Equality and Opportunity in America, 1865-1914
This paper will discuss the connected themes of equality and opportunity in the United States between the Civil War and the First World War. The American dream has always been that economic and social success is available to anyone, regardless of his or her background, who is willing to work hard enough. This paper will discuss the argument that equality and opportunity did not apply in the same degree to all individuals and groups in the United States during this time period. Racial and ethnic minorities did not all have the same opportunities to advance themselves economically and socially; in addition, those starting out in life with economic disadvantages were seldom able to achieve the dream of success which was held before them in popular culture. The first part of the paper will examine this dream and promise of success as it was understood in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries; the second and third parts of the paper will discuss the racial and economic realities which denied large numbers of Americans realization of this dream.
Throughout the history of the United States Americans in general have accepted the notion that anyone could be successful in this country if they worked hard enough. Acceptance of this notion became exceptionally strong in the late 19th Century, following the Civil War. Industrialization of the American economy accelerated during this time period and success in life became equated with material wealth. Prior to the Civil War, the industrial economy of the Northern states was based upon home workshops run by individual proprietors. This situation provided the basis for the belief in reward through hard work as proprietors realized more than adequate benefits from their work. After the Civil War, however, the industrial economy became based upon large factories employing hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of workers. Learned skills were ...