Recent Event Highlights: The Civil War, Pre-Civil War, and 12 more...
Created by kkoeneman on Aug 23, 2010
Last updated: 09/30/10 at 06:04 AM
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Presidents: Nixon Ford Carter Reagan Bush Domestic and Foreign Events: 1970 - Protests of the War in Vietnam, Kent State and Jackson State shootings 1971 - Pentagon Papers Printed, 26th Amendment 1972 to 1974 - Watergate Affairs 1973 - US end direct intervention in Vietnam 1974 - Nixon resigns from office 1979 - Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident, start of the Iranian Hostage Crisis 1981 - Ronald Reagen becomes president 1983 - SDI ("Star Wars") missile defense system proposed 1985 - Iran-Contra Affair 1989 - Berliners tear down Berlin Wall Democracy: At the end of the 20th Century, there was a lack of unity in America as well as an abundance of deceit from the government. The protests of the war and the Kent State Shootings in 1970 show the widening gap between the government and the people, which goes against Democracy because the government is not listening to the people. Also, the deceit of the government, seen in the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate Affairs shows that the government officials care more about their power and position as leaders than giving the people the power and the truthful information and letting them make the decisions. One of the few advances toward Democracy during this era is the 26th Amendment in 1971, which lowers the voting age to 18. This shows that the government finally positively responded to their people's fight for their voice in government. With the lack of unity and the major moments of deceit at the end of the 20th century, America drifts away from Democracy because the people are being withheld information that greatly affects them and because they cannot be very involved in government. Sources: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. Image: "Richard Nixon." American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
Presidents: Kennedy Johnson Nixon Domestic and Foreign Events: 1960 - Election of Kennedy vs. Nixon, the first televised debate, Kennedy is elected 1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis 1963 - JFK is assassinated, LBJ becomes President 1964 - LBJ creates "The Great Society", Civil Rights Act of 1964, Economic Opportunity Act, Election of 1964 1965 - Voting Rights Act, Malcolm X is assassinated 1967 - Kerner Commission 1968 - Tet Offensive, MLK is assassinated Democracy: Right at the start of the 1960s, President Kennedy brings back Democracy when he asks the people to become more involved in how the country is run again, like people were in the Progressive Era. He promotes the ideal of a government by the people through his famous quote of "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Later on, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ensure the equality of all people by prohibiting discrimination of any kind based on race, religion, sex, or national origin and allowing every citizen (that was old enough) to be able to vote and have a voice in how the country is run. However, these major laws excluded a major part of the society, the young people. The young people became frustrated and angry toward the government because they did not have say in the government while they were some of the people being forced to fight in the war. This lack of democratic equality for the young generation resulted in the formation of groups like the Students for a Democratic Society that caused violent protests and anti-war movements. A giant step was taken in the direction of Democracy for America during the 1960s; however, the major group of the young generation was excluded from this process, resulting in violence and a gap between the young people and the government. Citations: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/ Image: "Vice-president Richard M. Nixon and Senator John F. Kennedy during one of their televised debates in..." American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Vol. 7: 1960-1969. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
Presidents: Truman Eisenhower Domestic and Foreign Events: 1945 - A-Bombs, Nuremberg Trials 1946 - Iron Curtain Speech, Baby Boom begins 1947 - Truman Doctrine, Levittown NY 1948 - Marshall Plan, Berlin Aircraft 1949 - Soviet Union and A-Bomb, US joins NATO 1950 - McCarthy Hearings, Korean War 1951 - 22nd Amendment, UNIVAC1 1952 - Checkers speech, US detonates Hydrogen Bomb 1953 - Korean War ends, Julius and Ethel Rosenburg 1954 - Army-McCarthy Hearings, Brown vs. Board of Education 1955 - AFL and CIO merge, Montgomery Bus Boycott 1956 - Interstate Highway System, Pledge of Allegiance is adjusted 1957 - Little Rock desegregation crisis, Sputnik 1958 - National Defense Education Act, Explorer space program 1959 - Alaska and Hawaii admitted to US, Kitchen Debate Democracy: Postwar America contained a great amount of fear of communism because the citizens wanted to keep their type of government, which was a democracy. However, the lengths they were going to promote patriotism and weed out the deceivers of the country was limiting the freedom of the people, which is going against democracy because of all of the government control. During this period, if a person does not conform with American ideals or if they criticize America in any way, he or she is considered a communist of a USSR spy. Therefore, many restrictions are put on the people because of all the fear. The Democracy changes in this era to an emphasis on its preservation and its spread to other countries rather than communism; however, the freedom of the people declines and the power the government greatly increases with the fear that democracy could be taken away by the Soviet Union. Citations: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/ Image: "McCarthy points at a map of supposed communism during testimony on June 9, 1954. From April to June..." U*X*L Encyclopedia of U.S. History. Sonia Benson, Daniel E. Brannen, Jr., and Rebecca Valentine. Ed. Lawrence W. Baker and Sarah Hermsen. Vol. 5. Detroit: UXL, 2009. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
Presidents: Wilson Harding Coolidge Hoover Roosevelt Truman Domestic and Foreign Events: 1920 - Palmer Raids, The Election of 1920 1926 - Revenue Act 1928 - Stock Market is booming 1929 - Black Thursday 1935 - Congress passes Social Security Act, Banking Act 1944 - D-Day invasion of France, GI Bill 1945 - FDR is assassinated, Atomic Bombs are dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, End of WWII, America has a growing fear of communism Democracy: During the Interwar Years and WWII, the Presidents before Roosevelt, had been more worried about the economy and the major businesses and less worried about the citizens who needed their help during the Great Depression. President Roosevelt and his plan of the "New Deal" addressed the people's needs, which is for Democracy. His plan also promoted equality because it was aimed toward the farmers, African-Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans, and the working class, which makes up the majority of society. After the failed efforts of Republican Presidents, Democratic President Roosevelt was the country's push back toward Democracy. Citations: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/ Image: "Roosevelt, Franklin D." Presidential Administration Profiles for Students. Ed. Kelle S. Sisung and Gerda-Ann Raffaelle. Detroit: Gale Group, 2010. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
Presidents: Harrison Cleveland McKinley Roosevelt Taft Wilson Domestic and Foreign Events: 1900 - The Boxer Rebellion 1901 - US Socialist Party is formed 1906 - Cuban Rebellion 1909 - NAACP is established 1913 - 16th Amendment 1914 - 17th Amendment 1917 - Espionage Act, Bolshevik Revolution in Russia 1918 - Sedition Act 1919 - 18th Amendment, 19th Amendment, Schenck vs. US, Bolsheviks proclaim goal of worldwide communism (1st Red Scare) Democracy: During Progressivism, there were many major laws that were established and many of them excluded the African-Americans and Immigrants, which is against Democracy. However, some of these Amendments like the 17th Amendment (Direct Election of Senators) and the 19th Amendment (Women's Suffrage) were for Democracy with the encouragement of equal rights and letting the people have more say in who represents them. Some of the other major laws, like the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) and the 16th Amendment (Income tax) took away the freedom of the people and increased the power of the central government. During WWI, the US pushes away from the freedom stressed in Democracy because of the growing fear of communism, which influences the government to make more laws like the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 that make it illegal to disagree or get in the way of the government. On the other hand, the value that the individual people have to give up their individual rights in order to maintain peace goes along with Democracy. During Progressivism and WWI, the abundance of laws created and the increase of government power went away from the ideals of Democracy, but the ideal of the preservation of peace is for Democracy. Citations: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/ Image: "Trench Warfare." World War I and the Jazz Age. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 2010. American Journey. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
Presidents: Hayes Garfield Arthur Cleveland Harrison Cleveland Domestic and Foreign Events: 1879 - Thomas Edison invents the light bulb 1882 - Chinese Exclusion Act 1883 - Pendleton Act 1891 - Populist Party is founded Democracy Paragraph: Democracy during the Gilded Age was taken away because of the corruption within the government. The "glittering on the surface" aspect of the Gilded Age was seen in the expansion of businesses and an emphasis on morality in communities, but with these improvements in society came many government laws on businesses and moral reforms, which puts more government control on the people, moving away from Democracy. Also, the voting process was being controlled by Bossism, which made it so that although there was high voter participation, the majority of the people voting were being blackmailed and threatened by those running for election. This corruption caused the taking away of Democracy because the people are being forced to do something (elect representatives and obey more laws) that they would not do naturally. Citations: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/ Image: "Garfield, James Abram." Presidential Administration Profiles for Students. Ed. Kelle S. Sisung and Gerda-Ann Raffaelle. Detroit: Gale Group, 2010. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
Presidents: Johnson Grant Hayes Domestic and Foreign Events: 1865 - Lincoln is assassinated, Presidential Reconstruction, 13th Amendment 1866 - Congressional Reconstruction 1868 - 14th Amendment 1870 - 15th Amendment 1876 - Election of 1876 1877 - Compromise of 1877 Democracy: Because the Republicans won the war, The Reconstruction Era moved the country away from Democracy, which values that the rights of the individual is compromised for peace, and toward Republicanism with making laws to protect the minority. Some of these big laws that protected the voting rights, guarantees the citizenship, and abolishes slavery for African-Americans where the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. The Reconstruction represented Republicanism because of all of the laws made, but these laws promoted equal rights, which is a democratic value. Citations: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/ Image: "A lithograph depicting the forseeable results of the passage of the 15th Amendment, which..." African American Almanac. Ed. Brigham Narins. 10th ed. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
Presidents: Lincoln Johnson Domestic and Foreign Events: 1860 - Seven States (The Confederates) break off the form a new country 1861 - The Confederates are joined by four more states, Fort Sumter 1861 to 1862 - The South is winning the war 1862 to 1863- Emancipation Proclamation 1863 - Lincoln's 10% Plan, Gettysburg: Turning point of the war, Gettysburg Address 1865 - The South surrenders at Appomattox Democracy: The Civil War Era begins with the election of Republican President Lincoln. This election goes against the ideals of Democracy because he only got 40% of the popular vote, which is less than the majority of all of the votes meaning that his win was not necessarily the will of the people. Similarly to the issues with slavery during the Pre-Civil War Era, the Democratics (Southerners) were for slavery, and the Republicans (Northerners) were for against slavery because it did not protect the minority. The North ended up winning the war, which abolished slavery, and goes more toward Republicanism than Democracy. Citations: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/ Image: "President Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address at a dedication at the Gettysburg..." U*X*L Encyclopedia of U.S. History. Sonia Benson, Daniel E. Brannen, Jr., and Rebecca Valentine. Ed. Lawrence W. Baker and Sarah Hermsen. Vol. 3. Detroit: UXL, 2009. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
Presidents: Polk Taylor Fillmore Pierce Buchanan Domestic and Foreign Events: 1848 - Election of 1848 1850 - The Compromise of 1850, Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 1854 - Kansas-Nebraska Act 1855 - Election of 1855, Bleeding Kansas 1857 - Dred Scott vs. Sanford 1860 - Election of 1860: Lincoln is elected Democracy: Slavery was the biggest issue during the Pre-Civil War, and slavery goes against the ideals of democracy because it demotes equal rights and the law does not apply to a large portion of the population. Also, the citizen's participation in politics is skewed because they are starting to vote based on where they live rather than what they believe. Democracy increased during the Pre-Civil War Era following the Election of 1848 because the idea of Popular Sovereignty was proposed and executed, which allowed each state to individually vote for the decision to be a free state or a slave state. This leads the country back toward Democracy because the people can decide their own laws. The Northerns supported these new laws in favor of Democracy, while the Southerns opposed the choice to become a free state because it made them lose power and assurance of owning slaves. This disagreement leads to the Civil War. Citations: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/ Image: "Slaves Picking Cotton on a Georgia Plantation." Westward Expansion. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 2010. American Journey. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
Presidents: Adams Jackson Buren Harrison Tyler Polk Taylor Domestic and Foreign Events: 1824 - Jackson first runs for Presidency, Corrupt Bargain with Adams and Clay 1828 - Election of 1828 1832 - Jackson reelection 1840 - Universal White Male Suffrage 1840s - Two Political Parties have formed: The Democrats and the Whigs 1846 to 1848 - Mexican-American War 1848 - Seneca Falls Convention Democracy: President Jackson changes the definition of Democracy; similar to Jefferson, he believed that ordinary civilians are just as important as government officials; however, he believed that they know what is right and can make the right decisions by natural instinct (without education). Democracy under President Jackson had an emphasis on the common man and believed in "Liberty and local rule," resulting in freedom for all people and a weak central government. President Jackson had promised to follow this form of Democracy and support the people on the frontier and the immigrants in the cities, but instead, he focused his work in office toward increasing his own political power, which gave him the nickname "King Andrew." On the other hand, more people were indirectly involved in government during this era, because with Jackson's promises toward the common people and the new found competitiveness in political parties, voter participation had doubled during the election of 1828 bringing more public say to who was in power. Another major event, the Seneca Falls Convention, stressed the democratic ideal of free and equal rights for women. Jackson changed the definition of Democracy from Jefferson's definition and encouraged the civilians to pursue their say in government, but he did not necessarily act upon his promised to govern with his Democratic ideals. Citations: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/ Image: "American Farmer Sign." The Asian-American Experience. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 2010. American Journey. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
Presidents: Jefferson Madison Monroe Adams Domestic and Foreign Affairs: 1800 - The Election of Jefferson vs. Adams 1801 - John Marshall appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court 1803 - Louisiana Purchase, 12th Amendment 1804 - Louis and Clark Expedition starts 1807 - Embargo that prohibits trade between France and GB with the US 1808 - Congress prohibits slave trade 1812 - The War of 1812 1820 - Missouri Compromise 1823 - Monroe Doctrine Democracy: With Democratic-Republican Jefferson as president, the country would return to the key points of Democracy. Jefferson believed that ordinary people are just as important as the government officials and that these ordinary people can be educated and be in government. This goes along with the democratic value of equality of all people because he believed that every person could be qualified to help run the nation if they study and get an education. Another example of Democracy's free and equal rights, is in 1808 when Congress prohibits slave trade; this law did not end slavery and does not give African-Americans any more rights than before, but it was a step in the right direction for equality of the future. President Jefferson's definition of Democracy gave faith to the value of the common man and set up the progression of equality for the future. Citations: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/ Image: "Jefferson, Thomas." Presidential Administration Profiles for Students. Ed. Kelle S. Sisung and Gerda-Ann Raffaelle. Detroit: Gale Group, 2010. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
Presidents: George Washington John Adams Domestic and Foreign Events: 1789 - Washington is elected 1790 - Beginning of Political Parties 1791 - Bill of Rights comes into effect 1796 - First Real Election (Adams vs. Jefferson) 1798 - Quasi-War with France, Naturalization Act, Alien Act, Sedition Act 1799 - Virginia-Kentucky Resolution Democracy: By the 1790s, two political parties, the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, had been formed, encouraging people to choose whether they were more for Democratic values (Democratic-Republicans) or Republican values (Federalists). The winner of the election of 1796 was Federalist John Adams, which turns the country more towards Republicanism and away from Democracy. Adams drifted away from the ideal of a "government by the people" because he established laws, the main ones being the Naturalization Act, the Alien Act, and the Sedition Act, to increase his own power and increase his chance of staying in office. Vice President Jefferson formed the Virginia-Kentucky Resolution in 1799 because he felt like the President was getting too much power, which is more like a monarchy than a democracy. In this era, the ideal definition of democracy has been established, but the people had voted for a president that lead the country away from the ideal of democracy they had decided to try to achieve. Citations: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/ Image: "George Washington." The Constitution and Supreme Court. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 2010. American Journey. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
Presidents: None Domestic and Foreign Events: 1781 - Articles of Confederation 1783 - Peace Treaty with Britain 1787 - Constitution 1789 - George Washington elected first president of the US Democracy: The era of the Constitution represents the time after the country has finally gain its independence and is ready to define what their government will be like. The Articles of Confederation, established in 1781, has a strong sense of having the power of the decisions of the country resting in the people because of the lack of a strong central government, the lack of a president, and powerful state governments that represent their people. However, after many problems with a weak central government, like issues with taxes, international trade, and an army to protect the country as a whole, the Federalists, who were more for Republicanism than Democracy, pushed for the recreation of the Articles. The response to this recreation, The Constitution, had a structure that was did not have as big of an influence of Democracy as the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution went against Democracy because the establishment of a President and a strong central government, takes away from the individual having the the most power. Also, in The Constitution, there were guaranteed rights to protect the minority, which was an ideal not expressed in democracy at that time. However, the policy for Amendments in The Constitution represented the Democratic values of compromise because the voting process was that only 3/4 of the Senate had to agree on a law in order for it to be passed rather than a unanimous vote. Democracy during the Constitution Era was defined by the fear of a strong central government, but the desire for guaranteed rights, which strays the government away from Democratic ideals. Citations: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/ Image: "The signing of the U.S. Constitution." Political Theories for Students. Ed. Matthew Miskelly and Jaime Noce. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
Presidents: None Domestic and Foreign Events: 1764 - Currency Act, Stamp Act, and Sugar Act 1765 - Quartering Act and Declaratory Act 1770 - Boston Massacre 1773 - Tea Act 1774 - 1st Cont. Congress and Coercive Acts 1776 - Declaration of Independence Democracy: The incidents of the Revolutionary War lead up to the first establishment of Democracy in American History. The colonies are furious with the abundance of taxes the British government has put on them (like the Tea Act and The Stamp Act) and the Boston Massacre, and are upset with the way their freedom and independence is purposely being restricted. Also, they oppose the government system of a monarchy because of the limited rights and representation that the people get. The colonies' desire to create the ideal government is developed by their hatred of the way they have been treated by the British government and their want to be the opposite, which leads to the fight for independence and the creation of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This era leads into the establishment of what Democracy is in America because the colonies are seeing what they oppose in a monarchy and they want their government to be "by the people." Citations: "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. 2006. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/ Image: "Revolutionary War battle." Science and Its Times. Ed. Neil Schlager and Josh Lauer. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2010.
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