Modern U.S. History from 1865 to Current Times (Term Paper Sample)

MODERN US HISTORY FROM 1865 TO CURRENT TIMES
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MODERN US HISTORY FROM 1865 TO CURRENT TIMES
Introduction
Modern U.S. history from 1865 to current times refers to the history of the United States from the end of the American Civil War, in 1865, through the present. The year 2015 represents the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln, which freed more than 3 million enslaved people in Confederate territory, and pushed Congress to pass the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery nationwide, after passing both houses of Congress in January 1865 and being ratified on December 6, 1865. Over the years, Americans have experienced significant events such as the reconstruction, the gilded age, the progressive era, World War I and World War II, the Great Depression, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and many other significant moments that changed America for better or worse. Each event has helped shape the world and, more importantly, the Americans. This paper examines modern U.S. history from 1865 to the present. Specifically, it will highlight some of this period's most important historical developments and their impact on American society. It will also consider why these developments were so influential in shaping contemporary society.[Weiner, Greg. "Lincoln and the Moral Dimension of Compromise." ]
Discussion
Civil War and Reconstruction
The Civil War was fought from 1861-1865 and was the deadliest war in American history. Reconstruction followed the war and aimed to rebuild the country and ensure civil rights for African Americans. However, Reconstruction was ultimately unsuccessful, and African Americans continued to face discrimination and violence. In the late 19th century, the United States underwent an industrial revolution, which led to increased economic growth. However, this growth was not evenly distributed, and many Americans remained poor. An increasing number of Asian immigrants were coming to work on farms that had been left abandoned by African Americans who migrated to northern cities during the Great Migration. One result of this migration was that Mexican Americans became one of the largest minority groups in America by the midcentury.[Primary Documents in American History Civil War and Reconstruction, 1860-1877] [Masur, Kate. "State Sovereignty and Migration before Reconstruction." .]
The Reconstruction era was when the United States tried to rebuild itself after the devastation of the Civil War. While there were many successes, there were also many failures. One of the biggest failures was the aftermath of Reconstruction. The federal government withdrew its troops from the South in 1877, and Reconstruction ended. This left African Americans at the mercy of white supremacists, who used violence and intimidation to keep them from voting and participating in society. The people of this era did not have access to fundamental rights such as education or healthcare, which led to poverty and inequality. They could not participate in the economy because they had no way of obtaining land or credit. Segregation persisted, with blacks attending separate schools and using different facilities than whites; they could not vote, serve on juries, or live where they wanted. Some black children attended school for only a few years because their families needed them for labor at home or on the farm. But despite these obstacles, some talented individuals rose during this period. Booker T. Washington founded Tuskegee Institute to train African American teachers and teach trades like carpentry and printing.[Smith, Tom. "History,“Unwritten Literature,” and US Colonialism in Hawai ‘i, 1898–1915." ] [Christian, Mark. Booker T. Washington: A Life in American History. ABC-CLIO, 2021.]
James Weldon Johnson wrote books and articles about black culture and literature. Opportunities for higher education increased with the development of affirmative action programs. More minorities entered professional fields, notably law enforcement and politics. Nevertheless, progress has been slow due to conservative backlash and economic recession.[Nuriddin, Ayah, Graham Mooney, and Alexandre IR White. "Reckoning with histories of medical racism and violence in the USA." ]
The Progressive Era
The progressive movement sought to bring democracy to government, business, industry, society, and