Chapter 11

This chapter discussed the technological and cultural advances. This era was very prosperous and it helped shape the development of everyday life. I found the chapter very interesting to read and how they invented certain tools like the sewing machine, interchangeable parts,mechanical reaper and improvement of the railroad. All these inventions helped evolve society today. Learning/ reading how this these inventions originated is fascinating because it shows how society has changed and how we came up with these simple tools we use each day. Another fact I found interesting was quality of life back then and how it can relate to today's society. For example class distinctions  between people and their living conditions. The people with more money had the advantage of running water and stoves and they had fancy decorations. In today's society we do have class distinctions between upper class, middle and lower class. We do take similar actions from the past. Another thing that surprised me was the disease and health section because back then they didn't have the high technology to know exactly why and how the diseases spread. They had no knowledge in bacteria and how quickly it spread. what I found interesting was the :water cure" and "Graham bread". I also liked the simplicity of free time back then. They either read the newspaper (penny press) or were entertained with the Minstrel shows. I found that to be very judgmental towards the African culture. i find that to be very ignorant and disrespectful. I don't understand how white people can find that entertaining but back in those days that was their form of entertainment. A famous name in the entertainment business was P.T. Barnum. He basically ripped people off to gain money. He entertained people ( exhibiting different looking people) by lying to them. To be honest that probably happens in today's society as well. People will pay to see something/someone extraordinary or just because they are curious.
Literature also became popular in these days, one popular writer was Walt Whitman.He was a democratic writer who expressed and wrote what he wanted. He was a very blunt and courageous writer. He wasn't the only popular writer during this century there were 3 others (Hawthorne, Melville, and Poe) they wrote about fiction and psychology interested them. Humans minds (to them) were very fascinating. This subject also interested many people in today's society. I really enjoyed reading this section, I found myself wanting to read more and learn more on how America evolved throughout time.