On this day, we did a blog discussion. We discussed several topics, our first being the railroads. Since this was my project, I knew a majority of the material. However, they did talk about the native american involvement in building of railroads. Economy wasn't perfect during the train boom. Accidents were a nightmare. The next topic was Andrew Carnigie, a steel master. He was the boss of the greatest steel company in the world, becoming extremely wealthy. He was not selfish with his money. With that came John D. Rockefeller, the owner of the Standard Oil Company. Donated money as well. The following topic was factories in the 1800's. Children were involved, and got very small pay. Child labor is prohibited due to several passed acts in this time. We moved on to the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the transportation, manufacturing, and selling of liquor. Was abolished in 1933, after being passed in 1920. After this we moved on to Theodore Roosevelt, where we discussed his presidency and what he did as president, ie Panama Canal. He set up many national parks. Then we went to the cowboys of the western U.S. There were mixed groups of different nationalities for cowboys. Cowboys were from ages 9-80's usually. Next were native americans in the west. They would trade beaver skins, hunted for food, played games, and became friends with the Spaniards. They would fish as well. Up next immigrants. Most came for religious freedom, escaped troubles from home, and new, high paying jobs, as well as equal opportunity wherever they could find it. Entertainment for 1800-early 1900's was next. There were amusements parks, some early sports, bycicling, tennis, baseball, advertisment. Thomas Edison was the next topic. His first big invention was the a phonograph. He also invented an early camera. He died poor trying to find another invention. The next thing was Ellis Island. It is in present day New Jersey. 12 million immigrants went through Ellis. Many Europeans immigrants went through Ellis on the east, rather than the west. Sicknesses were a major problem. Part of it caught fire once, but was rebuilt. 2 million revisit it yearly. Sitting Bull was up next. Warrior at age 14, and became a member of societies at early 20's. He was also a medicine man, had many kids. Chief of Dakota tribe. Battle of Little Big Horn was won, and they killed 200 cavalrymen, including Custer. Freed from prison and was killed with a bullet through his head by military police that were native americans.
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