AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
USA, 1865–1975 – The Era of Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865–1890:…
Full specification wording
1K The making of a Superpower: USA, 1865–1975 – The Era of Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865–1890: Laissez-faire dominance and consequences; the impact of the ending of the frontier
During the Gilded Age, the US government's adherence to 'laissez-faire' capitalism dominated economic policy, meaning minimal state intervention in business.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 5 of 6
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
During the Gilded Age, the US government's adherence to 'laissez-faire' capitalism dominated economic policy, meaning minimal state intervention in business. This dominance allowed 'robber barons' like Rockefeller to build vast monopolies, driving rapid industrialisation but causing severe consequences, including stark wealth inequality, poor working conditions, and the exploitation of labour. Concurrently, the 1890 census declared the 'ending of the frontier', a pivotal psychological and demographic shift. Frederick Jackson Turner argued this frontier had shaped American democratic individualism. Its closure impacted the nation by intensifying urbanisation, increasing social tensions, and prompting early conservation movements, as the myth of limitless western expansion was finally shattered.
What earns the marks
- Explain the concept of laissez-faire and how it facilitated the rise of monopolies and trusts during the Gilded Age.
- Evaluate the economic consequences of laissez-faire, such as rapid industrial growth contrasted with frequent economic panics.
- Assess the social consequences of unregulated capitalism, including the exploitation of workers, lack of safety standards, and the rise of early labour unions.
- Analyse the significance of the 1890 census and Turner's Frontier Thesis in shaping American identity and policy.
- Discuss the practical impacts of the frontier's end, such as the transition towards overseas expansion and increased urban migration.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming laissez-faire meant absolutely no government involvement.
Put it right: In reality, the government actively supported business through high tariffs and land grants to railroads.
Confusing the 'ending of the frontier' with the immediate end of western settlement.
Put it right: People continued to move west, but the continuous line of unsettled land had vanished.
Viewing the consequences of laissez-faire solely as negative.
Put it right: It is crucial to also acknowledge the unprecedented industrial expansion and technological innovation it fostered.
Exam tips
- Use specific examples of monopolies, such as Standard Oil or Carnegie Steel, to illustrate the consequences of laissez-faire policies.
- When discussing the frontier, explicitly reference Frederick Jackson Turner's 1893 thesis to demonstrate historiographical awareness.
- Link the ending of the frontier to the subsequent shift in US foreign policy towards overseas expansion in the 1890s.
Try the lesson
The start of the 1K The making of a Superpower: USA, 1865–1975 – The Era of Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865–1890: Laissez-faire dominance and consequences; the impact of the ending of the frontier lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of the following best describes a primary consequence of the dominance of laissez-faire economic policies in the United States between 1865 and 1890?
Listen
During the Gilded Age, the US government's adherence to 'laissez-faire' capitalism dominated economic policy, meaning minimal state intervention in business. This dominance allowed 'robber barons' like Rockefeller to build vast monopolies, driving rapid industrialisation but causing severe consequences, including stark wealth inequality, poor working conditions, and the exploitation of labour. Concurrently, the 1890 census declared the 'ending of the frontier', a pivotal psychological and demographic shift. Frederick Jackson Turner argued this frontier had shaped American democratic individualism. Its closure impacted the nation by intensifying urbanisation, increasing social tensions, and prompting early conservation movements, as the myth of limitless western expansion was finally shattered. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain the concept of laissez-faire and how it facilitated the rise of monopolies and trusts during the Gilded Age. Evaluate the economic consequences of laissez-faire, such as rapid industrial growth contrasted with frequent economic panics. Assess the social consequences of unregulated capitalism, including the exploitation of workers, lack of safety standards, and the rise of early labour unions. Analyse the significance of the 1890 census and Turner's Frontier Thesis in shaping American identity and policy. Exam tip: Use specific examples of monopolies, such as Standard Oil or Carnegie Steel, to illustrate the consequences of laissez-faire policies.
See it
Key words
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Laissez-faire
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Ending of the frontier
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Robber barons
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Frontier
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See every definition
- Laissez-faire
- A capitalism in which the government's adherence meant minimal state intervention in business.
- Ending of the frontier
- Declared by the 1890 census, a pivotal psychological and demographic shift whose closure intensified urbanisation and increased social tensions.
- Robber barons
- Figures like Rockefeller who built vast monopolies, driving rapid industrialisation but causing severe consequences.
- Frontier
- Argued by Frederick Jackson Turner to have shaped American democratic individualism, its closure shattering the myth of limitless western expansion.
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