Kossuth, the Hungarian revolutionist, electrified American audiences by his appeals on behalf of the downtrodden in Europe.

Already the world was growing smaller.

America did not stop at the Pacific but crossed the ocean to establish permanent political and commercial relations with Japan and China.
The industries of the country were being reorganized to meet new conditions created by recent inventions.

The electric telegraph was just coming into use, giving rise to a new era in communication.

The discovery of gold in California in 1848 was followed by competing projects to construct railroads to the Pacific with Chicago and St.
Louis as the rival eastern terminals.