Late 19th Century DBQ Essay

As the wealthy increased their assets in the cities, at the same time, a large class was “impoverished city dwellers.” A huge contrast between the wealthy and the poor were forming and becoming more apparent from the beginning of the eighteenth century in the colonies. The data that was collected on the people who were submitted into poor houses clearly with little “doubt that the third quarter of the eighteenth century was an era of severe economic and social dislocation in the cities, and that by the end of the colonial period a large number of urban dwellers were without property, without opportunity, and except for public aid, without the means of obtaining the necessities.” This evidence of poverty in the colonies is one that Nash tries to point out to support his argument that there was a sharp contrast in the distribution of wealth, and that the masses were at this time more focused on the economy’s downfall of the period than defending for constitutional rights and liberties. Protest sparked as the result of the enormous poverty in the colonies. Frustrated with their living conditions the middle and lower classes protested violently in the cities. During this time of frustration with the economic conditions, “rank had no privileges, as even the lieutenant-governor was shot” in Massachusetts. The wealthy were attacked

Poverty has been a big issue over the past century or so and continues to be a problem to this day in the United States. Due to the Civil War, rural areas and industrial areas were affected by poverty. The poverty of rural sharecroppers in 1877 was different from the poverty of unemployed industrial workers in 1939. Even though both situations were dealing with a form of poverty, both were two completely different situations. There were several major events that happened that caused poverty of rural sharecroppers in 1877. Although there were various events leading up to the poverty of unemployed industrial workers in 1939, poverty in the year of 1877 was just as bad, if not worse, as in the year of 1939.

The half century between 1810 and 1860 may seem like a brief period of time, but these fifty years were packed full of changes and innovations. Some of these drastic modifications include but are not limited to; professions becoming an expanding market (chapter 8 notes), the focus on becoming self-sustaining, as evidenced by the Monroe Doctrine of 1823 and the American System, developed by Henry Clay (chapter 9 notes). The clashing of politics and morality also came into the news (chapter 10 notes), as well as the desire for westward expansion (chapter 11 notes). With individuals spreading out across the continental United States, a Second Great Awakening occurred in order to revitalize the church (chapter 12 notes), as new territories were

Beginning in the early 1920’s, America found itself in a frenzy of revolutionary movements that would shift the everyday lives of American citizens and pave the way to the modern era. A struggle between old ideas of conservatism and new liberal movements surfaced during the “roaring twenties”. The new movements that began rearing their heads during this time period consisted of liberal political ideas, the advancements of rights for the common man and woman, and reforms to our social culture.

During the start of the 20th century, Europe was in a good place. It controlled many empires and colonies, and technology was advancing at a rapid pace after the Industrial Revolution (1840-1870). However this peace did not last; 1914 started a brutal four year war known as WWI. The immediate cause of this war is known to be the assassination of the Archduke of Austria, Franz Ferdinand, in June of 1914. However, there are many more elementary causes of this complicated war. Some of the main underlying causes of WWI was the strong militarism and imperialism felt in the European countries, and the alliances put in place to uphold these powerful militaries and colonies.

Accurately established by many historians, the capitalists who shaped post-Civil War industrial America were regarded as corrupt “robber barons”. In a society in which there was a severe imbalance in the dynamics of the economy, these selfish individuals viewed this as an opportunity to advance in their financial status. Thus, they acquired fortunes for themselves while purposely overseeing the struggles of the people around them. Presented in Document A, “as liveried carriage appear; so do barefooted children”, proved to be a true description of life during the 19th century. In hopes of rebuilding America, the capitalists’ hunger for wealth only widened the gap between the rich and poor.

After the war of 1812, United States passed through many politically, socially, and economically changes such as the Missouri Crisis, the panic of 1819, and the changes of the new economy. This changes helped create a sense of American unity, but it also created a sense of division between Americans, as they had differences of opinions about the new Republic. One of the political changes that created a sense of division was slavery. An example being the Missouri Crisis.

Nearing the end of the Civil war and the beginning of the twentieth century the United States went through an economic revolution. During this time there was abundant natural resources, a growing supply of labor, and expanding market for manufactured goods. Because of all abundances the federal government encouraged the expansion of the railroads. This would benefit the United States economically. The Railroads were so important because it made the “second industrial revolution” possible. In 1913 the United States was producing a major amount of the world’s output. Which is more than Great Britain, France, and germany combined.

In the mid 1700s America was considered a __________. Between the mid 18th century and the late 19th century, America transitioned from a newly developing country to a dominant world power. Background information:_____________________________________________ Various factors contributed to the rapid growth of the United States.

The 1920’s decade was one that no one could ever forget. The elaborate new inventions and extravagant parties captured the country by storm. Everyone had the glimmer of riches or fame in their eyes. Poets and musicians were being discovered and idolized while the creation of credit allowed for the common middle class individual to live as luxuriously as they had always dreamed. Overall, it was a time of carelessness and prosperity for the new generation.

During the nineteenth century, sectionalism has made the nation grow with differences between states. Between 1812 and 1832, the federal government has enforced laws trying to increase the nationalism between the states. Contrastingly, the increased sectionalism between the states caused many concerns with the regions. Sectional problems from states, cannot always be taken into consideration by the federal government. Although, sectional concerns should outweigh national commands when there is a complication between social classes, unconstitutionality in law enforcement, or when there is a chance that the nation’s unity will disperse.

In the late 19th century many complaints and opinions arose to whether or not the government control is too powerful. These ideas surfaced from Native Americans, western farmers, and African-Americans looking for a quality as well as freedom. This was in the same time when Vanderbilt established the New York Central Railroad which cut through property stretching 4500 miles (LaFortune). Native Americans, Western farmers, and African Americans in the later 19th century suffered from too much government action.

In New York after 1815, there seemed to be a flood of individuals that stormed into the city walls. The spread of a more urban area and a large numbers of immigrants that stormed into New York created a dynamic of both benefits and downfalls for the government of New York. The force that was coming for workers provided employers extremely cheap day workers, with the belief that the exponential growth of pauperism represented an unnecessary and eradicable evil” (pg. 577). Associations were formed for problems across the board, “to assist widows and orphans, immigrants and Negroes, debtors and prisoners, aged females and young prostitute". In January of 1805, there was a report of 10,000 residents that were on some form of charity in New York

In the 1800s, homeless people went to almshouses or “alms”, meaning charity that is given to the poor. The only help for the poor back then came from concerned individuals, churches, private organizations or local communities. In the mid-1800s, social reformer Jane Addams co-founded the Hull House in Chicago with Ellen Gates Starr. It was the first settlement house where the poor could get food, medical care and a place to stay. After the Hull House, many other settlement houses were opened in many cities. In the 1930’s, the United States faced the Great Depression and many lost their jobs, life savings and their homes. During those difficult times, the state and federal governments set up social service programs to help the poor. To this day the government is primarily responsible for taking care of poor and homeless people. (Ayer, Eleanor H., 1997)

In this essay I plan to discuss the rationale underpinning the provision of poor relief in the 19th