Changes

Russia needed money to pay for its defensive efforts at the time, as it felt threatened by the massive and growing British Empire.  The purchase price was $7,200,000, which was only about 1.9¢ per acre.  The Senate approved this deal nearly unanimously, but the House of Representatives delayed before eventually authorizing funds for the purchase.  The property became useful in World War II in fighting Japan, and during the Cold War in opposing the communist Soviet Union.  One can see Russia from parts of Alaska.

Russia needed money to pay for its defensive efforts at the time, as it felt threatened by the massive and growing British Empire.  The purchase price was $7,200,000, which was only about 1.9¢ per acre.  The Senate approved this deal nearly unanimously, but the House of Representatives delayed before eventually authorizing funds for the purchase.  The property became useful in World War II in fighting Japan, and during the Cold War in opposing the communist Soviet Union.  One can see Russia from parts of Alaska.

But while the Republicans controlled the presidency from 1868 to 1912 (with the exception of Grover Cleveland), the Democratic Party controlled much of local politics.  "Tammany Hall" was the name of the Democratic Party organization that controlled New York City.  It was a completely corrupt "machine" that elected people, gave out jobs, and even stole money from the City.  Eventually, it was the ''New York Times'' and America's most famous cartoonist, Thomas Nast, who harshly mocked its leader, "Boss" Tweed and drove him from power.  Thomas Nast's cartoons whipped the public into scorning Boss Tweed and demanding that he be brought to justice.  When Boss Tweed was eventually sent to jail, Nast cheered Tweed's humiliation.  This demonstrated the growing influence of political cartoons in changing the course of history.

But while the Republicans controlled the presidency from 1868 to 1912 (with the exception of Grover Cleveland), the Democratic Party controlled much of local politics.  "Tammany Hall" was the name of the Democratic Party organization that controlled New York City.  It was a completely corrupt "machine" that elected people, gave out jobs, and even stole money from the City.  Eventually, it was America's most famous cartoonist, Thomas Nast, who harshly mocked its leader, "Boss" Tweed and drove him from power.  Thomas Nast's cartoons whipped the public into scorning Boss Tweed and demanding that he be brought to justice.  When Boss Tweed was eventually sent to jail, Nast cheered Tweed's humiliation.  This demonstrated the growing influence of political cartoons in changing the course of history.

Shortly after the Civil War the Republicans won presidential elections easily.  But the presidential contest of 1876 was virtually a tie, and former Ohio Governor Rutherford B. Hayes was able to win only due to a post-election deal between the Republican and Democratic Parties.  The deal, as mentioned in the prior lecture, was for the Republicans to end Reconstruction in the South in exchange for the Democrats agreeing to the swearing in of Hayes as President.  Hayes served for only one term.  He was considered a "moderate" and the Hayes Administration was uneventful.  To its credit, it was free of the scandals that plagued the Grant Administration before him.

Shortly after the Civil War the Republicans won presidential elections easily.  But the presidential contest of 1876 was virtually a tie, and former Ohio Governor Rutherford B. Hayes was able to win only due to a post-election deal between the Republican and Democratic Parties.  The deal, as mentioned in the prior lecture, was for the Republicans to end Reconstruction in the South in exchange for the Democrats agreeing to the swearing in of Hayes as President.  Hayes served for only one term.  He was considered a "moderate" and the Hayes Administration was uneventful.  To its credit, it was free of the scandals that plagued the Grant Administration before him.

=== Eads Bridge ===

=== Eads Bridge ===

An engineering marvel which stands to this day is the Eads Bridge (photo above), which crosses the Mississippi River from St. Louis to Illinois and was the first-of-a-kind in many respects.  It was built to be the first bridge to carry heavy trains, and was the first bridge of any kind across the Mississippi south of the confluence of the Missouri River, which makes the Mississippi River wider.  The Eads Bridge has a long span and a high elevation for its time above the water.  It also used steel, which was an innovation at the time.

An engineering marvel which stands to this day is the Eads Bridge (photo above), which crosses the Mississippi River from St. Louis to Illinois and was the first-of-a-kind in many respects.  It was the first significant bridge to cross the Mississippi River, the first to transport heavy railroad cars over the Mississippi, the first large structure having a frame made out of steel, and the first bridge of any kind across the Mississippi south of the confluence of the Missouri River, which makes the Mississippi River wider.  The Eads Bridge has a long span and a high elevation (for its time) above the water, so that boats could pass underneath.

Construction began in 1868 with its then-controversial design, and was completed in 1874.  It was a spectacular success which made St. Louis a gateway for railroad travel to the West.  Today it is the oldest bridge across the Mississippi River, and it continues to carry rail and car traffic every day.  It is named after the engineer who designed it, James Buchanan Eads.

The bridge is named after its designer and builder, James Buchanan Eads, who was self-taught and widely ridiculed. This was the first bridge he had ever built!  Construction began in 1868 under his supervision with his then-controversial design, and was completed in 1874.  The river is wide and a very deep 103 feet there, because it is below the Mississippi-Missouri confluence.  But Eads implemented innovative construction including the first use of pneumatic caissons in the United States for the underwater construction, and above the surface he used what became the cantilever technique.<ref>https://study.com/academy/lesson/eads-bridge-construction-facts.html</ref>

 

The Eads bridge was a spectacular success which made St. Louis a gateway for railroad travel to the West.  Today it is the oldest functioning bridge across the Mississippi River, and it continues to carry rail (the MetroLink) and car traffic every day.  The Eads bridge stands as a monument to the innovative productive post-Civil War era.

=== Grant's Memoirs ===

=== Grant's Memoirs ===

Less than ten years later, Grant was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer.  He knew he would not live much longer.  But he was bankrupt, having lost his fortune in an unsuccessful investment company, and his beloved wife Julia was to live another 17 years after Grant died.

Less than ten years later, Grant was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer.  He knew he would not live much longer.  But he was bankrupt, having lost his fortune in an unsuccessful investment company, and his beloved wife Julia was to live another 17 years after Grant died.

In an attempt to earn some money for his wife to live on after Grant died, he began to work as fast as he could to write his memoirs (autobiography).  Grant did not know how many more days he had to live, so he worked as hard as his poor health would permit.  His memoirs were a first-person account of his childhood, education, participation in the Mexican War, and especially his experiences as a Union General during the great Civil War battles (except for Gettysburg - Grant was at Vicksburg then).  Grant completed his memoirs only a short time before he died in 1885.  (He is buried in New York City, along with his wife, at a monument known a "Grant's Tomb.")

In an attempt to earn some money for his wife to live on after Grant died, he worked as fast as he could to write his memoirs (autobiography).  Grant did not know how many more days he had to live, so he was as diligent as his poor health would permit.  His memoirs were a first-person account of his childhood, education, participation in the Mexican War, and especially his experiences as a Union General during the great Civil War battles (except for Gettysburg - Grant was at Vicksburg then).  Grant completed his memoirs only a short time before he died in 1885.  (He is buried in New York City, along with his wife, at a monument known a "Grant's Tomb.")

This book, the "Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant," by Ulysses S. Grant, was a masterpiece.  Mark Twain, himself one of the greatest American writers, called Grant's memoirs the best "of any general's since Caesar."  Edmund Wilson, a prominent 20th century American writer, praised Grant's memoirs by observing that the "reader finds himself ... on edge to know how the Civil War is coming out."  Sales of the book generated a fortune of $450,000 for Grant's wife, which (due to inflation) was equivalent to more than $10 million in today's dollars.

This book, the "Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant," by Ulysses S. Grant, was a masterpiece.  Mark Twain, himself one of the greatest American writers, called Grant's memoirs the best "of any general's since Caesar."  Edmund Wilson, a prominent 20th century American writer, praised Grant's memoirs by observing that the "reader finds himself ... on edge to know how the Civil War is coming out."  Sales of the book generated a fortune of $450,000 for Grant's widow, which (due to inflation) was equivalent to more than $10 million in today's dollars.

Grant's memoirs are now freely available on the internet for your own enjoyment and learning, at the Gutenberg website, in an easy-to-download pdf format.<ref>http://www.gutenberg.org/files/4367/4367-pdf/4367-pdf.pdf</ref>  Grant's first words to begin his book are, "'Man proposes and God disposes.' There are but few important events in the affairs of men brought about by their own choice."  Enjoy skimming or reading this important book, and your homework assignment this week can be based on your thoughts about it.  (If you download the pdf, then you can search for terms in the book (by holding the control key down and hitting the "f" key), such as "Appomattox".

Grant's memoirs are now freely available on the internet for your own enjoyment and learning, at the Gutenberg website, in an easy-to-download pdf format.<ref>http://www.gutenberg.org/files/4367/4367-pdf/4367-pdf.pdf</ref>  Grant's first words to begin his book are, "'Man proposes and God disposes.' There are but few important events in the affairs of men brought about by their own choice."  Enjoy skimming or reading this important book, and your homework assignment this week can be based on your thoughts about it.  (If you download the pdf, then you can search for terms in the book (by holding the control key down and hitting the "f" key), such as "Appomattox".