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The Homestead Act
After the Homestead Act farmers could buy land from the government for $1.25 an acre or if they had worked the land they could have it for free. Although land near railroads that the railroads owned usually cost around $25 an acre. While that land was more expensive it gave access to other places since they were close to the railroad. On average farmers spent around $1,200 to get their farm going in the 1800's. (Davidson, et al, P 487-488) -
The Freedmen's Bureau
The job of this was to supervise the transition from slavery to feedom in southern plantations. There were around 550 agents who supervised work conditions in the south after the Civil War. While the agents of this bureau were supposed to be helping the African Americans they ended up helping the planters by arresting those who violated their contracts or refused to sign new contracts. In 1872 the bureau had gone completely out of business. (Davidson, et al, P 451-452) -
The Transcontinental Railroad
In 1862 Congress decided to let the Central Pacific Railroad the right to build the eastern link of the railroad. They decided that the Union Pacific Railroad would build west. The Union Pacific built their section of railroad with help from Civil war veterans, Irish, and other European immigrants. The Central Pacific decided to recruit some ten thousand Chinese. (Davidson, et al, P 484-485) -
Fifteenth Amendment ratified
The Fifteenth Amendment was extremely important because it gave African American men the right to vote. This Amendment was sent to the states for ratification in February of 1869. While this Amendment was very helpful it left loopholes that allowed southern states to be able to deny African Americans the right to vote. (Davidson, et al, P 454) -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
Passed during Grant's second term. This was the last major piece of Reconstruction legislation. This blocked discrimination in public areas such as trasportation, places of amusement, and juries. Although this was a law the federal government did little to enforce it and it was mostly ignored. (Davidson, et al, P 455) -
Invention of the Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell was experimenting with ways to transmit speech. The first words were "Mr. Watson, come here! I want you." There was no longer a need to telegraph office. By 1900 over 1.5 million telephones were in America. The American Telephone and Telegraph company opened their first transcontinental line in 1915. Ever since its invention the telephone has been connecting the country through easy communication. (Davidson, et al, P 505) -
Battle of Little Big Horn
Custer's seventh cavalry of six hundred men went up against the Sioux. Custer arrived at the Little Big Horn River a day early than the rest of his troops. He attacked a nearby village only to discover that there were more than seven thousand Sioux and Cheyenne allied against him. The Sioux leader Crazy Horse attacked Custer kiling him and his 267 soldiers. (Davidson, et al, P 476) -
The Great Railroad Strike
Started when the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad cut pay by 20%. After this workers took control of the depot and blocked the line. President Hayes sent in troops to stop the strike but instead many railroads shut down their lines out of sympathy. This strike left 100 people dead and cost the railroad $10 million worth of equipment. This strike signaled the great power of labor. (Davidson, et al, P 523)