US History - Historical Context & Turning Points
This Timeline spans the precolonial period to current history of the United States. The headings listed below are Turing Points and within them contain the historical context surrounding that time period. Turning Points are MAJOR changes in direction in history. Understanding these Turning Points will give you a much broader perspective of US History.
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Brief Summary of the History of the United States Since 1791
Since 1791, American history has been marked by a series of significant events and social transformations. Here are some of the major milestones:
1791: The Bill of Rights is added to the U.S. Constitution, securing individual liberties and protecting citizens from government abuses.
1803: The Louisiana Purchase doubles the size of the United States and opens up vast new territories for settlement and expansion.
1861-1865: The Civil War is fought between the Union and the Confederacy, resulting in the abolition of slavery and the restoration of the United States as a single nation.
1865-1877: Reconstruction attempts to rebuild the South and integrate newly freed African Americans into American society, but ultimately fails to achieve lasting change.
1898: The Spanish-American War establishes the United States as a world power and leads to the annexation of Hawaii and the Philippines.
1917-1918: The U.S. enters World War I and helps to secure victory for the Allies, but the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles sow the seeds for future conflicts.
1920s: The Roaring Twenties are marked by economic prosperity, cultural upheaval, and the rise of mass media and consumer culture.
1929: The Great Depression begins, sending the U.S. and much of the world into a decade of economic hardship.
1939-1945: The U.S. enters World War II after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, and helps to defeat Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.
1945-1991: The Cold War dominates international affairs, as the U.S. and the Soviet Union engage in a tense rivalry marked by proxy wars, nuclear brinksmanship, and ideological battles.
1950s-1960s: The Civil Rights Movement challenges racial discrimination and segregation in the United States, culminating in the passage of major legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
1960s-1970s: The Vietnam War divides the country and sparks a wave of anti-war protests and social unrest.
1980s: The Reagan Revolution sees a shift towards conservative politics and economic policies, and the U.S. emerges as a dominant player in the global economy.
1990s-2000s: The U.S. experiences a period of relative stability and economic growth, but also faces new challenges such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
2010s-2020s: The U.S. faces growing political polarization and social divisions, as well as new challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. The Black Lives Matter movement gains widespread attention, and the 2020 presidential election is marked by controversy and violence.
Sources:
Bill of Rights: National Archives. (n.d.). Bill of Rights Transcript. Retrieved from https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript
Louisiana Purchase: History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). Louisiana Purchase. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion/louisiana-purchase
Civil War: History.com Editors. (2009, October 27). American Civil War: History, Causes, and Timeline. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/american-civil-war-history
Reconstruction: History.com Editors. (2010, February 12). Reconstruction. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/reconstruction
Spanish-American War: History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). Spanish-American War. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/spanish-american-war
World War I: History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). World War I: Causes, Timeline & Veterans. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history
Roaring Twenties: History.com Editors. (2010, March 26). Roaring Twenties. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties
Great Depression: History.com Editors. (2009, October 29). Great Depression. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/great-depression-history
World War II: History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). World War II: Causes, Timeline & Veterans. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history
Cold War: History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). Cold War History. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cold-war-history
Civil Rights Movement: History.com Editors. (2009, November 13). Civil Rights Movement. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement
Vietnam War: History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). Vietnam War. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history
Reagan Revolution: History.com Editors. (2010, May 27). Reagan Revolution. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/reagan-revolution
9/11 attacks: History.com Editors. (2009, November 13). 9/11 Attacks. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/9-11-attacks
Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq: History.com Editors. (2009, November 13). 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/2003-invasion-of-iraq
Black Lives Matter: History.com Editors. (2021, January 22). Black Lives Matter. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-lives-matter
