American History Study Guide: Chapters 17-20

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the economic, social, and political developments of the American West, Industrial America, Urban Society, and the Gilded Age as detailed in the study guide.

Great Plains

A region characterized by sparse rainfall, extreme weather, treeless land, and poor water sources that impeded settlement and farming.

Great Plains Indians Lifestyle

A mostly nomadic way of life that followed buffalo, lived in tepees, and centered on hunting and communal living.

Indian Policies ($1830$–$1890$)

A series of U.S. strategies including removal, reservation policy, treaty-making, the Dawes Act, and assimilation through boarding schools.

Buffalo Destruction

The most significant blow to Indian tribal life, which ruined their food supply, economy, and culture.

Homestead and Railroad Grants

The primary methods the U.S. government used to distribute public land between $1862$ and $1890$ to encourage western settlement.

Railroad Companies

The group that became the largest landowners in the American West and received the largest share of public lands.

Spanish Influences

Cultural and institutional elements that shaped the Southwest, including ranching, irrigation, adobe architecture, Catholicism, and the Spanish language.

19th-Century Mining Camps

Typically rough, temporary, lawless, and male-dominated settlements that formed quickly around gold or silver strikes.

Cattle Industry Development

A process starting with Spanish traditions, the growth of longhorn herds in Texas, the development of cattle drives, and the use of railroads for eastern shipment.

Western Farmer Problems

Challenges including drought, grasshopper plagues, harsh winters, poor soil, and unpredictable rainfall.

Dry Farming

A new farming method developed in the West involving deeper plowing and specific techniques to compensate for low rainfall.

Farmer Discontent

Frustration caused by high railroad rates, debt, low crop prices, high interest rates, and the cost of expensive machinery.

Industrial Growth Factors

Key drivers including natural resources, labor supply, railroads, capital, new technology, and a growing market during the $19$th century.

Northeast Trunk Lines

The major railroad lines of the late $19$th century, specifically the New York Central and the Pennsylvania Railroad.

First Pacific Railroad

The transcontinental line built by the Union Pacific and Central Pacific, met in Utah in $1869$ using government land grants and private capital.

Bessemer Method

An industrial process for making steel that helped the industry grow rapidly in the $1870$s and $1880$s.

Vertical Integration

A business strategy utilized by Andrew Carnegie that involves controlling every step of the production process.

Horizontal Integration

A business strategy utilized by John D. Rockefeller involving the use of trusts, rebates, and control of refining and distribution.

Late-19th-Century Innovations

Technological advancements including the telephone and the electric light.

19th-Century Labor Movement

A movement composed of trade unions, strikes, the Knights of Labor, the American Federation of Labor, and socialist organizing.

Urban Political Machines

Political organizations that controlled city politics through patronage, trading jobs, food, and services for votes.

Plessy v. Ferguson

The court case that established the legal doctrine of "separate but equal."

Atlanta Compromise

An idea proposed by Booker T. Washington urging Black Americans to seek economic advancement and vocational education over immediate social equality.

Henry George's Proposal

A plan to close the rich-poor gap through a single tax on land values.

Settlement House Program

A social reform program designed to help immigrants and the poor through education, childcare, and community services.

Gilded Age Democratic Party

The political party that supported limited federal government, states' rights, lower tariffs, and white supremacy in the South.

Gilded Age Republican Party

The political party that supported high protective tariffs, a gold standard, and business-friendly economic policies.

Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act

A law signed by Chester A. Arthur ($1881$–$1885$) to reform the civil service system.

McKinley Tariff

A law passed in $1890$ that raised tariffs to record highs.

Sherman Antitrust Act

A piece of legislation passed in $1890$ designed to outlaw business monopolies.

Sherman Silver Purchase Act

An $1890$ law that increased the coinage of silver; it was later repealed by Grover Cleveland during the Panic of $1893$.

Ocala Platform

A $1890$ Farmers' Alliance platform calling for direct election of senators, lower tariffs, graduated income tax, and free silver.

Panic of $1893$

A severe depression involving bank failures, railroad bankruptcies, high unemployment, and labor unrest like the Pullman Strike.

Cross of Gold Speech

The famous speech given by William Jennings Bryan during the $1896$ election to rally farmers and silver supporters.

Gold Standard Act of $1900$

Legislation signed by William McKinley that officially placed the United States on the gold standard.