American History - Immigration, Urbanization, and Westward Expansion

Mechanized Farming

the use of machinery and technology to perform agricultural tasks, increasing efficiency and productivity compared to manual labor

Urban

Areas with high population density that are typically major cities

Rural

Areas with low population density that are mostly farmland, existing outside of major cities and towns.

Pull Factors

Reasons people wanted to come to America from Western and Eastern Europe; economic stability, religious freedom

Push Factors

Reasons people didn’t want to come to America; overcrowded, famine, land shortages, religious and political persecution, war

Bessemer Process

The first inexpensive method for the mass production of steel, it revolutionized the industry by increasing its production

Factors of Production

Land, Labor, Capital, and Entrepreneurship

Corporations

A distinct, legally recognized, association or company that has been approved by the state to operate.

Robber Barons

Powerful American industries that succeeded by owning the entire monopoly, eliminating competition.

Captains of Industry

A powerful, successful business leader who had a significant impact on the industry.

Monopoly

Someone that sells a product or service,that is exclusive to them only, meaning they can charge whatever price they want.

Transcontinental Railroad

The railroad that made travel between the East and West a lot easier. Made after the Oregon Trail, made travel that would take months, take 5 days.

Populist Party (Their Platform)

Formed mainly by farmers, was a party that wanted to make the lives of farmers easier, and have the government take action.

Angel Island

The island on the west side of the United States. The chance of entry into the United States was a lot harder than Ellis Island, due to discrimination against Asians

Ellis Island

The immigration center of the east side of the United States. It was located in New York and had a higher chance of entry than Angel Island.

Old Immigration

Were the first immigrants to the United States, were more successful than later immigrants

New Immigration

New immigrants were often less successful and were discriminated against

Nativism

the policy of protecting the interests of native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants.

Immigration Act of 1924

The act that gave Ellis Island and Angel Island a quota, or a limit of people they could take. Reduced immigration from Asia, Southern and Eastern Europe, and other regions outside of Northern and Western Europe.

Social Darwinism

Similar to “Survival of the fittest”. Meant that the most capable individuals, for example the businessmen, and monopolists should succeed, but the incapable should fail and stay poor.

Laissez-Faire

Phrase for a “Hands off” government, meaning they shouldn’t intervene in business and industry

Trail of Tears

The forceful displacement of over 60,000 native Americans, many were killed in the journey from Georgia to Oklahoma

Assimilation

the process of becoming similar to others by adopting their customs, beliefs, and culture, often involving a minority group adopting the traits of a larger, dominant group

Osage Nation

The Osage Nation is a federally recognized Native American tribe in Oklahoma. They found oil and became rich with the new land they gained

Reservation System

Gave the native Americans their land.

Dawes Act

Gave native American tribes their own reserved land plots, promoting assimilation

Ghost Dance

Phrase that Native Americans used, to say that they would fight back against assimilation.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that god is the reason for the United States to expand across all of North America

Andrew Carnegie

Operated the Steel Monopoly

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Operated the Railroad Monopoly

John D. Rockefeller

Operated the Oil Monopoly