USA Judgements Year 12 Flashcards
To what extent was Reconstruction a success?
Reconstruction failed to improve the lives of African Americans, slaves were given their freedom but this did not manifest into any real progress due to lack of change in people’s attitudes especially in the South. The rise of the KKK and the actions of the southern governments prevented any real success from Reconstruction. The re-joining of the southern Confederate states into the Union happened from a political standpoint but even this did not change from a social perspective.
To what extent did the power of the President change in the years 1865-1900?
Apart from the initial weakness of Johnson, the power of the President remained largely consistent. Congress tried to increase authority during this period with reconstruction but the balance of power was restored. Laissez faire attitude towards the economy continued, the growing power of big business influenced politics more and there was a push to end the spoils system but this had little effect on the power of the President.
To what extent did different social groups make progress in the years 1865-90?
There was very little progress for minorities in the years 1865-90, the social progress came from industrialisation which moved more people from rural areas to cities. African Americans gained legal rights but they never created significant change, women had very little progress in the campaign for suffrage and the Native American lifestyle was all but wiped out.
To what extent was the abundance of natural resources the main cause of economic growth in the years 1865-90?
Natural resources were important but it was the people that caused the rapid economic growth, the ideas and inventions of individuals like Rockefeller and Vanderbilt. And they in turn needed the mass workforce that immigration brought.
To what extent was Manifest Destiny the main reason people settled in the west?
Manifest Destiny may have influenced people to move but it was the railways that made it possible. It made it easier to get across the country and it made the West less inhospitable, it made it easier to set up businesses and trade. It allowed access to bigger cities or towns when needed.
To what extent was the US isolationist in the years 1865-90?
The US was mainly isolationist, there was a strong focus on trade and defence as they focused on growing the country. The years 1865-90 saw a recovery from the Civil war, a growth in industrialisation and expansion west, the USA was not in a position to pursue an expansionist foreign policy, this would come after 1890.
