Dreams Of America Summary

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The story America is a story of dreamers. Dreams of America began as colonialists recognized the increasing separation between themselves and England and their lack of representation in Parliament. Several factors allowed the colonialists to defeat the strongest army in the world at the time including, help from the French and knowledge of the land, but perhaps what was most important was the passion the colonialists had for their dream of the future. After the American Revolution the colonies became united through the Constitution developed by the second Continental Congress. As the country was being developed the dreams of Americans focused on the West. For Americans their dreams were based on manifest destiny or the idea that conquering the continent is the duty of Americans. Despite dangers individuals traveled west in search of more freedom, their own land or wealth. As Americans traveled westward the United States acquired new territory and with each addition the political fabric of America ripped for the question of the expansion of slavery was brought up. Not only was slavery causing conflict but by the 1850s the dreams of the North and South were split politically and socially. The conflict came to its climax when Abraham Lincoln became president for he did not represent the South, as a result the southern states…show more content…
Yet, the dreams of the slaves did not endure for new laws were established in the South that restricted the rights of African-Americans. Meanwhile, cities in the north were experiencing an industrial boom, which attracted immigrants in the last half of the 19th century. However, their American dreams were not fulfilled due to unregulated work and housing. This is largely due to the fact that wealthy business owners controlled the country, not the government. Theodore Roosevelt and other activists worked to solve these
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