Transcript The Rise of America (1870

The Rise of America (1870-1900)
Immigration
• From 1870 to 1900 the united States saw 20
million immigrants enter the U.S.
• Most headed to cities and wound up in the
poor and unsafe sections in slums
• Chicago saw so many immigrants packed into
places that a Great Fire killed hundreds in
1871
The Spanish American War-1898
• Spain still had colonies in the U.S. in Puerto
Rico and Cuba
• President McKinley sent the USS Maine to
Havana to protect Americans in an uprising
• On the way, the ship exploded and the United
States declared war on Spain (though there
was not proof they were responsible)
Teddy Roosevelt-American Hero
• Theodore Roosevelt took a group of Rough
Riders (cowboys from the West) and buffalo
soldiers (African Americans) to fight in Cuba
• The U.S. won the war in 1898 and Cuba was
finally independent
• The U.S. gained Puerto Rico as a territory
A Tough Time for Farmers
• In the 1880s times were tough for farmers
• Thomas Jefferson had believed farmers were
God’s chosen people—the backbone of the
country
• Railroads shipping their crops charged high
amounts many could not afford
The Populist Party
• A new political party emerged in favor of
farmer’s rights
• This party even nominated candidates to run
in state and federal elections
• Ultimately, they could not compete with
Democrats and Republicans
• By the 20th century, more Americans lived in
cities than on farms