<P> Another great change beginning in the 1870s was the settlement of the western territories by Americans . The population growth in the American West led to the creation of many new western states, and by 1912 all the land of the contiguous U.S. was part of a state, bringing the total to 48 . As whites settled the West, however, conflicts occurred with the Amerindians . After several Indian Wars, the Amerindians were forcibly relocated to small reservations throughout the West and by 1914 whites were the dominant ethnic group in the American West . As the farming and cattle industries of the American West matured and new technology allowed goods to be refrigerated and brought to other parts of the country and overseas, people's diets greatly improved and contributed to increased population growth throughout the West . </P> <P> America's population greatly increased between 1870 and 1914, due largely to immigration . The U.S. had been receiving immigrants for decades but at the turn of the 20th century the numbers greatly increased, due partly to large population growth in Europe . Immigrants often faced discrimination, because many differed from most Americans in religion and culture . Despite this, most immigrants found work and enjoyed a greater degree of freedom than in their home countries . Major immigrant groups included the Irish, Italians, Russians, Scandinavians, Germans, Poles and Jews . The vast majority, at least by the second generation, learned English, and adopted American culture, while at the same time contributing to American culture . For example, the celebration of ethnic holidays and the introduction of foreign cuisine to America . These new groups also changed America's religious landscape . Although it remained mostly Protestant, Catholics especially, as well as Jews and Orthodox Christians, increased in number . </P> <P> The U.S. became a major military and industrial power during this time, gaining a colonial empire from Spain and surpassing Britain and Germany to become the world's major industrial power by 1900 . Despite this, most Americans were reluctant to get involved in world affairs, and American presidents generally tried to keep the U.S. out of foreign entanglement . </P> <P> The years between 1870 and 1914 saw the rise of Germany as the dominant power in Europe . By the late 19th century, Germany had surpassed Britain to become the world's greatest industrial power . It also had the mightiest army in Europe . From 1870--1871, Prussia was at war with France . Prussia won the war and gained two border territories, Alsace and Lorraine, from France . After the war, Wilhelm took the title kaiser from the Roman title caesar, proclaimed the German Empire, and all the German states other than Austria united with this new nation, under the leadership of Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck . </P>

The victories of united most of western europe