1) The Revolutionary War (1), Civil War (2), Native American migration to america (3), Louisiana Purchase (4), and Columbus's Discovery of Cuba (5) helped to shape America before 1877
2) Many new inventions, such as the water wheel and electricity were coming around. The Incandescent lightbulb was possibly the biggest invention of 1800s because it was a safer form of lighting. There was a lot of reform in industry to make things safer for the workers. Child Labor Laws were established, which put limits on the age at which children can work and the things they can do at that age. It also made it a criminal offense to be truant, or purposefully miss school. Railroads started to expand around the ever-growing United States, and with this the business that goes with the railroads also expanded. Unfortunately, greed started to cause a big impact in industry and caused the formation of monopolies such as John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company. Theodore Roosevelt came along and pushed for reform to take down these monopolies that were only in it to line their own pocket, and because known as Teddy the Trustbuster because of him ending many major trusts/monopolies, including Standard Oil. Immigration became a large issue for some citizens because they believed they were taking all the jobs in the U.S.
3) The Progressives pushed for a radical change in the U.S Gov't. They were the main people pushing for the form of Labor Unions and the Child Labor Laws. They looked to change some of the truly unjust things in the United States. In the end, many of their ideas were seen as too radical and never happened, but some, such as the formation of Labor Unions and the Child Labor Laws, still hang around today.
4) In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the U.S prefered Isolationism. They did not become involved in foreign war. There was not a whole lot of importation or even exportation of goods. For example, when World War I initially broke out, the United States declared neutrality because we did not wish to deal with a foreign affair.
5) World War I began to reveal that the U.S was at least a rising power in the world and could put up a fight. World War I put some stress on the US, but we reacted rather well at the time. It marked a change in the United States' thinking of foreign affairs and isolationism.
6) The 1920s had a large impact on the U.S, not all of it being good. Buying on credit, which still happens today, first came around in the 20's. This was good and bad because people could get something they wanted without having all the money for it, but would go into debt because of the amount of things they would buy on credit and have to pay back. Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart both took their iconic cross-Atlantic flights in the 20's, giving the public people to look up to and see as idols. Automobiles became more affordable in the 20's due to Henry Ford's Model-T and buying credit so they didn't have to pay for it all at once. This made a boom in the automotive industry and forced the growth of road systems across the U.S. The Red Scare also happened in the 20's. The event turned the American public even further against Immigrants because of the "looming threat of Communism." Because of the Red Scare, Anti-Immigration laws that were formerly shot down in Congress then had a chance of being passed. Racism grew exponentially and the Ku Klux Klan, or KKK, grew in relation to the rise in Racism across the United States. Violence and crime also rose due to Prohibition, which banned the production, transportation, and sale of alcohol.
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