America’s Post-Civil War Growing Pains Essay Example

America’s Post America’s Post-Civil War Growing Pains Essay America’s Post-Civil War Growing Pains Essay America’s Post-Civil War Growing Pains Name: Course: Date: America’s Post-Civil War Growing Pains The American Civil War or the War between the States was fought from 1860 to 1866 between the Northern group of U.S. and numerous slave states in the Southern region that demanded secession from the greater North America with the intent of forming the Confederacy or the Confederate States of America. The original cause of the civil war included the controversial issue of slavery. After four years of deadly battles, the Southerners were overpowered, slavery was done away with and the cumbersome processes of Reconstruction, reinstating unity and certifying the rights to slaves began. Impact of the two major historical turning points on America’s current standing The period between 1865 to1900 that was also known as the Reconstruction era, various economic and social events took place that greatly shaped North America. The American Farm Unrest is one such event that was highly supported by disgruntled farmers who were displeased with the worsening political and economic conditions. To counter these effects, farmers grouped themselves into political parties, interest groups and cooperatives to increase their influence. Examples of these groups include the Patrons of Husbandry that tackled transport and business issues and The Farmers’ Alliance that stressed on marketing and state intervention. The industrial change commonly known as ‘The Incorporation of America’ was another major occurrence that was featured during this period. These changes included building of steel factories, railroad expansion and other related developments such as large-scale corporations. Impact of turning points in America The changes in the industrial sector that were boosted mainly by the surplus capital, numerous resources and infrastructure had various effects on the socio-political environment. The expansion of the railroad system resulted in increased consumption of steel and coal within the areas where the system was being expanded. The railroad contributed towards the inception of the modern stockholder corporations. The Reconstruction also triggered increased focus by entrepreneurs such as Cornelius Vanderbilt into commercial activities and created the phenomenon of ‘robber batons’ that were essentially wealthy individuals engaging in ship and rail transport. The Reconstruction period ushered in an era of increased participation in politics especially among the black Americans residing in the South. President Lincoln and the Reconstruction period Abraham Lincoln was regarded by many as America’s best president. However, during the Reconstruction period, a large section of the population in the South viewed him as their ultimate adversary and tyrant. The main source of this hatred was the idea that President Lincoln was more focused on rebuilding the Union rather than reconstructing the South. Most of his proposals and policies were geared toward coercing the South into treaties with the Union for instance the 1863 Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction for states provided they swore allegiance to the Union and the stand against slavery (Feldman, 2004). If President Lincoln had not been assassinated, the Reconstruction process would have been more wholesome and faster. His generous and fair approach toward the South meant that the President was prepared to work with all the citizens of the United States of America to ensure they maximized their Reconstruction efforts. Effect of industrialization and urbanization during the Reconstruction period The Reconstruction period was characterized by accumulation of personal wealth, poverty and development. The United States of America became progressively urban, and cities sprung up with higher population and size. Skyscrapers and expansive transportation systems became the hallmark of every city. There was an increased volume of immigration with people from various countries moving into the ‘Golden Land of America’ from as far as Mexico, China, Middle East and Russia. On the political scene, focus shifted away from the mafia bosses such as George Cox and William Marcy Tweed and more toward institutionalized welfare system that improved the level of education, security and housing. Urbanization provided a ready market and an opportunity for research and development for technological products. Innovators such as Samuel Morse and Thomas Edison found a chance to develop products that improved communication in the world. People living in urban areas also developed a cultur e of increased consuming that saw the rise of supermarkets, convenience and department stores such as Macys, Woolworths and Sears Roebuck (Kaplan Valls, 2007). Discriminatory laws against non-white citizens and immigrants The various policy amendments during the Reconstruction period were known as Jim Crow laws. The laws were discriminatory against the black population within America. They prohibited black Americans from certain schools, public transportation, restaurants and public spaces. This discrimination was openly expressed by White Democrats who misappropriated their influence to isolate public spaces and amenities through the law and reinstate social control over African-Americans in the South (White, 2012). The Jim Crow laws succeeded in imposing a strict racial segregation, relegating black people to substandard schools and other public amenities, forcing taxes and literacy tests with the intention of eliminating black people from either vying or voting, and achieving judicial support for discrimination. The Black Codes were another set of laws that also limited the civil rights and liberties of African-Americans. In areas such as Texas, these laws were embraced strictly and resulted in bl ack people being reinstated the ‘slave’ label. The judicial system therefore played a major role in consenting to the amendment of most laws to include discriminatory articles that subjected the black community to economic and social hardships. References Feldman G. (2004). The Disfranchisement Myth: Poor Whites and Suffrage Restriction in Alabama, Athens: University of Georgia Press Kaplan J. Valls A. (2007). Housing Discrimination as a Basis for Black Reparations. Public Affairs Quarterly. Retrieved from http://people.oregonstate.edu/~kaplanj/Reparations.pdf White R. (2012). The Rise of Industrial America, 1877-1900. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Retrieved from gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/essays/rise-industrial-america-1877-1900

50 Writing Prompts for Elementary School Children

50 Writing Prompts for Elementary School Children Writing is a skill that every person needs in life, and developing that skill in children is an important part of elementary school studies. However, writing inspiration is not something that every student comes by easily. Like adults, many children tend to get stuck when it comes to thinking of writing ideas on their own. Weve all had writers block at one point or another in our lives, so its easy to understand the frustration students may experience. Just as athletes need to warm up their muscles, writers need to warm up their minds and creativity. Giving students writing prompts, or ideas and inspiration for writing topics, will ease their anxiety and allow them to write more freely. Elementary School Writing Prompts Allowing your students to choose a writing idea each day or each week from the 50 that are listed can provide inspiration for their creative writing.  To make this activity more challenging, encourage them to write without stopping for at least five minutes, increasing the number of minutes that they devote to writing over time. Remind your students that there is no wrong way to respond to the prompts and that they should simply have fun and let their creative minds wander. With prompts that pertain to writing about people, you might encourage students to write about multiple people, considering people in their lives and people they dont know personally. This encourages children to think more critically and consider unknown factors in the creation of their stories. You might also encourage students to think in terms of either the realistic or the fantastic. When the confines of realism are eliminated, students are free to think more creatively, which can encourage them to become more engaged in the project at hand. The person I admire the most is...  My biggest goal in life is...The best book I ever read was...The happiest moment in my life was when...When I grow up, I want to...The most interesting place I have ever been to was...Name three things you dont like about school and why.The strangest dream I ever had was...When I turn 16, I will...Who is the funniest member of your family and why?I get scared when...Five things I would do if I had more money are...What is your favorite sport and why?What would you do if you could change the world?Dear teacher, I would like to know...Dear President Washington, what was it like to be the first president?My happiest day was...My saddest day was...If I had three wishes, I would wish for...Describe your best friend, how you met, and why you are friends.Describe your favorite animal and why.Three things I like to do with my pet elephant are...The time a bat was in my house...When I become an adult, the first thing I want to do is...My best vacation was when I went to... The top three reasons that people argue are...Describe five reasons that going to school is important.What is your favorite television show and why?The time I found a dinosaur in my backyard...Describe the best present you ever received.Describe your most unusual talent.My most embarrassing moment was when...Describe your favorite food and why.Describe your least favorite food and why.The top three qualities of a best friend are...Write about what you would cook for an enemy.Use these words in a story: scared, angry, Sunday, bugs.Whats your idea of a perfect vacation?Write about why someone might be afraid of snakes.List five rules that you have broken and why you broke them.What is your favorite video game and why?I wish someone had told me that...Describe the hottest day you can remember.Write about the best decision youve ever made.I opened the door, saw a clown, and then...The last time the power went out, I...Write about five things you can do if the power goes out.If I were pre sident, I would... Create a poem using the words: love, happy, smart, sunny. The time my teacher forgot to wear shoes... If youre looking for more writing ideas, experiment with journal prompts  or ideas for writing about important people in history like Martin Luther King Jr.