Nineteenth century American life was a time of profound transformation across all angles of society– from the development of new manufacturing methods such as steam power and railroads, to civil rights movements such as abolitionists and women suffragists, nearly every aspect of American society was constantly changing. During this period, the United States was transitioning into what is commonly known as a “national society”, where local power was supplanted by a growing trend of national institutions and organizations. Many historians argue that the social unrest that occurred in the United States during this time was largely a consequence of the country’s transition towards a national society. While it is important to acknowledge that the …show more content…
Thus it was the culmination of these different factors that shaped the complex cultural and political landscape of the nineteenth-century United States. The gradual progression of America’s transition to a national society reached its peak in the nineteenth century, heightened by the advancements of industrialization and urbanization, with many national organizations gaining new power. A prime example of this is with the Homestead Act of 1862– a federal law established which granted 160 acres of public land to anyone who was willing to live on and cultivate the land for at least five years. Prior to the Homestead Act, public lands were often controlled …show more content…
The end of slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the passage of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1865 did not lead to an end to racial discrimination and violence against Black people in the country. Instead, the Reconstruction era following the Civil War saw attempts at political, economic, and social reforms to grant Black people greater rights and opportunities, but also saw significant backlash from white supremacists who sought to reestablish white supremacy and maintain Black people's subordinate status. The rise of Jim Crow laws in the late nineteenth century, which institutionalized segregation and discrimination against Black people, contributed to social conflict and tensions between different racial groups. Additionally white supremacist organizations such as The Ku Klux Klan, most prominently, used violence and intimidation to terrorize Black communities and prevent them from exercising their rights as citizens. The Reconstruction era also saw the rise of the sharecropping system, which effectively replaced slavery with a new form of economic exploitation that perpetuated the poverty and subordination of Black people in the South. This economic system contributed to social conflict as it created tensions between Black sharecroppers and white landowners fighting for control over
There were many political, economic, and social changes that occurred during the years 1820-1860. Some of which include Manifest Destiny, financial panics, and reform movements. These changes had many substantial consequences that influenced the growth of The United States as a country and society. A major political change that occurred during this time period was the expansion of the United States westward in North America.
Economic Developments During the early 1800s, economic developments helped the America grow into a prosperous country. As nationalism was highly prominent during this era, many policies were experimented to try to help America grow with more power. Often times, since America’s population was so diverse, these policies often stemmed differing opinions from different citizens. However, such policies that were generally successful, such as the American System, would amalgamate many parts of the country, as well as producing a self-sustaining and unified nation.
After the Emancipation Proclamation was signed and the Civil War had ended, former slaves were left to start over from nothing. This period is also known as Reconstruction (Foner, 2023). During the Reconstruction era of the United States, racial terror and violence were rampant. Many African Americans were subject to terrorizing tactics such as lynchings, night-riding, and other macabre acts. For context, “Between the end of the Civil War and the 1940s, approximately 100 White massacres directed against Black communities took place” (Darity Jr, 2022).
On page thirty-two of The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander explicitly states that we transitioned from the death of the "Old Jim Crow" to the birth of "The New One" through: "a criminal justice system that was strategically employed to force African Americans back into a system of extreme repression and control" (32). After the death of slavery / during the Reconstruction Era, African Americans obtained political power and began the long march toward greater social and economic equality. As a result, whites reacted with panic / outrage and conservatives vowed to reverse Reconstruction / "redeem" the South. Through the Ku Klux Klan, resurgent white supremacists fought a terrorist campaign against Reconstruction governments and local leaders.
African Americans had suffered a lot of persecution in the 19th century. They had endured many years of slavery and finally achieved the end of slavery in the end of 1865. Even though slavery ended, the persecution did not. Many people formed groups such as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) to bring up the idea of white supremacy. White supremacy had quickly spread in the south again, which was where the majority of African Americans lived.
“Americans settled more land in the West than they had on the entire continent in the centuries before 1870.” Expanding the western settlements was important because it brought population growth, which meant more farming leading to a booming economy. The Homestead Act was a major incentive for people to move their families to a new homeland. Passed by Abraham Lincoln in May of 1862, it provided 160 acres of federal land to people who agreed to farm, make improvements, and build a home. As long as you were 21, a United States citizen, or agreed to intend to become one, and promised to never fight against the United States or help the enemy, you could obtain land.
On May 20, 1862, the Homestead Act was passed which offered people acres of land for low prices. In total, the Homestead Act had 160 million acres of land to give which encouraged westward expansion. Homesteaders must live in residence for five years before receiving ownership of the land. Despite that, the Homestead Act provided a great significance towards economic interest for everyone. It gave everyone despite their race and religion a “fair chance” to obtain land and start a new life.
The Homestead Act was officially made a law in May 20, 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln. It made settlement possible in the western United States. By allowing all Americans, including freed slaves, to submit a claim for up to 160 free acres of federal land. The Homestead Act of 1862 basically stated that any adult citizen who headed a family could be entitled to a grant of 160 acres of free public land by paying a small fee and living on that land for five years or if that settler would pay small installments, he could obtain that land after six months of residency. The deal was that dwellers were required to improve the land by cultivating and building a dwelling on this free land.
The role of women in America rose exponentially as they were able to gain employment via the Women’s Land Army and factories manufacturing war commodities. These advantages allowed minorities in American society to gain more social power which become catalysts for political acts, like the 19th Amendment, to be
The U.S had gained a lot of land, or frontiers in the West from Mexico. The land was undeveloped, therefore the U.S had to find a way to develop the land. The U.S would come up with the Homestead Act. The Homestead Acts states that any citizen or anyone planning to become a citizen is eligible to gain 160 acres of land, typically to form farms. The plan was intended to make the people stay in that land and create a
Reconstruction caused prejudice and inequality. To elaborate, the creation of the Ku Klux Klan and the Black Codes were both in the time period of reconstruction, which caused chaos and violence throughout the Union. One of the goals of reconstruction was to repair the economy in the South, because it depended on slavery, which was now illegal, due to the thirteenth amendment. The South’s economic system now depended on Sharecropping, which caused former slaves to be in constant debt and was unjust to the black society. The reconstruction time period, was a time of dispute between the Union.
Exam Paper 1 In what ways did the American West of the late nineteenth century represent a contrast to the East? In what ways did the two regions resemble each other?
These laws also stopped them from marrying white people and also made it so that any children born to slaves became slaves too. This lead to two centuries and a half of slavery, until 1863 when Abraham lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation freeing Slaves in confederate States, Two years later the Thirteenth Amendment is passed putting an end to Slavery in the United States. In America despite the abolishment of slavery it was nearly impossible to shake of the notion of being ex-slaves and although on paper they were not anymore, this is how they were still viewed and treated. The discriminating Jim Crow laws still existed restricting voting rights, education rights, access to trade unions and the ability to serve on juries. There was also many white folks who disagreed with the end of slavery and took action into their own hand creating a group which attacked, raped, and even killed black people.
Our nations strong will and determined attitude paved the road of early industrialization in the early and mid 1800 's. The steamboat, transcontential railroad, and Erie Canal were early accomplishments in transportation that began to push our country towards bigger and better feats. In the 1800 's American economy boomed, American affairs became more successful, And Americans began to disperse all across North America. The political, economic, and social changes brought about by developments in transportation from 1820 to 1860 caused the nation to prosper and spring towards our country 's long desired belief in manifest destiny. The rise of transportation mechanisms ultimately increased the employment rates and caused land ownership to become more common. When the railroad was first created in 1830 7,000 men were employed.
Homestead Act of 1862 The Homestead Act was passed on May 20, 1862; this act accelerated the settlement of the western territory by granting the head of families 160 acres of surveyed public land for a fee of $30 and 5 years of continuous residence on that land. During the forty years after its passing about half a million families took advantage of the act by purchasing land trying to make a home for themselves in the vast open lands. Though the act held good intentions it was truly a hoax, making it seem better than it actually was through all the loopholes and fine print the public did not see. The Homestead Act was considered to a significant failure by examining how land was sold, attitude toward Indian reservations, and corporate greed