🛠️ RECONSTRUCTION (1865–1877)Goals of Reconstruction
Reconstruction had three main goals.
First, to restore the Union after the Civil War.
Second, to transform the South from a slave-based society into a free labor society.
Third, to pass laws protecting the rights of freed African Americans.
Land Ownership Problem
Freed slaves wanted land so they could be independent. The idea of "40 acres and a mule" represented this hope, but it was never fully delivered. Instead, land was returned to white landowners, which caused major failure in Black economic independence.
Failure of Land Reform
Because freed slaves did not receive land, many were forced back onto plantations to work under their former enslavers.
13th, 14th, 15th Amendments
The Reconstruction Amendments reshaped American rights:
The 13th Amendment, under Abraham Lincoln, abolished slavery completely.
The 14th Amendment, passed during Andrew Johnson's presidency, defined citizenship and guaranteed equal protection under the law.
The 15th Amendment, under Ulysses S. Grant, gave Black men the right to vote, although Southern states later tried to limit it.
🏭 THE GILDED AGE (1870–1890)The Gilded Age was a time of massive industrial growth but also extreme inequality.
The Four "-izations"
Industrialization means factories and machines grew rapidly.
Unionization refers to workers forming unions to fight for better wages and conditions.
Immigration means millions came from Europe for jobs.
Urbanization means cities grew quickly and often became overcrowded and unsafe.
⚠️ JIM CROW ERAAfter Reconstruction ended, Southern states created laws called Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation.
They used voting restrictions such as:
A poll tax, which required people to pay money to vote.
A literacy test, which required reading and writing tests often used unfairly to block Black voters.
A grandfather clause, which allowed only people whose ancestors voted before the Civil War to skip restrictions.
These laws were designed to take away Black political power.
⚖️ PLESSY v. FERGUSONThis Supreme Court case established the idea of "separate but equal," meaning segregation was legal as long as facilities were supposedly equal. In reality, facilities for Black Americans were far worse.
👨🏫 BOOKER T. WASHINGTONBooker T. Washington was a formerly enslaved man who believed African Americans should focus on education, job skills, and economic success rather than immediate social equality. He believed progress would come slowly through hard work and proving value in society.
🌍 IMPERIALISM & AMERICAN EXPANSIONImperialism means expanding a country's power through military force or economic control.
Supporters believed it gave the U.S. more power and markets.
Opponents, including writers like Mark Twain, argued it was morally wrong and went against democracy.
📰 YELLOW JOURNALISMYellow journalism refers to sensationalized and exaggerated news stories used to influence public opinion and push the U.S. into war.
💥 SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR (1898)This short war made the United States a world power. After victory, the U.S. gained overseas territories and became an empire.
🔧 PROGRESSIVE ERA (1890–1920)The Progressive Era was a reform movement designed to fix problems created by the Gilded Age.
Main Problems Targeted
Unsafe working conditions
Child labor
Political corruption
Urban poverty and overcrowding
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
This disaster killed 146 workers and exposed unsafe factory conditions. It led to new safety laws.
Progressive Reforms
Progressives pushed for safer workplaces, shorter hours, child labor laws, and government regulation of businesses.
They also used "muckrakers," journalists who exposed corruption and social problems.
🌍 WORLD WAR I (1914–1918)Causes (MAIN IDEA: M.A.I.N.)
Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism caused rising tension in Europe.
Trigger
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 started a chain reaction leading to war.
U.S. Entry
The United States entered because of economic ties to Allies, unrestricted submarine warfare, and the Zimmermann Telegram.
Trench Warfare
Soldiers lived in trenches with brutal conditions. The war became a deadly stalemate with massive casualties.
🎉 ROARING TWENTIESThe 1920s were a time of economic growth and cultural change.
Prohibition
The 18th Amendment banned alcohol, but it led to illegal alcohol trade, organized crime, and gang violence.
18th Amendment
Prohibited the production and sale of alcohol.
Volstead Act
Defined illegal alcohol as anything over 0.5% alcohol and enforced Prohibition laws.
📉 GREAT DEPRESSIONStock Market Crash (1929)
On Black Tuesday, the stock market collapsed, wiping out billions of dollars and triggering the Great Depression.
Human Impact
People lost jobs and homes. Families broke apart, homelessness increased, and trust in banks collapsed.
Causes
Overproduction, underconsumption, bank failures, and unequal wealth distribution all contributed.
🏗️ NEW DEAL (FDR)Franklin D. Roosevelt created the New Deal to fix the economy.
3 R's
Relief means immediate help for the unemployed.
Recovery means restarting the economy.
Reform means preventing future depressions.
Key Programs
WPA (Works Progress Administration) created millions of jobs building roads, schools, and public buildings.
CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) gave jobs to young men in environmental projects.
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) provided electricity and modern infrastructure.
Financial Reforms
FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) protects bank deposits.
SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) regulates the stock market.
Social Security Act
Created pensions for elderly people and financial support for disabled and unemployed citizens.
🌍 COLD WAR (1945–1990)After WWII, the U.S. and Soviet Union became global rivals.
Ideology Conflict
The U.S. supported capitalism and democracy.
The USSR supported communism and state control of property.
Truman Doctrine
U.S. policy of stopping the spread of communism by supporting countries under threat.
Marshall Plan
U.S. gave billions to rebuild Europe after WWII to prevent economic collapse and stop communism from spreading.
⚖️ CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Banned discrimination in jobs, schools, and public places.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Protected African Americans from voting restrictions like literacy tests.
Freedom Riders
Activists who rode buses through the South to challenge segregation and faced violence.
🇺🇸 GREAT SOCIETY (LBJ)Lyndon B. Johnson expanded government programs to fight poverty and inequality.
Medicare
Health insurance for elderly Americans.
Medicaid
Health coverage for low-income citizens.
Food Stamp Act
Provided food assistance to reduce hunger.
War on Poverty
Programs aimed to reduce poverty through education, job training, and healthcare.
🌙 VIETNAM WAR EFFECTSThe Vietnam War caused major division in the U.S., high casualties, and distrust in government. It also changed voting age to 18.
🧠 LATE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTSStonewall (1969)
Start of the Gay Rights Movement after police raids sparked protests.
Latino Movement
Led by Cesar Chavez, focused on workers' rights and farm labor conditions.
American Indian Movement
Fought for Native American rights and treaty protections.
⚖️ WATERGATEA political scandal where President Nixon was involved in illegal spying on political opponents. He resigned in 1974