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Transcontinental Railroad
The central pacific and Union Pacific tracks meet at Promontory Point, Utah 10 May 1869, completing the blank
Homestead Act (1862)
offers 160 acres of “free” land to any citizen or head of household - must improve land within 5 years
Joseph Glidden
invented barbed wire which led to the end of open range
Morrill Land Grant Act (182 + 1890)
federal government gives land to states to establish agricultural colleges to help farmers
Hatch Act of 1887
provides money to develop new technology so these new colleges can share it with the farmers
Homesteader
settlers who moved onto lands given by the Homestead Act. You are foraging for whatever you can find bc you are the doctor, hunter, gatherer, builder of home, farmer, and caretaker of livestock to your family with no help.
Great Plains aka
“The Breadbasket of the Nation”
Significance of the Frontier
Stressed that the availability of free land and influence of the frontier had played a major role in developing of democracy in the U.S.
The Grange
A social group for frontier families to gather, socialize, and discuss financial concerns, advocating for government regulation of big business, railroads, and banks.
Interstate Commerce Act (1887)
-Federal govt regulates RRs
-Marks the “beginning of the end” of Laissez-faire govt regulation
The Farmer’s Alliance -1875
-“Free Silver” (use of silver coins to cause inflation)
-Govt take-over of RRs -Anti-trust laws (to break up monopolies)
-Easy credit for farmers
-Tenant farmers and sharecroppers
Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890
-Monopolies & trusts could be made illegal because they stifle competition & keep prices high (Between 1890 – 1902 the SAA will be used to break up labor unions instead of corporations) it became the opposite of its purpose
Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890
-U.S. govt will purchase every ounce of silver & issue new notes backed up with gold and silver
The Gilded Age
Period of unprecedented economic, industrial, and population expansion from 1877-1900
Caused by 2nd Industrial Rev, Capitalism, Robber Barons, Urbanization and mass immigration
2nd Industrial Revolution
Marked by enormous growth and consolidation of wealth and ownership
Patronage/Spoils System
