American History
1841 to 1860
Social, Political,
and Economic
Project By Robert Stanton
Thesis
• From 1841 to 1860, the United States changed
socially, politically, and economically. While
many changes were good there's always a bad
one here and there. What has shaped the US
into what it is, is its way to learn and fix what
has been found to be wrong.
Social-We The People
• The 1840s and 1850s saw
a huge growth in the
American population
soaring into the 20
millions and quickly
rising with immigration
increasing from all over
Europe.
Social-Slavery
In the mid-1800s, slavery
was a hot topic that could
be found in many
newspapers and
conversations, with many
people for and against it, it
faced much debate.
Social-La Amistad
• African people who were being
boated to Cuba as slaves took over
the ship in hopes of saving their
own lives. They were captured and
taken to trial, in 1841 after the case
was taken to the Supreme Court,
the verdict stated that the Africans
were illegally taken and in 1842 the
survivors were taken back to Africa.
Social
• The 1840s to 1850s was a time period of much
social change. Many new things became popular
while many common things became old
fashioned or just plain obsolete.
Social-Music
• New music was being
cranked out by
musicians in the forties
and fifties like mad in
the forties, ballads had
become the new craze.
Social-Literature
• Even though the United
States faced much turmoil
socially and politically,
literature was one of a few
aspects that was facing good
change. Every year faced
dozens of Books, Dramas,
Poems, and Non-Fiction
especially by the famous
writer Edgar A. Poe.
Political-Presidents
• This time period had
many presidents, the
forties had more
presidents than almost
any other decade. These
20 years faced 7
presidents.
Political-Slavery
• The 1840s and 1850s saw much slavery
debate. In this time period, many groups
formed in the hopes of abolishing slavery
and creating a country where “All men are
created equal”
Political-International
• In the 1840s and 50s, there were many countries with
claims to pieces of North America. This is a time period
where many treaties would be made, battles fought and
debates would be commonplace when the topic of land
ownership was brought up.
Political-Manifest Destiny
• The mid 1800s was jampacked with
expansionistic views and
the 40’s and 50’s were no
exceptions. “Manifest
Destiny” was the phrase
coined saying that it was
our God given right and
Duty to expand our
country’s borders as much
as possible.
Political-Parties
• The 1840s and 1850s was a
time of much political change
with new parties forming and
dissolving.
• Whig Party political party
formed and died in this time
period. Free Soil Party was
formed in 1848 and dissolved
in 1854. The 1850’s saw the
creation of the Republican
party.
Political-Major Events
• In 1848, the Communist
Manifesto is published.
• In the 1850’s, one of the first
attempts at prohibition-failed.
• The Great Irish Potato Famine
• The 50’s sees the first transpacific telegraph cable and the
railroads passing canals in
transportation use.
Economic-Immigration
• The 1840’s saw the largest
immigration rate in the
US to date. Almost one
and a half million people
immigrated into the US
due to situations like crop
failure and starvation.
Economic-Gold Rush
In the 1840s and 50s, three
notable gold rushes struck
America.
• The California Gold Rush in
1848
• Pikes Peak Gold Rush in
Colorado 1859
• Northern Nevada Gold Rush
in 1850
Economic-Expansion
• With the addition of states like New Mexico and
Texas, new industries and businesses were built.
• With such a situation, the country faces
economic prosper. Especially with the
expansion, agriculture boomed.
Economic-Commercial Products
• The 1840s and 50s
were decades with
amazing and useful
creations that would
become every day
things sold
commercially.
Economic-Transportation
Revolution
The United States is a massive country. With large size
come the need to travel large distances quickly. Railroads
quickly became the leading source of transportation
especially with steel being produced so easily, railroad
construction became less expensive and much easier.
Conclusion
• The 1840s and fifties was a time of major
social, political, and economic change. Both
for the good and the bad. Despite the
hardships faced in these times, the US
managed to pull through.
Works Cited
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