The 1830's-50's weren't a total waste of time!

Although it has been difficult for some to read both chapters 11 and 12 this week - those people have missed out on, in my view, one of the most important aspects of history; the people. The Americans of the 1830's to 50's, despite not fighting any international wars, dealt with national crises resulting in expansion of technological knowledge. With the publication of books, they were able to spread around the country by means of train, telegram and boat! If it weren't for America's focus on itself rather than other nations, they would not have been able to develop speedy means of travel and a development of it's own culture. Issues, such as slavery were acknowledged thanks to the printing of books, such as Harriet Beecher Stowe's books. They consisted of stories of her servants in Cincinnati and shocked white American's of the violence and abuse they inflicted on their slaves. It was writers such as Stowe, Hawthorne, Melville and Whitman who were able to depict American life into powerful literature to convey messages to the American people.