Key Aspects of Reconstruction to the Roaring Twenties

Flashcards covering key aspects of U.S. history from Reconstruction through the Roaring Twenties, including major goals, amendments, and events.

What were the key goals of Reconstruction (1865-1877)?

Readmitting Southern states, defining freedom for Black Americans, and rebuilding the war-torn South.

What did the 13th Amendment accomplish?

Abolished slavery.

What did the 14th Amendment guarantee?

Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and provided 'due process' and 'equal protection of the laws.'

What was the purpose of the 15th Amendment?

Prohibited states from denying a citizen the right to vote based on 'race, color, or previous condition of servitude.'

What challenges did Reconstruction face?

Resistance from white Southerners, economic systems like sharecropping, and the withdrawal of federal troops.

What was the Gilded Age?

A period that seemed prosperous on the surface but was plagued by serious social and political problems.

What economic transformations occurred during the Gilded Age?

Rapid industrialization, growth of big business, technological innovations, and the rise of powerful industrialists.

What were key labor issues during the Gilded Age?

Poor working conditions, long hours, low wages, and the rise of labor unions.

What key political corruption was prominent during the Gilded Age?

Widespread corruption at all levels of government, including political machines.

What were the goals of the Progressive Era (c. 1890s-1920)?

Regulating big business, improving working conditions, fighting corruption, promoting social justice, and expanding democracy.

Who were muckrakers?

Journalists who exposed corruption and social problems.

What did the 17th Amendment establish?

Direct election of Senators.

What was the goal of the Temperance Movement?

Efforts to ban alcohol, leading to the 18th Amendment.

What were the motives behind U.S. Imperialism in the late 19th century?

Desire for new markets, access to raw materials, military strength, and beliefs in racial superiority.

What key event did the U.S. gain territory from in 1898?

The Spanish-American War, which resulted in acquiring Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

How did World War I impact the U.S. role globally?

Marked a significant shift as the U.S. joined the Allied Powers.

What were the causes of U.S. entry into WWI?

German unrestricted submarine warfare, the Zimmermann Telegram, and the desire to make the world safe for democracy.

What were Wilson's Fourteen Points?

A blueprint for a post-war world focused on self-determination, free trade, and the League of Nations.

What was a significant change during the Roaring Twenties?

A decade of economic prosperity and social change, including the Jazz Age and shifts in gender roles.

What led to organized crime during the 1920s?

Prohibition (18th Amendment), which resulted in speakeasies.

What was the impact of the Scopes Trial?

It highlighted the conflict between modernism and religious fundamentalism.