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U.S. History Study Guide
IN THE BEGINNING – Geography
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There are many important river systems in the US examples being the Mississippi River, the Missouri River, the
Ohio River, the Colorado River, & the Hudson River
The US also contains 5 Great Lakes, which received their name due to their large size. They include Lakes
Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, & Ontario (last 2 in New York)
The US also possesses 2 major mountain ranges the Appalachians in the East & the Rocky mountains in the
West
The US capital is located in Washington D.C. New York state’s capital city is located at Albany
Three major mountain ranges are located in New York the Adhirondacks, the Catskills, & the Allegheny
Mountains – all are part of the Appalachian chain
The major rivers in the state of New York are the Hudson, Mohawk, & the St. Lawrence
NATIVE AMERICANS – America’s First Inhabitants
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Geographers study the interaction between people, their environments, and their resources
Historians study what has happened in the lives of different people in our past
The five themes of geography help to illustrate the relationship between geography and history
Political science is a field in which researches study how people set up and maintain governments
Archeologists are individuals who study the past by examining artifacts
Some examples of artifacts which archeologists study are arrowheads, pottery, tools, and buried animal
bones
Longitude and latitude help to determine absolute or exact location of places on the earth.
Latitude lines measure North and South distances from the equator
The equator is an imaginary line at 0 degrees latitude
Longitude lines measure East and West distances from the Prime Meridian
The Prime Meridian lies at 0 degrees longitude
A people’s way of life can be defined as their culture
The Incan civilization was located high in the Andes Mountains in South America
The Aztec people were located in central Mexico with their capital city of Tenochtitlan
Many scientists believe that the first people arrived in the Americas by crossing a land bridge from Siberia in
Asia
Native Americans developed different cultures based upon where the settled in the Americas
Native Americans kept their history alive by storytelling to future generations, this is known as an oral
tradition
The buffalo provided the food, shelter, and clothing for the plain’s hunters
Native-Americans were polytheistic, which means that they believed in many gods
The Iroquois of New York were perhaps the strongest of the Eastern Woodland tribes
Native Americans had a strong respect for nature and for land, which they believed cold not be sold or
owned
The Iroquois formed a league, which they believed would end wars amongst its members and provide a
defense against potential
Examples of how Native Americans adapted to their environment include the foods they ate, the homes in
which they lived, and the clothes they wore
U.S. History Study Guide
THE AGE OF EXPLORATION – “The Americas, who put that there?”
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Europeans became interested in trade for many reasons including new inventions, spices, exotic goods, and
earlier exploration voyages
In order to increase trade profits Europeans looked for new sea routes to Asia
Prince Henry the Navigator helped to increase European interest in exploration by establishing a school of
navigation
Vasco da Gama became the 1st Portuguese sailor to reach India/Asia by sailing around the tip of Africa
Although Columbus is widely believed to be the first European to discover the Americas, it is now proven that
the Vikings arrived centuries earlier
The Columbian Exchange is the name given to the transfer of good, ideas, animals, and disease between the
Old World and the New World
Millions of Native Americans would die as a result of the disease brought to the New World by the Columbian
Exchange
Millions more Native Americans would die from being forced to labor for the Spanish in mines and on
plantations. These plantations were called encomiendas.
The Spanish came to the New World seeking the 3 G’s: Gold, G_d, and Glory
Spanish Conquistadors conquered the Native-Americans of the New World, including the Incas (Pizarro) and
the Aztecs (Cortes)
Bartholome de Las Casas was called the “Protector of the Indians” for speaking on behalf of Indians and Indian
rights in the New World
The Spanish created the empire of New Spain which was locate predominantly in Central and Southern America
The Middle Passage was the horrific journey where Africans were brought across the Atlantic to the Americas
as slaves
Samuel de Champlain explored the St. Lawrence River and set up Quebec as a fur trading post.
The colony of New France was established along the St. Lawrence River in present day Canada (eh?) and
focused on the trapping and trading of furs with Native Americans
A Northwest Passage was important to Europeans because it would supposedly provided a quick all water route
to Asia through the North American Continent
The Dutch became the first major European group to settle in New York (New Amsterdam) and around our
present state capital of Albany (Fort Orange)
AMERICAN COLONIZATION – A New Land
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The colony on Roanoke Island (present day North Carolina) was England’s first attempt at colonization in the
Americas, which was along the Atlantic Coast of North America
Jamestown was England’s first permanent colony in the Americas, but was plagued by disease, hunger, hostile
Indians, and lazy workers
Jamestown grew because of John Rolfe’s success planting tobacco as a cash crop.
The House of Burgesses was the colony’s first representative body in the New World, and helped pave the way
for representative government in all the colonies.
The New England colonies (Plymouth  Pilgrims & Massachusetts Bay  Puritans) were founded for
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
The Mayflower Compact was a document signed by the Pilgrims, which promised to set up a government,
which received its power from the people.
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The Puritans left England to build a religious society in America so they could practice their religion freely
Thomas Hooker (a Puritan dissenter) founded Connecticut because he feared that the Massachusetts
government was too powerful
Roger Williams founded Rhode Island because he fled Massachusetts due to religious differences with Puritans
New Englanders fought King Phillip’s War against Native Americans (Metacom) who were fearful of the
growth of the colonies, and the lose of tribal land
The colonists at Plymouth were helped to survive and adapt to the Americas, because Native Americans taught
them to plant corn and fish
Despite this, the soil of New England was rocky, and was hampered by a short growing season.
The Middle Colonies (Breadbasket Colonies) were known for both their farming and their trading success
New Netherland, which was controlled by the Dutch, became New York after it was taken over by the English
The Triangular Trade was a informal trading route between North America, Europe, and Africa, which involved
such items as sugar, rum, molasses, slaves, manufactured goods, and iron
The triangular trade was a colonial shipping route between New England, the West Indies, and Africa
The backcountry was an inland area at the base of the Appalachian Mountains
Many British settlers moved to the backcountry because of the free land which was available for farming and
settlement
This westward movement caused increased tension between white settlers and Native-Americans, which led to
Bacon’s Rebellion
In the colonies only white Christian males, who owned land, and were 21 years of age, could vote.
The colony of Georgia was established for debtors who were jailed in England
William Penn was the founder of Pennsylvania, a religious haven for Quakers
John Winthrop helped to found the Massachusetts Bay colony for the Puritans
Cecilius Calvert, (Lord Baltimore) helped establish Maryland as a safe haven for Catholics
Roger Williams established Rhode Island to escaper religious persecution as the hands of the Puritans
Indentured servants were those who agreed to work without wages for a length of time in exchange for passage
on a ship to the Americas
A plantation was a large self-sufficient farm and estate, which utilized slave labor to produce cash crops such as
tobacco, rice, indigo, or cotton
Mercantilism is an economic theory, which stated that a nation becomes strong by building up its supply of
gold, and by expanding its trade, at the expense of its colonies. “mother” England
The Great Awakening was a religious movement, which spread throughout the English colonies
The Salem Witch Trials caused the unwarranted death of many of Salem’s citizens, and illustrated how religious
fanaticism can be harmful
The Peter Zenger case helped to establish the idea of Freedom of the Press in the English colonies, by allowing
the press to criticize colonial governments
THE ROAD TO & THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION – A New Nation Emerges
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The conflict over land led to the French and Indian War in colonial North America
The Albany Plan of Union was the idea of Ben Franklin, in which he called for the colonies to unite to defend
themselves against French and Indian attacks
The British military and the colonists won the French and Indian war, and as a result, gained all the French
lands in North America
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The British government was left with a huge monetary debt following the French and Indian War, which they
wanted the colonists in America to shrink by paying taxes
The Proclamation of 1763 forbade the colonists from settling on land west of the Appalachian Mountains, in an
effort to avoid the settlers conflict with Native Americans
“Salutatory Neglect” is the term given to the time period when Britain largely left the colonies to govern
themselves, and where the colonists ignored British mercantilism laws (smuggling & trading with other
European powers)
A boycott was a non-violent form of protest where colonists refused to buy British trade goods
The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act to help raise money to repay the debt left from fighting the French
and Indian War
Colonists in Massachusetts staged the Boston Tea Party to protest the British tax on tea
Colonists began to debate if it was fair for the British Parliament to tax them since the colonists did not have
elected representatives in the English Parliament
The Sons of Liberty were colonists who staged protests against British colonial policies
“No Taxation without Representation” was a colonial response to British economic policies toward the
economy
The Boston Massacre resulted in the unfortunate death of 5 colonists after an altercation with British Troops
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense made many colonists support the idea of independence from Britain
John Locke was a British political theorist who stated that the power to govern came from the people
Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776
The Declaration of Independence was based on the idea of natural rights, or rights that belong to all human
beings (these rights are acquired at birth)
The colonists viewed the idea of unity (oneness) as a strong defense against Great Britain
The Revolutionary War began with the Battles at Lexington (Shot Heard Round the World) and Concord
Supporters of Great Britain were known as Loyalists or Tories
Supporters of independence were known as Patriots
George Washington of Virginia was granted control of the Continental Army
The Americans had the advantage of knowledge of the American terrain, and leadership of George Washington
In the winter of 1777, the Continental Army spent a long harsh winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
The Battle of Saratoga was a colonial victory, and proved to be the turning point of the war because the victory
helped to secure France as an ally (Scary thought, I know!)
France aided the colonies by providing money, supplies, and military assistance
The Revolution came to an end with the surrender of General Cornwallis and his British forces at Yorktown,
Virginia
The Treaty of Paris (1783) established the United States of America as a free and independent nation
THE CONSTITUTION – We the PEOPLE
1. The constitution is a bundle of compromises and a living document.
Great Compromise
Representation
Virginia Plan
James Madison
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William Patterson
Bicameral
House
Senate
Slave Population
Slave Trade
Slave Trade Compromise
Fugitive Slave Law
Federalist
Anti-Federalist
Bill of Rights
Amend
U.S. History Study Guide
NJ Plan
3/5 Compromise
Ratification
Amendment
2. The constitution is broken down into 7 parts called Articles and an introduction called the
Preamble.
3. The constitution limits the power of the federal government through the principles of popular
sovereignty, separation of powers, and checks & balances.
***Main Principles of the Constitution***
1. Popular Sovereignty (through indirect democracy)
2. Separation of Powers
3. Checks & Balances
4. Federalism (division of power into state and federal with federal power being
supreme)
5. Flexibility (ability to amend)
Separation of
Powers
Legislative
Congress
Make laws
Bill
Approve/Reject
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Impeach
Secretary
Interpret
Indirect democracy
Override
Executive
President
Vice Pres.
Cabinet
Veto
Pocket
Appoint
Judicial
Supreme Court
Constitutional
Unconstitutional
Popular Sovereignty
John Locke
Social Contract
Electoral College
Checks & Balances
State Powers
Federal Powers
Term/Term Limits
Shays’ Rebellion was one of many factors which illustrated the weaknesses and ineffectiveness of the nation’s
first constitution, the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation gave too much power to the state governments because Americans feared a
tyrant (strong ruler) following their experiences with King George III of England
The initial purpose of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was to revise the Articles
One of the main beliefs of the framers of the Constitution is that the government should have limited powers,
so an not become tyrannical
James Madison is known as the “Father of the Constitution” for his role in helping to create the document
The goals of the nation’s Constitution are listed in the Preamble
At the convention in Philadelphia many debates about representation arose, and were settled by several
compromises
The Great Compromise created a 2 house (BICAMERAL)legislature: one based on population, the other
gave each state 2 officials
The Great compromise was a blend of both the New Jersey (small state) and Virginia (large state) plans
The 3/5 Compromise helped to answer how slaves would be counted in a state’s population for governmental
representation
The Constitution created 3 branches of government (the legislative, the executive, and the judicial), which is also
known as the separation of powers
The legislative branch writes laws, the executive branch enforces laws, and the judicial branch interprets the law.
The executive branch is headed by the President of the United States
The division of power between the national, state, and local government is known as federalism
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Under the system of federalism, delegated powers are left to the national government, reserved powers are left
to the states, while concurrent powers are shared between both levels
The Constitution also created a system of checks and balances, which allows one branch to check the power
of the other two braches to make sure they do not become too powerful
Be sure to understand some of the governmental checks (veto, override, impeachment, judicial review, etc.)
Judicial Review is the idea that the Supreme Court can decide whether a law violates the Constitution
Federalists are those individuals who wanted to support the ratification (pass) of the Constitution
Federalists believed in a strong central government, which would provide stability and order.
The Federalist Papers were a series of essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay,
which helped to give support for the cause for the ratification of the Constitution.
Antifederalists were those individuals who were against the ratification of the Constitution
Antifederalists believed that the national government was too strong, and that the Constitution needed a Bill of
Rights added to protect the basic rights (natural or unalienable rights) of the nation’s citizens
The Elastic Clause gives Congress the right to make all laws it deems “necessary and proper”, which allows the
Constitution to adjust to situations that the framers were not anticipating when the Constitution was written
The Constitution, is a “living document” which can be changed either by the amendment process, or through
its interpretation by the Supreme Court
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights, which protect the basic rights of
all Americans
The Bill of Rights protects such things as freedom of speech, religion, the right to bear arms, the right to trial,
and the right of due process of law.
The Constitution is based on the principle of Popular Sovereignty, which means that “The People” have the
final say in government.
The ultimate authority from our form of government comes from the people (We the People …)
The government of the U.S. is a representative democracy, which means that citizens elect representatives to
serve office for them.
WAR of 1812, JACKSONIAN AGE, & MANIFEST DESTINY - Life in the New Nation
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The supreme court received the right of judicial review in the Marbury vs. Madison case (1803), which allowed
them to decide the Constitutionality of laws
The United States doubled the size of the nation when President Jefferson purchased Louisiana from France in
1803, and expanded the United States west of the Mississippi River
The U.S. purchased Louisiana from Napoleon for 15 million dollars because France needed money to fight
Great Britain and Spain in a war in Europe
President Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to Louisiana to gather information about resources available, and
also to explore and map the region
Sacajawea, a Shoshone Indian, helped Lewis and Clark on their expedition to Louisiana
Impressment is the act of forcing foreign sailors to work on warships of the British Navy
President Jefferson’s Embargo Act weakened the U.S. economy by hurting both American merchants and
sailors
War Hawks were Congressmen who wanted to wage war with Britain to seize Canada, take Spanish Florida,
stop Britain from impressing our sailors, and stop Native American attacks on the Frontier
U.S. History Study Guide
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The U.S. fought the War of 1812 (nicknamed the Second War for Independence) against Great Britain
The U.S. and Native Americans came into conflict because white settlers threatened the Native Americans way
of life (culture)
The War of 1812 ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814, which basically returned things to the
way they were before the war was fought
The war ended in a tie, but helped increase U.S. nationalism, or pride in one’s nation
Following his lopsided victory at the Battle of New Orleans Andrew Jackson became a national hero
Following the War of 1812 sectional differences began to emerge in the nation
Sectionalism is the idea that one favors the needs of one's area of the country over the needs of the entire
country
The invention of the Cotton Gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 helped industrialization because it allowed cotton to be
cleaned quicker making it more profitable; however, this would mean southern plantation owners would expand
the slave system to keep up with the demand for cotton
Early industrialization began in the textile mills of New England in the due to the abundance of waterpower.
These mills employed mostly young women and children
Steamboats helped to revolutionize travel on waterways in the early 19th century
The development and construction of the Erie Canal allowed western farmers to ship goods cheaply and
quickly to New York City, which became a center of commerce (trade)
The Erie Canal allowed farmers to ship and sell their goods to many markets along the east coast
The Monroe Doctrine (1823) warned European powers to not colonize the Americas
The Monroe Doctrine reinforced George Washington’s idea of American neutrality by attempting to avoid
armed conflict with Europe
John Quincy Adams defeated Andrew Jackson in the election of 1824. The election was nicknamed the
“Corrupt Bargain” because the election had to be settled by the House of Representatives
When elected to the Presidency in 1828 Andrew Jackson gave his supporters and loyal party member’s jobs in
the government. This was known as the Spoils System.
Nullification is the idea that a state can veto (abolish) or cancel a law of the federal government. The
Nullification Crisis results from Southern hatred of a tariff passed by the U.S. government.
President Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act, which forced the relocation of the 5 civilized tribes of
Native Americans from the Southeastern U.S. to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma)
President Jackson was the hero of the common man, and helped increase democracy in the United States by
extending the right to vote to many Americans (not females, African-Americans, Native-Americans – well you
get the idea)
A NATION DIVIDED AND THE CIVIL WAR – Brother fights brother
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As the nation grew due to expansion & manifest destiny many Americans feared the expansion of slavery
A series of compromises attempted to cure the slavery vs. free state issue
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 tried to keep the balance of free & slave states in the Union
The Compromise of 1850 left the issue of slavery up to residents in the newly settled territories
This idea was called popular sovereignty, where territory citizens voted for or against slavery
The book Uncle Tom’s Cabin was important because illustrated to many Americans the evil of slavery
The Dred Scott decision of 1857 decided that slaves were property & not citizens of the US
The Republican Party was founded to rid the US of slavery & became the party of Abe Lincoln
John Brown led a raid to Harper’s Ferry, Virginia to seize weapons to start a slave rebellion
The election of Abraham Lincoln led many southern states to decided to leave the Union
U.S. History Study Guide
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Sectionalism, states’ rights, & slavery caused the US to fight a civil war between north (free) vs. the south
(slave-owning)
The secession of many southern states from the Union & the attack on Fort Sumter in Charleston, South
Carolina started the war
The Confederacy was created & Jefferson Davis became its president
The primary goal for Lincoln in fighting the war was to preserve the Union
Initially, the Union planned on capturing Richmond, blockading southern ports, and controlling the Mississippi
River
The South planned on winning the war by fighting a defensive war and wearing down the Union desire to fight
the war
For the south, the Civil War was a fight to keep their traditional ways of life & secede from the Union. For
the north, it was a fight to preserve the Union & rid the nation of slavery
The North had the advantages of its large industrial centers, large railroad network, natural resources, &
money. The south had the advantage of knowing the land, fighting a defensive war, & the great military
leadership of Robert E. Lee
Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation following the Battle of Antietam, which broadened the purpose
of the war, which would now be to free or emancipate southern slaves
The Emancipation Proclamation freed all the slaves in the Confederacy, which really freed no slaves because the
Union did not control the Confederate states
Gettysburg and Vicksburg (1863) were both Northern victories, and marked the turning point of the Civil War
in the North
In the Gettysburg Address, President Lincoln stated that the purpose of the Civil War was to defend democracy
and spread freedom
President Lincoln appointed as his chief general Ulysses S. Grant, who planned to fight a total war with the
South by destroying their ability to fight
As a result of the war, slavery was abolished, the south had to rejoin the Union, more Americans died than
in any other American war since then American fought Americans
America would struggle to rebuild the nation after the destruction of so much property
RECONSTRUCTION – The Nation Heals its Wounds
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Total war is the idea of destroying your enemy’s economy by destroying all of their food and equipment
Following the Civil War the South was destroyed both physically and economically
Reconstruction was the period in which the South was rebuilt, and restored to the Union
Carpetbaggers were northerners who moved south during Reconstruction to gain wealth or power
Scalawags were southerners who supported the Radical Republicans who were viewed as traitors by fellow
southerners
A positive effect of Reconstruction was that new constitutional amendments expanded the political and civil
rights of African-Americans
Black Codes were laws which restricted the rights of African-Americans in the South
Poll Taxes, Literacy Tests, Grandfather Clauses, and Jim Crow Laws were all tools used by Southern
governments following Reconstruction to deny rights to African-Americans
The Ku Klux Klan was a group, which terrorized African-Americans in the South and attempted to maintain
segregation in the South, as well as preventing African-Americans from exercising their right to vote.
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Segregation is the process of separating the races in society (keeping whites and blacks separated)
African-Americans in the South (freedmen) were extremely poor following the war, and many became
sharecroppers
Sharecropping was virtually a new form of slavery where freedmen were taken advantage of by rich landowners
The Freedmen’s Bureau was established to help former slaves by providing food, job training, and an education
Black Codes and Jim Crow Laws were both southern attempts to deny African-Americans their political and
civil rights
Segregation became legalized in 1896 following the Plessy vs. Ferguson decision, which stated that segregation
was legal if “separate but equal” facilities were provided to both whites and blacks. The facilities were rarely if
ever “equal.”
Impeachment is when a public official is accused of committing a crime or some other wrongdoing
Carpetbaggers were northerners who moved south during Reconstruction to gain wealth or power
Scalawags were southerners who supported the Radical Republicans who were viewed as traitors by fellow
southerners
THE AMERICAN WEST – Americans move West, but at what cost?
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People moved to the West for a variety of reasons – gold, land, and opportunity
A. How did mining contribute to the settlement of the West?
B. How did homesteaders contribute to the settlement of the West?
C. Describe the role ranchers played in the settlement of the West.
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The U.S. government supported the settlement of the west through:
A. Homestead Act (What was it? How did it contribute to the settlement of the western frontier?)
B. Granting land to railroad companies land to build the transcontinental railroad.
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The Transcontinental Railroad contributed to the settlement of the West and helped provide a boost
(helped) the economy grow
A. What were the economic benefits of the railroad?
B. More people moved West – towns in the west became populated-more states applied from statehood
C. How did the railroad negatively impact Native Americans
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Native Americans suffered because of the settlement of the West.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
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How did Native Americans view land and the environment
Why were buffalo important to the Plains Indians
What are reservations? Why were they established?
What was assimilation?
What was the Dawes Act? How did it attempt to assimilate Native Americans?
Farmers on the Great Plains had to adapt to their new environment. Technology was used to help farmers
on the Plains (windmills, barbed wire fences, steel plows). Farmers also united by forming the Grange and the
Populist Party to bring about change.
A. What hardships did farmers encounter on the Great Plains?
B. What economic problems did farmers experience?
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U.S. History Study Guide
Some Other Important Facts
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Manifest destiny was the desire of Americans to expand from the Atlantic to Pacific Oceans
In the early 1850’s many people were drawn to the West & particularly California to mine gold and silver
Americans were drawn to the Black Hills, Rocky, & the Sierra Nevada Mountains due to the rich mining areas
The Homestead Act gave settlers 160 free acres of land to farm if they agreed to settle on it for five (5) years
Homesteaders were farmers (Sodbusters) who settled on the Great Plains
One problems homesteaders had on the plains was a lack of rainfall and hot summers
Homes on the plains were made of sod because there was little wood available to build with
The transcontinental railroad stretched across the North American continent from the eastern to western coast
of the United States
One result of the completion of the transcontinental railroad was that supplies and people could be moved
quickly and easily to the American West
A Indian reservation was an area of land set aside specifically for Native Americans to live upon
The Dawes Act passed in 1887 attempted to make Native Americans become farmers & give up their traditional
way of life based upon buffalo hunting
Broken treaties between the U.S. government & Native Americans caused many wars between the two
Most Indian wars occurred over conflict over the usage of land
Most land given to the Native Americans by the U.S. government was located on reservations, which had often
poor, unusable land
Indian tribes which moved from one area to another area following the buffalo were known as nomads
INDUSTRIALIZATION – From farmers to machine operators
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The railroad helped fuel the growth of industry by linking the eastern and the western parts of the U.S.
Factories in the east now had additional markets in which to sell their goods. In addition, railroads brought raw
materials found in the west to eastern cities to be utilized by the factories.
The growing number of immigrants to the United States provided factories with a cheap source of labor.
During industrialization, products were no longer made by individual artisans or craftsmen; instead, factories
used machines and the assembly line to mass-produce goods.
The assembly line was used by Henry Ford to mass produce automobiles.
Workers on an assembly line have one specialized task they complete all day. The product moves along a
conveyor belt and each worker completes his/her task.
Mass production caused factory owners to make larger profits and gave consumers cheaper prices.
Industrialization changed the way businesses were organized. Corporations began to grow and there were
fewer single owned businesses.
Corporations are able to raise more capital (money) through the sale of stocks (shares in a company). They
used this capital to expand the size of their companies.
Rockefeller controlled the oil industry (Standard Oil), Carnegie controlled the steel industry (US Steel)
Vanderbilt controlled railroads, and J.P. Morgan was a wealthy financier (banker).
Rockefeller, Carnegie, and other leading industrialists were often criticized for their ruthless business actions.
Critics considered them robber barons. They were also considered by some as captain of industries and
philanthropists for the charitable donations they made.
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Competition is good for consumers. When monopolies (one company controls and entire industry) emerged,
consumers suffered from high prices. Without competition, the price of goods increase and the quality may
decrease.
Monopolies were also criticized for using their wealth to influence politics and the government through large
financial contributions.
Railroad companies offered rebates to their largest customers, which hurt many small businesses and farmers.
The rapid industrialization of the United States led to poor working conditions for laborers. Workers suffered a
lack of job security, long hours, low pay, and dangerous working conditions.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire was an example of the deplorable, overcrowded and unsafe working
conditions laborers (workers) were forced to endure.
Children played a large, yet unfortunate role in the industrialization of the United States.
The economy of the United States is based on the Free Enterprise System or capitalism, the belief that
private citizens should own businesses and profit from the business.
Workers united to try to cure the problems caused by industrialization by forming labor unions.
Labor unions hoped to receive better pay, eight-hour work day, and better working conditions.
The tools used by labor unions include collective bargaining, strikes, slow downs, and picketing.
Tools used by factory owners included injunctions, lock outs, scabs, blacklist (list of union members sent to
other industries so the people on the list are not hired).
Early labor unions faced resistance from the government and the public.
The Knights of Labor allowed both skilled and unskilled workers to join, while the American Federation of
Labor set up by Samuel Gompers, only allowed skilled workers to join. The AFL was a union of unions.
Individuals joined a trade union and then the union joined the AFL.
The government’s laissez faire attitude of not getting involved in business contributed to the growth of
industry in the late 1800s – early 1900s and the problems that resulted from industrialization.
IMMIGRATION & URBANIZATION – City Life & “New” Americans
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Immigrants came to the United States for different reasons and in different waves.
Old Immigrants came from areas of northern and western Europe before 1880. (English, French, Germans,
Dutch, and Scandinavians  Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland)
New immigrants were those from Southern and Eastern Europe who came to the US after 1880. (Italians,
Hungarians, Rumanians, Russians, the Polish, Bulgarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Yugoslavians, Greeks, etc.)
Push factors were conditions that caused people to leave their homeland. Push factors include famine (ex: Irish
potato famine), religious persecution, political persecution, lack of land, lack of freedom, lack of jobs, and
overpopulation.
Pull factors attract people to an area. Pull factors include the desire for religious freedom, political freedom, job
opportunities, land, and hopes of a better life.
European immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island.
Asian immigrants entered the United States through Angel Island.
Most immigrants traveled to the United States aboard a ship in the vessel’s steerage. Steerage conditions were
difficult (crowded, dirty, lack of food, disease spread easily, etc.)
Immigrants went through tough medical, mental, and legal inspections (questioning) before being allowed to
enter the country.
Most immigrants settled in ethnic neighborhoods called ghettos, which were located in cities. (Little Italy and
Chinatown are examples)
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Ethnic neighborhoods are areas in which people of the same culture lived together. Ethnic neighborhoods
provided a level of comfort for immigrants because they had the same language, culture, and traditions.
Urbanization (the movement from rural areas to the cities) was the result of industrialization and immigration.
Factories, located in the cities, provided jobs for recent immigrants.
The immigrants’ experiences were very different from the reality of their life in the United States.
Immigrants worked in factories with poor conditions for little pay. Many lived in tenements (dirty and crowded
apartments). Many of their children were forced to work to help with the cost of living.
Immigrants also faced opposition from many Americans. These individuals were called Nativists.
Nativists believed in limiting immigration to the United States and the influence these immigrants had on
Americans. Some Americans feared they would lose jobs to immigrants. Because of anti-immigration attitudes,
immigrants faced discrimination and prejudice.
The Chinese Exclusion Act was passed to limit the number of Chinese entering the United States. The
Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1907 limited the number of Japanese citizens entering the United States.
Quotas were created to limit the number of immigrants entering the United States from other countries.
Some Americans believed immigrants should be forced to assimilate into the American culture. Assimilation
means immigrants were forced to give up their ways of life and become part of the American culture. This is
also called the melting pot theory.
The salad bowl theory is the belief that different cultures could live together while still holding on to their own
traditions, beliefs, and language.
As more people flocked to the cities, they became overcrowded and problems arose. Problems included poor
living conditions, unhealthy and unsanitary conditions, crime, pollution, traffic, etc.
PROGRESSIVISM – “Cure the Ills of Industrial America”
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Progressive reformers sought to improve American life and society
Progressives believed the government should look out for and protect the good of the people (public interest).
Some reforms of the Progressive movement were women’s suffrage, prohibition of alcohol, and food and drug
inspections
Progressives were very concerned with overcrowded slums & the conditions in the nations’ cities
Many muckrakers wrote about the evils and abuses of child labor
The main purpose of the Federal Reserve System is to regulate the US banking system
The efforts of authors and social activists were primarily responsible for reforms during the Progressive Era
The direct election of Senators, national primaries, and the income tax all came during the Progressive Era
Improving social and economic conditions were the major concerns for Progressives
The word reform usually referred to achieving greater equality and justice
The following were reforms designed to make the government more democratic: initiative, recall and the
referendum
Progressives wanted the government to abandon its laissez faire attitude and begin regulating business.
People who exposed corrupt practices in business and government were called Muckrakers
Presidents during the Progressive era generally tried to prevent unfair business practices
DuBois and Washington responded differently to racial inequality. Washington believed African Americans
should focus on education and jobs to gain economic equality. DuBois believed African Americans should
demand their rights (using peaceful tactics). He especially believed African Americans needed the right to vote.
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There was a movement of African Americans from the south to the north (The Great Migration) to work in the
factories. Job discrimination, low pay, long hours, unsafe conditions were experienced by African Americans in
the factories.
The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) was formed and is still working
for civil rights today.
Women headed the temperance movement because they feared the effects alcohol could have on their families
Upton Sinclair a muckraker who wrote The Jungle addressing the horrors in the meatpacking industry resulted in
the passing of the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act.
Lincoln Steffens a muckraker who wrote The Shame of the Cities, which illustrated the effects of corruption &
boss politics in city governments
Political corruption was rampant in the cities. NYC's corrupt political boss was Boss Tweed.
The goal of regulating monopolies or trusts was a response to corporations who cheated the public by limiting
competition
President Theodore Roosevelt believed that big business should be watched and monitored by the government
Progressives largely wanted to reform corruption in politics
Thomas Nast used political cartoons to expose the corruption of Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall.
Suffragists fought for women's right to vote. Their actions help get the Nineteenth Amendment ratified.
Democracy expanded during the Progressive Era with the creation of secret ballots, primaries, Seventeenth
Amendment, and the Nineteenth Amendment.
The temperance movement sought to bring about the prohibition of alcohol in the nation
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act, Federal Reserve Act, and Interstate Commerce Act allowed the government to
regulate different aspects of business and the economy.
The Civil Service Act required people to take an exam before certain jobs. This was created to eliminate the use
of the spoils system.
16th Amendment – Passage of a graduated income tax, which meant that people were taxed based upon their
ability to pay
17th Amendment – provided for the direct election of US Senators by eligible voters, which had previously
been elected by state assemblies
18th Amendment – Passage of prohibition, which disallowed the sale & manufacture of alcoholic beverages
19th Amendment – Granted universal suffrage (voting) to women
IMPERIALISM – Why not all the other industrial nations have EMPIRES!
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Isolationism is the idea of remaining neutral and having little to do with the affairs of other nations
The desire for Americans to expand westward in the 1840’s and later to spread her boundaries overseas was
called Manifest Destiny.
The purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 became one of the first major overseas acquisitions by the U.S.
following the Civil War
Under imperialism, a stronger country attempts to control a weaker one, gain natural resources, and sell its
products in their markets
The causes of the Spanish American were “Yellow Journalism”, the harsh Spanish treatment of the Cuban
people, and the sinking of the battleship Maine
U.S. involvement in the Spanish-American War showed that our government can be affected by the actions of
the press (yellow journalism)
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The “Open Door Policy” prevented European nations from dividing up China as colonies, and allowed all
nations equal trading privileges or spheres of influence, which were exclusive areas of trade in China
The Panama Canal was built to increase U.S. security and trade in the Caribbean and around the world
The U.S. showed interest in Asia and the Pacific by annexing Hawaii, the Philippines, Samoa, and by supporting
the Open Door Policy
Manufacturers wanted the U.S. to acquire overseas colonies in the late 19th century as a cheap source of raw
materials, and as a market for industrial goods
The U.S. occupied Midway Island and Guam in the Pacific to set up a naval refueling and repair station for its
ships.
Between 1900 – 1920, the basic goal of U.S. policy toward the nations of Latin America was to increase
American political and economic interests.
American newspapers utilized sensational, often untrue headlines and half-truths (Yellow Journalism) to help
sell newspapers and helping lead to the Spanish-American War
The immediate spark of the Spanish-American war was the explosion of the battleship Maine.
Dollar Diplomacy was President Taft’s policy to bring peace to Latin America by helping financial investments
in Latin America.
Many anti-imperialists (people against imperialism) believed that imperialism was founded on the idea of racism
The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 was passed to help keep European nations from interfering in the affairs of the
U.S. in the Western Hemisphere
The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine gave the U.S. the authority to interfere in the affairs of the
countries of Latin America (Central America, South America, and the Caribbean), and act as an international
policeman
White Man’s Burden was the idea of the United States to occupy colonies to better, westernize (modernize), and
Christianize the native inhabitants of the lands occupied by the U.S.
Big Stick Diplomacy was the unofficial name of President Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy toward Latin
America, which called for strong actions to keep Europeans out of Latin America; however, these actions
damaged the U.S. relationship with Latin American countries
The isthmus of Panama, was an area of land which was suitable for the construction of a canal
The Boxer Rebellion occurred in China, and was an effort by Chinese citizens to protest against foreign
imperialism
The rise in imperialism changed the U.S. foreign policy advice George Washington had given America in 1796,
which stated to remain out of the affairs of the world (remain neutral)
WORLD WAR I – The Great War in Europe becomes ours
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Militarism, the alliance system, nationalism, and imperialism all caused tension in the early 20th century amongst
European nations
The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was the immediate
spark of World War I in Europe.
The Central Powers or Triple Alliance included the powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman
Empire (Italy was a member until 1915)
Russia, France and Great Britain were members of the Triple Entente. (The US joined these nations in 1917)
Germany’s Zimmermann Telegram to Mexico gave the US reason to consider fighting a war with Germany
In 1914, the US adopted a policy of neutrality, or the policy of non-involvement when war erupted in Europe
Woodrow Wilson was the US President during the First World War, and was re-elected in 1916 by promising to
keep the US out of World War I
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The Triple Alliance and Triple Entente were established to keep the military balance of power in Europe
As a result of the Russian Revolution of 1917, Russia decided to withdraw from World War I
The US government sold liberty bonds to help raise money for the war effort
Trade with the Allied powers during the war helped the US economy grow tremendously
The rights of freedom of speech and the press were restricted during the First World War in the US – The
Sedition and Espionage Acts
Through President Wilson’s Fourteen Points he hoped to set up democratic governments in Asia and Europe
American opponents of World War I most often protested being drafted into the military to fight the war in
Europe
One portion of Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points which was included into the Treaty of Versailles was his idea of
a League of Nations, which had the goal to prevent all future world wars
The US did not join the League of Nations because the US Senate refused to ratify (pass) the Treaty of
Versailles
The US Senate did not want the US to be dragged into any future European wars, which the League of Nations
would pledge to protect
The Supreme Court of the US ruled in the case, Schenck vs. US, that free speech can be restricted and limited
if it creates a clear and present danger to the US (as in times of war)
The status of women changed during the war because with the absence of men greater job opportunities were
suddenly available for women
A blockade is an attempt by a country to stop all types of shipping from entering another country’s harbors or
ports
France, Britain, Italy, and the US were known as the Allied Powers
The Zimmerman Note was a German message sent to Mexico trying to lure Mexico into the war on the side
of Germany by attacking the US
The Sedition and Espionage Acts were laws which tried to limit opposition to the war by placing opponents
in jail
Reparations are payments made by one nation to another for damages caused by a war
The Selective Service Act required all men between the ages of 18 – 45 to register for the draft
The nations of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire were known as the Central Powers due
to their location in Europe
Trench Warfare was developed to try to combat the use of machine guns and other devastating weapons
Woodrow Wilson’s idea for a League of Nations was a peace making body whose goal was to avoid future war
through discussion
The proceedings at the Versailles peace conference would have real important consequences on the
events of Europe in the decades to come. (1930’s and 1940’s) The terms of the Treaty of Versailles
would cause resentment and bitter feelings amongst the defeated nation of Germany.
THE ROARING 20’S – Let the Good Times Roll
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America followed the advice given by George Washington in 1796 and returned to isolationism following World
War I
The United States in the 1920s refused to join to the League of Nations to avoid foreign entanglements or
alliances
The Jazz Age and the “Roaring Twenties” were other names given to the 1920s due to the cultural activities
which occurred during those years
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New fads and ways to have fun swept across the nation, which helped to give the era the nickname, the
“Roaring Twenties.”
Jazz, the blues, prohibition, speakeasies, and flappers were all characteristics of the “Roaring 20s”
Flappers were young females who broke against traditions in terms of fashion and behavior.
The automobile is the invention which led to the greatest change in lifestyles during the 1920s by providing
Americans with more leisure time
Henry Ford’s assembly line only helped to make cars more affordable to the average American family.
Women’s role in society changed during the 1920s because women began to become more involved in the
workforce than in previous periods
The 19th Amendment gave women the right to suffrage (voting), which helped to expand democracy in the
United States
During the “Great Migration” many African-Americans moved to northern cities to seek better economic
opportunities and to escape discrimination, racism, and Jim Crow laws; however, discrimination still awaited in
the north
African-Americans experienced a growing rebirth of culture, pride, and heritage during an theatrical, artistic and
literary movement known as the Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance produced outstanding works of literature (Langston Hughes) and music (Louis
Armstrong and Duke Ellington)
The Scopes Monkey trial resulted from teaching the theory of evolution and tested the clash of ideas of science
versus religion in public schools
The temperance movement greatest achievement was the legalized prohibition of alcohol, which began with the
passage of the 18th Amendment. Prohibition led to an increase in the growth of organized crime in America’s
largest cities.
Prohibition was largely a failure because laws which are not popular with Americans and challenge morality are
hard to enforce
Charles Lindbergh was a famous aviator who became a hero after being the 1st person to fly non-stop across
the Atlantic Ocean
The use of installment plans or credit had a huge impact on the growth of the US economy of the 1920s
because it gave people money to buy products they previously could not afford. (It helped fuel economic
growth)
Buying stock “on margin” and installment purchases helped the economy to expand rapidly in the 1920s
The overextension and usage of purchasing on credit led to a major economic downturn at the end of the 1920s
Nativists are those who favor the interests of native born Americans (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) over
those of immigrants
Communists and anarchists were blamed for many of the problems America experienced during the “Red
Scare”
During the Red Scare many Americans believed that communists would overthrow the U.S. government
Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer deported (sent back to their home countries) those immigrants who were
viewed to be potential communists
The Sacco and Vanzetti trial illustrated how the Red Scare helped frighten Americans and resulted in a backlash
against Communists, radicals, and anarchists
The Ku Klux Klan was once again popular in the 1920s because of the fear of rapid immigration and cultural
change
The immigration acts of the 1920s, placed severe limits or quotas on immigrants coming to the US, but were
designed to discriminate against people coming from Southern and Eastern Europe
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Immigration quotas placed limits on the number of foreign born individuals who were allowed to enter the US,
and illustrated America’s rise in Nativism as a result of the “Red Scare”
THE GREAT DEPRESSION – Americans & our Economy Suffer
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The stock market crash, known as Black Tuesday, on October 29, 1929w as one of the main causes of the
Great Depression
Overproduction, the overuse of credit, and a lack of demand for goods were also causes of the Great
Depression
A depression is a severe economic downturn, which is characterized by large-scale unemployment, low
industrial production, and poverty
President Hoover was blamed by Americans for the Great Depression because he did not take actions to
attempt to cure the problems it caused
“Hoovervilles” was a term given to the primitive shelters built by homeless Americans, which sprang up in
parks and vacant lots all across America
The Bonus Army was a group of World War I veterans who traveled to Washington to attempt to receive
money promised for past military service
President Roosevelt was elected in 1932 by promising the American people a “new deal” in which he promised
to help cure the nation’s injured economy
The New Deal was FDR’s plan to help America claw out of the Great Depression, and was characterized by
the 3 R’s relief, recovery, and reform
The most severe problem that FDR faced in 1932 was widespread unemployment, thus the main goal of
President Roosevelt’s New Deal was to end unemployment
FDR utilized deficit spending (spending more money than the government collects in taxes) to fund public
works and other projects aimed at helping the nation
Public works projects are government funded jobs to build public facilities, such as parks, airports, and roads
The “Hundred Days” was a term utilized to describe a period when FDR and Congress passed many laws in a
short period to help the poor, and also adopted many work relief programs to reduce unemployment
FDR’s bank holiday was designed to help restore the American public’s confidence in the banking system
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was designed to help protect the savings of Americans
who kept their money in banks
The massive government spending of the New Deal provided some small economic gains during the Great
Depression
The “Dust Bowl” was a drought stricken area of the Great Plains, which was no longer suitable for farming.
Many of the farmers (Okies and Arkies) who lived there migrated west to California seeking new opportunities.
FDR established the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) to help farmers by paying them not to grow certain
crops designed to increase farm prices, & by providing loans.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) provided flood control, cheap hydroelectric power and new jobs to
many Americans during the Great Depression
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a program, which employed young Americans, who planted trees,
built parks, and stopped soil erosion around the U.S.
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was created to employ artists and writers, as well as to build schools
and hospitals
Social Security provided pensions to the elderly and retired workers, unemployment insurance, and other
benefits to the American people.
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Social Security was passed to help Americans who could not support themselves by providing them economic
assistance it created pensions and unemployment insurance to attempt to prevent future depressions
FDR tried to “pack” the Supreme Court because the existing justices were enemies of many of the New Deal
programs. The Constitutional idea of checks and balances was threatened by FDR’s plan to add more justices to
the Supreme Court
The Wagner Act was a law which legalized unionism, collective bargaining, and set up a National Labor
Relations Board
Radio and the movies were popular methods used by Americans to attempt to escape the harsh reality of the
depression
Many Republicans in Congress feared programs such as Social Security gave the government too much power
and responsibility
Republican opposition to President Roosevelt stated that New Deal reforms went too far in trying to fix the
government and economy
The New Deal expanded the role and power of the federal government in the economy, as well as in the life of
American citizens. The government now assumed some responsibility for the welfare of the American people
The main result of the New Deal and the F.D.R. presidency was that it increased the size, power, and
the role of the federal government.
WORLD WAR II –Take two, the World is bleed & Horrific deeds are done
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Dictators controlled the nations of Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Soviet Union in the years prior to and during
World War II
Dictatorships are characterized by a lack of person freedoms (such as speech, religion, and assembly) and
political rights
A major cause of World War II was the expansion and aggressiveness of Germany and Japan
A major factor in Hitler and the Nazi Party’s rise to power in Germany was the resentment towards the Treaty
of Versailles, which ended World War I.
British and French appeasement was shown towards Germany by allowing Hitler to seize the Sudetenland at the
Munich Conference
America adopted a policy of isolationism during the 1930’s when it failed to join the League of Nations
The Neutrality Acts illustrated the belief that the US should not get involved in the affairs of Europe
World War II began on September 1, 1939 when Britain and France declared war on Germany following the
invasion of Poland
When the war began, the U.S. maintained a policy of isolationism and neutrality
The U.S. became the “Arsenal of Democracy” by providing war supplies and equipment to the Allied powers
through the Lend-Lease Act
Japanese aggression in the Pacific was aimed at acquiring raw materials and labor for it’s nation
The U.S. entered World War II following Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941
Following the attack on the U.S. by Japan, the United States joined the Allied Powers. The Allied powers
consisted of Britain, the Soviet Union, the U.S. and what was left of the French forces following their surrender
to Germany in June 1940
The Allies were opposed by the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan
Rationing, the planting of victory gardens, and rubber and scrap drives were efforts made by Americans to aid
the war effort on the Homefront
The goal of the government’s rationing program was to make sure that everyone received an equal amount of
scarce items
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Sacrifices were demanded from all classes and age groups of Americans on the Homefront
As a result of World War II the Great Depression ended and unemployment decreased due to the huge increase
in employment opportunities in industry, agriculture, and the military
World War II affected women because many took jobs in war-related industries
“Rosie the Rivetor” was the nickname given to females who worked in the defense industry producing war
materials during World War II
During the war, Japanese-Americans were forced from the West Coast of the U.S. and made to move into
internment camps for fear that they might act as spies or saboteurs
The strategy of island hopping, used by American forces in the Pacific occurred when the U.S. attacked the
Japanese forces on selected islands in their approach to Japan
D-day was the code name for the Allied invasion by air and sea forces of Europe at Normandy, France on June
6, 1944.
D-Day was significant because it surrounded the Germans between the Americans and British in the west, and
those of the Soviet Union in the east
One of the Nazi Germany’s main goals was to eliminate all of the Jews from Europe, and expand their borders
into Eastern Europe
Germany’s attempt to kill all European Jews and other minorities was known as the Holocaust
Nuremberg was the place where German government officials and soldiers were put on trial for committing
crimes “against humanity” from the Holocaust
President Truman decided to use the atomic bomb because he wanted to reduce the loss of American lives in
the Pacific
The cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the targets of America’s atomic bombs
Japan finally surrendered after the US used atomic bombs against them
A major result of World War II was that the United Nations was created, which was designed to help prevent
future wars
THE COLD WAR – the US squares off Against the Soviet Union
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Following World War II the United Nations was formed to help solve world conflicts peacefully
The Cold War was both a military and political struggle between communism (USSR) and capitalism (USA)
which occurred after World War II when the Soviet Union occupied the countries of Eastern Europe.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill coined the term the “Iron Curtain”, which was the invisible political
barrier that divided communist Eastern and democratic Western Europe
The Soviet Union dominated and controlled the Eastern European nations, which were referred to as satellite
nations
The Marshall Plan was the American idea to help European nations rebuild their economies after WWII to
make democracy look more attractive than communism
The Truman Doctrine was the Presidential plan to give American aid to countries threatened by Communism
Containment was the policy of trying to prevent the spread of Soviet or communist influence beyond where it
already existed (This led to U.S. involvement in both the Korean and Vietnam wars)
The Berlin Blockade was a Soviet effort to gain control of West Berlin by starving the population.
The U.S. responded to the Berlin Blockade by launching the Berlin Airlift to provide food, medicine, and fuel
to democratic West Berlin
Senator Joseph McCarthy spread panic that the US was going to be taken over by Communists, and as a result
the constitutional rights of many Americans were violated
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Americans who spoke out against McCarthy were often accused of being communists themselves or placed on
blacklists (which prevented their employment)
The Korean War was the first test of the United Nations, and pitted the Communist nations of North Korea
and China, versus the forces of the United Nations, comprised mainly of US servicemen
The United Nations forces were able to stop a communist takeover of South Korea, but only after a three-year
stalemate.
The Cold War in Europe was waged between the U.S.S.R. with its East European communist allies (Warsaw
Pact satellite nations) against capitalist West Europe (NATO) and its ally the United States
Sputnik was a Soviet satellite launched into space in 1957, which led to the founding of NASA and expansion
of the US space effort
The only visible symbol of the “Iron Curtain” was the Berlin Wall which was built in 1961 and was
constructed to keep communist East Germans from escaping to the Democratic West Berlin
The Bay of Pigs was the site of a failed armed invasion of Fidel Castro’s Cuba by anticommunist forces, who
were supported by the United States. The goal of the invasion was to remove Castro from power, which did
not work
The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred when the Soviet Unions was found by the United States to be placing
nuclear missiles in Cuba, which put the nations on the brink of war. (The USSR withdrew its missiles)
The Cuban Missile Crisis ended when the Soviet Union agreed to remove its missiles from Cuba (The U.S.
agreed to remove their missiles from their Asian ally, Turkey)
The Domino Theory was a belief that if South Vietnam became communist, other countries in Southeast Asia
would become communist too
The United States sent troops to South Vietnam to attempt to prevent a communist takeover
North Vietnamese communists and Vietcong forces used guerilla tactics to combat massive American firepower
As a result of the Tet Offensive, many Americans now believed that they could not win the war in Vietnam
The Vietnam War ended when North Vietnamese troops defeated those from the South.
President Richard Nixon’s policy of Détente was the term coined for the easing of tensions between the United
States and the Soviet Union (USSR). This idea was illustrated with Nixon visiting communist China and
improving relations with the Soviet Union.
The policies of Mikhail Gorbachev (Glasnost & Perestroika) led to better relations between the United States
and Soviet Union
The Cold War ended in when communism collapsed in the Soviet Union, and when Europe when the Warsaw
Pact disbanded in 1991.
The policies enacted by Mikhail Gorbachev in the USSR in the late 1980s helped to end the Cold War by
providing greater openness & relations with the US & Western Europe
1945 to PRESENT – America as we see it today
1940s
 United Nations formed to prevent future wars
 Marshall Plan established by US to loan money to the nations of Europe to rebuild after World War II
 Cold War begins with US and USSR (Soviet Union) attempting to spread their ideology and economic
system are around the world
1950s
 Economic Prosperity & Growth
 People move from the cities to suburbs “Levittown” – model communities
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U.S. History Study Guide
 US and United Nations wage war in Korea to slow spread of Communism
 President Eisenhower establishes the Interstate Highway system and road building skyrockets
1960s – Turbulent times
 Assassination of President Kennedy
 Civil Rights Protest
 Anti-war movement to protest US involvement in Vietnam
1970s
 President Nixon resigns as President due to Watergate Scandal as a result Americans lose faith in
government
 Roe vs. Wade decision legalizes abortion
 rise of inflation illustrates weakening economy
 Rise in oil prices causes energy crises, and lines at the gas pumps
1980s
 During Reagan Presidency the national debt soars into the trillions of dollars
 President Reagan calls out Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, and asks him “to tear down” the wall
1990s
 Cold War ends when communism in Eastern Europe collapses
 Berlin Wall torn down
 US (Pres. Bush Sr.) wages Gulf War with Iraq (Saddam Hussein) to liberate the country of Kuwait
 Bill Clinton elected President and the US economy grows
2000s
 President Bush Jr. wins disputed election with Al Gore
 US attacked 9/11/01 by terrorists
 US begins war on terror first in Afghanistan, and then in Iraq
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