American Identity Research Paper

By the late 1800s, America was transitioning from an economy based on agriculture to one based on industry. Although this transformation made the United Stated richer and more powerful than it had ever been before, it caused farmers to face numerous problems to which they found themselves unable to successfully overcome. Even though many farmers moved into the industrial workforce, the ones who wished to continue agricultural work faced problems such as overproduction and tariff policies. Also, the farmers lost their political power due to the decreased focus on agriculture.

Following the Civil War, a second industrial revolution in America brought many changes to the nation’s agriculture sector. The new technologies that were created transformed how farmers worked and the way in which the sector functioned. Agriculture expanded and became more industrial. Meanwhile government policies, or lack of them for a while, and hard economic conditions put difficult strains on farmers and their occupation. These changes in technology, economic conditions, and government policy from 1865 to 1900 transformed and improved agriculture while leaving farmers in hardship.

Throughout the 19th century, the American market saw drastic changes in infrastructure and production. The agriculture sector was no different, as new technologies and modes of transport led the way for farmers to sell goods and work their land, easier and faster. New laws and regulations also paved the way towards cheaper food throughout America. However, as prices dropped, and production flourished, a minority of Americans suffered the consequences of starvation, while farmers suffered low gains. The agricultural picture of the 1800s paints an image of new technologies and a transformed transport sector, which gave way to lower consumer prices and hardships for farmers.

DBQ: The Industrial Boom In the 1860s, industries in Europe were booming. The United States, however, was not developing very much at all. In fact, we were busy fighting a Civil War, and cleaning up the mess afterwards, so there really was not much time or money for the development of huge factories and businesses. In time, the Civil War and Reconstruction eras ended, and America was rapidly growing its industries.

By the 1800 the factory system was introduced which caused the economy to turn from agricultural. Our text states that all the regions of the U.S. remained agricultural years following the Civil War, moreover New England, Middle Atlantic states, and the Midwest were poised for major industrial expansion the would last until the Great Depression (3).The Southern economy however remain agricultural well into the 20th century. Southern farms were large and by 1860 four- fifths

It was during the Gilded Age that the concepts of the upper class and urban poor became entrenched into American society. With the advent

After the Civil War, the United States went through a period of rapid industrialization which affected the nation dramatically. Industrial growth, the spread of railroads, the rise of big businesses, and the appearance of labor unions during these decades created a modern industrial economy, and American workers and farmers faced new challenges in adapting to these changes.

The late eighteenth century was a turbulent time throughout America. An influx of immigrants packed into massive cities such as New York and Chicago. As opposed to previously northern European immigration, a wave of “new” immigration in the 1890’s brought immigrants from southern and eastern Europe, who vastly differed

Immigrants of all kind come to the United States (US) in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. The U.S. was a strong magnet for immigrants, giving them opportunities to start farming or urban employment. There was a worldwide financial collapse enhanced the speed of immigration to the U.S. Between the years 1845 to 1854 there was a great invasion of immigrants in U.S. history (Tindall, Shi, 2013).

Nonetheless, by the mid 1880’s, it became too much for the markets to handle as more products were being produced than ever before, leading to the declining of prices and no real profit. Through the expansion of white agriculture, farmers faced many bumps in the road. As the rainfall increased in the 1870’s, farmers experienced a variety of troubles such as fencing their lands to enclose it and protect it from the herds of cattlemen. And because wood and stone fences were too expensive, they turned to the use of barbed wire. Another problem was water. The farmers relied heavily on the flow of water to their plantations from rivers and streams through the drilling of wells. However, after 1887, they experience a dry spell where some farmers were left to turn to planting dry-resistant crops and by using deep wells pumped by windmills. Nonetheless, such a big problem could only be solved with large scale irrigation, something the federal government wasn’t prepared to fund. Due to crop prices falling and production getting more and more expensive, thousands of farmers fell into debt that they cannot afford to pay and were therefore forced to leave their farms. Farmers were no longer self sufficient and became reliant on store bought supplies, bankers and interest rates, railroads, national markets and overall world supply and demand. Later in the 1880’s, overproduction of crops led to the declining of prices and caused millions of American farm families to fall into distress as the economy continued to decline. Furthermore, the farmers faced grievances surrounding railroads, institutions managing credit banks, loans companies and insurance corporations as it was harder to pay back loans, and unfair pricing as some goods cost more than others. American farming soon no longer was an image cherished by Americans, but was instead a declining operation competing

In the early 19th century ,so many Europeans emigrated to America that formed the first immigrant upsurge in American history. There were profound historical backgrounds for it : The deepening development of European industrial revolution destroyed the European traditional economic structure , causing surplus labor to emigrate abroad ;the failure of European revolution and European political and religious persecution impelled people to yearn for the free America ;the rapid industrial development in the U. S also attracted a large number of European immigrants ;and the population explosion in Europe and the change of the official immigrant policy helped to form the emigrant upsurge. Undeniably , European immigrants made great contributions to

Our poster depicting past and present elements of american identity illustrates how american ideals have changed over time, and what major events impacted them. The signing of the declaration of independence brought about the first ideals of the american identity, showing defiance of the monarchy and belief in democracy and representation. The constitution later solidified these beliefs in the second version of american governance, guaranteeing the rights of the american people and providing the basis for current american beliefs. The 19th century saw america blossom into the industrial revolution and the creation of working class.

The book highlights the challenges faced by different ethnic groups living in America. The American society is comprised of different ethnic groups who were all immigrants to America at some point in time history. The diverse ethnic groups that arrived on American shores since its history define who America is made up of. The Americans of European immigrants cannot trace their origins back to Europe. The Africans brought to America as slaves have since integrated and became part of the American society.

The influx of international migrants resulted in an ethnically diverse society, giving rise to the concept of a melting pot. Though the first wave of immigration resulted in heightened ethnic tensions, the second wave of a more distinctive groups resulted in even more ethnic prejudice and xenophobia. The increase of immigrants also resulted in the worsening of life for African Americans. Ultimately, the large populations of immigrants caused cultural pluralism to take place in which ethnic differences were embraced rather than suppressed.

The identity of a nation is a summation of all its citizen’s. An identity cannot be determined by political leaders, but rather is a reflection of how leaders are able to create unity within all people. American identity reflects what it means to be American; the positive and negative, and everything in between. Throughout the course of United States history, Americans have constantly held a unique identity in political, social, economic, and cultural affairs. This identity however is dramatically affected by these affairs and can be altered as time and history progress. Nowhere in history does American identity remain stagnant; some changes are more drastic than others. One of the most radical contrasts in American identity seen throughout history is the difference between the nationalist, patriot identity seen among Americans upon independence from the crown in 1783; and the controversial division seen within the nation following the Compromise of 1877. The United States went from being a young, and hungry powerhouse, to a nation at war with itself all as a result of national identity.