Just 2 days back, I was finally able to finish the epic miniseries 'America : The Story of US' which I was following from a long time. The series had 12 episodes explaining the whole story of the strongest nation in the world - USA. The story takes the viewer from the early settlements in Jamestown to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in New York. Over the whole series, a lot of praise has been showered over the country and how it conquered the world through their hard work and tenacity. The documentary shows how the small 13 colonies started and gave birth to one of the biggest nations on earth.
As per our last discussion, the America was on the verge of American Civil War due to the indifference's in the North and South over slavery. On April 12, 1861 the war finally started between the newly formed Confederate States of America and the Union. This war changed the facade of USA forever. Abraham Lincoln was the president at that time and the led the Union's army. Lincoln paid more emphasis to technology from the beginning and his investments in telegraph, railroads, increased industrial production and supply lines proved too advanced for the formidable army of South. In the end, South surrendered on May 10, 1865 after four years of bloody war.
The next episode 'Heartland' explores the further development of the hinterlands of the continent. The trans-continental railroad also known as the Pacific Railroad was started just before the American Civil War and is considered one of the greatest technological feats of that time. The railroad united the whole nation and made travel across coast to coast possible in a short duration. During this period, lots of people migrated to the plains of Oklahoma and Nebraska in search of land. These plains provided them with free land, but also the hardships of this tough region. As the settlers came, the native population was driven out and the local flora and fauna was destroyed to a large extent. The wild buffalo's once roamed these great plains in millions, but they were hunted ruthlessly for money. Slowly the cattle's replaced wild buffalo's as the main beast of the land and the cowboy became the national icon.
The next episode pondered over the growth of cities in US. Andrew Carnegi started an empire of steel, with his new technological innovations in steel making and made him one of the richest people on earth. This cheaper steel made possible the development of skyscrapers and other US national developments. America grew rapidly during this period and the life of people all across America improved. NewYork becomes the city of skyscrapers, with the most number of skyscraper among any city in the world. Meanwhile,the Statue of Liberty is gifted to USA at the 100 years of US Independence (October 28, 1886). This was placed at the New York harbor as the gateway to United States. Since then, this colossal statue of copper which has now oxidized to green color has become an American symbol.
The boom age of America begins with the start of 20th century; the discovery of oil makes America one of the largest producers of oil and also one of the richest. All over the America, people are investing in oil exploration and nowhere is this on a bigger scale than Texas. During the same time, automobiles become famous in America, but their high costs keeps them just in the reach of rich. But Henry Ford changed the whole industry with his innovative assembly line methodology to develop cheap cars at a much larger scale. In a few years, America became the biggest producer of automobiles in the world. In the same time, massive projects are being undertaken throughout the America to develop and modernize the continent especially in the Western part. But with great power usually comes great issues also; the increased money of Americans leads them to alcohol and the problem increases to such an extent that the government passes an amendment in Constitution for prohibition of sale of Alcohol in US. But, somethings cannot be controlled. The prohibition gives birth to a black market for sale and distribution of Alcohol and further gives birth to organized crime.
But as they say the only thing constant in the world is change itself. Boom is changed to bust when Stock market crashes in 1930's leading to vast unemployment and shrinking of economy. In addition to it, the dust bowl causes severe damage to North American Great Plains. This was the period when massive dust storms appear over the American continent and affect the land severely. The Federal government tries to spur recovery by investments in major projects like Hoover Dam, Lincoln Tunnel etc. which provide employment to many people.
The major change to American economy comes when the terror of World War II strikes America. America was having a neutral status in the war until Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and awakens this sleeping giant. The entry of America in the war shakes the whole country. Industries are revived again and production skyrockets. America shocks the world with her technological prowess and industrial might. New weapons are developed at a scale never imagine before. It was this war which led to development of Nuclear Weapons through the Manhattan project. The first two nuclear bombs were used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The destruction through these two led to Japan's surrender and World War II ended finally in 1945.
The end of war led to a new era of development in the country with America becoming a superpower. The greatest generation returns from the war and a baby boom occurs. This is a time when huge strides are made in space and technology. Soviet Union and USA move into a space race over who will be able to send a man first on moon. America wins this war by its Apollo 11 mission which took Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to moon. This era experiences lot of hot issues like Cuban Missile crisis, Vietnam War and Communism. But with the division of Soviet Union inn 1989, cold war ended and a stability again resumed in the world.
The last episode of the series depicts America in 21st century. How far it has arrived from its humble beginnings with the independence of 13 colonies from Britain. The world has moved also with it and this new era brings with it new threats and new opportunities. The 9/11 attacks on New York rumbles the whole country and the country one's again unites against the external threat of terrorism. America attacks Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. The journey of America keeps on going towards the future, even though the story comes to an end.
The next episode 'Heartland' explores the further development of the hinterlands of the continent. The trans-continental railroad also known as the Pacific Railroad was started just before the American Civil War and is considered one of the greatest technological feats of that time. The railroad united the whole nation and made travel across coast to coast possible in a short duration. During this period, lots of people migrated to the plains of Oklahoma and Nebraska in search of land. These plains provided them with free land, but also the hardships of this tough region. As the settlers came, the native population was driven out and the local flora and fauna was destroyed to a large extent. The wild buffalo's once roamed these great plains in millions, but they were hunted ruthlessly for money. Slowly the cattle's replaced wild buffalo's as the main beast of the land and the cowboy became the national icon.
The next episode pondered over the growth of cities in US. Andrew Carnegi started an empire of steel, with his new technological innovations in steel making and made him one of the richest people on earth. This cheaper steel made possible the development of skyscrapers and other US national developments. America grew rapidly during this period and the life of people all across America improved. NewYork becomes the city of skyscrapers, with the most number of skyscraper among any city in the world. Meanwhile,the Statue of Liberty is gifted to USA at the 100 years of US Independence (October 28, 1886). This was placed at the New York harbor as the gateway to United States. Since then, this colossal statue of copper which has now oxidized to green color has become an American symbol.
The boom age of America begins with the start of 20th century; the discovery of oil makes America one of the largest producers of oil and also one of the richest. All over the America, people are investing in oil exploration and nowhere is this on a bigger scale than Texas. During the same time, automobiles become famous in America, but their high costs keeps them just in the reach of rich. But Henry Ford changed the whole industry with his innovative assembly line methodology to develop cheap cars at a much larger scale. In a few years, America became the biggest producer of automobiles in the world. In the same time, massive projects are being undertaken throughout the America to develop and modernize the continent especially in the Western part. But with great power usually comes great issues also; the increased money of Americans leads them to alcohol and the problem increases to such an extent that the government passes an amendment in Constitution for prohibition of sale of Alcohol in US. But, somethings cannot be controlled. The prohibition gives birth to a black market for sale and distribution of Alcohol and further gives birth to organized crime.
But as they say the only thing constant in the world is change itself. Boom is changed to bust when Stock market crashes in 1930's leading to vast unemployment and shrinking of economy. In addition to it, the dust bowl causes severe damage to North American Great Plains. This was the period when massive dust storms appear over the American continent and affect the land severely. The Federal government tries to spur recovery by investments in major projects like Hoover Dam, Lincoln Tunnel etc. which provide employment to many people.
The major change to American economy comes when the terror of World War II strikes America. America was having a neutral status in the war until Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and awakens this sleeping giant. The entry of America in the war shakes the whole country. Industries are revived again and production skyrockets. America shocks the world with her technological prowess and industrial might. New weapons are developed at a scale never imagine before. It was this war which led to development of Nuclear Weapons through the Manhattan project. The first two nuclear bombs were used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The destruction through these two led to Japan's surrender and World War II ended finally in 1945.
The end of war led to a new era of development in the country with America becoming a superpower. The greatest generation returns from the war and a baby boom occurs. This is a time when huge strides are made in space and technology. Soviet Union and USA move into a space race over who will be able to send a man first on moon. America wins this war by its Apollo 11 mission which took Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to moon. This era experiences lot of hot issues like Cuban Missile crisis, Vietnam War and Communism. But with the division of Soviet Union inn 1989, cold war ended and a stability again resumed in the world.
The last episode of the series depicts America in 21st century. How far it has arrived from its humble beginnings with the independence of 13 colonies from Britain. The world has moved also with it and this new era brings with it new threats and new opportunities. The 9/11 attacks on New York rumbles the whole country and the country one's again unites against the external threat of terrorism. America attacks Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. The journey of America keeps on going towards the future, even though the story comes to an end.
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