Laissez Faire Dbq Analysis

The article, “Creating the System: Railroads and the Modern Corporation”, informs us all about the development of the transcontinental railroad and how it helped drive the nation west and also transformed western North America into a economy that had many opportunities. The railroads have always interested me when it comes to this period of time. What I learned from the reading that I didn’t know before was that the Western railroads were primary carriers of grain, other agricultural produce, livestock, coal, lumber and minerals. Also seeing the prices that the farmers shipped their products for, and what they paid for the freights rates was very interesting. Overall, if the railroads wouldn’t have been built in a time when there was so little

After the Civil war, large businesses ruled America. Prior to the industrial revolution, the government upheld a hands-off approach towards business. Under the laissez-faire principle, free, unregulated markets led to competition, yet this system suffered under the wrath of growing corporations. The impact of big business on the economy and politics was immense during 1870 to 1899. Corporations were growing significantly in number and size, which had a domineering affect on American economy and defined American life.

The federal government actively promoted industrial and agricultural development. It enacted high tariffs that protected American industry from foreign competition, granted land to railroad companies to encourage construction, and used the army to remove Indians form western land desired by farmers and mining companies.

In general, the government helped promote and support businesses in order to advance the U.S.’s economy. Some examples would be the fact that they limited liability and incorporation laws using charters to protect businesses, provided easy credit for loans, and supported entrepreneurs. This type of involvement is what closely relates the changes in politics to the changes in economy. Most of the government’s involvement came through the American System. Developed by Congressman Henry Clay, this system was meant to protect the U.S. industry with tariffs, initiate internal improvements, and stabilize the economy. Clay’s first part of the plan was to put protective tariffs primarily on European goods. The total value of foreign exports to the U.S. escalated dramatically in only two years, going from about $13 million (1814) to $151 million (1816). British goods had unbeatable prices and the competition threatened to eliminate American businesses. In order to prevent this from happening Clay decided to place taxes on imports which would ultimately raise European costs to American consumers, shielding the U.S. so they could survive the competition. Now that Clay had established a safer way to have the government support the U.S.’s foreign affairs, his second part of the system involved domestic improvement. By the 1820’s, the controversial issue on whether Congress had the power to nationally finance roads, bridges, harbors, canals, and railroads had finally eased up. Skeptics like Presidents James Madison and Monroe had finally softened up and agreed that the government “should play a larger role in building the nation's infrastructure” (Politics in the Market Revolution). They did this by making funds accessible to the states as well as coordinating the projects, a good example

Up until the 1880s, the United States economy followed the policy of laissez-faire (the idea that the government should have no involvement in the economy), and this led to competition which led to good prices of goods for the average consumer. However with the growth of many large companies that controlled the market, prices of goods raised due to the lack of competition. With consumers becoming frustrated and prices constantly rising, the government was forced to regulate the control of monopolies in the market.

This bill, the first of its kind, promoted an involved Federal Government actively reinforcing fair business practices across the country. Unfortunately, the change occurred over a decade prior to the Gilded Age’s onset and did not force the aggressive and proactive measures needed to balance the damage already done. As a result, the Federal Government did not become fully involved in the economic crisis until after the Gilded Age

In the late 1800, conflicts arose from farmers, workers, and railroad companies. These issues were resolved by significant battles among them, but never had an affect on the railroads. The railroads charged an extraordinary amount of money for transportation of products. This made farmers extremely outraged, and made them use their money more wisely than spend it on the transportation of their products. The railroad companies misused their money given by the government to gain profit of off land grants. The competition led to workers going on strike for their budgets being cut. These concepts show that railroads, in their wasteful competition, exploited farmers and workers because of budget cuts, transportation of products, and rates.(Introduction, Timeline)

In the past, the nation’s government took the “laissez-faire” approach to dealing with the economy and/or free market affairs. The government intervened as little as possible, asserting the belief felt that if left alone, economic problems would be resolved without government interference. However, this approach was not guaranteed, and at times, the government had to put aside the “laissez-faire” approach of the past. The government had no other choice but to intervene in these instances to return balance to the economy and protect its citizens it served. The government changed both its approach and its size through programs initiated by the Industrial Revolution, New Deal programs during and following the Great Depression, and World

Richard White’s 2011 book titled Railroaded: The Transcontinentals and the Making of Modern America is about the corrupt and mismanaged transcontinental railroads and bold arguments of the story how they came and went. In this book White describes how the construction of the transcontinental railroads across the US in the late nineteenth century would change America socially, economically, and politically. He also describes the companies that built these railroads and argues with three main points on why they were corrupt companies. First I’d like to go over the three different ways that the railroads would affect America, socially, economically, and politically.

Many immigrants came into the United States during the nineteenth century; some of them being Chinese. They came here through Angel Island to find better lives than in China, but it did not work out that way for most. These people faced much discrimination in this new country, such as working cheap jobs and being treated unfairly, but eventually they began trying to conquer these unfair acts towards them.

Industrial development began with the railroad, with the help of Republican governments, who provided subsidies, loans and tax exemptions to railroad corporations. Over 52,000 miles of railroad were laid all over the nation between 1854 and 1879. Railroads stimulated growth. They required many resources to build, such as coal, wood, glass, rubber, and brass. Most importantly, the railroad connected the country.

The end of the Civil War brought a whole new era of economy, political control, and Presidential intervention. The economy emerged from its agriculturally based economy into a flourishing big business dominated world and eventually in 1929 came crashing down. I agree only partially with the quote " The Civil War saw the beginning of an 80-year decline of real individual economic opportunity; nonetheless, the vast majority of Americans continued to profess their belief in individualism as evidenced by the Presidents they elected. Thus, between 1865 and 1939, the majority of Americans accepted big business dominance and rejected all forms of government interference and regulation contrary to

The federal government role in America from the late 1800s during Reconstruction, up to the early 1900s during the Great Depression, often expanded and contracted in response to the demands of the American public. During this time frame, the nation underwent major changes and faced many challenges in order to get where we are today. As a country, our priorities shifted from being concerned about encounters right in front of us, to encouraging and pursuing a better future for everyone. After years of hard work and dedication, with the help of the federal government, our nation was finally focused on a greater life for all people. Therefore, without both the high and low points of the federal government throughout this period, we would not reside in the homeland we have today. To conclude, the role of federal government has changed over time in many ways, including but not limited to: protecting rights, promoting economic development, encouraging expansion, and providing financial support.

This established the idea that people would become “self-reliant”. Individual success was encouraged and government intervention was to be kept minimal. People aspired to achieve these objectives, for example, earning respect, conquering individual goals and measuring success by gaining material status. Laissez Faire was a philosophy used by previous conservative US Presidents, which also promoted minimal government involvement. As America became more industrialised the system faced many problems. The lack of government participation in both of these theories is what led to the American government only coming to the realisation of an economic crisis when it was too

In the 1900s - 1940s the federal government enacted many new policies and acts that caused the growth of their power. In this time, the expansion of the government's power proved to be more beneficial than harmful to the majority of American lives.