergate's Impact: The Watergate scandal led to a loss of public trust in government.

• Bush's Post-9/11 Agenda: Combating terrorism through the War on Terror and military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

• Reaganomics: Focused on tax cuts, deregulation, and increased military spending, resulting in economic growth but also rising national debt.

• UN's Purpose: The UN promotes international peace, security, and human rights through various initiatives, including peacekeeping missions.

• Social Security Challenges: An aging population and fewer workers contribute to the financial difficulties facing the Social Security system.