From War to Wealth

The Gettysburg Address, an enduring statement that the United States stands for liberty and equality for all, was a turning point for Lincoln and this country as he expanded the goal of the war to include “a new birth of freedom” – implicitly calling for the abolition of slavery. But Lincoln still had to balance his goal of freedom with keeping the Border States in the Union. He needed to choose his words carefully to avoid alarming many northerners who may have believed in freedom for the slaves but not equality.

By early 1864 Lincoln had found a general who wanted to fight and to win, Ulysses S. Grant. Grant fought a war of attrition, that is, he would wear away any resistance the South might offer by overwhelming their forces and destroying all in his path. This tactic finally prevailed and on April 9, 1865 Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. But joy in the North was short-lived. On April 14 Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth and died the next day. Booth was a southern sympathizer and shot Lincoln in an effort to unleash chaos in the Union. Instead, Booth shot the man who only a few months earlier urged had urged lenience on the South: “with malice towards none, with charity for all.”

We stepped back from the facts and dates to consider the causes of the war and its effects. You should have these notes in your notebook.

Reconstruction: Punish or Forgive

With the country now ready for unification, the ten year period known as Reconstruction begins. Your brief packet is an effort to streamline your reading. Use your text to supplement your knowledge of this time period and to clarify terms and vocabulary that are unique to this era. Scalawag and Carpetbagger are two terms you need to know to understand the many different perspectives on Reconstruction.

We also reviewed the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, sometimes referred to as the Reconstruction Amendments. The amendments ended slavery, extended citizenship to all former slaves, and gave the right to vote to former male slaves. This was the law but in reality former slaves still were treated harshly. We read about the Black Codes that restricted their mobility and civil liberties. In addition, southern states passed Jim Crow laws that put up further barriers to their full participation in the government and economy. The Freedman’s Bureau created by Congress was one positive move that provided education and support services to African Americans as they transitioned from slavery to freedom.

The Gilded Age and the Closing of the West

People make money during a time of war, and after the Civil War America had its first class of millionaires. Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and J.P. Morgan are just a few of the famous names from this new wealthy class. Did they make their money being clever and wise, or did they take advantage of workers who toiled long hours with low wages? Should these men be remembered as Captains of Industry or Robber Barons? This week we will look more closely at their business practices and the impact they had on our economy and workers.

While these men were building steel plants, pumping oil, and laying rail tracks, the West had opened up to large scale ranches, farms and mining. With big business practices and mechanization of the West, the Native Americans were pushed to fight for their limited lands. By 1900, the West has been transformed and the open range and over 15 million buffalo were gone. Land had been fenced and the buffalo all but eliminated.

Study Guide

Next week you will be given a study guide that you may use to prepare for the final exam. Keep in mind you should also use your portfolio papers, packets, and of course the trusty blog. The blog is archived so you can return to earlier postings to review the entire semester. By reading over each entry and checking occasional links, you will have a review of the semester. You are one fortunate US History I student!

CIM Essay

Your Freedom of Speech essay has been returned for revisions. Many of you are very close to earning a “3” which would make your essay eligible to be sent to Providence for further scoring. I urge you to take the time to make the changes so you have the opportunity to place this task into your graduation portfolio. The essays are expected to be sent to Providence on June 6. I have asked that we have access to the computer cart on Monday so you will have some class time to work on the essay. Keep in mind the carts only have about 10 computers, so priority will go to those students who have difficulty getting computer access.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

It was fun taking your picture standing proudly with your partner and Civil War project. I hope you have shared the photo with your family and it is now proudly displayed on the refrigerator. Thank you to whoever thought up refrigerator magnets!