Rob Pippin
2/28/12
Chapter 20 Focus Question 2 Between the years of 1870 to 1914 the United States was a growing country. The influences of nationalism and liberalism, led to the country’s building of a nation. The practice of nationalism unified the country and they achieved their own identity. Nationalism served, for better or worse, as a new unifying principle. The country was on the rise of industrialism and urbanization. This led to the U.S. becoming the richest and most powerful industrialized country in the world. But society was not all happy with the way things were moving forward. The upper classes were getting richer while the labor force that made all of this growth possible was still poor with no regulations regarding the working conditions. The quality of life was in question in the United States. Reform was needed. This led to the workers to unify, organize, and make unions, asking for reform in the factories and work places. This was known as the Progressive Era. During this era the government put laws in place that would protect the work force. These laws regulated hours worked, wages and the safety of the working conditions. However, most of these laws were but in place at the state level and were ineffective. The federal government had to react and create its own programs and laws at the national level to protect the working citizens of the United States. Just like its European counterparts the U.S. government was using policies that widened the function of the state. Canada went through many of the changes the U.S. did, as it defined itself as an independent nation. The problem with Canada was that there were French speaking people and English speaking people throughout the country. There were two different cultures that were seeking their own identity as a nation. Canada constructed a transcontinental railroad which led to a