Alberts, Judith

Hard times overseas led to the rise of dictators who wanted to conquer other countries. European countries began forming alliances, and much of the world became involved in another major war.

By June 1941, German forces had attacked France and the Soviet Union. The United States stayed out of the war until the Japanese bombed Hawaii.

While fighting was ongoing in Europe, battles raged on in Asia. Fearing that an invasion of Japan would cost many American lives, President Harry Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb on Japan to force Japan to surrender.

World War II left behind record high casualties and deadly new weapons.

Shortly after the end of the war, Congress passed the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote.

The war created many jobs in factories located in Northern cities. Millions of African-Americans moved from the south to the North, hoping for better jobs and education and less discrimination.

Ida Wells-Barnett staarted the first suffrage organization for African American women and worked to fight discrimination against African Americans.

The airplane and automobile industries developed during a new era of travel.

During the 1920's, the US economy had an econmic boom, and people lived better than they had before. Movies, radio, literature, and music became extremely popular.

At the end of the 1920's, a surplus of goods, higher unemployment, widespread debt, and other factors caused stock prices to fall and finally crash.

Although the New Deal helped some people, the Great DEpression continued for many years.

Fierce rivalries had developed among European nations. They competed with one another for land, for trade, and for military power. Alliances were formed with the Allies being Britain, France and Russia and the Central Powers being led by Germany, Austria-Hungry and Turkey. Two events got America involved. One, a telegram sent to Mexico to be on the side of the Central Powers. And the second, German subs sank three American-owned trade ships in March. President Wilson hoped that by entering the war, United States would make the world "safe for democracy".