Running Head: Role of the Federal Government 1

Role of the Federal Government

Winter 2012

© American Intercontinental University 2012
Running head: Role of the Federal Government 2

The history of the United States has derived from several major events. These events helped to define the development of the United States as well as expansion in political, social, and economical ways. The role of the federal government was defined by these major events and assisted in shaping the U.S. in the way it is today, whether good or bad. The Civil War, The Progressive Era, The Great Depression, and the Civil Rights Era all helped to shape and define the United States of America into the way it is today. Let’s start off first by taking a look at a war that defined the United States of America into being a united nation. The Civil War was a war that was fought between the northern and southern states within the U.S. The confederacy states, which were the southern states, supported slavery. Among other things, this was one of the biggest issues which the war was started and fought over. The Union States, which were the northern states, supported the union which was against slavery and unequal right of all people. So, in essence the civil war was fought and won so that all people regardless of race, economical status, gender, etc…could have equal rights all over the United States and not just in the north. The Civil War was the first major expansion of federal power. The next expansion period was the Progressive Era or the Reconstruction Era in the United States. The transformation of the U.S. after the civil war was known as this era. After the civil war there were several uncertainties as to how these once divided and unequal