Key people in Unit 6 APUSH

What did Frederick Jackson Turner argue would happen due to the closing of the frontier?

In The Significance of the Frontier in American History, Turner argued that the people should be very concerned over the closing of the frontier because it had allowed for exploration and movement westward throughout the nation’s history. He believed that without this 'free' land to escape to, now that no stretch of land was safe from American society, class conflicts similar to those in Europe might arise.

What was Ida B. Wells known for in her newspaper?

Ida B. Wells was the editor of a black newspaper in the South, and she used it to argue against lynching and Jim Crow Laws, advocating for justice and civil rights for the African American community.

What was Booker T. Washington's belief regarding African Americans?

As an African American educator, he argued that black people needed to become economically self-sufficient and well-educated in order to see change happen. To advance this belief, he created many speeches and helped establish several schools across the South for African Americans.

What process did Henry Bessemer patent in the 1850s, and what was its significance?

Henry Bessemer patented the Bessemer Process, a revolutionary method for making higher-quality and stronger steel by blasting hot air through molten iron to remove impurities. This innovation significantly increased steel production, lowered prices, and facilitated the construction of more factories, railroads, and infrastructure.

What major invention did Alexander Graham Bell create in 1876?

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, which allowed people to hear the sounds of others' voices from great distances. Within a year of its invention, he founded the Bell Telephone Company, leading to the widespread installation of thousands of telephones across America.

What business practice did John D. Rockefeller use to control 90% of the oil industry?

John D. Rockefeller, the owner of Standard Oil, had a monopoly over the oil and petroleum industries, practicing horizontal integration by consolidating smaller companies to dominate nearly 90% of the industry.

What type of integration did Andrew Carnegie practice in the steel industry?

Andrew Carnegie had a monopoly over the steel industry after the Bessemer Process was discovered. He practiced vertical integration by acquiring all companies related to steel production, ultimately selling his company to J. P. Morgan for half a billion dollars in 1901 and then devoting his life to philanthropy, promoting the Gospel of Wealth.

What action did Eugene V. Debs direct his union members to take during the Pullman Strike?

Eugene V. Debs, a union leader, directed his members to not work on any trains that had Pullman cars. This led to his arrest as railroad companies began hooking the Pullman cars to federal mail trains, causing interference issues with federal operations.

What did Jane Addams establish to help immigrants?

Jane Addams established settlement houses, including the famous Hull House in 1889, to assist immigrants arriving in Chicago. These houses provided aid to help immigrants assimilate into American society, offering education, English classes, healthcare, and employment resources.

What book did Jacob Riis write to expose poor living conditions?

Jacob Riis wrote How The Other Half Lives, a landmark book that compiled photographs and accounts exposing the unsanitary living conditions faced by the poor and working class and the diseases that afflicted them.

What key economic idea did Adam Smith promote in The Wealth of Nations?

Adam Smith, an Enlightenment thinker from the 18th century, wrote The Wealth of Nations, advocating that economies function best when governed by the laws of supply and demand, arguing that minimal intervention would allow the economy's 'invisible hand' to flourish.

What political machine did Boss Tweed run in New York City?

Boss Tweed ran the political machine of Tammany Hall in New York City, known for its unscrupulous practices