America the Good and the Bad
By Ty Pirkle, 5th Period
Industrialization
Political
California Gold Rush: brought many people to California resulting in rapid expansion and the city growth. I'm proud of this moment for the people it brought to America.
Economical
Barbed Wire: made cattle driving far more difficult because farmers didn't want cattle trampling their crops and land. A proud invention for America's future.
Social/Cultural
Telegraph: allowed for much quicker long range communication, a technological breakthrough for man.
Immigration
Political
Irish Potato Famine: After a disease called Potato Blight struck Ireland causing a famine, many fled to America to try to start anew, a very tragic event.
"We have come to the end of our rope. The twin specters, famine and pestilence, hold sway over the land" -Gerald Keegan
Economical
Jobs/Economic Pull Factors: with promise of plentiful amounts of high paying jobs in America, many left their home country farming jobs for new opportunities in America.
A History of the European Immigration to the United States
Social/Cultural
Religious Freedom: America became a safe haven against tyrannical rulers and oppressors of people with different beliefs. I am proud of this breakthrough for human kind.
Urbanization
Political
Political Machines: cycles in which corrupted businesses and workers were payed off for their vote in elections in return for jobs and safety, an unfair part of American Urbanization.
Economical
Public Transport: allowed for much cheaper mass transport to keep up with growth of cities, useful and needed by many still today.
Social/Cultural
Infrastructure: with the growth of cities, there was higher demands for housing, plumbing, electricity and running water.
Progressivism
Political
Muckrakers: they heavily helped to make reforms in insanitary and unjust industries such as the pure food and drug act.
Economical
Trust Busting: by breaking trusts formed by large corporations, smaller businesses were give an equal opportunity. I am proud of this moment because it allowed for more businesses to prosper.
Social/Cultural
Jim Crow Laws: these slowed the progress towards true equality, a dark and evil part of American History. I am not proud of this moment for its awful racism.
Imperialism
Political
Yellow Journalism: this way of writing often over romanticized events in order to cause civil unrest, this enforced our path towards WW1 for better and for worse.
Economical
Open Door Policy: this was the United State's way of allowing themselves to trade with China once they realized they were late.
Social/Cultural
De Lome Letter: this letter was a great embarrassment to the United States and an direct insult to the president
World War 1
Political
Zimmerman Telegram: the Zimmerman Telegram was mean't to tempt Mexico and Japan in betraying America.
Economical
Removal of Trade Barriers: A success for mankind as we allowed for free trade among all nations. I am proud of this because it allowed for more spread of wealth and new jobs.
Social/Cultural
Creation of The League of Nations: though the League of Nations would ultimately fail, it was an excellent idea to unify nations and obtain world peace. I am not proud because the US didn't join