US History Final

George Custer

United States general who was killed along with all his command by the Sioux at the battle of Little Bighorn (1839-1876)

Williams Jennings Bryan

Three-time candidate for president for the Democratic Party, nominated because of support from the Populist party. He never won, but was the most important Populist in American history. His famous "Cross of Gold" speech electrified the Democratic National Convention in 1896 when he asked that the people of the country not be "crucified on a cross of gold." He was referring to the Republican's proposal to eliminate silver coinage and adopt a strict gold standard.

Emma Lazarus

Granddaughter of German Jews; wrote "The New Colossus"; wanted immigrants to come to America; glad to accept them and welcome them into the country

Andrew Carnegie

A Scottish-born American industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Carnegie Steel Company in 1892. By 1901, his company dominated the American steel industry.

John D. Rockefeller

Established the Standard Oil Company, the greatest, wisest, and meanest monopoly known in history

J.P. Morgan

Banker who buys out Carnegie Steel and renames it to U.S. Steel. Was a philanthropist in a way; he gave all the money needed for WWI and was payed back. Was one of the "Robber barons"

William Marcy Tweed

leader of Tammany Hall, gained large sums of money through the political machine, prosecuted by Samuel Tilden and sent to jail

Thomas Nast

A famous caricaturist and editorial cartoonist in the 19th century and is considered to be the father of American political cartooning. His artwork was primarily based on political corruption. He helped people realize the corruption of some politicians

Jane Addams

1860-1935. Founder of Settlement House Movement. First American Woman to earn Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 as president of Women's Intenational League for Peace and Freedom.

Jacob Riis

A Danish immigrant, he became a reporter who pointed out the terrible conditions of the tenement houses of the big cities where immigrants lived during the late 1800s. He wrote How The Other Half Lives in 1890.

Teddy Roosevelt

26th President, from 1901-1909, passed two acts that purified meat, took over in 1901 when McKinley was shot, Went after trusts, formed the "Bull Moose Party", wanted to build the Panama canal, and make our Navy ( military stronger )

Alfred T. Mahan

Author who argued in 1890 that the economic future of the United States rested on new overseas markets protected by a larger navy. Wrote "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History"

Reconstruction

the period after the Civil War in the United States when the southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union

Carpetbaggers

A northerner who went to the South immediately after the Civil War; especially one who tried to gain political advantage or other advantages from the disorganized situation in southern states

Scalawags

A derogatory term for Southerners who were working with the North to buy up land from desperate Southerners

Sharecropping

A system used on southern farms after the Civil War in which farmers worked land owned by someone else in return for a small portion of the crops.

reservations (Native people)

A designated area of land that Native American Tribes lived on

Dawes Act

1887 law which gave all Native American males 160 acres to farm and also set up schools to make Native American children more like other Americans

Homestead Act

1862 - Provided free land in the West to anyone willing to settle there and develop it. Encouraged westward migration.

Scabs

Stirkebreakers hired by employers as replacement workers when unions went on strike

Monopoly

Complete control of a product or business by one person or group

Bessemer Process

A way to manufacture steel quickly and cheaply by blasting hot air through melted iron to quickly remove impurities.

Captains of Industry

A name given company owners such as Carnegie and Rockefeller by people who believed they steered the economy into prosperity.

Robber Barons

Refers to the industrialists or big business owners who gained huge profits by paying their employees extremely low wages. They also drove their competitors out of business by selling their products cheaper than it cost to produce it. Then when they controlled the market, they hiked prices high above original price.

philanthropy

charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness

Social Darwinism

The application of ideas about evolution and "survival of the fittest" to human societies - particularly as a justification for their imperialist expansion.

Laissez-faire

Policy that government should interfere as little as possible in the nation's economy.

Rebates

Developed in the 1880s, a practice by which railroads would give money back to its favored customers, rather than charging them lower prices, so that it could appear to be charging a flat rate for everyone.

drawbacks

the refund of certain duties, internal revenue taxes and certain fees collected upon the importation of goods and refunded when the merchandise is exported or destroyed.

immigrate

move into a foreign country or region as a permanent resident

emigrate

leave one's own country in order to settle permanently in another.

Pogrums

an organized massacre of a particular ethnic group, in particular that of Jewish people in Russia or eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Assimilation

the social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another

Ellis Island

An immigrant receiving station that opened in 1892, where immigrants were given a medical examination and only allowed in if they were healthy

Steerage

A large open area beneath a ship's deck, often used to house traveling immigrants

Nativists

Americans who feared that immigrants would take jobs and impose their Roman Catholic beliefs on society

Tenements

A room or a set of rooms forming a separate residence within a house or block of apartments. Often found in ethnic neighborhoods where immigrants often lived.

Ethnic Neighborhood

a neighborhood, typically situated in a larger metropolitan city and constructed by or comprised of a local culture, in which a local culture can practice its customs

Guilded Age

Widespread poverty, America looked good on outside (rich like Rockefeller and Carnegie) but most people were poor(like the immigrants), period of greed and corruption.

Bribes

payments, gifts, or special favors intended to influence the outcome of a decision

Kickbacks

gifts given by suppliers to purchasing agents for the purpose of influencing their choice of suppliers

Progressive Era

time at the turn of the 20th century in which groups sought to reform America economically, socially, and politically

Muckrakers

Journalists who attempted to find corruption or wrongdoing in industries and expose it to the public

How the Other Half Lives

A pioneering work of photojournalism by Jacob Riis, documenting the squalid living conditions in New York City slums in the 1880s. It served as a basis for future muckraking journalism by exposing the slums to New York City's upper and middle class.

The Jungle

This 1906 work by Upton Sinclair pointed out the abuses of the meat packing industry. The book led to the passage of the 1906 Meat Inspection Act.

Socialism

A system in which society, usually in the form of the government, owns and controls the means of production.

tabloids

newspapers in a small format, giving the news in a condensed, often sensationalized way.

Yellow Journalism

Journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers

Roosevelt Corollary

Roosevelt's 1904 extension of the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the United States has the right to protect its economic interests in South And Central America by using military force

Big Stick Policy

Roosevelt's philosophy - In international affairs, ask first but bring along a big army to help convince them. Threaten to use force, act as international policemen

Dollar Diplomacy

Foreign policy created under President Taft that had the U.S. exchanging financial support ($) for the right to "help" countries make decisions about trade and other commercial ventures. Basically it was exchanging money for political influence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

What was Lincoln's plan for Reconstruction?

He wanted 10% of the confederates to swear loyalty, and gave Amnesty to the confederates.

How did Lincolns plan for reconstruction compare to President Johnson's and that of the radical republicans?

The main difference between Lincoln's plans for reconstruction and Johnson's was in regard to the rights of freedmen following the conclusion of the Civil War. Whereas Lincoln wanted to peacefully recreate coexistence between the Union and the Confederate States, the Radical Republicans felt that the rebel states needed a strong hand of justice and the administration of harsh punishments for their actions.

What was Andrew Johnson impeached?

The primary charge against Johnson was that he had violated the Tenure of Office Act. Specifically, that he had acted to remove from office Edwin Stanton and to replace him with Brevet Major General Lorenzo Thomas as secretary of war ad interim

What were the Black Codes?

laws that greatly limited the freedom of African Americans

What generally happened during reconstruction?

During the period, Congress passed three constitutional amendments that permanently abolished slavery, defined birthright citizenship and guaranteed due process and equal protection under the law, and granted all males the ability to vote by prohibiting voter discrimination based on race, color, or previous condition.

How did Reconstruction come to an end?

Reconstruction came to an end as Democrats gained power in the U.S. Additionally, Northerners became more concerned with their financial well-being than with southern racism after the Panic of 1873.

What were the effects of sharecropping?

White landowners hoarded the profits of Black workers' agricultural labor, trapping them in poverty and debt for generations. Black people who challenged this system of domination faced threats, violence, and even murder.

What was the status of African Americans in the South at the end of reconstruction?

Blacks continued to serve in several state legislatures as late as 1900 and were even elected to Congress after 1877, albeit from all‐black districts

What were the amendments passed during the period of reconstruction?

Thirteenth Amendment, 1865, Fourteenth Amendment, 1868, and Fifteenth Amendment, 1870 - Bill of Rights Institute.

How was reconstruction a success for African Americans?

African Americans were allowed to vote, actively participate in the political process, acquire the land of former owners, seek their own employment, and use public accommodations.

How was reconstruction a failure for African Americans?

White Southerners who were opposed to it effectively used violence to undermine Black political power and force uncommitted white Southerners to their side.

What was the decision in Plessy V Ferguson?

Established separate but equal doctrine with a 7-1 vote in favor of Ferguson.

How did the decision of Plessy V Ferguson affect the South?

Upheld the principle of racial segregation over the next half-century. The ruling provided legal justification for segregation on trains and buses, and in public facilities such as hotels, theaters, and schools.

What were some parts of traditional Native American beliefs?

Harmony with nature, endurance of suffering, respect and non- interference toward others, a strong belief that man is inherently good and should be respected for his decisions. Such values make individuals and families in difficulty very reluctant to seek help.

How did the US government attempt to defeat the Great Plains Indians?

Military forces, construction of railroads and buildings on Indian settlements, and most impacted by the butchery of the buffalo, whom the Indians maintained every aspect of their life around.

What was the US government's solution to the defeated natives?

They put them into reservations.

What were the purposes of the Dawes Act?

Purportedly to protect American Indian property rights, particularly during the land rushes of the 1890s. But in many instances the results were vastly different

What was the main purpose of the Homestead Act?

The main purpose of the Homestead act was to move people out to the Great Plains and turn it into farmland.

How did the railroads contribute to the settlement of the Great Plains?

Railroads carried passengers, including inbound immigrants, and by hauling agricultural products out and building materials in.

Why were western states the first to grant women's suffrage?

Territories like Wyoming wanted more white settlers, so they figured they could bring more white women out by allowing them to vote.

What were some of the hardships faced by farmers on the Great Plains?

They contended with economic hardships born out of rapidly declining farm prices, prohibitively high tariffs on items they needed to purchase, and foreign competition. There were also droughts and extreme weather conditions.

What happened to crop prices in the latter parts of the 1800s?

Domestic overproduction and foreign competition caused crop prices to fall.

How did the Populous Party attempt to address the problem of the Great Plain farmers?

The Party called upon the federal government to buffer economic depressions, regulate banks and corporations, and help farmers who were suffering hard times.

What were some of the things industrialists did during the late 1800s that got them labeled as robber barons?

Monopolizing huge industries through the formation of trusts, engaging in unethical business practices, exploiting workers, and paying little heed to their customers or competition.

How did Standard Oil get the best of its competitors?

They had discounted shipping rates from railroads. The railroads carried crude oil to Standard's refineries in Cleveland and kerosene to the big city markets.

What happened at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory?

On March 25, 1911, a savage fire breaks out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City. With doors to stairwells and exits locked, 146 garment workers perish, mostly young immigrant women, some of which leap from windows to their deaths.

What were the results of the event at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory?

Some of the results were that 146 women were killed and new safety regulations were put into place for fire inspections. Stairwells were made fireproof, hoses were put in the factories and fire trucks were made sure to be tall enough to reach top floors.

What were push and pull factors for immigration to the United States at the end of the 19th century?

Immigrants were pushed out of their home countries by economic factors (famine, unemployment, poverty) and political factors (political oppression, war). They were drawn to America by the promise of jobs, freedom, and greater opportunities.

Why is the latter part of the 1800s called the Gilded Age?

Mark Twain used it to describe the era's patina of splendor—gilded, after all, is not gold—and the shaky foundations undergirding industrialists' vast accumulation of wealth.

What were some of the things we found out about the ancestries reported for Seekonk residents in the recent Census?

The top five: Portuguese, Irish, English, French, Italian

When was the Chinese Exclusion Act?

1882-1943

How effective was the Chinese Exclusion Act?

The Act lowered income for all workers, and caused a sharp contraction in manufacturing, mining and agriculture. The results imply that Chinese and other workers were complements in economic production and the exclusion of the Chinese had a negative impact on economic development of the Western United States.

When was the Gentleman's Agreement passed?

1907

How did the Gentlemen's Agreement affect Japanese immigration?

In the Agreement, Japan agreed not to issue passports for Japanese citizens wishing to work in the Continental United States, thus effectively eliminating new Japanese immigration to the United States.

How did Nativists finally limit immigration to the US during the 1920s?

The Immigration Act of 1924 limited the number of immigrants allowed entry into the United States through a national origins quota. The quota provided immigration visas to two percent of the total number of people of each nationality in the United States as of the 1890 national census.

How was the Progressive Era a response to the Gilded Age?

The Progressives sought to solve many of the social injustices of the Gilded Age. Where the Gilded Age was highly individualistic, progressive reformers thought that governments had a responsibility to promote socially beneficial programs.

What was the general belief of progressives?

To fight perceived social, political and economic ills by advancing democracy, scientific methods, professionalism and efficiency; regulating businesses, protecting the natural environment, and improving working conditions in factories and living conditions of the urban poor.

What is the purpose of political reforms like the initiative, recall, and referendum?

Increasing the power of voters over the political process.

What were the Amendments passed during the Progressive Era?

Four constitutional amendments were adopted during the Progressive era, which authorized an income tax, provided for the direct election of senators, extended the vote to women, and prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages; 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th.

What were some of the best achievements of Teddy Roosevelt's presidency?

His presidency saw the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act, which established the Food and Drug Administration to regulate food safety, and the Hepburn Act, which increased the regulatory power of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

What were the causes of imperialism?

Economic pressures, human aggressiveness and greed, the search for security, the drive for power and prestige, nationalist emotions, humanitarianism, and many other factors.

What were the results of the Spanish-American War?

The Treaty of Paris ended the war in 1898. The US gained Cuba as a protectorate and gained Puerto Rico and Guam as territories. The US bought the Philippines for $20 million.

What was the US policy towards Latin America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

The Monroe Doctrine permits the United States to intervene actively in the affairs of Latin American nations

How did President Teddy Roosevelt get the land to build the Panama Canal?

In 1902, the United States reached an agreement to buy rights to the French canal property and equipment for a sum not to exceed $40 million. The U.S. then began negotiating a Panama treaty with Colombia. The U.S Department of War would direct excavation.

What were the causes of WWI?

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism

What happened as a result of Germany's sinking of the Lusitania?

Indirectly contributed to the entry of the United States into World War I

Why did the U.S. enter WWI?

-Germany was attacking American ships
-Violating international law (germany)
-The Zimmerman note

Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

need to know in more detail

(when Lincoln became President of the US for his second term) he declared that he would not punish the South at the end of the Civil War

The impact of How the Other Half Lives in exposed the problems of tenements

need to know in more detail

The photographs served as a basis for future "muckraking" journalism by exposing the slums to New York City's upper and middle classes. They inspired many reforms of working-class housing, both immediately after publication as well as making a lasting impact in today's society.