America’s Post-Civil War Growing Pains

America’s Post-Civil War Growing Pains

Abstract

1865-1900 were many years where our country had huge downfalls as well as many sky high growths. Upon completion of this paper, many points will be expressed as to why things were good and also bad at times. This paper will cover major historical turning points in the years 1865-1900 as well as the impact of those major historical turning points on America’s current society, economy, politics, and culture. I will describe ways the Reconstruction period may have resulted if President Lincoln had not been assassinated. I will then discuss how urbanization and industrialization had an effect on the life of the average working American during the years 1865-1900. Lastly, I will discuss how federal courts, state courts, and legislatures passed laws that served to discriminate against non-white citizens and immigrants.

America’s Post-Civil War Growing Pains

The period of Reconstruction, Industrialization, and Urbanization held a vast amount of major turning points in US history. Abraham Lincoln’s death in 1865 altered the course of the country’s rebuilding process. Due to the assassination of President Lincoln, Andrew Jackson was left to be president. Andrew Jackson was a southerner with no college education. He was also a former slave owner. It is believed that President Lincoln would have been able to control the Radical Republicans. Because Andrew Jackson was a southerner the Radical Republicans hated him before he took office. Politics where affected by the Assassination of Lincoln because the Radical Republicans led congress. Due to the hold that the Radical Republicans had on congress they were able to pass several new laws. The Radical Republicans almost immediately passed the 13th Amendment and the 14th Amendment. The Election of 1868 is another huge turning point. This was the first time African Americans had an outright legal ability to vote for presidential...