Gilded Age Vocab

Unit 1

Transcontinental railroad

A railway system that connected the eastern and western coasts.

Homestead Act

A law that provided 160 acres of public land to settlers. The settlers had to live on the ground, build a dwelling, and cultivate crops for a period of five years in order to gain ownership of the land.

Dawes Act

A law that divided tribal lands into individual allotments. Each Native American family was granted a plot of land, and the remaining land was opened up for white settlement.

Assimilation

The process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural traits, behaviors, and values of another culture.

Americanizations movement

This movement aimed at assimilating immigrants into American culture. encouraged immigrants to adopt American customs and traditions.

klondike gold rush

The discovery of gold in the Klondike River, leading to a frenzy of gold-seeking activities. It had a significant impact on the region's economy and development, but only a small number of prospectors actually struck it rich. (caused migration)

Indian Removal Act

It authorized the removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to lands west of the Mississippi River. The forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans. The removal process is known as the **Trail of Tears.**

Policy

Principle of Action

Vertical integration

when a company controls multiple stages of production and distribution within its industry. This can involve acquiring or merging with suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. By vertically integrating, a company aims to gain more control over its supply chain, reduce costs, improve efficiency, and increase market power. **(used by Carnegie)**

Horizontal integration

When a company expands its operations by acquiring or merging with other companies that operate at the same level of the supply chain or in the same industry.

Philanthropy

Charity **(Carnegie was the “founder”)**

Tenements

Multi-story buildings that were historically used as low-cost housing in urban areas. They typically consisted of small, cramped apartments that were rented out to working-class families.

Chinese exclusion act

A United States federal law passed in 1882 that prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers. It was the **first significant law restricting immigration** based on nationality.

Political Machine

A group that controls a political party that offers services to voters and businesses in exchange for votes. **Targeted immigrants.**

Nativism

Favoring the interests of native-born people over foreign-born people.

Urbanization

Growth of cities

Bessemer Process

A cheap and efficient way of making steel **(Carnegie)- bridge**

Labor Unions

Improved wages, working conditions, and provided aid to workers. Helped stop child labor

Robber Baron

A wealthy businessperson or industrialist who gained their fortune through unethical or exploitative practices.

Captain of Industry

A business leader or entrepreneur who is recognized for their significant contributions to the growth and development of an industry or the economy as a whole.

Andrew Carnegie

An industrialist and philanthropist. He founded the Carnegie **Steel** Company. **First to practice Vertical integration**. Created the first skyscraper.

Boss tweed

He was the leader of Tammany Hall, a political machine that controlled the city's politics and government through corruption.

Tammany Hall

Very powerful political machine.

American federation of Labor

Sought better wages, hrs, working conditions, etc. Founded by Samuel Gompers

Samuel Gompers

Leader of the American Federation of Labor

JP Morgan

Father of investment banking **(Bought Carnegie Steel)**

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Created the largest Rail network in U.S., **Father of Railroad industry.**

Entrepreneurship

Creating enterprise with the view of making a profit.

free enterprise/free market economy

Individuals can start and run their own businesses privately.

Laissez- Faire

Policy allowing businesses to operate with little to no gov. interference

Monopoly

When a single company or entity dominates a particular industry, limiting competition.

Trust

Agreements made between multiple companies to control prices and eliminate competition.

Pullman Strike

Strike/Boycott that led to major disruption of railroad traffic in the midwest. **(The first time the gov. Had to issue a court order to end a strike)**

Frontier

A border between two countries

Standard of living

The Material Well Being of the average person in a given population.

Social darwinism

The idea that certain people will become more powerful in society because they are innately better.