Text | Lanzi Ji
Ed Lanzi Ji
When it comes to the United States, everyone must be familiar with it.
However, do you have the same interest in its past years of change and expansion?
Next, let's start with the abolition of slavery in 1777-1858, and integrate 8 precious historical pictures to vividly show the cultural collision and territorial expansion scenes of the United States in that era...
Abolition of slavery in 1777-1858
Between 1831 and 1866, William Lloyd Garrison demonstrated visionary leadership and founded the influential and revolutionary journal The Liberator.
The positioning of this publication is both clear and deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, aiming to reveal the deep-seated contradictions in American society and guide the public to start a movement against slavery.
Against this backdrop, in 1833, Garrison co-founded the American Anti-Slavery Society with other like-minded individuals, providing an organizational framework for a potentially nationwide reform movement.
As a leader of action, Garrison has an unwavering heart and is determined to pursue his ideals.
However, as a revelatory movement, no matter how valuable its spiritual dimension, it cannot escape the challenges of the real world.
In particular, in 1835, when Garrison was secretly expounding his views in Boston, he was attacked by a mob, and his life was in danger.
This can't help but make people sigh, what kind of belief makes people willing to pay such a huge price?
Extension of slavery in 1808-1860
After half a century, the United States has gradually become the most powerful and conspicuous federal government in the Americas, but behind this glorious progress lies a dark and cruel slavery system.
From the early to mid-19th century, the United States imported at an alarming rate of 2.5 million slaves from Africa and the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
This situation reveals a tragic and cruel reality - that is, when the United States enjoys the comfort and comfort brought by the material civilization and democratic freedom of modern society, it is the sacrifice of those black compatriots who have paid with their lives for their own survival and the glory of their families.
The 'Underground Railroad' of 1786-1860
With the advancement of social history, slavery has left an extremely dark page in the history of human civilization.
However, against this backdrop, there are still many heroes who have taken action to save these people who are in chains.
The most notable of these was the so-called "Underground Railway", which played an important role from 1786 to 1860.
This transportation network, hidden deep in the jungle, first began in 1786.
Originally built by a group of volunteers, it was designed to provide a way of escape to the North for slaves seeking freedom.
Despite the controversy and pressure of the project, it was a successful project that helped tens of thousands of free-spirited slaves flee the South and move to the North and beyond, with the help of which more than 50,000 slaves were emancipated until 1860.
In order to further resist slavery, several states in North America have also enacted relevant "personal liberty laws" to show their opposition to the Federal Fugitive Slave Act.
In 1793, this enduring law was born, but it was met with strong resistance from all over North America.
Massive debates and clashes erupted across the country, but the law that eventually made its way into the Constitution also gave powerful hope to those slaves who longed for freedom.
In addition to their stubborn resistance to slavery, those who sought freedom became aware of the deep bond they had with their homeland.
Between 1821 and 1860, many free black workers chose to return to their homeland, hoping to change the living conditions of their parents in their hometowns through their own efforts.
In addition, organizations such as the American Colonization Society also took on the task of restoring the free life of the colonized people during this period, and in 1822 black colonies such as Liberia were established.
By 1847, these regions had finally declared their freedom from slavery and established their own political entity, an independent republic.
The gradual approach of the Civil War of 1858-1861
In the mid-19th century, the United States took the famous Civil War, which not only changed the country's political map and economic structure, but also profoundly reflected the deep contradictions and complex realities of the society at that time.
On June 16, 1858, Abraham Lincoln delivered a powerful speech.
He was acutely aware of the divisive situation facing the United States at the time, and he pointed out that the country could not tolerate the rifts and injustices that either were completely free or completely enslaved.
His voice came from the bottom of his heart and expressed the deepest aspirations of many people.
On February 8, 1861, in response to increasing pressure from the Northern federal government, Montgomery formed a provisional government from the states that seceded from the Union, and its first leader was Jefferson Davis.
After that, the Civil War broke out in the United States. The war broke down the old social fabric and prompted people to think about and confront issues that were once hidden or obscured – racial discrimination and social equality.
On June 11, 1861, it happened in Welling, northern Virginia.
Although West Virginians in the region had voted to remain in the United States, the southern states of the United States decided to add them to new counties – an attempt that seriously violated the autonomy and autonomy of the local population.
However, this action was met with resolute resistance from the local population, who refused to accept such an independent reality and insisted on remaining in the original state and county, and eventually integrated into the U.S. federal government in the 1863 elections.
1861-1865 Confederation March
Throughout history, the American Civil War is undoubtedly an important chapter in the development of human society.
The Civil War took place on April 12, 1861, and ended in a complete victory for the Confederate Army.
This day marked a major turning point in the balance of power between the North and the South, and a key watershed in American history.
However, the course of the war is extraordinary, full of twists and turns.
Over a period of more than four years, both sides experienced numerous battles and setbacks, and it was not until April 9, 1865, when the Confederate forces held an unconditional surrender ceremony at Appomatopox, that the brutal civil war finally came to an end.
It is worth mentioning that during this war, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which completely subverted the traditional concept of slavery.
He called for the emancipation of black slaves from their physical confines and the right to freedom so that all slaves could be freed here and thereafter.
The promulgation of this declaration marked the end of slavery in the United States, and played an immeasurable role in promoting the issue of slavery and the progress of human rights throughout the Americas.
However, Lincoln was assassinated by an Assassin attack on April 15, 1865, and became one of the most influential and tragic figures in American history.
His death represents the disillusionment of his lofty ideals, and at the same time shows us the cruelty and helplessness of the times.
The South, 1865-1915
In the half-century between the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the American South encountered tremendous changes and challenges.
This period can be seen as an important stage in the collapse of slavery in the American South and the transition to modern society.
In 1865, shortly after the end of the American Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, which aimed to abolish slavery, officially attracted the attention of all sectors of American society.
The promulgation of this decree undoubtedly brought a ray of hope to the black people who had been oppressed for a long time.
Since then, democratic governments in the North have begun to address the violation of the equal human rights of black people in the South.
However, there are still many difficulties and challenges in the actual operation process.
First, while the Civil Rights Act of 1866 greatly advanced the status of blacks in law, in real life, many whites are still deeply racist.
They are hostile to blacks and even commit hate crimes.
As a result, many Black communities continue to suffer from injustice and the denial of equal rights.
Around 1883, the U.S. Supreme Court heard five civil rights cases.
Regrettably, in these rulings, the Supreme Court turned a blind eye to the Civil Rights Act of 1875 and the principle of equal status for blacks.
This incident has greatly weakened the authority of the civil rights law and directly exacerbated the division and contradictions in society.
In addition, during the entire period, especially from 1884 to 1914, more than 4,000 innocent blacks were brutally lynched.
This includes extreme means such as strangulation, burning, and beating to death.
Such incidents have led to a rapid deterioration in ethnic relations that should have been gradually improving, and a further deepening of inter-ethnic hatred.
On December 18, 1865, the Abolition Act came into force
In 1866, the Ku Klux Klan was founded in Perasquet, Tennessee. It was re-established in 1915 in Stone Mountain, Georgia
The Civil Rights Act of April 9, 1866, made blacks citizens
The Civil Rights Act of March 11, 1875, guaranteed blacks equal rights to public places with whites
Five civil rights cases were set aside in 1883: in these cases the Supreme Court violated the Civil Rights Act of 1875 and the principle of black equality
Between 1884 and 1914, more than 4,000 blacks were lynched (violent punishments, including hanging, burning at the stake, and beating to death).
Indian Settlement 1788-1894
In 1924, for all Indians in the United States, their status was specially secured and recognized.
As U.S. citizens, they enjoy the same rights and benefits as other citizens, a far-reaching decision that ushered in a new era for the broad Indian community.
In 1934, the long-standing U.S. government introduced the Indian Reorganization Act, which gave clear guarantees to the rights of Native Americans to own land.
The land acquired by the indigenous people through their hard work can provide a long-term and stable basis for their families.
At the same time, this law is also beneficial to the preservation of the entire ecological environment, and only when everyone has the legal right to share in natural resources can our society, and indeed all life on the planet, coexist in harmony.
Looking back on history, it is not difficult for us to find that it is the responsibility and obligation of every government official and citizen of the country to continuously promote the protection of the rights and interests of the Indian community.
Security of rights and interests is as important as identity, allowing indigenous groups to develop and integrate into society as a whole on an equal basis with other people.
Alaska 1728-1958
In the northeastern region of North America, there is a land full of mystery - Alaska.
In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the Russian Empire expanded to the easternmost tip of the North American continent, with the successful excavation of the famous Tethyskodon volcano in 1741.
In the decades that followed, the Russian Empire continued to send troops into Alaska, establishing the first temporary stronghold of Osotov in 1741.
Between 1778 and 1790, two permanent strategic fronts were further established, Valdès and Córdoba.
These were important milestones in the peaceful exploration and development of Alaska by early humans.
However, it was the military operations of the Russian Empire and the resulting territorial disputes that really made waves in this virgin land.
In 1784, the Russians established a settlement in Kodiak in southern Alaska, and for some time after 1786, they also invested a lot of manpower and material resources in the Pribilov Islands in southeastern Alaska.
However, the Russian Empire was ultimately defeated in the battle with British North America, and Alaska was purchased by the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million.
This event not only marked a seismic change in the fortunes of Alaska, but also became an important watershed in the reconstruction of the political map of North America.
In addition, Alaska's independent status is also one of the manifestations of its unique charm.
Since 1959, Alaska has officially become the 49th state of the United States, a decision that has far-reaching implications for the entire United States.
This makes Alaska enjoy the same rights and obligations as other states, and provides a broader space for local residents to develop.
At the same time, this move also fully proves that the U.S. government attaches great importance to and supports the development of Alaska.
epilogue
Maps, an important partner in the development of human history, have been entangled with the two major themes of geography and history in the long river of time, depicting the world's unique and brilliant treasures.
These colorful maps not only serve as a real-world coordinate reference system for the world to use, but also show us the development of civilization in different historical periods.
It's like a history book, vividly illustrating the vicissitudes of time with vivid images.
Resources:
(i)SELECTIONS
Baratov, R. B. (and others), Atlas Tadzhikskoi Sovetskoi Sotsialisticheskoi Respubliki（Dushanbe and Moscow，1968）
Bartholomew,John(ed), The Times Atlas of the World , 5 vols (London, 1959)Bazilevich, K. V., Golubstov, I. A. and Zinoviev, M. A.,Atlas Istorii SSSR3 vols (Moscow,1949-54)
Beloglazova,0.A. (ed),Atlas SSSR(Moscow,1954)Czapliński, Wladisław and Ładogórski, Tadeusz, Atlas Historyczny Polish(Warsaw,1968)
Droysens，G.，Historischer Handatlas (Bielefeld and Leipzig，1886)Durov，A.G. (General editor)， Atlas Leningradskoi Oblasti (Moscow，1967)Engel，Joseph，Grosser Historischer Weltatlas (Munich，1962)Grosier，L'Abbe，Atlas Generale de la Chine (Paris，1785)Hudson，G.F.and Rajchman, Marthe, An Atlas of Far Eastern Politics (London，1938)
Kalesnik，S.V. (and others),Peterburg-Leningrad (Leningrad，1957)Kosev，Dimiter (and others)， Atlas Po Bulgarska Istoriya (Sofia, 1963)Kubijovyc， Volodymyr, Atlas of Ukraine and Adjoining Countries (Lovo,1937)