Changes

[[American History Lecture Seven|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Seven|Questions]] - [[American History Homework Seven Answers|Student Answers]]

[[American History Lecture Seven|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Seven|Questions]] - [[American History Homework Seven Answers|Student Answers]]

   

   

On the SAT II, about 20% of the test concerns ''economic'' history.  That's a big portion of the exam.  This includes questions about unions, money standards (gold or silver or paper), inventions, trade, taxes, farming, court decisions about economic disputes, disputes over the size of pensions for Civil War veterans, government spending and anything else affecting the economy.  Economic trends influence the course of human events more than students realize.   

On the SAT II, about 20% of the test concerns ''economic'' history.  That's a big portion of the exam.  That includes questions about unions, money standards (gold or silver or paper), inventions, trade, tariffs, other taxes, farming, court decisions about economic disputes, disputes over the size of pensions for Civil War veterans, government spending and anything else affecting the economy.  Economic trends influence the course of human events more than students realize.   

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>

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 there is nothing to learn about civil rights concerning the late 1800s.

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 20% of economic questions on the SAT II will come from 1877-1896 because nothing else was happening then.  If you like economic issues, 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 partially a result of the tremendous breakthroughs of that era.

So what's left to study about 1877 to 1896?  The economy.  Many of the economics questions on the SAT II will 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 that era.

But first, a little review.

But first, a little review.

== Review ==

== Review ==

When 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 traditionally Republican northern state of New York.

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 traditionally Republican northern state of New York.  The reason the Republican Party won so often was because it would be "waving the bloody shirt" every election, which means 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.  There was also 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.  There led to tremendous prosperity, and the nation grew into a world power in the second half of the 1800s.

The country grew enormous in size when the Secretary of State under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson, William Seward, formed an agreement that allowed the United States 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, or that Sarah Palin would be its future governor!   

The United States also grew in area 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, or that Sarah Palin would be its future governor!   

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 was useful in World War II in connection with Japan, and during the Cold War in dealing with the communist Soviet Union.  As Governor Sarah Palin has pointed out, one can see Russia while in 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 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.  As Governor Sarah Palin has pointed out, one can see Russia from 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 mocked its leader, "Boss" Tweed, with tremendous effectiveness.  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 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.  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.

The Republicans did win presidential elections easily in the late 1800s.  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.  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 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.

In the period just after the end of Reconstruction, many African Americans moved away from discrimination into 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 direct onto a silver surface, and which does not allow copying.</ref> when he was about 15 years old and went on to take portrait pictures of anyone (many Civil War soldiers) and everyone (all the American leaders) for 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 below 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 imaging that was direct onto a silver surface, and which does not allow copying.</ref> when he was about 15 years old and went on to take portrait pictures of many Civil War soldiers and most prominent Americans for 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 below was taken by Mathew Brady.

== Yankee Ingenuity ==

== Yankee Ingenuity ==