Industrial America: The Gilded Age

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and definitions from the lecture notes on Industrial America and the Gilded Age, focusing on industrialization, societal changes, major figures, and political movements.

Gilded Age

A period from the 1870s to the 1900s characterized by rapid industrialization, economic growth, and corruption.

Industrialization

The process of developing industries in a country or region on a wide scale.

Urbanization

The process of cities growing larger and more populated as people move from rural areas to cities.

Pacific Railway Act (1862)

A law that authorized the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad and provided government subsidies.

Transcontinental Railroad

Railroad that connected the east and west coasts of the United States, completed in 1869.

Robber Barons

Wealthy business magnates who were criticized for their unethical practices in exploiting workers.

Captains of Industry

Business leaders who contributed positively to the economy and society.

Andrew Carnegie

Industrialist in the steel industry known for his efficient steel production practices.

J.P. Morgan

A powerful banker who financed railroads and helped organize U.S. Steel.

John D. Rockefeller

Founder of Standard Oil, he monopolized the oil industry.

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Railroad magnate known for consolidating railroads and for Grand Central Station.

Henry Ford

Founder of Ford Motor Company who revolutionized automobile production with mass production techniques.

Monopoly

When a single company or person has exclusive control of an industry.

Vertical Monopolies

Monopolies where a business controls the entire supply chain of an industry.

Horizontal Monopolies

Monopolies that occur when a company buys out all competitors in the same industry.

Laissez-Faire Capitalism

Economic system where government does not interfere in the marketplace.

Trusts

An alliance among businesses to minimise or eliminate competition.

Social Darwinism

The belief that the 'survival of the fittest' ideology applies to society and economics.

Philanthropy

The desire to promote the welfare of others, often by donating money to good causes.

Political Machines

Corrupt organizations led by 'boss' politicians that control local politics through manipulation.

Reservation System (1851)

Federal policy that designated specific land for Native American tribes.

Plains Indian Wars

Conflicts between Native Americans and settlers over land and resources.

Little Bighorn (1876)

A significant battle where Sioux warriors defeated General Custer's forces.

Dawes Severalty Act (1887)

Law that aimed to assimilate Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land.

Assimilation

The process of adopting the customs and culture of another group.

Wounded Knee Massacre (1890)

Last major clash between U.S. government and Native Americans, resulting in significant casualties.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Supreme Court ruling that established the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Convict Lease System

A system in which Southern states leased prisoners to private enterprises.

The Great Migration

Movement of millions of African Americans from the rural South to urban centers in the North and West.

Buffalo Soldiers

African American soldiers who served in the western frontier following the Civil War.

Old Immigrants

Immigrants from Northern and Western Europe before 1890.

New Immigrants

Immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia during the late 19th century.

Nativism

Opposition to immigration, stemming from fear of job loss to immigrants.

Settlement Houses

Community centers that offered assistance and support to immigrants.

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Federal law that prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers.

Tenement Housing

Overcrowded and often unsanitary multi-family housing units for low-income immigrants.

Factory Conditions

Harsh working environments characterized by long hours, low wages, and unsafe practices.

Labor Unions

Organizations of workers that fight for better working conditions and rights.

Collective Bargaining

Process where workers negotiate contracts regarding wages and working conditions.

Muckrakers

Journalists who exposed corruption and unsanitary practices in industries.

Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)

Law that established regulations for food safety and drug manufacturing.

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)

Legislation that made it illegal to form monopolies or trusts.

Theodore Roosevelt

Progressive President known for his trust-busting and conservation efforts.

Conservation

Preservation and protection of natural resources.

Interstate Commerce Act (1887)

Legislation that regulated railroad rates and practices.

Federal Reserve Act (1913)

Established a central banking system to regulate the economy and money supply.

Populism

Political philosophy focusing on the rights and power of the average citizen.

Farmers Alliance

A movement aimed at improving the conditions of farmers through political advocacy.

Keating-Owen Child Labor Act (1916)

Federal law that sought to regulate child labor practices.

Women's Rights

Social and political movement for women's suffrage and equality.

Amendments

Changes or additions to the Constitution, such as those related to women's suffrage.

Booker T. Washington

Civil rights leader who advocated for vocational education for African Americans.

W.E.B. Du Bois

Civil rights leader who pushed for higher education and civil rights for African Americans.

Indian Citizenship Act (1924)

Statute that granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born in the country.

Election of 1912

Presidential election featuring candidates like Woodrow Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt.

Woodrow Wilson

Democratic president known for progressive reforms and racist policies.

Clayton Antitrust Act

Strengthened antitrust laws by exempting labor unions from being classified as monopolies.

Civil Rights Movement

Social movement aiming to end racial segregation and discrimination, especially against African Americans.

Prohibition

A nationwide ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol established by the 18th Amendment.

National Women’s Suffrage Association

Organization dedicated to securing women's right to vote.

19th Amendment

Constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote.

Civil Rights Leadership

Prominent figures and organizations advocating for the rights of minorities.

Labor Strike

A concerted effort by workers to stop working in order to gain concessions from their employer.

Discrimination

Unjust treatment based on characteristics like race, gender, or ethnicity.

Economic Inequality

The unequal distribution of wealth and resources in society.

Political Corruption

Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, often involving bribery.

Labor Standards

Set of regulations governing the conditions under which workers are employed.

Economic Development

Process by which an economy grows or changes over time.

Civil Disobedience

Nonviolent resistance to unjust laws as a form of protest.

Industrial Workers

Workers employed in factories and production facilities.

Immigrant Experience

The social and economic challenges faced by newcomers in a new country.