Analysis of the History of United States: From 1790 to Civil War
Introduction
The America has a diverse centuries old history that shows its endeavor to become a liberal, progressive and meritocratic nation. The major historical journey of United States started in the 1789, with the newly formed government under the leadership of George Washington. Washington played a major role in making United States a free nation ruled by their own people with limited interference from the external powers. Before this period, the United States was under the direct control of Britain through its colonies (Carnes, 114). The social and economic progression of United States of America is based on its struggle to make this country a liberal state, where everyone has their own rights.
As George Washington became the President of United States, the administration was tasked with the setting the structure of the government and its financial system. The country successfully formed the Bank of United States, developed a uniform tax system, and a financial infrastructure. Under the same period, the United States had the world’s first political party called the Federalist Party that was based on the actual votes of its members. This was major breakthrough in making the country a democratic one (Norton, 33). While these developments provided a strong base to the country but it was faced with myriad challenges as well. The Whiskey Rebellion, African-American Civil Rights Movement, War of 1812, Indian Removal, and Civil War were the major events in historical setbacks.
The historical role George Washington played in making United States a free state made him a heroic figure in the United States. His leadership role in the country was unanimously supported by the majority of the people. This period was the foremost vital phase in the history that gave the strong foundation to the country. The initial steps taken by Washington for giving a strong financial stability to the country are exemplary, which is reflected through the formation of the Bank of United States. The tax mechanism formed by him produced a steady revenue stream for the government to run the country (Adams & Earl, 78).
One of major backlash faced by Washington was the Whiskey Rebellion by the western settler, where Washington himself led the army and established the powers firmly. During his tenure a mechanism of a party system was establish through the formation of the first democratic party, Republican that focused on the promotion of business and good relations with Britain. Against the policies of the aforementioned party, Republican Party also came into the formation.
Struggle against Slavery
The reason behind the fact that why people struggled against the colonial force, was based on the willingness of people for freedom. This willingness inclined the war for independence and the American received their homeland. While the Whites got their social and economic rights, but majority of the Black in the country were still considered second-class human beings. They were neglected their basic right of citizenship and they were officially regarded as slaves. Most of the slaves, who came in United States, were from Western part of Africa and Caribbean region. Although, they were part of the country for a many years but still they were not considered like other citizens. In the light of the America’s own struggle for freedom, this situation clearly highlighted their dual standards.
Not only the Black Americans were negated rights, but there were provisions in the laws that protected the owners of the slaves like the Fugitive Slave Act (Dallek, 221). According to this law, a slave who escapes from the area of control of his owner and reaches another state to get freedom was executed according to the law. The law protected the owner in getting back the control of his former slave, who escapes from the area of control of the owner. This situation created a major rift between the northern and southern part of the United States.
Abolitionism
During the aforementioned time there was a major shift in the attitudes of the northern part of the United States due to the heavy influence of the evangelists’ struggle. There was a massive trend of the abolitionism movements, which considered Slavery as a major social evil. This struggle managed to develop a general feeling in the northern part of the America that rejected the slavery practices. Many young men and women became part of this struggle to free America from the social evil of the slavery (Norton, 33). According to the Compromise of 1820, a new bill was drafted that gave rights to the people of the state to vote for and against the slavery. Due to this bill, the anti-slavery movement raged and this actually became the basis of the Civil War, where a number of people died.
Emancipation Proclamation
Under the government of Abraham Lincoln, the lives of the Black American took a major turn through the Emancipation Proclamation. This law gave all the slaves the status of American Citizens. This was the major breakthrough in the history of America that transformed into a free-state (Zinn, 198). While the issues related to Black American were still not completely solved after the proclamation, but it was the first major success that became the major foundation of American history. All the slaves living under the control of their owners became free citizens. Many owners who thought this law will destroy their businesses, tried to move their slaves as far as possible. By the year 1865, the Union Army took control of the major area and all the slaves were freed. The owners of the slaves were never compensated and the government formed a Freedmen’s Bureau. At these bureaus the former slaves were given shelter, food, medical facilities, and they also made arrangements for their employment (Handlin, 87).
Conclusion
The history of United States is marked by gradual path towards progression. This progression is based on its endeavor to transform this country into a free nation, where everyone has equal opportunities. The initial struggle against the colonial forces reflects their notion behind the idea of freedom, which opened the access to opportunities to the country. Technically, United States was the first country to successfully discontinue the colonial rule, which was a major inspiration to other countries.
The immense struggle by the countrymen to give equal rights the slaves shows their strong commitment to not only fight with foreign forces but also with the internal hurdles that restrict freedom. Like the events in the past, even the currently economic and social power of the United States is strongly rooted due to their policies of liberty. The policy of not discrimination people on the basis of their cast, creed, race, and religion are the strongest pillar of the American society.
Works Cited
Adams, Henry, and Earl N. Harbert. History of the United States of America during the Administrations of Thomas Jefferson. New York, N.Y.: Literary Classics of the United States :, 1986. Print. 78
Carnes, Mark C. American History. New York: Macmillan Library Reference, 1998. Print. 114
Dallek, Robert. American History. [Teacher's ed. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2008. Print. 221
Handlin, Oscar. The Americans; a New History of the People of the United States. Boston: Little, Brown, 1963. Print. 87
Norton, Mary Beth. A People and a Nation: A History of the United States. 6th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. Print.33
Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States: 1492-2001. New ed. 2009. Print. 198
