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Running head: HISTORY MIDTERM ESSAY History Midterm Essay October 13, 2008 History Midterm Essay It is quite difficult to choose the most important events in American history. The history of the United States is rich in events, beginning with the milestone events like the Pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Louisiana purchase, and ending with the invention of personal computer, putting a man on the moon, free and widespread public schooling, to mention a few. On the first sign, all these events have long-term effects on America and American society, and one can easily select hundred or more events that had a great impact on the U. S. history.
However, there are three major themes, recognition of which is an important step in achieving a clearer understanding and appreciation of American history signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which meant the birth of the American nation, Civil War that had significant economic, political, and social impact on the United States, and the Louisiana Purchase that doubled the United States in size, - the most important events that are essential to knowledge of the course of American history, as well as the United States society today. The Declaration of Independence is one of the most significant events in American history. This statement was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. According to the Declaration of Independence, the thirteen American colonies were proclaimed to be no longer a part of the British Empire. The United States was announced to be free and independent states, and under the Declaration, it was finally Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. (Declaration of Independence - A Brief History, 2008) This was the most important event in American history, as it formally marked the birth of the independent American nation and represented the formal first step in relation to separation of the colonies from the control of Great Britain. The second important event is Civil War.
The American Civil War (1861 - 1865), which is also known as the War Between the States had many significant social, economical and political impacts on the United States history (Prucha, 1993). The war, in fact, proved that the slavery will never be tolerated going forward in America and showed that the states will never be allowed to secede from the Union and go their own way in case they dislike federal policy. The American Civil War of 1861 - 1865, therefore, managed to preserve the Union by solving the slavery problem and readmitted the states that had succeeded from the Union. What concerns the influence on economy, the Civil War had ruinous and devastating impact on the economy of the South. It destroyed agricultural resources, and, at the same time, abolished slavery.
In such a way, the Civil War transformed the agrarian America to the industrial society. Rapidly changing technology that emerged as a direct reaction to the wartime needs in the United States along with the fact that North replaced South as the economic center of America also contributed to the development of the industrial society (Prucha, 1993). Finally, other important events, such as the Emancipation proclamation, and the Thirteen, Fourteen and Fifteen Amendments played very important role for the civil rights movement. In such a way, Civil War set the stage for abolishment of the slavery, made the American nation a stronger whole, and contributed to enhancement of various aspects of daily life (for example, the outcomes of the war contributed to the improvement of banking system, health care, city life, farming, to mention a few).
To a certain extent, as far Civil War freed the slaves, it became also very important for the civil rights movement, which, in its turn, helped African Americans to gain rights. Finally, the third most important event in American history is the Louisiana Purchase. The United States purchased Louisiana in 1803 (Harvard guide to American History, 2002). This purchase had crucial impact on the United States history due to various reasons. First of all, from an economic point of view, the purchase of Louisiana from France doubled the size of America. Both geographically and territorially, Louisiana was a worthwhile purchase, as its territory was rich in natural resources and minerals.
Louisiana also provided a Midwest access to the sea, thus creating favorable conditions for trade and commerce and reduced the United States' dependence on European ports. In addition, this action made by Jefferson, the president of the United States, established the presidential power to expand the borders of the country under the powers defined by the Constitution. In such a way, it strengthened the United States materially, set off westward expansion, and confirmed the implied power of the federal Constitution. In conclusion it may be sad that despite a wide range of important events in American history, there are three events that played the most important role. In such a way, there are three major issues, recognition of which is an important step in achieving a clearer understanding and appreciation of American history signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which meant the birth of the American nation, Civil War that had significant economic, political, and social impact on the United States, and the Louisiana Purchase that doubled the United States in size, - the most important events that are essential to knowledge of the course of American history, as well as the United States society today. References Declaration of Independence - A Brief History. (2008).
Retrieved October 12, 2008, from web Harvard guide to American History. (2002). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. Prucha, F. P. (1993).
Handbook for research in American History. Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press.
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Research essay sample on American Civil War Civil Rights Movement
