Unit 2.1 Industrialization

Agrarian Industrial Revolution

A period of agricultural transformation and industrial expansion that occurred in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, characterized by a shift from manual labor to mechanized farming and increased productivity.

Robber Barons

Term used to describe unscrupulous businesspersons who amassed wealth through exploitative practices during the late 19th century, often having undue influence over government and economics.

Laissez-Faire

An economic philosophy of free-market capitalism that opposes government intervention in business affairs.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

A national federation of labor unions in the United States formed in 1886, focused on organizing skilled workers and advocating for labor rights.

Urbanization

The process by which rural areas become urban, typically marked by an increase in population density and the growth of cities.

Tenements

Multifamily urban dwellings that were often overcrowded and unsanitary, typically associated with poor urban living conditions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Political Machines

Organizations that exerted significant control over political parties and government, often using patronage and corruption to maintain power.

Jacob Riis

A Danish-American social reformer and journalist known for his work in exposing the living conditions of the urban poor in New York City through photography and writings.