1. POPULATION GROWTH INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT URBAN GROWTH POLITICAL, ECONOMIC & SOCIAL CHANGES NATIONAL SELF-CONFIDENCE AMERICA’S INDUSTRIAL AGE: AN INTRO 1865-1909

3. POPULATION SHIFTS US was primarily rural at the onset of the Civil War By 1900, US was an industrial country Americans continued to move westward to set up new lives, farms and trade By 1900, more Americans were moving to cities than the countryside Economic and technical change encouraged rapid industrialization

5. INDUSTRIALIZATION & URBANIZATION Transcontinental railroads linked eastern and western regions of the United States New towns grew along railroad lines New industries (oil and steel) grew to dominate American industry Americans moved to the cities lured by hopes of steady employment Push and Pull factors in Europe influenced large numbers of immigrants to seek new opportunities in the U.S. Contemporary Example (one of many): Immigrant’s Changing Iowa’s CitiesImmigrant’s Changing Iowa’s Cities By 1900, American industry lagged only behind Great Britain in production

7. THE AMERICAN SPIRIT American individualism was rooted in 17 th century values: The Western frontier was paved by Americans who were rugged, unafraid people, inspired by hope and willing to sacrifice comforts for new lives Economic and political change created government assistance where it was once seen as a last bastion of individualism Federal troops were dispatched to protect American interests against Native Americans Government agencies were created to regulate business practices Reformers grew increasingly more demanding for government regulation of private industries As cities grew, so did the need for government assistance in housing, transportation, schools, hospitals, fire and police protection

9. SOCIAL & POLITICAL CHANGE The gap between rich and poor widened Labor first galvanized during this time period Unions formed to demand better conditions and fairer wages Small farmers were squeezed by debt, foreign competition and demanded land-price regulations Anti-immigrant groups became more prominent Corporate and individual corruption became the normalcy Populist party was formed as a movement against the power of Wall Street, big banks and big business

10. RACIAL INJUSTICE Indians were forcibly moved from lands U.S. won the Indian Wars and the Native population struggled to hold on to their shattered cultures The South remained relatively untouched by the Industrial Revolution Majority of industry still resided up North and out West Slaves were freed, but southern governments implemented Black Codes to limit the movement and rights of Africa- Americans Later known as Jim Crow Laws Segregation of public facilities remained common-place until the 1960s and 1970s

11. NATIONAL SELF-CONFIDENCE OF A MODERN INDUSTRIAL STATE Wealth and power created a new sense of self- confidence in the American way of life Desire for overseas expansion increased during this age US liberated Cuba from Spanish rule, seized control of the Philippines, increased its economic hold on Latin America Debate about American purpose, responsibilities and strength was debated then, just as it is now