Study Guide on Hiram Revels

Overview

• Hiram Revels: The first African American U.S. Senator, served Mississippi during Reconstruction (1870-1871).

Context: Reconstruction (1865-1877)

• Post-Civil War period focusing on rebuilding the South, integrating freed slaves, and restoring Southern states to the Union.

Key Legislation: Civil War Amendments

• 13th Amendment: Abolished slavery.

• 14th Amendment: Granted citizenship and equal protection under the law.

• 15th Amendment: Granted Black men the right to vote.

Important Figures and Events

• Andrew Carnegie: Industrialist who expanded the steel industry and promoted philanthropy via "The Gospel of Wealth."

• John D. Rockefeller: Founder of Standard Oil, known for monopolizing the oil industry and his philanthropic contributions.

Labor Movements & Legislation

• Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (1911): Resulted in 146 worker deaths, prompting labor and safety reforms.

• Scabs: Workers who replace striking employees; often viewed negatively by unions.

Immigration

• Ellis Island: Immigration processing center in NYC for European immigrants (1892-1954).

• Angel Island: Immigration station in California for processing Asian immigrants, often subjected to stricter scrutiny.

Legislation & Movements Affecting Immigrants

• Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): Law banning Chinese labor immigration due to anti-Chinese sentiment.

• Americanization Movement: Efforts to assimilate immigrants into American culture through education and social programs.

• Nativism: Favoring native-born citizens and promoting anti-immigrant policies.

• Melting Pot: Metaphor for cultural assimilation in the U.S.

Racial Segregation and Civil Rights

• Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): Supreme Court case that upheld racial segregation under "separate but equal".

• Segregation Laws: Enforced racial separation, including:

  • Poll Tax: Voting fee targeting poor African Americans.

  • Grandfather Clause: Exempting voting restrictions for whites based on their ancestors.

  • Jim Crow Laws: State laws enforcing segregation in the South.

• NAACP: Founded in 1909 to fight racial discrimination and promote civil rights.

Political Movements

• Bull Moose Party: Progressive Party led by Theodore Roosevelt in the 1912 presidential election advocating reforms like women’s suffrage and labor rights.

Conclusion

Hiram Revels played a significant role in American history during the Reconstruction era, representing progress for African Americans in governmental roles and contributing to the ongoing fight for civil rights.

Study Guide on Prohibition and World War I

Primary Goal of Prohibition

• Prohibition: Aims to ban alcohol production, sale, and consumption to reduce social problems like crime and alcoholism.

Key Amendments

• 19th Amendment: Granted women the right to vote (ratified in 1920).

Historical Context

• Seward’s Icebox: Nickname for the U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, initially seen as a foolish investment.

Media Influence

• Yellow Journalism: Sensationalized, exaggerated news reporting to attract readers and influence public opinion.

Modern Weapons Developed During WWI

• Machine Guns: Weapon that allowed for rapid fire and increased fatalities in battle.

• Tanks: Armored vehicles that changed the nature of warfare.

• Poison Gas: Chemical weapon that caused great suffering and panic among soldiers.

• Submarines: Underwater vessels that added a new dimension to naval warfare.

• Airplanes: Used for reconnaissance and later for combat roles in the war.

Casualties in WWI

• Fewest Casualties: The United States, due to its late entry into the war in 1917.

U.S. Foreign Policy

• Neutrality: Policy of staying out of conflicts, initially adopted by the U.S. during WWI.

Key Events

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand: Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne; his assassination in 1914 sparked WWI.

Allied Powers in WWI

• Countries who made up the Allied Powers: Primarily France, Britain, Russia, Italy, and later the United States.

Military Legislation

• Selective Service Act: 1917 U.S. law requiring men to register for military draft.

Warfare Geography

• No Man’s Land: The deadly, unoccupied area between opposing trenches during WWI.

Treaty of Versailles

• Treaty of Versailles: 1919 treaty ending WWI; imposed harsh penalties on Germany and redrew European borders.