“Personal insecurity is the great motivator to shop.” Middle-class women of the 19th century struggled to keep up with fashion trends set by the wealthy in society in order to feel stylish and modern in a time where modernity was prized. Sarah Tytler, a member of the American Tract Society and a contributor to The Young Lady’s Guide, wrote about...
After the Civil War, Kentucky maintained a Democratic stronghold, where Republicans had a very difficult time even attempting to win elections. Because the border state of Kentucky had never seceded during the war, it did not have to be officially “reconstructed.' Following the war, the government established the Freedman's Bureau in Kentucky with offices created to aid African-Americans....
A State Temperance Convention assembled in Baltimore, Maryland with the purpose of forming an auxiliary to the National Temperance Convention in New York. A large presence of over three hundred delegates attended the convention, a number of which were African-Americans occupying seats in common with white delegates. The delegates, in general, were composed of a variety of distinguished figures representing...
News traveled slowly in the late nineteenth-century South, but on occasions such as a death in the family, news traveled faster by way of telegram. John Crease's daughter received a letter from her grandmother expressing her condolences. The grandmother had written the letter on December 15, 1872, when she had received a telegram notifying her of Crease's death. The grandmother assured Crease's...
Arctic exploration debates the larger question encompassing nineteenth century America: do we play it safe, or take risks to gain knowledge? Do we preserve what we have, or seek new things? Arctic exploration is one debate that centers on these issues, and the 1873 New York Tribune article, “Arctic Exploration,” addresses these difficult questions. The late nineteenth century...
John Snow had always been critical of the Miasma theory. But it wasn’t until his monumental discovery at the Broad Street pump in 1849 that his criticism was heard with any degree of fervor. But with this fervor came a growing awareness of the divides between the rich and the poor, and how these divides affected who lived and who died. Perhaps this is no more evident than in a cartoon published...
After a much disputed 1872 election, which saw both candidates claim governorship, Illinois carpetbagger William P. Kellogg was named governor over Democratic candidate, John McEnery in early 1873. Although The Courier-Journal reported the allegation that Kellogg's opponent, John McEnery, received almost 7,000 more votes, the Courier also revealed that Kellogg issued a bill of complaint. Here,...
After the abolition of slavery in 1865, there were many significant changes in Southern society. The economy of the South was still dependent on agriculture, however, as most of its land consisted of rural areas that needed to be farmed. Former slaves, now freedmen, were no longer bonded to harsh labor without benefits. Emancipation resulted in contracts between ex-masters and freedmen agreeing...
The Civil War was completely devastating to the citizens of the United States of America. Two percent of the entire population was killed as a direct result of the war. With over 500,000 people dead, the casualties far out number those of Americans in any other war. Americans were killing Americans, and the ruin that came about tore apart families and left many in complete bewilderment.
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The Civil War was completely devastating to the citizens of the United States of America. Two percent of the entire population was killed as a direct result of the war. With over 500,000 people dead, the casualties far out number those of Americans in any other war. Americans were killing Americans, and the ruin that came about tore apart families and left many in complete bewilderment.
C.M....