5 Important Days by Gutierrez, Erika (Mount Vernon STEAM Academy - Grade 10 Student)

Battle of Saratoga

1180735 — 2024-05-21 15:44:45 UTC

This was a war fought during the American revolution. The reason why this event was so pivotal is that it boosted American troops' and publics' morale, world recognition as independent, and ultimately securing the support of France. This will then lead for both the U.S. and France to form an alliance against the British giving American's an advantage. This will contribute to American independence from Britain.

American Civil War

1180735 — 2024-05-22 15:45:32 UTC

The war began when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter. The reasons why the war had began revolved around topics such as slavery where the South desired to expand it which the North opposed from doing so. States' rights was another big issue where the south believed that they had the right to create their own laws. So, the South felt as though their way of life was threatened, especially with the election of Abraham who was against the spread of slavery. Some results of the war includes the 13, 14, and 15 amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation that declared all slaves in Confederate territory to be free.

Reconstruction

1180735 — 2024-05-23 03:31:04 UTC

The Reconstruction Era was a time after the Civil War when the United States worked to rebuild and reunify the country. It aimed to bring equality and rights to formerly enslaved African Americans. During this period, important amendments were added to the Constitution, like the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which abolished slavery, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., and protected voting rights regardless of race. However, Reconstruction faced challenges, including resistance from white supremacists who opposed these changes such as the formation of Black Codes to continue and justify their rash acts towards African Americans.

FDR

1180735 — 2024-05-23 03:36:42 UTC

Franklin D. Roosevelt's inauguration as the 32nd President of the United States on March 4, 1933, was highly significant because it marked the beginning of his efforts to pull the country out of the Great Depression. During his inaugural address, he famously said, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself," which inspired hope and confidence in a struggling nation. Roosevelt would then implement the New Deal, a series of programs and policies designed to provide relief, create jobs, and stimulate economic recovery. His leadership helped restore faith in the government and laid the foundation for modern welfare programs such as social security, FERA, WPA, etc that affected American society and its economy.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1180735 — 2024-05-23 03:44:58 UTC

The Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 was a significant event in the Cold War because it brought the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war. When American spy planes discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. coast, President John F. Kennedy demanded their removal and imposed a naval blockade on Cuba. After tense negotiations, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba and secretly agreeing to remove American missiles from Turkey. The crisis highlighted the dangers of nuclear conflict, leading to better communication between the superpowers, including the establishment of a direct hotline, and eventually to agreements aimed at controlling nuclear arms, thus reducing the risk of future confrontations such as SALT.