History Of The United State From The Mid 1800s To The Early 1900s

The United State is constantly changing as time is continuously moving forward. The America of the mid-1800’s is almost not recognizable to the New America of the early 1900s. From the 13th amendment being set in place to the railroads being built as a means of transportation, America went through drastic cultural, industrial, and economic changes that helped to transform it into a large industrial powerhouse.

Throughout the reconstruction period, there were many changes that came with the abolition of slavery in the south. Many freed people focused on getting land of their own, getting married, finding family, and getting education. Through several organizations such as the Freedmen's Bureau, a lot of these things were made possible. Churches were built and posed as hot spots for schooling, weddings, and most importantly political meetings within the community.

When Lincoln was assassinated, Johnson stepped in and lead America down a different path completely slowing the reconstruction movement in the south. Johnson had no interest in the freedom of African Americans and did not want to do anything in his power to protect, or help them achieve their freedoms, and the right to vote. Congress eventually shut down any power Johnson held for the remainder of his term and moving forward in 1869 the fifteenth amendment was passed guaranteeing voting rights to all races. However, these new freedoms were not very welcomed and groups like the KKK would use force and fear to dictate African Americans votes. In 1873 collapse of railroad triggered economic depression and strikes broke out all over the north and parts of the west. Because of this, troops were removed from the south leaving African Americans defensive-less in the south. Furthermore, while other parts of America began to strive for economic growth, African Americans remained racially segregated through the use of the Jim Crow Laws in the late 1800s. With these laws being put in place, many African Americans left the south to try their luck north where less strict laws kept them from economic success and livelihood. The push for the expansion of railroads in the west became a major problem considering the land already belonged to an enormous amount of American Indians who were unwilling to give the land up. The fact that gold had been discovered in North Dakota did not help much either with miners pushing into Indian territories to mine. Through promises and treaties un-kept by the U.S government wars broke out all over the west eventually ending in the extermination of American Indian tribes. While some were forced into converting to American cultures many resisted and were chased to Wounded Knee creek where over 200 native Americans were killed in 1890. With the completion of the railroads on the rise and standardized time zones, new technological advancements such as telephones, typewriters and further industrial developments throughout the mid to late 1800s paved way for the New South. Many large industrial corporations started to break out leading to a massive economic and industrial boost for the United States. Moreover, Immigrants from all over came to America to find jobs in response to this economic boost causing a soar in population rates in the U.S. With this in mind more cities became more industrialized with transportation features, skyscrapers, electric lighting during the night, and other advancements.

Large corporations usually ended up pushing small landowners out of business forcing them to give up their land. Businesses like John D. Rockefellers Oil Company or Andrew Carnegie's steel company in which they would buy out or run any other business that sold the same product out of business, thus creating large monopolies where they could set their own prices at high rates forcing individuals to buy the products because there was no other competition. However, in the early 1900s Wilson finally passed the Clayton Antitrust Act which went after monopolies. While Businesses continued to grow so did labor unions to fight against the unfair wages and workplaces that they were subjected to under these large corporations. Eventually, when Roosevelt took office he implemented the Square deal and helped create compromises between workers and employers. Roosevelt also helped, along with Thayer Mahan, create an enormous military which the U.S used to create empires, and trade relations overseas. Furthermore, after countless decades of fighting the 19th amendment was finally passed allowing the rights for women to vote.

Throughout the mid-1800s to the early 1900shuge economic expansion, cultural integration, and equality helped push America to where it is today. New inventions and different presidents with different ideals for the United States kept it growing in the direction of expansion itself.