Must Know Content Period 6 (1865-1898) Key Concepts

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and terms from Period 6 in American history (1865-1898).

Industrial capitalism

An economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, where investments are determined by private decisions, and prices, production, and the distribution of goods are determined mainly by competition in a free market.

Trusts

Legal arrangements where several companies combine under a single board of trustees to reduce competition and regulate prices.

Laissez-faire

An economic philosophy of free-market capitalism that opposes government intervention.

Tenant farming

A system of agriculture where a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in exchange for a share of the crops produced.

New South

A term used to describe the southern United States after the Civil War, emphasizing economic diversity and modernization.

People's (Populist) Party

A political party that emerged in the 1890s representing the interests of farmers and laborers, advocating for reforms like the direct election of Senators and currency inflation.

Americanization

The process through which immigrants assimilate into American culture.

Transcontinental railroad(s)

Railroads that spanned the continent, facilitating trade and travel across the United States.

Indian Wars/reservations

Conflicts between Native American tribes and U.S. government forces aimed at territorial expansion and control, often resulting in the forced relocation of Native Americans to reservations.

Gilded Age

A period of rapid economic growth and ostentatious wealth in the late 19th century marked by industrialization and political corruption.

Social Darwinism, Gospel of Wealth, Social Gospel

Social Darwinism applied the concept of 'survival of the fittest' to society; the Gospel of Wealth suggested that the wealthy had a moral obligation to give back; the Social Gospel movement advocated for social justice and improving societal conditions.

Jane Addams/Settlement Houses

Jane Addams founded Hull House and other settlement houses aimed at providing services and education to immigrants and the urban poor.

Plessy v. Ferguson

A landmark Supreme Court case from 1896 that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the doctrine of 'separate but equal.'