APReviewPacket JM
APReviewPacket JM
1. Review your notes and essays (regular and DBQs). Start with the Colonial era and
work your way forward chronologically by period. A list of major periods is attached. For
each:
a. Look up facts, people, terms, concepts you don't know in your review book. Use
the Unit Assignment sheets as a guide.
b. Try to characterize each period in your own words by summarizing it in a few
phrases, AND naming several main events and trends.
c. Pick up a few dates to "hang" the rest of the period on.
3. Draft an essay outline for each period paying particular attention to developing a thesis
statement and outlining your support. Again, use the focus questions on the Unit
Assignment sheets as “essay” questions. Review your notes to see how you might improve
your response. Before the AP test, practice writing a few essays out in full without your
notes. (Use the essay questions in your review books.)
4. Practice a couple of timed essays. Allow yourself 30 minutes only, outline and write
out your response in full. Practice some multiple choice questions too. Remember,
however, that actual study is more important.
6. Get enough sleep before the exam. If you've been cramming for nights, you won't be
able to analyze and write clearly.
7. On the day of the exam: bring two #2 pencils, two dark blue or black ink pens, and a
watch that doesn't beep. Pace yourself.
• Reading period, 15 minutes (No essay writing permitted. Use this to read and
evaluate the DBQ question & documents, and take brief notes).
Note: The review materials below have been compiled over the years. They consist of
summaries: incomplete in themselves, but a decent overview. Use these to view the (now
famous) “Big Picture” to which I always refer. You still need to connect the dots with
facts and details (i.e. study other materials). Work hard, but don’t lose sleep.
The best of luck to all you!
Reconstruction, 1865-77
Slavery abolished, Civil War amendments
Weak presidents: Andrew Johnson, U.S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes
WWI, 1914-18
U.S. involved 1917-1918
Wilson’s 14 Points
Treaty of Versaille, League of Nations
France: 1. Canada for fur trade – St. Lawrence and Mississippi River systems
2. West Indies for sugar
3. Friendly with Indians – coureurs de bois
4. Mercantilism – Colbert and Joint stock companies
5. Strongly Catholic – no Huguenots allowed
6. Never many colonists
Dutch: 1. Established trading centers in Hudson River Valley at Albany (Fort Orange)
and New Amsterdam
2. Good relations with Native American trading partners.
3. Purely economic in nature – not interested in territory.
Southern Colonies:
1. Virginia – Jamestown – John Smith – the first settlement
Middle Colonies:
1. Penn and Quakers the dominant colony
2. agriculture, iron and merchants
3. mixed population, government and religion
New England:
1. Massachusetts dominant – colonized Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island
2. Puritans – Bradford, Winthrop
3. town government – General Court
4. farming, whaling, merchants
Themes: 1. France and England fought for 125 years around the world
France and England struggle to control colonies in America
2. England ousts France from America
3. English effort to control colonies more tightly and have them pay
the cost of the war leads to the American Revolution
Aftermath:
1. England tightens mercantilism, ends salutary neglect
2. King’s Proclamation Line of 1763 closes Ohio Valley to colonists
3. England broke, and wants Americans to share cost of war: taxes
imposed
3. Lord North – Tea tax > Boston Tea Party > Intolerable Acts
Themes:
1. Articles of Confederation establish an ineffective government
2. critical period – will the country survive?
3. constitution written to assure adequate central government compatible with
freedom from tyranny
Articles of Confederation
1. Congress was a place where “ambassadors from the states” meet
2. no executive to carry out laws
3. no federal courts to settle disputes
4. congress cannot tax – only ask for money
Critical period
1. Northwest Ordinance and the Ordinance of 1785
2. monetary chaos – rivalry between states provides incentive for new constitution
3. Shay’s Rebellion
Constitution
1. convention in Philadelphia – Madison, Washington the leaders
2. principles-
a. federalism
b. separation of powers
c. checks and balances
Washington (1789-1797)
1. domestic achievements:
federal courts established
Bill of Rights passed
Hamilton’s banks and manufacturing strengthened
2. foreign affairs:
Neutrality Proclamation
Jay Treaty – England leaves fur posts in Ohio Valley
Genet affair – Resist attempts of France to get aid for French Revolution
Adams (1797-1801)
1. Domestic:
parties formed – Federalists ( Adams, Hamilton)
Republicans or “Democratic-Republicans” or “Jeffersonian Republicans” (Jefferson)
2. Foreign
XYZ Affair – French won’t receive American ambassador
Adams refuses to go to war with Franc
Jefferson (1801-1809)
1. Domestic:
laissez faire
tries to restrict federal judges – can’t
Marbury v. Madison – John Marshall declares Supreme Court can decide whether a law is
constitutional (judicial review)
2. Foreign:
Louisiana Purchase
sends Lewis and Clark into wilderness
war with Barbary Pirates
tries to make France and England respect American neutral rights with the
Embargo Act – unsuccessful
Madison (1808-1816)
1. War of 1812 against England
2. Caused by land greed, nationalism (War Hawks), impressment, fur forts in Ohio, seizing ships
3. British invasion of America – burned Washington D.C.
4. Jackson’s victory at New Orleans
5. Treaty of Ghent – nothing changes
6. Hartford Convention - New England threatens to secede; adds to demise of Federalists
Age of Jackson
Themes:
1. Jackson’s presidency signals more democratic trend
2. coincides with beginning of industrialization and the market revolution
3. followed by reform movements
4. followed by manifest destiny and westward expansion
Jackson 1828-1836
1. From the west – not part of the old aristocracy
2. democratic tendencies – increased suffrage, party conventions “spoil system”
3. Opposes and destroys second BUS – institution of the privileged
4. Strongly nationalistic – opposed Nullification Ordinance of Calhoun
5. Resolved by Clay’s Compromise in 1833
Industrialization 1818
1. Industrialization centered in Northeast
2. Cotton gin transforms south to cotton area
3. Old Northwest Territory linked to northeast by canals and railroads
Manifest Destiny
1. Builds on Monroe Doctrine – America turns away from Europe
2. Florida from Span – 1819
3. Texas colonized, becomes independent
4. Oregon settled by missionaries and farmers
5. Mormons in Utah
6. California settlers gold
7. War with Mexico
a. Polk
b. Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo: America gets southwest
8. Gadsden purchase added 1853
9. China and Japan trade develops
10. Continuing problem of slavery in the new lands
Compromise of 1820
Compromise of 1850
Important Figures:
Civil War
Themes:
1. Increasingly difficult to compromise the slavery issue
2. Multiple causes – economics, philosophy of government, fanaticism
3. Devastating war for five years 1868-1865
4. North fought to preserve union – added war aim of emancipation
5. Lincoln the dominant figure – assassinated
Leading up to war
1. How to deal with slavery in the new lands from Mexico – compromise of 1850
2. Douglas reopens Kansas and Nebraska to popular sovereignty
3. “Bleeding Kansas”
4. Increased abolitionist activity – underground railroad, won’t cooperate with Fugitive Slave law
5. Dred Scott decision
6. John Brown’s Raid
7. Different economic interests – no tariff ( South) v. protective tax
8. Lincoln’s election in 1868 as a Republican scares South – they secede
Reconstruction
Themes: How was the nation to be reunited?
How was slavery to be undone?
How was economic recovery in the South to be accomplished?
Would Congress become the dominant branch of government?
Laws
Amendments to the Constitution (Ratification dates)
1: freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion (includes separation of church and
state); freedom to petition the government.
5: Grand jury indictment required; no double jeopardy; Right to not incriminate oneself;
can’t be deprived of life, liberty, or private property without due process.
6: Right to speedy trial by jury of peers; specific charges required; accused must be
present during witness testimony; Right to a lawyer and to compel witnesses to testify
on one’s behalf.
9: This listing of rights doesn’t mean one doesn’t have other rights, or that those
unmentioned rights are any less important.
10: Powers not given to federal or kept by state government belong to state governments
and the people.
11: Citizens of another state or country can’t sue a state in federal court without its
permission (1798)
16: established government’s power to collect income taxes from individuals, 1916
17: Switched U.S. senate selection to direct election by people (instead of by the state
legislatures), 1916
20: “lame duck” amendment moved up presidential inauguration and Congress meetings to
January (from March)
22: Made the two-term limit on presidency part of the Constitution (as opposed to the
“unwritten constitution,” 1951
24: Abolished the poll tax, a charge for the right to vote, 1964
25: Established Congressional power to legislate a process for presidential succession, in the
event of the president’s incapacity to govern, 1967
27: Congress can’t vote itself a raise to take effect during the same term, 1992
Agriculture:
Homestead Act, 1862: 160 acres free if resident for 5 years
Agricultural Adjustment Acts, 1933, 1938. Farmers paid not to grow crops as price
supports. These have only recently been curtailed in the 1990s.
Immigration:
1882 Chinese Exclusion Act Suspended immigration of all Chinese.
1891 By this year the federal government had established full control of immigration.
Regulations now forbid the immigration of:
• "persons suffering from a loathsome or dangerous contagious disease."
• It also included earlier provisions which kept out criminals, prostitutes, paupers,
and "mentally defective" persons.
• It required that an immigrant prove to officials that he or she would not become a
burden on society.
1892 Ellis Island opens in New York City as a federal immigration inspection station
1901 Congress bars anarchists from entry, after President McKinley is assassinated by a
man professing to be an anarchist.
1908 Gentlemen's Agreement President Theodore Roosevelt made a deal in which Japan
agreed to deny passports to its laborers who wished to come to the United
States.
1917 Literacy Test is finally enacted. Every immigrant aged 16 or older must be able to
read. It keeps out very few immigrants.
1921 Emergency Quota Act set temporary quotas which favored northern and western
Europeans. Maximum annual total set at 358,000. It offered no entry to
Africans or Asians.
1924 National Origins Act reduces the annual total to 164,000. It also drastically
reduced the number of southern and eastern Europeans allowed entry. Italy's
quota, for example, was reduced from 42,000 to 4,000 persons.
1929 Total limited to 150,000 annually, with specific quotas for each country; these were
based on the number of people from each country living in the U.S. in 1920
1930s Refugees from the Nazis are barred entry to the U.S. Despite the fact that these
people sought to escape persecution or even death, the quota system kept most
of the refugees ù principally Jewish ù from coming to the U.S.
1952 The McCarran-Walter Act retained the quota system and slightly amended exisiting
laws. On the one hand, it permitted Asians living in the U.S. to become citizens
and allowed 2,000 Asians to enter the country each year. Allowed the
government to deport aliens considered subversive. (Truman Administration).
1965 The Immigration and Nationality Act eliminated the quota system. It kept a limit
on the annual total, but allowed anyone to enter on a first come, first served
basis. For the first time, anyone from southern Europe, Africa, or Asia
received the same consideration as someone from France or Germany. Gives
preference to professionals and skilled workers, and those related to U.S.
citizens. (LBJ Administration)
1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act imposes fines against employers who hire
illegal aliens. Employers must now check documents which prove citizenship. It
has not slowed the entry of illegal immigrants from Latin America via the
Mexican border. (Reagan Administration)
African Americans
1865 13th Amendment ratified, abolishing slavery
1866 Civil Rights Act grants citizenship to the freedmen, but is overturned in court.
1868 14th Amendment ratified, granting equal citizenship and rights under the law,
regardless of race or color
1870 15th Amendment ratified, grants the right to vote to all, regardless of race or
color
1876 The contested presidential election of 1876 results in a deal in which Union troops
are removed from the South, thus ending Reconstruction; enforcement of the "Civil
War Amendments" comes to an end. By 1890 in the South, de jure segregation is
legally-enforced in schools, hotels, buses, trains, train stations, restrooms,
restaurants, water fountains. Virtually every public and private facility — is
segregated. In the North, de facto segregation (segregation in fact) means that in
practice, blacks are not hired, sold houses, or admitted entrance to many private
institutions and clubs.
1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruled that "separate, but equal" facilities do not violate the
14th Amendment; segregation is therefore considered constitutional.
1912 The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is
formed by W.E.B. DuBois and a group of white and black citizens to fight for the
political equality of all races.
1917 “The Great Migration” begins, which continues through the 1960s, originally a
response to demands for additional labor during wartime. The north begins to
experience de facto racial segregation, race riots.
1941 A. Phillip Randolph leads the March on Washington Movement, urging equal
opportunity legislation in federally-contracted defense industries. Executive Order
8802.
1948 President Truman orders the desegregation of the Armed Forces, against his
generals’ wishes.
1955- Rosa Parks, NAACP; Montgomery Bus boycott, Martin Luther King, Jr.
1956 Montgomery Bus Boycott a success; city bus system desegregated; African-
American bus drivers hired. The Supreme Court rules segregation in public
transportation is unconstitutional.
1956-57, Little Rock Nine at Little Rock Central High. President Eisenhower sends U.S.
Army to desegregate Little Rock, Arkansas's Central High School; the "Little Rock
Nine" are allowed to attend. Congress passes the weak Civil Rights Act of 1957, but
it has little impact on voting rights.
1960 Lunch Counter Sit-ins, Nashville TN. Led by college students in the Student
Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC, pronounced “snick”). Adults turned to
boycott Nashville stores for employment. Achieved integration in the city.
Congress passes a weak Civil Rights Act of 1960; again, little impact
1960-61, 100 other cities held sit-ins. 50,000 Americans participated. 3,600 arrested.
August: March on Washington, more than 200,000 blacks and whites demonstrate,
King
gives "I have a dream" speech.
1964 Freedom Summer Massive voter registration drive in Mississippi, organized and
staffed by white and black college students, many from the North. Three civil
rights workers, two white and from the north are murdered by the KKK.
Civil Rights Act of 1964. These murders stir awareness and condemnation by much
of the nation, including President Johnson, and leads directly to his successful
initiation and push for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which Congress passes. The Act
outlaws job discrimination, and all forms of segregation.
24th Amendment does away with poll taxes; “war on poverty” declared by President
Johnson’s "Great Society" Program launched. LBJ declares a "war on poverty."
Economic Opportunity Act, Medicare/Medicaid, school aid, HUD,
1967 Riots in many U.S. cities. 43 dead in Detroit's riot. National Guard troops called in
to help. Affirmative Action programs established, requiring businesses and colleges
receiving federal funding to increase job opportunities and admissions for women
and minorities.
1978 Regents of the University of California v. Bakke ruled that the school's affirmative
action "quota system" was unconstitutional and that Bakke, a white applicant, should
be admitted. However, it also ruled that race could be one factor in determining
admission to a college.
W.E.B. DuBois - Early 1900s; historian and activist; founder of the NAACP, circa 1909.
Protest all inequalities, bring law suits for rights, educate the "talented tenth" for the
professions as a vanguard; integrate. Wrote first revisionist history of reconstruction. .
Ida B. Wells(-Barnett) – Progressive era activist from the south; school teacher at age 16,
journalist and anti-lynching Progressive-era activist. Her work for women’s suffrage was
rebuffed by many white woman suffragettes. Wells was fiercely determined and remained
active despite death threats.
Marcus Garvey - 1920s; colorful founder of the United Negro Improvement Association;
black pride; promote black businesses; solidarity with blacks world wide; back to Africa;
steamship company for repatriation goes bankrupt. Scandal led to conviction for mail
fraud, exile.
Thurgood Marshall NAACP's lead lawyer arguing the 1954 Brown v. Bd. of Ed. case. Later
named as Supreme Court Justice (1st black ever) by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Southern Christian Leadership Conference founder, boycotts,
sit-ins, protests, marches, law suits; non violent direct action, his very effective strategy,
to raise consciousness, press for laws to dismantle Jim Crow laws and establish voting
rights; his vision: a fully integrated society.
Stokely Carmichael - arises from SNCC. Originates slogan of "black power," intimidation,
black pride, full rights and control of black communities: Black Panthers, Angela Davis, e.g.
Jessie Jackson - ran for President in 1984 with the Rainbow Coalition, emphasis on solving
poverty problems, lower military budget with money diverted to domestic problems,
affirmative action, increase black voter participation.
Louis Farrakhan - leader of the Nation of Islam, black nationalist, separatist. Known for
derogatory statements against whites, particularly Jews. Lately has nudged himself a bit
toward center with the "Million Man March" which brought together a more diverse, but
solely black and male, leadership and following, and called for black male responsibility.
Al Sharpton - Formerly: raise consciousness of racism with marches, and protests, distrust
of legal system. Presently shifting to electoral politics. Ran for U.S. Senator from NY in
1990's, and presidential candidate in 2004.
Clarence Thomas - career at first outside civil rights community, opposes affirmative
action and special programs for minorities, just enforce present laws, hard work and self
discipline, avoid self pity and self image of underdog. Now a Reagan appointee on the
Supreme Court.
J.C. Watts Republican House representative from Oklahoma, Watts opposes affirmative
action and supports other conservative social and political views. He supports conservative
actions to help the poor, but not blacks specifically, such as the Commercial Revitalization
Tax Act (1998).
Women
1848 First national women's suffrage convention meets in Seneca Falls, NY. Attendees
include Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Frederick Douglass. Issued
the "Declaration of Rights and Sentiments" which called for political equality,
specifically property and voting rights for women.
1869-
1896 Four new Western states are the first to grant women suffrage (WY, ID, UT, CO)
1910-
1912 Five additional Western states follow suit
1916 National Woman's Party, Alice Paul, militant faction splits off from NAWSA, uses
C.D. Arrests embarrass Wilson who urges passage of amendment to Congress.
1920 President Wilson finally endorses suffrage, in part for women’s crucial role during
the war. The 19th Amendment gives women suffrage, but it has little impact on
reform politics.
1963 The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, challenged the notion that women were
the "weaker sex." Advocated that women be admitted to the professions and
high-level business positions. The opening salvo of the modern women's rights
movement.
1966 National Organization for Women (NOW) is formed by Betty Friedan and other
feminists to increase awareness of discrimination against and domination over
women by men, as well as to pass antidiscrimination legislation and push for equal
pay and day-care centers.
1972 Congress passes ERA and sends it out to the states for possible ratification. Three
quarters or 38 states needed to ratify. (See 1928 above, and 1982 below.)
1973 Roe v. Wade, extremely controversial, ruled that laws prohibiting abortion in the
first six months of pregnancy are unconstitutional because the first amendment
implies a right to privacy, which in this matter applies to a woman's choices
regarding her own body. This ruling has been narrowed in recent years by further
Supreme Court challenges.
1978 The Pregnancy Discrimination Act bans employment discrimination against pregnant
women.
1981 The U.S. Supreme Court rules that excluding women from the draft is
constitutional.
The state of Mississippi belatedly ratifies the 19th Amendment, granting women
the vote.
1986 In Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57 (1986), the U.S. Supreme Court held
that a hostile or abusive work environment can prove discrimination based on sex.
1987 Johnson v. Santa Clara County: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that it is permissible
to take sex and race into account in employment decisions even where there is no
proven history of discrimination but when evidence of a manifest imbalance exists
in the number of women or minorities holding the position in question.
1989 In Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, 492 U.S. 490 (1989), the Supreme
Court affirms the right of states to deny public funding for abortions and to
prohibit public hospitals from performing abortions.
1994 Gender Equity in Education Act: trains teachers in gender equity, promotes math
and science learning by girls, counsels pregnant teens.
1996 United States v. Virginia, affirms that the male-only admissions policy of the state-
supported Virginia Military Institute violates the Fourteenth Amendment.
1997 Elaborating on Title IX, the Supreme Court rules that college athletics programs
must actively involve roughly equal numbers of men and women to qualify for federal
support.
1998 Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America agrees to pay $34 million to settle an
E.E.O.C. lawsuit contending that hundreds of women were sexually harassed.
Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Ellerth: The Supreme Court rules that employers are
liable for sexual harassment even in instances when a supervisor’s threats are not
carried out, but not when the employer took steps to prevent or promptly correct
any sexually harassing behavior and/or when the employee did not take advantage
of available opportunities to stop the behavior.
2000 CBS Broadcasting agrees to pay $8 million to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit by
the E.E.O.C. on behalf of 200 women.
United States v. Morrison: The U.S. Supreme Court invalidates those portions of
the Violence Against Women Act permitting victims of rape, domestic violence, etc.
to sue their attackers in federal court.
Native Americans
1828 Cherokee Nation v. Georgia: In 1828 the Cherokee, a "civilized" tribe who
had lived in peace working as farmers, building houses and roads found
gold on their land. As a result white settlers moved in and the State of
Georgia claimed jurisdiction over the Cherokee. The Cherokee sued
claiming they were independent from Georgia. The Supreme Court ruled in
favor of the Cherokee. The victory was short lived, however, as President
Andrew Jackson refused to enforce the Court’s decision.
1830 Indian Removal Act pushes the Five Civilized Tribes west of the Mississippi
River.
1851 Fort Laramie Treaty grants Indians their territory forever; Indians, in turn,
guarantee safe passage of Oregon Trail travelers.
1864 Sand Creek Massacre: 300 peaceful Indian men, women & children attacked
and slaughtered by U.S. Army under Colonel Chivington.
1867 Reservation policy established for the Black Hills & Oklahoma.
1870-
1880s Second Sioux War, Nez Percé, Apache Indian Wars with U.S.
1876 Custer's Last Stand: 264 soldiers killed by 2,500 Sioux & Cheyenne at Little
Bighorn River, Montana.
1877 The Sioux surrender; Crazy Horse killed. The Nez Percé captured at
Canadian border after 1,700 mile flight under Chief Joseph.
1924 Congress passes a law granting Indians full citizenship who hadn’t already
received it.
1932 President Hoover reorganizes the Bureau of Indian Affairs; increases its
budget.
1973 Sit-in at D.C. Bureau of Indian Affairs to protest conditions. Indian rights
movement gathers momentum, especially in organizations such as the
American Indian Movement (AIM).
1974 Oglala civil war, Wounded Knee, S.D. siege by F.B.I. agents
Politics/Government:
Pendleton Act: Created the Civil Service exams whereby you get a government job by
taking an exam instead of by favor.
Federal Campaign Reform Act of 1974. Following Watergate, matching funds to
Presidential candidates up to maximum of $5 million in primary, and $20 million in the
election, limits spending by Senate and House candidates, and limits contribution by
individuals and political organizations.
War Powers Act, 1974: The President can send troops into combat must inform congress
within 48 hours. Congress may then order the troops home if it wishes. Hostilities must
terminate within 90 days unless Congress gives explicit permission for them to
continue.
Constitutional Issues
2. 1820-1868
States rights – tariffs, nullification
Territorial rule?
Freedom of speech gag rule
Union of states?
3. 1865 – Reconstruction
Balance between branches of government
Impeachment
Rights of blacks – amendments 13, 14, 15
4. Industrialization
Narrow v. broad interpretation of interstate commerce (knight)
Plessy – 14th amendment
5. Progressives
democratization – senators, women’s vote
income tax
war powers and League of Nations
6. New Deal
court packing plan
loose construction
balance between branches
7. Post World War II
Warren Court – coddles criminals?
Civil Rights – poll taxes, discrimination, segregationBrown v. Board of
Education
limit Presidents – interim, illness
democratize – 18 year old vote, voting in Washington DC, Baker v. Carr
Differing economies in North, South & West caused sectionalism and political conflict,
1800-60
North: Industry and trade were dominant due to poor soil, excellent seaports, great
rivers for transport and for factory waterpower, Roads and canals were built
with state money to expand this capability.
South: Agriculture dominated due to excellent farmlands, rivers best for transport
only (not waterpower), Invention of cotton gin leads to cotton’s dominance of
economy, growth of slave trade and use, and desire for westward expansion
(especially to Texas). The slave issue becomes divisive and leads to sectionalism
as abolition becomes a political movement. The tariff issue also leads to
sectionalism. The 1828 Tariff of Abominations leads to John Calhoun of SC to
write his Nullification Doctrine, a theory that states may nullify laws which it
determines to be unconstitutional. This, in turn, leads to the belief that states
may secede (leave) the Union, which eventually leads to Civil War.
Industrialism (1865-1920)
During and after the Civil War (1861-65), northern industries grew enormously.
The corporation, a legal entity, and the issuing of stocks, led to nationwide
businesses with enormous factories. This also led to the concentration of
wealth in a very few hands, which led, in turn, to poltical corruption by the
“robber baron” business leaders.
The Great Society: Lyndon Johnson’s program to wage the “War on Poverty” in the
1960s. Established Medicaid (health care coverage for the poor), federal
education subsidies (Headstart e.g.), jobs programs (VISTA, e.g.). Never fully
funded due to the massive cost of the Vietnam War.
Supply-side economics (Reaganomics): Cut corporate and individual taxes, cut social
spending by government in order to encourage private investment leading to
economic growth, and eliminate some federal business regulations to increase
profits.
NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement, 1994: tariffs removed amongst
Canada, United States and Mexico to stimulate greater trade and economic
growth; critics believe it is resulting in fewer American exports and jobs in the
United States. (Bush, Clinton)
GATT: General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 1994: like NAFTA, this economic
agreement seeks to encourage free trade by reducing tariffs and other trade
restrictions. It is enforced by the World Trade Organization (WTO). (Clinton)
Both of the two agreements above concern the overriding issue of “globalization” of
the world’s economy.
Parties fall apart as Republicans become more like the Federalists when
in office, and Federalists are tainted by the Hartford Convention.
Whigs: assumed to be the party of the wealthy, Clay’s American plan (tariff,
internal improvements, and BUS), city oriented, nationalist, established
business, anti Jackson. Clay, Webster, Tyler
Democrats: assumed to be the party of the common man, anti high tariff,
expansionist, anti BUS inheritors of Jefferson’s concern for farmer,
rising businessmen, Jackson, Van Buren, Calhoun, Polk.
Parties fall apart during the 1850s when they can’t deep their southern
and northern wings together.
Republicans: Pro northern business, high tariff, Homestead Act, help to R.R., hold
union together, free the slaves, hard money, pro imperialism. Lincoln,
Grant, McKinley, T. Roosevelt. There are conservative and progressive-
reform wings.
The chart below shows the development of the three different two-party systems. Note that while
the “two-party system” existed for most of our history, the names and major positions of these parties
changed over time. Roman numerals following election years indicate the emergence of each of the four two-
party systems. Some of the more significant minor parties are also included here.
2 The Socialist Party lost a more radical wing, which itself split into two Communist Parties, shown here
as one party for simplicity.
3 The States' Rights Party, also known as the Dixiecrats, was a revolt from the Democratic Party, due to
Truman's support for African American civil rights. Led by then SC governor Strom Thurmond.
4 H. Ross Perot, Texas billionaire, ran independently for the Presidency. Although he received no
electoral votes, he did receive more than 19 million popular votes, the largest percentage for a "third
party" candidate since Teddy Roosevelt ran as the Bull Moose candidate in 1912. The movement
spawned by his candidacy has developed into a "Reform" Party, but has no clear vision other than to
"throw the rascals out."
5
This contested election was not decided until January 2001 by the Supreme Court. It n6w appears that
Gore would have actually won the popular vote and the electoral vote, had all of Florida’s ballots been
recounted. This was done by an independent media consortium after President Bush’s inauguration.
Era of Good Feelings and the Era of the Common Man, 1815-1840
Reconstruction, 1865-1877
17. Andrew Johnson, 1865, 1869
Republican
Secretary of State - William H. Seward
Major Items:
• 13th Amendment, 1865
• 14th Amendment, 1868
• Reconstruction Act, 1867
• Tenure of Office Act, 1867
• Impeachment Trial, 1868
• Formation of KKK
• Adoption of Black Codes in the South
World War I Freedom of the seas, objections to German sub warfare, (Wilson)
(British blockades, U.S. ships, stopped, seized)
Reject Treaty of Versailles, 1919 (League of Nations, World Court)
Cold War Atomic bomb tested, July 1945; used August 1945(Truman)
Iron Curtain
Truman Doctrine
George Kennan’s containment policy
Marshall Plan, 1948
Berlin Airlift, 1948
NATO, 1949
Korean War, 1950-53 (Truman/Ike)
CIA-orchestrated coups in Iran, Guatemala, 1953-54
Warsaw Pact formed, 1955
Covert aid to South Vietnam (Ike), 1956
Fidel Castro deposes Batista, leads a communist Cuba
U-2 incident, 1960
Bay of Pigs, 1961 (J.F.K.)
Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962
J.F.K. increases military advisors to 16,000 in Vietnam
Johnson sends ground troops to Vietnam, 1965
Escalates to >500,000 troops by 1968
Nixon spreads conflict to Laos and Cambodia
Nixon ends U.S. role in the war by 1973 (Vietnamization)
Détente: China recognized; Soviet grain deal, SALT I & II
CIA-orchestrated coup in Chile, 1973
U.S. objects to 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (Carter)
Iranian hostages
U.S. invades Grenada, 1983 (Reagan)
Support for Contras, Iran-Contra scandal (Reagan)
S.D.I (“Star Wars”) proposed
Gorbachev: glasnost, perestroika
Berlin Wall torn down, 1989, East/West Germany reunited (Bush Sr.)
Soviet Union dissolved, 1991
U.S. invades Panama, 1988 “War on Drugs” (Bush Sr.)
Post-cold war
“New World Order” (Bush, Sr.)
Persian Gulf War, 1991
U.S. troops to Somalia, 1993 (Clinton)
U.S. troops to Bosnia, 1995
War on Terrorism (George W. Bush): 9/11, Afghanistan Invasion,
Homeland Security Dept., Patriot Act
The Bush Doctrine: Pre-emptive War; Iraq War, 2003