U.S. Federal Government Expansion

UNIT 1 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT HIST105-1204B-14 U. S. History By Espola R. Smith AIU Online October 7, 2012 Abstract The U. S. federal government expansion of authority between the beginning of the U. S. Civil War and the end of the Civil Right Era had many historical events that took place. You will learn about some of these events that went on between the times of the Civil War and the Civil Right Era. These events have played a major role in the world today. They have made the world what it is today. You will learn the time periods in which the acts were enacted; these altogether are relevant periods that happened.UNIT 1 Individual Project Everything that happened in the U. S. federal government expansion of authority between the beginning of the U. S. Civil War and the end of the Civil Right Era was very important. The events that happen have had an effect on everything that is going on in the world today. Some people do not know it, but what happen is still affecting the way that thi ngs are being done today. There are plenty examples of the things that happened. One example of U. S. federal government expansion of authority between the beginnings of the U.S. Civil War and the end of the Civil Right Era were in 1865 when Congress was authorized to eliminate slavery. By doing this they created the thirteenth amendment. The Proclamation to stop slavery had already been presented. It was an executive order. The political structure showed that the Proclamation granted Congress the power to enforce through legislation, which is considered the most important part (Tony, 2012). This gave them the ability to go ahead and take further action against the Ten Confederate States.This gave the government a way to introduce and pass further proclamations and anything else they had to do in regards to the rights of slaves. Social structures showed that the full civil rights were still way off. The law and public opinion were not always on the same page. While knowing that by l aw freed slaves and their descendants were citizens and they still had the same rights as whites, but they were still getting treated differently than others (Tony, 2012). The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was another example. It was passed on 9th April 1866. This act declared that everybody that was born in the United States were now citizens.As being a citizen, they could now make and enforce contracts, sue and be sued, give evidence in court, and inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real and personal property. People who denied the rights to former slaves were guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction they were faced with a fine, imprisonment, or both (Reconstruction, 2003). The Force Act of 1870 was another example of the federal government expansion. This force act was passed by the congress of the United States shortly after the American Civil War helped protect the voting rights of African-Americans.This act enforced the right to the people of the United States to vo te in the several States. In this act, the government banned the use of certain things to prevent people from voting because of their race. The Force Acts were mainly aimed at limiting the Ku Klux Klan.. Thus the federal government had the power to prosecute the offenses, including calling federal juries to hear the cases (Shay, 2012). My last example of the federal government expansion happened in 1869. On May 10, 1869 was the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad.This railroad was also known originally as the â€Å"Pacific Railroad† and later as the â€Å"Overland Route†. It was a railroad that was built in the United States of America between 1863 and 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad of California. A transcontinental railroad had been dreamed of as early as 1836 ((Completing the Transcontinental Railroad, 1869, 2004). The transcontinental railroad had long been a dream for people living in the American West. From time to time it was suggested by visi onaries and discussed by the orators and newspapers.The first transcontinental railroad link was almost instantly celebrated around the nation because a telegraph wire was connected to the last rail spiked. For many Americans, the new transcontinental link seemed to usher in a new era. The completion of the transcontinental railroad made the American West easily accessible, creating a boon of trade, business and population. The railroad has brought the country together (Completing the Transcontinental Railroad, 1869, 2004). These historical events have led to social, political, economic, and cultural change within the United States. They are important in the world today.If these historical events would not have taken place, than the world would be different as of the things that are going on today. It is a good thing that these events did take place, because it has made the world what is today. Not saying that the world is perfect, but it is better today than it was in the past. How ever, these events have made the world a better place. These events have changed the way people think and how they do things now. I am so glad that the historical events took place. If I had to grow up in the world before these events happen, I do not know if I would have been able to handle it.It was rough back in the day, but that is part of life. References â€Å"Completing the Transcontinental Railroad, 1869†. (2004). EyeWitness to History. Retrieved from www. eyewitnesstohistory. com. Reconstruction. (Dec. 19, 2003). Retrieved from http://www. pbs. org/wgbh/amex/reconstruction/activism/ps_1866. html Shay, A. (May 31, 2012). Publishing the Long Civil Rights Movement. Retrieved from https://lcrm. lib. unc. edu/blog/index. php/tag/force-act-of-1870/ Tony, P. (Jan. 31, 2012). U. S. Congress. Retrieved from http://www. newsinhistory. com/blog/us-congress-passes-13th-amendment-abolish-slavery