Moving On

We are now embarking on the last part of the course, which will combine the essay writing requirement with a coverage of material post 1865. You have been asked to make use of the chapter titles in the textbook as a guide and timeline of sorts.

Here I will provide you with a more general overview of how this long list of eras can be shortened based on a few major overarching issues. To begin, note that to a significant degree after 1865, and moreover after 1877, the emphasis of American history shifts from a more inward looking and parochial view to an outward looking, global view.

The Civil War itself has many global influences. In Canada, it is a major factor leading to Confederation, as the original four provinces fear American aggression in light of the fact that the Union army is well trained, heavily armed, battle tested, and with little else to occupy itself. British subjects in the provinces suspected that the American Manifest Destiny ethic would inevitably lead to a northern invasion. Confederation would allow the individual colonies to provide for a unified defense.

When the CSS Virginia (USS Merrimack) and the USS Monitor blazed cannon at each other in the first naval battle of ironclads, it marked the obsolescence of every other navy in the world. This battle served to highlight the growing influence of the industrial era and the technologies that it would cultivate. The world was changing quickly. Even Robert E. Lee's brilliance and the valor of his Army of Northern Virginia would not be able to overcome the power of industry.

The signing of the armistace between the Confederate States of America and the United States signified the end of the agrarian era and the beginning of an industrial explosion which not only defeated the South but would propel the United States to the forefront of political, economic, and military superiority worldwide. This industrial expansion helped to ferment many of the principles and conventions that we hold true today regarding American culture.

In the post Civil War era and particularly in the beginning of the 20th century, industrial development led to large scale economic expansion. Mass production provided the ability to meet the needs of a large number of people in a relatively short space of time. Massive markets were required to increase output and ultimately the profitability of value added goods. The more people bought and the more people who bought things, the stronger and wealthier the nation could become. This naturally gives rise to the consumer culture.


http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O119-ConsumerCulture.html

http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/1305/American-Consumer-RISE-CONSUMER-CULTURE.html

http://teachingamericanhistorymd.net/000001/000000/000129/html/t129.html