American History Between 1865 and 1965, Essay Example

It is a difficult proposition to choose the three “most influential events” of American history between 1865 and 1965, as it was such a momentous century in American history. With that in mind, however, there are several events that are tied into larger movements or historical phenomena in ways that make them enormously significant.  Several significant events on the timeline of the American Civil Rights movement took place between 1865 and 1965, and the Second World War was a period of enormous change for the United States.

The end of the Civil War in 1865 was, in a sense, the beginning of the second major period of American history. Less than a century earlier the American Revolution had ushered in a period where terms like “freedom” and “liberty” were central to the revolutionary spirit, but were ideals being promoted by people who also owned slaves. The end of the Civil War did not mean the end of prejudices or poor treatment of African Americans, but it did bring an end to slavery in the United States, which set the stage for the eventual acquisition of civil rights for all Americans. Still, a century later in 1965, the Civil Rights march to Montgomery, Alabama, showed how racism and prejudice remained so deeply rooted in American society.

One of the most influential events of the early 20^th century was World War II. The United States was hesitant to enter the war, and only did so after it was attacked by the Japanese. The U.S. was slowly emerging from a decade or more of economic depression, and was not yet seen as the most powerful nation on Earth. Within a few short years the U.S. and the Soviet Union would emerge as the world’s two superpowers, and the U.S. would enter an unprecedented period of economic and political prosperity.