Founding Ideals & Gilded Age Review

What two things did Washington’s Farewell Address warn against?

Washington’s Farewell Address warned against political parties and foreign alliances, emphasizing the dangers of division and entanglement in international conflicts.

Why were the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments important?

They were crucial for establishing civil rights for formerly enslaved individuals, ensuring citizenship, equal protection under the law, and voting rights.

13th-Freed Slaves(S)

14th-Granted Equal Protection(E)

15th-Granted all men the right to vote, regardless of race(X)

What were the natural rights according to John Locke

Life, liberty, and property.

A monopoly that buys out competitors is known as what form of integration?

Horizontal integration.

Who owned the Standard Oil Company?

John D. Rockefeller

Who monopolized the steel industry? and explain the article he wrote called “The Gospel of Wealth”

Andrew Carnegie was a steel magnate who dominated the steel industry. In "The Gospel of Wealth," he argued that wealthy individuals had a moral obligation to distribute their fortune in ways that promote the welfare and advancement of society.

Who utilized the assembly line for mass production?

Henry Ford pioneered the use of the assembly line for mass production, revolutionizing manufacturing processes and making automobiles more affordable.

What is the practice of “Hands Off” economics?

Lassiez-faire

What word describes the idea(that some people had during the Gilded Age) that immigrants are bad for American society, culture, and economy?

Nativism

What was the only immigrant group/nationality that was legally banned from the United States?

The Chinese, due to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

Why did labor unions first for during the Gilded Age?

Labor unions first formed during the Gilded Age to improve working conditions, secure better wages, and advocate for workers' rights amidst the rapid industrialization and exploitative labor practices of the time.

Name two reasons why urbanization(the growth of cities) took off during the late 1800’s

Increased industrial jobs and immigration.

What were at least 3 struggles cities had to deal with during the Gilded Age?

Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate housing.

What were the goals of early U.S. Labor Unions(3)

To improve wages, enhance working conditions, and secure job security for workers.

What is Manifest Destiny?

The belief that the expansion of the United States across the American continents was both justified and inevitable, encompassing a mission to spread democracy and capitalism.

Define the Dawes Act and describe its effect on Native Americans

The Dawes Act of 1887 aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by allotting them individual plots of land and granting them U.S. citizenship. This law led to the loss of tribal lands and culture, as large portions of Native American territory were sold to white settlers.

Define the Homestead Act and explain how it encouraged westward expansion

The Homestead Act (1862) gave settlers 160 acres of free land if they farmed it for five years, encouraging people to move west and settle new territories.

Explain how the transcontinental railroad changed US society economically.

The transcontinental railroad connected the East and West, making travel and shipping faster and cheaper. It boosted trade, helped industries grow, opened markets for farmers, and encouraged westward settlement.

Why did farmers in middle America have a love/hate relationship with the railroad industry?

Farmers in middle America loved the railroads because they gave them access to distant markets to sell their crops. However, they hated them because railroads often charged high, unfair rates and favored big businesses over small farmers.

What was a political machine and how did they take advantage of immigrants?

A political machine was an organized group that controlled a city’s politics by trading favors for votes. They took advantage of immigrants by offering jobs, housing, or help with citizenship in exchange for political support, often keeping immigrants dependent on them.

Define patronage. Why was it often a bad thing?

Patronage was the practice of giving government jobs to political supporters instead of qualified people. It was often bad because it led to corruption, incompetence, and misuse of public resources.

What was a trust? Why were they often considered bad for average Americans?

A trust was a group of companies controlled by one board of directors to act like a monopoly. They were often bad for average Americans because they limited competition, raised prices, and gave consumers fewer choices.

Define the four major goals of the populist party

1. Free coinage of silver – to increase the money supply and help farmers pay debts.

1. Government ownership of railroads – to stop unfair rates and practices.

2. Graduated income tax – so the wealthy paid a fairer share.

3. Direct election of U.S. Senators – to give people more political power.

Define social darwinism and explain how it was used to justify wealth inequality.

Social Darwinism was the idea that only the “fittest” people survive and succeed in society, similar to Darwin’s theory of natural selection. It was used to justify wealth inequality by arguing that the rich were successful because they were the most capable, while the poor were responsible for their own struggles.