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| Geography of America | - Atlantic and Pacific Oceans helped with neutrality during the 1800's, Natural Harbors: helped with commerce, NE Colonies: good harbors,adundant forests, rocky soil, short growing season=manufacturing in the North, Southern Colonies: development of agriculture thanks to fertile land and long growing season, Great Plains: known for grain production |
| Colonial Period (1600's-1776) | Colonies had a relationship with GB based on Mercantilism, served as a source of raw materials for the mother country. Early effects at self gov't: Virginia House of Burgesses/Mayflower Compact/Town Hall Meetings- |
| American Revolution (1775-1783) | Salutary Neglect (GB ignored the colonies but prospered, taxes placed on the colonies due to debt from the F+I War, Thomas Paine's Common Sense + Enlightenment writers like John Locke's theory of natural rights, all contributed to the Declaration of Independence. Major events leading to Revolution: taxes without representation (Sugar act, stamp act, townshend acts), Boston Massacre, |
| Our First Constitution: Articles of Confederation | America's distrust for a strong central gov't was shown in the AOC, most power remained with the states,gov't was unsuccessful solving major problems. AOC had power to: collect taxes, coin money, control trade, also made an arrangement for new states (NW Ordinance). Shay's Rebellion was the final straw. |
| Constitutional Convention 1787 | Created a Constitution with a stronger central gov't, 3 branches, and Federalism (power to state+national gov't), Great Compromise settled representation of states, 3/5th Compromise settled slave count in population. Federalists supported ratification, Anti-Federalists did not because there was no Bill of Rights guaranteeing our rights. |
| Bill of Rights | First 10 amendments to the US Constitution, protects our civil liberties from gov't abuse, Major rights: freedom of speech, protection from unreasonable search and seizure, separation of church and state is established in the 1st amendment. |
| US Constitution: Basic Principles | a statement of rules and procedures for governing the US: - sovereignty of people: our gov't gets its consent from the people, Checks and Balances, Three Branches of Gov't, Federalism (division of power bt state and national gov't) |
| US Constitution: Structure of our Gov't | Legislative Branch (aka House of Reps and Senate), propose, write, vote on laws, approve treaties. Executive Branch: President and his cabinet. Judicial Branch: Federal and Supreme Court- power of judicial review. All three branches checks one another to make sure no branch has too much power. (Ex- President can be impeached by Congress). |
| US Constitution: Flexibility | Amendments (changes to the constitution), the Elastic Clause, necessary and proper clause, unwritten constitution, and Judicial Review all allow for the Constitution to meet the needs of a changing society (adapt to changing times). Unwritten Constitution- Practices of the U.S. government that are based on custom and tradition, but not actually written anywhere in the Constitution. 5 • Examples- creation of the presidential cabinet, political parties, committee system in Congress, Judicial Review, lobbying. |
| US Constitution: Electoral College | President of the U.S. is elected by winning electoral votes from each state, not a popular vote. Some presidential candidates skip campaigning in low population states. • The winner of the popular vote can lose the election (happened in 1876 and 2000).Ratification of a constitutional amendment is the only way to eliminate the Electoral College. |
| First Presidencies: 1789- 1801 | Believed in neutrality, Farewell address urged US to avoid alliances, European conflicts, and political parties. National Bank is created during his Presidency thanks to Alexander Hamilton (loose constructionist). Thomas Jefferson opposed this. |
| Territorial Expansion 1803- 1860 | President Jefferson used the elastic clause to purchase Louisiana Territory. Wanted it for the port of New Orleans and access to the Mississippi. Starts our period of Manifest Destiny. Territorial gains/issues: Missouri Compromise, Adams-Onis Treaty, Mexican-American War, Gold Rush, Creation of Transcontinential Railroad: lead to increasing conflict over issue of slavery. Homestead Act leads to settlement of the west as well. |
| Increase in Sectionalism by 1860 | Slavery spreading into new territories created a divide in our country between those who approved of slavery and those who did not- referred to as abolitionists. Slavery issues seen in: Missouri Compromise, Kansas-Nebraska Act,Bleeding Kansas, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Underground Railroad |
| Civil War: 1860-1861 | Abraham Lincoln is elected and Southern states secede (leave or break away) from the Union, causing a war between the North (Union) and the South (Confederate States). The two major issues dividing the North and South were States rights and the status of slavery. As the Civil War began, Lincoln stated that his primary goal was to preserve the Union (states remain united). Claimed that the government was a union of people and not of states. |
| Reconstruction Era 1865-1877 | Time period following the Civil War, when the Southern States were reorganized and reintegrated back into the Union. • Marked by the military occupation of the South, attempts to remove a President, and major constitutional amendments. • Withdrawal of federal troops from the South marked the end of Reconstruction in the U.S. Lincoln wanted to go easy on the South, Radical Republicans wanted harsh punishments for the South. 13th, 14th, 15th amendments passed during Reconstruction. Reconstruction Ends and African Americans face limits on their freedoms until the 1960's through black codes and legalized segregation called Jim Crow Laws (thanks to Plessy v. Ferguson). |
| Industrialization/ Industrial Revolution Late 1800's | Starts in the northeast in the 19th century (1800’s) because this region had the greatest supply of capital and labor. The availability of railroads, electricity, inventions, mechanization of agriculture, allows for the Second Industrial Revolution. |
| Gilded Age: The Rise of Big Business | Effects of the Industrial Age- monopolies and trusts come about to eliminate competition. Creates a larger gap between the rich and the poor. Wealthy men like Carnegie and Rockefeller are referred to as robber barons. Limited gov't involvement in regulating businesses because of the beliefs of Social Darwinism and Laissez-Faire capitalism. Corporations come about due to the need for investors/capital. |
| Immigration | Coupled with the Industrial Age and need for cheap labor, we see an influx of immigrants during this time period. Many are settling in cities where the jobs are and are willing to work for cheaper. Immigration patterns shift to populations coming from Southern and Eastern Europe. They face discrimination upon their arrival as seen in later nativist legislation including: Chinese Exclusion Act, National Origins Act. |
| Progressive Era: Early 1900's | A movement to correct the economic and social abuses of industrial society. Supported consumer protection, women’s suffrage, secret ballot, income tax, direct election of Senators, Prohibition. Believed the gov't needs to regulate business- leads to Anti-trust acts. Muckrakers like Jacob Riis, Upton Sinclair, Thomas Nast, and Ida Tarbell bring light to the many ills in society. |
| Progressive Era: Political Reform | We see the direct election of senators, recalls, initiatives, referendums, secret ballots come about. |
| Progressive Era: Labor Movement | We see labor unions come about to organize and improve conditions. Populist Party/Granger Movement comes about in support of Farmers against banking and railroad monopolies. |
| Imperialism: 1900's | Reasons for US interest in acquiring territories outside our country: new markets for trade, natural resources. Under Teddy Roosevelt we see an addition to the Monroe Doctrine- the Roosevelt Corollary, US exercises international policing powers on behalf of Latin America. Brings us into Spanish-American War. We acquire Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, just to name a few during this time period. We also open trade with China through the Open Door Policy. |
| WWI: 1914-1918 | Woodrow Wilson is president, supports neutrality and creation of the Federal Reserve System. Unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmerman Note cause US entrance into WWI. US limits civil liberties during war (see in Sedition Act, Schenck v. the US), War benefits our economy, helps women gain suffrage. African Americans migrate north for open factory jobs. War Ends- US fails to ratify Treaty of Versailles, due to it's stipulation about joining the League of Nations (Wilson's idea from his 14 Points). |
| Roaring 20's : 1920-1929 | America elects Republican Presidents who want to adopt an isolationist policy following WWI. We see social changes: women gain the right to vote, prohibition comes about, increased nativism (seen in the Sacco and Vanzetti Trials, Palmer Raids/ Red Scare, KKK). We see limits on immigration, conflicts over ideas like the teaching of evolution (Scopes Trial), and an increase interest in art, music, and having fun. Harlem Renaissance also comes about during this time period. |
| Roaring 20's : Economic Changes | America begins a consumerism culture which is one of the causes of the Great Depression. Buying on credit- more goods become available to buy at cheaper prices thanks to Henry Ford's assembly line. |
| Great Depression: 1930's- Causes | Stock Market Crash of 1929 considered the start, buying on margin, overproduction of goods and crops, buying on credit. Hoover is our President and because he failed to provide relief he was blamed for the Depression. |
| Great Depression: FDR | The big difference between FDR and Hoover was that FDR was more willing to use government intervention to solve economic problems. FDR passes his ABC programs (Social Security Act, FDIC, NYA, etc), to help stimulate the economy and put people back to work. He greatly expanded the role of the federal gov't in citizens lives. Courts deem some of FDR's programs unconstitutional so he attempts to pack the courts with Supreme Court Justices. Know some New Deal Programs. WWII eventually brings us out of the Great Depression. |
| WWII: 1939- 1945 | Starts: Hitler's invasion of Poland, Appeasement failed, Ends: Dropping of the Atomic Bombs (Truman's decision). America remains neutral at first but sells arms to the allied powers (Lend-Lease Act, Cash-Carry). Pearl Harbor brings America in. FDR's 4th term: America doesn't want to change leadership during war. Homefront: Women in factories (Rosie the Riveter), Rationing, War Bonds, GI Bill, Japanese in Internment Camps (Korematsu v. US) |
| End of WWII: Post-War World | Atomic Bomb, Nuremberg Trials, Eleanor Roosevelt is instrumental in the creation of the UN, Marshall Plan attempts to prevent European economies from entering into a Depression. Baby Boom- rise of suburbs, creation of highways- Interstate Highway Act |
| Cold War: 1945- 1991 | Tensions between two superpowers rise: US/USSR. Split of Berlin- Berlin Wall, America tries to stop the spread of communism- Containment- Seen in: Korean War, Vietnam War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Race for Space, Nuclear Arms Race, McCarthyism at home- seen in trial of Rosenbergs |
| End of the Cold War | Detente- tensions ease, SALT I and II are signed. Berlin Wall falls- 1989, Communism beings to fall. |
| Civil Rights Movement | Movement to end segregation based on race during the 1960’s. Brown v. Board of Ed, Jackie Robinson, Little Rock Nine, MLK Jr. Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act 1964 |
| Domestic Change 1960's- 2000s: Conflict | We see an increase in Middle Eastern conflicts ( Arab-Israeli, OPEC, Iran-Contra Scandal, Persian-Gulf War, Increase in Terrorism, 9/11 |
| Domestic Change 1960's-2000s Policy | LBJ's Great Society, Richard Nixon: SALT and Watergate Scandal, Carter- Camp David Accords, Reagan: Reaganomics, Bill Clinton: NAFTA , George W. Bush: 9/11- Patriot Act, Homeland Security, Obama- Healthcare Reform |
