Immigration

  With the continuing urbanization of the United States, immigrants flocked to the land of freedom.  Immigrants came to escape the corruption of their homelands, to hide from crimes that they had committed against their country, or just to start a new life.
  Although this new trend in immigration seemed to be a great idea for those searching for freedom, it put a serious on America.  The sudden influx of immigrants instantly created a work problem.   There weren't always enough jobs to go around and this caused the poverty level to increase.  Most immigrants were poor and had bad living conditions.
  With the massive population of immigrants America had to create schools and eduaction programs to educate the foreigners.  This helped to shape the school system, focusing it mainly on the children, who would succeed the adult populace.  Along with the assistance of children's education, humanitarian efforts were formed to aid the adult population in poverty.  Through immigration, America was forced to develop social reforms, turning to help their fellow men in times of need.

Lesson 123-124

-Appeal of the City

-Squalid Side of the City

Lesson 121-122

-Chinese Immigrants

-New Immigration

Reconstruction, 1865 - 1877

  After the Civil War ended, the South was left in disarray.  President Lincoln set reconstruction projects in motion, but was unable to see them through due to his assassination.  His successor, Andrew Johnson, continued the reconstruction policies of Lincoln, but this put a strain on Northern economy.
  In addition, the reconstruction also aded in bringing back the old South ways.  Wealthy plantation owners acting as overlords to black slaves (who were supposedly freed by Lincoln).  Black slaves, though freed by the law, were still treated poorly in the South.  The North had no plan to set up the newly freed black population with a living and the former slaves quickly became impoverished.
  Once the South was back on its feet again, and its agriculture was running, Northern troops were withdrawn by the president.  The South was nursed back to health and America was whole again.  But the problem of how to take care of the slaves remained.

Lesson 118-119-120

-Impeachment of Johnson

-The Reconstructed South

-Reconstruction Ends

Lesson 115-116-117

-Presidential Reconstruction
-The Black Codes
-Congressional Reconstruction

The Civil War

  When Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, southern states began threatening to secede from the Union.  Lincoln recieved no support from the south during his election because of his affiliation with the Republican Party and they feared that he would abolish slavery.  Lincoln's main concern was keeping the Union, not freeing the slaves.  Although he did plan to turn his attention to the problem of slavery since he believed that he was elected to address that eventually.
  A handful of southern delegates met in Montgomery, Alabama to establish the Confederate States of America, uniting all secession states under one flag.  More southern states seceded and joined the Confederacy when they saw others standing up against the Union, and the Civil War began.
Lincoln called for an army of 75,000 soldiers to fight for the honor of the Union.  The men of the north answered the call and took up arms against their brothers in the south.
  The north believed that the war would not last long at all, that it was little more than an insurrection.  The insurrection of the south, in fact, lasted about five years, and more men were killed than in any war in the history of the United States.  During the five years of war, Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves in the southern rebel states.  The document also allowed the former slaves to join the north and fight in the Union army.  Later, the creation of the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in both northern and southern states of America.
  Although the south did win many swift victories, the north slowly gained the upper hand.  The south's economy faltered because the Union army had cut off it's ability to trade with foreign countries and the men at war could not keep their plantations running.
  When the general of the Confederate army, Robert E. Lee, surrendered at Appomattox Couthouse in 1865 the Civil War officially ended.  The south had been demolished by the northern Union, slavery was no more, plantations had been ruined, and towns burned.  But the surrender restored the United States and the north began aiding in the reconstruction of the south.  Although it would take some time to heal from the wounds of war.
 

Lesson 113-114

-Effects of the War on the South

• During the war, vast cotton fields are destroyed or left untended, taking away one of the South's main resources for money.
• The North destroys the livestock shelters and either leaves the livestock or killed it off.
• The South's agriculture is seriously dwindled.

-Reconstruction Begins

• Lincoln starts the Freedmen's Bureau, which allows slaves to have a certain amount of land and a mule to start their own lives.
• When Lincoln is asassinated, the Bureau is canceled by his successor, Andrew Johnson.

Lesson 112

-Election of 1864

• Lincoln appears to be loosing the presidency and the faith of the people, but he barely manages to be re-elected.

Lesson 111

-Thirteenth Amendment

• The Thirteenth Amendment sets the abolition of slavery in motion.
• Lincoln is unable to see the abolition of slavery through because of his death. 

Lesson 108, 109, 110

-The Economy During the Civil War

• Northern factories fourish and the economy grows prosperous.
• Southern economy begins to falter and the South has to recycle old materials.
• Women on both sides step up to work in factories, farms, and become nurses while the men are at war.

-Lincoln and Civil Liberties

• President takes somewhat drastic steps to keep the Union together, ignoring the Constitution in some areas.

-Emancipation Proclaimation

• President Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclaimation, freeing all slaves that have served in the Union army and allowing former slaves of the South to join the North and it's armies.

Lesson 107

-The Battles

• Battles erupt betweent Union and Confederate troops in multiple areas.

Lesson 105-106

-Mobilization

• Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclaimation which only freed slaves in rebellious states.
• Freed slaves from the south begin to join the Union army.

-Military Strategy

• The Union develops the "Anaconda Plan" which will cut off the South's ability to trade with other nations.

Lesson 103-104

-The Election of 1860

• Abraham Lincoln is elected president and is hated by many in the South.

-Southern Secession

• After Lincoln is elected, southerners start immediately planning their secession from the Union.  A southern delegation elects Jefferson Davis as the president of the Confederate States of America.
• Civil war breaks out when Union soldiers refuse to abandon the southern Fort Sumter.  The Confederacy attacks the fort, and the Union surrenders it after several hours of cannon fire.

Lessons 102

-John Brown's Raid:

• The Kansas-Nebraska act is passed by Congress causing further unrest between southern slave states and northern free states.
• Pro-slavery radicals pillage the town of Lawrence.

Lesson 100-101

-Dred Scott Decision:

-  A slave, Dred Scott, attempts to sue his owner's widow for his freedom and moves to Illinoise when his request is rejected by the court.
-  Northerners defy the court's decisions and southern slave states are angered.

-Lincoln-Douglas Debate of 1858:

-  Abraham Lincoln begins to run for presidency against Stephen Douglas.
-  Hottest issue up for debate is slavery.
-  Southern radicals seriously discuss secession if a republican takes the presidency.

Lesson 98-99

The Ostend Manifesto

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Lessons 96+97

-The Compromise of 1850
-Uncle Tom's Cabin

Lesson 95: Slave Resistance

     Slave resistence was not very common in America, but sometimes a revolt would start.  Perhaps the most famous rebellion was led by Nat Turner, an educated slave who could read and write.  He believed that God had chosen him to free the blacks and led a band of renegade slaves on a bloody rampage, killing at least sixty Americans before he was caught and executed.
     Although Turner's intention to aid and free his people, he only made life worse for them.  Both Slave and free black populations were heavily monitored by the whites.  Slaves were no longer allowed to be educated by there masters, in fear that they would rise up against them as Turner had done.
       

Lesson 94: California Gold

     In 1848, gold was discovered in California.  A man discovered it on his own property and attempted to hide it, but failed.  People from all over the world hurried to the land in search of wealth for themselves.
     Although the land held promise of wealth, many people returned to their homes empty handed.  California was left with a large, uncontrolled population, so the U.S. government admitted it as a free state into the Union.

Lesson 93: The Mexican American War

     After the Annexation of Texas, Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the United States.  Soon fighting began between the Texans and Mexicans.  President James K. Polk declared that the Mexicans had invaded "American territory" and that it was "ample cause for war."
     Not everyone believed that the war was a good cause.  Nevertheless, war did happen.  The army of the U.S. was led by General Zachary Taylor, who won many victories in the war.  Later, Taylor was removed from battle and brought back to America as a war hero.  He was replaced by General Winfield Scott, who led the American troops to take over Mexico City by landing marines on the beaches.  The war was won by the U.S. and a peace treaty was made that included the annexation of Texas.

Lesson 92: The Annexation of Texas

     Although Oregon was a major attraction for many Americans who wanted to migrate to the west, Texas, sparsely populated and a part of Mexico at the time, was much closer.
     When Mexico became independence from Spain, the Mexican government invited Americans to settle in Texas, and become citizens.  Americans obliged and many showed up to settle the "new" land.  The Americans outnumbered the Mexicans in Texas and sought to become a state of America.
     In 1833, Americans supported a man named Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna to become president.  Unfortunatley, Santa Anna became a dictator over Mexico and destroyed all states' rights.  The Texans revolted in 1836 since their rights were revoked, which lead to the famous battle at the Alamo.
     After the Texans successfully defeated the Mexican army in Texas, Congress argued over the annexation of Texas into the United States.  Finally a decision was made, and in 1845, Texas was admitted into the Union.
   

Lesson 91: The Oregon Country

     During the Age of Reform, United States citzens began to expand westward.  They believed it was their right to bring "liberty and democracy" to the West.  The Oregon Country, located deep within the west, was considered a prosperous land for new beginnings and wealth.  Many people traveled to this place with massive wagon caravans led by wagon masters along what was commonly referred to as the Oregon Trail.
     The journey to Oregon could take up to six months time and many people died along the way.  Although, not by marauding natives as some films and books tell.  The "Indians" that lived in the West more often were seen helping guide these great journeys.
     Oregon was shared by the U.S. and Britain at the time, but what was considered "Manifest Destiny" by many, could not be held back.  The Americans believed it was entirely their right to expand into this new land, even though it was equally the right of the British.  Although England was not happy with the new settlers in "their" territory, they could do nothing about it.