Class in America (History)

Class in the 19th Century

Latoya Dawson

American History and Culture AMER 200 01

Professor Culkin

As America continued to grow, we consider what lead to its growth. There are many factors that one can argue that lead to the growth of the country. But one thing the growth of the country did contribute to be a clear split between those with wealth and those with none. As we moved through the century, we can see that immigrants contributed to the ever-growing gap between classes.

In 1865, Jourdon Anderson responded to his former slave owners request for him to return to the plantation. At that time, slave owners tried to maintain their control over their former slaves through sharecropping contracts (Anderson, 1865). Anderson wrote to his former master, in my opinion, to test his true nature. If his previous master was able to adhere to his terms, then he would return. Slave owners needed assistance to tend their fields as the demand grew. The growth in the demand for farmed goods grew as the market revolution grew. With the market revolution came steam power, steamboats and railroads. Farmers began growing crops for profit rather than self sufficiency (Locke, Market revolution,, 2017). With this new cash economy, most were freed from the dependence of servitude. They became laborers. As personal wealth grew for some many Americans worked for low wages which kept them in poverty. It sparked a growing lower class who did not own property called “panics”.

The railroad system was shut down when railroad workers, who were the economic lifeblood of the nation (Locke, Capital and labor,, 2017), decided to strike. With the destruction of property totaling $40 Million, laborers believed that there was a need for institutionalized unions. This was a way to gain control over laborers with government aid and political influence. With the economic growth came an influx of immigrants. This created urbanization. This also grew industrial capitalism. This was a driving force that drew immigrants the America. Some earned enough money to return home to purchase land and some were able to assimilate in America. These who stayed were able to obtain information written in their language and have buildings where they could continue their traditions (Locke, Immigration and urbanization, 2017).

As immigrants came to America and the gap between the classes grew, there became a need to assist those in the lower class. They did not easily accept handouts from the government. They were individualists who would not accept assistances (Anbinder, 2017). The lower class seemed to be designated for immigrants.

References Anbinder, T. (2017). Today’s banned immigrants are no different from our immigrant ancestors. . Retrieved from http://blog.historians.org/2017/02/todays-banned-immigrants-are-no-different-than-our-immigrant-ancestors/ Anderson, J. (1865, Aug. 7). Jourdon Anderson Writes to His Former Master. Retrieved from American Yawp: http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/reconstruction/jourdon-anderson-writes-his-former-master-1865/ Locke, J. a. (2017). Capital and labor,. In The American Yawp. Locke, J. a. (2017). Immigration and urbanization. In The American Yawp. Locke, J. a. (2017). Market revolution,. In The American Yawp. Retrieved from http://www.americanyawp.com/text/08-the-market-revolution/