Daniel Lopez AP English 5th Period

'Merica: Just How It Is

In the years following the Civil War, the recovering country was booming in another aspect; realism. The essence of real life and the hardships thereof that followed had great effects on the arts. Literary authors such as Mark Twain and Jack London were becoming noticed because their writing affected everybody in social aspects. What really propelled these revelations was the Industrial revolution that also led to scientific discoveries. The day-to-day life in Post Civil War America captured the emotions of life and its artwork was designed to capture the human spirit and nature as it really was. Louisa May Alcott, a novelist, was a women who lived in a time of fervent sexism. Moreover, this sexism was considerably more boisterous since society was rid of the racism and slavery that it relied on. Because women hadn't had a chance to shine, Alcott's Little Women showed everybody what women could do. Harriet Beecher Stowe did likewise as her book, Uncle Tom's Cabin described in detail the daily lives of slaves. Although this came during the Civil War, it introduced new insight and enraged abolitionists further , despite her impoverished background. Music had its impact on this time period as well since it widened the gap between social classes. There mainly two different forms of music, the soother upper class serenades that influence many European composers and vice versa; and the up-beat, knee-slappin' rag time that brought joy to many African-Americans. This Gilded Age in music impacted American Literature as well since patriotism was hammered into the public's mind through lavish

orchestrated parades. Likewise, writers such as Twain and London were inspired by the "Desperadoism" conveyed through Joplin's Ragtime. It was this type of music that continued and brought society to evolve into what would be known as The Roaring Twenties. In the "Desperadosim" expressed through "rough-rider's" writings, they detailed the beauty of nature towards the uncharted west. However, this westward expansion was only made possible with many new inventions at the time. Edison's light-bulb and phonograph were essential to the technological and social progression as it helped move and inspire ideas or art. Henry Ford also had several contributions as well since his inventions aided the mobility of a variety of objects and its variety is so ample that we still use it today. The automobile and the conveyor belt are such inventions. The Industrial Revolution which was inspired and given momentum from the Civil War's aftermath (i.e. Reconstruction) boosted society into a new era. The art and new equipment that surfaced inspired many Americans to wonder "What if..." Those new ideas and mediums through which they expressed unified the nation. The collaboration aided to splice the gash made the Civil War and excel as a nation, and ultimately, a world super power.