Running Head: EVENTS IN HISTORY

Defining Moments in the USA, Historically

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Institution

EVENTS IN HISTORY

Defining Moments in the USA, Historically

Introduction
The United States has been a democratic country for more than 200 years. However, a
series of vents had to take place historically to drive this growth. Research shows that public and
national issues that were imperative historically still remain relevant today. They include issues
that revolve around the federal government versus the state, the right of individuals and groups.
Economically, the history was marked with debates free markets or controlled trade as well as
the relationship with the rest of the world as opposed to focusing on the countrys internal affairs.
According to Frager, (2004), the USA is focused on being fair and just to the citizens. This has
been characterized by the defining moments that the country has had. In the years between 1865
and 1920, many political, social and economic changes were made. Through compromise and a
positive attitude towards change, the USA has managed to grow and prosper and also make
progress with regard to its ideals. Three such events are discussed below.
The Wounded Knee Massacre
This was among the most controversial defining moments in the history of the USA.
Wounded Knee is a place located in the Indian reservation in Dakota. In 1892, the place is the
location of two major conflicts that were happening between the Indians from Northern America
and the government representatives. In the massacre, an estimated 150 Native Americans died, in
what has been described as the final war between the troops and the Sioux (Tuck, 2005).
According to Frager, (2004) in 1890, the government was constantly worried about the growing
influence of the Gloat dance and the pine ridge a spiritual movement that taught the native that
they have lost and had subsequently been confined to the reservations mainly because they has

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upset the good through the abandonment of the traditions and customs. In 1971 the members of
the movement occupied the site for 71 days in protest of the dilapidated conditions that they were
forced to put up with in the reservations (Frager, 2004). Originally, the conflicts that took place
at Wounded Knee were commonly referred to as battle. In reality however the battle was indeed
tragic and could have been avoided. According to Tuck, (2005), surrounded by the armed troops,
it was not probable that the y would have started fighting intentionally. Some researchers have
made the speculation that the soldiers were taking revenge on a deliberate basis for the defeat at
the Little Bighorn several years earlier (Barry, 2004). However regardless of the motives, the
massacre results in the Ghost Dace activism and was marked as the last fight between the
government and the Plains Indians.
1868 Equal Protection the 14th Amendment
As a result of the civil war and its effects on the people of USA, the fourteenth
amendment was added to the US constitution in 1868 (Tuck, 2005).The amendment awarded
state and national citizenship which in turn protected the newly freed slave. The law was later
interpreted as applying to the Bill of rights to not only the states but the national government as
well. In essence, the amendment brought in the idea of quality among all people for the first time
as it promised the same protection for everyone by the laws.
Women Suffrage 1920
Previous to this defining moment, women were not allowed to vote. In the early history
of the USA, women did not have the privilege to some the rights that were enjoyed by the men.
For instance, the married women were not allowed town any form of property. In addition, they
had no legal claim to the revenue that they earned and no right to vote (Barry, 2004). The male

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expected the women to focus on chores and mother hood rather than their rights and politics. The
fights and campaigns for the amendment was not as earnest prior to the civil war. In the 1820s
for instance, various groups were increasing across the country including the temperance clubs,
anti-slavery groups and other reform groups where women played leading roles (Frager, 2004).
Research shows that the voting rights of women were achieved through many years of
devotion and determination (Frager, 2004). The work started in 1840 when two activists travelled
to London where they served as delegate in the anti-slavery convection. The women were denied
the right to speak based on their gender. This motivated to the women to create an organization
that would drive the fight for their rights to vote. In the subsequent years, the supported engaged
in mass marches, denial of conjugal rights to the opposing spouses and hunger strikes. In 1920,
the president gave the women the rights to vote. This was included in the 19th amendment that
allowed them to vote officially (Frager, 2004). The presidents decision was followed by
camping outside the white house by the representatives of women. Prior to the passing of the
amendment, an estimated 500 women had been put under arrest for loitering, and obstruction of
traffic (Adams & Harbert, 1986). In the end, their efforts paid off.
Conclusion
The success and democratic privileges that the USA enjoys currently were not achieved
without a series of changes to the political views that the people and the government had in the
past. As the years went by, the citizens, led by activists, engaged in many campaigns that would
give more rights and freedom for them. In this regard, special minority groups including African
Americans and women had to forward their complaints and urge the government to make the
necessary amendments to the constitution. This led to equal treatment for everyone regardless of

EVENTS IN HISTORY
their race and later the same rights for women including the right to own property and make
revenue. The three defining moment discussed above went a long way in making the lives of
citizens better in the USA.

EVENTS IN HISTORY
References
Adams, H., & Harbert, E. (1986). History of the United States of America during the
administrations of Thomas Jefferson. New York, N.Y.: Literary Classics of the United
States.
Barry, J. (2004). The great influenza. New York: Viking
Frager, R. (2004). Reviews of Books: Sweatshop USA: The American Sweatshop in Historical
and Global Perspective Daniel E. Bender. Am Hits Rev, 109(4), 1207- 1208.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/530769
Tuck, S. (2005). The New American Histories. Hist. J., 48(03), 811.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0018246x0500467x