After the Reconstruction Era, the late nineteenth century proved to be a period where the United States could focus on progressing and showing its power to rest of world. Progressive events and policies such as the Dawes Severalty Act, Spanish American War, and the Sherman Antitrust Act. These three acts paved way for the United States to progress as a country with expansion of our land, global power, and maintenance of their own economy.
Dawes Severalty Act was a double-edged sword when it came to the impact of our rising nation. Dawes Severalty Act aimed to rid of Indian reservations and give them to individuals rather being owned by groups of tribe members. This act caused Indians to be dumbfounded as they have yet the knowledge to deal with money, farming, and other white ways. The act opened the opportunity for non-Indians to own land and by 1900 over half of Indian owned land were repossessed by whites. Dawes Severalty Act facilitated the settlement of the west as more white settlers owned Indian land. This allowed for the land to be sold and bought for the economy and allowed for the connection of the west to the rest of the United States. With the Dawes Severalty Act, the United States was now connected from shore to shore allowing for a boost in economy and businesses as railroad companies and markets now had access to the west. However, alongside this positivity in economy there were repercussions in moral and cultural standards. The Indians were forced to assimilate to white standards losing their precious land, culture, and family. Indians not knowing the how to deal with money and farming caused them to be homeless and slowly rot as they lost their only home. All of this negativity led to the formation of the “Ghost Dance” and evidently starting the massacre of Wounded Knee. The Dawes Severalty Act was a tragedy for the culture and lives of Native Americans but was an exchange for the progression and connection of the whole United States.
With the fruition of businesses and incredible progression of the United States there came greed and power. Corporations began to grow immensely and control the economy as they held a monopoly for their business. These monopolies proved unhealthy as there was no competition and just set prices as corporations had all the power to do whatever they pleased. To combat this and help the United States flourish rather than be filled with greed, the United States created the Sherman Antitrust Act to prevent monopolies from further happening. With the Sherman Antitrust Act, the United States finally put a stop to economy highs and lows. Due to the big businesses having such a high demand of capital the banks could not uphold their distribution of profits. Alongside this the supply of goods with the big businesses outpaced the demand causing periodic depressions such as 1873-1879 and 1882-1885. The Sherman Antitrust act put a stop to all this unhealthy greed and helped maintain a steady economy. The other effects of the Sherman Antitrust act allowed for fair and low prices helping the middle and low class and reducing the distance from rich. This act proved to be important for America as it got rid of the greedy practices of monopolies and allowed for the economy to flourish instead of having multiple depressions in succession.
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The final act that rocketed the United States into the nation it is now, is the Spanish American War. The Spanish American War albeit was short, only lasting for 4 months, allowed for the United States to become recognized as a world power and the importance of the Navy. The Spanish American war was a conflict between the United States and Spain between Cuba’s independence. The overpowering Naval fleet led by Admiral George Dewey with the assistance Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, easily dominated the Spanish and won the war singlehandedly with only 379 soldiers dying in battle. This one-sided victory allowed for the United States as recognition by other countries as a global power and led to more opportunities in global affairs. A small yet crucial effect was Theodore Roosevelt being recognized as a war hero. This achievement and his personality launched him into the Presidency and the United States into the progressive era. The War also gave the first opportunity for the United States to start Imperialism and eventually led to the grueling 3 yearlong American Philippine War. The Spanish American War marked the start of the United States from a small colony into one of the most influential and strongest global powers.
The Industrial Era was a time where the United States was finally unified and revolutionary changes were happening rapidly such as railroads, proficiency in creating supply, and expansion. The Dawes Severalty Act connected the United States from west to east and allowed for more expansion of businesses with railroads. The Sherman Antitrust act allowed for the prevention of monopolies and help the economy stay healthy rather than letting our own greed destroy us. The Spanish American War allowed for the United States to show the world that we aren’t just some small colony anymore, instead a global power that can now stand on its own two feet. All these 3 acts together helped catapulted the United States into the nation it is now.
