Railroads took farmers, ranchers, and miners to the West in the last half of the 1800s. Native Americans, most of whom lived in the West by that time, fought against white settlement. Eventually, they were forced onto reservations.
The eastern United States also experienced big changes. Thanks to modern inventors, Americans could talk to one another on telephones and light their cities with electricity. Industries and cities grew as never before.
A new wave of immigrants streamed into the cities to take factory jobs. Workers of all backgrounds tried to improve unsafe factory conditions. Owners, however, seldom improved wages or work rules.
Life proved difficult for both immigrant and African American families, who moved to cities looking for work. Reformers like Jacob Riis exposed dirty, overcrowded slums. Their work helped change some of the worst conditions.
Farmers throughout the country fell on hard times after the Civil War. Local groups sometimes succeeded in getting lower railroad rates for shipping their products to market. These groups later formed the Populist political party. The Populists and members of the Progressive movement, which came later, supported a number of reforms. The graduated income tax, direct primaries, and direct election of senators were some of their successes.
