30 Gripping Pictures That Tell The Real Story Of 1800s America

The 1800s were a century of incredible transformation for America but not all of it was pretty. These 34 photographs capture a nation growing up fast, from the early days of our democracy to the dawn of the industrial age. You'll see images that might make you uncomfortable alongside others that fill you with pride, because that's exactly what this era was: complicated, messy, and real. From Native American communities fighting for survival to waves of immigrants seeking new lives at Ellis Island, from the harsh realities of plantation life to the bustling energy of Wall Street, these pictures don't sugarcoat history. They show us America as it actually was: a young country figuring itself out, making terrible mistakes and remarkable progress, often at the same time.

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