A Level History - America - Practice Exam

How did whites respond to the education of African Americans in the Gilded Age?

1. They supported integration

2. They feared it would ruin the labor system

3. They encouraged it for economic growth

4. They ignored it entirely

The correct answer is: They feared it would ruin the labor system

The response of whites to the education of African Americans during the Gilded Age was largely rooted in concerns over the existing social and economic order. Many white Americans feared that educating African Americans would undermine the labor system that benefited white supremacy and the economic structure based on racial hierarchies. Education was seen as a potential catalyst for social mobility among African Americans, which posed a threat to the status quo of racial segregation and enforced economic disadvantage. During this period, there was a prevailing belief among many whites that an educated African American population could challenge the existing labor arrangements, particularly in agricultural and industrial sectors where black labor was a critical component. The concern was that as African Americans gained education and skills, they would seek higher wages or better working conditions, thereby disrupting the stable, low-cost labor force that many whites relied upon for economic prosperity. As a result, policies and attitudes that discouraged or limited educational opportunities for African Americans were common, reflecting a broader intention to maintain white dominance and control in both social and economic realms. This pervasive fear and resistance to African American education ultimately reinforced racial inequalities and perpetuated the systemic oppression that characterized the Gilded Age.