Who Built America? State and National Governments.

Who Built Who Built America?America?

State and National GovernmentsState and National Governments

What does “Who built America?” mean?

What was the government’s role?

How crucial was the government?

““Who built Who built America?”America?”The governmentThe government

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What does “Who What does “Who built America?” built America?”

mean?mean?

What does “Who built What does “Who built America?” mean?America?” mean?

The period from 1790 – 1897 The period from 1790 – 1897 saw the United States of saw the United States of America building its economy America building its economy into one that would lead the into one that would lead the world for years to come. Its world for years to come. Its growth to a superpower was growth to a superpower was facilitated by a number of facilitated by a number of major components, most major components, most notably the government. notably the government. During this period, its policies During this period, its policies shaped the development of shaped the development of business and industry. State business and industry. State governments, as well as the governments, as well as the military, played important military, played important roles in coordinating and roles in coordinating and facilitating national projects, facilitating national projects, such as the continental such as the continental railroad.railroad.

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What does “Who built What does “Who built America?” mean?America?” mean?

But “Who Built America?” There were entrepreneurs, But “Who Built America?” There were entrepreneurs, capitalists, inventors, enslaved workers, and industrial capitalists, inventors, enslaved workers, and industrial workers. Which of these played the most important role of workers. Which of these played the most important role of developing America's commerce from 1790 to 1897? That's developing America's commerce from 1790 to 1897? That's for you to consider as you experience this presentation. for you to consider as you experience this presentation.

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What was the role What was the role of the government of the government in the building of in the building of

America?America?

What was the What was the government’s role?government’s role?

Major topics:Major topics: In 1830, Andrew Jackson vetoed a bill to create a road through In 1830, Andrew Jackson vetoed a bill to create a road through

Kentucky, justifying his decision by claiming that federal funds Kentucky, justifying his decision by claiming that federal funds should only be used for national projects.should only be used for national projects.

President Jackson also played a major role in the country’s President Jackson also played a major role in the country’s financial future by ending the charter of the Second Bank of financial future by ending the charter of the Second Bank of the United States. This led to the “independent treasury.”the United States. This led to the “independent treasury.”

During the Civil War, the government enacted protective During the Civil War, the government enacted protective tariffs, however, many historians believe that this crisis tariffs, however, many historians believe that this crisis actually led to a hiatus in the increase of production in the actually led to a hiatus in the increase of production in the United States.United States.

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In 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act, which gave any In 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act, which gave any citizen who was the head of a family 160 acres of undeveloped citizen who was the head of a family 160 acres of undeveloped land. Later that year, the Morrill Act was passed, which land. Later that year, the Morrill Act was passed, which created land-grant colleges, many dedicated to agricultural created land-grant colleges, many dedicated to agricultural training.training.

However, in the second half of the 19However, in the second half of the 19thth century, many of these century, many of these “Homesteads” became property of large landowners, creating “Homesteads” became property of large landowners, creating a land monopoly.a land monopoly.

The government would pass many new laws in the 19The government would pass many new laws in the 19thth century, including:century, including:

The Timber Culture Act, allowing farmers to buy treeless land if The Timber Culture Act, allowing farmers to buy treeless land if they word reforest that land.they word reforest that land.

The Desert Culture Act, allowing farmers to receive desert land if The Desert Culture Act, allowing farmers to receive desert land if they would irrigate it.they would irrigate it.

However, these acts were widely unsuccessful.However, these acts were widely unsuccessful.

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The Army planned the The Army planned the development of railroads, development of railroads, which were then financed by which were then financed by government. President John government. President John Quincy Adams ordered Army Quincy Adams ordered Army engineers to develop the engineers to develop the first railroad, and the Army first railroad, and the Army engineers helped to engineers helped to construct and maintain construct and maintain many of those railroads.many of those railroads.

State governments also State governments also aided in the railroad aided in the railroad expansion. The New York & expansion. The New York & Erie railroad was planned Erie railroad was planned and built under the oversight and built under the oversight of the New York state of the New York state legislature.legislature.


The New York and Erie Railroad


From 1850-1871, the national government gave railroad From 1850-1871, the national government gave railroad corporations more than 200 million acres of land for railroad corporations more than 200 million acres of land for railroad construction; states offered about 50 million acres. However, construction; states offered about 50 million acres. However, because of this, much of the land surrounding the railroad was because of this, much of the land surrounding the railroad was withheld from homesteaders.withheld from homesteaders.

After railroad companies became inundated with corruption, After railroad companies became inundated with corruption, state governments took action. In 1869, Massachusetts state governments took action. In 1869, Massachusetts established a commission to supervise railroads. However, a established a commission to supervise railroads. However, a Supreme Court case in 1886 declared that a state could not Supreme Court case in 1886 declared that a state could not regulate interstate commerce. The federal government would regulate interstate commerce. The federal government would have to take action. have to take action.

The Interstate Commerce Act, signed by President Cleveland in The Interstate Commerce Act, signed by President Cleveland in 1887, forbade railroads to engage in discriminatory practices, 1887, forbade railroads to engage in discriminatory practices, mandated just rates, and outlawed pooling agreements.mandated just rates, and outlawed pooling agreements.



Many of the industries in the Many of the industries in the United States began forming United States began forming trusts in the late 19trusts in the late 19thth century. century. The Steel industry was united by The Steel industry was united by J.P. Morgan, and John Rockefeller J.P. Morgan, and John Rockefeller united the oil industry.united the oil industry.

The government fought back The government fought back against these trusts. As with the against these trusts. As with the railroads, the states were the railroads, the states were the first to begin regulating the first to begin regulating the trusts, and later, the federal trusts, and later, the federal government began to help with government began to help with the 1890 passing of the Sherman the 1890 passing of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Although this bill Antitrust Act. Although this bill seemed strongly worded, many seemed strongly worded, many lawyers still found loopholes.lawyers still found loopholes.



The government also helped different minority groups gain The government also helped different minority groups gain their rights. Many of the new Western states gave women full their rights. Many of the new Western states gave women full suffrage, including Wyoming, which was the first in 1890.suffrage, including Wyoming, which was the first in 1890.

The government made many changes in the economy after the The government made many changes in the economy after the election of Hayes in 1876. Hayes’ insistence of the Specie election of Hayes in 1876. Hayes’ insistence of the Specie Resumption act led to the formation of a new political party, Resumption act led to the formation of a new political party, the Greenback party, but all attempts to dissuade Hayes failed.the Greenback party, but all attempts to dissuade Hayes failed.

The coinage of silver was also a major issue. After the gold The coinage of silver was also a major issue. After the gold rushes of the 1850’s, the United States adopted the gold rushes of the 1850’s, the United States adopted the gold standard, leaving the new silver mines discovered with no standard, leaving the new silver mines discovered with no market. This issue would dominate the political landscape for market. This issue would dominate the political landscape for decades to come.decades to come.



The Bland-Allison Act in The Bland-Allison Act in 1878 restarted the 1878 restarted the coinage of silver, allowing coinage of silver, allowing between 2 and 4 million between 2 and 4 million dollars worth of it by dollars worth of it by coined each year.coined each year.

Later, the Sherman Silver Later, the Sherman Silver Purchase Act was passed Purchase Act was passed as part of a compromise; as part of a compromise; however, by changing the however, by changing the federal silver requirements federal silver requirements to ounces rather than to ounces rather than dollars, the lowering prices dollars, the lowering prices allowed the government to allowed the government to spend less and less on spend less and less on silver.silver.



The Election of 1896 was The Election of 1896 was the culmination of the the culmination of the silver issue. William silver issue. William McKinley stood for Gold, McKinley stood for Gold, while William Jennings while William Jennings Bryan and his famous Bryan and his famous “Cross of Gold” speech “Cross of Gold” speech spoke out against the gold spoke out against the gold standard. After McKinley standard. After McKinley triumphed, gold was triumphed, gold was discovered Alaska and discovered Alaska and Australia, and the inflation Australia, and the inflation that silver supporters had that silver supporters had desired came.desired came.



Discussion Questions:Discussion Questions: What effect did Andrew Jackson’s feelings on internal What effect did Andrew Jackson’s feelings on internal

improvements have?improvements have? How did the government’s programs on the railroad both help How did the government’s programs on the railroad both help

and hinder the westward expansion of the United States?and hinder the westward expansion of the United States? How did the different government programs encourage How did the different government programs encourage

westward expansion, and how could they have been improved?westward expansion, and how could they have been improved? How did the discovery of silver in the West affect the growth of How did the discovery of silver in the West affect the growth of

the nation?the nation? How did states exercise their rights and have them restricted How did states exercise their rights and have them restricted

during the growth of America?during the growth of America? Why did the government support the businesses and Why did the government support the businesses and

corporations overcorporations overindustrial workers in labor issues?industrial workers in labor issues?


How crucial were How crucial were the contributions the contributions of the government of the government to the building of to the building of

America?America?

How crucial were the How crucial were the government’s government’s contributions?contributions?

Without the cooperation of the army and state Without the cooperation of the army and state governments, along with the federal government's support, governments, along with the federal government's support, American business would not have gained the monumental American business would not have gained the monumental asset of a consistent and continental railroad. The Sherman asset of a consistent and continental railroad. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was a valuable statement of the Anti-Trust Act was a valuable statement of the government’s support for the common man, and the government’s support for the common man, and the federal government provided substantial support to federal government provided substantial support to industrial factories and corporations in labor battles.industrial factories and corporations in labor battles.

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How crucial were the How crucial were the government’s government’s contributions?contributions?

State and national governments were instrumental to the State and national governments were instrumental to the development of America's industry during this time period. development of America's industry during this time period. Consider the facts presented in this exhibit when Consider the facts presented in this exhibit when evaluating the contributions made by different groups evaluating the contributions made by different groups towards the building of America.towards the building of America.

So… Who built America, after all?So… Who built America, after all?


BibliographyBibliography Blum, John M. et al.; Blum, John M. et al.; The National ExperienceThe National Experience Eighth EditionEighth Edition.. Newman, John & Schmalbach, John; Newman, John & Schmalbach, John; United States HistoryUnited States History.. Chaitkin, Anton; Chaitkin, Anton; Executive Intelligence ReviewExecutive Intelligence Review, July 17, 1988 , July 17, 1988

http://members.tripod.com/~american_almanac/railroad.htm#7http://members.tripod.com/~american_almanac/railroad.htm#7 http://libwww.syr.edu/digital/images/e/ErieRailroad/http://libwww.syr.edu/digital/images/e/ErieRailroad/ http://franklaughter.tripod.com/cgi-bin/growth/http://franklaughter.tripod.com/cgi-bin/growth/ http://www.ussteel.com/corp/index.htmhttp://www.ussteel.com/corp/index.htm Wikipedia; en.wikipedia.orgWikipedia; en.wikipedia.org www.sokotapictures.com/sponsors.htmlwww.sokotapictures.com/sponsors.html www.usagold.com/ gold/coins/bars.html www.usagold.com/ gold/coins/bars.html http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exhibit/Community/http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exhibit/Community/

coins.htmlcoins.html http://www.objectsby.com/ images/1francgrand.jpghttp://www.objectsby.com/ images/1francgrand.jpg

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CreditsCreditsExecutive ProducersExecutive Producers

Danny ChaoDanny Chao

Grant JohnsonGrant Johnson

Adam LedererAdam Lederer

Daniel SchaferDaniel Schafer

DirectorsDirectorsDanny ChaoDanny Chao




Voice ActorsVoice Actors

Danny ChaoDanny Chao

Music & SoundMusic & Sound

““Who Built America?”Who Built America?”


© 2004 - Rellik Productions© 2004 - Rellik Productions

Special Thanks To:Special Thanks To:Danny ChaoDanny Chao




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Who Built America? State and National Governments.

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