GILDED AGE: African Americans

Question 1

Wider Debate

Answer 1

• usually seen as time of restriction + even regression for AAs, especially in south
• Some may argue there were distinct economic, cultural and educational gains but these were for a small minority

Question 2

Reason for negative wider debate

Answer 2

Reconstruction failed and backlash from powerful landowners and businessmen took full force

Question 3

Judgement

Answer 3

• Some economic + educational advancements but only really related to a small number of AAs + had little impact on sharecroppers of the south
• Lots of legal regression and this is what was most important

Question 4

Gains in Progress: Literacy Rates

Answer 4

Literacy rates improved: 1865 (1 in 20 AA could read); 1900 (1 in 2)

Question 5

Gains in Progress: How many schools were set up in Georgia

Answer 5

1544 schools

Question 6

Gains in Progress: Economic gains

Answer 6

• Rise in banking and insurance businesses
• By 1900, 47,000 AA professionals (docs, lawyers, teachers + artists)

Question 7

Lack of Progress: Hayes Tilden Compromise

Answer 7

• 1877
• Troops removed from South
• Ended incentive to follow advancements of congressional reconstruction

Question 8

Lack of Progress: Tennessee

Answer 8

• 1881Segregated Railway Law
• Soon every southern state followed suit

Question 9

Lack of Progress: AAs prevented from voting

Answer 9

• Literacy tests
• Grandfather clauses

Question 10

Lack of progress: Lynching

Answer 10

1 every other day

Question 11

Lack of progress: SC decisions

Answer 11

• 1883: US vs Harris- declared 1875 CRA unconstitutional
• 1896: Plessy VS Ferguson: separate but equal (de facto segregation)

Question 12

Lack of Progress: Segregated districts

Answer 12

• Chicago: 5000