Carpetbaggers Dbq

The United States from 1865 to 1900

From a young age, we are taught about the Civil War and how it was to free the slaves and after many battles and countless lives lost slaves were set free. Rarely would we go in depth of the real struggles America faced following the war. The turmoil that America had to work past; reconstruction, depressions, segregation, bigotry, sexism and continual racism.

Economic opportunity immediately post war was a very real possibility for the select few who had already had money, generally people from the North known as 'Carpetbaggers'. Carpetbaggers were successful because they were able to buy and lease land from former plantation owners and start exporting crops. You also had many people who became trapped as

wage laborers through sharecropping. Sharecropping was a huge perk for the land owners because even though they didn't have slaves technically they still had an income which they controlled. With a price they set and former slaves being trapped in sharecropping it was difficult for the newly freed people to truly experience freedom. It wasn’t until urbanization that more people had a better chance to be economically free and independent.
Around this time frame another phenomenon happened, Industrialization. With railroads being constructed and electricity becoming more widely available people were looking to move from the farmlands into more urban areas to have more freedom and strive for a better life. Many men, women, and children ended up working factory jobs to provide income for their household. What they didn't expect was employers often overworked, underpaid, and ignored dangerous working conditions. With many immigrants and many unskilled workers, they had no choice but to work the factories and mines. The people, fed up with “Robber Barons,” who were the most powerful capitalists that established monopolies over many of the industries such as steel and oil, attempted to take charge and form unions. The majority of unions, which had good intentions, such as limiting child labor, a standard 8 hour working day, better wages and working conditions ultimately ended up disbanding in the time period. With strikes, violence and riots, the Federal Government had to step in and President Cleveland activated the National Guard. Shortly after, many employers banned unions outright.
Social equality started out on the right path with a strong Republican backing, Congress passed the 14th amendment, which granted African Americans citizenship in response to “Black Codes” and also the 15th amendment which gave them the right to vote but overall was short lived. Repression was high and Jim Crow Laws had passed. Jim Crow laws mandated segregation of whites and blacks in public places. Another instance of this inequality is the introduction of poll taxes and literacy tests in order to vote. It was felt as if you are too poor or not smart enough you shouldn't have the right to vote, all a ploy to keep white politicians in office with their ways set. The Mississippi Plan set out to completely segregate the people and many other states followed suite. Other states, however didn't want to completely keep out the white vote, though so along came the “Grandfather Clause,” stating that if their fathers or grandfathers had been allowed to vote, they were also granted the right
Women also had a difficult time during this time period.

Women were not allowed to vote, own land separate from their husbands if they were married. Their primary duties were to be kept at home to have and take care of children due to the misogynistic ideals of men. They had very little control over their own bodies, with the Comstock Laws contraceptives were outlawed so they had very little choice of their own if they wanted a child or not. Thanks to the influence of magnificent women such as Susan B. Anthony, Margaret Sanger and, Jane Addams they were able to be heard, stand up for their ideals and slowly enact changes. Changes in the form of wage inequality, the right to contraceptives, and the 19th amendment, which allowed women to vote. Although many of the changes the women were fighting for happened much later than 1900.

Political democracy during the Gilded Age was inefficient and insignificant. With a revolving door of Presidents whether it be due to assassination, impeachment or constant corruption, neither Republicans nor Democrats could sustain a dominate hold in congress which limited the push for controversial issues to be resolved. With little government intervention in business and seemingly corrupt politicians accepting bribes, the people were becoming increasingly frustrated with both business and the government about how little was being done to help and protect

them.
Corruption was also becoming a major factor in how things were being accomplished both at a local and federal level. Many people were involved with politics at the local level and many voted, but political machines played a role in how things were accomplished. Political machines were a loyal group to a politician who as we know it today “lobbied” for their politician. With the machine running they would often secure the vote from the people in exchange for money, jobs, alcohol and many other things. Essentially these machines were running bribery rings to keep their favored politician in office.
In conclusion, I do not believe that the United States from 1865 to 1900 was a place with unlimited individual economic opportunity and a place where social equality and political democracy reigned supreme. With segregation, Jim Crow laws, women's suffrage, child labor, political schemes, bribes and monopolies, it’s quite amazing the United States didn't implode. Now, that's not to say everything from the era was bad, many good things happened such as, urbanization, industrialization, the railroads, major technological advancements and breakthroughs, the Sherman Antitrust Act, the 13th, 14 and 15th amendments, but overall it was not quite the place that we would all like to think it was. In fact, it wasn’t until the early 20th century in which we would truly start to see change and progress. There were many hardships that the people had to face and endure and if it had not been for them, we would not be America as we know it in this day and age.