Reconstruction and American Imperialism in the US History Survey

This essay examines the significant transformations in the United States during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, focusing on Reconstruction, industrialization, and American imperialism. It discusses the major changes in race relations during Reconstruction, including the efforts to integrate African Americans into society and the challenges they faced. The essay also explores the consequences of industrialization on American politics and society, such as the rise of labor unions and government regulation of work conditions. Furthermore, it delves into the progressive movement, highlighting the role of religion and social ethics in promoting reforms and the impact of the movement on American politics. Finally, the essay analyzes the role of American imperialism in international conflicts, specifically the Hawaiian annexation and World War I, providing a comprehensive overview of this transformative period in American history. Desklib offers a wide range of study tools and resources for students.

RUNNING HEAD: American History 0
american history

American History 1
Contents
Major changes in the race relations.................................................................................................2
Consequences of industrialization on American politics and society.............................................2
The rise of the progressive movement.............................................................................................3
Role of religion and social ethics in promoting progressive reforms..........................................3
Two reform movements which assisted to define the progressive era........................................3
Impact of the progressive movement on American politics........................................................4
The role of American imperialism into the conflicts.......................................................................4
Hawaiian Annexation...................................................................................................................4
World War I.................................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................6

American History 2
Major changes in the race relations
The reconstruction was the most controversial era in the American history. It perceived country’s
first experiment in the multiracial democracy. The federal government enhanced its role in
defending right of the citizens, possibility of economic and racial justice. The reconstruction was
the effort made by slaves to obtain freedom and claim rights as citizens. The African Americans
were vigorous agents in determining reconstruction. The laws and constitutional amendments
were endowed to impose the principles like equal rights and gave North American’s the right to
vote.
The reconstruction aimed at refining lives and civil liberties of freedmen. It put North Americans
in such a situation that they were hardly an enhancement from slavery. The segregation laws
were in the hands of white supremacy groups like Ku Klux Klan. The political disfranchisement
of the state constituents barred North Americans along with the poor whites from voting. The
migration of the North Americans played pivotal role in the lives of the millions of people. The
migrants had high aspirations and skills associated with the human capital investment. It
comprised investments in health. It was extremely connected with the population change
measure. The reconstruction also resulted in racial conflict which even encouraged North
Americans voters to turnout during reconstruction. It adversed economic conditions to encourage
great migration (Gerstle, 2017).
In the context of socio-economic changes, the reconstruction lead to abolition of slave and
remaking of the South. The end of slavery was success as it familiarized millions of persons into
the U.S. economy. Such persons were no longer used as free labor but spend power in
stimulating the economy. The abolition of slavery improved working condition of the labors. The
reconstruction is considered as a massive success and resulted in repairing damages of the
country (Lasch-Quinn, 2017). It even accomplished abolition of slavery and resulted in
enormous political success.
Consequences of industrialization on American politics and society
The industrialization on society was shift in how employees expended their time. The labor
unions functioned hard and compressed the average hours of work per week for the employees.
In the ancient, leisure time was earmarked for rich and elite. Now it was available to a huge

American History 3
group of people. The workers even able to discover and enjoy interests like sports and music
(Kline, Wade & Wiarda, 2018). The mass production was prevalent and everyday items became
reasonable. It unrestricted money to enjoy activities and attractions. The individuals who were
single could enjoy social events and join various groups like YMCA.
Another consequence of industrialization on American politics was that the government initiated
to control work conditions. In the last decades American workers were farmers or craftsmen and
were paid for the value of items they produced. Add on, the use of machines were promoted
through the American industry. As a result, the workers could produce goods faster than they
could do by hand. The American federation law was passed in 1886 by the skilled labors. The
farmers and some laborers formed party in 1891. The party was called for the government action
to assist farmers and laborers. They even gained assistance from many democrats and
republicans (Omi & Winant, 2014).
The industrialization has key effects on the lives of the American people. The accessibility of
jobs in industries caused people to shift people from farm to cities. The businesses opened
various opportunities in the society. It helped people in financial gains. The economic activities
in the society enabled people to establish successful business activities (Friedman, 2017).
The rise of the progressive movement
Role of religion and social ethics in promoting progressive reforms
The role of religion and social ethics in promoting progressive reforms can be revealed in the
individuals as they had persistent beliefs linked with religion. The prevailing religions believed
that the government should regulate what they felt immoral and have corrective legislation.
There was no line between the church and state. The church was part of the state (Wilson, 2018).
The common example can be seen as the government agreed to prohibit alcohol which was
started by women in Westerville. Two leagues Women’s Christian Temperature and Anti-saloon
united their persuasive power to bring down the sale, production and intake of alcohol. Even a
convincing campaign was initiated to control on the use of alcohol (Smidt, Kellstedt & Guth,
2017).

American History 4
Two reform movements which assisted to define the progressive era
The first major reform which assisted to define the progressive era was women’s suffrage
movement. Women realized that they had more which they can give to the society than just
running the household smoothly. Women thought that they should be given the same rights as
men in the matters of societal equality like voting, higher education or obtaining jobs.
Another reform movement which helped to describe the progressive era was prohibition
movement. The necessity for the soberness and self-restraint from alcohol consumption request
was made by the advocacy groups and women during the progressive era (Turner, 2018). It is
because the intake of alcohol was the main reason behind crimes, accidents, poverty and health
problems.
Impact of the progressive movement on American politics
The progressive movement ran from late 19th century to the initial decades of the 20th century.
During the movement America addressed the political contexts. The progressive movement was
underdeveloped upon the American politics as the support for worker compensation, amended
child labor laws; minimum wage legislation and support for the worker’s maximum hours,
graduated income tax and allowed women to vote. The government actively involved in the
reforms taken place in the country. The existing constitutional system was outdated till then so it
was made dynamic and developed instrument of social change. It was aided by the development
of the administrative bureaucracy. The practices and policies were avoided which lead to the
Civil war. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union was the most influential group. It
expanded the stage to campaign for the prison reform, labor laws and suffrage. It focused mainly
on the prohibition then focusing on the feminist groups. On the other side, women's suffrage
movement and Prohibition was initiated for the equality of the voting rights. It was a move for
controlling the issue of alcohol consumption. It was impacted during the progressive movement
as the rights of women were advanced during the prohibition (Escobar, 2018).
The role of American imperialism into the conflicts
The imperialism provided both origin and perspective for the World War l. In this system
powerful nations control or exploit one or more colonies. Such colonies are ruled and managed
by the imperial nation or local collaborators.

American History 5
Hawaiian Annexation
Hawaii became a province of U.S. in 1897 and was made an American territory under the tenure
of President McKinley. The U.S. Maine detonated in 1898 and instigated U.S. to start the
Spanish-American war. The need for the mid-pacific fueled location to be perilous and the
Hawaiian Islands were the finest choice. The resolution was passed in 1898 and the Hawaiian
Islands were legitimately annexed by the U.S. The people of Hawaii were not pleased about the
notion of Annexation by U.S. In 1895 an armed revolt attempt was made to halt the annexation
(Naylor, 2017).
World War I
The American Imperialism offered a cause and context for World War l. Prior to the World War
l, Great Britain had foremost imperial power. America incorporated a policy of extension within
the provisional and overseas to chase its economic, military and strategic interests. The British
empires occupied one quarter of the world. British colonial possessed in the late 1800s
comprising Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Burma, India, South Africa along with the
other parts of the Africa. The British imperialism was concentrated on maintaining and
expanding trade, import of raw materials and sale of manufacturing goods. The imperial power
of Britain was armored by the powerful navy which is globe’s leading and a fleet of trade basins.
America and World War I headed to the World War II.

American History 6
References
Escobar, A. (2018). Culture, economics, and politics in Latin American social movements theory
and research. In The making of social movements in Latin America (pp. 62-86).
Routledge.
Friedman, B. M. (2017). The moral consequences of economic growth. In Markets, Morals, and
Religion (pp. 29-42). Routledge.
Gerstle, G. (2017). American crucible: Race and nation in the twentieth century. Princeton
University Press.
Kline, H. F., Wade, C. J., & Wiarda, H. J. (2018). Latin American politics and development.
Routledge.
Lasch-Quinn, E. (2017). Black neighbors: Race and the limits of reform in the American
settlement house movement, 1890-1945. UNC Press Books.
Naylor, E. (2017). Mauna Kea--Construction Site or Sacred Land? A Look at the Long-lasting
Effects of the Hawaiian Annexation. Waterloo Historical Review, 9.
Omi, M., & Winant, H. (2014). Racial formation in the United States. Routledge.
Smidt, C., Kellstedt, L. A., & Guth, J. L. (Eds.). (2017). The Oxford handbook of religion and
American politics. Oxford University Press.
Turner, F. J. (2018). The significance of the frontier in American history. Charles River Editors
via PublishDrive.
Wilson, J. F. (2018). Church and state in American history: Key documents, decisions, and
commentary from the past three centuries. Routledge.