APUSH - Period 6

Important Vocab for Period 6

Gilded Age

A period of rapid economic growth masking deep social problems and political corruption

Populist Party

A political party formed to represent farmers and laborers against corporate interests

Credit Mobilier Scandal

A major corruption scandal involving railroad construction and members of Congress

Interstate Commerce Act

An 1887 law that created the ICC to regulate railroad activities

Vertical and Horizontal Integration

Carnegie controlled all parts of production, while Rockefeller buys out competition

Gospel of Wealth

Carnegie’s policy arguing that wealthy have moral responsibility to act as trusts for the poor

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

An 1890 law designed to prevent monopolies and trusts from restraining trade

Dawes Severalty Act

An 1887 law attempting to assimilate Native Americans by dividing tribal lands

Cross of Gold

A famous speech by Bryan advocating for the free coinage of silver

Muckrakers

Investigative journalists exposing corruption, poverty, and shady business practices

New Immigrants

1900s immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe

Hull House

A Chicago settlement house that provided services to the urban poor

Homestead Act

160 acres of free land to those who live and improve western lands for 5 years

Knights of Labor

An early, inclusive labor union that sought to organize all workers, pushing for social reforms

Turner’s Frontier

An essay arguing that the frontier experience defined American character