1C2 - American Historical Events from 1919 - 2024 Flashcards
Evaluate the significance of major historical events from The Great Depression through the present day (including World War II, the Vietnam War, and 9/11)
What was the significance of the Treaty of Versailles (1919)?
Treaty ended WWI, punished Germany.
The treaty’s so-called “war guilt” clause forced Germany and other Central Powers to take all the blame for World War I. This meant a loss of territories, reduction in military forces, and reparation payments to Allied powers.
What amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteed women the right to vote?
19th Amendment
(1920)
What was significant about the Stock Market Crash of 1929?
The banks failed and the economy took a major downturn for years.
The crash led to the Great Depression, which eventually led to regulatory changes.
Which president was elected in 1933?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
What was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal?
Series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted between 1933 and 1938.
Why was the Attack on Pearl Harbor (1941) important?
It was the event that led the United States to enter World War II.
How long did World War II last?
1939-1945, a total of six years.
What was a major turning point in World War II?
The Allied Powers invaded Normandy, France on D-Day (1944).
The Battle of Midway, Battle of Stalingrad, and D-Day were key turning points in WWII. Midway crippled Japan’s offensive capabilities, Stalingrad marked the Third Reich’s decline, and D-Day opened a second front against Germany, accelerating the war’s end.
Who were the two sides during World War II?
- Allies: United States, France, Great Britain, later Soviet Union
- Axis: Germany, Italy, Japan
What event caused the surrender of Japan, ending WWII?
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
When was the United Nations created?
October 24th,1945
Describe 2 causes of the Korean War (1950-1953).
- U.S. and Soviet Union split Korea into two parts.
- North Korea invades South Korea, U.S. responds.
What important Supreme Court case stated that school segregation was unconstitutional?
Brown v. Board of Education
(1954)
Why was the Montgomery Bus Boycott important?
The 1955 protest campaign against the policy of racial segregation on the public transit system led to desegregation.
What were 2 causes of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
- U.S. attempted overthrow of Castro in Cuba.
- Soviet Union sending nuclear missiles to Cuba.
How did the Cuban Missile Crisis end?
Khrushchev of the Soviet Union removed missiles from Cuba and President Kennedy of the United states removed missiles from Turkey.
What important event took place after the March on Washington in 1963?
Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 do?
Prohibits racial discrimination in voting.
What were 2 causes of the Vietnam War?
- The U.S. and Soviet Union were involved in the Cold War.
- The decolonization movement.
Why was the Apollo 11 Landing (1969) significant?
First human moon landing.
On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission marked a historic milestone with the first human moonwalk, inspiring global interest in space exploration and advancing space technology.
What Supreme Court decision in 1973 legalized abortion?
Roe v. Wade
What caused the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis?
Iran was undergoing a political struggle between right and left-wing forces.
The 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis was triggered by the Islamic revolution, U.S. support for the overthrown Shah, and his subsequent asylum in the U.S. This led to the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and a 444-day hostage crisis.
What was signficant about the Challenger (1986) disaster?
On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard.
Why was the Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989) an important moment?
It marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Europe.
The fall of the Berlin Wall, a pivotal event that occurred on November 9, 1989, symbolized the end of the Cold War, spurred the spread of democracy and capitalism in Eastern Europe, and led to the reunification of Germany.
Explain:
Why were there riots in Los Angeles in 1992?
People were upset that police officers who had beaten Rodney King on camera were acquitted.
The Los Angeles riots, sparked by the acquittal of four white police officers charged with excessively beating Rodney King, an African American, began on April 29, 1992, and lasted for six days. These riots exposed deep racial tensions and led to significant police department reforms.
