Founding Documents
This document, inspired by Enlightenment ideas, declared the colonies independent with grievances against British rule and is famed for promising ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’
What is the Declaration of Independence?
This invention, notably perfected by Henry Ford, revolutionized how goods were produced in factories.
What is the Assembly Line?
This era saw reformers addressing problems stemming from industrial capitalism, urban overcrowding, and corrupt government practices.
What is the Progressive Era?
Fought from 1914 to 1918—with U.S. entry in 1917—this global conflict introduced new warfare technologies and changed world politics.
What is WWI?
After WWII, this policy guided U.S. efforts to stop the spread of communism around the globe.
What is Containment?
This ordinance provided governance for the Northwest Territory and set important precedents for future state formation, including a prohibition on slavery in the territory.
What is the Northwest Ordinance?
In the late 19th century, some theorists argued that only the fittest individuals deserved success—an idea often used to justify minimal government intervention in economic affairs.
What is Social Darwinism?
Enacted to break up monopolies and restore competitive markets, this antitrust law was one early measure of Progressive reform.
What is the Sherman Antitrust Act?
This peace treaty formally ended WWI and is considered a direct cause of WWII.
What is the Treaty of Versailles?
In 1949, the Soviet Union shocked the world by successfully testing its first atomic bomb, launching this race.
What is the Arms Race?
This group of people defended the new Constitution and argued in favor of a strong central government despite critics’ concerns about concentrated power.
Who are the Federalists?
In response to often dangerous working conditions, workers across the nation began organizing to demand better rights and safety.
What is the labor movement?
Reformers pushed to conserve natural resources by establishing national parks and forest reserves—a movement that led to the creation of this federal agency.
What is the National Park Service?
A series of Acts in the 1930s were designed to keep the U.S. out of foreign wars, reflecting a strong isolationist mood.
What are Neutrality Acts?
This period of widespread fear of communism—marked by Senate hearings and blacklists—became known by the name of its most notorious figure.
What is McCarthyism?
This early governing document, used after independence, attempted to unite the states but proved too weak to manage the nation’s needs.
What is the Articles of Confederation?
Mass migration from farms to cities in search of factory jobs dramatically reshaped American demographics in this era.
What is Urbanization?
Direct democracy measures—like the initiative, referendum, and recall—were championed during the progressive era which led to the creation of this amendment.
What is the 17th amendment?
This U.S. president wanted to join the League of Nations which contrasted sharply with later isolationist trends after WWI.
Who is President Wilson?
Formed in 1949, this military alliance united Western nations in a collective defense against Soviet aggression.
What is NATO?
Following intense debates over individual rights, this set of amendments was added to the Constitution to protect citizens’ liberties.
What is the Bill of Rights?
During the rise of the industrial workforce, unions united workers to negotiate as one—demanding fair wages, improved safety, and better benefits from employers.
What is Collective Bargaining?
These people exposed scandals involving corruption within urban political machines which spurred widespread calls for reform during this time.
Who are Muckrakers?
Implemented in 1948, this economic recovery plan aimed to rebuild European nations and to counter the spread of communism.
What is the Marshall Plan?
This wall, a stark symbol of Cold War division, fell on November 9, 1989, opening the door to German reunification.
What is the Berlin Wall?