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The adoption of the Declaration of Independence. That one act of treason was what created America. Nothing else would have happened in "American" history had that document not been written.

2006-09-04 03:32:03 · answer #1 · answered by jlcon 3 · 0 0

If we assume for the sake of discussion that there actually was a beginning to this universe (not all scientists believe this), and that it was the Big Bang, then it follows that this is the most important event in all of history, without which "American History" wouldn't be possible.

Along similar lines (thinking in terms of "beginnings"), others might say that the American Revolution has had the greatest impact. After all, this is what ended British control of the colonies and allowed America to become what it is.

One could also look at what shapes individual Americans--in other words, what events figure most prominently into the "American Psyche"?

Both the atom bomb (WW II) and 911 together have amplified a kind of "WMD consciousness". If WW II established Americas dominance, 911 is partly an attempt to challenge this. The two events seem related and WMD figure ominously. Of these two events, I would say that 911 has more "impact" on our psyche only because it is contemporary.

In the context of world affairs, it really seems that the events surrounding 911 have changed Americans radically, not simply through world events or what some people in Washington are doing--but by significantly changing the way we think of ourselves, the way others see us, and our relationship to the rest of the world.

There are many other important "events"--the inventions of TV or computers for example--which have to do with rapid technological change and the transfer of information, etc., but now we're talking more about world history than American history.

If I had to choose, I'd go with 911. To me what makes this such a significant event is that it so quickly and decisively changed they way we (Americans) see ourselves in relation to the world, forcing Americans to begin paying attention to and caring about world politics.

2006-09-03 13:23:12 · answer #2 · answered by Jon 3 · 1 0

the single event which had the biggest impact on american history, even the biggest impact on the history of the modern world - was George Washington deciding not to be made King.

The revolutionary army offered him the position. He declined it, saying they fought a war to be free of kings.

There is no question that had Washington accepted the offer he would have been king. He had the backing of the army and was by far the most popular person in the colonies.

Caesar had himself declared dictator for life after defeating the senate in ancient Rome. Cromwell became lord protector of england and ruled until he died. Napoleon would take over the french revolution and become emperor.

Washington by his action made the U.S. a republic (we are not a democracy although some mistakenly think so).

2006-09-03 18:19:13 · answer #3 · answered by dugfromthearth 2 · 0 0

It was most likely the American Revolution becuase that is what actullay turned us into a counttry in the first place so i guess that would be the defining moment for the country so far.
(note: in my opinion i think that every country had an event that had such a great impact on the country that it is still a strong influence on its thinking, for example for russia its world war 2 because the war on the easter front was bigger then the war on all of the other fronts combined and for that matter it was the biggest war in history so you can see why it is so important, i just think america hasnt had one yet)

2006-09-03 13:10:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I believe it is the Civil War. For the real question is which event shaped the course of all future events? Which events can be felt strongest down through the centuries?

Antebellum America is so foreign to modern america. I see the civil war as (in one way) the culmination of a struggle between two visions for america. Generally speaking, one vision was: anti-federalist, rural... on the surface more libertarian, but in truth, more aristocratic/oligarchy. More isolationist, anti-central bank... one in which state definitions citizenship trumpted US citizenship Not to mention a strong belief in the right to property... even in other human beings.
the other was more federalist. It believed in a stronger federal government, in a central bank, in industrialization, in using the federal government to bolster the economy and etc by building up infrastructure, providing education and economic incentives for innovation. It was very individualistic, and believed strongly in "the right to eat the bread without the leave of any body else which his own hand earns".

The latter vision won out in the end and created the america of today.

And of course, one can't forget the 13th-15th amendments. While the 14th and 15th were pretty much ignored for the next hundred years, for the next hundred years many school kids learned about them, and when they learned about the Declaration of Independance, they learned the Lincoln/republican version of it. SO when they saw what was happening in the south...when they saw the cops turning water cannons on peaceful people...they were horrified. The civil war opened up the possibility of the Civil Rights movement. The tragic thing is, had a few things happened differently- had reconstruction not failed- the civil rights movement would have happened 100 years earlier.

The truth is, I could go on forever on how important the civil war was, but i have wasted too much time here.

2006-09-03 18:10:08 · answer #5 · answered by Rachelc258258 2 · 0 0

there are TOO many impacts in our history. Our history as short as it may be would look like the craters on the moon. Each and every moment forming an impact crater. 9-11. Forcifuly take Lands that belong to the Native Americans. WW2. Revolutionary War. Civil War. Creation of the A-Bomb. Creation of Electricity. The phone. The car. Microwave oven. TVs. Every single one of these changed our lives in one way or another.

2006-09-03 16:36:36 · answer #6 · answered by goldenkhalil 5 · 0 0

The death of Zachary Taylor in 1850. I've theorized that if he had lived, he would have admitted California as a free state without the Compromise of that year which led to the divisive struggles of the next decade. In fact, by putting off the military action for another 10 years, the Compromise of 1850 guaranteed a long and bloody fight to end slavery. President Taylor favoured admitting California as a free state, an occurrence that, without the "Compromise"--consisting of the enacting of the Fugitive Slave Law--would have caused the Southern States to secede, as they did in 1860-61. Then, two things might have happened: One, nothing. The Taylor, who was a slaveholder himself, might have simply let the southern states go as an acceptable price to keeping the peace; after a time, once the South realized that its sole economic base, slavery, wasn't enough to ensure stability and prosperity, that it in fact needed the industrial power of the northern states, it would have submitted and quietly re-entered the American family. The institution of slavery would have quietly withered and died a short time later, with the freed slaves, like those in the British colonies, accepted as equal citizens.

The second possible result might have been the onset of civil war in 1850, but without the rancour and animosity which built up over 10 years, it would have been short, maybe a year at most. In the end, as in the first example, the seceded states would have quietly returned to the union, etc.

This didn't, of course, happen, and all, I think, because President Taylor died and was succeeded by a string of weak-kneed, pro-slavery northerners.

2006-09-08 10:57:25 · answer #7 · answered by nacmanpriscasellers 4 · 0 0

Hard to say,
Revolutionary War, for without it America wouldn't be a nation and would still be under British Rule.
Civil War, which ended slavery and help united North and South.The Industry boom and growth of business and large immigration after that as well.
World War II which brought U.S. out of isolation, and lead U.S. to world power after the dropping of atomic bomb on Japan.
9/11, the attack on World Trade Center and the events follow that.
All pretty important.

2006-09-03 14:38:39 · answer #8 · answered by no one 2 · 0 0

There cannot be any scholarly doubt:

The writing and drafting of the Constitution.

Two-hundred years from now the United States will be best remembered for three things:

1. The Constitution
2. Jazz music
3. Baseball

2006-09-03 15:23:22 · answer #9 · answered by Mr. Curious 6 · 0 0

The Day the first contolled nuclear fission took place by Enrico Fermi in Chicago DECEMBER 2, 1942 ....the US, and the world hasn't been the same since.

Now we stare into the abyss of nuclear annhilation at any given moment...the proverbial Sword of Damacles now hangs over every human being on the planet.

2006-09-03 13:23:05 · answer #10 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 1 0

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