I just took the free response section of the 1996 APUSH Exam after scoring a 65/80 on the MC. Would you mind giving me feedback on the Essays and assigning EACH essay a grade on 1-9? I don’t feel as strong on my essay writing as it was not covered at all in my APUSH class. I would like to see if I am on track for a five or not. These were all written under the appropriate time limits. I understand its alot to read. THANKS!</p>
DBQ Documents:AP Central - AP U.S. History – Previously Released Materials</p>
Question: In what ways and to what extent did constitutional and social developments between 1860-1877 amount to a revolution?</p>
Essay:</p>
A revolution is simply a term that means a complete change. During the Civil War Era, which was mainly defined by a fight over States’ Rights, numerous events such as a constitutional amendment, black land rights and a rise in hate crimes all contributed to the major changes being wrought throughout the country during this time period.</p>
Many African Americans fought for the Union against their oppressors in hopes of being granted more freedoms. It took a loud outcry from African Americans in order to petition the Government for voting rights. African Americans were expected to take a bullet for the Union but still could not vote (Doc. C). Not only could Blacks still not vote but they were also denied the right to purchase land especially in the South (Doc. E). Since many Blacks had no land of their own, they were forced back to work on their former plantations. They were not slaves but instead poor sharecroppers, which is as close to slavery as it gets. Even though Blacks were given the right to vote, the country hadn’t revolutionized enough as to offer land ownership to Blacks. As part of the Lincoln’s Plan to re-admit States back to the Union, they had to have at least 10% of the population take a pledge of allegiance to the U.S. and ratify a constitutional amendment which gave all Black males the right to vote. Even though widespread voting for African Americans was still not permitted, many Blacks were none the less able to cast a ballot for the first time (Doc. G). This change alone definitely shows that a Constitutional Revolution had taken place since Blacks were finally enfranchised according to the Constitution (Doc. F). Many Congressmen believed that slavery should be abolished, but the Government had no right to touch the issue of Civil Rights (Doc. D). This sentiment can clearly be seen by things such as Johnson’s Reconstruction plan and Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Civil rights were left untouched but the “peculiar institution” and the constitution were definitely revolutionized.</p>
Even though Blacks were starting to enjoy many new freedoms, many others were still not approving of it. Hate crimes sky rocketed in the years after the Civil War. President Lincoln was assassinated by James Earl Booth in response to many of his policies and to prove that the Confederacy was still not dead. Hate Crimes in the South became increasingly violent in the South when the KKK rose to power and promised to do things that were “worse than slavery” (Doc. I). Lynchings became prevalent in the South and was an effective way of scaring African Americans from voting. Many policies such as Jim Crow Laws, the Grandfather Clause, poll taxes and literacy tests were implemented in the South as a way of barring Blacks from voting. This was the South’s strategy to fighting many of the revolutionary social changes that were sweeping the country. Sadly, by the time reconstruction ended with the Inauguration of President Hayes, many of the progress made under the Lincoln administration was being reversed due to the segregation laws being embraced in the South.</p>
During the 1860’s and 1870’s the United States had far reaching social and constitutional changes that were being felt across the country that could amount to a revolution. Constitutional and Social developments at first greatly revolutionized America and the South, but as time passed many of these changes could no longer be felt due to the push back from the desperate south.</p>