American Reconstruction and Economic Changes

Wartime Reconstruction

• Aimed to rebuild the Southern states after the Civil War and reintegrate them into the Union.
• Emphasized civil rights and opportunities for formerly enslaved individuals.

Presidential Reconstruction

• Led by President Abraham Lincoln and later Andrew Johnson.
• Focused on lenient policies to quickly reunite the country, including the 10% Plan.

Congressional Reconstruction

• Enacted by Congress after President Johnson's policies were deemed too lenient.
• Established the Reconstruction Acts that divided the South into military districts and required states to enact new constitutions ensuring civil rights.

Freedmen's Bureau

• Created in 1865 to assist freed slaves and impoverished whites in the South.
• Provided education, healthcare, and employment assistance.

10% Plan

• Proposed by Lincoln; allowed Southern states to be readmitted if 10% of voters took an oath of allegiance to the Union.
• Aimed to expedite reconstruction but faced opposition for being too lenient.

13th Amendment

• Ratified in 1865, abolished slavery in the United States.
• Marked a significant step towards civil rights for African Americans.

14th Amendment

• Ratified in 1868, granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all born in the U.S.
• Addressed issues of former slaves’ rights.

15th Amendment

• Ratified in 1870, granted African American men the right to vote.
• Aimed to eliminate barriers to voting based on race.

Mechanization

• Introduced machines in agriculture and manufacturing, increasing productivity.
• Shifted labor dynamics and workforce requirements.

Specialization

• Focused on specific tasks to improve efficiency and output.
• Encouraged division of labor within industries.

Rationalization

• Streamlined operations and production processes to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Driven by advancements in technology and management practices.

Old Immigrants

• Refers to immigrants arriving in the U.S. from Northern and Western Europe before the 1880s.
• Included groups like the Irish and Germans, often facing less discrimination.

New Immigrants

• Immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe after the 1880s, including Italians and Jews.
• Faced significant cultural and social barriers upon arrival.

Vertical Integration

• Business strategy where a company controls all aspects of production, from raw materials to distribution.
• Seen in companies like Carnegie Steel.

Horizontal Integration

• The consolidation of multiple businesses that offer the same product or service.
• Aimed to reduce competition and increase market share, exemplified by Standard Oil.

Oligopoly/Monopoly

• Oligopoly: Market structure dominated by a few large firms.
• Monopoly: Single company or entity controls entire industry, limiting competition.

American System of Manufacturing

• Emphasized mass production using interchangeable parts.
• Fostered industrial efficiency and innovation in manufacturing practices.

Economies of Scale

• Reduction in per-unit costs as production increases, benefiting large companies.
• Encourages consolidation in various industries.

The New South

• A term used to describe the South's post-Reconstruction economic and cultural transformation.
• Emphasized industrial growth and diversification beyond agriculture.

The Populists

• Political movement in the late 19th century advocating for farmers and laborers.
• Supported reforms like direct election of senators and regulatory policies on railroads.

Turner Thesis

• Argues that the American frontier shaped national character and democracy.
• Emphasizes the significance of westward expansion in U.S. history.

Limerick Thesis

• Challenges Turner’s ideas, claiming that the frontier experience varied and was not solely positive.
• Highlights complexity in the interactions between cultures during westward expansion.

Tariffs

• Taxes on imported goods designed to protect domestic industries.
• Often a source of political conflict, as seen in debates over their implementation.

Patents

• Legal protections for inventions and processes that promote innovation.
• Encouraged entrepreneurship and technological advancement in the U.S.

Limited Liability

• Legal structure that limits shareholders' financial responsibility to their investment.
• Facilitated investment in businesses by reducing risk.

Liberalization of Incorporation

• Easing of laws regulating the formation of corporations.
• Led to an increase in business creation and economic growth.

Mining Frontier

• Area of rapid industrial growth associated with gold and silver rushes.
• Catalyzed settlement and development in the American West.

Ranching Frontier

• Characterized by extensive cattle ranching and development of the beef industry.
• Marked significant cultural and economic change, especially in the Great Plains.

Farming Frontier

• Expansion into agrarian lands, driven by policies like the Homestead Act.
• Led to increased migration and agricultural development.

Homestead Act

• Enacted in 1862, provided 160 acres of public land for a small fee to settlers.
• Encouraged westward expansion and settlement.

Land Grants/Government Subsidies

• Provided by the government to promote economic development, particularly in transportation and agriculture.
• Supported the growth of railroads and farming enterprises.

Success Ethic/American Dream

• Ideal that hard work and determination can lead to prosperity and upward mobility.
• Became a foundational aspect of American identity.

Dawes Act

• 1887 legislation aimed at assimilating Native Americans by allotting individual plots of land.
• Intended to undermine tribal sovereignty and promote individual farming.

Wounded Knee

• Site of a massacre in 1890 that marked the end of armed Native American resistance.
• Symbolizes the tragic outcome of U.S. policies towards Native populations.

Semi-skilled Labor

• Workforce with specialized skills but less training than fully skilled workers.
• Emerging due to industrialization and evolving labor demands.

Ku Klux Klan

• White supremacist group formed during Reconstruction known for intimidation and violence against African Americans.
• Played a significant role in perpetuating racial segregation and discrimination.

Carpetbaggers/Scalawags/Redeemers

• Carpetbaggers: Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction for political or economic gains.
• Scalawags: Southern whites who supported Reconstruction and the Republican Party.
• Redeemers: Southern Democrats who sought to regain control post-Reconstruction and rollback civil rights gains.

Plessy v. Ferguson

• Landmark Supreme Court case establishing the "separate but equal" doctrine, codifying racial segregation.
• Justified discriminatory laws and practices for decades.

De Facto Segregation & De Jure Segregation

• De Facto: Racial segregation occurring in practice but not enforced by law.
• De Jure: Legalized racial segregation enforced by legislation.

Black Codes

• Laws enacted in the South post-Civil War aimed at restricting African American freedoms.
• Established systems of racial control and economic exploitation.

"The Long Depression"

• Economic downturn lasting from 1873 to 1879, marked by deflation and widespread unemployment.
• Changed perceptions of economic prosperity in the post-Civil War era.

Railroad Strike of 1877

• Nationwide labor strike sparked by wage cuts and poor working conditions.
• Marked the first major interstate strike in the United States, highlighting labor issues.

Tenement Buildings

• Overcrowded housing in urban areas, often inhabited by immigrants and the working class.
• Exemplified the harsh living conditions during rapid industrialization.

"The Country"/Nature

• Refers to ideals surrounding rural life and natural landscapes during industrial growth.
• Frequently romanticized in contrast to the urban experience.

The Battle of Little Bighorn

• 1876 conflict between U.S. forces and Native American tribes, resulting in a major Native victory.
• Signified Native resistance to U.S. expansion.

The Transcontinental Railroad

• Completed in 1869, connected the Eastern U.S. with the Pacific coast.
• Revolutionized transportation, trade, and settlement patterns.

Middle-Class Recreation

• Developed during industrialization, including leisure activities like spectator sports and amusement parks.
• Reflected changes in social dynamics and lifestyles of the growing middle class.

Department Stores

• Retail establishments offering a wide variety of goods organized into departments.
• Revolutionized shopping habits and consumer culture in urban areas.

Mail-Order Catalogs

• Revolutionized shopping by allowing rural customers access to a variety of goods.
• Provided convenience and accessibility in purchasing.

Urban Core

• Centralized areas in cities where economic, social, and cultural activity concentrated.
• Often characterized by higher density and diversity.

Twin Pillars

• Refers to the complementary nature of agriculture and industry in economic development.
• Emphasizes balanced growth between these sectors.

Cowboys/Cattle Barons/Ranchers

• Cowboys: Skilled horsemen managing cattle herds.
• Cattle barons: Wealthy landowners and ranchers dominating the beef industry.
• Ranchers played crucial roles in the cattle industry’s expansion on the Great Plains.