They did not find better living, as people in the northern cities were as prejudice of black as those were in the south.
Much of the nation's politics were discussed in the bars of these cities. Traxel writes of the bars being a "haven" for workers, because of the changes in technology and of big capital money. The country and business leaders were concerned with profit; they always had to be making money. However, through all of the diversity and contrast, Traxel tells of the patriotism in the country. Americans thought that this would be what would bring the people of their nation together.
Traxel wrote with praise of Thomas Edison. The year of 1898 was one of great technological progress, of which Edison was a part. Edison had made improvements on the telegraph in his younger years, and he had his own laboratories by 1898. He was a "hero," born in poverty, but made his wealth because of energy and never giving up on the projects he believed in. Henry Ford, becoming interested in mechanics at a young age, had developed a number of gasoline-powered "horseless carriages" by 1898. Although his Detroit Automobile Company failed, Ford kept at his work and by 1903, he had a new company formed and he had developed an efficient assembly line for production of his Model T Ford. With all of the inventions and politics, and the concentration on accumulation of wealth and in self-interests, Traxel sets the view for the coming events of that year.
Spain had Cuba as one of its colonies at this time, and America did have interests in Cuba, with trade. The way that the Spanish government treated the Cubans was very harsh. There was social unrest in the colony. America had not been involved in international affairs before, and President McKinley was hesitant to be drawn into their conflicts. There was pressure to help the Cuban people, for the good of the people and for the security of the United States, especially from the media.
