Period 6

Homestead Act of 1862

encouraging westward settlement (including women and slaves- any head of house ^ 21)

-for $10 & a promise to profit off the land in 5 years, you get 160 ACRES OF LAND

W pop went from 300,000 → 5 million in just 40 years

Settling the west

the western frontier had qualities of American culture (ind. freedom, ECONOMIC MOBILITY)

-This was extremely dangerous and horrifying (blizzards, rattlesnakes, droughts, ISOLATION)

exodusters

former slaves escaping Jim Crow Laws in the south going to West (Kansas mainly)

transcontinental railroad

in 1862 Lincoln approved this along with the homestead act to connect the whole country

-first railroad to connect the country (UNITY)

Grange

turns to populist party “people’s party”

-formed in the West due to the farmer’s hardship and gives them a sense of community

-former slaves and poor whites align with this party (South)

barbed wire

revutionary invention= ranges are now fenced in (property lines) making the west less wild

-natives now can’t reach their Bison due to this however

Plains Indians

buffalo/bison→ food/shelter/clothing source

-after the Mexican Cession, the US military moved out West to remove the natives

-The military targets bison to starve the Indians

Fort Laramie Treaty

prohibited American settlement in the black hills because it was sacred land for the Sioux tribe, but gold was found so Americans ignored the treaty, angering the Sioux

Battle of Little Bighorn

the Sioux and Cheyanne tribe came together and defeated the whole cavalry including the general CUSTER in less than an hour

Massacre at wounded knee

US army attacked UNARMED WOMEN AND CHILDREN during their public celebrations

-last battle between them, because it was so devestating

Dawes Act

takes tribal land and breaks it up to give it to native families in order to break up the tribes

-indians were now forced to be farmers

-Indians would gain citizenship if they gave up their tribal status

-kids would go to assimilation schools

The gilded age

era of rapid economic and population growth

-”gilded” (lightly coated) with wealth due to curroption, discrimination, and CHILD LABOR

-RICH got richer & poor got poorer

heartland of the second industrial revolution

driven by steel

-in the great lakes region iron, steel, machinery, chemicals, mass produced food

spirit of innovation

scientific breakthroughs due to research labs Thomas Edison and Nikola tesla

Thomas Edison

established industries that transformed private life, entertainment & economics

light bulb → working past night

Phonograph → music/motion pictures

John D. Rockefeller

owned 90% of the oil in the USA (world’s first billionare)

-used cutthroat tactics by abusing his money in a the average couldn’t retaliate

Andrew Carnegie

his steel co. was the largest steel co. in the world

-believes the rich have an obligation to promote the advancement of society (just. their $$)

-donated to various PHILANTHROPIES

Philanthropies

charity to promote the welfare of economy (volunteering/donating)

old v. new immigration

old (p. 4)- mostly from W & E Eurupe, protestant, many spoke English)

new-S & E Eurupe, usually catholic/Jewish, many Italians and Slavic people

ellis v. angel island

Ellis→ processed Eurupeans

Angel → processed Asians

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

-prohibited Chinese immigration and made it illegal for them to be citizens

-if the were born in the USA(14th), they would be stripped of citizenship

-they faced oppresion and discrimination especially in WEST

tenements

urban apartment buildings that were used to house poor working class families

-no health/safety code violations to govern them and protect the inhabitats

labor unions

organized by workers to protect their rights and interests

-union leaders would negociate with management and if they didn’t reach and agreement, the union could go on STRIKE

American Federation of Labor-1886

est. by Samuel Gompers (he preferred bargains over strikes)

goal: to improve working conditions like pay and working hours

The People’s party

populist party/populism formed in the West but appealed to sharecroppers & working class

-aimed to get farmers out of debt and people a voice in the goverment

-will merge with the democrat party

William Bryan

democratic candidate (also had populist support) in the 1896 election

-very religious and used teachings to uplift americans

-wanted to help the ordinary Americans

election of 1896

northern industrialists and eastern bankers pour millions into the republican campaign and Mikinley wins

New South

attempting to redefine the region post reconstuction

-industralizing(mining), big cities(ATL), redeemers in power, JIM CROW LAWS

Growth of the Middle Class

at the end of the 1800s, corps. needed managers → opp. for growth

Social Gospel Movement

the increasing belief that christians are called to assist the less fortunate ex. salvation army

Gospel of Wealth

by Andrew Carneige

-the rich have an obligation to aid society (by making philanthropic contributions to edu, etc)

The Legacy of the Gilded Age

-rapid industrialization, tech. advancements, economice growth, BUT

social inequality leading to major reforms (in the PROGRESSIVE ERA)

knights of labor

the first major national labor organization in the U.S. It aimed to unite all workers—skilled, unskilled, women, and African Americans—into one union to champion an 8-hour workday, abolish child labor, and establish worker cooperatives

haymarket affair

a violent confrontation in Chicago where a bomb was thrown at police during a labor rally for an eight-hour workday. Following the explosion and ensuing gunfire, police and civilians were killed. The incident caused massive anti-labor sentiment, linking labor unions to anarchy. - many people left KNIGHTS OF LABOR FOR AFL (more moderate)

Homestead Strike

The 1892 Homestead Strike was a violent labor conflict between the Carnegie Steel Company and the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers in Homestead, PA, triggered by wage cuts and a lockout. It ended in a union defeat, marking a major setback for organized labor during the Gilded Age.

-Frick aimed to break the union and slash wages by nearly 20%. He brought in 300 armed Pinkerton agents, leading to a violent battle, several deaths, and a 4-month strike

Pullman Strike

a significant labor dispute in the United States that unfolded during a severe economic depression. Originating in Pullman, Illinois, the strike began as a conflict between the Pullman Palace Car Company and its workers over wage cuts and high rents.

-a major defeat for the American Railway Union, with dozens killed, and leaders jailed.