A Difficult Past- How the A Difficult Past- How the Americas ChangeAmericas Change

By Nadya DooleyBy Nadya Dooley

2/22/112/22/11

The Americas in the 19th CenturyThe Americas in the 19th Century

Gold mining was part of what contributed to the Gold mining was part of what contributed to the transformation of the Americas transformation of the Americas

Millions of emigrants from Asia and Europe Millions of emigrants from Asia and Europe increased the ethic diversity of American increased the ethic diversity of American populationspopulations

The age of independence for the US, Canada and the The age of independence for the US, Canada and the Latin Americas was an era of migration and large Latin Americas was an era of migration and large economic growtheconomic growth

The histories of these first lands winning The histories of these first lands winning independence later influenced other people seeking independence later influenced other people seeking freedom but also served as warnings of the freedom but also served as warnings of the difficulties newly freed states faceddifficulties newly freed states faced

Part 1: The Americas in the 19th Century

The Americas in the 19th CenturyThe Americas in the 19th Century

After winning independence, the US began to After winning independence, the US began to rapidly expand. However, it had an unstable society rapidly expand. However, it had an unstable society that sparked civil warsthat sparked civil wars

Westward expansion caused conflicts with the Westward expansion caused conflicts with the indigenous peoples of North America, who tried to indigenous peoples of North America, who tried to resist getting pushed out of their ancestral groundsresist getting pushed out of their ancestral grounds

The expansion also caused conflicts between the US The expansion also caused conflicts between the US and Mexico as well as religious issuesand Mexico as well as religious issues

In 1860, the election of Abraham Lincoln caused In 1860, the election of Abraham Lincoln caused war between the stateswar between the states

Lincoln was against slavery and the victory of the Lincoln was against slavery and the victory of the northern states ended slavery in the USnorthern states ended slavery in the US

This caused the US to become a stronger placeThis caused the US to become a stronger place

Part 2: Building American States: The United States

The Little Ice AgeThe Little Ice Age The Little Ice Age was a relatively brief time of cooling that occurred after The Little Ice Age was a relatively brief time of cooling that occurred after

the medieval warm periodthe medieval warm period There are several theories on why it started: (1) volcanoes erupting, There are several theories on why it started: (1) volcanoes erupting,

causing a cloud of debris to allow less sunlight onto the earth, (2) changes causing a cloud of debris to allow less sunlight onto the earth, (2) changes in the ocean circulation causing less warm water to go around, (3) and less in the ocean circulation causing less warm water to go around, (3) and less radiation from the sunradiation from the sun

Although the Little Ice Age caused bad things like the Irish Potato Famine, Although the Little Ice Age caused bad things like the Irish Potato Famine, it may have been the cause of the Stradivarius violin sounding so good, it may have been the cause of the Stradivarius violin sounding so good, through it’s effect on the treesthrough it’s effect on the trees

It also caused more people to drink beer rather than wine, creating today's It also caused more people to drink beer rather than wine, creating today's drinking habits drinking habits

This is an example that This is an example that one relatively small event can changeone relatively small event can change historyhistory

Frontiers of the AmericasFrontiers of the Americas The Louisiana Purchase occurred in 1803 and cost the USA 15 million The Louisiana Purchase occurred in 1803 and cost the USA 15 million

dollarsdollars It wasn’t entirely meant to happen, but a series of events lead up to it. Like It wasn’t entirely meant to happen, but a series of events lead up to it. Like

the Haitian Revolution: This effected Napoleons actions, which was one of the Haitian Revolution: This effected Napoleons actions, which was one of the causes of the purchasethe causes of the purchase

At the time, Thomas Jefferson was president and this was an important At the time, Thomas Jefferson was president and this was an important moment in his president careermoment in his president career

Thomas Jefferson didn’t like warfare, which made things difficult because Thomas Jefferson didn’t like warfare, which made things difficult because Napoleon loved war. The purchase worked out well for Jefferson because Napoleon loved war. The purchase worked out well for Jefferson because it avoided warit avoided war

Part 1: The Louisiana purchase

Frontiers of the AmericasFrontiers of the Americas

In 1832, Prince Maximilian zu Wied went to the American WestIn 1832, Prince Maximilian zu Wied went to the American West He stayed there 2 years, studying the native Indians. With him went He stayed there 2 years, studying the native Indians. With him went

a painter called Karl Bodmer, who drew the Indians for hima painter called Karl Bodmer, who drew the Indians for him Back then the Indians were mostly thought of as savages, but Back then the Indians were mostly thought of as savages, but

Maximilian despite that studied and befriended themMaximilian despite that studied and befriended them Maximilian preserved a culture that would soon vanish, and without Maximilian preserved a culture that would soon vanish, and without

his studies and Bodmers paintings, we would’ve lost a big part of his studies and Bodmers paintings, we would’ve lost a big part of our historyour history

Part 2: The North American Frontier

Crossroads of FreedomCrossroads of FreedomAntietamAntietam

Part 1: ViolencePart 1: Violence Antietam was one of the most violent wars in historyAntietam was one of the most violent wars in history More than twice the number of people died then in the attack on the world More than twice the number of people died then in the attack on the world

trade centertrade center More people died there than in all the other wars fought in the country in More people died there than in all the other wars fought in the country in

the 19th century combined!the 19th century combined! Even months after the battle, soldiers walking through the battlefield could Even months after the battle, soldiers walking through the battlefield could

see the rotting corpses of thousands of mensee the rotting corpses of thousands of men The people could not see what had been accomplished by all the desolationThe people could not see what had been accomplished by all the desolation

Crossroads of FreedomCrossroads of FreedomAntietamAntietam

Part 2: Battle PhotosPart 2: Battle Photos During this time, photos of battles were newly availableDuring this time, photos of battles were newly available Photographers (Like Alexander Gardner) would photograph a few days Photographers (Like Alexander Gardner) would photograph a few days

after the battle to show the desolation it causedafter the battle to show the desolation it caused The bloodshed and violence of what war is really like was revealed to the The bloodshed and violence of what war is really like was revealed to the

publicpublic This only helped to portray the massive destruction of the battle of This only helped to portray the massive destruction of the battle of

AntietamAntietam

Crossroads of FreedomCrossroads of FreedomAntietamAntietam

Part 3: George B. McClellanPart 3: George B. McClellan McClellan was called “The young McClellan was called “The young

Napoleon”Napoleon” He was put in command of the army He was put in command of the army

when he was 34 and won many battleswhen he was 34 and won many battles He was cautious, afraid of defeat and He was cautious, afraid of defeat and

played things carefully, sometimes played things carefully, sometimes doubling the amount of enemies when doubling the amount of enemies when planningplanning

McClellans loyalty to the Union was McClellans loyalty to the Union was questionedquestioned

He openly disliked LincolnHe openly disliked Lincoln He was overshadowed and doubted by He was overshadowed and doubted by

some other officerssome other officers

Crossroads of FreedomCrossroads of FreedomAntietamAntietam

Part 4: Ulysses S. GrantPart 4: Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant was a Ulysses S. Grant was a stark contrast with stark contrast with McClellan because he McClellan because he always took risksalways took risks

Hardly pausing between Hardly pausing between attacks, he would charge attacks, he would charge in speedilyin speedily

Despite this, he lead the Despite this, he lead the Union troops to their Union troops to their victory!victory!