The making of a Superpower USA - Society (1865 - 1890)

What was the impact of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act?

Prevented Chinese people already in US from being citizens + difficult for them to return to US if they visited China

How did big business benefit from immigration?

Chinese workers did longer hours for lower wages + could be strike breakers

How did immigration increase from 1865?

10 million immigrants by the 1890s

What happened during the 1873 Colfax massacre?

Democrats worked with white supremacist groups to combat the Republican governor (won 1872 Louisiana race) + they killed 60 - 100 men (mostly black)

What was the impact of the 1873 Colfax massacre?

The leaders were arrested + charged but SCOTUS said that the 1870 Enforcement Act was unconstitutional - so they were released in 1876 (violence normalised)

What was the impact of the 1866 KKK?

Their terrorist activities peaked between 1869 - 1871 + they led to the creation of the White League in 1873

What was the impact of Chicago’s population increasing to 1 million?

It became the railroad centre (lumber, meat + grain)

What were the living conditions like in the 1870s - 1880s?

Slums, poor construction quality + overpopulated

What was the impact of the 1877 railroad strike?

Hayes sent federal troops to support big business + the over 100,000 workers had failed

What did the 1866 National Labour union achieve?

Unity among workers + earned back $10 million in damages

What did the 1869 Knights of Labour achieve?

Open to all sorts of workers (race + gender wise), paralysed the South during Wabash railroad incident + had 750,000 members by 1886

How were the Knights of Labour unsuccessful?

Blamed for Haymarket riot, lost half their members in 1 year + became extinct 10 years later

What were PUSH factors?

Factors that pushed people out of their homelands

What were PULL factors?

Factors they pulled them towards America

What did the 1886 American Federation of Labour achieve?

250,000 members by 1892 - spearheaded by leader Samuel Gompers

What was the impact of the 1886 Haymarket riot?

Labour unions were blamed for the bomb + 60 people being injured

What is an example of some PULL factors?

Railroad, 1869 guide “Where to Emigrate and Why” + steamships

What is an example of some PUSH factors?

Economic growth (depression in Britain), Irish unemployment + Russian persecuted

What was a positive impact of immigration?

56% of the labour force were of foreign origin by 1890 + the Statue of Liberty was unveiled in 1886

How did the Westward expansion impact wheat production?

It increased - 211 million bushels 1867 to 599 million in 1900 + exports increased from 6 million to 102 million

How did Westward expansion loans impact farmers?

They fell into debt + became bankrupt

How did Texas impact cattle and ranching?

It allowed ranchers to acquire grazing land at 50¢ an acre in 1880 + the “Long Drive” ran through it to Kansas

How many cattle were transported?

5.71 million between 1866 and 1885

What was the impact of the 2 severe winters between 1885 and 1887?

90% of western cattle died - millions of $ lost

When did open ranches end?

1890