Name: Ocean Savage
School: Homeschool
Did Nevada change the nation? The most popular belief is that Nevada saved the 1864 election for Lincoln and was important in ratifying the Xlllth Amendment. However, these have been proven to be myths. Though this would make it seem that Nevada did not change the nation, it still did. Hoover Dam and the xvth Amendment of the Constitution are proof of this fact.
Many often believe that Nevada changed the nation by saving the 1864 election for President Lincoln. The election was actually a three way race between Lincoln, General McClellan and General Fremont. Lincoln believed that he wouldn’t have enough votes to win so he created Nevada. However, when Fremont dropped out of the race, no one really wanted McClellan so he was voted out. Therefore, though Lincoln created Nevada to help him win, he didn’t need the state in the end.
Many also believe that Nevada was vital ratifying the Xlllth Amendment. This is untrue because the Nevada Senators didn’t even arrive in Washington D.C.in time to sign the Amendment. Nevada did ratify the Xlllth Amendment, which helped to ensure that slavery and involuntary servitude did not exist.
All of these negatives would imply that Nevada did not change the nation, but it actually did. For instance, one way that Nevada changed the nation is through its influence on the xvth Amendment to the Constitution. If Nevada was not a state, then there would have been no Nevada Senators. If there were no Senators, then Nevada Senator William M. Stewart would not have had an important role in drafting the Amendment. Without him, the Amendment might not have come to be. Therefore, without the Amendment, blacks may not be able to vote today. Also, Nevada was the first state to ratify the xvth Amendment which encouraged other states to ratify it also.
Another of Nevada’s contributions is Hoover Dam, which is located partly in Nevada. It changed the nation because of Lake Mead. If this lake were not there, Las Vegas would not exist because of lack of water from Lake Mead. Las Vegas, a city in Nevada, is important because it brings in tourists, who bring money with them, and therefore helps the nation. Also, Hoover Dam powers Las Vegas with the electricity it makes. With more electricity from Hoover Dam, Las Vegas can be bigger. That attracts more tourists which helps the nation. Third, Hoover Dam stores water so that it does not flood California. This is important because California is full of rich farmland. It produces so much money that could be lost if the farmland was flooded. Also, Hoover Dam cleans the water by keeping it in one place. Before Hoover Dam, the Colorado River was red with mud making it impossible to drink. By cleaning it, Hoover Dam is helping the nation by conserving water-cleaning money. Also, Hoover Dam helped the nation during the Great Depression. The Great Depression happened when the businesses shut down and people were out of work. The construction of Hoover Dam provided work for thousands of these people during this time. The nation would not have recovered as quickly from the depression if Hoover Dam had not been built. So, Hoover Dam really did help the nation by controlling flooding, providing water and electricity to Las Vegas, and providing jobs during the Great Depression.
Thus, though there are myths about how Nevada changed the nation, there is also some proof that it really did. Lincoln’s 1864 election was not influenced by Nevada nor was the Xlllth Amendment passed because of Nevada’s existence as a state. However, Nevada did still change the nation through its influence on the xvth amendment and the building of Hoover Dam during the Great Depression. Nevada is quite a state!
References
Rocha,Guy. Why Did Nevada Become a State? Internet Available 10/9/13. http://www.nevadaweb.com/nevadaca/rocha-2.html
Mann, Elizabeth. Hoover Dam. Mikaya Press,NV. 2001.