US History Deck 2 Flashcards
Technological Advancements in Agriculture (19th century)
Irrigation techniques improved
Advances in cultivation, breeding, fertilizer use, and crop rotation.
Steel plows were used in the Great Plains.
1892 gas - powered tractors began to be used.
Barbed wire fences, combines, silos, deep - water wells, cream separator.
Department of Agriculture
Began in 1862 to advance the interests of farmers and ranchers
Morrill Land - Grant Acts
1862, created and gave land to “land grant” colleges
Hatch Act
1877 created agriculture experimental stations to discover new farming techniques
Smith - Lever Act
1914 Created programs to educate people about food, home economics, community development and agriculture. Related programs helped farmers increase crop production and feed the rapidly growing nation.
Alexander Graham Bell
Invented the telephone
Orville and Wilbur Wright
Invented the airplane
Richard Gatling
Invented the machine gun
Walter Hunt, Elias Howe, and Isaac Singer
Invented the sewing machine
Nikola Tesla
Invented the alternating current
George Eastman
Invented the camera
Thomas Edison
Invented the lightbulb, motion pictures, and the phonograph
Samuel Morse
Invented the telegraph
Charles Goodyear
Invented vulcanized rubber
Cyrus McCormick
Invented the reaper
George Westinghouse
Invented the transformer and the air brake
Period of Invention
1860 - 1900 700,000+ patents issued
Gilded Age
Period of time from the end of the Civil War to the beginning of WWI. Also known as the Second Industrial Revolution.
US is changing from an agriculture - based to an industry - based economy. Country expanding into the West.
Beginning of banks, department stores, chain stores, and trusts.
Growth of cities - helped by immigrants.
The Farmers Alliance
Major recession struck during the 1890’s, crop prices fell leaving farmers in dept. The Farmers Alliance formed, to unify the rural poor into one political entity
Knights of Labor
Formed in 1869 by Uriah Stephens. United industrial workers to protect their rights.
Populist party
The Farmers Alliance and Knights of Labor joined to form the populist party, in opposition to the industrialists.
Party platform: national currency, income tax, government ownership of railroads, telegrams and telephone systems, secret ballot, immigration restriction, term limits for president
Feelings of wanting to decrease elitism and making the voice of the common people more heard in politics
Homestead Strike
1892, first large and well - organized strike in the US. The Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Works struck against the Carnegie Steel Company. Union was disrupted by force/gunfire.
Pullman Strike
1894 Led by Eugene Debs after the Pullman Palace Car Co. cut worker’s wages 28%. President Grover Cleveland called in government troops to break up the strike saying interfered with mail delivery
Children’s Crusade
Organized by Mary Harris Jones (known as “Mother Jones”) to protest child labor. Led a march in front of Theodore Roosevelt’s house in 1902.
Industrial Mine Workers of the World
Founded by child labor activist Mary Harris Jones, who also worked with the United Mine Workers of America
Panic of 1893
Economic crisis across the globe. Caused President Grover Cleveland to repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act fearing that it had caused the economic downturn, even though it was intended to boost the economy.
Panic led to bankruptcies, railroads going out of business, and factor unemployment rose up to 25%
Republican Party regained dominance in US government.
Progressive Era
Popular ideology 1890s - end of WWI. Progressives were in favor of worker’s rights and safety, and wanted regulations against waste and corruption. Felt the government should take action against social problems. Also thought science could improve society.
Muckrakers
Investigative journalists who shed light on scandals and corruption in government or corporations. (late - 19th century). Through their work, many new policies were made, including workmen’s compensation, child labor laws, and trust - busting.
Ida Tarbell
Journalist (muckraker) who exposed the Standard Oil Trust
Jacob Riis
A photographer who brought attention to the poor in New York
Lincoln Steffens
Journalist (muckraker) who worked to expose political corruption
Upton Sinclair
Wrote “The Jungle” which exposed and led to reforms in the meat packing industry
16th Amendment
1913, established a graduated income tax
17th Amendment
1913, allowed the direct election of Senators
18th Amendment
1919, prohibited the sale, production, and importation of alcohol. Later repealed by the 21st Amendment.
19th Amendment
1920, gave women the right to vote
Trusts
Huge corporations that worked to monopolize certain areas of commerce to have complete control over prices and distribution
Sherman Act and Clayton Anti-Trust Act
Set guidelines for the behavior and competition among corporations, in order to eliminate trusts.
Federal Trade Commission
Formed to enforce anti - trust measures and ensure companies did not create monopolies.
Battle of Little Bighorn
1876 Result of America’s westward expansion - largest victory of Plains tribes against colonists.
Shortly after, also in 1876, US government ordered all Native peoples to relocate to reservations.
Dawes Act
- Authorized the President to divide tribal lands into allotments. Native people who bought and lived on individual land plots were also granted citizenship. This was an attempt to get Native people to assimilate to Western ways. Effective until 1934.
Indian Boarding Schools
Indian children were rounded up and forced to attend these schools where their language and culture was banned, and they were forced to practice Christianity. Children were often abused in these schools.
Massacre at Wounded Knee
1890, Part of the ghost dance war, almost 300 Lakota died. In the aftermath Native Americans were left with no feasible hope to regain or hold their land. Shift to preserving culture on their reservations.
Native Americans in the Military
Native people served in the Spanish- American war especially with Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders.
Also helped General John Pershing during the Mexican Revolution (Pancho Villa)
17,000+ were drafted during WWI even though they were not considered legal citizens.
Indian Citizenship Act
1924, Native peoples are granted official citizenship
Reservations Today
About 300 reservations exist today, and most are high - poverty areas. Some Native peoples also live off reservations.
Spanish - American War
Spain had controlled Cuba since the 15th century.
1886, Slavery ended in Cuba
US (Pres Franklin Pierce) offered $130 million to Spain for Cuba in 1853
1898 1st Cuban revolution underway. US did not get involved until The Maine battleship in Havana was blown up and 300 died.
War ended with a Spanish surrender. Cuba was considered independent but no timeline was set to end US occupation.
Panama Canal
French began work 1880. US took over and completed the canal in 1914. Made to reduce the timed need to sail from the Atlantic to the Pacific by connecting the two through the isthmus of Panama.
Before the canal travelers had to sail around South America to reach the West Coast of the US by sea.
A lock and lake canal.
US assisted Panama in becoming independent from Colombia in order to maintain control of the canal zone.
“Big Stick” Diplomacy
Theodore Roosevelt -“speak softly and carry a big stick”
Roosevelt used military influence to expand US involvement in foreign affairs during his presidency, working to establish a greater influence in Latin American than European nations. He believed the US had an obligation to intervene in the affairs of any country that was vulnerable to the control of Europe.
US Navy grew as a result of interventionist policies.
US became involved in Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the DR
“Dollar Diplomacy”
William Howard Taft. Approach to establishing US influence in Latin America and East Asia through economic means rather than Roosevelt’s use of military power. Especially wanted to protect US control of the Panama Canal.
Although this was supposed to be a non - violent approach, the US sent troops to countries such as Nicaragua when violence broke out.
“Moral Diplomacy”
President Woodrow Wilson, this approach influences foreign policy today. Wanted to establish representative democratic governments in as many countries as possible and thought it is the responsibility of the US to do this. Felt that this would help other countries to be more in line with American interests. Also promoted free and international trade through which the US could speak about about world events.
Main elements Wilson focused on:
- strong US military
- Promoting democracy throughout the world
- expanding international trade to boost the US economy
WWI
1914 - 1918 fought mostly in Europe. Triggered by the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Pre- existing treaties drew more and more European countries into the fight. At the beginning of the war, President Woodrow Wilson declared the US neutral.
Sinking of the Lusitania
A British passenger liner, sunk by a German U - boat in 1915. 1,000 civilian victims, 100 Americans. After this many Americans began to push for US involvement in the war.
German U - Boat Aggression
Wilson’s 1916 reelection slogan was “he kept us out of war.” However German U - boats began attacking American and Canadian merchant ships that were carrying goods to Germany’s enemies in Europe. This also raised support for US involvement.
Zimmerman Note
A telegram from Germany to Mexico that was intercepted, in which Germany discussed its intentions to invade the US with Mexico’s assistance.
US during WWI
Railroads came under government control in 1817 to improve efficiency and allow the railroads to supply domestic and military needs. Control returned to private ownership in 1920.
1918 telegraph, telephone, and cable services came under federal control. Returned to private management 1919.
American Red Cross
Knit clothes for troops, helped supply hospital and refugee clothing and dressings.
8+ Million people worked with the red cross.
Liberty Bonds
The US government sold these to raise wartime funds - selling nearly $25 billion, with 1/5 of all Americans buying. After the war “liberty bonds” were replaced with “victory bonds”.
Wilson’s 14 Points
A peace settlement to end the war, presented to US Congress January 1918.
- 5 points outlining general ideals
- 8 points to resolve specific political and territorial issues
- 1 point proposing an organization of nations with the purpose of maintaing world peace
End of WWI
November 1918 Germany agreed to an armistice and Wilson’s 14 points.
During the peace conference in Paris there was disagreement with the 14 points, and the final agreement included more severe punishment of Germany and the Central Powers.
League of Nations
The formation of the League of Nations was included in the Treaty of Versaille - as Wilson suggested in his 14 points. However Henry Cabot Lodge - the Foreign Relations Committee Chairman - wanted unconditional surrender from Germany, and Wilson refused to concede to his demands. As a result the US did not join the League of Nations.
Trends of 1920’s
Movement from rural to urban areas
Growing prosperity
“The Roaring Twenties” or “The Jazz Age”
Growth in the automobile and entertainment industries.
New inventions like telephone lines, increased distribution of electricity, highways, and the radio
Charles Lindbergh
First aviator to make a solo flight across the Atlantic. Contributed to American ideals of individual accomplishment popular in the 20’s.
Harlem Renaissance
Artistic movement in Harlem New York. Artists and writers included: Langston Hughes, Nella Larson, Zora Neale Hurston, Claude McKay, Countee Cullen, Jean Toomer.
Growth of Jazz
Invented by African Americans. Unconventional and improvisational style matched the sense of exploration in the 20s. Began in New Orleans.
Significant artists are: Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Jelly Roll Morton.
Big Band and Swing Jazz also developed later. Well known artists are: Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Dorsey Brothers.
National Origins Act 1924
Also known as the Johnson - Reed Act. The number of immigrants allowed into the US from a country, was based on the number of people from that country who were already in the US. 2% of each country’s existing population in the US was allowed to immigrate. This greatly favored immigrants from Western and Northern Europe. Immigration from Asia was banned completely. High anti - immigrant sentiment in this era. Also fear of communism and Eastern Europe.
Rise of Socialism
WWI created many jobs, but after the war these jobs disappeared. In the wake of the resulting unemployment, the International Workers World and the Socialist Party headed by Eugene Debs became more popular.
Workers held strikes to regain pre - war working conditions. Some became violent and this was blamed on the Communists or “reds.”
Red Scare
With the Bolshevik Revolution underway in Russia (1917), many Americans feared a similar revolt would occur in the US. Agitation for worker’s rights was seen as the spread of Communism, and there was a fear that international communists or reds were trying to bring their ideology to the US. Many individuals were jailed for supposedly holding communist, anarchist, or socialist beliefs.
Marcus Garvey
Universal Negro Improvement Association - known for building black nationalism.
NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 1911. Worked to end Jim Crow laws and keep them from becoming national law. Fought against lynchings and helped black soldiers in WWI. Helped defend the Scottsboro Boys.
ACLU
American Civil Liberties Union, founded in 1920, out of the American Union Against Militarism. Helped objectors avoid going to war during WWI, and helped those being prosecuted under the Espionage Act of 1917, and the Sedition Act of 1918 - many of whom were immigrants.
Goals to protect immigrants and labor unions, and other who were threatened with political prosecution for their beliefs.
Anti - Defamation League
1913 Formed to prevent ant - Semitism. Also worked against racism and the KKK, as well as other anti - Semitic organizations. Still exists today.
Great Depression
Began 1929 with the stock market crash. Factors that contributed to the crash:
- Growing disparity between rich and middle classes. Wealthy quickly amassing wealth.
- Disparities in economic distribution within industries
- Growing use of credit led to inflated demand for some goods
- government support for new industries rather than agriculture
- risky stock market investments
- Labor Day Hurricane in the Florida Keys (1935)
- Great Hurricane in Long Island (1938)
- the Dust Bowl in the Great Plains
Roosevelt’s “New Deal”
Franklin Delano Roosevelt elected 1932. Wanted to provide jobs and relief to Americans suffering due to the Depression. Congress gave him almost free reign.
Goals:
Relief through jobs
Recovery through economic stimulus via the National Recovery Administration
Reform - legislation to prevent future economic crashes
Soil Conservation Service
Passed by the Roosevelt Administration, aimed at preventing another Dust Bowl.
New Deal Organizations
“alphabet organizations”
CCC: Civil Conservation Corps, jobs in forestry
AAA: Agricultural Adjustments Administration, increased agricultural income by adjusting price and production
TVA - Tennessee Valley Authority - dams on tennessee river
PWA - Public Works Administration
CWA - Civil Works Administration 34,000 projects
WPA - Works Progress Administration, helped people gain employment on government work projects and elsewhere
Glass - Steagall Act
Separated investment from banking
Part of Roosevelt’s New Deal
Securities Exchange Commission
SEC, Helped regulate Wall Street investment practices, so they would have less impact on the overall economy
Part of Roosevelt’s New Deal
Wagner Act
Made unions legal and protected members of unions.
Required businesses to participate in collective bargaining.
Later amended by the Taft Hartley Act of 1947 and Landrum Griffin Act of 1959
Part of Roosevelt’s New Deal
Social Security Act of 1935
Pensions and unemployment insurance
Part of Roosevelt’s New Deal
Economic Reforms under the Roosevelt Administration
SEC, Wagner Act, Social Security, Glass - Steagall Act
Also insuring bank deposits and adjusted the value of currency. Most of the agencies, programs, and policies from the New Deal still exist today.
Davis - Bacon Act
- Provided fair compensation for contractors and subcontractors
Walsh - Healey Act
- Established a minimum wage, child labor laws, safety standards, and overtime pay.
Interventionist Approach to WWII
President Roosevelt’s approach beginning in 1939. Said US would remain neutral, but provided extensive aid to the Allies.
Isolationist Approach to WWII
Isolationists believed the US should not provide any aid to the Allies. Believed that by providing aid Roosevelt was leading the US into a war it was not prepared for. Movement led by Charles A Lindbergh.
US entry into WWII
1937, Japan invaded China. US stopped all exports to Japan.
1941 General Tojo became Japanese Premier and considered America a threat to Japanese Expansion. Dec 7 1941 Tojo authorized the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In response, the US declared war on Japan. Because of the Tipartite Pact, Germany and Italy then, Bulgaria and Hungary declared war on the US
Surrender of Germany
1941 Hitler violated the pact he signed with Stalin by invading the USSR. Stalin then joined the Allies. Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill planned to defeat Germany first, then Japan.
1942 - 1943, Allies drove Axis out of Africa. German defeat at Stalingrad.
1943 - 1945 Allies liberate Italy.
June 6, 1944 - DDay, Allies invade Normandy France. Soviets drive German forces back at the Eastern front.
May 7 1945 Germany surrenders.
Surrender of Japan
War with Japan continued after Germany’s surrender. General Doolittle bombed several Japanese cities. US victory at Midway. Battle of the Coral Sea further weakened Japan.
Final blow was the atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, devastating impact. Japan surrendered Sept 2 1945.
442nd Regimental Combat Team
Japanese American unit fought in Europe in WWII. Most highly decorated unit per member in US history. 93% casualty rate.
Tuskeegee Airmen
First black Americans allowed to fly for the military. Not eligible to become official navy pilots, but flow over 15,000 missions and were highly decorated.
Navajo Code Talkers
Native Navajo people who transmitted information among the Allied forces. Because they used their language rather than code, their messages were never translated by the Axis powers. The Code Talkers were instrumental in major victories like Iwo Jima.
Women during WWII
- Served in various positions in the military like the Flight Nurses Corps
- 19 million women in the workforce by 1944
- Rosie the Riveter was a symbol of working women
- Victory Gardens to provide food
Atomic Bomb
Developed during WWII, the most powerful bomb ever invented. A single bomb could destroy an entire city. The bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki resulted in 200,000 immediate deaths and many more after due to radiation.
After WWII many countries developed similar weapons to match the military power of the US.
Yalta Conference
February 1945. Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchhil met in Yalta to discuss the treatment of Europe and especially Germany post - war. This was before Germany’s surrender, but they knew it would happen soon.
Potsdam Conference
Clement Attlee, Harry Truman, and Stalin met to formalize the plans from the Yalta Conference after Germany surrendered.
- divided Germany into 4 zones of occupation
- Demilitarization of Germany
- Poland would remain under Soviet Control
- trails for Nazi leaders and outlawing of the Nazi Party
- relocation of Germany
- USSR joined the UN
- Creation of the UN Security Council - US, UK, USSR, China, and France
Post - War Agreements with Japan
General Douglas MacArthur directed US military occupation of Japan.
1947 constitution removed power from the emperor, granted voting rights to women, prohibited Japan from declaring war, and government officials were tried for war crimes.
1951 US signed a peace treaty with Japan. Japan could arm itself only for self - defense, and was stripped of its empire overseas.
Alien Registration Act
1940, required all non - citizen immigrants older than 14 to be fingerprinted and registered, and to report changes in their address.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941,Over 120,000 Japanese Americans were forced into War Relocation Camps, 2/3 of them citizens.
US Post WWII
US became the strongest political power in the world.
Became determined to stop the spread of communism - naming itself the “arsenal of democracy.”
Greater sense of nationalism in the US.
Depression and WWII had given the government control over various institutions and the economy.
Harry S Truman
After FDR
Dropped atomic bombs on Japan and played a major role in post - war agreements.
At home, initiated the 21 point “Fair Deal” - expanded social security, public housing, and made the Fair Employment Practices Act permanent.
Supported Greece and Turkey agains the USSR, supported South Korea against North Korea, helped with recovery post - war in Western Europe.
Participated in the formation of NATO - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Korean War
1950 - 1953
First time the UN played a military role in a war.
North Korea invaded South Korea, trying to unite the country under Communist rule.
UN called on its member nations to support South Korea.
War ended with a truce (rather than a peace treaty) with Korea divided at 38 degrees North Latitude.
Dwight D Eisenhower
“middle of the road” foreign policy
Worked to minimize tensions with Russia during the Cold War
Negotiated a peace treaty with Russia after Stalin’s death
Sent troops to desegregate Little, Rock Arkansas
Ordered the desegregation of the military
Formed the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
John F Kennedy
Economic expansion in the US, unmatched since before WWII.
Formed the Alliance for Progress, and the Peace Corps to help developing nations
Passed civil rights legislation and drafted plans to attack poverty and support the arts
Assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
1962 during Kennedy’s presidency
Russian Premier Nikita Krushchev, concerned about American missiles in Turkey, put nuclear missiles in Cuba to prevent the US from invading Cuba,
American U -2 planes saw them being built (the bases) and tensions rose.
Eventually the missile sites were removed and a US naval blockade turned back Soviet ships carrying the missiles.
US agreed to remove their missiles from Turkey and sell surplus wheat to the USSR.
A telephone hotline was set up between Moscow and Washington to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Lyndon B Johnson
Kennedy’s Vice President, assumed the presidency after Kennedy’s assassination.
Supported civil rights legislation, tax cuts, and other legislation that Kennedy had supported.
“Great Society” plan enacted legislation to fight disease and poverty, renew urban areas, support education and promote environmental conservation.
Instituted Medicare.
Continued Space exploration.
Not popular for his handling of the Vietnam War.
Civil Rights Movement
1950s - America was experiencing rapidly growing prosperity, but African Americans were left behind. Protests inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s work in India.
Rosa Parks
“mother of the civil rights movement”
refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white man, triggering the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Martin Luther King Jr
Best known leader of the movement. Proponent of non - violent resistance. Led the March on Washington (1963).
Received the Nobel Peace Prize 1968
Assassinated 1968
Malcolm X
Associated (initially) with the Nation of Islam and later split
Advocated for self defense and black nationalism
Stokely Carmichael
Started the term “Black Power”
Head of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
Black pride and Black culture
wanted separate political and social institutions for Black Americans
Adam Clayton Powell
Chairman of the Coordinating Committee for Employment
Led rent strikes and a bus boycott for equitable hiring practices and many other actions
Jesse Jackson
Head of the Chicago Operation Breadbasket 1966 (appointed by MLK)
Organized boycotts and other actions
Ran for president
Montgomery Bus Boycott
1955 Began when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat. She was tried and convicted for disorderly conduct and violating local ordinances. 381 - day boycott ensued, protesting segregation on busses
Little Rock 9
1957 Arkansas school board voted to desegregate their schools.
Governor called in the National Guard to prevent 9 black students from entering a white school - Central High School.
President Eisenhower took the National Guard under federal power and ordered them to back down.
Birmingham Campaign
Protestors organized a variety of protests such as sit-ins and a march to launch a voting campaign. When the City of Birmingham declared the protests illegal, the protestors persisted and were arrested and jailed. This is where MLK wrote the Letter from Birmingham Jail.
Brown v. Board of Education
1954, “separate but equal” is ruled unconstitutional
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Declared discrimination in employment, education, or public accommodation to be illegal
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Ended practices that barred blacks from voting - including poll taxes and literacy tests
Vietnam War
After WWII the US pledged to help any country threatened by Communism, so US intervened when North Vietnam began to attack South Vietnam.
In the US, the war became more and more unpopular. People saw the effort as futile and in some cases not the role of the US.
Nixon took office in 1969 and escalated US involvement in the war - leading to protests at Kent State where students were killed by the National Guard.
Protests continued and ended the compulsory draft in 1973.
US exited Vietnam in 1973.
1975 Vietnam unified under Communist rule.
Marshall Plan
Set aid to Europe after WWII, to prevent the spread of Communism
Truman Doctrine
Policy stated by Harry S Truman, that the US would provide economic and military support to any country threatened by Soviet takeover
Containment
Proposed by George F Kennan, focused on containing the spread of Soviet communism
National Security Act
1947 Created the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Council.
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 1949
An agreement between the US and Western Europe, that an attack on any one of these countries would be considered an attack against the whole group.
Warsaw Pact
Response to NATO, same agreement among USSR, Bulgaria, East Germany, Poland, Romania, Albania, Poland, and Czechoslovakia
Berlin Wall
- Wall to separate Communist East Berlin from Democratic West Berlin.
Iron Curtain
Metaphorical barrier between Western and Eastern Europe.
Arms Race
After WWII, rush to develop atomic and hydrogen bombs and other weapons systems. US and USSR (and other nations) raced to outpace each other. US and USSR remained “cold” due to fear the other side would use these weapons.
End of the Cold War
Late 1980s Mikhail Gorbachev introduced reform programs in Russia.
Berlin Wall came down.
USSR relinquished control over nations in Eastern Europe.
Soviet Union dissolved and cold war ended.
Discovery of Penicillin
1945
Supersonic Air Travel
1947
First Commercial Airline Flight
1948
Nuclear Power
1951
Sputnik
1957
First Man on the Moon
1969
International Refugee Organization
1946 Formed by UN to accommodate political refugees after WWII.
Displaced Persons Act
Passed by US Congress 1948
Allowed over 400,000 European refugees to enter the US. Most were survivors from concentration camps or refugees from Eastern Europe.
President’s Escapee Plan
1952 Allowed refugees from Communist Europe to enter the US
Refugee Relief Act
- Allowed refugees from Communist Europe to enter the US (same as President’s Escapee Plan)
Internal Security Act
- Allowed deportation of declared Communists. Subjected Asian immigration to a quota based on race rather than country of origin.
Migration and Refugee Assistance Act
1962 - assisted refugees in the US
Immigration Act of 1965
Ended quotas based on national origin
Immigration Reform and Control Act
- Prohibited the hiring of illegal immigrants. Granted amnesty to about 3 million undocumented immigrants.
Richard Nixon’s Presidency
- Vietnam War ends
- Improved relations between US and China and US and USSR
- National Environmental Policy Act, provided environmental protection
- Ended compulsory draft
- Roe v. Wade
- Watergate, 1972 Nixon resigns
Gerald Ford
Appointed as Nixon’s vice president when Spiro Agnew resigned under charges of tax evasion. When Nixon resigned after Watergate, Ford became president.
Ford’s presidency:
-negotiations with Russia to limit nuclear arms
- faced inflation, economic downturn, and energy shortages
- sought to reduce government control over businesses and role of government overall
- prevented escalation of conflicts in the Middle East
Jimmy Carter
Elected 1976
- Faced high budget deficit, high unemployment, and inflation
- Panama Canal Treaties
- Camp David Accords: negotiations between Anwar el - Sadat (Egypt) and Menachem Begin (Israel) that led to a peace treaty
- Strategic Arms Limit Talks (SALT), resulted in agreements and treaties
- Iran Hostage Crisis: Shah of Iran was deposed and the Ayotollah Ruholla Khomeini came into power. 53 American hostages were taken and held for 444 days in the US Embassy
Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002
Ronald Reagan
Oldest president (69)
Reagonomics - supply side or trickle down economics, involving major tax cuts for upper income brackets
Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981
First female justice to the Supreme Court Sandra Day O’Connor
Massive increase in national debt - $3 trillion
Negotiations with Mikhail Gorbachev reduced nuclear weapons
Iran-Contra scandal: cover - up of US involvement in revolutions in El Salvador and Nicaragua
Deregulation of savings and loan industry
Loss of space shuttle Challenger
George H.W. Bush
“Thousand Points of Light” speech
- Fall of Berlin Wall and Germany’s unification
- Dictator of Panama Manuel is captured and tried on drug and racketeering charges
- Dissolution of the Soviet Union
- Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm, triggered by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait
- Tiananmen Square Massacre in Beijing
- Ruby Ridge
- Internet/world wide web
Bill Clinton
Impeached but not convicted
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
- Defense of Marriage Act
- Oslo Accords
- Siege at Waco Texas, Branch Davidians led by David Koresh
- Bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City
- Troops sent to Haiti, Bosnia, and Somalia to assist with domestic problems
Age Discrimination Act
1978
Americans with Disabilities Act
1990
Movements for Civil Rights
- Prisoner’s rights movement
- Immigrant’s rights movement
- Women’s rights movement
NOW
National Organization for Women, established 1966
worked to pass the Equal Rights Amendment passed in Congress but not ratified by enough states to add it to the Constitution
George W Bush
Won tightly contested election, lost popular vote. Supreme Court ruling to resolve the issue.
Second term election also tightly contested.
9/11/2001 - first terrorist attack on US soil, by al - Qaeda. Attacked World Trade Center and Pentagon. Led to major changes in security in the US, especially airline travel. US troops deployed to Afghanistan.
Initiated war in Iraq claiming the country held weapons of mass destruction. 2003. No weapons ever found.
Economic meltdown in US and worldwide. Increases in oil prices.
Housing market crash.
Obama Presidency
Elected 2008. First Black president.
- Economic bailout packages
- Improvement’s in women’s rights and LGBTQ rights
- Health Care Reform
- Reinforcement of the war in Afghanistan
