Recent Event Highlights: End of Isolationism (World War II), World War I, Mexican-American War, and 11 more...
Created by hrmiller on Nov 19, 2010
Last updated: 12/02/10 at 10:12 PM
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NASA is the well known symbol for outer space which is an industry that is still a fledgling. It not only represents international competition but also America's attempt to seek expansion to other worlds. In 1969 Apollo landed on the moon; it was one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. This is true; it was an accomplishment that speaks worlds of mankind's progress and the vast expanse it has yet to explore. The space expedition brings to light the great cost of discovery and expansion; today these ventures are not practical based on the debt the U.S. has accumulated and these missions are therefore being abandoned. This highlights how invention and expansion are driven by financial needs and desires. President: Eisenhower "The Big Bang theory, as conceptualized by NASA." Space Exploration Reference Library. Ed. Lawrence W. Baker, et al. Vol. 4: Primary Sources. Detroit: UXL, 2005. Gale U.S. History In Context. Web. 3 Dec. 2010.
The Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor spurred an earlier than anticipated entrance into the war on American's part, as they had been in a period of isolation. This attack created huge industrial achievement within U.S. borders because of the need for production and innovation. There is no argument that the most formidable of these inventions is the atomic bomb. While the atomic bomb is not generally looked at as a peaceful invention it is no doubt that it is an incredible feat of mankind. There was also significant improvements in medical technology and manufacturing. President: Franklin Roosevelt "Americans responded to the bombing of Pearl Harbor with a wave of anti-Japanese sentiment...." Civil Liberties and the War on Terrorism. Ed. James D. Torr. San Diego: Lucent Books, 2004. Lucent Terrorism Library. Gale U.S. History In Context. Web. 2 Dec. 2010.
The first world war saw not only devastating tragedy but also success of American Industry. Prior to the U.S. entering the wary, it supplied both sides with materials (although favoring the allies) which included monstrous production. When the U.S. eventually did enter the war, there were many vacant jobs and demand for workers. Women stepped in to fill the jobs; this has changed American industry forever. Women have contributed greatly to American economy, invention, and industry since that initial entrance into the work force. President: Wilson "Women in the Workforce. With the majority of able-bodied men (especially Caucasians) serving in the..." Dictionary of American History. Ed. Stanley I. Kutler. 3rd ed. Vol. 6. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003. Gale U.S. History In Context. Web. 3 Dec. 2010.
In 1908 Henry Ford debuted the Ford Model T which was the good to take advantage of production by assembly line. By being produced by an assembly line instead of hand crafted production cost was incredibly lower and thus the good was much more affordable. The lower cost allowed middle class Americans to be able to buy the car, changing America's market forever. This switch made profitability not about selling to a select few, but instead to the masses. Now, the people creating the items are able to afford the items. The assembly line takes advantage of specialization which at the time was unique; today it is common practice. Other manufacturers later followed suit. This invention has enabled common Americans to afford necessities from furniture to appliances to homes even. President: T. Roosevelt "A 1921 Model T." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale U.S. History In Context. Web. 3 Dec. 2010.
Hawaii was attractive to the U.S. because it would provide an affective defensive port for naval ships, a valuable commercial port, and a strong sugar cane industry. Before it was taken over, Hawaii was the Kingdom of Hawaii and ruled independently. The ruling Queen planned to make a new constitution. Because this was a threat to profitability, businessmen sought assistance from the U.S. to step in, which it did. Today, America recognizes the injustice of overthrowing the Hawaiian kingdom, none the less it has been a very beneficial port for business with Asia. President: Cleveland during military conflict McKinley for annexation
After the Spanish American War, the Philippines were ceded to the U.S. in the treaty of Paris. In 1947 the U.S. occupied military bases in the Philippines. The U.S. abandoned these bases in the early 1990's. Most importantly, relations with the Philippines have been beneficial to the U.S. economy, providing a benign market for trade. President: McKinley "The Great White Fleet." World War I and the Jazz Age. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 2010. American Journey. Gale U.S. History In Context. Web. 2 Dec. 2010.
The purchase of Alaska was negotiated by William Seward. The U.S. purchased the land from Russia in order to act as a buffer between its two allies, Russia and Britain. There were also suspicions oil that had not been verified. This purchase was around 7 million dollars and was criticized greatly as people did not expect there to be sufficient financial return. This was proved false shortly after enormous oil well discoveries. Alaska has been an extremely successful state financially and has contributed many raw materials necessary for technology development. President: Andrew Johnson "The bill of sale of Alaska from the Russian government for $7.2 million. The Constitution of the..." Encyclopedia of the Supreme Court of the United States. Ed. David S. Tanenhaus. Vol. 5. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. Gale U.S. History In Context. Web. 3 Dec. 2010.
The Civil war resulted directly in the end of slavery and therefore the end of free slave labor. Originally, plantation owners abused this and practiced share cropping, a practice which perhaps abused slaves more than slavery as they had to pay to farm a plot of land more than they generated from the land. This eventually came to an end, and so did free labor for the south. This in combination with the devastation of the Civil War, both loss of people and decimation of the land, has left many areas in the south impoverished. President (s): Lincoln & Grant Woodworth, Steven. "American Civil War (Overview)." World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 2 Dec. 2010.
The first oil well discovery was crucial to many industries and technologies which remain pertinent today. Oil use became crucial for improvements on ships and the invention of the automobile. Most importantly much of the oil found in America comes from territory not originally in the possession of settlers. Major oil resources are in Texas and California, and later in Alaska. Although the oil discoveries in these areas came after U.S. settlement, this was not a n entire coincidence. President: Buchanan "1947 Studebaker Champion Coupe." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale U.S. History In Context. Web. 2 Dec. 2010.
The California Gold Rush resulted in mass immigration to the west. People madly flocked to the west in search of wealth and prosperity before California was even a state. This was very profitable for some, but for some of the later gold seekers were disappointed in their lack of success. The quick jump in population also set California up to be hit brutally in the Great Depression. President: Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce "Man Cradling for Gold near Virginia City, Montana Territory." Westward Expansion. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 2010. American Journey. Gale U.S. History In Context. Web. 3 Dec. 2010.
The Mexican American War was a direct result of the annexation of Texas in 1845. Texas was initially a part of Mexico; American settlers, many from Missouri, inhabited the land and eventually had numbers surpassing that of Mexico. This caused Texas independence from Mexico in 1836. Mexico warned that U.S. annexation would mean war which deferred the annexation, but Texas eventually accepted the U.S. offer resulting in war. The war and acquisition of Texas added huge land mass and the attainment of New Mexico and parts of Arizona as well. President: Polk "U.S. Campaigns of the Mexican-American War. Texass territorial claims and Mexicos reluctance to..." Encyclopedia of Western Colonialism since 1450. Ed. Thomas Benjamin. Vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. Gale World History In Context. Web. 1 Dec. 2010.
The U.S. did not originally intend to purchase the Louisiana territory; initially, they just wanted to buy a port which would allow them to access the Mississippi from the Gulf of Mexico which would be very beneficial for the economy. However, Napoleon and his empire were in dire need of funding so he offered the land to the U.S. for 15 million dollars. This caused the United States to roughly double in size. The agreement, initiated in 1801, was negotiated by James Monroe and Robert Livingston. This was a very controversial purchase because the country was still a fledgling nation and was not financially stable. The risk luckily paid off as the Louisiana territory is a strong contributor to the economy. President: Jefferson "Signing of the Louisiana Purchase." Image. Architect of the Capitol. American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 19 Nov. 2010.
A patent system began use in the early 1790's which promoted people to invent because it protected their ideas and hard work. Although this was not the best patent system, it was in existence for Robert Fulton's Steamboat of 1809 and Eli Whitney's Cotton gin of 1794. The patent system was restructured in 1836 which caused significant increase in the number of patents by roughly six hundred times. Not only was the patent system more effective, but there was huge population growth demanding better ways to manufacture, communicate, and travel. With this patent system the telephone was invented in 1876 and the machine gun in 1862. Patents inspired huge industrialization and technological improvements as well as fostering the American values of competition and collaboration. Presidents: George Washington & Andrew Jackson "A poster advertising the Edison Triumph phonograph, c. 1901." Gilded Age and Progressive Era Reference Library. Ed. Lawrence W. Baker and Rebecca Valentine. Vol. 2: Biographies. Detroit: UXL, 2007. Gale U.S. History In Context. Web. 2 Dec. 2010.
The Native American population initially engaged with settlers with friendly relations, and even traded with them. The settlers used these trade relations to promote competition between tribes and create disunity among the natives. The Europeans also brought diseases with them that the natives did not posses the antibodies to. Because of their weekend state, the settlers were able to slowly and systematically force the natives off their land so that settlers may inhabit their land instead. Americans used the justification of "Manifest Destiny" to determine their "right" to expand and exert influence over the expanse of land. However unjust this was, it was extremely beneficial to U.S. economy because settlers took over great farmland and eventually the west. President(s): Basically pre Washington to Roosevelt "Buffalo Soldiers, circa 1895. Members of a famed “Buffalo Soldier” cavalry regiment stand next to..." Encyclopedia of Race and Racism. Ed. John Hartwell Moore. Vol. 1. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. Gale U.S. History In Context. Web. 2 Dec. 2010.
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