1870-1880

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Recommended: American literature in the late 1800's

1870-1880

During the 1870’s the United States experienced great changes with the end of the Civil War. America was going through a period called Reconstruction. Tensions were fairly high and an air of freedom was present throughout the nation. By 1877, it was obvious the United States was beginning to develop into a recognizably modern economic system of making, earning, spending, and living (Brown 60). In 1880, “over half of American workers worked on farms and only one in twenty worked on manufacturing” (Brown 59). Farmers outnumbered factory by a large number, but factories were still abundant. Child labor occurred after the Civil War as well. By 1872, more than 10,000 children were employed in Philadelphia’s industrial workplaces. That number was even larger in cities such as New York, and it increased as the years progressed (Brown 60).

The decade of 1870-1880 consisted of many important issues in American history. Industrialization began to make to makes its way into the American colony. In 1870, the first transcontinental railroad trip in the United States took place. The transcontinental railroad brought America together. This made it easier for traveling and especially made it easier for the industries by being able to commute products back and forth. The transcontinental railroad was the best invention and had a great impact of life for the United States at this time. Another great event that happened for this country was the discovery of gold in 1874. The discovery of gold in the Dakota Territory brought thousands of gold diggers into the Black Hills reservation. Another very important invention that changed America was the telephone on March 10, 1876, by Alexander Graham Bell. This allowed Ameri...

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...ccording to Perkins, although French and Russian realists and naturalists influenced James style, “in Contrast to the European naturalists whose tutelage he acknowledged, he rebelled against the materialistic interpretation of human destiny, and struggled with the problem of undeniable evil as desperately as Hawthorne, whom, among earlier Americans he most admired” (Perkins 1055). This shows that James was greatly influenced by Europeans, but he also has his added his own unique American style. One of James’ stories, “Daisy Miller," takes place in Switzerland. Throughout this story Europeans see America as being hostile and somewhat harsh. During the decade between 1870 and 1880 , the United States was once again beginning to rebuild the nation. This rebuilding or reconstruction not only affected attitudes, but it affected art and literature throughout the world.

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