Running head: AMERICAN HISTORY 2 American History, Great Depression, 20th Century, the Gilded Age, and World War 2 Student’s name: Institution’s name: 1. For a long time, American historians have interpreted the Reconstruction of the South a failure for the newly freed slaves. However, historians today are explaining the events of the Civil War and Reconstruction as nothing less than revolutionary. In the following essay explain why historians have seen this period in American history as a failure, and then explain how they can now interpret it as a success. American historians associate the failure of reconstruction of the south to the newly freed slaves. Nevertheless, lack of political focus also influenced the failure. In this case, the process of eliminating the freed slaves who had gained civil liberties made them fail to bring long term solution to the issue of racial integration in the south. Notably, after the civil war, the freed slaves worked towards reviving the economy of the south and rebuilding their shattered landscape. Despite their efforts, there were several divisions in the federal government regarding the reconstruction process resulted into the failure to attain the goals. At the time, President Lincoln came up with a plan giving the slaves at least 10 percent in order to rejoin the union. Following the assassination of President Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, a former owner of slaves came up with another plan for reconstruction. Unfortunately, his plan did not survive for long as the republicans worked a plan to ensure that the southerners were not seated. Indeed, lack of political focus was also associated with the increased political prosperity in the north as compared with the south. Therefore, the slaves in the south did not have a larger say in drawing the attention to reconstruction process (Mark and Garraty, 2002). Indeed, there was a contrast between the south and the south something that harbored hatred between the two regions. The integration of the freed slaves into the society also played a great role in the failure of reconstruction. Despite the various promises made by the freed slaves, when they were elected to the congress, they did nothing to help their people in the south. They also failed to end racial inequity hence the oppression of the African Americans continued in the south. 2. Mark Twain described the era marked by industrialization, immigration, urbanization, and corporatism as “The Gilded Age”. In the following essay explain why. Be sure to offer illustrative examples in your answer. Mark Twain described the era marked by industrialization, immigration, urbanization, and corporatism as According to Mark Twain, The Gilded Age was marked by industrialization, immigration, urbanization, and corporatism. This is era was defined by the following factors; firstly, there was increased economic growth which generated a ...

1. Running head: AMERICAN HISTORY
2
American History, Great Depression, 20th Century, the Gilded
Age, and World War 2
Student’s name:
Institution’s name:
1. For a long time, American historians have interpreted the
Reconstruction of the South a failure for the newly freed slaves.
However, historians today are explaining the events of the Civil
War and Reconstruction as nothing less than revolutionary. In
the following essay explain why historians have seen this period
in American history as a failure, and then explain how they can
now interpret it as a success.
American historians associate the failure of reconstruction of
the south to the newly freed slaves. Nevertheless, lack of
political focus also influenced the failure. In this case, the
process of eliminating the freed slaves who had gained civil
liberties made them fail to bring long term solution to the issue
of racial integration in the south. Notably, after the civil war,
the freed slaves worked towards reviving the economy of the
south and rebuilding their shattered landscape. Despite their
efforts, there were several divisions in the federal government
regarding the reconstruction process resulted into the failure to
attain the goals. At the time, President Lincoln came up with a
plan giving the slaves at least 10 percent in order to rejoin the
union.
Following the assassination of President Lincoln, Andrew
Johnson, a former owner of slaves came up with another plan
for reconstruction. Unfortunately, his plan did not survive for
long as the republicans worked a plan to ensure that the
southerners were not seated. Indeed, lack of political focus was
also associated with the increased political prosperity in the

2. north as compared with the south. Therefore, the slaves in the
south did not have a larger say in drawing the attention to
reconstruction process (Mark and Garraty, 2002). Indeed, there
was a contrast between the south and the south something that
harbored hatred between the two regions. The integration of the
freed slaves into the society also played a great role in the
failure of reconstruction. Despite the various promises made by
the freed slaves, when they were elected to the congress, they
did nothing to help their people in the south. They also failed to
end racial inequity hence the oppression of the African
Americans continued in the south.
2. Mark Twain described the era marked by industrialization,
immigration, urbanization, and corporatism as “The Gilded
Age”. In the following essay explain why. Be sure to offer
illustrative examples in your answer.
Mark Twain described the era marked by industrialization,
immigration, urbanization, and corporatism as
According to Mark Twain, The Gilded Age was marked by
industrialization, immigration, urbanization, and corporatism.
This is era was defined by the following factors; firstly, there
was increased economic growth which generated a lot of wealth
where Americans the elites in various classes capitalized in
expanding their wealth. However, the elites gained wealth at the
expense of the poor who worked and survived in bleak
conditions. Secondly, new products and technologies were
improved especially for the middle class resulting into
increased quality of life. It also made the industrial workers and
farmers who did not share in the new prosperity work for long
hours even in dangerous conditions with low pay (Mark and
Garraty, 2002). On the same, the gilded age was associated with
Politian’s who were very corrupt and ineffective in delivering
their duties and responsibilities. During the age, majority of the
Americans wanted both political and social reforms but never
arrived into a consensus on what the reforms should comprise.
For example, voters’ participation was extraordinarily high and
national elections were taking place and determined by the use

3. of razor thin margins. However, political participation was
highly influenced by corruption.
3. As America entered the 20th century, many people were
optimistic, but at the same time full of anxiety. Author Laura
Hillenbrand described this time as the beginning and end of
imagination, all at the same time. In the following essay explain
what Hillenbrand meant. Be sure to provide historical examples
to support your argument.
Laura Hillenbrand described the American entry into the 20th
century as the beginning and end of imagination. Previously,
American has been faced by several challenges which include
depression, World War II and cold war that took a very long
time. This implies that that American was not to expect the 20th
century to be a walk in the park. Despite the rise in technology
and the growth of American economy, Americans has to stop
holding too much to high expectations and live on the reality
(Mark and Garraty, 2002). They had to stop imaging things and
accept the reality that other states in the world were also
experiencing increased growth.
Generally, economists believed that the American economy
matured in the 20th century. This era also marked increased
change in the freewheeling business and emergence f
corporations. The entrepreneurial culture was gaining
momentum in America with increased business influence with
other nations. They had to move from the gilded age where
some people believed that nation’s business with other states
would influence the government officials and eventually control
it. They had to shift their thinking from that age to the new
technological age.
4. When America entered the 20th Century, many people
worried that advancements made during the Gilded Age had
made the nation soft. In the following essay offer key examples
as to how Americans, especially the Progressives, were putting
muscle back into American society and foreign policy.
Towards 20th century, American has taken stringent measures

4. in order to advance from the gilded Age that was said to have
made the nation soft. Therefore, in order to put back the society
and pull back the muscle back into the society and foreign
policy, United States has started with long standing competition
with various countries especially the Middle East. It has also
initiated U.S diplomatic interventions. In this case, United
States has reworked on their foreign relations with various
countries in the world. This has made the U.S to have
diplomatic relations with various super powers in the world
(Mark and Garraty, 2002). The growing influence of U.S in the
increasing competitive world has made it important for the state
to come up with more inventory mechanisms that has helped the
country to experience increased growth. In fact, United States
has resorted to economic embargo on states such as Iraq and
other countries due to their association with the weapons of
mass destruction. To some extent, this has had devastating
impact on the health and living conditions not only to Iraq
people but also other countries. On the contrary, America has
continued to dominate the world economy with the increased
advancement in technology and innovations in various fields.
5. Throughout the 1930s America was engulfed by a Great
Depression. At the time, no polls existed to determine how the
public felt about the Government, nature, religion, technology,
and other factors that impacted their lives. Historians, however,
have looked to other indicators of public sentiment. In the
following essay, describe how the American public felt about
life in the early 1930s and how those feelings changed by the
end of the 1930. Be sure to show how historians have made such
conclusion and why.
The public life in United States suffered because there were no
pools that could help them to express their feeling about
Government, nature, religion, technology, and other factors that
impacted their lives. The depression was as a result of many
fact ors among them the crash of the stock market. This resulted
into the rise in production though the use of new technologies
where the excessive demand pushed down demand resulting in

5. the rise of prices. The price of consumer goods rose due to high
inflation rate making the merchants to stop selling their
products. Therefore, the public were faced with hopelessness,
humiliation and desperation as they could not provide for their
families (Mark and Garraty, 2002). It was a shock to many
Americans. Some economists argue that the depression lasted
for about four years between 1929 and 1933 and the rest of the
years were marked with recovery which was very slow. Towards
the end of 1930, efforts were made in order to allow America to
come back from the economic depression (Mark and Garraty,
2002). Attempts to stimulate the growth of the economy such as
raising tariffs to assist farmers and increased crop growing. It is
also important to that the depression in America affected the
entire world something that made important to come with
policies to avoid such scenario from occurring again. Despite
the comeback from the depression by the end of 1930, many
years were taken in order for the U.S economy to come back to
normal. This is because of condition such as unemployment
failure of American banks among other economic effects that
could not be amended within a year. In fact, several economists
argue that the great depression came to an end when the World
War II was beginning with increased in job opportunities in
various parts of the world.
6. The United States determined the outcome in two ways.
Based on readings from your text, describe both ways and then
explain how WWII shaped the United States for the rest of the
century.
World War II played an important role in shaping United States
for the rest of the century. After the World War II, there was a
shift in power as the power structure from the interaction and
interplay of various power bases to fit the current condition was
initiated. Before the war, super powers in the world were
comprised of United Kingdom, France, Japan and Germany
while United States was just recovering from depression.
However, United States and Soviet Union played a key role in
the war brining German’s and Japanese dominion to an end. The

6. outcome of the war was viewed into two ways; the NATO as led
by united states and Soviet Union leading Warsaw Pact (Mark
and Garraty, 2002). This way, the two states were ready for any
convectional war. This shaped United States as they always
fought about their differences in perceived political ambitions
that did not contribute to their goals and aims from either side.
This condition resulted into a cold war between the two states.
They prepared for any attack. As a result, no side attempted to
fire missile to the other as they were assured of the resultant
destruction. This changed the focus of America as the two major
powers were held hostage by their own government. However,
the end of cold war in the end of 1980’s saw America becoming
the most super power state in the world.
Reference
Mark C. and Garraty A. (2002). "The American nation: the
history of the united states, since
1865 volume. McGraw: McGraw Hill.