Historical Evolution of the USA: Lincoln to Roosevelt PDF

# Historical Evolution of the United States of America. From A. Lincoln to F. D. Roosevelt. ## Introduction This topic, covering the years from 1861 to 1945, focuses on the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, two of the United States' most memorable presidents. They faced...

# Historical Evolution of the United States of America. From A. Lincoln to F. D. Roosevelt. ## Introduction This topic, covering the years from 1861 to 1945, focuses on the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, two of the United States' most memorable presidents. They faced severe economic crises and devastating wars, including the Civil War and World War II. Throughout these challenges, Lincoln and Roosevelt each guided the nation through significant domestic crises, demonstrating political genius and ultimately impacting American politics. ## Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War ### Abraham Lincoln's Biography Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809 in Kentucky and served as the 16th president from 1861 to 1865. As a member of the Republican Party, Lincoln successfully restored the federal unity of the nation by defeating the secessionist Confederate States of America. He played a vital role in ending slavery in the United States. His efforts were controversial, as many supporters of states' rights viewed Lincoln as a tyrant. He died in 1865 in Washington, D.C. ### The Abolition Movement Beginning in colonial times, many Americans called for an end to slavery. The Abolition Movement, led by passionate reformers, gained momentum in the 1800s, and by then, every Northern state had outlawed slavery. In the South, reliant on the plantation system of farming, enslaved people provided a cheap source of labor. The question of slavery escalated into an important political and social issue in the early 1800s, as the abolition movement's rising strength caused growing fears among Southerners that the federal government would outlaw slavery. The South hardened its defense of slavery. ### The Road to Secession The 1860 election demonstrated the nation's division, with the Democratic Party splitting into Northern and Southern wings, supporting different presidential candidates. The Republicans remained united and nominated Abraham Lincoln, an Illinois lawyer. Lincoln won the election, raising fears in the South, as he was known as an opponent of slavery. South Carolina seceded from the Union in December 1860, well before Lincoln took office. This was followed by Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. These six states formed The Confederate States of America in February 1861. Later that year, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia seceded and joined the Confederacy. ### Lincoln and the Civil War Southerners were galvanized by the election of Lincoln, a Northerner opposed to slavery. With the secessions of seven southern states, the Confederate States of America was formed, and the nation was at war. Lincoln took office in 1861, aiming to preserve the Union. He viewed the seceded states as part of the United States and hoped for reconciliation, but the war was inevitable. #### The Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Address In 1862, Lincoln issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, freeing enslaved people in rebellious states. The first Union victories in July 1863 at Vicksburg and Gettysburg gave hope that the tide might turn for the Union. Lincoln later addressed the nation in the dedication ceremony for the new national cemetery at Gettysburg, emphasizing human equality in a speech that became one of the most famous in American history. #### Victory and Death Lincoln faced a tough reelection battle in 1864 but ultimately won in part due to Union victories. He strived to reconstruct the South and rebuild the Union, reiterating his ideals of "malice toward none; with charity for all," in his inaugural address in 1865. Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. He passed away the following morning, and his death was widely mourned by the nation. ## Industrialization and Reform (1870-1916) _This section covers the rapid industrial growth experienced in the United States following the Civil War, where machines replaced hand labor, and a national network of railroads enabled widespread distribution._ ### Developments that Contributed to Industrial Growth - Improved production methods: the use of machines in manufacturing contributed to the widespread growth of American industry after the Civil War, as new products emerged. - Development of new products: - 1867: The telephone - 1876: The phonograph - 1877: The gasoline automobile - 1885: Mass production of the automobile led the most significant impact on the economy. - Natural resources: the availability of water, forests, coal, and iron (to create steel, copper, silver, and petroleum) - A growing population: - Immigration: More than 25 million immigrants entered the United States between 1870 and 1916. - Natural growth: The U.S. population more than doubled during the same period, rising from about 40 million to 100 million. - Investment and Banking: New banks provided loans to businesses. ## The South and the West _This section focuses on the challenges faced by the South and the West in the aftermath of the Civil War._ - **The South:** While industrialization was present, the South remained primarily an agricultural area. - **The West:** The Homestead Act of 1862 offered public land to individuals for free or at a low cost. Miners and farmers settled in the West, changing the American Indian way of life. ## Reform (Late 1800s and Early 1900s) Social reform swept through the United States during the late 1800s and early 1900s, driven by the desire to reduce poverty, improve the living conditions of the poor, and regulate big businesses. Reformers aimed to end corruption in government, make governance more responsive to citizens, and achieve goals including women's suffrage. ## A New Place in the World. (1917-1929) ### The United States in the War As World War I began in 1914, the United States initially pledged neutrality. However, Germany's aggressive actions caused the United States to join the Allies in 1917, after Germany targeted American merchant ships and the lives of American citizens. - Wilson won reelection in 1916 on the promise of keeping the U.S. out of the war. ### The Peace Conference and Treaty The war ended in 1918 with an Allied victory, and the Allies met at the Paris Peace Conference to establish peace terms with Germany. Wilson's Fourteen Points for a fair peace agreement were ignored, and the Treaty of Versailles, largely dictated by Britain and France, stripped Germany of forces and territory, leading to heavy reparations for German war damages. ## The Roaring Twenties The roaring twenties, with its economic growth and prosperous conditions for working people, was similar to the Progressive Era. The automobile's rise significantly changed American lifestyles. The 1920s marked a shift in America's cultural and psychological identity, as modernism arose. ### The 1920s as a Turning Point - Science: Scientists made breakthroughs in space and time exploration. - Aviation: Aviators made flying a reality. - Liberation for women: The 1920s gave rise to modern women, flappers. - Political change: The women's suffrage movement succeeded in 1920, granting women the right to vote in the United States. ## Roosevelt: The Great Depression, the New Deal, and World War II ### Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Defining President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) served as the 32nd president of The United States from 1933 to 1945. - He was the only president elected four times, guiding the country through the Great Depression and World War II. - He expanded the federal government's power with the New Deal, a set of programs and reforms. - He played a critical role in the effort to defeat Nazi Germany and Japanese Imperialism. ### The Great Depression The Great Depression, following the stock market crash of 1929, lasted for more than a decade, causing widespread suffering. Millions of workers lost jobs. Thousands of banks failed, and poverty swept through the country. ### The New Deal In the early 1930s, Roosevelt's campaign promises focused on government action to end the Depression and prevent future economic crises. His landslide victory in 1932 led to the implementation of the New Deal program, a series of reforms aimed at recovery. ### Key Provisions of the New Deal - Public works projects to provide jobs - Relief for farmers - Aid to manufacturing firms - Regulation of banks ### Significant New Government Agencies - The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC): provided jobs - The Works Progress Administration (WPA): also provided jobs - The Farm Credit Administration (FCA) extended credit to farmers. - The Social Security Board developed The Social Security system ## The New Deal's Impact The New Deal helped relieve the hardships of many Americans but ultimately, its lasting effects weren’t realized until the onset of World War II, when military spending significantly stimulated the economy. ## Roosevelt and World War II ### Stepping Up in a Time of Crisis While President, Roosevelt worked to revise the nation's neutrality acts, providing support for Britain and France, who were facing Nazi aggression at the start of World War II. He also challenged the two-term tradition of presidents by running for reelection in 1940. ### The Lend-Lease Act and The Atlantic Charter - Roosevelt increased support for Great Britain by signing the Lend-Lease Act in 1941. - He met with Prime Minister Winston Churchill aboard a battleship off the coast of Canada in August 1941, and they penned the Atlantic Charter which outlined the "Four Freedoms" that should define the post-war world: freedom of speech, religion, from want, and from fear. ## Entering World War II On December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt addressed Congress and declared war on Japan. ### The Yalta Conference and Death In 1944, after the tide of war turned toward the Allies and Roosevelt won reelection for a fourth term, he met with Churchill and Stalin at the Yalta Conference. They focused on the immediate challenges of the war and laid the groundwork for the post-war peace organization that would become the United Nations. On April 12, 1945, Roosevelt died from a cerebral hemorrhage. ## Topic Implications This topic fosters understanding of American history and the United States through its culture, language, and music. It is relevant to educational programs in the United States, as it provides a critical point of view for students and encourages engagement in a variety of activities. ## Conclusion This document explores the historical evolution of the United States, from the presidency of Abraham Lincoln to that of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, focusing on the defining moments shaped by these two presidents. Lincoln secured the nation through the Civil War and ended slavery, while Roosevelt lifted the nation out of the Great Depression and guided the country through World War II. The legacy of these two individuals continues to shape the United States and the world today.