After the Civil War, Southern states created the Black Codes to control the freedom of newly freed African Americans. These laws limited rights and forced many back into unfair labor systems. They show how difficult it was for the U.S. to move toward equality after slavery.

This act gave settlers 160 acres of free land in the West if they agreed to farm it for five years. It encouraged thousands of families to move west, changing the landscape of the country and fueling both opportunity and conflict with Native Americans.

Industrial leaders like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller built huge companies in steel and oil. Their wealth and power showed how the U.S. was shifting from farming communities to an industrial economy. But it also led to harsh conditions for workers and a growing gap between rich and poor.

The Pendleton Act made government jobs based on merit instead of political favors. This ended much of the corruption of the old “spoils system” and marked an effort to make government more professional and fair.

The U.S. defeated Spain in a short war, gaining territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. This war showed America’s shift from focusing on domestic issues to stepping into the role of a world power.