America in the 1850's saw decisions being made during this decade would lead to conflict to come. From a Compromise in 1850 to a Dred Scott decision that would cause a nation to increasingly become two distinct parts, it was all prompted by new territories in the westward expansion movement wanting to become states and trying to decide which part of the divide they should be or allowed to be on. T
here would be raids in Harpers Ferry with participants that would soon become part of the other side. By1865, the United States had just concluded a devastating civil war. But by the dawn of the 20th Century America will have become a World Power. But first the groundwork had to be laid. Industrialization exploded, ushering in a period of confidence and optimism that would define the American character. These are the stories of the men and women that made it possible. The era in the 1880s had begun the decade before, but took full flight now. From Thomas Edison to Alexander Graham Bell, the nation was beginning to see light and sound transmitted across the nation. Bridges were built. Railroads lines were extended. The era of cowboys, outlaws, and Indians began to move in a different direction, toward civility and unfortunately, reservation. By 1910 it was the beginning of a decade of great tumult and change in the United States. The decade began at a time of peace and prosperity. America found itself the richest nation in the world, thanks largely to the growth of huge companies that sold goods all over the world. Many Americans enjoyed improved living standards, as more people owned cars and used electricity in their homes with every passing year. But great disruptions soon came in politics, international affairs, and the economy, that led efforts to reform the federal banking system, regulate large businesses, provide aid to farmers, and enact a progressive income tax (which meant higher tax rates for those who earned more). The First World war highlighted some of the economic and racial issues facing the country. American businesses were growing increasingly dependent on foreign trade (selling goods to foreign countries). War had threatened foreign trade, and some said that war was fought to keep foreign markets open to American business. American workers, especially those in labor unions, continued to fight for improved wages and working conditions, though strikes ended once America entered World War I. With many workers leaving to join the armed forces, black workers gained access to many jobs they had been barred from before. The existence of jobs in wartime industries in the North called forth a "great migration" of blacks from the South. Once the war ended, labor unrest grew. In 1919, hundreds of thousands of American workers walked off their jobs in steel, coal mining, and other industries. Police went on strike in Boston, Massachusetts, and there was a general strike of all workers in Seattle, Washington. Black workers were outraged at being thrown out of jobs they had recently gained. This wave of strikes and protests scared businessmen and politicians. Police cracked down on strikers, causing riots in several cities. In what was known as the Red Scare of 1919, thousands of people were arrested and hundreds deported in a crackdown on people thought to be Communists, Socialists, or other radicals. The decade closed in a flurry of riots, arrests, and hysteria. This page is here I share a bit about the people, places, events, and innovations associated with of this fascinating and colorful period in American history.
