It was the Compromise of 1877 that brought reconstruction in the south to an end. The compromise called for the withdraw of federal troops in the southern states, promised that a southern would be appointed as Postmaster General, offered the south federal subsidies, and in return, Rutherford Hayes would become president, and reconstruction would officially be over (Peskin). The closing of one chapter lead to a new one: the birth of modern America., the Gilded Age. Major changes were taking place in the country, almost all being a result of the rapid industrialization that was taking place. Cities thrived with people, most seeking out work. Inventions flourished, light flooded the streets with the widespread availability of electricity and the lightbulb. Time were definitely changing, especially within the social classes of America. The changes effected the classes in many different ways: the wealthy suddenly became wealthier, and the middle class moved up in the ranks, as well. The same could not be said for the lower classes, though, particularly the working-class. For them, times were tough, poverty was widespread and conditions were unsafe in almost any environment they inhabited. Despite the industrial revolution being a positive for many of the social classes in America, it was very detrimental to the working-class in that it lead to urbanization and overcrowding of cities, many people taking jobs in dangerous factories, and a seemingly disorganized family life.
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During the time period of 1860 and 1877 many major changes occurred. From the beginning of the civil war to the fall of the reconstruction, the United States changed dramatically. Nearly one hundred years after the Declaration of Independence which declared all men equal, many social and constitutional alterations were necessary to protect the rights of all people, no matter their race. These social and constitutional developments that were made during 1860 to 1877 were so drastic it could be called a revolution.
The years following the Civil War and Reconstruction was an era somewhat gilded. The Second Industrial Revolution came about with new inventions, and revolutionized how factories and jobs were worked. Factory workers in this time period were working in poor conditions and had no power whatsoever. Often they were abused and their wages were cut very low. The mass immigration also did not favor laborers as it made them so easy to replace. In order to fight back laborers would join labor unions in order to protest; however, during this time the labor unions were not that affective during 1875 and 1900 because although they had their efforts many of them would not work to their advantage; efforts would give them a bad reputation, go out of
During the period between 1860 and 1877, many major changes occurred in America. There were many constitutional developments in this time period, which include the Emancipation Proclamation, the Civil War, and newly added Amendments. There were also many social developments included the Ku Klux Klan and voting of black people. Some of these developments were a revolution, which is a forcible overthrow of the government or social order in favor of a new system, and some were not.
The Gilded Age was characterized by rapid industrialization, reconstruction, ruthless pursuit of profit, government, corruption, and vulgarity (Cashman 1). After the Civil War, America was beginning to regroup as a nation. There were many other changes developing in the country. Industrialization was taking over the formerly agricultural country. The nation’s government was also in great conflict (Foner 20). Many changes occurred during the Gilded Age. These changes affected farmers, labor, business, and politics.
During 1880 to 1860, The United States of America went through social, political and economic changes, which affected the North and South in different ways.
During the post-civil war era, America, specifically the south, was undergoing a period of reconstruction. The general goal of reconstruction was to successfully readmit the former Confederacy back into the Union as smoothly as possible, as well as enacting specific safeguards of freedmen’s liberties. The social and constitutional developments in America between 1860 and 1877 were very minor. The lack of change between pre and post civil war status could hardly be considered a revolution.
With the era of American Reconstruction in America during the mid to late 1800’s came a sense of opportunity and hope for its people. America was on the move as nation, railroads being built faster than ever and the freedmen looking to find their niche in society. Although in the beginning the government provided support for these new citizens, efforts toward reconstruction faded as the years passed. Those efforts faded to a point where they were all but nonexistent, and with the unwritten Compromise of 1877, what feeble efforts that were left of reconstruction were now all but dead. Politically, reconstruction failed to provide equality by pulling Federal troops from the South, allowing former Confederate officials and slave owners
Businesses, laborers, and farmers faced major challenges between 1877 and 1920. This was a time period that included both the Gilded Age and World War 1, and the challenges that these three parts of society faced were very different between each group and throughout each period. Businesses had to deal with things called “trusts” with other businesses. Many businesses desired to hold the monopoly of an entire industry, and competition was intense and cutthroat. Laborers, of course, faced the challenges of not having the previously mentioned working conditions, as well as pay cuts and unemployment during the depressions in the 1870s and the 1890s. Farmers had to deal with major drops in the prices for their crops due to the second Industrial Revolution and the development of new technology, as well as the already-difficult farming of the West. Many southern farmers were sharecroppers, as well, and as the prices for their goods fell, so did their standard of living.
The spring of 1865 would mark a change in society because the Civil War had just ended; the North had won victory over the South. The time period after the war ended would be known as the Reconstruction Era, which would last until 1877. During this time, America would try to bring an angered South back into the Union, and transform ex-slaves into equal citizens. After the Reconstruction Era, the Gilded Age emerged. The word Gilded means to be covered up with a gold leaf or paint. This is exactly how this time can be described because many of the social problems that existed were masked over with the new profound wealth that America had. The culture of America would begin to move from a rural, agricultural lifestyle to an urban, overcrowded lifestyle. The new urban lifestyle would lead into the Progressive Era, which began in 1890. This time period had progressives who "wanted to reform and regulate their capitalist society, not destroy it" (Shi and Tindall 706). As time got closer to 1929, the society became more equitable because women began to gain their rights, racial issues began to subside, and consumer consumption began the "New Era."
America following Reconstruction was completely different from America during FDR's New Deal. In 1876, the government was based on the ideas of Laissez-faire which meant that government stayed out of the citizens' lives. Society in 1876 was dominated by white men who ran the country while there were no rights for women, blacks, and immigrants. In 1876, Americans lived on farms in rural America. By the 1930's, America was a welfare state with government just starting to control different aspects such as economy and corporations. In the 1930's women, blacks, and immigrants all had the right to vote, and the majority of Americans were living in cities. Blacks had the right to vote; however, they were usually disenfranchised by whites.
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 reconstruction era was a difficult time for the African American slaves from 1865 to 1877 because the slaves were freed and there were no jobs for them, had very little or no education, and had very limited opportunity in the south. Reconstruction was one of the most critical periods in American History. The Civil War changed the nation tremendously, and most importantly by bringing an end to slavery. Reconstruction was a period of great promise, hope, and progress for African Americans, and a period of resentment and resistance for many white
In 1850 a new economic system rose in America, Industrial Capitalism. The rise of Industrial Capitalism brought many Changes to America. Cities and transportation, such as automobiles and railroads, become popular during this time. The three social classes became distinct during this time. The benefits of Industrial Capitalism were increase in production, because the creation of the assembly line. More jobs were created and high salaries for workers. This all created a more controlled economy. Despite the Benefits, there were many problems that came with Industrial Capitalism. The biggest problems were social class inequality and that people were unhappy. There were many groups in the next 100 years that would try to solve these problems; Progressives
This essay will examine the rise of “modern America”, there were economic, religious, and aspect of life changes took place and it was greatly changed the Americans society’s perceptions, specifically, the north and the south. The rise of “modern America” was greatly motivated immigrants to come to the United States for economic opportunity, industrialization in the North after the civil war created new businesses and job regulations, and the demand for social changes; all of these factors shaped America socially, politically, and economically.
Modernisation, on the other hand, is a “conceptual framework that articulated a common set of assumptions about the nature of American society and its ability to transform a world perceived as both materially and culturally deficient” (Latham, 2000). Specifically, modernisation theorists posited a sharp distinction between traditional and modern societies. They took for granted that economic development, from traditional to modern, proceeded along a single straight, unambiguous line. Finally, modernisation advocates expected that contact with vital modern societies would accelerate progress in stagnant traditional societies.