Changlin yang(1521383)
History-10B (Summer session I)
Instructor: Prof. Bristol Cave-LaCoste
Response paper 1
A dramatic change happened to reunite but fragile country-- the U.S. On the America Continent, after the Civil War ended in 1865, this country experienced a reconstruction during 1865-1877. Because of construction, during this period, this reunited country became the most powerful and most influential country. Like every other historical period, revolution was inevitable. By analysis one country successful revolution, it could provide some valuable experience and instruct other groups of people to process their own revolution.
The construction of railroads and the development of fossil fuels accelerated the velocity of reconstruction and transformed the economic condition within the country. What the railroads brought were not only time saved, but also the transportation of goods. Nationwide railroads and locomotives could bring goods to everywhere, and changed the economic center as well. Like Chicago, the example in the chapter, benefited from deposits coal and forest, expanded the population of a small city of 30,000 to a metropolis of two million(Edward, 39). The electric came to this country by utilizing of fossil fuels like coal, coal gas and kerosene. People could have light in the evening for the first time. The coming light made the work time no longer in the morning and more activities could happen at night.
The development of new technology could effect on a country which represented in effecting society and people. Wave of applying new technology brought more external money into the this new reunited country and thrived the country rapidly. One of the most beneficial group was investors. From my perspective, this group could be divided to two parts. One was investors from European countries, who came to the U.S and invested railroad industry. The another group was the domestic investors. No matter who they were come from, they had promoted the development of the railroad industry. On the one hand putting money into the railroad industry and making sure railroads could be constructed provided the food and raw material base. On the other hand, it solved the block problems that promised goods could be transported to everywhere. By doing this, it could allow other industries flourish as railroad industry together. These railways and their feeder lines extended from the eastern to the central, western, southwest and far west of the various corners, so that the United States really became a unified big market. The reunion but fragile country became solid in some degrees. And obviously, those investors received huge profit. They were one of the most benefits group.
With the advance technology, the U.S economy developed as well. And apparently, people from other counties chase money and came to the United State. Those groups could be considered as the group which obtained the benefits most from the reconstruction, but, as the new comers, they could be considered as benefited least during this change period. Large investment helped economic development, immense job positions were created countless labors were needed. Immigrants were looking for economic opportunity, giving up what they have in the homeland. People from poor countries came to the United State pursued their dreams. Some of them got rich during this period. However, they gave up a lot of things as well. Like the authors said in the chapter: in doing so they change their customs, languages and sometimes even their names”(Edward 49). On their way of surviving, they had no rights to protect themselves, living at the bottom of society. But if without their contribution, the United State could not have nowadays’s success.