Analyze The Key Factors That Shaped America Research Paper

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In 1877, America was greatly impacted by what happened in the past. Expansion, gender/class/race, foreign interaction, and politics were all factors that lead to American life in 1877. The ways these aspects affected America influence how life currently is there. If certain things did not happen the way they did, America could have a completely different government and way of life in general. Expansion was one of the key factors that shaped America literally and figuratively. Examples of things that shaped America were the Louisiana Purchase and the purchase of Alaska. These gave America new land for all of the immigrants and settlers. America had continued growth to the west leading up to 1877 and for a little while after. If the past leaders of America would have decided to expand the country in a different direction life would be different because America would occupy …show more content…

If it was not for foreign interaction, Americans could very well be under British rule today. Foreign interaction also played a key part in the expansion of America. If America had not bought the land of the Louisiana Purchase and the land of Alaska the territories of the US today would be extremely different. Also, the Union won the Civil War with support from Britain. Foreign interaction mostly helped us but America was not on very good terms with some of its own in 1877. Gender, class, and race caused major issues leading up to the year of 1877. Women, the poor, and African/Native Americans were all treated poorly in the past. Women were discriminated against and, in 1877, were still fighting for their rights. The lower class were forced to fight in the wars and struggled to get by. Native Americans were forced to reservations, and after putting up a fight realized their fate and settled with treaties. African Americans were facing segregation in 1877 even after the Civil War had set them free from