Who Built America?
State and National Governments
“Who built America?”
The government
What does “Who built
America?” mean?
What was the
government’s role?
How crucial was the
government?
Credits
Sources
What does “Who built
America?” mean?
What does “Who built America?”
mean?

The period from 1790 – 1897 saw
the United States of America
building its economy into one that
would lead the world for years to
come. Its growth to a superpower
was facilitated by a number of
major components, most notably
the government. During this
period, its policies shaped the
development of business and
industry. State governments, as
well as the military, played
important roles in coordinating
and facilitating national projects,
such as the continental railroad.
Pictures from:
http://franklaughter.tripod.com/cgi-bin/growth/
Main Menu
Next ►
What does “Who built America?”
mean?

But “Who Built America?” There were entrepreneurs, capitalists,
inventors, enslaved workers, and industrial workers. Which of these
played the most important role of developing America's commerce from
1790 to 1897? That's for you to consider as you experience this
presentation.
Main Menu
◄ Previous
What was the role of the
government in the
building of America?
What was the government’s role?

Major topics:



In 1830, Andrew Jackson vetoed a bill to create a road through
Kentucky, justifying his decision by claiming that federal funds should
only be used for national projects.
President Jackson also played a major role in the country’s financial
future by ending the charter of the Second Bank of the United States.
This led to the “independent treasury.”
During the Civil War, the government enacted protective tariffs,
however, many historians believe that this crisis actually led to a hiatus
in the increase of production in the United States.
Main Menu
Next ►
What was the government’s role?



In 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act, which gave any citizen
who was the head of a family 160 acres of undeveloped land. Later that
year, the Morrill Act was passed, which created land-grant colleges,
many dedicated to agricultural training.
However, in the second half of the 19th century, many of these
“Homesteads” became property of large landowners, creating a land
monopoly.
The government would pass many new laws in the 19th century,
including:



The Timber Culture Act, allowing farmers to buy treeless land if they word
reforest that land.
The Desert Culture Act, allowing farmers to receive desert land if they would
irrigate it.
However, these acts were widely unsuccessful.
Main Menu
◄ Previous
Next ►
What was the government’s role?


The Army planned the
development of railroads,
which were then financed by
government. President John
Quincy Adams ordered Army
engineers to develop the first
railroad, and the Army
engineers helped to construct
and maintain many of those
railroads.
State governments also aided
in the railroad expansion. The
New York & Erie railroad was
planned and built under the
oversight of the New York
state legislature.
Main Menu
The New York and Erie Railroad
◄ Previous
Next ►
What was the government’s role?



From 1850-1871, the national government gave railroad corporations
more than 200 million acres of land for railroad construction; states
offered about 50 million acres. However, because of this, much of the
land surrounding the railroad was withheld from homesteaders.
After railroad companies became inundated with corruption, state
governments took action. In 1869, Massachusetts established a
commission to supervise railroads. However, a Supreme Court case in
1886 declared that a state could not regulate interstate commerce. The
federal government would have to take action.
The Interstate Commerce Act, signed by President Cleveland in 1887,
forbade railroads to engage in discriminatory practices, mandated just
rates, and outlawed pooling agreements.
Main Menu
◄ Previous
Next ►
What was the government’s role?


Many of the industries in the
United States began forming trusts
in the late 19th century. The Steel
industry was united by J.P.
Morgan, and John Rockefeller
united the oil industry.
The government fought back
against these trusts. As with the
railroads, the states were the first
to begin regulating the trusts, and
later, the federal government
began to help with the 1890
passing of the Sherman Antitrust
Act. Although this bill seemed
strongly worded, many lawyers still
found loopholes.
Main Menu
◄ Previous
Next ►
What was the government’s role?



The government also helped different minority groups gain their rights.
Many of the new Western states gave women full suffrage, including
Wyoming, which was the first in 1890.
The government made many changes in the economy after the election
of Hayes in 1876. Hayes’ insistence of the Specie Resumption act led
to the formation of a new political party, the Greenback party, but all
attempts to dissuade Hayes failed.
The coinage of silver was also a major issue. After the gold rushes of
the 1850’s, the United States adopted the gold standard, leaving the
new silver mines discovered with no market. This issue would dominate
the political landscape for decades to come.
Main Menu
◄ Previous
Next ►
What was the government’s role?


The Bland-Allison Act in 1878
restarted the coinage of silver,
allowing between 2 and 4
million dollars worth of it by
coined each year.
Later, the Sherman Silver
Purchase Act was passed as
part of a compromise;
however, by changing the
federal silver requirements to
ounces rather than dollars, the
lowering prices allowed the
government to spend less and
less on silver.
Main Menu
◄ Previous
Next ►
What was the government’s role?

The Election of 1896 was the
culmination of the silver issue.
William McKinley stood for
Gold, while William Jennings
Bryan and his famous “Cross
of Gold” speech spoke out
against the gold standard.
After McKinley triumphed, gold
was discovered Alaska and
Australia, and the inflation that
silver supporters had desired
came.
Main Menu
◄ Previous
Next ►
What was the government’s role?

Discussion Questions:






What effect did Andrew Jackson’s feelings on internal improvements
have?
How did the government’s programs on the railroad both help and
hinder the westward expansion of the United States?
How did the different government programs encourage westward
expansion, and how could they have been improved?
How did the discovery of silver in the West affect the growth of the
nation?
How did states exercise their rights and have them restricted during the
growth of America?
Why did the government support the businesses and corporations over
industrial workers in labor issues?
Main Menu
◄ Previous
How crucial were the
contributions of the
government to the
building of America?
How crucial were the government’s
contributions?

Without the cooperation of the army and state governments, along
with the federal government's support, American business would not
have gained the monumental asset of a consistent and continental
railroad. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was a valuable statement of
the government’s support for the common man, and the federal
government provided substantial support to industrial factories and
corporations in labor battles.
Main Menu
Next ►
How crucial were the government’s
contributions?

State and national governments were instrumental to the
development of America's industry during this time period. Consider
the facts presented in this exhibit when evaluating the contributions
made by different groups towards the building of America.

So… Who built America, after all?
Main Menu
◄ Previous
Bibliography











Blum, John M. et al.; The National Experience Eighth Edition.
Newman, John & Schmalbach, John; United States History.
Chaitkin, Anton; Executive Intelligence Review, July 17, 1988
http://members.tripod.com/~american_almanac/railroad.htm#7
http://libwww.syr.edu/digital/images/e/ErieRailroad/
http://franklaughter.tripod.com/cgi-bin/growth/
http://www.ussteel.com/corp/index.htm
Wikipedia; en.wikipedia.org
www.sokotapictures.com/sponsors.html
www.usagold.com/ gold/coins/bars.html
http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exhibit/Community/coins.html
http://www.objectsby.com/ images/1francgrand.jpg
Main Menu
Credits
Executive
Powerpoint
Special
Music
Voice
Directors
Thanks
&Actors
Producers
Sound
Design
To:
Danny Chao
“Who
Grant
Built
America?”
Daniel
DannyJohnson
Schafer
Chao
Adam Lederer
© 2004 Daniel
- Rellik
Schafer
Productions
Main Menu