AP US history unit 6

American Federation of Labor

A national federation of labor unions in the United States founded in 1886, representing skilled workers and advocating for better working conditions, wages, and hours.

Battle of the Little Bighorn

A significant battle in 1876 between U.S. Army forces led by Custer and the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors, marking a major victory for Native Americans.

Billion Dollar Congress

Refers to the U.S. Congress of 1890-1891 known for vast expenditures and the first billion-dollar budget in U.S. history.

Buffalo Soldiers

African American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army post-Civil War, playing a crucial role in the Indian Wars.

Californios

Mexican settlers and descendants in California before and after the U.S. annexation in 1848, facing land rights challenges.

Chinese Exclusion Act

A federal law passed in 1882 that banned Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S., reflecting rising anti-Chinese sentiment.

Collective Bargaining

The process by which labor unions negotiate with employers on behalf of workers regarding terms of employment.

Comstock Lode

A massive discovery of silver ore in Nevada in 1859 that triggered a mining boom.

Convict Lease

A system allowing private contractors to use prison labor, often leading to harsh treatment and exploitation.

Corporate Capitalism

An economic system characterized by private ownership of capital goods and accumulation of wealth by corporations.

Coxey’s Army

A march in 1894 led by Jacob Coxey where unemployed workers marched on Washington, D.C. demanding employment programs.

Dawes Act

An 1887 law aimed at assimilating Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land.

Deflation

A decline in the general price level of goods and services, adversely affecting farmers and workers in the 1890s.

Depression of 1893

A severe economic depression marked by bank failures, high unemployment, and falling industrial production.

Eugenics

A movement aimed at improving the genetic quality of the human population, often associated with discriminatory practices.

Farmer’s Alliances

Regional groups in the late 19th century advocating for farmers' issues like debt relief and fair pricing.

Frontier Thesis

Frederick Jackson Turner’s assertion that the American frontier shaped national character and democracy.

Ghettos

Urban areas where minority populations are concentrated, often struggling with poverty and limited resources.

Ghost Dance

A late 19th-century spiritual movement among Native tribes aiming to restore indigenous culture and remove settlers.

Gilded Age

A period of rapid economic growth in the late 19th century characterized by industrialization and social inequalities.

The Gospel of Wealth

An essay by Andrew Carnegie advocating that wealthy individuals have a moral obligation to distribute surplus wealth.

Grangers

Members of a movement founded in the 1860s addressing social and economic issues faced by farmers.

Great Plains

A flat region of North America known for its agricultural potential and challenges related to farming.

GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

A measure of a country’s total economic output, indicating national prosperity and growth.

Haymarket Riot

A labor protest in Chicago in 1886 that turned violent, marking a pivotal moment in the fight for workers' rights.

Holding Company

A corporation that owns enough voting stock in other companies to control their policies.

Homestead Act

An 1862 law granting 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, encouraging westward migration.

Homestead Strike

A violent labor dispute in 1892 between Carnegie Steel Company and its workers, demonstrating labor tensions.

Horizontal Integration

A business strategy in which a company acquires or merges with competitors to increase market share.

Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

A radical labor union founded in 1905, advocating for the rights of unskilled workers.

Interlocking Directorates

When members of a corporate board serve on multiple boards, potentially reducing competition.

Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)

Established in 1887, the first federal agency to regulate interstate commerce, particularly railroads.

Jim Crow

A system of racial segregation laws enacted in the southern United States after Reconstruction.

Knights of Labor

A labor organization founded in 1869 that promoted workers' rights and organized all workers into a single union.

Laissez-faire

An economic philosophy advocating minimal government intervention in the economy.

Land Rush

A period when settlers raced to claim land in new territories, often ignoring Native American rights.

Long Drive

The process of herding cattle over long distances to railroads for shipment, crucial to cowboy culture.

Melting Pot

A metaphor for American society representing a mixture of cultures, blending into a unique identity.

Mormons

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known for their unique beliefs and westward migration.

Nativism

A socio-political movement favoring native-born inhabitants' interests over those of immigrants.

New South

Refers to the post-Civil War South emphasizing modernization and economic diversification.

Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act

An 1883 act establishing a merit-based system for federal employment, reducing corruption.

Pinkertons

A private security agency used by companies to prevent strikes, known for violent confrontations.

Plessy v. Ferguson

An 1896 Supreme Court case upholding racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Political Boss

A powerful leader in a political machine controlling votes and party nominations, often through corruption.

Political Machine

An organization controlled by a single party or boss, characterized by corruption and exchanging votes for favors.

Poll Tax

A fee required to vote, used to disenfranchise poor and minority voters in the South after Reconstruction.

Populists

Members of a late 19th-century political movement advocating for farmers' and laborers' rights.

Pullman Strike

A nationwide railroad strike in 1894, quelling labor struggles in America with federal intervention.

Robber Barons

A term for wealthy 19th-century industrialists perceived to have used exploitative practices for wealth.

Sand Creek Massacre

An attack in 1864 by the U.S. Army on a Cheyenne and Arapaho village, resulting in many deaths.

Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Company

An 1886 Supreme Court ruling allowing corporations the same rights as individuals under the 14th Amendment.

Sherman Antitrust Act

An 1890 federal law aimed at preventing monopolistic practices and promoting competition.

Sherman Silver Purchase Act

An act aimed at increasing silver government purchases to support the economy.

Social Darwinism

A belief suggesting that certain races and classes are superior, justifying social inequalities.

Socialist Party of America

Founded in 1901, aimed to represent workers' interests and promote social ownership of production.

Subtreasury System

A proposal allowing farmers to store crops in government warehouses for low-interest loans.

Sweatshops

Factories where workers, often children, labored long hours under poor conditions for low pay.

Tammany Hall

A Democratic political machine in New York City known for its corruption and local political influence.

Tenements

Overcrowded apartment buildings housing low-income workers and immigrants, associated with poor conditions.

Transcontinental Railroad

Completed in 1869, this railroad connected the eastern and western U.S., facilitating commerce and migration.

Treaty of Fort Laramie

An 1868 treaty establishing reservations for Native American tribes, later violated by the U.S. government.

Treaty of Medicine Lodge

An 1867 treaty aimed at establishing peace with Native American tribes during westward expansion.

United States v. E.C. Knight Company

An 1895 Supreme Court case limiting government power to regulate monopolies under the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Vertical Integration

A business strategy where a company controls every step of the production process.

Williams v. Mississippi

An 1898 Supreme Court decision upholding the legality of poll taxes and literacy tests, disenfranchising African Americans.

Wounded Knee Massacre

A tragic event in 1890 where U.S. troops killed hundreds of Lakota Sioux, symbolizing violent suppression.