Cuban Missile Crisis: Vietnam War and the 9/11: Three Moments of Watershed in American History Essay Samples and Topics Online

6 pages (1500 words) , Download 4 , Research Paper

Free

The developments were of significance importance to the Americans during the war and after.... "As the World Bank Turns: Determinants of IDA Lending in the Cold war and After.... The main reason that contributed in America's involvement on the vietnam war was the fact that it was worried that the later were supporting communists they could win.... "Space nuclear reactors: history and emerging policy issues.... Moreover, the american saw the war as a global confrontation between itself and the Soviet Union....

Preview sample

American History - 9

5 pages (1250 words) , Download 2 , Essay

One of these was the fact that for the first time in american history women were able to actively pursue work outside the home as a means of both developing their horizons and pursuing a career.... lthough there exist many images within the mind of the american history student with regards to the level and effect of this mobilization, one thing that should be carefully noted the fact that many of the jobs that have been typified and stereotyped with regards to women like Nancy the Riveter and others were more or less rare....

Preview sample

Attitudes towards Slavery in 1839 America

3 pages (1076 words) , Download 2 , Essay

Free

According to Jackson, "if many were sympathetic to the Africans, there were plenty of others among the american press and public with only contempt for them", and Cinque, the leader of the mutineers, was described by one journalist to be "as miserably ignorant and brutalized a creature like the rest".... "The Spanish minister pointed out that the Amistad mutiny took place on a Cuban vessel travelling between Cuban ports and was thus beyond the jurisdiction of american courts"....

Preview sample

What Is the Strategic Value of Taiwan

10 pages (6011 words) , Download 0 , Case Study

Free

The attempt of the Soviet Union to place offensive missiles with nuclear capabilities triggered the cuban missile crisis in 1962.... At no time during the Cold War were America and the Soviet Union so close to coming in direct conflict than during the cuban missile crisis.... Though the Taiwan Strait confrontation in 1995-1996 between China and America was the turning in point in american support for the independence of Taiwan, there is no guarantee that America will continue to hold this one nation policy....

Preview sample

Youth in Cuban Anti-Revolution

8 pages (2337 words) , Download 1 , Case Study

Free

rotest in Britain”, Twentieth Century British history, 13(3), pp.... The association among these three is frequently taken for granted since not much investigation has been put into action regarding the initial years of the uprising.... This paper "Youth in cuban Anti-Revolution" discusses youth cultures as it has always been the situation through research into youth but to delve into roles of the youth in the cuban revolution....

Preview sample

9/11 Attacks Challenge to Americas Foreign and Domestic Policies

9 pages (2586 words) , Download 2 , Case Study

Free

The paper "9/11 Attacks Challenge to America's Foreign and Domestic Policies" highlights that since the 9/11 attack, actions to arrest terrorists were made even bolder.... In 2003, the believed to be the mastermind of the 9/11 attack, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was arrested and incarcerated.... The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001) was inspired from the 9/11 attack....

Preview sample

The Vietnam War that made 1968 a Unique Year

2 pages (500 words) , Download 2 , Essay

Free

The vietnam war significantly contributed to 1968 being a unique year in the world history.... The vietnam war has significantly contributed to 1968 being a unique year in the world history.... Number The vietnam war that made 1968 a Unique Year The vietnam war significantly contributed to 1968 being a uniqueyear in the world history.... vietnam war contributed to 1968 being a unique year in world history.... Thus, vietnam war contributed to 1968 being a unique year in world history....

Preview sample

Post 9 11 America

3 pages (750 words) , Download 6 , Research Paper

Due to the threat, it posed to the american and the world at large; the incidence brought forth the necessity of major transformation especially by the United States government in order to ensure safety within the country.... Discrimination This followed from the risen suspicion of the american citizens towards people who were Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and south Asian (Gohil and Sidhu 91).... Department of Homeland Security The successful conduction of the terrorist attack on 9/11 indicated the limitation in capacity of the american security forces at the time....

Preview sample

American History Paper

2 pages (500 words) , Download 2 , Essay

Free

merican domestic and foreign policy changed drastically between 1890 and american history Paper REF: REQUEST FOR RE-UNIONI write to inform you that the information you received from the soviet diplomats in not true.... american domestic and foreign policy changed drastically between 1890 and 1920.... After years, american became an imperial power of an isolationist foreign policy while in years; the government and corruption were replaced with a reformer's progressive government....

Preview sample

Causes of the Mexican-American War

9 pages (2544 words) , Download 1 , Essay

Free

Manifest Destiny and Mission in american history (Boston, MA: Harvard University Press, 1995) ... This essay "Causes of the Mexican-American War" discovers the history and prerequisites of the Mexican-American War.... he Columbia history of the World.... The history of American Foreign Policy.... om:Military history.... While many have called the Mexican-american War 'Mr.... Finally, a major cause of the outbreak of the Mexican-american war is a classic reason that two or more nations take up arms against each other – a disputed border and the desire for the territory inside the disputed zone....

Preview sample

Three most significant events in american history between 1877 and 2014

4 pages (1000 words) , Download 3 , Essay

The analysis of american history between 1877 and 2014 reveals some significant events that can be termed as turning points in American The shortchanging of the minority groups by judicial misinterpretations of the Declaration of Independence in the 1800s, the Watergate scandal in the 1970s, and the assassination of John Kennedy in the 1960s are some of the most significant events that have shaped american history.... At the core, a turning point can be defined as an event whose occurrence prompted a different course in the history of a given society....

Preview sample

Watershed Protection Plan for Water Quality on the Cumberland State Forest in Virginia

6 pages (1640 words) , Download 1 , Term Paper

Free

Similarly, organization of watershed advisory committee to oversee all aspects of developing a watershed plan is also another aspect of the plan.... This is to alleviate potential obstacles to reaching agreements and successful implementation of watershed protection measures.... The paper "watershed Protection Plan for Water Quality on the Cumberland State Forest in Virginia" states that a properly managed forest protects water quality as well as soil productivity....

Preview sample

The USSR's Voracity for Power

12 pages (3000 words) , Download 2 , Essay

Preview sample

Book review of Dispatches, Vietnam War

4 pages (1000 words) , Download 4 , Book Report/Review

Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of Michael Herr's Dispatches as an historical resource for understanding the vietnam war.... One such book is Michael Herr's Dispatches which stand out as an historical resource for understanding the vietnam war.... vietnam war started in the year 1955.... There are lots of books written about the vietnam war which includes ‘A Rumour of War' by Philip Caputo, ‘Dispatches' by Michael Herr, ‘The Things They Carried' by Tim O'Brien, We Were Soldiers Once....

Preview sample

China's Accession to the Western Hemisphere

18 pages (4500 words) , Download 3 , Research Paper

Free

Major Problems in american Foreign Relations.... The aim would be to regain the pivotal hegemonic position that Washington had enjoyed in the international system after the Second World War, but which had been undermined by the vietnam war (Nixon 1978, p.... he existence of frequent and deep animosity between Russia and China is well attested by the history of their relations over the centuries.... At critical moments in world history during the 1950's the Soviet Union and Communist China repeatedly asserted their solidarity and warned that a war against one would be a war against both (Dulles 1972, p....

Preview sample

American Trade and Imperialism

10 pages (2500 words) , Download 3 , Research Paper

However, the colonization of Puerto Rico in the early 1900s by the United States marked the beginning of american imperialism.... american imperialism manifested itself between 1870 and 1916.... Various factors led to the emergence and adoption of the american imperialism policy.... These factors include the Spanish-american war where America sought the independence of Cuba by compelling Spain to withdraw from Cuba.... The american need to annex Hawaii due to its immense natural resources and arable lands also fostered american imperialism....

Preview sample

The History of International Law

12 pages (3260 words) , Download 2 , Essay

Free

The paper "The history of International Law" highlights that the international community is facing a critical situation.... The history of international law has not been so peaceful, at least for the last two decades.... nternational Law Introduction The history of international law has not been so peaceful, at least for the last two decades.... However, history proves that the US and its allies are not ready to change their idea of developing a new world order that resembles the use of economic and military power, nor has NATO or the UN done anything to clarify the situation....

Preview sample

Role of Media in Vietnam War

8 pages (2141 words) , Download 2 , Coursework

Free

In this book the Brain shows how the government took media as propaganda when media started conducting interviews from the companions of the soldiers who were killed in the vietnam war and give acknowledgement to the audience and pointed out the views of the survival soldiers.... When the media show the bloodstream of people killed in Vietnam was an act of Villain that America was contributing to helping South Vietnam and showed more a villain role in the war and for the Vietnamese....

Preview sample

The Cold War and the Truman Doctrine

8 pages (2001 words) , Download 0 , Literature review

Free

This literature review "The Cold war and the Truman Doctrine" presents Harry Truman who proved to be one of the most inflecting leaders in US history.... The Cold war and the Truman DoctrineIntroductionThe US Vice President Harry Truman came became the thirty-third President of the United States on April 12, 1945 after the death of US President Franklin Roosevelt.... After the Korean War, the US and the Soviet Union engaged in the proxy wars in various conflicts such as the Vietnam War, cuban missile crisis, and the Afghan War....

Preview sample

Cuban heritage

2 pages (500 words) , Download 2 , Research Paper

Free

raditional doctors in Cuba have used plants and herbs throughout Cuba's history to cures ailments and diseases.... For example, Procter & Gamble has invested cuban Heritage cuban Heritage Understanding the cuban culture and habits in respect of communication would be highly important in helping Mrs....

Preview sample

Difficulty recognizing the enemy during Vietnam

5 pages (1250 words) , Download 2 , Essay

The vietnam war was one of the most devastating conflicts of the twentieth century and this was because it brought about the deaths of hundreds of thousands if not millions of people.... While this may have been the case, there quickly developed a situation where the american military was hardly ever capable of identifying the enemy.... The development of constant fear of attack as well as the paranoia that accompanied this state of mind made the american troops to undertake some extraordinary actions such as committing atrocities against of noncombat civilians or the torture of prisoners which remained prevalent throughout the war....

Preview sample

History - United States History 1865

3 pages (750 words) , Download 2 , Essay

But a change in american tariff policies in 1894 affected the Cuban sugar market and brought hard times, unemployment and a renewal of hostilities in early 1895.... Then discuss the course of the war and its impact on United States foreign policy. ... he scenario then was that american newspapers approached the events which led to the war.... Viewed in the long perspective, the Spanish american War was but one incident in a series of events which marked this arrival of United States as a world power....

Preview sample

Role of Mutually Assured Destruction in Keeping Peace during the War

13 pages (3545 words) , Download 1 , Coursework

Free

During those years of Cold War, there arose certain terribly close calls, especially during the 1962 cuban missile crisis, when senior American military officials endeavored to encourage President Kennedy in the deployment of nuclear weapons against the Soviets (Erlanger 1998).... The threats of such an event were most likely never closer to reality than they were during the infamous cuban missile crisis (“Mutually Assured Destruction” 2006). ... The vietnam war has been considered to be the most popular of those proxy wars (“Mutually Assured Destruction” 2006)....

Preview sample

A Short Diary of our History

4 pages (1000 words) , Download 2 , Term Paper

It was The defining event in the 19th Century of american history was the expansion of westward.... I am of the opinion that it was a move to protect the rights and property of the american citizens.... The civil war provided american people a chance to face slavery as an issue boldly (Foner).... Further, there can be no difference of opinion amongst the architects of american economy that it has changed the american society and economy revolutionarily (Foner 107)....

Preview sample

Crucible vs Post-9-11 Muslim Treatment

4 pages (1351 words) , Download 2 , Essay

Free

It had never mattered to the US how many Muslims resided in the country until the 9/11attack took place (Rick 3).... What the Muslims are leaving in America experienced after the 9/11 have been very painful, and are more or less the same as the case of the persons accused of witchery in the Crucible (Muedini 42). ... It is this event that occurred in history in the 1690s that the play by Arthur Miller, ‘Crucible' is based.... nfortunately, history repeats itself; just as though not much was learnt from the mistakes committed during the hunt for witches....

Preview sample

Changes in Cuban Culture

2 pages (1480 words) , Download 2 , Essay

Free

The essay "Changes in cuban Culture" focuses on a critical analysis of the major issues in the changes in cuban culture.... Since 1959, the cuban government has pursued strategies to improve the health status of its citizens due to the changes that have taken place in Cuba.... Hernandez in developing a plan for a 1500-calorie diet, instead of changing the way that she cooks food – plantains taste exceedingly different if they are fried versus when they are grilled, perhaps the better alternative would be to offer her alternative styles of cuban foods that would fit into a 1500 calorie diet plan, such as cuban Stuffed Pork Tenderloin, which has 160 calories per serving (Spark Recipes, 2013), or cuban Garbanzo Bean Salad at 320....

Preview sample

Environmental Issues Impacting Vietnam

5 pages (1250 words) , Download 2 , Essay

Free

Environmental Damage Brought by the Mid-20th Century war Moreover, the environmental ruins of the Indochina war during the period 1962 – 71 left Vietnam with haunting perils of radiation and defoliants employed by military forces.... The aftermath of war yielded mutations and birth defects of the modern times along with barren lands that lay waste and may be used no longer for agricultural cultivation due to long-term effects of bombing and spraying of severely concentrated herbicides over the 1/7th portion of South Vietnam....

Preview sample

US Presidents and the Presidency

18 pages (4500 words) , Download 2 , Essay

Although some have been prominent for restoring American economic might, others have been outstanding The most outstanding leaders in american history include the founding fathers or early leaders: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson; those who presided in times of internal and external conflict: Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin D.... The american presidency is undoubtedly the most sacrosanct and privileged political office in the world with the leader generally termed as the most powerful man in the world....

Preview sample

History of the Korean War

11 pages (2980 words) , Download 0 , Essay

Free

These include the election of hardline Korean leaders in 1948, to the victory of the Chinese Communist Party and their later alliance with the Soviets, Stalin's role in the Korean war and the United States' response to North Korea's invasion of the South.... he Korean Civil war and Its Leaders ... hee did have a shared responsibility in the outbreak of the war and not just in prolonging it.... Truman and Eisenhower: strategic options for atomic war and diplomacy in Korea....

Preview sample

Why were the Americans unable to prevail in Vietnam whilst the British succeeded in Malaya

9 pages (2250 words) , Download 3 , Essay

Free

This paper focuses on the American failure in the vietnam war and the British success in the Malayan emergency.... American participation in Vietnam War in american history, almost all American wars have been preceded by fixed reasons or events that have triggered most American wars.... American Failure in vietnam war and British Success in Malayan Emergency.... American Failure in vietnam war and British Success in Malayan Emergency The Vietnam War was a long running combat between the nationalist forces and the United States with the alliance of South Vietnam....

Preview sample

A Bright Shining Lie - John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam by Neil Sheehan

9 pages (2250 words) , Download 2 , Research Paper

Free

A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam by Neil Sheehan is one such book that exposes the political manipulation of the passion of common people surrounding the war and consequently the plight that the United States suffered throughout every dimension of its social, political and cultural both during and aftermath the war period.... The cultural revolution in the American social context, during the vietnam war, not only gave birth to a tremendous anti-war sentiment but active participation from some of the most recognized academic scholars of the time, namely Stanley Karnow and Gabriel Kolko, also revealed the “bumbling and misinformed, or imperialistically aggressive” (Wiest 8) nature of the American politics....

Preview sample

Translating Events of the Sixties

7 pages (2936 words) , Download 3 , Essay

Free

The paper "Translating Events of the Sixties" highlights that the paper has assessed how the constellation of the historical moments of the 60s ended thorough discussion of the social, economic, and political events of the decade ended or changed according to the story, The Things They Carried.... In addition, the paper will assess how the constellation of the historical moments of the 60s ended through discussion of the social, cultural, economic, and political events of the decade ended or changed according to the story, The Things They Carried....

Preview sample

The Effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on Vietnam War Soldiers

12 pages (3000 words) , Download 3 , Essay

This is why this disorder has been linked to war.... A diagnosis of PTSD is usually limited to those who have actually suffered through a traumatic experience.... ... ...

Preview sample

National Security During the Vietnam War

1 pages (296 words) , Download 2 , Essay

Free

It is evidently clear from the discussion "National Security During the vietnam war" that interest in civil liberties was so intense in the 1960s during vietnam war.... Therefore, it is true that the state of national security during the vietnam war encouraged the restriction of the freedom of the press and civil liberties.... Many people believed that the aftermath of the vietnam war had produced irresponsible and harsh civil liberties full of radicals, dissenters, and foreigners....

Preview sample

American vs. European Efforts in the Afghanistan War

3 pages (750 words) , Download 2 , Essay

This essay describes that american and European had roles to play in the mobilization against international terrorism, their military forces joined together in the effort to destroy the Taliban and the Al Qaeda network in Afghanistan; even they had different efforts in the Afghanistan war.... In the american-European relationship a fundamentally important ingredient continues to be missing: Europe.... By May 2002 more than two-thirds of american's NATO allies had sent soldiers to Afghanistan, and there were more European forces on the ground than american ones....

Preview sample

Wildavsky Theory of the Two Presidencies

26 pages (10594 words) , Download 2 , Essay

John Kennedy and Barack Obama shared prominent characteristics in common in being elected to the office of presidency: Both democrats were elected in their forties, being two of the youngest presidents in american history, and in the case of Kennedy, he was the first Catholic while Obama was the first African American elected to the presidency.... Kennedy (1961) The 1960s ushered in an era in american history that would greatly challenge its citizens, who would question on every level the very foundations of the United States....

Preview sample

Various Aspects of a Number of Hispanic Ethnic Groups

5 pages (1389 words) , Download 1 , Essay

Free

(2005) Born in Blood: A Concise history of Latin America.... The author of this paper under the title "Various Aspects of a Number of Hispanic Ethnic Groups" considers four select Hispanic ethnic groups for various sociological elements and examines specific aspects of Mexican american and Puerto Rican culture.... This essay considers four select Hispanic ethnic groups for a variety of sociological elements, and examines specific aspects of Mexican american and Puerto Rican culture....

Preview sample

The Internal Problems of Vietnam as Cause of the War

5 pages (1250 words) , Download 2 , Essay

Free

International trade plays an important perhaps even a vital role in the economic development of Vietnam, and reversing the damage caused by the vietnam war and Communism.... ust how much of a detrimental affect the vietnam war had on the country's development will be discussed below.... The conflict also reversed some of the economic recovery that had begun since the end of the vietnam war in 1975 (Lenman, 2004 p.... The Vietnamese economy had recovered from the vietnam war yet the failures of Communism meant its state - planned economy was a failure....

Preview sample

Racial Relations during the Vietnam Era

6 pages (1575 words) , Download 2 , Research Paper

Free

Different units of the American forces played a major role in the vietnam war.... However, it is worth noting that the contribution of African Americans in the vietnam war was prominent.... Racial Relations during the Vietnam Era Different units of the American forces played a major role in the vietnam war.... However, it is worth noting that the contribution of the African Americans in the vietnam war was prominent.... ergeant major Huff was another outstanding character who had two opportunities of playing crucial roles in the vietnam war....

Preview sample

History: War Protest Music

5 pages (1250 words) , Download 2 , Essay

The situations that developed across college campuses in America during the vietnam war meant that the police and the protesting students were often placed at odds which each other.... Of these, perhaps the most negative reaction to war protestors and those who object to sending american soldiers abroad to fight a war which might be considered alien to America, is given by Merl Haggard.... War protest music is one such genre of music and there are three songs which can be discussed with regard to how some musicians saw war protestors and how they reacted to the idea of war. ...

Preview sample

Contribution of Colin Powell to American History

6 pages (1616 words) , Download 2 , Research Paper

Free

This paper ''Contribution of Colin Powell to american history'' tells us that Colin Luther Powell is a United States statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army (Ryan np).... No: Contribution of Colin Powell to american history Colin Luther Powell is a United States statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army (Ryan np).... “Atlas of African-american history” New York: Infobase Publishing, 2007....

Preview sample

Vietnams Confucian Heritage and Its Impact on Governance

30 pages (7500 words) , Download 2 , Dissertation

The author states that Vietnam and Southeast Asia were to witness many conflicts and the vietnam war was to present a devastated nation to the world that had been a battlefield between global superpowers with conflicting ideology.... This paper 'Vietnam's Confucian Heritage and Its Impact on Governance' presents a discussion about Vietnam, its colonial exploitation, attempts at social transformation, religious and cultural influences and the flawed american military intervention in the region....

Preview sample

Racism and Racial Identities in Florida State

7 pages (1888 words) , Download 2 , Essay

Free

Racial issues in american society have to be looked at with reference to the historical context.... history points out to a time whereby the African slaves sold in America were regarded as inferior to other colored people and therefore unfit to associate with white people in the social and the political context.... The manatee county is one of the areas in Florida with the highest concentration of Latin american immigrants and specifically the Cuban Americans due to proximity to Cuba ....

Preview sample

American History (the Old America and the New America)

5 pages (1250 words) , Download 3 , Essay

With the election of an African-american as President, most Americans are in agreement that the country has really come a long way especially from its dark periods; slavery, social inequality etc. ... uthor Gene Smiley (2008) writes that "despite the 1920-1921 depression and the minor interruptions in 1924 and 1927, the american economy exhibited impressive economic growth during the 1920s.... The same can be said for the periods from 1992-2000, where the american economy grew only to worsen in the years after....

Preview sample

Threats to Global Security in Post-Cold War Period

16 pages (4466 words) , Download 3 , Essay

Free

In reviewing the academic literature on the definition of “old” war and “new” war, there is a consistent theme of scholars writing on the subject to identify the 9/11 attacks as ushering in a new paradigm in the conduct of war.... From this it is possible to conclude that the 9/11 attacks broke the containment model of “new” war that limited violence to the developing nations and “third world” arenas, but that classical or Clauswitzian elements of “old” war were conditioned or contained in the “police” response of the American military....

Preview sample

Development Strategies of China after World War II

6 pages (1829 words) , Download 0 , Essay

Free

China could not thrive without access to the american market and money from U.... That was the watershed.... The document was a devastating blow for the central planners and a watershed for Deng.... Deng at times pressed changes with great haste and daring while, at other moments, he slowed or even blocked change.... Six months later, nearly three-fourths of the countrys rural production teams had implemented the household system Farm production soared....

Preview sample

Implied Force in American Presidential Foreign Policy

6 pages (1621 words) , Download 2 , Essay

Free

This policy, now so familiar to posterity, was only part of Monroe's unique position in american history.... The country had been tempered by the Civil war and the taming of the West.... There were even allusions to an “American Empire” after the Spanish-American war and the acquisition of new holdings in the Caribbean and Pacific.... Back in this hemisphere in October 1962, President Kennedy cited the Monroe Doctrine during the height of the cuban missile crisis as justification for his decision to quarantine that island with a naval blockade, drawing an interesting parallel with Monroe's concerns about hemispheric security in his day (Hart 114)....

Preview sample

Robert McNamara: Creating an Analytical Shift in Terms of Crisis

9 pages (2250 words) , Download 2 , Research Paper

Section TA Date Robert McNamara: Creating an Analytical Shift in Times of Crisis Robert McNamara: Creating an Analytical Shift in Times of Crisis The period between the cuban missile crisis and the Vietnam War were essential in terms of identifying ideologies that would shape the nation and its decisions.... To the outside observer, Robert McNamara might be considered a Realist; however, when looking at his actions and from his “Eleven Lessons” in the documentary, The Fog of war, it becomes clear that he is indeed not a Realist, but actually an Idealist....

Preview sample

Gloria Steinem: Advocate of Peace in Time of War

3 pages (750 words) , Download 3 , Essay

By 1968, the country was in turmoil over the vietnam war.... It was during these years that she made known her feelings against the vietnam war.... In 1968, King was assassinated, and the same year Senator Robert Kennedy, an opponent of the vietnam war, was also assassinated.... history.... Steinem's influence was greatest from 1960 to 1975 at a time in history when civil rights, the women's movement, gay movement, environmental...

Preview sample

Major Events of American History

9 pages (2475 words) , Download 0 , Essay

Free

Ernest Hemingway born in 1899 witnessed violence and death as first hand experience since he was an ambulance driver in the First World war and the carnage convinced him that abstract language was mainly empty and misleading.... The paper "Major Events of american history" underlines that life in America was linked to events of major industrialization, world wars, and urbanization.... Running head: american history ... Critical Period of american history, 1783–89....

Preview sample

Essays on Cuban Missile Crisis: Vietnam War and the 9/11: Three Moments of Watershed in American History