America in the 1960s
The Pride & Shame
Interest Commerce Act of 1887
The Interest Commercial Act of 1887 is a United States federal law that was designed to regulate railroad industry. The Act required that railroad rates be "reasonable and just". This made me proud because all the railroad rates were fair.
The Economical Growth during the Industrialization
During Industrialization the economy of the United States increased. With the help of new inventions like the first steam engine, spinning jenny, and many others, the United States grew is economical resources. This made me proud because the U.S. now had more money, which meant that it could now become powerful.
Transcontinental Railroad
The Transcontinental Railroad was a 1,907-mile contiguous railroad line that connected the Pacific coast to San Francisco Bay. This makes me proud because now transportation of goods and even people was easier and faster.
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act was a United States federal law that prohibited all immigration of Chinese laborers. I am ashamed of this because thanks to the Chinese laborers we have our railroads and it doesn't seem fair to not let them come to the US.
The New Immigrants
These Immigrants came to America from areas that had not traditionally supplied settlers to the US. The lands of southern Europe and eastern Europe such as Italy, Russia, Poland and Greece, as well as Asian locales such as China and Japan. I am ashamed because none of those immigrants knew how to read, write and were unskilled, but at the same time I am proud because they helped the US grow.
Americanization
Americanization is the process of changing a new immigrant so that he shares American values, beliefs and costumes and is assimilated into American society. This made me proud but also ashamed because yes, all the people will be like the rest of the Americans but that means that we are not respecting their traditions and beliefs.
Political Machines
Political Machines were political organizations in which an authoritative boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses, who receive rewards for their efforts. This made me ashamed because the people could not elect their representatives they would elect themselves.
Infrastructure
The construction of new buildings like skyscrapers, houses, and even elevators, helped the US economy a lot during the Urbanization. This made me proud because not only the United States was becoming a world power, but also its economy was growing up.
Trolleys
Trolleys were passenger vehicles powered by electricity obtained from an overhead cable by means of a trolley wheel. This made it easier for people going to work and also transporting goods during the Urbanization and it also reduced traffic, that is why this made me proud.
Direct Election of Senators
When the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed, it stated that senators would be elected by state legislatures, rather than by the American people. This made me proud because it allowed the people of each state to choose who would represent their state in the U.S. Senate
Graduated Income Tax
The 16th Amendment allows the United States government to collect an income tax from all Americans. This allows for the federal government to keep and army, build roads and bridges. This makes me proud because each person gets taxed in a fair way and it also helps the country grow.
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a U.S. foreign policy regarding domination of the American continent in 1823. It stated that further efforts by European nations to colonize land or interfere with states in North or South America would be viewed as acts of aggression, requiring U.S. intervention. This made proud because it shows that the U.S. is a world power that can protect an entire continent from European nations.
Imperialism helps the Economy
Imperialism helped the economy of the U.S. when the United States extended its power through diplomacy or military force, it helped its economy. For example the Annexation of Hawaii helped growing more crops, the Panama Canal made it easier for ships to transport goods, which made me proud.
Annexation of The Republic of Hawaii
The United States army overthrows the kingdom of Hawaii and gets the island. This made me proud because we could now use the island to grow crops and also as a coaling station for boats, but also ashamed because we took the land from the native people that lived there.
Farewell Address
George Washington's Farewell Address is a letter written by George Washington to "The People of the United States of America". In this letter he said believed that the United States should remain neutral. This made me ashamed because the us had the power to put order during the war.
Total Costs of the War
The U.S. spend a lot of money during WWI. Rockoff estimates the total cost of WWI to the United States at approximately $32 billion. Not only affected the economy, but also unemployment which declined from 7.9% to 1.4%. This made me ashamed and proud because one, we used a lot of money, but also the U.S. did not spend that much money like other countries.
Isolationism
This policy said that the United States should remain neutral, which meant that the U.S. could not form any alliances with other countries. This made ashamed because it made the United States look like it was not a world power.