U.S. History Review

1. U.S. History Review A Quick Journey through Time

2. How did our nation GROW?

3. Back to the RENAISSANCE • Europe came out of the Middle Ages with the “re-birth” of learning… • The desire for Asian goods led to the Age of Discovery (necessitated developments in navigation) • Exploration led to the “discovery” of the New World – the Americas

4. Colonization • Spanish conquistadors, French explorers and English colonists dominated the European interests in North America during the 1500s and 1600s • Eventually, the English established themselves on the east coast -- though the colonies were controlled by Great Britain • Dissatisfaction with this situation led to the REVOLUTIONARY WAR and the American Colonies DECLARING their INDEPENDENCE from Great Britain in 1776

5. A New Nation • The American Colonies needed a government • The ARTICLES of CONFEDERATION served this purpose during the war • They were not effective afterward – • No real central authority – states had power • No power to tax - $ for military • No ability to regulate trade

6. A New Government • After the war, in 1787, a Constitutional Convention was called to revise the Articles of Confederation • Instead, they drew up an entirely new document: • The United States CONSTITUTION

7. The Constitution • Ours is the longest living foundation for a national government in the world today! • Federal system • Three branches of government • Separation of Powers/Checks & Balances • Bill of Rights

8. Manifest Destiny & Internal Conflict • As the nation grew, so did the idea that America must span the continent “from sea to shining sea” • Economic differences between the Southern (agriculture-oriented/slave) states and the Northern (industry-oriented) states polarized the nation and led to the CIVIL WAR (1861-1865)

9. Reconstruction & Change • Policy following the Civil War focused on the rights of former slaves and jump-starting the economy again • INDUSTRIALIZATION in the Northeastern states led to URBANIZATION • Agriculture in the South and West declined • The POPULIST MOVEMENT focused on the rights of farmers while…

10. Imperialism & War • Expansion of America’s economy to other parts of the world – overseas colonies • As we expanded our influence, we sought to remain NEUTRAL • Until we were drawn into the FIRST WORLD WAR (1917)

11. Post-war Boom then… BUST! • The Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age • 19th Amendment • Prohibition • Flappers & Speakeasies • Stock Market Crash (1929) • Speculation • Bank failures • Great Depression (1930s) • Dust Bowl • High unemployment

12. FDR’s New Deal • President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced Government Programs aimed at • Relief • Recovery • Reform • No more “laissez-faire” capitalism • Helped stimulate the economy some but…

13. …more WAR • The American Great Depression spread to Europe in the 1930s & led to the growth of fascist dictatorships (Germany & Italy) • World War II began in Europe in 1939 • The U.S. entered the conflict after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) in 1941

14. World War II • The U.S. joined the war on the side of the ALLIED POWERS • Great Britain • France • USSR • They fought against the AXIS POWERS • Nazi Germany • Italy • Japan

15. America as a Super Power • WWII ended with the defeat of Nazi Germany and the dropping of an atomic bomb on Japan in 1945 • Conflicting political and social ideologies led to the division of Europe following the war • While the U.S. helped France and Britain rebuild Western Europe, the USSR took control of Eastern Europe

16. A Cold War • The Soviet Union (USSR) – a communist dictatorship AND • The United States – a capitalist democracy Were at odds and entered a nearly 40-year conflict that polarized the world

17. Containing Communism • The Truman Doctrine (1947) committed the U.S. to a fight against the spread of communism in the world • This led to a stalemate war in Korea (1950-53) • The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) • and a “failure” in Vietnam (1964-1973)

18. On the Domestic Front in the 60s • The U.S. experienced dramatic social change during the Civil Rights Movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. • Brown vs. the Board of Education led to integration in the schools • The Hippie Movement & anti-Vietnam war slogans abounded & led to troop withdrawal

19. The 1970s • Watergate – President Nixon’s dilemma And • An economic recession led to widespread distrust of the government

20. The 1980s & Reaganomics • President Ronald Reagan introduced an economic stimulus package (Supply-side economics) that helped the U.S. economy grow • The same policy dramatically increased the U.S. deficit

21. The Fall of Communism • After years of military spending at the expense of their citizens, the Soviet economy was nearing collapse • In 1989, following the overthrow of several communist regimes in Eastern Europe, the Berlin Wall was opened • By 1990, the USSR had officially shifted gears and the Cold War was over!!!

22. The 1990s and a New Millennium • Unfortunately, conflict in the world was NOT over and the U.S. was now the lone Super Power • Saddam Hussein’s aggressive takeover of Kuwait led to the short-lived, successful Gulf War • The Soviet retreat from Afghanistan left a vacuum of power into which warlords rose and sectarian violence grew • U.S. involvement in the Middle East led to terroristic acts – the worst of which was 9/11 – and the current war in Iraq