AMERICAN HISTORY - CLASS NOTES
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1. Colonial Period and Early Settlements (1492-1763)
2. American Revolution and Founding of the Nation (1763-1789)
3. Constitutional Development and Early Republic (1789-1820s)
4. Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny (1803-1860)
5. Civil War and Reconstruction (1861-1877)
6. Industrial Revolution and Immigration (1870-1920)
7. Progressive Era and World War I (1900-1920)
8. Great Depression and New Deal (1929-1939)
9. World War II and Cold War Beginning (1941-1950)
10. Civil Rights Movement (1950s-1960s)
11. Modern America (1960s-Present)
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1. COLONIAL PERIOD AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS (1492-1763)
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Key Dates and Events:
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* 1492: Christopher Columbus first voyage to the Americas
* 1585: Roanoke Colony founded (failed settlement)
* 1607: Jamestown Settlement established - first permanent English colony
* 1620: Mayflower arrives at Plymouth Colony
* 1626-1664: Dutch colonization of New Netherland
* 1662: Halfway Covenant established in Puritan colonies
* 1704: First American newspaper published
* 1730s-1740s: Great Awakening religious movement
* 1754-1763: French and Indian War
Important Developments:
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* Colonization and European-Native American interactions
* Rise of slavery as economic institution
* Cultural exchanges between Europeans and Indigenous peoples
* European origins of colonial settlements
* Development of distinct colonial societies and economies
* Religious diversity and the Great Awakening
* Growing tensions with British colonial policies
Key Figures:
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* Christopher Columbus - Explorer who initiated European contact
* John Smith - Leader of Jamestown Colony
* William Bradford - Governor of Plymouth Colony
* Roger Williams - Founder of Rhode Island, advocate for religious freedom
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2. AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND FOUNDING OF THE NATION (1763-1789)
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Pre-Revolutionary Period (1763-1775):
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* March 22, 1765: Stamp Act imposed by British Parliament
* June 15-July 2, 1767: Townshend Acts enacted
* March 5, 1770: Boston Massacre occurs
* 1773: Boston Tea Party protest against tea taxes
Revolutionary War (1775-1783):
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* April 19, 1775: War begins with battles at Lexington and Concord
* July 3, 1775: George Washington assumes command of Continental Army
* 1776: Declaration of Independence adopted (July 4)
* September 15, 1776: British occupy New York City
* December 26, 1776: Washington's attack at Trenton
* January 17, 1781: Battle of Cowpens
* September-October 1781: Siege of Yorktown (decisive victory)
* September 3, 1783: Treaty of Paris ends the war
Key Characteristics:
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* Also known as the American War of Independence
* Fought between American colonies and Great Britain
* French Alliance (1778-1782) provided crucial support
* Driven by principles of liberty, independence, and resistance to British rule
* Resulted in American independence and formation of new nation
Important Figures:
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* George Washington - Commander-in-Chief of Continental Army
* Thomas Jefferson - Primary author of Declaration of Independence
* Benjamin Franklin - Diplomat and founding father
* King George III - British monarch during the revolution
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3. CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY REPUBLIC (1789-1820s)
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Articles of Confederation (1777-1789):
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* Adopted by Continental Congress: November 15, 1777
* In force: March 1, 1781 until 1789
* Established weak central government
* Major difficulties in:
- Conducting foreign policy
- Passing and enforcing laws
- Managing interstate commerce
- Collecting taxes
Constitutional Convention and New Government:
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* James Madison convinced Articles needed replacement
* Constitutional Convention addressed weaknesses
* Created stronger federal government structure
* Established system of checks and balances
* Ratified in 1788, implemented in 1789
Early Republic Developments:
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* 1803: Louisiana Purchase doubles nation's size
* 1823: Monroe Doctrine established - warns European powers against interference in
Americas
* Development of political parties (Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans)
* Establishment of national banking system
* Growth of federal government authority
Key Figures:
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* James Madison - "Father of the Constitution"
* Alexander Hamilton - First Secretary of Treasury, Federalist leader
* Thomas Jefferson - Third President, Democratic-Republican leader
* John Adams - Second President
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4. WESTWARD EXPANSION AND MANIFEST DESTINY (1803-1860)
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Major Territorial Acquisitions:
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* 1803: Louisiana Purchase from France
* 1845: Texas Annexation
* 1846: Oregon Territory acquired
* 1848: Mexican Cession after Mexican-American War
* 1853: Gadsden Purchase
Key Concepts:
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* Manifest Destiny - belief that American expansion across continent was justified
and inevitable
* Westward migration driven by economic opportunity and land availability
* Impact on Native American populations through displacement and conflict
* Development of transportation networks (canals, railroads)
* Growth of sectional tensions over slavery in new territories
Important Events:
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* 1849: California Gold Rush
* 1850: Compromise of 1850 attempts to resolve slavery question
* 1854: Kansas-Nebraska Act leads to "Bleeding Kansas"
* Trail of Tears - forced removal of Native Americans
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5. CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION (1861-1877)
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Causes of Civil War:
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* Growing regional tensions between North and South
* Primary conflict over slavery and states' rights
* Social and economic differences between regions
* Election of Abraham Lincoln (1860) precipitated Southern secession
Civil War Timeline (1861-1865):
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* April 12, 1861: Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter, war begins
* 1861-1862: Early battles and mobilization
* January 1, 1863: Emancipation Proclamation signed by Lincoln
- Declared slaves in Confederacy "forever free"
* 1863-1865: Union gains momentum, Confederate defeat
* April 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox Court House
Reconstruction Period (1865-1877):
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* Major focus on reconstructing the nation
* Critical questions addressed:
- Voting rights for freed slaves
- Legal and social status of African Americans
- Reintegrating Southern states into Union
* Constitutional Amendments:
- 13th Amendment: Abolished slavery
- 14th Amendment: Equal protection under law
- 15th Amendment: Voting rights regardless of race
Key Figures:
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* Abraham Lincoln - President during Civil War
* Jefferson Davis - President of Confederacy
* Ulysses S. Grant - Union general, later President
* Robert E. Lee - Confederate general
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6. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND IMMIGRATION (1870-1920)
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Immigration Statistics:
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* More than 20 million immigrants arrived between 1880-1920
* Foreign-born population increased from 7 million to nearly 14 million
* Majority came from Southern, Eastern, and Central Europe
* Jewish immigration increased from 250,000 (1870) to 3.25 million (1920s)
Labor Force Impact:
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* Industrial capitalism attracted immigrants
* Nearly half (11 million) of 22 million new workers were first/second-generation
immigrants
* 11 million people migrated from rural to urban areas
* Immigrants crucial to industrial workforce
Industrial Developments:
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* Rapid industrialization and urbanization
* Development of steel, railroad, and manufacturing industries
* Technological innovations and mass production
* Growth of labor unions and worker organization
* Economic competition and periodic downturns
Social Changes:
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* Massive demographic shifts to cities
* Cultural diversity and ethnic neighborhoods
* Challenges of assimilation and discrimination
* Rise of progressive reform movements
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7. PROGRESSIVE ERA AND WORLD WAR I (1900-1920)
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Progressive Era Characteristics:
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* Reform movement addressing industrial society problems
* Focus on government regulation and social justice
* Women's suffrage movement gains momentum
* Trust-busting and corporate regulation
* Conservation and environmental protection
World War I (1914-1918):
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* United States initially neutral
* Entered war in 1917 due to German submarine warfare
* Significant impact on American society and economy
* Post-war economic boom and social changes
* League of Nations debate and isolationist sentiment
Key Developments:
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* 19th Amendment (1920): Women's right to vote
* Prohibition begins (18th Amendment)
* Red Scare and anti-communist sentiment
* Economic prosperity of 1920s
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8. GREAT DEPRESSION AND NEW DEAL (1929-1939)
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Great Depression Causes:
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* Stock market crash of October 1929
* Banking failures and economic collapse
* Widespread unemployment and poverty
* International economic crisis
New Deal Programs (1933-1939):
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* Implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
* Primary goal: Economic recovery and relief
Major New Deal Initiatives:
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* Job Creation Programs:
- Work relief programs for unemployed
- Emergency employment projects
* Financial Reforms:
- Banking reform laws
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
* Social Support Systems:
- Social Security System established
- Unemployment insurance
- Support for elderly and disabled
* Agricultural Programs:
- Farm subsidies and price supports
- Soil conservation programs
* Labor Rights:
- National Labor Relations Act
- Strengthened labor unions
- Improved working conditions
Political Impact:
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* Shifted political power to Democratic Party
* Expanded federal government role in economy
* Established modern social welfare system
* Created lasting government institutions
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9. WORLD WAR II AND COLD WAR BEGINNING (1941-1950)
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World War II Home Front (1941-1945):
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* December 7, 1941: Pearl Harbor attack brings US into war
* Comprehensive national mobilization
* Dramatic changes to everyday life
Home Front Developments:
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* Extensive rationing of essential goods:
- Food supplies strictly controlled
- Gas and clothing rationed
- Citizens made significant sacrifices
* Civilian Contributions:
- Manufacturing war materials
- Victory gardens and scrap drives
- Women entered workforce in large numbers
- African Americans migrated north for jobs
* Social Changes:
- Japanese American internment
- Racial tensions and opportunities
- Technological innovations
Early Cold War (1945-1950):
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* United States and Soviet Union develop opposing ideologies
* Transition from wartime allies to international competitors
* Nuclear weapons development
* Formation of NATO and containment policy
* Marshall Plan for European recovery
Key Characteristics:
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* Emergence of United States as global superpower
* Beginning of nuclear age
* Shift from isolationism to international leadership
* Foundation for decades of Cold War competition
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10. CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (1950s-1960s)
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Key Leaders:
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* Martin Luther King Jr. - Nonviolent resistance leader
* Malcolm X - Black nationalist leader
* Rosa Parks - Montgomery Bus Boycott catalyst
* Claudette Colvin - Early bus segregation protester
* John Lewis - Student activist, later congressman
* Roy Wilkins - NAACP leader
* A. Philip Randolph - Labor and civil rights organizer
* James Farmer - Freedom Riders organizer
Major Events and Milestones:
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* 1954: Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision
* 1955-1956: Montgomery Bus Boycott
* 1956: Supreme Court declares bus segregation unconstitutional
* September 9, 1957: Civil Rights Act of 1957 signed by President Eisenhower
- Aimed to protect voter rights
- Allowed federal prosecution of voting violations
* Early 1960s: Freedom Riders challenge segregation
* 1963: March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
* March 7, 1965: Selma Civil Rights Marches
- Led by 25-year-old John Lewis
- "Bloody Sunday" violence shocked nation
Key Legislation:
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* Civil Rights Act of 1964: Prohibited discrimination in public accommodations
* Voting Rights Act of 1965: Protected voting rights
* Fair Housing Act of 1968: Prohibited housing discrimination
Movement Characteristics:
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* Primarily occurred during 1950s and 1960s
* Focused on gaining equal rights for African Americans
* Utilized nonviolent protest and legal strategies
* Sought to end segregation and discrimination
* Combined grassroots activism with national legislative efforts
Significant Outcomes:
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* Passage of comprehensive civil rights legislation
* Supreme Court rulings against segregation
* Increased federal protection of voting rights
* Gradual dismantling of legal racial discrimination
* Inspiration for other social justice movements
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11. MODERN AMERICA (1960s-PRESENT)
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1960s Social and Political Changes:
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* Vietnam War and anti-war protests
* Counterculture and social revolution
* Women's liberation movement
* Environmental movement begins
* Space race and moon landing (1969)
1970s Challenges:
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* Watergate scandal and Nixon resignation (1974)
* Energy crisis and economic stagflation
* End of Vietnam War (1975)
* Environmental protection legislation
1980s-1990s:
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* Reagan Revolution and conservative politics
* End of Cold War (1989-1991)
* Economic expansion and technological growth
* Gulf War (1991)
* Clinton presidency and political polarization
21st Century:
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* September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks
* War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq
* 2008 Financial Crisis and Great Recession
* Obama presidency and healthcare reform
* Trump presidency and political divisions
* COVID-19 pandemic (2020-present)
* Biden presidency and current challenges
Key Themes in Modern America:
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* Technological revolution and digital age
* Globalization and economic changes
* Demographic shifts and immigration
* Political polarization and social divisions
* Environmental challenges and climate change
* Ongoing struggles for equality and justice
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STUDY GUIDE - KEY CONCEPTS AND TERMS
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Important Historical Concepts:
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* Manifest Destiny
* Checks and Balances
* Federalism
* Separation of Powers
* Popular Sovereignty
* States' Rights
* Civil Disobedience
* Containment Policy
* New Deal Coalition
* Great Society
Critical Thinking Questions:
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* How did geographic factors influence American development?
* What role did immigration play in American growth?
* How did different regions develop distinct cultures and economies?
* What were the long-term effects of slavery on American society?
* How did wars shape American identity and government?
* What factors led to America becoming a global superpower?
* How have civil rights movements changed American society?
* What challenges face modern America?
Timeline Summary - Major Eras:
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* Colonial Period: 1607-1763
* Revolutionary Era: 1763-1789
* Early Republic: 1789-1840
* Expansion and Division: 1840-1860
* Civil War and Reconstruction: 1861-1877
* Industrial Age: 1877-1920
* Modern America: 1920-1945
* Postwar America: 1945-1980
* Contemporary America: 1980-Present
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END OF AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS NOTES
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These comprehensive notes cover the major periods, events, figures, and themes in
American History from colonial times to the present. Use these notes in conjunction
with your textbook and class discussions for thorough preparation and understanding
of American historical development.
