Changes

In the time period after the end of Reconstruction (1877) until the key presidential election of 1896, economic issues were particularly important.  Very little else was happening: the presidents were unremarkable and, frankly, entirely forgettable.  Social disputes like slavery were resolved.  And for the longest time in American history, there were no wars.  America had no wars between the end of the Civil War in 1865 and the beginning of the Spanish-American War in 1898, a period of 33 years.  Ask yourself: when was the second longest time of peace in American history?<ref>The second longest time period of peace in American history was between the end of the War of 1812 (in 1815) and the beginning of the Mexican War (in 1846), a period of 31 years.  See http://americanhistory.about.com/library/timelines/bltimelineuswars.htm</ref>

In the time period after the end of Reconstruction (1877) until the key presidential election of 1896, economic issues were particularly important.  Very little else was happening: the presidents were unremarkable and, frankly, entirely forgettable.  Social disputes like slavery were resolved.  And for the longest time in American history, there were no wars.  America had no wars between the end of the Civil War in 1865 and the beginning of the Spanish-American War in 1898, a period of 33 years.  Ask yourself: when was the second longest time of peace in American history?<ref>The second longest time period of peace in American history was between the end of the War of 1812 (in 1815) and the beginning of the Mexican War (in 1846), a period of 31 years.  See http://americanhistory.about.com/library/timelines/bltimelineuswars.htm</ref>

There is almost nothing to learn about civil rights during the late 1800s.  The Supreme Court ruled in 1883, in the ''Civil Rights Cases'', that the Fourteenth Amendment was limited to prohibiting racial discrimination ''by government''.  These decisions held that the Fourteenth Amendment does not apply to racism by private groups.  This ended the civil rights movement until the 1950s.

This period, 1877 to 1896, saw the greatest advances in technology in the history of world, mostly in New Jersey.  The greatest inventions in the history of mankind occurred during this period.  Our prosperity today is largely a result of the tremendous innovations of the second half of the 1800s.  Free enterprise was booming, and the biggest political issues were economic ones.  Many of the economics questions on the CLEP come from 1877-1896. T

So what's left to study about 1877 to 1896?  The economy.  Many of the economics questions on the CLEP come from 1877-1896 because little else was happening then.  If you like economic issues, then this is an exciting time period to study.  The economy was ''booming''.  The greatest inventions in the history of mankind occurred during this period.  Our prosperity today is mostly a result of the tremendous innovations of the second half of the 1800s.

As to civil rights (post-slavery issues), the Supreme Court ruled in the ''Civil Rights Cases'' (1883), that the Fourteenth Amendment was limited to prohibiting racial discrimination ''by government''.  These decisions held that the Fourteenth Amendment does not apply to racism by private groups.  This ended the civil rights movement until the 1950s.

But first, a little review.

But before we turn to the fabulous inventions and extraordinary prosperity of the late 1800s, let's review what preceded it.

== Review ==

== Review ==

After the North won the Civil War in 1865, the Republican Party claimed victory and blamed the Democratic Party for the war itself.  From then until 1912, only one Democratic candidate for president was able to win a presidential election:  Grover Cleveland, who won in 1884, then lost in 1888, and then won again in 1892.  And he was a ''[[conservative]]'' Democrat from the then-Republican State of New York.  The reason the Republican Party won so often was because it was "waving the bloody shirt" every election, which means it was reminding voters of how the Democrats sided with the supposedly treasonous South in seceding and causing the Civil War.

After the North won the Civil War in 1865, the Republican Party claimed victory and blamed the Democratic Party for the war itself.  From then until 1912, only one Democratic candidate for president was able to win a presidential election:  Grover Cleveland, who won in 1884, then lost in 1888, and then won again in 1892.  And he was a ''[[conservative]]'' Democrat from the then-Republican State of New York.  The reason the Republican Party won the presidency so often was because it was "waving the bloody shirt" every election, which means it was reminding voters of how the Democrats sided with the supposedly treasonous South in seceding and causing the Civil War.

Republican rule of the nation meant that free enterprise and big business were favored.  This led to tremendous prosperity, and the nation grew into a world power in the second half of the 1800s.

Republican rule of the nation meant that free enterprise and big business were favored.  This led to tremendous prosperity, and the nation grew into a world power in the second half of the 1800s.

The United States also grew in size when the Secretary of State under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson, William Seward, agreed to purchase Alaska from Russia in 1867.  Critics ridiculed this purchase as "Seward's Folly," describing the land as a mere "icebox".  At the time, no one knew there was oil and gold there.

The United States also grew in size when the Secretary of State under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson, William Seward, agreed to purchase Alaska from Russia in 1867.  Critics ridiculed this purchase as "Seward's Folly," describing the land as a mere "icebox".  At the time, no one knew there was oil and gold there.

Russia needed money to pay for its defensive efforts at the time, as it felt threatened by the massive and growing British Empire.  The purchase price was $7,200,000, which was only about 1.9¢ per acre.  The Senate approved this deal nearly unanimously, but the House of Representatives delayed and was divided in authorizing the funding for it.  The property became useful in World War II in fighting Japan, and during the Cold War in opposing the communist Soviet Union.  One can see Russia from parts of Alaska.

Russia needed money to pay for its defensive efforts at the time, as it felt threatened by the massive and growing British Empire.  The purchase price was $7,200,000, which was only about 1.9¢ per acre.  The Senate approved this deal nearly unanimously, but the House of Representatives delayed before eventually approving funds for the purchase.  The property became useful in World War II in fighting Japan, and during the Cold War in opposing the communist Soviet Union.  One can see Russia from parts of Alaska.

But while the Republicans controlled the presidency from 1868 to 1912 (with the exception of Grover Cleveland), the Democratic Party controlled much of local politics.  "Tammany Hall" was the name of the Democratic Party organization that controlled New York City.  It was a completely corrupt "machine" that elected people, gave out jobs, and even stole money from the City.  Eventually, it was the ''New York Times'' and America's most famous cartoonist, Thomas Nast, who harshly mocked its leader, "Boss" Tweed.  Thomas Nast's cartoons whipped the public into scorning Boss Tweed and demanding that he be brought to justice.  When Boss Tweed was eventually sent to jail, Nast cheered Tweed's humiliation.  This demonstrated the growing influence of political cartoons in changing the course of history.

But while the Republicans controlled the presidency from 1868 to 1912 (with the exception of Grover Cleveland), the Democratic Party controlled much of local politics.  "Tammany Hall" was the name of the Democratic Party organization that controlled New York City.  It was a completely corrupt "machine" that elected people, gave out jobs, and even stole money from the City.  Eventually, it was the ''New York Times'' and America's most famous cartoonist, Thomas Nast, who harshly mocked its leader, "Boss" Tweed and drove him from power.  Thomas Nast's cartoons whipped the public into scorning Boss Tweed and demanding that he be brought to justice.  When Boss Tweed was eventually sent to jail, Nast cheered Tweed's humiliation.  This demonstrated the growing influence of political cartoons in changing the course of history.

Shortly after the Civil War the Republicans won presidential elections easily.  But the presidential contest of 1876 was virtually a tie, and former Ohio Governor Rutherford B. Hayes was able to win only due to a post-election deal between the Republican and Democratic Parties.  The deal, as mentioned in the last lecture, was for the Republicans to end Reconstruction in the South in exchange for the Democrats agreeing to the swearing in of Hayes as President.  Hayes served for only one term.  He was considered a "moderate" and the Hayes Administration was uneventful.  To its credit, it was free of the scandals that plagued the Grant Administration before him.

Shortly after the Civil War the Republicans won presidential elections easily.  But the presidential contest of 1876 was virtually a tie, and former Ohio Governor Rutherford B. Hayes was able to win only due to a post-election deal between the Republican and Democratic Parties.  The deal, as mentioned in the prior lecture, was for the Republicans to end Reconstruction in the South in exchange for the Democrats agreeing to the swearing in of Hayes as President.  Hayes served for only one term.  He was considered a "moderate" and the Hayes Administration was uneventful.  To its credit, it was free of the scandals that plagued the Grant Administration before him.

In the period just after the end of Reconstruction, many African Americans moved away from discrimination in the South towards the Midwest, especially Kansas.  These migrants are known as the "Exodusters".

In the period just after the end of Reconstruction, many African Americans moved away from discrimination in the South towards the Midwest, especially Kansas.  These migrants are known as the "Exodusters".

Less than ten years later, Grant was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer.  He knew he would not live much longer.  But he was bankrupt, having lost his fortune in an unsuccessful investment company, and his beloved wife Julia was to live another 17 years after Grant died.

Less than ten years later, Grant was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer.  He knew he would not live much longer.  But he was bankrupt, having lost his fortune in an unsuccessful investment company, and his beloved wife Julia was to live another 17 years after Grant died.

In an attempt to earn some money for his wife to live on after Grant died, he began to work as fast as he could to write his memoirs (autobiography).  Grant did not know how many more days he had to live, so he worked as hard as he could, despite being in poor health.  His memoirs were a first-person account of his childhood, education, participation in the Mexican War, and especially his experiences as a Union General during the great Civil War battles (except for Gettysburg - Grant was at Vicksburg then).  Grant completed his memoirs only a short time before he died in 1885.  (He is buried in New York City, along with his wife, at a monument known a "Grant's Tomb.")

In an attempt to earn some money for his wife to live on after Grant died, he began to work as fast as he could to write his memoirs (autobiography).  Grant did not know how many more days he had to live, so he worked as hard as his poor health would permit.  His memoirs were a first-person account of his childhood, education, participation in the Mexican War, and especially his experiences as a Union General during the great Civil War battles (except for Gettysburg - Grant was at Vicksburg then).  Grant completed his memoirs only a short time before he died in 1885.  (He is buried in New York City, along with his wife, at a monument known a "Grant's Tomb.")

This book, the "Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant," by Ulysses S. Grant, was a masterpiece.  Mark Twain, himself one of the greatest American writers, called Grant's memoirs the best "of any general's since Caesar."  Edmund Wilson, a prominent 20th century American writer, praised Grant's memoirs by observing that the "reader finds himself ... on edge to know how the Civil War is coming out."  Sales of the book generated a fortune of $450,000 for Grant's wife, which (due to inflation) was equivalent to more than $10 million in today's dollars.

This book, the "Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant," by Ulysses S. Grant, was a masterpiece.  Mark Twain, himself one of the greatest American writers, called Grant's memoirs the best "of any general's since Caesar."  Edmund Wilson, a prominent 20th century American writer, praised Grant's memoirs by observing that the "reader finds himself ... on edge to know how the Civil War is coming out."  Sales of the book generated a fortune of $450,000 for Grant's wife, which (due to inflation) was equivalent to more than $10 million in today's dollars.