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.

Explore the pivotal themes of American Reconstruction and the economic transformations following the Civil War. This quiz covers significant amendments, immigration waves, and industrial advancements. Test your knowledge on concepts like the 10% plan, mechanization, and the Populist movement.