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| | 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> |
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| − | This period, 1877 to 1896, saw the greatest advances in technology in the history of world, mostly in New Jersey by Thomas Edison. 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. | + | This period, 1877 to 1896, saw the greatest advances in technology in the history of world, many by one person: Thomas Edison. 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 exam come from 1877-1896. |
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| − | 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. The Supreme Court thereby ended the civil rights movement until it reemerged in 1950s to end racial segregation in the South. | + | 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. The Supreme Court thereby halted the civil rights movement until it reemerged in 1950s to end racial segregation in the South. |
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| | == Review == | | == Review == |
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| | 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". |
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| − | Most of our images from the Civil War period and afterward are from pictures taken by Mathew Brady, the greatest photographer of the 19th century. Born in Albany, New York, he learned to make daguerreotypes<ref>A daguerreotype is an early type of photographic imaging done directly onto a silver surface.</ref> when he was about 15 years old and went on to take portrait pictures of many Civil War soldiers and most prominent Americans during the rest of his life.<ref>http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/brady/bradcont.html</ref> Brady maintained studios in New York City and Washington, D.C., but also struggled through financial failures in his self-employed business. The photograph of Thomas Edison included later in this lecture was taken by Mathew Brady. | + | Most of our images from the Civil War period and afterward are from pictures taken by Mathew Brady, the greatest photographer of the 19th century. Born in Albany, New York, he learned to make daguerreotypes<ref>A daguerreotype is an early type of photographic imaging done directly onto a silver surface.</ref> when he was about 15 years old and went on to take portrait pictures of many Civil War soldiers and most prominent Americans during the rest of his life.<ref>http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/brady/bradcont.html</ref> Brady maintained studios in New York City and Washington, D.C., but also struggled through financial failures in his self-employed business. The photograph of Thomas Edison shown later in this lecture was taken by Mathew Brady. |
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| | === Grant's Memoirs === | | === Grant's Memoirs === |