US History Overview and European Colonization

The process by which people from different parts of the world came to live in the United States, leading to a diverse population.

Groups of people who were the original inhabitants of North and South America before European arrival.

The belief that America offers opportunities for success and prosperity to everyone, regardless of background.

The period in American history from the 15th to the 18th centuries, marked by European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

The journey of early humans crossing the Bering Land Bridge during the last Ice Age, expanding their population across North and South America.

The practice of European nations claiming ownership of land in the Americas, often displacing and exploiting indigenous populations.

The first permanent English settlement in the United States, established in Virginia.

The belief that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492, which was inaccurate because indigenous people were already inhabiting the continent.

The first English colony in North America, founded in 1587, that mysteriously disappeared.

The group of English Protestant settlers who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, seeking religious freedom.

A system of inheritance where only the eldest son inherits the family estate. It forced younger sons to seek opportunities elsewhere.

A war fought between England and France (along with their respective Native American allies) from 1754 to 1763, primarily over control of territory in North America.

The war for independence fought between the American colonies and Great Britain from 1775 to 1783 resulting in the birth of the United States.

The document signed by the American colonies on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Britain.

The framework of the United States government, ratified on September 17, 1787, establishing a system based on democracy and the rule of law.

The first president of the United States, elected in 1789, who played a vital role in shaping the new nation.

A war fought between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815, stemming from tensions over trade and territorial expansion.

The forced removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the Southeast to designated reservations west of the Mississippi River in the 1830s.

The institution of involuntary servitude of people of African descent in the United States, a practice that lasted for centuries and had a profound impact on American history.

The war fought between the Northern and Southern states of the United States from 1861 to 1865, primarily over the issue of slavery.

Laws passed in the Southern states after the Civil War aimed at disenfranchising and segregating African Americans.

A period of rapid technological advancement in the United States after the Civil War, marked by inventions like the electric light bulb, the telephone, and the automobile.

The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression that lasted from 1929 to 1939. It started in the United States after a major stock market crash on October 24, 1929, known as "Black Thursday."

The Dust Bowl was an ecological and economic disaster that affected the Great Plains of the United States in the 1930s. Resulting from years of drought and unsustainable farming practices. The fertile topsoil, exposed to high winds, blew away, creating massive dust storms that caused widespread damage and hardship.

The Dust Bowl and the Great Depression forced the U.S. government to enact programs like Social Security, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and farm relief to help the country recover. These programs aimed to provide economic support, create jobs, and promote agricultural stability.

Pearl Harbor was a surprise military attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. This attack, which resulted in over 2,000 deaths and significant damage, marked the entry of the United States into World War II.

World War II was a global war fought between the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allied powers (United States, Great Britain, Soviet Union, and others). The war lasted from 1939 to 1945 and resulted in millions of deaths and widespread destruction.

The American home front was a critical factor in the Allied victory during World War II. American factories shifted to war production, recruiting women in large numbers to keep the assembly lines running. This effort contributed significantly to supplying the Allied forces.

The Holocaust was a systematic genocide carried out by Nazi Germany against Jews, Roma, and other minority groups. Millions were murdered in concentration camps and through other means. The Holocaust serves as a stark reminder of the horrors of prejudice and discrimination.

The end of World War II in Europe came after the Allied forces captured Berlin, and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler committed suicide. The official German surrender occurred on May 8, 1945.

The atomic bombs were deployed on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan in 1945. These weapons caused immense destruction and immense civilian casualties, leading to the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was a pivotal step in the fight for equality for African Americans and other marginalized groups.

The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies. It lasted from the end of World War II until the early 1990s. The Cold War was characterized by proxy wars, nuclear arms race, and ideological rivalry.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, were a series of coordinated attacks by the Islamist terrorist group Al-Qaeda against the United States. Terrorists hijacked four airplanes, crashing two into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and one into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The War on Terror is a global military campaign launched by the U.S. government following the September 11 attacks. This campaign aimed to combat terrorism, specifically against the Al-Qaeda organization and other extremist groups. This long-term military campaign included military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The legacy of September 11, 2001, has had a profound impact on American life, leading to increased security measures, heightened awareness of terrorism, and a shift in public opinion toward immigration and national security issues.