A Level History - America - Practice Exam

What role did Ida B. Wells play during the Gilded Age?

1. Abolitionist leader

2. Journalist opposed to lynching

3. Prominent suffragist

4. Union organizer

The correct answer is: Journalist opposed to lynching

Ida B. Wells was a prominent journalist and activist during the Gilded Age who is best known for her courageous work in opposing lynching. As an African American woman, she utilized her skills as a journalist to document and expose the brutal realities of racial violence in America, particularly the lynching of Black individuals in the South. Through her investigative journalism, Wells highlighted the injustices and false narratives surrounding lynching, making a significant impact on public opinion and raising awareness about the plight of African Americans. She also co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was involved in various civil rights efforts, further cementing her role as a critical figure in the fight against racial oppression during this era. Her efforts to combat lynching not only contributed to the civil rights movement but also laid the groundwork for later activism against racism in the United States.