Reconstruction (Ch. 16)
What were the three types of Reconstruction, and who led each?
Presidential (Lincoln & Johnson), Congressional/Radical (Republicans in Congress), and Southern Redemption (White Democrats reclaiming power)
What was the name of Grant’s Native American policy?
The Peace Policy
What was the first “big business” in the U.S. during the Gilded Age?
Railroads
What caused cities to grow rapidly between 1870–1900?
Immigration and industrial job opportunities
What group made up the core of the Populist Party and what were they fighting for?
Farmers; they wanted currency reform (free silver), government regulation of railroads, and direct election of senators
What was the main goal of the Freedmen’s Bureau?
To assist formerly enslaved people with education, legal protection, employment, and housing
What two factors contributed most to the destruction of Plains Indian life?
The slaughter of the buffalo and expansion of railroads
What is the difference between horizontal and vertical integration?
Horizontal: buying out competitors; Vertical: controlling all steps of production from raw material to sale
What was ironic about immigration attitudes in this era?
Older immigrants often turned against newer ones and supported nativism
What was the Pullman Strike, and why did the federal government get involved?
It was a nationwide rail strike that disrupted mail and interstate commerce; federal troops were sent in to break it
What did the 14th Amendment guarantee, and who opposed it?
Citizenship and equal protection under the law; Southern Democrats opposed it
What did the Dawes Act aim to do to Native American communities?
Break up tribal land and promote assimilation by allocating land to individuals
What philosophy claimed that the wealthy deserved their status due to natural superiority?
Social Darwinism
What did the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 reveal about labor relations?
Workers were increasingly angry about conditions, and the government often sided with employers
What did the Open Door Policy aim to achieve in China?
Ensure equal trade rights for all nations and preserve Chinese territorial integrity
How did the Black Codes lead to Radical Reconstruction?
They showed that Southern governments wouldn’t protect Black rights, prompting Congress to take over Reconstruction
What happened at the Wounded Knee Massacre?
U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of Lakota Sioux, marking the end of Native armed resistance
Who were the robber barons, and how did they reshape the economy?
Wealthy industrialists like Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Morgan; they dominated industries and influenced politics
Why did the Knights of Labor decline after 1886?
The Haymarket Riot associated them with radicalism and violence
What was Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal, and what did it aim to balance?
It was his domestic reform program to balance the interests of labor, business, and the public (consumers)
What event officially ended Reconstruction, and why?
The Compromise of 1877; in exchange for Rutherford B. Hayes becoming president, federal troops were withdrawn from the South
What role did Indian boarding schools play in assimilation?
They stripped Native children of their languages and traditions to enforce white cultural norms
What was the goal of the Pendleton Civil Service Act?
To create a merit-based system for government jobs and reduce patronage
How did employers use ethnic and racial tension to divide workers?
By encouraging prejudice to prevent unity and weaken labor strikes
What were the limits of Progressive reforms, especially for African Americans and immigrants?
Many reforms ignored or excluded minorities; Progressivism often reinforced racial segregation and discrimination