3. Social and Racial Divisions 1865-1890

How did emancipation change the position of African-Americans in 1865?

Around four million enslaved people gained legal freedom following the Civil War and abolition of slavery, but they still faced poverty, discrimination and Southern resistance.

What did the 13th Amendment (1865) do?

Abolished slavery throughout the USA, except as punishment for a crime following conviction. It did not guarantee voting rights or economic equality.

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1866 establish?

Established national citizenship for most people born in the USA and equal civil rights, including the right to make contracts and own property.

Why was the 14th Amendment (1868) significant?

Guaranteed birthright citizenship, due process and equal protection under the law, giving African-Americans stronger constitutional rights.

What did the 15th Amendment (1870) establish?

Prohibited denying voting rights because of race, colour or previous enslavement. It did not prohibit all other voting restrictions.

What was the Freedmen's Bureau (1865)?

A federal agency that provided education, food, medical assistance and legal support to formerly enslaved people and refugees.

What educational progress did African-Americans make during Reconstruction?

The Freedmen's Bureau supported the creation of thousands of schools; by 1870, approximately 247,000 Black pupils attended schools supported by the Bureau.

Why was African-American freedom limited despite emancipation?

Although slavery ended, many African-Americans lacked land, money and protection from discrimination, leaving them economically and politically vulnerable.

What were the Black Codes?

Laws introduced in Southern states during 1865–1866 that restricted African-Americans' employment, movement and legal freedom after emancipation.

What were Jim Crow laws?

State and local laws enforcing racial segregation and discrimination, particularly in the South. They expanded after Reconstruction, especially from the late 1880s onwards.

Why was the Civil Rights Act of 1875 significant?

It attempted to guarantee equal access to public accommodation regardless of race, although its effectiveness was limited and key provisions were overturned in 1883.

How did racial intimidation affect elections during Reconstruction?

How did racial intimidation affect elections during Reconstruction?

What was sharecropping?

Paying for land with crops bassicaly slavery

Why was cotton price decline a problem for Southern farmers?

Falling cotton prices reduced incomes, making it harder for tenants and sharecroppers to repay debts and escape economic dependence.

Why did the Southern economy remain weaker than the North?

The South depended heavily on agriculture and faced war damage, limited industrial development, unequal land ownership and widespread rural poverty.

What were the main differences between the North and South after 1865?

The North had a more industrialised, urban economy, while the South remained more agricultural and suffered extensive economic damage from the Civil War.

Why did the North industrialise rapidly after the Civil War?

Expansion of railways, investment, immigration and demand for manufactured goods supported the growth of factories and major corporations.

What were the main economic characteristics of the South?

Dependence on cotton and other crops, widespread rural poverty, sharecropping and relatively limited industrialisation.

Why was the West important to American expansion?

It offered land, minerals, agricultural opportunities and railway routes, encouraging migration, settlement and economic development.

What was the Homestead Act of 1862?

Offered 160acres for people to go West

What was the Pacific Railway Act of 1862?

Provided federal support through land grants and loans for a transcontinental railway, strengthening connections between the East and West.

When was the first transcontinental railroad completed?

10 May 1869, connecting Eastern railway networks more effectively with the Pacific coast.

How did the US population grow between 1870 and 1890?

It increased from approximately 38.6 million to 62.9 million, reflecting immigration and natural population growth.

What were the main difficulties facing Western settlers?

Drought, unpredictable weather, isolation, transport costs and debt made successful farming difficult in many areas.

Why were farmers in the West increasingly dissatisfied by the 1880s?

High transport costs, falling crop prices, expensive credit and debt encouraged farmers to organise against railway companies and financial interests.

Why did regional divisions weaken national unity?

Different economic interests and experiences created disputes over tariffs, federal powers, civil rights, agricultural policies and industrial regulation.

Why was the South economically disadvantaged compared with the North?

War damage and dependence on low-income agriculture restricted investment, while Northern manufacturing, finance and transport expanded.

Were regional divisions entirely negative for economic development?

No. Specialisation and railway expansion connected regional markets, but the gains were uneven and often intensified economic and social inequality.

What were the main causes of conflict between settlers and Native Americans?

Settler expansion, broken treaties, competition over land and resources, and government attempts to control Native American territories.

What was the Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)?

A victory for Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho forces over troops led by George Custer. The US government subsequently intensified its campaign against Native resistance.

What did the Dawes Act of 1887 do?

Divided reservation land into individual allotments, promoted assimilation into white American society and allowed remaining land to be opened to non-Native settlement.

How much land was a typical Dawes Act allotment for a family head?

Usually 160 acres, although allotment sizes varied by household status and land use.

How successful was Native American resistance by 1890?

Native groups achieved some temporary victories and treaties, but growing settler numbers, military pressure and federal policies substantially reduced their independence.