Most Significant Groups in US History

[williama]

Third info post.
This is in addition to my second post (how the Gold rush was important). The expansion of the western frontier was brought about by miners, as previously mentioned. Everyone agrees that railroads are important, but don't forget that the railroads were developed because they needed a link to the west to get to the miners and the towns created for them. They also needed to get stuff back and get it shipped to market out east as well. What I am saying is that miners were influential in that they brought about railroads. Take a look at the follwing quote, and look at the dates. This is the same time period as the California Gold Rush. "Strengthened by other proposals such as those of Hartwell Carver in 1849 and of Edwin F. Johnson in 1853, such leading statesmen as John C. Calhoun, Stephen A. Douglas, and Jefferson Davis declared their support for linking the country by rails." Apparently these politicians believed that they needed a link out west. There was nothing out there but gold mining at that time.

To Sam

I disagree,

Most of the people headed to California were inexperienced gold seekers, prospectors, who would pan streams for gold specs. Just because they have a pan does not mean that they are miners. Miners were those who would use heavy machinery to dig out of the ground significant traces of gold; and they were experienced.

This wikipedia definition describes the prospectors that you see as miners

Prospecting is the act of physically searching for minerals, fossils, precious metals or mineral specimens, and is essentially analogous to fossicking

[thad]

gabriellew said:

Poor whites were definitely the most important group in U.S history! Poor whites were almost immediately faced with hardships when arriving to America from foreign countries as indentured servants. These indentured servants signed a contract with plantation owners to work for seven years without pay in exchange for land or clothing and food after they finished their term. These poor indentured servants were slaves, they had no rights. Their masters could work them as hard as the wanted and could also deny them food. Indentured servants were responsible for doing all the very hard and dangerous labor. Unfortunately many indentured servants didn’t live long enough to enjoy their freedom. This is true because the slave masters didn’t want to risk killing a black slave due to the fact that he had to pay for the slaves. Since indentured servants were only hired for seven years they weren’t a top priority. Poor whites and poor blacks were basically in the same situation after the Civil War. Both groups of people tended to be sharecroppers and tenant farmers. At this time poor whites and poor blacks had no opportunity of receiving an education or obtaining a substantial amount of wealth. Although poor whites and poor blacks upheld the same position in society, poor whites constantly reminded poor blacks that they were still superior to them due to their skin color.

gabrielle-
How does this prove the significance of the poor whites? It seems as though they were merely cheap, disposible, and uneducated laborers. You mention that they "were responsible for doing all the very hard and dangerous labor." Were there any specific, significant projects that they undertook that you could point out?

[Sarah D.]

gabriellew said:

Poor whites were definitely the most important group in U.S history! Poor whites were almost immediately faced with hardships when arriving to America from foreign countries as indentured servants. These indentured servants signed a contract with plantation owners to work for seven years without pay in exchange for land or clothing and food after they finished their term. These poor indentured servants were slaves, they had no rights. Their masters could work them as hard as the wanted and could also deny them food. Indentured servants were responsible for doing all the very hard and dangerous labor. Unfortunately many indentured servants didn’t live long enough to enjoy their freedom. This is true because the slave masters didn’t want to risk killing a black slave due to the fact that he had to pay for the slaves. Since indentured servants were only hired for seven years they weren’t a top priority. Poor whites and poor blacks were basically in the same situation after the Civil War. Both groups of people tended to be sharecroppers and tenant farmers. At this time poor whites and poor blacks had no opportunity of receiving an education or obtaining a substantial amount of wealth. Although poor whites and poor blacks upheld the same position in society, poor whites constantly reminded poor blacks that they were still superior to them due to their skin color.

Gabby-
I know poor whites is a really broad topic, but they must have been more than just indentured servants. Poor white Immigrants have been coming to America since the late 1600s...so could you name some more groups of "poor whites"?

[gabriellew]

Why poor whites are very impotant part of out History....

Slavery stole the poor whites attempt to gaining wealth and political power. These people wanted slavery to continue so they wouldn’t be the lowest class of people. The white upper class wanted to constantly keep the poor whites and poor blacks at odds so they would never join together and strike against them politically. Slavery also took jobs away from the poor at this time. The south was the cruelest to poor whites because they saw the poor whites as lazy people. This is why they made it very difficult for poor whites and blacks to vote. In order to vote in the reconstruction South everyone had to pay a poll tax, which many poor people couldn’t afford. Later the upper class would make poor whites pay a poll tax pass literacy test. The poor whites weren’t educated they couldn’t read and write so the literacy test was impossible for them to pass. This made poor whites want to vote even more.

[Alex G.]

To answer the question to me posed by Dylan, there were many major athletes who lived during the 1800's. There were some during the 1700's, however, they were mostly still in Europe. Baseball had very many prominent figures during the late 1800's, however, the sport itself, being that it was still in it's beginning stages was really not looked upon as a serious profession. However, with that in mind, some of the athletes who were present during the beginning of the baseball era included:

Ed Delahanty
Buck Ewing
"Wee" Willie Keeler
Hughie Jennings

All of the above made their major league debuts in the late 1800's, and are currently in the Hall of Fame.
Baseball however was really at the time not yet a major sport. Boxing however was. Bareknuckle boxing, though originated in England, bareknuckle boxing really made it's debut in the U.S in 1816, as Jacob Hyer beat Tom Beasley to claim the American championship. 25 years later, Hyer's son, interestingly enough named Tom beat George McChester in a very publicized bout, which gave him the American heavyweight championship.

[Tiffany B.]

yea gabby where there any important poor whites? and what exactly did they contribute to the country?

[gabriellew]

The poor whites are very significant people in history. They have provided America with labor even before the black slaves arrived. The upper class knew how valuable the working class was to the economy. They have contributed to building a heathy economy through working on farms and other types of labor. Many rich people helped to finance wars but did not actually fight in the battles. While poor whites served America in countless battles and wars. Abraham Lincoln was a man who grew up in poverty but overcame it and became one of the most important presidents of America. Lincoln was born in a one room lodge cabin which contained a dirt floor and no windows. Lincoln received very little schooling growing up because he was needed at home. Abraham Lincoln’s life was definitely a success story. Poor Whites didn’t let their social class in society dictate what they were capable of achieving. During the Great Depression many poor whites joined and helped strengthen the military to help provide for their families.

[Rina C.]

Basically, the beginning of the railroads was the beginning of real time. The workers on the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific railroad raced with each other to build the most of the railroad before they connected with the "Golden Spkie". Time also really began with the railroads because railroads were the beginning of time zones. People began to pay attention to time. It was also important to get to the trian on time, so you wouldn't miss the train.

[miztikk]

williama said:

Third info post.
This is in addition to my second post (how the Gold rush was important). The expansion of the western frontier was brought about by miners, as previously mentioned. Everyone agrees that railroads are important, but don't forget that the railroads were developed because they needed a link to the west to get to the miners and the towns created for them. They also needed to get stuff back and get it shipped to market out east as well. What I am saying is that miners were influential in that they brought about railroads. Take a look at the follwing quote, and look at the dates. This is the same time period as the California Gold Rush. "Strengthened by other proposals such as those of Hartwell Carver in 1849 and of Edwin F. Johnson in 1853, such leading statesmen as John C. Calhoun, Stephen A. Douglas, and Jefferson Davis declared their support for linking the country by rails." Apparently these politicians believed that they needed a link out west. There was nothing out there but gold mining at that time.

Hey Will,

I am gonna have to disagree with you here- the Gold Rush was only influential in that it was a destination for railroads, but that's really about it. No substantial amount of gold was found after the gold rush, and the actual "event" itself proved to be a huge letdown for millions of americans. the gold rush helped to populate the far west for only a little while, leaving ghost towns in it's wake (hence the intense western movies with the tumble weeds.) so, sorry, will, the gold rush wasn't THAT improtant.

but good try.

[Sophia Y]

Sam C.- some of the 4 million members of the Freemasn party in the 1950s were definately members because it was the "cool" thing to do, but don't forget that regardless of the reasons why they joined they were still influenced by the Freemasons.
In answer to your second question see the bottom of my response to Margaret.
Margaret- Freemasonry was at one time linked to a religion but it has broken all formal ties with particular sects. They do believe that a member should believe in God but do not require all members to have the same beliefs. To my knowledge the Freemasons have never been affiliated with Mormonism. For more information about the Freemasons visit www.nymasons.org/cms/whatisamason

[Michel'le F.]

LAST INFORMATIONAL POST HOORAY!

Out of the many ways in which Quakers contributed to American history, one of the most significant ways was their advocacy against slavery. An insitution that was widely accepted in the thirteen colonies and America as a free nation, slavery was immediately rejected by the Quaker society. George Fox built the Quaker society on the belief that all men and women were equal. Furthermore, members must accept a responsibility for social problems, and try to fix them. With that being said, Quakers felt it their social duty to help slaves. The first slaves were brought to Jamestown in 1619, and by 1688 the Quakers held a protest against slavery in Burlington, New Jersey. According to the Quaker Information Center, this protest is believed to be the FIRST formal protest of slavery by white colonists!!!! What a contribution!

The following is an official duplication of the documents where Quakers listed their formal complaints agaist slavery.

"This is to ye Monthly Meeting held at Richard Worrell's.

These are the reasons why we are against the traffick of men-body, as followeth.

Is there any that would be done or handled at this manner? viz., to be sold or made a slave for all the time of this life? How fearful and faint-hearted are many on sea, when they see a strange vessel, -- being afraid it should be a Turk, and they should be taken, and sold for slaves into Turkey. Now what is this better done, as Turks doe? Yea, rather is it worse for them, which say they are Christians; for we hear that ye most part of such negers are brought hither against their will and consent, and that many of them are stolen.

Now, tho they are black, we can not conceive there is more liberty to have them slaves, as it is to have other white ones. There is a saying, that we shall doe to all men like as will be done ourselves; making no difference of what generation, descent or colour they are. And those who steal or robb men, and those who buy or purchase them, are they not all alike? Here is libety of conscience, wch is right and reasonable; here ought to be likewise liberty of ye body, except of evil-doers, wch is an other case. But to bring men hither, or to rob and sell them against their will, we stand against. In Europe there are many oppressed for conscience sake; and here there are those oppressed wh are of a black colour.

And we who know that men must not comitt adultery, -- some do committ adultery, in others, separating wives from their husbands and giving them to others; and some sell the children of these poor creatures to other men.

Ah! doe consider well this thing, you who doe it, if you would be done at this manner? and if it is done according to Christianity? You surpass Holland and Germany in this thing. This makes an ill report in all those countries of Europe, where they hear off, that ye Quakers doe here handel men as they handel there ye cattle. And for that reason some have no mind or inclination to come hither. And who shall maintain this your cause, or pleid for it? Truly we can not do so, except you shall inform us better hereof, viz, that Christians have liberty to practise these things.

Pray, what thing in the world can be done worse towards us, than if men should rob or steal us away, and sell us for slaves to strange countries; separating housbands from their wives and children. Being now this is not done in the manner we would be done at therefore we contradict and are against this traffic of men-body.

And we who profess that it is not lawful to steal, must, likewise, avoid to purchase such things as are stolen, but rather help to stop this robbing and stealing if possible. And such men ought to be delivered out of ye hands of ye robbers, and set free as well as in Europe. Then is Pennsylvania to have a good report, instead it hath now a bad one for this sake in other countries. Especially whereas ye Europeans are desirous to know in what manner ye Quakers doe rule in their province; -- and most of them doe look upon us with an envious eye. But if this is done well, what shall we say is done evil?

If once these slaves (wch they say are so wicked and stubbern men) should joint themselves, -- fight for their freedom. -- and handel their masters and mastrisses as they did handel them before; will these masters and mastrisses take the sword at hand and warr against these poor slaves, licke, we are able to believe, some will not refuse to doe; or have these negers not as much right to fight for their freedom, as you have to keep them slaves?

Now consider well this thing, if it is good or bad? And in case you find it to be good to handel these blacks at that manner, we desire and require you hereby lovingly, that you may inform us herein, which at this time never was done, viz., that Christians have such a liberty to do so. To the end we shall be satisfied in this point, and satisfie likewise our good friends and acquaintances in our natif country, to whose it is a terror, or fairful thing, that men should be handeld so in Pennsylvania.
This is from our meeting at Germantown, held ye 18 of the 2 month, 1688, to be delivered to the Monthly Meeting at Richard Worrel's.

[Signed by:] Garret henderich
derick u de graeff
Francis daniell Pastorius
Abraham up Den graef"

As you can see, Quakers made a significant step in trying to end slavery, and their efforts did not end. In 1696, the Quakers made their first abolition speech in Pennsylvania. In 1775, the first anti-slavery association was founded by Quakers. 5 years later, Pennsylvania passed An Act For the Gradual Abolishment of Slavery. 7 years later in 1787, Benjamin Rush and Benjamin Franklin fouded the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery in 1787. Up until slavery was abolished in 1888 and even after, Quakers were committed to establishing slaves as a free people. They were way above their time and this shows their significance to America. They were able to help convince a nation that 300 years of slavery needed to end.

[Rina C.]

dashibbyboy said:

The industrialists are the best. Almost every single product you have in your house is available to you today because of the work of the industrialists. That keyboard you are typing on, that mouse you are clicking, and that monitor you are looking at are all available because of the advancements made by industrialists. Yes, the inventors came up with the idea for all of the products, I'm not trying to take any credit away from them, but the industrialists were the ones who created the companies and are the reason that the inventors' products sold so well. As companies grew, there became more competition; this was the motivation behind many of the advancements made by companies. If it weren't for all of the work by industrialists we would still be living on farms, and more importantly, we wouldn't be able to do this simulation!

What did industrialists actually do?

[gabriellew]

Yes, Tiffany there were many important poor whites throughout history. Abraham Lincoln for example, grew up very poor. He was born in a one room lodge cabin which contained a dirt floor and no windows. Lincoln received very little schooling growing up because he was needed at home. This skinny and tall man who loved to read became our president and emancipated the slaves. He also cared alot about preserving the union.

[timjon]

"tim, your totally off, indeed Jackson was after land and was an expansionist, trail of tears is a forced migration of indians for jackson to take the land"

Louie it is in fact you who is totally off. I'd like you to go back to my post and then reference Jason's post after it. Jackson was not an expansionist in the slightest and never had any thoughts of expanding. Jackson was just an ignorant President who while doing many things that may have helped us still hurt us in the long run. Yes he did desire the land that the Indians inhabited, yet it was OUR land. We had agreements with the Cherokee Nation and therefore they were allowed to inhabit. The Indian removal Act was not an effort of expansion, but of greed. The real acts of the Expansionists were done through treaties and purchases, this was indeed not one of those.

[Tali Cayemitte]

A lil background info:

The idea of Feminism first emerged during the 18th century. That period of time was known as the first wave of Feminism and thier aim was to primarily attain women’s suffrage, legalize abortions and preventative contraception and expunge laws which were explicitly being used against them. Feminists of this time include Elizabeth Cady Stanton, (organized first meeting in United states History devoted solely to the plight of Women, aka Seneca Falls) Lucretia Mott, Margaret Sanger, Lucy Stone, etc . The second wave which began in the early 1960's and continued until the late 80's was unlike the First Wave of Feminism which had been concerned with the official mandated laws which oppressed women, the second wave focusing on unofficial inequalities that affected women such as discrimination and of the bigotry that existed within the workplace, the domestic role society felt that women should assume, etc. and included leading ladies such as Oprah Winfrey, Liz Kelly, Angela Davis, etc.The third wave, which occured in the 1990's, came as a result of the perception that the second wave hadnt succeeded in its entirety and feminists of this time sought to liberate themselves even more from the supposed role of women and defy the stereotypes and objectification of women . This wave was different than other waves of feminism because it was celebrated in the pop culture, giving birth to slogans such as "Girl Power".

[williama]

Hey Will,

I am gonna have to disagree with you here- the Gold Rush was only influential in that it was a destination for railroads, but that's really about it. No substantial amount of gold was found after the gold rush, and the actual "event" itself proved to be a huge letdown for millions of americans. the gold rush helped to populate the far west for only a little while, leaving ghost towns in it's wake (hence the intense western movies with the tumble weeds.) so, sorry, will, the gold rush wasn't THAT improtant.

but good try.



To miztikk

Yeah, but Taylor I was trying to prove that miners were not the cause of railroads, prospectors were, since these foolish people needed railroads to take them to the west in scores. The actual miners were a really small population that it would be an extravagance to build railroads to take heavy industry miners to these sites. Sam tried to make the point that prospectors were miners, illustrating the reason why miners are significant due to the gold rush but prospectors aren't miners.

[Tali Cayemitte]

So here's the post everyones been waiting for...(hey better late than never right?). So who's the most significant group in US History? Well, the answer that should come to mind immediately is, of course, the Feminists. Why?? Simple. Feminists have made lasting contributions to American society and are responsible for much of the structure that exists today. Their ideals represented the things America had boasted about long before they had achieved them. For it not with the help of the Feminist Movements, perhaps the abolition of slavery may not have ever been attained, or the equality of all men and women of every gender, race and creed, reforms in higher education, hospitals, asylums, penitentiaries or orphanages may not have occurred. Luckily, because of these women, we will never have to know!

[gabriellew]

Also Tiffany poor whites contributed alot to the society. They were responsible for alot of the farming taking place in the country as indentured servants even before the black slaves arrived. They also fought in many wars and battles while the rich stayed home. The poor whites were the working class. They have contributed to building a heathy economy.

[Melissa F.]

Robinson,
Leave my Vickie alone! She's like a Lindt truffle, tough on the outside and all mushy gushy on the inside...she can't take your emotional rollercoaster of abuse. Also I think you're more of an antique roadshow kind of guy.
Love,
Katlyn "The Real" Robinson

[timjon]

Basically, the beginning of the railroads was the beginning of real time. The workers on the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific railroad raced with each other to build the most of the railroad before they connected with the "Golden Spkie". Time also really began with the railroads because railroads were the beginning of time zones. People began to pay attention to time. It was also important to get to the trian on time, so you wouldn't miss the train.

So Rina other than the recognition of time did railroad workers really contribute anything else extremely significant? there is always the obvious (Railroads) but do they really deserve to be considered one of the most important groups in history.