Rebuilding the Union (1877-1910)

Alexander Graham Bell

Was an inventor, teacher, and scientist who is best known for inventing the telephone.

Andrew Carnegie

An American industrialist and philanthropist. Introduced many innovations into the steel industry, such as inexpensive mass production and vertical integration of supplies. He also created several endowments to fund science, education, and the arts. Concerning his philanthropic efforts, he was fond of saying, “The man who dies rich dies disgraced.”

Angel Island

is the largest of the islands in California’s San Francisco Bay. From 1910 until 1940,this island served as the principal processing center for Asian immigrants to the United States.

Chinese Exclusion Act

This legislation prohibited all immigration of these people into the United States for 10 years. The targets of the legislation were these laborers. Native-born Americans feared they would have to compete with these laborers for jobs.

Civil Liberties

freedoms protected by the laws or constitution of a country such as the right to free speech and freedom from unreasonable searches.

Cornelius Vanderbilt

A businessperson who developed successful steamboat and railroad companies. Started his own steamship company in 1829 that became very profitable. In 1847, he formed a new shipping company that took passengers from the East Coast to San Francisco, California. Expanded his business by purchasing several railroad lines in the New York City area. By 1873, he offered the country’s first rail service from New York city to Chicago, Illinois. He was responsible for building Grand Central Station in New York City and gave $1 million to a university in Tennessee, which was later renamed after him in his honor.

Ellis Island

Located in Upper New York Bay, approximately one mil southwest of the island of Manhattan. From 1892 until 1924, this place served as the main processing center for European immigrants to the United States. As many 12 immigrants passed through here during this time.

Gilded Age

The 1870 s and 1880 s in the United States have come to be known as this, a time when some Americans became extraordinarily wealthy and was a time of serious political corruption.

Industrial Revolution

A period of change for the economy and society of much of the world. Many countries transitioned from primarily agricultural societies in which machines were used to manufacture goods.

John D. Rockefeller

An American industrialist who founded Standard Oil Company. Was an aggressive businessperson who soon began buying out his competitors. By 1882, he had nearly established a monopoly on the U.S. oil industry. He placed the stock of standard oil and other companies he owned in a trust, the first such trust in the United States. He was regarded as ruthless, someone who would not let anyone, or anything get in the way of making money. At the end of the 1800 s, he began devoting himself into philanthropy;during his lifetime, he gave away more than $500 million.

Labor Union

An organization of workers who join together to ensure fair wages, benefits, and working conditions for its members. They generally represent workers from specific trades or industries.

Monopoly

A term that relates to market economies. it is the control, by a single owner or group, of most or all of the means of producing or selling a good or service. This reduces or eliminates competition, meaning that the owners can set almost any price for their product because no substitutes, or only poor ones, are available.

Muckraker

Was a Pre-World War 1 journalist who exposed business abuses and government corruption in American society. The term grew out of the sensational news reporting in the late 1800 s known as yellow journalism.

Political machine

An organization that exercises the influence over voters to control a city, county, or state government.

Progressive Movement

Arose in the late 1800 s as a response to problems caused by the rapid organization and industrialization of the United State after the civil war.These problems included corrupt political machines, slums,poverty, and exploitation of workers. These people took on these problems and tried to uphold the U.S ideals were popular sovereignty and equal rights.

Propaganda

The spread of information to influence public opinion. It may be true, false, or some combination of the two. The goal of spreading this is to gain support, usually for a political view or cause.

Robber Barons

This term was applied to business tycoons who used unethical and often illegal business practices. They coupled these methods with far-reaching political influence to amass fortunes of historic proportions.

Tenement

Is an overcrowded and often run-down apartment building typical of big U.S. cities in the late 1800 s and early 1900 s.

Thomas Edison

Remains one of the foremost inventors in U.S. history. He is responsible for creating many things we take for granted today, including the microphone transmitter and speakers. He is also credited with the technology behind the modern electric light bulb and early versions of the equipment needed to make movies.

Yellow Journalism

A type of reporting that exaggerates or sensationalizes stories to sell more newspapers.