Unseen 1880-1940 - AO3 Flashcards
1861-1865
American Civil War
American Civil War
War fought to restore unity to the nation and secure new Western Territories from slave-owners. A war for Southern Confederate states to assert autonomous right. Tensions over slavery, territorial and sectional political control were present from the start of the American nation.
1865-1877
Reconstruction era
Reconstruction era
US grappled with question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, and labour systems.
1870s-1900
Gilded age
Gilded age
Coined by Mark Twain in ‘The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today’ (1873), which satirised an era of serious social problems masked by a thin gold gilding
1876-1965
Jim Crow era
Jim Crow era
Jim Crow laws were state and local laws enforcing racial segregation in Southern US. Enacted by white Democratic-dominated state legislatures in late 19th century
1890s
Gay nineties
Gay nineties
Novels were documenting high life of ‘old money’. The decade was seen as a period of pre-income tax wealth for a newly emergent ‘society set’. Decade was marked by economic crisis, worsening when Panic of 1893 set a widespread economic depression in US lasting until 1896
1914-1918
World War 1
World War 1
America entered the war when a German U-boat torpedoed a British passenger ship carrying 128 America passengers. Entered war 4th April 1917
1890s-1920s
Progressive era
Progressive era
Widespread social activism and political reform across US. Main objectives were eliminating problems caused by industrialisation, urbanisation, immigration, and corruption in government
1910-1940
Great migration
Great migration
Movement of 6 million African-Americans out of rural Southern US to urban Northeast, Midwest, and West. First Great Migration saw 1.6 million people move from mostly rural areas to northern industrial cities
1917-1920
First red scare
First red scare
Widespread fear of Bolshevism and anarchism, due to real and imagined events. Real events included Russian Revolution(1917) and anarchist bombings. Concerns over effects of radical political agitation in American society and alleged spread of communism and anarchism fuelled concern
1920s
Roaring twenties + Jazz age
Roaring twenties
Signifies enormous pace of technological, economic and social change that took place in wake of WW1. Introduction to prohibition in 1920. A transition in societal attitudes towards women and understanding of traditional gender roles. Prosperity and economic stability built on increasing isolationism in American politics and fears on immigration. A time of unequal prosperity.
Jazz age
F. Scott Fitzgerald widely credited with coining the term, first using it in the title of his 1922 short story collection ‘Tales of the Jazz Age’ - jazz music and dance styles rapidly gained nationwide popularity
1929-1939
Great depression
Great depression
Had severe effects in countries both rich and poor. Unemployment rose to 25%. Market crash marked the beginning of high unemployment, poverty, low profits, deflation, and lost opportunities for economic growth. Was a result of Wall Street Crash and Dust Bowl.
1930-1936
The Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl
Also known as dirty thirties. Severe dust storms that greatly damaged ecology and agriculture of American and Canadian prairies during 1930s. Caused by severe drought and failure to prevent wind erosion.
1933-1938
The new deal era
The new deal era
Series of federal programs, public work projects, financial reforms and regulations enacted in the US during 1930s in response to the great depression
1929-1940
World War 2
