American settlers must have been greatly inspired by the celebration of the Fourth of July 200 years ago. The independence of the United States was 30 years old and opportunities for whites seemed unlimited.
The total population of the country, excluding Native Americans, was only 5.3 million in 1800. To put this in perspective, that is only 65 percent of the present population of New York City. The vast American West beckoned daring settlers to establish substantial farms. Others could head toward more populous areas to take advantage of opportunities presented by the Industrial Revolution.
With the exception of abolitionists and their sympathizers, most Americans were …
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