Changes

Not every event between 1861 and 1877 was related to slavery, the Civil War or Reconstruction.

Not every event between 1861 and 1877 was related to slavery, the Civil War or Reconstruction.

In 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act, which granted 160 acres to anyone who farmed land for 5 years.  This encouraged people to migrate West, and the South opposed this law.  Also in 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railway Act, which established government subsidies and land in order to build a transcontinental railroad to connect the East Coast with the West Coast.  This railroad was completed in Utah in 1869 and served to unify the national economy.

In 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act, which granted 160 acres to anyone who farmed land for 5 years.  This encouraged people to migrate West, and the South opposed this law.  Also in 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railway Act, which provided government (taxpayer) subsidies and land in order to build a transcontinental railroad to connect the East Coast with the West Coast.  This railroad was completed in Utah in 1869 and served to unify the national economy.

There was one more significant piece of legislation enacted in 1862:  the Morrill Land Grant Act, which established agricultural colleges by giving each state 30k acres times the state's number of congressman.

There was one more significant piece of legislation enacted in 1862:  the Morrill Land Grant Act, which established agricultural colleges by giving each state 30,000 acres times the state's number of congressman.

How did Congress accomplish so much in 1862?  You might recall that the Civil War was mostly a stalemate between the Union and the Confederacy during that period.

How did Congress pass the above bills in 1862?  You might recall that the Civil War was mostly a stalemate between the Union and the Confederacy during that period.

Immigration into California from China caused many union laborers to object, because the Chinese would work more industriously and for less pay than union workers.  The Burlingame Treaty was signed between the United States and China in 1868, and it permitted unrestricted immigration by Chinese to U.S.  It was the Chinese immigrants who finally conquered the treacherous Sierra-Nevada mountain range and built the railroad over it, finally enabling completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869 (the final link was in Utah).  Afterward, factory owners as far away as Massachusetts would transport immigrants from California in order to break a strike by union workers (in other words, replace the local striking workers with the transported Chinese immigrants).

Immigration was controversial in the 1860s.  Specifically, Chinese immigration into California caused many union laborers to object, because the Chinese would work more industriously and for less pay than union workers.  The Burlingame Treaty was signed between the United States and China in 1868, and it permitted unrestricted immigration by Chinese to U.S.  The Chinese immigrants finally conquered the treacherous Sierra-Nevada mountain range and built the railroad over it, enabling completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869 (the final link was in Utah).  Afterward, factory owners as far away as Massachusetts would transport immigrants from California in order to break a strike by union workers (in other words, replace the local striking workers with the transported Chinese immigrants).

Conflicts with Indians continued during the Civil War and afterward.   

Conflicts with Indians continued during the Civil War and afterward.   

The Sioux Wars lasted from 1864 to 1867 between Indians and the Union Army in Colorado, Montana, and the Dakotas (North and South Dakota).  The most famous battle of all, however, occurred a decade later.  General George Custer was a highly popular and charismatic cavalry officer who sported long yellow hair and the latest fashions in his clothing.  But he also graduated last in his class at West Point, in contrast to many of the Civil War officers who took their coursework more seriously.  In 1876, Custer led his men to Little Big Horn (now in Montana) to address some conflicts with Indians.  Custer's superiors opposed an immediate attack on the Indians, and told Custer to wait before leading the charge.  Overly aggressive and perhaps attempting to become a hero, Custer charged ahead anyway.  The Sioux and Cheyenne warriors, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, then overwhelmed Custer and his men and slaughtered all of them.  The warriors scalped all of Custer's men, except Custer himself, whose strange clothing may have misled the warriors into thinking he was an innocent civilian!  This massacre at Wounded Knee is popularly known today as "Custer's Last Stand."

The Sioux Wars lasted from 1864 to 1867 between Indians and the Union army in Colorado, Montana, and the Dakotas (North and South Dakota).  The most famous battle of all, however, occurred a decade later.  General George Custer was a highly popular and charismatic cavalry officer who sported long yellow hair and the latest fashions in his clothing.  But he also graduated last in his class at West Point, in contrast to many of the Civil War officers who took their coursework more seriously.  In 1876, Custer led his men to Little Big Horn (now in Montana) to address some conflicts with Indians.  Custer's superiors opposed an immediate attack on the Indians, and told Custer to wait before leading the charge.  Overly aggressive and perhaps attempting to become a hero, Custer charged ahead anyway.  The Sioux and Cheyenne warriors, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, then overwhelmed Custer and his men and slaughtered all of them.  The warriors scalped all of Custer's men, except Custer himself, whose strange clothing may have misled the warriors into thinking he was an innocent civilian!  This massacre at Wounded Knee is popularly known today as "Custer's Last Stand."

Another embarrassing bit of history during this period was corruption in the government of New York City, where "Tammany Hall" of the Democratic Party ruled from 1805 to 1871.  It was finally broken up when its leader "Boss Tweed" was imprisoned for taking tens of millions of dollars from the city and his opponents won the election in November 1871.  His famous quote when caught stealing was, "What are you going to do about it?"

Another embarrassing bit of history during this period was corruption in the government of New York City, where "Tammany Hall" of the Democratic Party ruled from 1805 to 1871.  It was finally broken up when its leader "Boss Tweed" was imprisoned for taking tens of millions of dollars from the city and his opponents won the election in November 1871.  His famous quote when caught stealing was, "What are you going to do about it?"