American History Unit 5 Study Guide

Geronimo

a prominent leader of the Apache who fought against Mexico and Texas for their expansion into Apache tribal lands, known for his resistance during the late 19th century.

George Armstrong Custer

a U.S. Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars, best known for his defeat at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. Led the 7th Cavalry in a disastrous campaign against Native American tribes during the Great Sioux War.

Joseph Glidden

an American inventor best known for developing barbed wire in the 1870s, which revolutionized fencing and ranching in the West.

Chief Joseph

a leader of the Nez Perce tribe, known for his eloquent defense of his people's rights and his attempts to lead them to safety during conflicts with the U.S. government in the late 19th century.

Sitting Bull

a Hunkpapa Lakota leader and medicine man known for his role in resisting U.S. government policies and his leadership during the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Booker T. Washington

an African American educator, author, and orator who advocated for vocational training and the economic advancement of Black Americans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

W.E.B DuBois

an African American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist who co-founded the NAACP and advocated for political and civil rights for Black Americans in the early 20th century.

William “Boss” Tweed

a notorious political figure in New York City, known for his leadership of Tammany Hall and his involvement in political corruption during the 19th century.

Jane Addams

a pioneer social worker and reformer who co-founded Hull House in Chicago, advocating for women's suffrage and improvements in social welfare during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Charles Guiteau

an American lawyer and assassin best known for the murder of President James A. Garfield in 1881, which he committed due to his belief that he was destined to be a political leader.

Ellis Island

a historic immigration station located in New York Harbor where millions of immigrants entered the United States from 1892 to 1954, serving as the gateway for many seeking a new life.

Angel Island

a historic immigration station located in San Francisco Bay where thousands of Asian immigrants, particularly Chinese, entered the United States from 1910 to 1940, often facing stricter immigration policies.

Melting Pot

a term used to describe the diverse immigrant cultures that blend together in American society, creating a unique national identity.

Chinese Exclusion Act

a federal law enacted in 1882 that prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States, reflecting widespread anti-Chinese sentiment and racial discrimination.

Gentlemen’s Agreement

an informal agreement between the United States and Japan in 1907 that aimed to limit Japanese immigration by restricting the issuance of passports to laborers.

Chester A. Arthur

the 21st President of the United States, who served from 1881 to 1885 and is known for his efforts to reform the civil service system.

Grover Cleveland

the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, serving two non-consecutive terms from 1885 to 1889 and 1893 to 1897, known for his strong stance against corruption and political patronage.

James Garfield

the 20th President of the United States, serving from 1881 until his assassination later that year, known for his efforts to reform the civil service and his advocacy for education.

Thomas Nast

a political cartoonist known for his powerful cartoons that criticized corruption in politics, particularly targeting Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed during the late 19th century.

Typewriter

an early writing device that uses a mechanical keyboard to produce printed characters on paper, revolutionizing communication and business in the late 19th century. Made by Christopher Sholes.

Petroleum industry

an industry focused on the extraction, refining, and distribution of petroleum products, crucial to the growth of the American economy in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Telephone

a revolutionary communication device invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876, allowing voice transmission over long distances through electrical signals.

Steel producing technique

used to convert iron into steel, enhancing manufacturing capabilities and building infrastructure during the Industrial Revolution.

Light bulb

A device that produces light through the incandescence of a filament or gas, invented by Thomas Edison in 1879, significantly impacting homes and industries.

Entrepreneur

An individual who organizes and operates a business, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.

Bessemer Process

A steel-making process invented by Henry Bessemer in the 1850s, which allowed for the mass production of steel by blowing air through molten iron to remove impurities, greatly reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

Laissez faire

An economic philosophy advocating minimal government intervention in business affairs, encouraging free-market capitalism.

Protective tariff

A tax imposed on imported goods to protect domestic industries by making foreign products more expensive.

Mass production

The manufacturing process of producing large quantities of standardized products, often using assembly line techniques, leading to increased efficiency and reduced costs.

Corporation

A legal entity that is separate from its owners, allowing it to own assets, incur liabilities, and operate indefinitely while providing limited liability to its shareholders.

John D. Rockefeller

An American business magnate and philanthropist, he founded Standard Oil Company and is often considered the richest person in modern history.

Social Darwinism

A theory that applies the concept of natural selection to social, political, and economic issues, suggesting that individuals or groups achieve advantages over others due to inherent superiority.

Monopoly

A market structure where a single seller dominates the market, limiting competition and controlling prices.

Andrew Carnegie

A Scottish-American industrialist who led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and became a prominent philanthropist, donating much of his fortune to educational and cultural endeavors.

Meat Inspection Act

A 1906 law that mandated sanitary conditions in meatpacking plants and established federal inspection of meat products to ensure safety and quality.

Sherman Antitrust Act

A landmark 1890 legislation aimed at combating monopolistic practices by prohibiting anti-competitive agreements and corporate monopolies.

The Jungle

A novel by Upton Sinclair that exposed the harsh conditions and exploited lives of immigrants in the United States meatpacking industry, leading to public outcry and reforms.

Square Deal

Was President Theodore Roosevelt's domestic program aimed at promoting fairness and equality, focusing on consumer protection, conservation of natural resources, and curbing corporate excesses.

Pure Food and Drug Act

A 1906 law that established federal regulations to ensure the safety and labeling of food and pharmaceuticals, prompted by concerns over public health and safety.

Woman’s suffrage

the right for women to vote, which was granted in the United States with the 19th Amendment in 1920. This movement aimed to secure equal voting rights and was a key aspect of the broader women's rights movement.

Nineteenth Amendment

Ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote, ensuring that voting rights could not be denied based on sex.

Federal Reserve Act

Enacted in 1913, this law established the Federal Reserve System as the central banking authority in the U.S., aiming to ensure a stable monetary and financial system.

Federal Trade Commission

An independent U.S. government agency established in 1914 to promote consumer protection and eliminate anticompetitive business practices.

Income Tax

A tax imposed by the government on individuals' or entities' income, typically calculated as a percentage of taxable earnings.

New Freedom

A political slogan used by Woodrow Wilson in his 1912 presidential campaign, emphasizing progressive reforms to promote economic opportunity and reduce the power of monopolies.

Sixteenth Amendment

Ratified in 1913, this amendment to the U.S. Constitution allows Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states based on population.

Clayton Anti-Trust Act

A U.S. law passed in 1914 that aimed to strengthen antitrust laws by prohibiting specific practices that could harm competition, including price discrimination, exclusive contracts, and mergers that could lessen competition.