AMERICAN HISTORY

American History

American History

The nineteenth century saw the United States come of age politically, socially and culturally. Massive governmental initiatives, designed to deal with the increasing population count, encouraged settlements on the western plains of the country, aided by the development of the railways. The discovery of gold gave birth to the 'American dream': a new ethic that promised success and wealth to every citizen if he worked hard and obeyed the rules (Wilentz, 2008). Major reforms and advances in human rights, with the aid of temperance societies and the antislavery movement, were pushed as a way of perfecting ...