Essays on : Discuss the reasons for the rapid settlement of the west from 1865-1895 and the impact of that settlement on the U.S. economy and on the people of the west, especially native Americans.

It is known that there are several reasons for the rapid settlement of the west from 1865-1895. They include the following ones:

• Immigrants searched for a better life, as they lived in poverty in their homelands. They had a great desire to start a new life in the new country.

• Serious religious threats made a great number of people to leave their native countries and to find shelter in the west of the country.

• Many people searched for freedom and they hoped to get equal rights.

• Most new settlers were ready to be engaged in farming, to find jobs in industry and other spheres of human activity.

According to the historical data, more than 9 million immigrants settled in the United States between the years of 1865-1895. Of course, such rapid settlement of the west influenced the development of the US economy to a great extent. A lot of people were offered jobs at factories, mines, farms. Many people were invited to build railroads. There was a great expansion in farming. Thousands of farmers came from Germany, Britain and Scandinavia in order to develop farming in the United States. By the end of the 19-th century, the USA had got a leading industrial power in the world. New technologies, railroad network and extraction of commercial minerals made it possible to take the leading position in the global market.

Of course, such rapid settlement of the west had a negative impact on the people of the west especially Native Americans who had serious conflicts with the settlers, miners and ranchers. It is known that the government wanted the Indians to stay on assigned reservations. Native American had a chance to stay on reservations where they had all they needed including food, medical care, or to start a new life in society. Moreover, special training programs were implemented by the reformers to help Native Americans to assimilate. The Dawest Act of 1887 made it possible to integrate Indians into new American society.

Question 2: Discuss the problems associated with the industrial revolution and how the people reacted. Include in your discussion the populists and the progressives.

It is known that the industrial revolution made serious technological, social, economic and cultural changes in the United States due to the replacement of manual labor to machine manufacture. However, the industrial revolution led to a number of problems associated with the working class. The major social problems included employment of children which was rather abusive at that period, bad housing situation (workers lived in small and wrenched apartments, the rooms were overcrowded). One more problem which was connected with the industrial revolution included unemployment of those workers who earned money by their manual labor (weavers and other craft workers). As the textile industry was industrialized, many manual labor workers lost their jobs. Besides the above mentioned problems, there were strikes and riots of those workers who were not satisfied with their unsafe working conditions and long working hours, and low wages. This was a so-called reaction of working class to the consequences of the industrial revolution. It is known that Progressive movement had the major goal – to improve working conditions such as wages, safety and job security, working hours and so on. The Progressives fought for better management of business, for fairness and freedom in life of all working class. This movement was supported by Democrats and Republicans as well as by American Middle Class. The Populist movement was connected with American farmers who wanted to advance their economic position. The Populist Party fought for serious reforms and social programs in agriculture many of which became reality.

Question 3: Discuss the reason for America’s rise as a world power from 1865-1895 and the events that led to the Spanish war of 1898. Then discuss the course of the war and its impact on United States foreign policy.

It is known that the major reasons for America’s rise as a world power from 1865-1895 included the following ones:

• the rise of industrialization;

• rapid westward expansion;

• new political and social reforms of Progressive Era which included new roles for women and modernization in many areas of the US government and society;

• the wave of European immigration that provided the growth of work force in all spheres of economic life.

• the development of new technologies including telegraph and steel;

• the development of agriculture.

• construction of railroads;

• the abundant natural resources which were found on the territory of the country such as oil, coal, timber and others.

The events that led to the Spanish war of 1989 are connected with a serious conflict between Spain and the United States. It is known that Cubans wanted to declare their independence from Spain. The Americans supported their actions. The US Press told about American intervention in Cuba. The reporters wrote about violent crimes against the Cubans committed by the Spanish overlords. The major cause which led to the Spanish-American war was the explosion of the USS Maine, the second battle ship of the USA which was located in Havana. It was reported that more than 260 American sailors were killed. On April 11, 1989, the President McKinley declared war on Spain. The Americans defeated the Spaniards. It is known that the war lasted only 10 weeks, but in the course of the war the American Army could won Guam, Puerto Rico, the Philippine Islands. On December 10, 1989, the Treaty of Paris between the USA and Spain was signed in France. It was declared that the Spanish troops should leave Cuba. The island was left under the temporary US occupation. The Spanish-American war influenced the US foreign policy as it provided the emergence of the USA as a world power. The US foreign policy was marked by the rapid growth of its foreign trade.