In a broader sense, the shoes represent America's struggle to remain one nation and to redefine the roles between states and the national government. This plain, ordinary but personal item demonstrates how all Americans were touch by the Civil War. Shoes were a necessity for soldiers on both sides. However, neither side had the capacity to mass produce shoes. This simple item will require the federal government to assume a larger role in the economy and people's lives in order to meet the demand. This increased role of the federal government will be used in many ways (the draft, control over railroads and telegraph lines and other industries) in order for the North to win the war and ultimately keep the nation together.

During the Civil War Lincoln took control of the telegraph lines to be able to communicate faster and more effectively with military leaders. By examining a telegraph message sent from Lincoln to a general during the war, students can analyze how this technology allowed for the government to increase its engagement with troops a well as communicate with citizens. Another example of a primary source that changed the relationship between government and its citizens is photographs. The Civil War was the first war in which photography was used to inform people about the horrors of the battlefield. These photos influenced public opinion of the war. As news and photographs about the war reached citizens, the government became more accountable than ever for decisions made in a time of war. From this point forward, the government would have to take increased consideration for public opinion about future wars.

The era of mass produced nails directly reflects with the types of housing Americans had. For example, before mass-produced nails, nails were hand-made by a blacksmith and very expensive. So people designed houses that required fewer nails such as brick and mortar, log, and post and beam. Several of these building methods required skilled craftsmen and created other drawbacks. The introduction of a mass-produced nail made building houses less expensive. Fewer skilled craftsmen were need as boards could be ordered pre-cut. This transition in construction led to what we know of today as the modern framed house structure which was originally called a "balloon frame". In essence, the simple nail being mass-produced is a symbol of the country's transition away from products produced by skilled artisans and cottage industries to an abundance of products being mass-produced for a rapidly expanding nation.

When we think of westward expansion in the 1820's and 1830's, we think about the Americans conquering the wilderness and setting up homesteads beyond the Appalachian Mountains.

The boundary marker represents many changes taking place within the new nation of the United States of America. One of the broader themes the marker addresses is the political divide created by the evolution of the first political parties. The location of the new nation's capital was the result of strategic bargaining between leaders of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties. It's location was meant to ease the Democratic-Republicans' fears of a national government dominated by the interest of northern bankers and businessmen. In exchange for establishing the seat of government closer to the south and specifically at the doorstep of Virginia - arguably the most powerful southern state - the Democratic -Republicans conceded on the Federalists' desire to create a new national bank. At the root of the political division in the country was another broader theme -its growth into two distinct regions - North and South. Each region had different economic, political, and social characteristics that were sometimes at odds with each other. Possibly this new capital city could offer a forum for compromise. Finally, in an era of strong state power, the creation of the new capital city in a district that was an entity of itself and not subject to the direct influence of one particular state, Washington, D.C. was a distinct representation of the country's idea of federalism. This capital city was the seat of the national government. In this time period, the new national government established by the Constitution was in the midst of redefining itself after the debacle of the Articles of Confederation. Although this capital city was initially designed to create unity and to bind two distinct regions together, it would be a the heart of the greatest test of federalism in our history - the Civil War.

Boundaries are essentially barriers. Whether those "barriers" are designed to keep something together or to prevent something from coming in is important. The changing of boundaries often reflects large influential change in society. Boundaries were essential during the creation of the United States. Boundaries established what land could be colonized and the specific formation of the thirteen colonies - each established for unique reasons and by specific groups. These boundaries also reflect who holds power and where. As the nation's boundaries expanded, it reflected our growth of power in world. These boundaries are also a reflection of our ideas about democracy and our attempt to keep out those ideas which contradict it. In our history, boundaries have also demonstrated our internal struggle with the institution of slavery. Attempts to avoid the Civil War included adhering to laws subject to boundaries between the North and South, the Missouri Compromise and other Pre-Civil War compromises. In the post Civil War era, the nation struggled with a century of discriminatory laws which clearly established geographical and social boundaries between groups of people. As America became a world power, it expanded its boundaries and sphere of influence in other parts of the world. During WWI, WWII and the Cold War era, the adhering to geographic boundaries was important to protect ourselves and other nations from the expansion of tyranny and the infiltration of fascism and communism. Throughout history boundaries have defined us and helped to explain our experiences.

The simple white dress was symbolic of the simplicity of the cause. Women were citizens and thus simply should have the right to vote. As the roles of women were changing as a result of technology and the responsibilities they undertook as a result of WWI, women had to convince society that they could continue to be the kinder, gentler, pure maternal figures while exercising their political rights as citizens. The dress is also a symbol of purity. Ironically, the dress itself was likely made in a sewing factory which on one hand freed women from hand-sewing the family's clothing, but on the other bound women to the same stereotypical roles. The long white dress, like women themselves of the time period, represents an attempt at some level to embody traditional values, to continue to be viewed as the "purer" of the two sexes, but also be a symbol of strength for a higher purpose.

Secondary sources such as suffragist newspapers, diaries, or letters would provide more insight into the movement as well as the private struggles of the suffragists themselves. Some woman would not openly support the movement, but privately hoped for its success. As woman gained more time to involve themselves in political activities supporting the movement, they used banners, wrote speeches, and other documents to convince the world of their ability to make wise decisions as voters. These documents would allow us to see women as intellectuals not just housewives and mothers.