Page 15 - All About History - Issue 29-15

USA

A stand off between superpowers
1947-91

The USA and USSR did not remain allies for long after World War II. The political
differences between the communist Soviet Union and the capitalist United States
led to the Cold War – a power struggle that lasted decades. Although no fighting
directly took place between Soviet and American soldiers, both sides were
engaged in a nuclear arms race, so any conflict would have been devastating.
Both nations became involved in global conflicts, such as the Korean and
Vietnam wars, to oppose or support emerging communist regimes.

Tensions between America and
theSovietUnioncouldhave
escalatedintonuclearwar
Many families were made
THE GREAT DEPRESSION homeless and roamed the
country looking for work
1929-39
Following the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the stock markets continued to decline,
creating the most severe economic depression in US history. Unemployment rose
considerably, wages fell, and millions of Americans were living in poverty. At the
height of the depression, one-quarter of the nation’s workforce did not have a
job. When President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected, he introduced the
New Deal – reforms designed to revive the economy and increase employment.
Although these policies helped somewhat, it took the outbreak of World War II to
get the USA back on its feet.

O San Francisco O Nationwide O TheUSArmy O “Iamnotacrook!” O Yeshecan
earthquake and prohibition in Vietnam Five men linked Senator
inferno comes into American troops to President Barack Obama
A violent earthquake effect are deployed Nixon’s re-election becomes
strikes San Francisco, The manufacture, to support committee break the nation’s
igniting fires across transportation, the South into the Democratic first African-
the city. 3,000 sale and Vietnamese headquarters. The American
people die and more consumption of army against scandal reveals a head of state.
than 200,000 are Nearly 500 blocks of alcohol is banned, the communist webofgovernment 4November
left homeless. the city were destroyed giving rise to illegal Gangsters like Al North. corruption. Nixon became the first 2008
18 April 1906 in the disaster speakeasies. Capone profited from 1965-1973 17 June 1972 president to resign on
17 January 1920 prohibition by setting up 9 April 1974
bootlegging networks
1900 1920 1940 1960 1970 2000 2010 2015

O USA joins the O Women guaranteed O America’s boom O Theattackon O Hurricane Katrina O Operation
WWI Allies the right to vote goes bust Pearl Harbor hits New Orleans Neptune Spear
After three years After decades of The economic bubble More than 2,400 The hurricane causes Navy Seals raid
of neutrality, campaigns and bursts during the Wall Americans are killed mass flooding. The a compound in
the US Congress protests, the 19th Street Crash, the most when Japanese government’s response Pakistan and kill
declares war Amendment to the devastating stock aircraft attack the is heavily criticised, Osama bin Laden,
on the German By the end of WWI, more Constitution ensures market collapse in the navalbaseinHawaii, as thousands are not leader of terrorist
Empire. than 25 per cent of the votes for women aged nation’s history. prompting the USA’s Pearl Harbor boosted evacuated in time. group Al-Qaeda.
6 April 1917 eligible population had 21 and over. 24-29 October 1929 entryintoWorldWarII.support for the decision 29 August 2005 1 May 2011
served in the US Army 26 August 1920 7 December 1941 to join the war
One giant leap for mankind Terror and tragedy on 9/11
21 JULY 1969 11 SEPTEMBER 2001
One of the greatest achievements in human 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four
history, NASA’s Apollo 11 spaceflight successfully commercial planes to carry out suicide
landed men on the Moon. The mission marked attacks, targeting symbols of American
the culmination of the Space Race between pride. Two of the planes were crashed into
the USA and the Soviet Union – where each the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center,
power was determined to demonstrate their while another hit the Pentagon in Virginia.
technological superiority. Despite the competitive The passengers of the fourth plane, believed
motivation, the triumph brought people together to be targeting Washington DC, learned
– more than half a billion people worldwide about the previous attacks. They fought their
watched Neil Armstrong take his first steps on the hijackers, and the plane crashed in a field in
lunar surface. A commemorative plaque left on the Pennsylvania, 20 minutes from the capital.
Buzz Aldrin (pictured) moon celebrated their feat as humans rather than The attacks killed almost 3,000 people and
and Neil Armstrong were The 9/11 attacks shocked the world © Corbis, NASA
the first people to set Americans: “we came in peace for all mankind.” and led to the Global War on Terror. had a profound effect on the nation.
foot on another world
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