Post-Civil War America Study Guide

1865-1900

Lincoln's assassination's effect on Reconstruction

- Brought Andrew Johnson to presidency

- Johnson was less skilled at working with Congress

- Led to more contentious relationship between Executive and Legislative branches

- Resulted in harsher Reconstruction policies than Lincoln likely would have implemented

Presidential vs Congressional Reconstruction

Presidential (Johnson):

• More lenient toward South

• Quick readmission of Confederate states

• Limited protection for formerly enslaved people

• Pardons for most Confederates

Congressional (Radical):

• Stricter requirements for readmission

• Military occupation of South

• Greater protection for African American rights

• Divided South into military districts

Constitutional Amendments

13th: Abolished slavery (1865)

14th: Granted citizenship to former slaves; equal protection under law (1868)

15th: Gave voting rights to African American men (1870)

Freedmen's Bureau

Successes:

* Established schools and universities

* Provided food and medical care

* Helped negotiate labor contracts

Limitations:

* Underfunded

* Limited duration

* Strong Southern resistance

Limitations on African American freedom

Sharecropping:

* Created cycle of debt

* Limited economic mobility

Black Codes:

* Restricted movement

* Limited employment options

* Enforced segregation

* Restricted property ownership

End of Reconstruction (1877)

- Compromise of 1877 removed federal troops

- Return of Democratic control in South

- Implementation of Jim Crow laws

- Decline in African American political participation

Homestead Act impacts

- Encouraged western migration

- 160 acres free to settlers

- Displaced Native Americans

- Led to farming on unsuitable lands

Transcontinental Railroad significance

- Connected east and west coasts

- Increased trade and settlement

- Destroyed buffalo habitat

- Created new towns and economic opportunities

Peace Policy failure

- Reservation system disrupted traditional life

- Corrupt Indian agents

- Broken treaties

- Cultural misunderstandings

- Continued conflicts

Buffalo destruction impacts

- Destroyed primary food source

- Undermined traditional way of life

- Forced dependency on government

- Led to reservation system

Dawes Act goals and consequences

- Broke up tribal lands

- Pushed assimilation

- Reduced Native American land holdings

- Weakened tribal authority

Little Bighorn (1876)

• Native American victory

• Led to increased military response

Wounded Knee (1890)

• Massacre of peaceful Lakota

• Marked end of Indian Wars

Farmers' economic challenges

- High railroad rates

- Falling crop prices

- Rising debt

- Unfavorable monetary policy

Railroad impacts

- High shipping rates

- Monopolistic practices

- Control of grain storage

- Discriminatory pricing

Granger Movement achievements

- State regulation of railroads

- Cooperative buying/selling

- Political organization

- Supreme Court case Munn v. Illinois

Populist Platform

- Government ownership of railroads

- Direct election of Senators

- Income tax

- Immigration restrictions

- 8 hour workday

Free silver significance

- Would increase money supply

- Help indebted farmers

- Inflate currency

- Opposed by banking interest

Populist failure causes

- Split over silver issue

- Co-option by Democrats

- Regional limitations

- Improved economic conditions

Railroad influence

- Created national market

- Standardized time zones

- Stimulated steel industry

- Sparked technological innovation

Integration types

Vertical: Controlling all aspects of production

Horizontal: Buying out competitors

Carnegie

• Steel

• Vertical integration

• Emphasized efficiency

• Philanthropic later in life

Rockefeller

• Oil

• Horizontal integration

• Used trusts

• Monopolistic practices

Immigration/urbanization impacts

- Provided labor force

- Created ethnic neighborhoods

- Spurred housing development

- Led to social reforms

New inventions' impact

Telephone: Improved communication

Electricity: Extended workday

Assembly line: Increased production

New transportation: Changed city life