Reconstruction Era and Rise of Big Business

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What was the main objective of the Reconstruction era?

To establish a strong national government

To resolve the issue of slavery once and for all

To expand westward and acquire new territories

To rebuild the South and integrate former slaves into society (correct)

Which of the following Amendments protected voting rights for African Americans?

14th Amendment

15th Amendment (correct)

13th Amendment

16th Amendment

What was a significant challenge faced by the federal government during Reconstruction?

The rise of Black Codes in the South (correct)

The lack of qualified individuals to lead the reconstruction process

The strong opposition from Northern states

The lack of resources to fund rebuilding efforts

Which of the following best describes the shift in Reconstruction policies?

From a more lenient approach under Lincoln and Johnson to a more radical one under Congressional control (C) Signup and view all the answers

What marked the end of federal intervention in the South and allowed white Southerners to regain control?

The Compromise of 1877 (D) Signup and view all the answers

What business model did John D. Rockefeller use to dominate the oil refining industry?

Horizontal integration (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was a common consequence of the rise of Big Business during the late 19th century?

Exploitation and unfair labor practices (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was a major factor contributing to the decline of the Reconstruction era?

The rise of the Ku Klux Klan (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was one major goal of labor unions like the Knights of Labor and the AFL?

To advocate for better working conditions (D) Signup and view all the answers

What event is associated with significant violent repression faced by the labor movement?

All of the above (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was a consequence of the Dawes Act of 1887 for Native Americans?

It resulted in the loss of millions of acres of tribal land. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which doctrine did the Supreme Court establish in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?

Separate but equal (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was a major issue for farmers during the Gilded Age related to currency?

The desire for the free coinage of silver (C) Signup and view all the answers

How did political machines like Tammany Hall operate during the Gilded Age?

By trading favors for votes (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of the 1896 presidential election?

The defeat of William Jennings Bryan (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was a major consequence of Jim Crow laws established in the 1890s?

Institutionalized racial segregation (C) Signup and view all the answers

What major development characterized the emergence of the 'New South' after Reconstruction?

Modernization through industrialization (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main reasons for the political stalemate during the Gilded Age?

Political parties were unwilling to adopt controversial platforms (C) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Reconstruction Era (1865-1877)

Reconstruction aimed to rebuild the South and integrate formerly enslaved people into society.
Key legislative achievements: 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments (abolishing slavery, granting citizenship, protecting voting rights).
Amendments laid groundwork for future civil rights movements but faced Southern resistance and lack of federal enforcement.
Reconstruction highlighted federal government's role in protecting citizens' rights.
Reconstruction policies shifted from lenient (Lincoln, Johnson) to more radical (Congressional control).
Reconstruction Acts (1867) placed the South under military rule.
Reconstruction ultimately failed to achieve its goals, ending with the Compromise of 1877 and the re-establishment of Southern control with segregation and disenfranchisement.

Rise of Big Business and Labor Unions (Late 19th Century)

Rise of big business, driven by industrialists like Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Morgan.
These industrialists employed vertical and horizontal integration to dominate industries.
Rockefeller's Standard Oil and Carnegie's steel empires exemplify these strategies.
Businesses sought to maximize profits, eliminate competition, and gain monopolistic control.
Workers faced harsh conditions, low wages, and long hours.
Labor unions (Knights of Labor and AFL) emerged to advocate for better working conditions, shorter hours, and higher wages.
Labor movement faced violent repression from employers and government.
Strikes (Great Railroad Strike of 1877, Homestead Strike of 1892, Pullman Strike of 1894) highlighted the growing conflict between labor and management.
Labor movement struggled due to internal divisions and difficulties in achieving lasting success.

Emergence of the "New South" and Jim Crow (Post-Reconstruction)

Southerners sought to modernize the "New South" economically (industry growth).
New South was rooted in racial inequality.
White Southerners maintained control using segregation and disenfranchisement.
Systems like crop-lien and sharecropping kept many in poverty.
Jim Crow laws (1890s) institutionalized segregation in public spaces.
Tactics to circumvent the 15th Amendment (literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clauses) disenfranchised African Americans.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) legitimized segregation with "separate but equal."
Federal government's policies negatively impacted Native Americans, leading to land loss and assimilation policies like the Dawes Act (1887).
Native American resistance culminated in conflicts like Battle of Little Bighorn and Wounded Knee Massacre.

The Gilded Age (1865-1900) and Political Stalemate

Gilded Age characterized by economic and social inequality.
Political issues centered around the money supply, particularly for struggling farmers.
Debate over gold vs. silver currency was prominent, with farmers advocating for silver coinage.
1896 presidential election highlighted the tension, with Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech and McKinley's pro-gold stance.
Political corruption (spoils system, political machines like Tammany Hall) exacerbated the issues.
Big business influence meant lack of regulation and monopolies.
Polarization and weak presidential leadership contributed to legislative gridlock.
These conditions set the stage for the Progressive Era reforms.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the critical events from the Reconstruction Era (1865-1877) that aimed to rebuild the South and integrate formerly enslaved individuals into society, alongside the rise of big businesses and labor unions in the late 19th century. This quiz covers key amendments, legislative achievements, and the impact of industrialists on society. Test your knowledge on these transformative periods in American history.