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The Era of Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865–1890
from Civil War to World War, 1865–1920: The Era of Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865–1890
6
Objectives
10
Flashcards
10
Questions
90 min
Study time
AqaA LevelHistory1K The making of a Superpower: USA, 1865–1975
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What you need to know
6 objective pages available
The Era of Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865–18906 objectives
- The weaknesses of Federal Government: Johnson, Grant and the failure of Radical Reconstruction.
- The politics of the Gilded Age and the era of weak presidents; political corruption.
- Social, regional and ethnic divisions: divisions within and between North, South and West; the position of African-Americans.
- Economic growth and the rise of corporations: railways; oil; developments in agriculture; urbanisation.
- Laissez-faire dominance and consequences; the impact of the ending of the frontier.
- The limits of foreign engagement and continuation of isolationism: the continuation of the Monroe Doctrine; territorial consolidation (Alaska) and tensions over Canada.
Key terms
Black CodesFreedmen's BureauPolitical CorruptionPatronageReconstructionGilded AgeUrbanizationCorporationLaissez-faireIsolationismTerritorial Consolidation
Exam tips
- Use Specific Evidence: When answering questions about Reconstruction, always support your arguments with specific examples and evidence.
- Use Specific Examples: When discussing political corruption, always include specific examples or events to support your argument.
Common mistakes
- Overgeneralizing Reconstruction: It's important to analyze specific policies and their impacts, recognizing both achievements and failures.
- Confusing the Gilded Age with the Progressive Era: Focus on the Gilded Age's emphasis on corruption and economic disparity, while noting that the Progressive Era emerged as a response to these issues.
Practice preview
- Which of the following was a significant weakness of President Andrew Johnson's approach to Reconstruction?
- What were the main challenges faced by Ulysses S. Grant during his presidency regarding Reconstruction?
- Evaluate the impact of Radical Reconstruction on African American rights in the South.
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