US History: Nineteenth-Century America
• Students may not work together. Exams are open-book and open-note but should be the work of the student submitting the writing. Do not do outside research. Everything you need is in your text books, readings, films, and class lecture.
• Your response should be typed and double-spaced.
• Be sure to cite your sources using Chicago manual of style: http://www(dot)chicagomanualofstyle(dot)org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-1.html
(Hint: Insert; Footnote; type in your note)
Some additional guidelines:
• I do not have strict page minimums or maximums, but a double-spaced exam of 4-6 pages is likely to include the level of detail and analysis necessary to earn an A or B.
• You will be graded on how well you formulate your ideas; the quantity and quality of the examples you include as evidence; how well you incorporate ideas from course readings, films, and discussions; and your analysis of the historical issues.
1. What triumphs did the late nineteenth century witness in the realms of industrial growth, urbanization, and technological innovation? What challenges did these developments pose for urban dwellers, workers, and recent immigrants? How did city officials and everyday citizens respond to these challenges?
(Be sure to include at least three readings, films, and/or primary source documents in your response. Primary sources may come from America Firsthand or your OpenStax text.)
ART B (50 points):
Write a primary source analysis of ONE of the following primary sources:
1) A sampling of letters from the American War in the Philippines. (America Firsthand, Documents in Set 22. Don’t try to use them all. Pick one or two that are meaningful to you.)
Be sure to:
• Identify the type of source
• Summarize the content. (Give 2-3 specific details from the source in your summary.)
• Contextualize: Tell what else was going on that helps to frame the source.
• Describe the purpose and Audience: why and for whom the source was written
• Tell about the author and perspective: Consider the background of the author as well as their assumptions.
• Discuss reliability: Tell what the source can reliably tell the historian about the period in history from which the source comes.
• Explain significance: Tell what is the significance of this source for understanding this moment in US history.
SectionA 3-4 page SectionB 1-2 page
Here is textbook link: https://dropmefiles(dot)com/fg58w
Chapter 18 for section A resources.
Student’s Name
Unit
Professor
Date
Part A: Nineteenth-Century America
The United States witnessed industrial growth, urbanization, and technological innovation during the nineteenth century. These developments shaped the country’s economic developments. By around 1830s, the US had established a booming industrial sector in that saw farmers embrace local and international markets. Artisans observed a systematic labor division in the industries. The industrial revolutions, alongside the advanced transportation shaped America's landscape. As a result, the country could manufacture large volumes of products for domestic and global markets.The rapid change in American economic life and modes of production also led to the emergence of class divisions that promoted previously unknown socio-economic inequalities. Major cities like New York experienced an influx of immigrant workers, which diversified an already crowded population. By the 1930s, the city became home to widespread crime, poverty, and disease due to slum settlement in the area. Industrial growth and market revolution came at a human cost.[Corbett, Scott, Volker Janssen, John Lund, Todd Pfannestiel, and Paul Vickery. US History. Houston, Texas: OpenStax, 2014.] [Ibid] [Ibid] [Ibid]
Industrial Growth Success
One success witnessed in the realm of industrial growth is the innovation of textile mills. According to Corbett, Industrial manufacturing started in New England and spread to other parts of America. The wealthy merchants initially created the textile mills powered by water. With the knowledge of Samuel Slater, the first thriving cotton mill was established in the US. This success motivated others to manufacture more mills in Massachusetts and Rhodes Island. By 1807, an additional thirty mills had been created.[Ibid] [Corbett, Scott, Volker Janssen, John Lund, Todd Pfannestiel, and Paul Vickery. US History. Houston, Texas: OpenStax, 2014.]
These mills initiated new production modes. Earlier, production depended on mechanized sources. Specialized cyclic work given to wage workers replaced the previous handiwork production modes. These mills’ operations broke down the production process to essential elements, thus changing how work was done.[Ibid] [Ibid]
By 1812, towns in Rural New England had seventy-eight new textile mills. These new textile mills increased the production of fabrics in the United States. Apart from these productions, which form the backbone of America’s industrial revolution, other crafts such as shoemaking became mechanized in factories during the first five decades of the 19th century.[Ibid] [Ibid]
Railroads and robber barons were also part of the triumphs witnessed in nineteenth-century America. At the beginning of the century, the first transcontinental railroad and ensuing spur lines allowed for rapid and explosive railway growth. It also stimulated the growth of coal, iron, wood, and other materials. The railroad industry quickly became the first big business in the nation. According to Corbett, railroads increased the development of nearly every industry in the US. By 1890, they covered almost every part of the country, transporting raw materials to the factories and finished products to customers.[Ibid] [Ibid] [Ibid]
Urbanization
Success in the realm of urbanization was the development of commercial electricity to complement the steam engines that enabled more industries to focus on cities. This development encouraged new immigrants to seek employment in new urban factories. Besides, new technologies of the time caused a massive swell in industrialization, requiring an increased workforce. Powerful machinery and new electric lights allowed factories to operate all the time. Employees were forced to live close to the factories due to night shifts. As the country developed, towns continued to grow into large urban centers. Innovations such as electric lighting, intracity transportation, communication improvements, and skyscrapers' rise proved critical in shaping America's urbanization. Therefore, urbanization, immigration, and industrialization coincided with changing America's face from rural to urban.[Corbett, Scott, Volker Janssen, John Lund, Todd Pfannestiel, and Paul Vickery. US History. Houston, Texas: OpenStax, 2014.] [Ibid]
Technology Innovations
Over the century, new technology like the typewriter invented in 1867, the adding machine invented in 1885, and the cash register invented in 1885 were successful technology discoveries. In addition to these innovations, advancements in communications matched the pace of growth in technology. A rapid change in communication technologies came with new ways of transfer of information. For instance, in 1888, British and American crews laid the first transatlantic cable lines, allowing the passage of information between the US and Europe within a short time. Although these initial cables did not last long, they influenced a more efficient telecommunications industry.[Corbett, Scott, Volker Janssen, John Lund, Todd Pfannestiel, and Paul Vickery. US History. Houston, Texas: OpenStax, 2014.]
Within two decades, comm...