British Occupation

The British Occupation shaped the attitude of Americans towards the role of government for generations to come. The authoritarian rule by Britain led the colonists to unite and fight against oppression. One of the most glaring acts of defiance was the Boston Tea Party, where colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbour to protest the Tea Act as well as other recent taxes that were being imposed on the colonies.

United States Constitution

The signing of the United States constitution in 1789 marked the end of the Articles of Confederation and led to a more stable and strong United States. The words of the Constitution are followed by the government and the American people today as it defines our liberties and what it means to be American.

War of 1812

The War of 1812 was significant because it marked the second time we were able to fend of Britain, who had the most powerful Navy at the time. The burning of Washington united the states and motivated them to hold strong and fend off the British. This war was the start of a significant wave of patriotism and boosted national confidence. It also set the stage for expansion by allowing the Unites States to gain respect on the world stage.

Civil War/Battle of Nashville

Growing up in the South, the Civil War is more impactful to me than those from other regions of the country. All around Nashville there are reminders of the Battle of Nashville. Old plantations with bullet holes on the front porches, everyday churches with historical markers stating they served as hospitals or headquarters of various armies during the war, and Robert E. Lee street signs and various monuments that still stand are all reminders of the war. It is important to recognize this dark time in history and to remind ourselves of the countless lives lost on both sides in the struggle.

Trail of Tears

The trail of tears represents another dark side of American history that has a significant meaning to me. The forced relocation of around 60,000 Native Americans represents the conquest of settlers and the exploitation of the Natives. Having ancestors who are Native American in the Choctaw tribe forced on the trail of tears, I cannot imagine the pain of those who were forced out of their homes and into a new world of uncertainty.

Great Depression

The stock market crash of 1929 marked the end of the roaring 20s, a period of economic and social growth. The ensuing Great Depression defined the lives of many Americans who were hit with poverty. Reforms made under Franklin D. Roosevelt such as social security created to bring the nation out of poverty during the Great Depression are still implemented today.

World War Two

World War Two was a defining point in United States history. The United States was challenged and rose to the occasion by defeating Japan. A new era of Patriotism arose from the war as people united on the homefront to win the war. The United States also showed the world its capability with the dropping of the nuclear bombs on Japan as they became feared on the world stage by adversaries.

The Cold War

The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union brought the two biggest world powers against each other in a race to change the world. The Cold War also brought patriotism to the nation as well as defining what it means to be American. People in the US preached their ideas of freedom and democracy to the world.

The Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights movement was a pivotal role in defining America today. The Civil Rights movement ended segregation in the Jim Crow South and paved the way for a more equal society that we know today. Nashville played a pivotal role in the movement as there were many protests and sit-ins in the city. Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, paved the way for desegregation in college basketball as they broke the color barrier in the SEC with the first African American basketball player named Perry Wallace.

Miracle On Ice

The 1980 Olympic ice hockey championship between the US and Soviet Union was a huge symbolic victory for the United States in the Cold War. The US was made up of mostly college kids with little experience compared to the juggernaut Soviet Union team. However, the US miraculously defeated the Soviet Union and stunned the world. This was a huge victory for the US because the Cold War was never fought between the two armies of the powerful nations and this served as the symbolic battle against each other that came through sports.

9/11 attacks

The 9/11 attacks were one of the most devastating events in American history. These attacks marked a turning point in the modern age. The devastation caused during these attacks united the people of America and created a new wave of patriotism similar to that of when Japan attacked Pearl Harbour during World War Two. The nation came together after the attack to find those responsible for the lives lost.

The War on Terror

The ensuing War on Terror is a response by the US after the attacks on 9/11. These wars in Afghanistan and Iraq changed the landscape of modern America. These wars have cost the United States a lot of resources, however, they resulted in the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the perpetrator of the 9/11 attacks. These wars further developed modern warfare and established the United States as a major influence in the world as they took the lead of the coalition to rid the world of terrorists.