Expansion of the U.S. Chapter 8.4

Focus Question How did the US develop during the 1800’s?

Territorial Expansion In the 1800’s, the U.S. was a beacon of hope for many people due to growing economy. The Constitution and Bill of Rights gave the hope of political and religious freedom. From the earliest years of its history, the U.S. followed a policy of expansionism, or extending the nations boundaries. At first, the U.S. stretched only from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana territory from France.

Territorial Expansion  By 1846, the U.S. had expanded to include Florida, Oregon and Texas. The Mexican War (1846-1848) added California and the Southwest. With growing pride and confidence, Americans claimed their nation was destined to spread across the entire continent, from sea to shining sea. This idea became known as Manifest Destiny. In 1867, the U.S. bought Alaska from Russia and in 1898 annexed the Hawaiian Islands.

Expanding Democracy  In 1800, the U.S. had the most liberal suffrage in the entire world, but still only white men who owned property could vote. By the 1830’s, most white men had the right to vote. Democracy was still out of reach for others however. By the 1850’s, reformers were campaigning for many changes and demanded a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages. Others called for better treatment for the mentally ill and pushed for free elementary schools.

Democracy Expands The two most important causes that reformers wanted change were the women’s rights movement and abolition of slavery. In the early 1800’s, some Americans began to call for an immediate and complete end to slavery. Frederick Douglass, a former slave who had escaped, spoke out about the evils of slavery and that all men should be free. By the mid 1800’s, states were pitted against one another- some for slavery and some against.

Democracy Expands Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin helped convince many northerners that slavery was a great social evil. Women worked hard in the antislavery movement. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and other progressive women of the time began to protest the laws and customs that limited their lives and right to vote. In 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York, Stanton organized the first Women’s rights convention.

Civil War and Its’ Aftermath It reached a crisis in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was elected President. Lincoln opposed extending slavery into new territories. Southerners feared that he would eventually abolish slavery altogether and infringe on their states’ rights. Soon after Lincoln’s election, most southern states seceded, or withdrew, from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. This action sparked the Civil War, which lasted from 1861-1865. The South had fewer resources, people and less industry.

Civil War and Its’ Aftermath During the war, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation by which enslaved African Americans in the South were declared free. After the war, three Amendments to the Constitution banned slavery throughout the country and granted political rights to African Americans. Under the 15th Amendment, African American men won the right to vote. Still, African Americans faced many restrictions. In the South, state laws imposed segregation in public places.  

Economic and Social Reform After the Civil War, the U.S. grew to lead the world in industrial and agricultural growth. The U.S. enjoyed political and economic stability, private property rights, free enterprise and an inexpensive supply of land and labor, supplied mostly by immigrants. A growing network of transportation and communications technologies aided business in transportation.

Economic and Social Reform By 1900, giant monopolies controlled whole industries. Andrew Carnegie built the nation’s largest steel company while John Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company dominated the world’s petroleum industry. Big business enjoyed tremendous growth and prosperity. Prosperity was not enjoyed by all, though. Wages were low and working conditions often brutal Women finally win the right to vote in 1920.