AS History₇₀₄₁

This option allows students to study in breadth issues of change, continuity, cause and consequence in this period through the following key questions:

• How did government, political authority and political parties change and develop?
• In what ways did the economy and society of the USA change and develop?
• How did the role of the USA in world affairs change?
• How important were ideas and ideology?
• How united was the USA during this period?
• How important was the role of key individuals and groups and how were they affected by developments?

From Civil War to World War, 1865–1920

The Era of Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865–1890

• The weaknesses of Federal Government: Johnson, Grant and the failure of Radical Reconstruction
• The politics of the Gilded Age and the era of weak presidents; political corruption
• Social, regional and ethnic divisions: divisions within and between North, South and West; the position of African-Americans
• Economic growth and the rise of corporations: railways; oil; developments in agriculture; urbanisation
• Laissez-faire dominance and consequences; the impact of the ending of the frontier
• The limits of foreign engagement and continuation of isolationism: the continuation of the Monroe Doctrine; territorial consolidation (Alaska) and tensions over Canada

Populism, progressivism and imperialism, 1890–1920

• Political tensions and divisions: the reaction against Big Business at national and state level
• The ideas and influence of Bryan, Roosevelt and Taft; Populism, Progressivism and Wilson’s New Freedom
• Economic change and developments: the rise of US dominance as an economic and industrial power and the consequences of this
• Social developments: mass immigration and urbanisation and their consequences; the position of African-Americans
• Foreign affairs: imperialism; engagement in international affairs; Spain and the Philippines; the Panama Canal; the First World War, neutrality and entry
• The USA by 1920: economic power; social and ethnic divisions; political reaction and renewed isolationism