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130 Cards in this Set

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Competency 29 is ..

The teacher understands and applies knowledge of significant historical events
and developments, multiple historical interpretations and ideas, and relationships
between the past, the present, and the future, as defined by the Texas Essential
Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
History

Texas teachers must be familiar with “historical
points of reference,” which are briefly outlined
below. Familiarize yourself with these points,
paying careful attention to how each shaped our
state and our government.

Native Americans
Texas teachers should be able to compare
and contrast various Native American tribes
throughout Texas and the Western
Hemisphere. Below is a list of the prime
attributes of each group.
Natives of the Western Hemisphere
The major Native American groups of the
Western Hemisphere were the Incas, the
Mayas, and the Aztecs. The Incan empire
stretched from Ecuador to northern Chile.
The Aztecs dominated northern Mexico,
while the Mayans flourished in Guatemala,
Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and the
Yucatan. Their influence continues today;
their positive achievements included the following:
• advanced agricultural methods
• tribute systems
• advanced communication systems
• skilled artisans
• highly specialized and stratified societies
• imperial administration
• schools
Natives of the United States
When the Europeans came to America,
about 10 million Native Americans lived in
all parts of the United States. All lived off
the land and were
• hunters
• gatherers
• farmers
They were resourceful in making tools and
had advanced skills in:
• farming
• buffalo hunting
• building homes
After the introduction of horses (by the
Spanish) they also developed advanced
horsemanship skills. Many historians count
the cooperative governing systems many
nations had in place to be among their
greatest contributions to modern society. In
many parts of America, Native American
tribes met on a regular basis to share news,
methods, and culture, as well as to make
cooperative governmental decisions. None
had a system of writing, nor did they have
many scientific advances.
Texas Natives
Scientists believe that the earliest Texans
arrived about 11,000 years ago, following
herds of mammoth and mastodon. The
earliest groups lived in the Gulf Coastal
Plains (Caddo, Coahuiltecans, Karankawas)
and were hunters, fishers, and farmers.
The Plains nations (Tonkawa, Lipan
Apache, Comanche, Kiowa) were mostly
nomadic, skilled buffalo hunters. The most
sedentary tribes (Pueblo, Jumano, Concho,
Tigua) occupied the Mountains and Basins
region. Contributions from these groups
included:
Caddo
Karankawas
Coahuiltecans
Lipan Apaches and Comanche
Pueblo
Caddo
built the first buildings in
Texas (beehive shaped huts made from
wooden frames covered with grass or
reeds); also known for advanced farming methods.
Karankawas
created dugout canoes,
small ships carved from the trunks of
trees to facilitate their nomadic lifestyle
(dependent on fishing)
Coahuiltecans
nomadic hunters and
trappers, enslaved Cabeza de Vaca and
other Spanish explorers
Lipan Apaches and Comanche
buffalo
hunters who tamed wild mustangs,
becoming skilled horsemen
Pueblo
built elaborate homes and
cities using adobe (sun-dried mud)
bricks
European Exploration and Colonization
During the 15th and 16th centuries, Europe
engaged in a strong push for exploration.
England, Spain, and France sent explorers
to establish colonies in the Americas.
• The French claimed lands in Canada,
around the Great Lakes, and all along
the Mississippi River.
• Spain claimed territory that is now Texas,
New Mexico, Arizona, California, Mexico,
and Central and South America.
• England established colonies in the
Caribbean, and thirteen colonies along
the east coast of America.
Colonization had some clearly positive
effects, creating communities and trade
routes that facilitated cultural exchange.
However, these were forged at the expense
of the indigenous peoples of the area; their
populations were ravaged by displacement,
disease, warfare with the Europeans, and
enslavement.
Reasons for European Exploration
• To locate a new passage to the Far East
(for trade)
• To map uncharted areas
• To find treasure (gold, silver, gems, artifacts)
• To claim new lands and set up colonies
• To convert people to Christianity
Columbus
(1492, 1493, 1498)
• led expeditions to South America for
Spain
• landed in South America
• opened cultural exchange between the
east and the west (Columbian exchange)
De Pineda
(1519)
• led first expedition into Texas
• explored Gulf Coasts for Spain (Florida,
Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Mexico)
De Vaca
(1527 -1535)
• Part of a Spanish mission to claim land
along the Gulf, he became stranded in
Florida when his ships did not return
from a supply run to Cuba.
• Built rafts and skirted the coast,
eventually wrecking near East Island,
Louisiana; continued on foot with a
slave called Esteban, eventually coming
to Texas
• Encountered Caddo Indians near
Houston; impressed with their sophistication
and tales of wealth inland, he
mapped and wrote about the area in
detail, creating our first written record
of America.
• His tales of Cibola, a fabled city of gold,
greatly influenced subsequent explorers
including Coronado and De Soto.
Coronado
(1540-1542)
• Sent by Spain to find fabled city of gold,
reported by De Vaca
• Traveled much of the Texas Panhandle
• First Europeans to see Palo Duro Canyon
• Went home empty handed
La Salle
(1682-1685) A French explorer
• Led expedition in 1682 from a French
colony in Canada down the Mississippi
River to the Gulf of Mexico, claiming
land for France on both sides of the river
• In 1684, led another expedition from
France to start a colony at the mouth of
the Mississippi River; sailed past the
river and mistakenly landed in Texas
• Built the first French colony in Texas,
Ft. St. Louis, near Galveston
The Thirteen English Colonies
• In 1607 the first permanent English
colony was established in Jamestown,
Virginia. In less than six months, more
than half of the settlers had died from
disease, starvation, and attacks from
Native Americans.
• In 1620, Pilgrims (religious dissidents)
set up a strict, parochial colony of
Puritans in Massachusetts, Plymouth
colony.
• Roger Williams set up a colony in
Rhode Island that advocated religious
freedom for all, including Native
Americans.
• William Penn established a colony for
Quakers in Pennsylvania. The Quakers
opposed violence, slavery, and war, and
advocated religious tolerance for all people.
William Bradford
Second governor of
Plymouth colony; in 1621 he ordered
the first Thanksgiving, sharing harvest
with the Wampanoag Indians
Roger Williams
banished from
Plymouth colony, advocated religious
freedom, established Rhode Island
colony
John Smith
Established trade relations
with the Powhatan Indians; bargained
for food for the starving Jamestown settlers
Pocahontas
Daughter of the Chief of
the Powhatan Indians; convinced her
father to spare John Smith and help the
settlers
John Rolfe
member of Jamestown,
began tobacco industry in America; married Pocahontas and brought her to
England ensuring peace with the
Powhatan Indians
Squanto
A Patuxet Indian who
taught the Plymouth Pilgrims how to
hunt, fish, and grow crops, thereby saving
the lives of many
The Mayflower Compact
• An agreement written on the Mayflower,
a ship which carried the Pilgrims to
America.
• This agreement established the governing
laws of the new colonies
Missions, Presidios, and Early Towns
After La Salle built a French colony in
Texas, Spain became worried about
protecting their claims in Texas. They
brought Franciscan monks to build
missions – religious settlements in Texas.
By 1740, there were more than 20 missions
in Texas. Later they added forts
called Presidios to protect the missions
(and Spain’s territorial claims). Missions
were built to:
• Solidify Spain’s territorial claims
(primary purpose)
• Open and protect trade routes
• Spread the Christian faith to the
Native Americans
• Provide a safe center for working
and learning
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War
(1754-1763)
This conflict, between British and French
colonies, instigated issues between the
colonists and England, which eventually led
to the American Revolution. During the
war, most Native American tribes sided with
the French, fearing the British would take
their ancestral homelands. The British won.
The French and Indian War - Causes
• Britain and France were at war, causing
conflict between their colonies in America.
• The British colonies wanted land owned
by the French colonists for fur trading.
The French and Indian War - Results
• France lost the majority of its territory
and power in North America.
• England’s land expanded to include all
of the French lands east of the
Mississippi River, except New Orleans,
which became Spanish territory.
• Spain’s holdings expanded to include all
of the French territory west of the
Mississippi River, and New Orleans.
• England tightened its hold on the
colonies, restricting freedom and levying
large taxes to help offset the costs of the war.
The American Revolution
(1776-1783)
By 1775, tensions were high between
England and their American colonists.
England had passed laws that prevented
colonists from being elected to Parliament;
at the same time, Parliament passed many
laws that levied taxes on the colonists. Angry
colonists called this “taxation without representation,”
which became an instigation and
a battle-cry for the revolt. For nine years,
colonists fought the British with the aid of
France. In 1781, British general Cornwallis
surrendered to Washington after the Battle
of Yorktown. The war officially ended with
the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
The American Revolution - Causes 1- 3
• Progressively direct, internal taxes were
levied against the colonists in order to
provide support to mother England. In
order to keep peace with the Native
Americans, Parliament passed The
Proclamation of 1763, a bill that said
colonists could not settle west of the
Appalachian Mountains. Settlers felt this
was a local decision and the government should not interfere.
• In 1765, the Stamp Act was passed,
which levied taxes against the colonists
on almost everything printed on paper –
legal documents, almanacs, diplomas,
and playing cards. This law united the
colonists against British rule, and resulted
in many bloody demonstrations and riots.
• Parliament passed the Townshend Acts
in 1767, which taxed glass, lead, paper,
paint, and tea. The colonists refused to
buy these items, so the tax was finally
repealed on everything except tea.
The American Revolution - Causes 4-6
• In 1768, 4,000 British soldiers were
moved into Boston, and the colonists
were required to provide room and
board to the soldiers. On March 5,
1770, several townsmen got into an
argument and threw snowballs at a
group of soldiers. The soldiers opened
fire on the unarmed crowd, killing five
colonists. This became a highly publicized
story known as the Boston Massacre; it
fueled the fires for colonial independence.
• Parliament passed the Tea Act of 1773
which forbade the colonists from buying
non-English tea, which was still taxed as
a way of demonstrating England’s right
to tax the colonies. The colonists strongly
opposed the tax, and when the British
East India Company brought three ships
loaded with tea into Boston harbor,
merchants refused to sell the tea, and
local authorities refused to allow the
ships to off-load their cargo. On
December 16, colonists dressed as
Mohawk Indians boarded the ships and
tossed 342 chests of tea into the bay.
This is known as the Boston Tea Party.
Similar incidents occurred throughout
the colonies until British tea was
boycotted completely.
• To punish the colonists, England passed
laws that were more rigid than ever,
igniting a revolt. The colonists dubbed these new laws “Intolerable Acts,” and
held the First and Second Continental
Congresses, meetings of representatives
from each colony. In these meetings,
colonial leaders began discussing revolution
and agreed to form an American
Continental Army, led by George
Washington.
The American Revolution - Results
• The colonies became an independent
nation, the United States of America.
• Britain recognized the new country and
gave up rights to the land east of the
Mississippi River, to Canada in the
north, and Florida in the south.
• A new government was elected.
The Declaration of Independence
• stated that governments must recognize
civil rights
• governments are formed to protect their
citizens’ rights
• spelled out the insults, abuse, taxation
issues, and other problems colonists had
under British rule
• stated colonies’ intent to form a new
government
The Articles of the Confederation
• first American Constitution
• provided for a government with no
monarch
• a weak central government, and stronger
state governments
• each state decided for itself, and issues
that affected all were decided by majority
vote
The Constitution
the highest law in the United States
• provides for citizens to elect their
representing officials
• provides for the sharing of power
between state and national government
• designates branches of government –
legislative (Congress), executive
(President), and Judicial (the Supreme
Court)
• delineates a system of checks and
balances, whereby each branch can be
controlled by the other two branches
Bill of Rights
• safeguards the rights of the people
• guarantees basic rights – freedom of
speech, freedom of the press, freedom
of religion, etc.
The War of 1812
The War of 1812 was fought between
Britain and the newly formed U.S. During
the war, the British captured and burned
Washington, D.C., though the U.S. eventually
won the conflict. This battle was important
because it set the stage for other nations
to recognize the United States as a viable,
independent country.
The War of 1812 - Causes
• England and France were capturing U.S.
ships and interfering with trade
• The U.S. believed England was still
interfering with the colonies, as well as
providing weapons to the natives (so
they could attack the colonies)
• The U.S. wanted to take new territories
– Canada (Britain) and Florida (Spain)
The War of 1812 - Results
• England recognized U.S. boundaries
• American industry flourished because
Americans had to make their own goods
as opposed to relying on imports from
England
• The United States became recognized by
other countries
Westward Expansion
• After the Revolution, American territory
increased due to an American belief
known as “Manifest Destiny.” This
belief encompassed the idea that
America was destined by God to encompass
the land from the
Louisiana Purchase
(1803) – Jefferson
purchased French lands west of the
Mississippi
Lewis and Clark Expedition
(1804-
1806) – Explorers sent to find a water
route from the source of the Missouri
River to the Pacific Ocean, mapped
much of the Continental U.S., made
trade relations with the Native
Americans living there, and paved the
way for westward expansion.
Sacajawea
(1805) A Shoshone Indian
woman who served as a guide and
translator for Lewis and Clark
Florida Purchase
(1819) – Florida was
purchased from Spain
The Trail of Tears and Resettlement of
Native Americans
(1830-1832) –
removed Native Americans from their
ancestral homes onto government
reservations. Due to harsh traveling
conditions and lack of supplies, many
died during the journey.
Texas joined the Union
(1845) - including
parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and
Wyoming
Oregon Territory
(1846) – Washington,
Oregon, Idaho and most of Montana
Transportation during westward expansion
- Wagon trains – Settlers moving to
new lands traveled by covered wagon
- Stagecoach
- The Pony Express
- Canals
- Railroads
Mexican land acquisition from Mexican-
American War
(1848) – California,
Arizona, Utah, Nevada
Mexico land purchase
(1853) – the
southern parts of New Mexico and
Arizona
Homestead Act of 1862
gave land to
any settler who lived and farmed it for
five years; instrumental in the settlement
of central and western regions of the U.S.
AK 1867
purchased from Russia
Hawaii 1898
annexed by the U.S.
People came to Texas for many reasons:
• to make a better life
• inexpensive land
• democracy
• religious freedom
Major cultural groups in Texas:
• Old-stock Anglo-Americans
• Upper South/Southerners
• Lower South/Southerners
• Direct European (groups)
• Hispanic / Mexican-Americans
• African-Americans
• Native-Americans
Culture, Settlement, and Diffusion
Diffusion is the process by which an idea or
innovation is transmitted from one individual
or group to another across space – the
way innovations and ideas travel through
society. Texas is composed of distinct culture
groups, each with its own way of life. The
exchanges of cultural ideas and practices, as
well as the physical properties of the land,
have greatly influenced Texas, both in the
past and the present.
Texas Revolution dates
(1820-1840)
1821
Stephen F. Austin, the “Father of
Texas,” brought white, American settlers
to Texas.
1830
Mexico refused to allow any more
U.S. settlers into the territory, creating
tension and a cry for independence.
1835
The Texas Revolution began
with the Battle of Gonzalez.
1836
The Texas Declaration of
Independence was created and issued.
• 1836 – The Texas Declaration of
Independence was created and issued.
• 1836 – The Battle of the Alamo; 5,000
Mexican soldiers attacked and killed 186
Texans (almost everyone there), including
William B. Travis, David Crockett, and
Jim Bowie.
• 1836 – The Massacre at Goliad; 300-
400 Texas soldiers were taken prisoner
by the Mexican army. Later, the prisoners
were paraded through the streets and
killed.
• 1836 – General Sam Houston defeated
Mexican General Santa Anna at the
Battle of San Jacinto.
• 1836 – The Republic of Texas, an
independent country, was formed, and
the Texas Constitution was written.
1839
Texas joined the United States.
1845
The new Texas Constitution was
written.
Stephen F. Austin
“The Father of Texas”
(because he brought settlers to Texas)
Sam Houston
first general of the Texas
army, first President of the Republic of
Texas
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
arrogant
Mexican general who led the assault
against the Texas army, and later
President of Mexico (1833)
William B. Travis
commander of the
Alamo
James Bowie and David Crockett
important statesmen who fought and
died at the Alamo
The Mexican War
(1846-1848)
After Texas joined the Union, conflicts continued
with Mexico and Santa Anna. President
Polk pushed to buy more Mexican lands
(because of his strong belief in the Manifest
Destiny). The U.S. won the war after taking
over Mexico City, Mexico’s capital.
The Mexican War - Causes
• Mexico was against Texas joining the
Union
• Disputes regarding the southern border
of Texas (U.S. claimed it was the Rio
Grande, Mexico claimed it was the
Nueces River, farther to the north)
• The U.S. wanted to own more land,
which Mexico refused to sell
The Mexican War - Results
• Mexico agreed that the southern border
was the Rio Grande.
• Mexico sold the U.S. California,
Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona,
New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming
• U.S. size and power increased
Civil War dates
1861-1865
The Compromise of 1820 and The
Compromise of 1860
decided if new
states joining the union would be free
states or slave states; attempted to
balance those for and against the issue
in Congress
The Dred Scott Decision
a slave who had moved with his master
to the free state of Illinois, sued for his
freedom. The Supreme Court decided
that because Scott was “property,” he
could not sue for his freedom. This
enraged Abolitionists and fueled the fires
for Civil War.
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Public
political debates between Abraham
Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas (during
the 1858 senate election). Slavery was
hotly debated, drawing large crowds and
national attention to the issue.
1860
Secession begins (South Carolina
is the first to secede)
1861
South fires on Fort Sumter, Civil
War begins;
Battle of Bull Run – first major
land battle of the Civil War
1862
Battle of Antietam – first major
land battle to take place on Northern soil
1863
Emancipation Proclamation –
Lincoln declared all slaves freed
• 1863 Battle of Gettysburg – bloodiest
battle of the war, a turning point for
Northern victory
1864
Sherman’s army burns Atlanta
• 1864 Lee surrenders to Grant at
Appomattox
1865
Lincoln assassinated
US Civil War Causes
• Slavery – the issue at the heart of the war
• Northern (industrial) vs. Southern
(agricultural) ways of life
• Free labor vs. paid labor - southern
economy was based on the free labor
provided by slaves
• States’ rights – the north held that no
state could secede (leave the nation),
while the south felt that individual states
could vote to do s
US Civil War Results
• Slavery ended, though blacks were not
given equal rights. They could not vote,
join their state army, serve on a jury, or
testify against whites in court.
• Secession was no longer allowed
• The U.S. government was reconstructed
to change civil rights and citizenship laws
Texas in the civil war
Only a small percentage of Texas families
owned slaves, though most Texans felt that
states should make their own decisions
regarding this and most issues. Texas joined
the Confederacy and was a formidable force
in many battles. During the Battle of
Vicksburg, a small band of Texans held a
pass against an entire platoon of northern
soldiers, took the entire platoon hostage,
and took their weapons. Few Civil War battles
were fought on Texas soil.
Reconstruction 1
After the Civil War and Lincoln’s
assassination, there was a period of
intense restructuring in the United
States. These are the key aspects of
Reconstruction:
• The 13th Amendment was passed,
outlawing slavery
• Freedman’s Bureau was created to help
the newly freed slaves with food, housing,
and employment
• The Civil Rights Act of 1866 gave
citizenship to all persons born in the U.S.
• Men from the former Confederacy were
required to take an oath of loyalty to the
Union
Reconstruction 2
• The 14th Amendment was passed,
giving citizenship rights to freed slaves
• The 15th Amendment was passed, giving
voting rights to all male citizens over the
age of 21, including freed slaves
• Jim Crow laws passed by southern states legalized segregation (separate
waiting areas in public places)
• Ku Klux Klan, a secret society of white
supremacists, was formed and engaged
in acts against African Americans and
those that supported them.
• The Compromise of 1877 ended
Reconstruction and called for federal
troops that were stationed in southern
states to be removed.
Industrial Revolution, Technological
Advances, and Industrialization
In the 1800s, many significant technological
advances increased the flow of goods and
services throughout the U.S. In the 1900s,
manufacturing capabilities of the U.S. grew
significantly. Products changed from handmade
to machine-made, increasing output
and wealth. Below is a list of significant
technological advances that impacted trade
and industry in the U.S. and Texas. In addition,
around the turn of the century, cities
began to grow, and Americans became
increasingly urban. Before 1870, less than
25% of Americans lived in cities (most lived
on farms or in small, rural towns). By the
mid-1900s, more than half of all Americans
lived in cities.
Spanish-American War of 1898 Causes
• The Maine, a U.S. battleship was
mysteriously sunk (killing 260 people)
while serving as a peace-keeping force
near Cuba while Cuba was engaged in a
battle for independence from Spain.
• Many Americans felt we should support
the Cuban freedom efforts; others felt
the U.S. should take over Cuba as many
American businesses had holdings there.
• Two major newspapers in New York
were in a heated competition for readers.
They sensationalized the sinking of the
Maine, which stirred Americans for war.
Spanish-American War of 1898 Results
• Cuba gained limited independence from
Spain
• The U.S. gained territory, including
Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
• The U.S. became a recognized leader in
international affairs.
World War I
(1914-1918)
World War I, the “war to end all wars,”
began in 1914 and involved countries from
all over the world. The U.S. joined the
conflict in 1917.
WWI Causes
• European industrial countries had large
world empires, were very competitive, and wanted to increase their holdings.
• Countries formed alliances – agreements
to defend each other in case of attack.
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir apparent
for the Austrian-Hungarian throne, was
assassinated in Sarajevo. Austria declared
war on Serbia, which triggered WWI, as
alliances brought other countries into
the war.
• The U.S., neutral at the beginning of
the war, turned against Germany when
German U-boats sank the Lusitania – an
unarmed passenger ship. Twelve hundred
people were killed, including 100
Americans. That, and the sinking of
other unarmed American merchant
ships, led to the U.S. declaring war on
Germany in 1917.
• Despite the early war in Serbia,
Germany was held responsible for starting
the war. Between August 1-4, Germany
declared war on Russia and France, and
invaded Belgium.
WWI Results
• World War I ended with the Treaty of
Versailles, a harsh agreement that
punished the Germans severely.
• Germany lost territory to Belgium,
Denmark, France, and Poland
• The size of Germany’s army was reduced
• Germany was forbidden to have submarines
and aircraft
• Germany was fined $33 million in damages
to other nations (which they never paid)
• The League of Nations was formed.
The League of Nations
After World War I, President Woodrow
Wilson founded the League of Nations to
foster peace among the nations of the world.
Though the League solved some disputes
and prevented war, it eventually failed
because it required that all member nations agree, which rarely happened, and it had no
military forces to enforce its decisions.
Suffrage
In the early 1900s, women had limited legal
rights, educational and career opportunities
and could not vote. Many women were disappointed
when the Civil War ended and
males – both black and white -- were
allowed to vote but women were not.
Despite hardship and abuse, many women
banded together and pushed for equal rights
for women. These rights were granted when
the 19th Amendment to the Constitution
was passed in 1920.
Great Depression 1
Following the industrial boom of the 1920s,
many companies had produced more goods
than they could sell. The stock market
crashed in 1929, leaving many businesses
and people bankrupt. This was the starting
point of the Great Depression, a time of
extreme poverty and hardship. The economy
began to recover with the inception of
President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal,
though it did not fully come to an end until
World War II. The New Deal created
Federal Agencies to fund and manage:
Great Depression 2 .. The New Deal created
Federal Agencies to fund and manage:
• emergency relief (FEMA)
• the elderly, orphans, and the disabled
(Social Security)
• excess farm production (Agricultural
Adjustment Act)
• the development of the Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA)
• environmental improvement (Civilian
Conservation Corps)
• labor unions (National Labor Relations Board)
WW2
(1939-1945)
Nazi Germany, led by Adolph Hitler, invaded
and conquered one nation after another
in Europe. The U.S. remained neutral until December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked
Pearl Harbor.
WW2 Causes
• Germany, Italy, and Japan were led by
dictators who instilled zealous civic
conceit and created potent police systems
to enforce their doctrine.
• WWI’s Treaty of Versailles left Germany
financially devastated and humiliated.
• The Axis countries wanted to conquer
neighboring territories.
WW2 Results
• Economic hardship for most countries as
a result of vast expenditures related to
the war
• Millions of Europeans lost their homes
• Japan created a new constitution and
built a more democratic government
• Germany was segregated into four parts.
Three segments became West Germany,
an independent democracy, and the last
became Communist East Germany.
• The United Nations was formed.
• The U.S. and the Soviet Union became
the world’s superpowers, dominating the
world’s political stage.
The Holocause
German-led genocide
of 11 million people, mostly Jews
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941, Japan bombed U.S.
forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Hiroshima / Nagasaki
On August 6, 1945, the U.S.
dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima,
Japan. On August 9, 1945, the U.S.
dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki,
Japan. These attacks ended the war.
Japan surrendered on September 2.
Churchill
inspirational leader
of Britain that took a strong stand
against Hitler
Hitler
Adolph Hitler – leader of Germany
from 1934 and leader of the National
Socialist (Nazi) Party. Using his persuasive
speaking skills, he appealed to Germany’s
sense of nationalism and economic
needs to create an authoritarian regime.
Under his leadership, Germany invaded
Poland, occupied most of Europe, and
pushed for racial genocide of the Jewish
people.
Hitler
leader of Germany
from 1934 and leader of the National
Socialist (Nazi) Party. Using his persuasive
speaking skills, he appealed to Germany’s
sense of nationalism and economic
needs to create an authoritarian regime.
Under his leadership, Germany invaded
Poland, occupied most of Europe, and
pushed for racial genocide of the Jewish
people.
Douglas MacArthur
Commander of
the U.S. forces in the Pacific
Robert Oppenheimer
Leader of the
Manhattan Project, which developed the
atomic bomb
Franklin D. Roosevelt
only American
President to serve four terms, leader of
U.S. for most of WWII
Harry Truman
Vice President, became
President upon Roosevelt’s death;
ordered the bombing of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki
The United Nations
The United Nations was founded after
WWII to maintain world peace.
The Korean War
(1950-1953)
After WWII, Korea was divided into two
countries, one democratic and one communist.
At the request of the United Nations,
the U.S. supplied aid to democratic South
Korea.
The Korean War - Causes
• North Korea attempted to take over
South Korea.
• The U.N. demanded a withdrawal,
which was refused.
• The U.N. sent troops and supplies from
15 allied countries (including the U.S.)
to support South Korea.
The Korean War - Results
• There was no declared victor. Korea
remains divided both fundamentally and
physically.
• A United Nations cease-fire agreement
was signed by North Korea in 1953.
The Vietnam War
(1957-1975)
This war was between Communist North
Vietnam and democratic South Vietnam.
The U.S. supported South Vietnam with
weapons and troops. In 1973, the U.S. withdrew
due to America’s anti-war sentiments.
The Vietnam War - Causes
• North Vietnam wanted to take over the
south and be one country under
Communist rule.
• The U.S. wanted to stop the spread of
Communism.
The Vietnam War - Results
• Vietnam became united with
Communist North Vietnam in control.
• Nearly a million refugees left Vietnam;
many settled in the United States
The Civil Rights Movement
(1954-1968)
After Reconstruction, blacks were still badly
treated. They were segregated from whites
and often worked as sharecroppers and other
extremely low-paying jobs. African Americans
began to push for equal rights, and a period
of civil unrest ensued.
1954
Brown v. Board of Education –
Supreme Court ruling called for
desegregation of schools
1955
Emmett Till’s Murder – This
teenage African-American boy was beaten
and murdered for whistling at a white
woman. Publicity that followed his
mother’s decision to hold an opencasket
service (revealing the abuse he
suffered) gave a face to the problem.
1955-1956
Montgomery Bus Boycott –
Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on
a Montgomery bus to white passengers
and was arrested. Black leaders organized
a boycott of the bus system which lasted
for 381 days, until the segregation ordinance
was removed.
Also
Mass Mobilization –
Boycotts, freedom rides, sit-ins, marches
• 1963 The March on Washington –
More than 200,000 demonstrators
marched for freedom and jobs, and then
gathered in front of the Lincoln
Memorial, where King delivered his
famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Civil Rights
leader who advocated peaceful demonstrations
for civic change; assassinated
1968 in Memphis, Tennessee
Rosa Parks
“The Mother of the Civil
Rights Movement”
The Persian Gulf War
(1991)
At the request of the U.N. and with the
support of 30 member countries, the U.S.
fought against Iraq when they illegally
invaded Kuwait.
The Persian Gulf War - Causes
Iraq wanted to take over Kuwait’s oil
fields, and wanted access to the Persian Gulf (for oil transport).
• Iraq considered Kuwait to be part of
their country.
• Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein wanted
control of the Muslim world.
The Persian Gulf War - Results
• Iraq was defeated, and its army was
reduced.
• Economic hardship was created for the
Iraqi people due to trade sanctions
imposed after the war.
• Hussein remained in power and rebuilt
his forces.
• The U.N. cease-fire agreement called for
Iraq to allow U.N. inspectors to look for
and destroy Iraqi weapons of mass
destruction.
The Attack on America
(2001)
On September 11, 2001, the terrorist group
Al Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden,
hijacked four large airplanes in America.
Two were crashed into the World Trade
Center (the Twin Towers) in New York City,
and one was crashed into the U.S. Pentagon,
destroying the buildings and killing thousands.
The final plane, thought to be aimed
at the White House, went down in
Shanksville, PA, due to a passenger uprising
against the terrorists.
The Attack on America - Results (hey, where are the causes? ... do we not know?)
• President George Bush declared war on
terrorism
• U.S. forces invaded Afghanistan, the
base of the Al Qaeda network
• The Department of Homeland Security
was formed
The War in Iraq

(2003)
After the Persian Gulf War, hostilities continued
between the U.S. and Iraq.
Combined forces from the U.S., Britain, Australia, and Spain attacked Iraq in March,
2003. The conflict was declared over in May
with the removal of Saddam Hussein,
though a military force composed largely of
U.S. troops remained to assist the nation
with rebuilding and the formation of a new,
democratic government.