Key Content (AQA A-Level History): Revision Notes

Key Content

Course overview and structure

'The Making of a Superpower: USA, 1865-1975' is an extensive breadth study spanning 110 years of American history. The course examines the transformation of the United States from a post-Civil War nation to a global superpower. The content is organised into two distinct chronological parts, each subdivided into two sections.

Part One: From Civil War to World War, 1865-1920

This opening period examines the transformation of American society from the conclusion of the Civil War through to the end of American involvement in the First World War and the subsequent return to isolationism. The era witnessed profound political and economic transformations alongside substantial social changes, including mass immigration, the experiences of African Americans following emancipation, and the consequences of Western expansion for Native American populations.

The Era of Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865-90

The period begins with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and addresses the complex aftermath of the Civil War. Reconstruction refers to the process of reintegrating the Southern states into the Union and redefining the status of formerly enslaved African Americans. This era produced lasting consequences that fundamentally reshaped the position of African Americans, particularly in the Southern states where they faced systematic discrimination despite constitutional amendments granting citizenship and voting rights.

This corruption bred widespread disillusionment with governmental institutions at all levels.

Progressivism and imperialism, 1890-1920 and emergence on the world stage, 1912-20

This period marked several transformative shifts. The conclusion of westward expansion coincided with America's emergence as the world's leading economic power. The nation's international posture shifted dramatically from a long-standing policy of isolationism toward greater interest and involvement in imperialism. This transformation manifested in military engagements, notably the Spanish-American War of 1898 and participation in the First World War.

Domestically, the political corruption characteristic of the Gilded Age prompted new reform movements. Populism emerged from agrarian discontent, while Progressivism developed as a broader reform movement advocating expanded roles for the presidency and federal government. Progressive reformers promoted various political, economic and social reforms addressing issues from working conditions to political participation.

Part Two: Crises and the rise to world power, 1920-75

The second part examines additional profound transformations in American society, including substantial economic fluctuations, evolving international roles, and the influence of prominent individuals including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., and John F. Kennedy. The focus extends beyond individual personalities to address broader themes of change across American society.

Crisis of identity, 1920-45

Economically, the 1920s brought prosperity and expansion before the Wall Street Crash of 1929 precipitated a devastating economic collapse. The subsequent depression created massive unemployment and widespread hardship across American society. Recovery efforts centred on Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal policies – a series of federal programmes designed to provide relief, recovery and reform.

Socially, many Americans enjoyed prosperity during the so-called Jazz Age of the 1920s, experiencing higher living standards and cultural flourishing. However, profound divisions persisted within American society. Most African Americans remained very much second-class citizens who benefited little from the decade's prosperity.

Regarding international affairs, American policy shifted from isolationism throughout the 1920s and 1930s (including Roosevelt's Good Neighbor policy toward Latin America) to direct involvement when the nation entered the Second World War in 1941.

The superpower, 1945-75

The United States emerged from the Second World War as a political, economic and military superpower, assuming an expanded role in international affairs. The Cold War rivalry with the Soviet Union dominated American foreign policy for decades.

Two inspirational figures of this era were Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy, both of whom were assassinated. Their deaths contributed to a broader pattern of political disillusionment, which intensified during Richard Nixon's presidency and culminated in the Watergate scandal of the early 1970s. This scandal involved illegal activities by Nixon's administration and his subsequent resignation, severely damaging public trust in political leadership.

Historical concepts and assessment approaches

Historical study encompasses narrative accounts of events, but also requires analysis using specific conceptual frameworks. Two central concepts shape historical thinking for this course.

Assessment questions require students to evaluate historical claims by considering the extent of agreement with statements, assessing the validity of historical arguments, determining the relative importance of different factors, and measuring the degree of change or achievement regarding particular developments.

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