1) The 19th century in the Americas was a time of independence movements, mass migration, and economic growth, but new states struggled to build stable societies. 2) The U.S. Civil War began in 1861 over the issue of slavery and states' rights, and the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 made abolition a key war goal. 3) Known as the Little Ice Age, a period of global cooling occurred from the 16th to 19th centuries, bringing colder weather and expanding glaciers.

1. Theme 1 A Difficult Past How the America’s Changed Jessica Migdal History 141