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[[American History Lecture Eight|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Eight|Questions]] - [[American History Homework Eight Answers|Student Answers]]

[[American History Lecture Eight|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Eight|Questions]] - [[American History Homework Eight Answers|Student Answers]]

''Homework this week: write an essay of at least 700 words on anything related to this lecture.  Give the essay a title.''

''Homework this week: write an essay of at least 700 words on anything related to this lecture.  Give your essay a title.''

   

   

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.

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.

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 breakthroughs of the second half of the 1800s.

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.

But first, a little review.

But first, a little review.

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".

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 imaging that was 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 included later in this lecture was taken by Mathew Brady.

== Yankee Ingenuity ==

== Yankee Ingenuity ==