Industrialization & Urbanization

Laissez-faire

An economic philosophy of minimal government intervention in the economy, allowing businesses to operate freely.

Gilded Age

A period in U.S. history from the 1870s to about 1900 characterized by rapid economic growth, industrialization, and social issues.

Mark Twain

An American author and humorist known for his novels 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,' and for coining the term 'Gilded Age.'

Social Darwinism

A theory that applies the concept of natural selection to human societies, often used to justify social inequality and imperialism.

Gospel of Wealth

An essay by Andrew Carnegie that argued wealthy individuals have a responsibility to use their fortunes for the greater good of society.

Andrew Carnegie

A Scottish-American industrialist who led the expansion of the American steel industry and was a major philanthropist.

John D. Rockefeller

An American oil industry business magnate and philanthropist, co-founder of the Standard Oil Company

Monopoly / Trust

A monopoly is the exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service; a trust is a legal arrangement to manage assets for the benefit of others.

Robber Barons

A term used to describe unscrupulous business owners who used exploitative practices to amass wealth during the Gilded Age.

Captains of Industry

Business leaders whose means of amassing a personal fortune contributed positively to the country in some way.

Chinese Exclusion Act

An 1882 law that prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States.

Nativism

The policy of protecting the interests of native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants.

Settlement Houses

Community centers in urban areas that provided services to the poor, including education, healthcare, and job training.

Average Working Family Conditions

Refers to the living and working conditions of families during the industrial era, often characterized by long hours, low wages, and poor living conditions.

Haymarket Riot

An 1886 labor protest in Chicago that turned violent, leading to the deaths of several police officers and civilians.

Homestead Strike

A violent labor dispute in 1892 at the Homestead Steel Works in Pennsylvania between strikers and private security agents.