Unit 6: AP US History (1865-1898)

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on American History, specifically focusing on the Gilded Age and related movements.

Gilded Age

A term coined by Mark Twain describing a period where things appeared good on the surface, concealing underlying issues.

Social Darwinism

An idea used by the wealthy suggesting that the rich deserve their success and the poor should work harder, based on the survival of the fittest.

Conspicuous Consumption

The practice of the wealthy spending money on extravagant items to display their wealth.

Knights of Labor

A labor union composed of skilled and unskilled workers that eventually diminished due to internal conflicts.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

A successful labor union led by Samuel Gompers, made up of skilled workers only.

Populist Party

A political party that sought government control of railroads and other utilities, emerging from farmer struggles.

William Jennings Bryan

The main figure of the Populist Party who ran for election in 1896 advocating for the introduction of silver currency.

Omaha Platform

A declaration by the Populist Party calling for reforms such as income tax and direct election of senators.

New Immigration

The influx of new immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe who settled in cities and faced discrimination.

Environmental Movement

The early efforts to preserve natural resources, exemplified by organizations like the Sierra Club.

Tammany Hall

A political machine in New York City known for providing social services in exchange for political support.

Transcontinental Railroad

A major railway system that facilitated westward expansion and economic opportunities post-Civil War.

Dawes Act

Legislation aimed at assimilating Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land and changing their cultural practices.

Laissez Faire

An economic policy of minimal government intervention in the economy, prevalent during the Gilded Age.

Plessy v. Ferguson

A Supreme Court case that upheld the 'separate but equal' doctrine, legitimizing racial segregation.

Chinese Exclusion Act

An 1883 law that prohibited Chinese laborers from immigrating to the United States.

Gospel of Wealth

An essay by Andrew Carnegie advocating that the wealthy should give their surplus wealth to better society.

Social Gospel

A Protestant church movement aiming to improve society and address social issues among the poor.

The Grange

An organization of farmers advocating for the regulation of railroads and grain warehouses.

Settlement Houses

Community centers founded to assist immigrants and women during urbanization, exemplified by Jane Addams' Hull House.