The Mid-to-Late 1800’s

When the Founding Fathers wrote the U.S. Constitution, they thought about including something that would eliminate slavery. In the end, they decided it wasn’t the right time. Southern plantations depended on slaves for free labor; northern industries relied on slaves too. Private citizens and the slaves themselves would have to…

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a slave child? Or how the slaves came to be in America?   Slavery is not a new idea, but has been around for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians all kept slaves. Today, slaves are…

Black people first began coming to America in the 1600s, as slaves for plantation owners who had come from Spain and England. These Africans helped build the country in those early days, yet they’re rarely mentioned.   Fun Facts During the 1700s, American colonists were getting tired of Britain’s rule…

The course of history seems to be that as we find solutions to one problem, we often create new ones. In the late 1800s, factories provided goods to people more quickly and cheaply than ever before. At the same time, advances in farm equipment and techniques meant that farmers could…

Between 1880 and 1920, almost 25 million people came to America from other countries. Most of these immigrants came from Europe. They came to escape terrible poverty in their own country, having often heard rumors that the streets of America were paved with gold. They believed that America was a…

The Victorian Era, named for Great Britain’s Queen Victoria, was a time of tremendous change in both America and Europe. Inventions like electric light, the vacuum cleaner, and even the first electric iron, made life easier for many Americans. They had more time for recreation, art, and literature. For the…

Until the late 1800s, most people in America lived in small farming communities. The Industrial Revolution changed all that as people came to the cities looking for work. European immigrants arrived in America hoping for a better life. New inventions, such as the telephone and electric lights, made life easier…

The poor generally remained poor during the Industrial Revolution, but a few ambitious men made huge fortunes. These men saw the changing times and seized opportunities. They made their businesses as efficient and streamlined as possible. And they used ruthless business practices to drive competitors out of business. Some people…

The late 1800s were a time of great change for the United States. Before the Civil War, most people lived in small villages and worked on farms. Life revolved around the home, where most of a family’s necessities were produced. Families raised livestock and grew much of their food. They…

Western guidebooks described the plains area as a place with little water or firewood. But when the Homestead Act of 1862 was declared, even these dire descriptions couldn’t discourage settlers looking for a better way of life. Fun Facts Anyone was allowed to claim a tract of 160 acres. The…