Evaluating Reconstruction Flashcards
How did historian Eric Foner interpret the era?
Believed that it was ‘flawed from the start’ - but could have been effective had it have succeeded
- The south was never fully politically rebuilt
- Was de Jure but de facto - the laws were there but did nothing to change society
How did historian Dunning interpret the era?
- Believed that reconstruction was harsh on the south, and worked until 1877
POLITICAL IMPACTS OF RECONSTRUCTION
- Less then __% of the southern population was northern
- Did the north economically exploit the south?
- How successful was radical reconstruction?
- Did the north have control over the south?
- Did the south maintain its political power? How many southern presidents were there during the 50 years that followed? How many of the Supreme Court members were southern? (Out of 31)
- Less then 2% of the Southern population was northern
- The north made no attempt to economically exploit the south
- Radical reconstruction was over before it had begun
- Yes - but lost control temporarily
- Lost a lot of political influence, only 1 southern president in the 50 years that followed, only 7/31 southern Supreme Court members
ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF RECONSTRUCTION
- Overall, was the economic effect on the US positive or negative?
- Then south benefitted from ____ and ____, ___ were rebuilt, _____ manufacturing expanded
- Who did better, north or south?
- By 1870, average white southerners wage was ____% of a northerners
- South reminded predominantly _____, dependent on _____
ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF RECONSTRUCTION
- Overall, reconstruction had a hugely positive effect on the US economy - as it developed into an industrial power
- Then south benefitted from general prosperity and high cotton prices, railroads were rebuilt, textiles manufacturing expanded
- The north did considerably better - much of the South remained in poverty
- By 1870, average white southerners wage was 40% of a northerners
- South reminded predominantly agricultural, dependent on cotton plantations
SOCIAL IMPACTS OF RECONSTRUCTION
- ____ slaves were emancipated - however….
- How much political power did African Americans hold? How many black senators? How many black reps in congress? How many blacks elected to state legislature?
- Were ex-slaves given land?
- Did Johnson redistribute the land? Why/why not?
- During the 1870s, many African Americans became ______, which involved…..
SOCIAL IMPACTS OF RECONSTRUCTION
- 4 million slaves were emancipated - however, social inequality remained
- Held very little political power, however…
2 black senators
20 black reps in congress?
Many blacks elected to state legislature?
- Ex-slaves were given no land - Johnson did consider land redistribution but decided against it, as he needed to keep white Southerners on side
- During the 1870s, many African Americans became sharecroppers, which involved white land owners providing land, seeds and tools, whilst black tenants provided the land - they had very little freedom
ECONOMIC GROWTH Transport - (railroads) - \_\_\_\_\_ - the first transcontinental railroad - went from \_\_\_\_\_ to \_\_\_\_\_ in \_\_ days - \_\_\_km new track across USA - \_\_\_ new jobs created by 1900 - Encouraged demand - eg \_\_\_,\_\_\_,\_\_\_ - Encouraged \_\_\_\_, so prices \_\_\_\_\_\_
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Transport - (railroads)
- 1869 - the first transcontinental railroad - went from NYC to San Francisco in 6 days
- 53,000 km new track across USA
- 1 million new jobs created by 1900
- Encouraged demand - eg steel, coal, engines
- Encouraged competition, so prices fell
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Availability of capital
- Generated _____, and a highly developed ____ had been set up by the civil war - with an annual turn over of $___ by 1865
- ____ biggest money market in the world
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Availability of capital
- Generated huge profits, and a highly developed stock market had been set up by the civil war - with an annual turn over of $6 billion by 1865
- 2nd biggest money market in the world
ECONOMIC GROWTH
The role of government
- Normally, the government _________ in the economy
- Congress imposed _____, which encouraged _____
- What about trade unions?
- Who did the state support in disputes?
ECONOMIC GROWTH
The role of government
- Normally, the government did little to interfere in in the economy
- Congress imposed protective tariffs, which encouraged internal trade
- There were no trade unions
- In the event of a dispute, the state would support the employer
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Corporations and trusts
- What did corporations allow businesses to do? How did this emerge?
- What is a trust? Why did this emerge? Who created the trust?
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Corporations and trusts
- A corporation allows one business to own lots of small businesses and therefore earn more money. Emerged due to lack of federal intervention
- With a trust, you don’t actually own the business, you still earn profit but are just looking after it.
This emerged due to laws stopping people from owning shares or companies in more then 1 state
Invented by HENRY FLAGLER - first American billionaire
ECONOMIC GROWTH
The impact of the civil war
- The civil war stimulated a demand for _____ (eg ___), so methods of _____ were developed. However…
- The war created necessity for _____ - gov had to raise money to go to war, resulting in sophisticated ____ system based on ____
- Gov introduced _____ money during the war, requiring a developed system that could cope with the the amount of money in circulation
- What did tariffs do?
ECONOMIC GROWTH
The impact of the civil war
- The civil war stimulated a demand for manufactured goods (eg guns, clothing) so methods of mass production were developed. However… This was only in the north
- The war created necessity for financial infrastructure - gov had to raise money to go to war, resulting in sophisticated capital system based on Wall Street
- Gov introduced paper money during the war, requiring a developed system that could cope with the the amount of money in circulation
- Tariffs protected US industry and reduced completion from abroad
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Availability of land
- US expanded with ________
- This land was ___, resulting in the expansion of _____ and plenty of _____
- Greater demand for food required improved ________
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Availability of land
- US expanded with WESTWARD EXPANSION
- This land was fertile, resulting in the expansion of farming and plenty of food
- Greater demand for food required improved MECHANISATION in agriculture
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Population growth
- Population had grown to ____ by 1880
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Population growth
- Population had grown to 50 million by 1880
List the 7 aspects of economic growth following reconstruction
- Transport
- Availability of capital
- The role of government
- Corporations and trusts
- Impacts of the civil war
- Availability of land
- Population growth
NEGATIVE IMPACTS The depression of 1873 - Caused \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ in Europe - Small banks kept deposits in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_, who spent them \_\_\_\_\_\_ EG - \_\_\_\_\_\_ - it's collapse lead to failure of hundreds of other banks - NY Stock Exchange closed for \_\_\_\_ - \_\_\_\_ closed and \_\_\_\_\_\_ laid off - \_\_\_% labourers out of work by 1873 - \_\_\_\_\_\_ unemployed
NEGATIVE IMPACTS The depression of 1873 - Caused economic reversal in Europe - Small banks kept deposits in larger banks, who spent them unwisely EG - JAY COOKE AND COMPANY - it's collapse lead to failure of hundreds of other banks - NY Stock Exchange closed for 10 days - Factories closed and thousands laid off - 25% of labourers out of work by 1873 - 1 million unemployed
NEGATIVE IMPACTS
Urbanisation
- Chicago had a population of _____ in 1850, and over _____ by 1890 - and had taken the lead in ____ production
- Cities became defined by _______
NEGATIVE IMPACTS
Urbanisation
- Chicago had a population of 30,000 in 1850, and over a million by 1890 - and had taken the lead in steal production
- Cities became defined by what they produced
