the North and South. At this period of time, particularly on the eve of the civil war, in the Northern part slavery practically didn’t exist because it was ineffective while in the South it was the basis of local economy, especially with the development of cotton industry.

As a result slavery was an essential part of a normal life of a southerner while a northerner would if not ignore than oppose to this unfair exploitation of people though both remained racists. Juridicially, the social and legal status of a slave was defined by slave codes according to which salve was rather a property than a personality. Such codes were mainly spread in states where slavery was permitted, so mainly they were Southern states. Natural that for people living in Southern states, where slaves were treated as a property, it was unacceptable to freed htem and give them any real rights. Thus, the contradiction between North and South was obvious and the problem of slavery became one of the causes of the Civil War.

Actually, the slavery was the main cause because directly or not its abolishing made undermined the economy and a traditional life order of the Southern states. Southerners felt this threat, particularly during 1850s but in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was elected a president the threat became more than real. Though he was considered to be quite a moderate candidate but still he opposed to further spread of slavery and it was interpreted as a warning sign by southern states which opposed to his election. For instance, South Carolina declared that they would leave the Union in the case of Lincoln’s election. After the new president was elected this state fulfiled its promis and seceded from the Union, its example was followed by other southern states such as Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. But Lincoln, being a convinced constitutionalist, tried to keep the unity of the country and, on realizing that it was impossible to do it without military intervention he had to use

IN historical terms American society is quite young and relatively new but despite this fact it has already become the subject of numerous studies and researches. Its progress really impressive if we have a look at the starting point and the first decades or even the first century of the formation of independent American society. Probably, it was the most important period of time in American history because exactly at this period of time the basis for the future US society had started to form. That is why in my work I would try to briefly analyze the main events and trends of this epoch that included so many historically important and I would say defining the future events. Naturally, the most important of them were the inception of the constitution, then the following civil war that undoubtedly defined the future of the United States of America, and finally the reconstruction that aimed at the recovering of American society from the consequences of the civil war.

Probably, it was exactly at this time when the American nation, American society had started to become a whole and indivisible unity. Nowadays there are many arguments about those events that took place in the first century of the existence of American society. Some specialist estimate it was the epoch of great progress and the changes were mainly positive, but, on the other hand, there are some experts who believe that American society could evaluate quicker and, if it is possible to say, better. So, I would try to find out who of them are right and to what extent. First of all, I would like to start with the engendering and development of Jacksonian democracy. Actually, Jacksonian democracy was created at the relatively short period between two wars and to a certain extent it was the result of the growing contradictions and tension between upper and lower classes of American society. In my opinion, the creation of the Jacksonian democracy was a demand of time. Andrew Jackson and Jacksonians believed that the concentration of power in hands of only a few the most powerful representatives of the American society was unfair in relqtion to the major pqrt of American citizens, i don’t even mention slaves who were in a desparate position and practically had no rights. We may name the precursors of Jacksonian democrats Jeffersonian republicans whose leader Thomas Jefferson practically blackmailed France and threatened to make an alliance with Britain if France refused to sell Louisiana to the USA. Naturally, Napoleon had to agree adn it resulted in the famous Louisiana purchase which cost 15 million dollars to the USA.

But asfor Jeffersonian republicans and their internal affairs, it is necessary to underline that they were for the so-called popular government that strongly contradicted to traditional British monarchy that reigned in the whole empire including the US untill the War on Independence. At this point the Jacksonian democrats may be called their followers for they also based their ideology practically on the same idea of popular government. Furthermore, they stood on the ground of strengthening executive branch of power. As a result, some specialists blame them that they concentrated too much power in hands of executive branch that was certainly a definite threat to the democracy. As for their leaders, Andrew Jackson he was a very active political player, for instance in the war of 1812 he won several significant battles that certainly added him popularity among average people and consequently he had to build his policy in favor of deprived poeple who were his main supporters.Naturally, Jacksonian democrats had a strong opposition, particularly from the part of the Whig.

The latter opposed Jacksonian ideas about the decreaing of the role of banks controlled by few but richest people that the Whig tended to sustain. Furthermore, they tried to increase the role of state banks to keep the balance within the financial system of the US. As for positive aspects of Jacksonians’ policy, we may say that they contributed greatly to the development of the democracy, they stood for the equality of american citizens. However, the oponents of Jacksonians may indicate that their policy was not as democratic as they proclaimed because it did not provide the real equality for all poeple on the contrary, native americans and slaves were severely deprived that makes it impossible to speak about the universality of Jacksonian democracy. As for their external policy they were nationalists, they attempted to expand the US and dominate in the North America and Caribean region. thus, generally, speaking, Jacksonians were partially poplitical propagandist who fromally struggled for equality and for well being of average people, they also were strict constitutionalists and wanted to sustain the unifying power of teh constitution, but on the other hand their democracy was limited and their constitutionalism was ‘forgotten’ when they strengthened the executive branch of power.

However, the changes in american society influenced not only religion but political and social life as well. It is worth noting that was marked by so-called the second great awakening. Unlike the great awakening of the first half of the 18th century, the second great awakening was less emotional and quieter. As i have already said it concerned practically al spheres of life of the American society of that time. So, what happende than within the american society and its religious beliefs? First of all, traditional christian beliefs that europeans brought to America had been changed completely. The most significan trole played different protestant movements, among which the most famous and the most influential became the Evangelists, the Mormons and the Seventh Day Adventists. By the end of the second awakening the most powerful religious organizations were Presbitarian, Baptists and Methodists but they did not destory their rivals that were much stronger before but they simply multiply the religious confessions of the USA. All these movements had change the US society greatly. Firstly, in the religious dimension, the worship became more democratic and closer to ordinary poeple who, in their turn felt themselves closer to their God.

As the Catholic priests in the Medieval Europe were the most educated people who possessed knowledge and spread it among people so the representatives of different denominations were not only religious people but they also were educators, very cultural and educated poeple who helped other in different situations. One of the most outstanding representative of evangelists of that time was Charles Gradison Finney. Being a good lawyer he also succeeded in the religious domain. Despite the competition between different religious groups he succeeded and became extremely popular in western New York due to his well planned and well advertised revivals and his presidency in Oberlin may be an evidence of his significance for the american society. Thus, the second great awakening gave the US society a new wave of democratization of religion and brought in more diversity in american religious life.

But, judging from what I have already mentioned above one may think that the american society was a united nation with common views, moral and beliefs. It would certainly be a big mistake. On the contrary, it was evident that the USA was divided into two big parts North and South. It became absolutely clear when the North due to the fast economical growth and the development of manufacturing began to lead in economical relations with South and consequently it began to gain more political power, or at least northerners wanted to do so. Finally, it led to the national tragedy that is known as the Civil war but before I would speak about it I would like to dwell upon one of the most important factor that was the object of contradiction between North and South. I mean the slavery and different relation to it reigning in the North and South. At this period of time, particularly on the eve of the civil war, in the Northern part slavery practically didn’t exist because it was ineffective while in the South it was the basis of local economy, especially with the development of cotton industry.

As a result slavery was an essential part of a normal life of a southerner while a northerner would if not ignore than oppose to this unfair exploitation of people though both remained racists. Juridicially, the social and legal status of a slave was defined by slave codes according to which salve was rather a property than a personality. Such codes were mainly spread in states where slavery was permitted, so mainly they were Southern states. Natural that for people living in Southern states, where slaves were treated as a property, it was unacceptable to freed htem and give them any real rights. Thus, the contradiction between North and South was obvious and the problem of slavery became one of the causes of the Civil War.

Actually, the slavery was the main cause because directly or not its abolishing made undermined the economy and a traditional life order of the Southern states. Southerners felt this threat, particularly during 1850s but in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was elected a president the threat became more than real. Though he was considered to be quite a moderate candidate but still he opposed to further spread of slavery and it was interpreted as a warning sign by southern states which opposed to his election. For instance, South Carolina declared that they would leave the Union in the case of Lincoln’s election. After the new president was elected this state fulfiled its promis and seceded from the Union, its example was followed by other southern states such as Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. But Lincoln, being a convinced constitutionalist, tried to keep the unity of the country and, on realizing that it was impossible to do it without military intervention he had to use

t the concentration of power in hands of only a few the most powerful representatives of the American society was unfair in relqtion to the major pqrt of American citizens, i don’t even mention slaves who were in a desparate position and practically had no rights. We may name the precursors of Jacksonian democrats Jeffersonian republicans whose leader Thomas Jefferson practically blackmailed France and threatened to make an alliance with Britain if France refused to sell Louisiana to the USA. Naturally, Napoleon had to agree adn it resulted in the famous Louisiana purchase which cost 15 million dollars to the USA.

But asfor Jeffersonian republicans and their internal affairs, it is necessary to underline that they were for the so-called popular government that strongly contradicted to traditional British monarchy that reigned in the whole empire including the US untill the War on Independence. At this point the Jacksonian democrats may be called their followers for they also based their ideology practically on the same idea of popular government. Furthermore, they stood on the ground of strengthening executive branch of power. As a result, some specialists blame them that they concentrated too much power in hands of executive branch that was certainly a definite threat to the democracy. As for their leaders, Andrew Jackson he was a very active political player, for instance in the war of 1812 he won several significant battles that certainly added him popularity among average people and consequently he had to build his policy in favor of deprived poeple who were his main supporters.Naturally, Jacksonian democrats had a strong opposition, particularly from the part of the Whig.

The latter opposed Jacksonian ideas about the decreaing of the role of banks controlled by few but richest people that the Whig tended to sustain. Furthermore, they tried to increase the role of state banks to keep the balance within the financial system of the US. As for positive aspects of Jacksonians’ policy, we may say that they contributed greatly to the development of the democracy, they stood for the equality of american citizens. However, the oponents of Jacksonians may indicate that their policy was not as democratic as they proclaimed because it did not provide the real equality for all poeple on the contrary, native americans and slaves were severely deprived that makes it impossible to speak about the universality of Jacksonian democracy. As for their external policy they were nationalists, they attempted to expand the US and dominate in the North America and Caribean region. thus, generally, speaking, Jacksonians were partially poplitical propagandist who fromally struggled for equality and for well being of average people, they also were strict constitutionalists and wanted to sustain the unifying power of teh constitution, but on the other hand their democracy was limited and their constitutionalism was ‘forgotten’ when they strengthened the executive branch of power.

However, the changes in american society influenced not only religion but political and social life as well. It is worth noting that was marked by so-called the second great awakening. Unlike the great awakening of the first half of the 18th century, the second great awakening was less emotional and quieter. As i have already said it concerned practically al spheres of life of the American society of that time. So, what happende than within the american society and its religious beliefs? First of all, traditional christian beliefs that europeans brought to America had been changed completely. The most significan trole played different protestant movements, among which the most famous and the most influential became the Evangelists, the Mormons and the Seventh Day Adventists. By the end of the second awakening the most powerful religious organizations were Presbitarian, Baptists and Methodists but they did not destory their rivals that were much stronger before but they simply multiply the religious confessions of the USA. All these movements had change the US society greatly. Firstly, in the religious dimension, the worship became more democratic and closer to ordinary poeple who, in their turn felt themselves closer to their God.

As the Catholic priests in the Medieval Europe were the most educated people who possessed knowledge and spread it among people so the representatives of different denominations were not only religious people but they also were educators, very cultural and educated poeple who helped other in different situations. One of the most outstanding representative of evangelists of that time was Charles Gradison Finney. Being a good lawyer he also succeeded in the religious domain. Despite the competition between different religious groups he succeeded and became extremely popular in western New York due to his well planned and well advertised revivals and his presidency in Oberlin may be an evidence of his significance for the american society. Thus, the second great awakening gave the US society a new wave of democratization of religion and brought in more diversity in american religious life.

But, judging from what I have already mentioned above one may think that the american society was a united nation with common views, moral and beliefs. It would certainly be a big mistake. On the contrary, it was evident that the USA was divided into two big parts North and South. It became absolutely clear when the North due to the fast economical growth and the development of manufacturing began to lead in economical relations with South and consequently it began to gain more political power, or at least northerners wanted to do so. Finally, it led to the national tragedy that is known as the Civil war but before I would speak about it I would like to dwell upon one of the most important factor that was the object of contradiction between North and South. I mean the slavery and different relation to it reigning in the North and South. At this period of time, particularly on the eve of the civil war, in the Northern part slavery practically didn’t exist because it was ineffective while in the South it was the basis of local economy, especially with the development of cotton industry.

As a result slavery was an essential part of a normal life of a southerner while a northerner would if not ignore than oppose to this unfair exploitation of people though both remained racists. Juridicially, the social and legal status of a slave was defined by slave codes according to which salve was rather a property than a personality. Such codes were mainly spread in states where slavery was permitted, so mainly they were Southern states. Natural that for people living in Southern states, where slaves were treated as a property, it was unacceptable to freed htem and give them any real rights. Thus, the contradiction between North and South was obvious and the problem of slavery became one of the causes of the Civil War.

Actually, the slavery was the main cause because directly or not its abolishing made undermined the economy and a traditional life order of the Southern states. Southerners felt this threat, particularly during 1850s but in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was elected a president the threat became more than real. Though he was considered to be quite a moderate candidate but still he opposed to further spread of slavery and it was interpreted as a warning sign by southern states which opposed to his election. For instance, South Carolina declared that they would leave the Union in the case of Lincoln’s election. After the new president was elected this state fulfiled its promis and seceded from the Union, its example was followed by other southern states such as Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. But Lincoln, being a convinced constitutionalist, tried to keep the unity of the country and, on realizing that it was impossible to do it without military intervention he had to use

s of Jacksonians’ policy, we may say that they contributed greatly to the development of the democracy, they stood for the equality of american citizens. However, the oponents of Jacksonians may indicate that their policy was not as democratic as they proclaimed because it did not provide the real equality for all poeple on the contrary, native americans and slaves were severely deprived that makes it impossible to speak about the universality of Jacksonian democracy. As for their external policy they were nationalists, they attempted to expand the US and dominate in the North America and Caribean region. thus, generally, speaking, Jacksonians were partially poplitical propagandist who fromally struggled for equality and for well being of average people, they also were strict constitutionalists and wanted to sustain the unifying power of teh constitution, but on the other hand their democracy was limited and their constitutionalism was ‘forgotten’ when they strengthened the executive branch of power.

However, the changes in american society influenced not only religion but political and social life as well. It is worth noting that was marked by so-called the second great awakening. Unlike the great awakening of the first half of the 18th century, the second great awakening was less emotional and quieter. As i have already said it concerned practically al spheres of life of the American society of that time. So, what happende than within the american society and its religious beliefs? First of all, traditional christian beliefs that europeans brought to America had been changed completely. The most significan trole played different protestant movements, among which the most famous and the most influential became the Evangelists, the Mormons and the Seventh Day Adventists. By the end of the second awakening the most powerful religious organizations were Presbitarian, Baptists and Methodists but they did not destory their rivals that were much stronger before but they simply multiply the religious confessions of the USA. All these movements had change the US society greatly. Firstly, in the religious dimension, the worship became more democratic and closer to ordinary poeple who, in their turn felt themselves closer to their God.

As the Catholic priests in the Medieval Europe were the most educated people who possessed knowledge and spread it among people so the representatives of different denominations were not only religious people but they also were educators, very cultural and educated poeple who helped other in different situations. One of the most outstanding representative of evangelists of that time was Charles Gradison Finney. Being a good lawyer he also succeeded in the religious domain. Despite the competition between different religious groups he succeeded and became extremely popular in western New York due to his well planned and well advertised revivals and his presidency in Oberlin may be an evidence of his significance for the american society. Thus, the second great awakening gave the US society a new wave of democratization of religion and brought in more diversity in american religious life.

But, judging from what I have already mentioned above one may think that the american society was a united nation with common views, moral and beliefs. It would certainly be a big mistake. On the contrary, it was evident that the USA was divided into two big parts North and South. It became absolutely clear when the North due to the fast economical growth and the development of manufacturing began to lead in economical relations with South and consequently it began to gain more political power, or at least northerners wanted to do so. Finally, it led to the national tragedy that is known as the Civil war but before I would speak about it I would like to dwell upon one of the most important factor that was the object of contradiction between North and South. I mean the slavery and different relation to it reigning in the North and South. At this period of time, particularly on the eve of the civil war, in the Northern part slavery practically didn’t exist because it was ineffective while in the South it was the basis of local economy, especially with the development of cotton industry.

As a result slavery was an essential part of a normal life of a southerner while a northerner would if not ignore than oppose to this unfair exploitation of people though both remained racists. Juridicially, the social and legal status of a slave was defined by slave codes according to which salve was rather a property than a personality. Such codes were mainly spread in states where slavery was permitted, so mainly they were Southern states. Natural that for people living in Southern states, where slaves were treated as a property, it was unacceptable to freed htem and give them any real rights. Thus, the contradiction between North and South was obvious and the problem of slavery became one of the causes of the Civil War.

Actually, the slavery was the main cause because directly or not its abolishing made undermined the economy and a traditional life order of the Southern states. Southerners felt this threat, particularly during 1850s but in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was elected a president the threat became more than real. Though he was considered to be quite a moderate candidate but still he opposed to further spread of slavery and it was interpreted as a warning sign by southern states which opposed to his election. For instance, South Carolina declared that they would leave the Union in the case of Lincoln’s election. After the new president was elected this state fulfiled its promis and seceded from the Union, its example was followed by other southern states such as Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. But Lincoln, being a convinced constitutionalist, tried to keep the unity of the country and, on realizing that it was impossible to do it without military intervention he had to use

imply multiply the religious confessions of the USA. All these movements had change the US society greatly. Firstly, in the religious dimension, the worship became more democratic and closer to ordinary poeple who, in their turn felt themselves closer to their God.

As the Catholic priests in the Medieval Europe were the most educated people who possessed knowledge and spread it among people so the representatives of different denominations were not only religious people but they also were educators, very cultural and educated poeple who helped other in different situations. One of the most outstanding representative of evangelists of that time was Charles Gradison Finney. Being a good lawyer he also succeeded in the religious domain. Despite the competition between different religious groups he succeeded and became extremely popular in western New York due to his well planned and well advertised revivals and his presidency in Oberlin may be an evidence of his significance for the american society. Thus, the second great awakening gave the US society a new wave of democratization of religion and brought in more diversity in american religious life.

But, judging from what I have already mentioned above one may think that the american society was a united nation with common views, moral and beliefs. It would certainly be a big mistake. On the contrary, it was evident that the USA was divided into two big parts North and South. It became absolutely clear when the North due to the fast economical growth and the development of manufacturing began to lead in economical relations with South and consequently it began to gain more political power, or at least northerners wanted to do so. Finally, it led to the national tragedy that is known as the Civil war but before I would speak about it I would like to dwell upon one of the most important factor that was the object of contradiction between North and South. I mean the slavery and different relation to it reigning in the North and South. At this period of time, particularly on the eve of the civil war, in the Northern part slavery practically didn’t exist because it was ineffective while in the South it was the basis of local economy, especially with the development of cotton industry.

As a result slavery was an essential part of a normal life of a southerner while a northerner would if not ignore than oppose to this unfair exploitation of people though both remained racists. Juridicially, the social and legal status of a slave was defined by slave codes according to which salve was rather a property than a personality. Such codes were mainly spread in states where slavery was permitted, so mainly they were Southern states. Natural that for people living in Southern states, where slaves were treated as a property, it was unacceptable to freed htem and give them any real rights. Thus, the contradiction between North and South was obvious and the problem of slavery became one of the causes of the Civil War.

Actually, the slavery was the main cause because directly or not its abolishing made undermined the economy and a traditional life order of the Southern states. Southerners felt this threat, particularly during 1850s but in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was elected a president the threat became more than real. Though he was considered to be quite a moderate candidate but still he opposed to further spread of slavery and it was interpreted as a warning sign by southern states which opposed to his election. For instance, South Carolina declared that they would leave the Union in the case of Lincoln’s election. After the new president was elected this state fulfiled its promis and seceded from the Union, its example was followed by other southern states such as Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. But Lincoln, being a convinced constitutionalist, tried to keep the unity of the country and, on realizing that it was impossible to do it without military intervention he had to use

the North and South. At this period of time, particularly on the eve of the civil war, in the Northern part slavery practically didn’t exist because it was ineffective while in the South it was the basis of local economy, especially with the development of cotton industry.

As a result slavery was an essential part of a normal life of a southerner while a northerner would if not ignore than oppose to this unfair exploitation of people though both remained racists. Juridicially, the social and legal status of a slave was defined by slave codes according to which salve was rather a property than a personality. Such codes were mainly spread in states where slavery was permitted, so mainly they were Southern states. Natural that for people living in Southern states, where slaves were treated as a property, it was unacceptable to freed htem and give them any real rights. Thus, the contradiction between North and South was obvious and the problem of slavery became one of the causes of the Civil War.

Actually, the slavery was the main cause because directly or not its abolishing made undermined the economy and a traditional life order of the Southern states. Southerners felt this threat, particularly during 1850s but in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was elected a president the threat became more than real. Though he was considered to be quite a moderate candidate but still he opposed to further spread of slavery and it was interpreted as a warning sign by southern states which opposed to his election. For instance, South Carolina declared that they would leave the Union in the case of Lincoln’s election. After the new president was elected this state fulfiled its promis and seceded from the Union, its example was followed by other southern states such as Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. But Lincoln, being a convinced constitutionalist, tried to keep the unity of the country and, on realizing that it was impossible to do it without military intervention he had to use troops.

The Civil war had lasted for almost five long years and due to several outstanding victories such as in the battle Shiloh and New Orlean, the Vicksburg campaign, Atlanta campaign and finally, the war resulte in southerner’s surrender in April 1865.

The results of the war were contradictive, on the one hand the North win and got control over the whole country keeping it united, furthermore the slavery was abolished and the most important legislative acts were the Emancipation proclamation in 1863 which freed slaves and it was finally supported by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865 that abolished slavery in the whole country. Actually, this post-war period was called the Reconstruction but its consequences are treated by many specialists as highly controversial. First of all, it concerns former slaves who were freed but they did not really improve their social and economic status. We may say that this freedom was only formal while in real everyday life black americans were permanently discriminated and deprived, and certainly they were not equal to white Americans though we cannot deny some positive aspects of the Recontruction such as the creation of free of charge public school for black and white Americans.

Furthermore, the 14th Amendment to the Constitution formally provided equality for all citizens of the USA, while the 15th Amendment provided all people for the vote right, regardless their race. But, in my opinion, the laws did not work effectively enough and real position of former slaves had hardly changed. Econmically, the Reconstruction period was marked by attempts to support southern states, which suffered the most from the Civil war, through tax regulation and financial help from North. However, this period was also marked by an extremely high level of corruption. So, i cannot definitely say that it failed because their were some positive aspects but it was not very effective because of the corruption, moral and cultural norms that contributed to the development of racism both in Norht and particularly South, finally it si impossible to change the whole country in a decade. Anyway, in my opinion, the Reconstruction and all the changes that took places within American society were a step forward in the dirction of a new, more deomcratic, free and equal society.

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Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, I want to conclude that the first century n the history of the independent USA was very hard time wiht great events that defined the further development of the country, regardless all mistakes and unjustice of that epoch, due to these difficulties and their successful overcoming by American society, led to the great progress of the US that finally made it one of the most powerful countries of our days and an exelent example for all those nations who struggle for democracy and freedom.