History chapter 14/15

Triangle Shirtwaist fire

A tragic industrial disaster in 1911 that occurred in a New York City garment factory, resulting in the deaths of 146 workers due to unsafe working conditions and locked exits. This event led to significant reforms in labor laws and workplace safety regulations.

Social darwinism

A social theory that applies the concept of natural selection to human societies, suggesting that certain people or groups are naturally superior to others, often used to justify social inequality and imperialism.

Credit Mobilier

A scandal involving the Union Pacific Railroad in the 1870s, where a construction company, Credit Mobilier, was created to siphon off profits and involved bribery of government officials.

Collective Bargaining

The process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at establishing the terms of employment, including wages, working conditions, and benefits.

Sherman Antitrust Act

A landmark federal statute enacted in 1890 aimed at prohibiting monopolistic business practices and promoting competition in the marketplace.

interstate Commerce At

A federal law regulating trade between states, aiming to eliminate unfair practices and ensure fair competition. aims

Chinese Exclusion Act

A federal law enacted in 1882 that prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States, reflecting the racial and economic tensions of the time.

Transcontinential Railroad

A railway system that connected the eastern U.S. to the western territories, completed in 1869, facilitating trade and westward expansion.

Monopolies

are market structures where a single seller dominates the market, restricting competition and controlling prices.

Pendeton Civil service Act

A federal law enacted in 1883 that aimed to reform the federal government's hiring process by establishing a merit-based system, reducing corruption and patronage.

Knights of labor

A significant labor organization founded in 1869 that sought to unite all workers, regardless of skill level, and advocated for social reforms, including the eight-hour workday and the end of child labor.

Andrew Carnegie

A leading industrialist and philanthropist in the late 19th century, Carnegie founded the Carnegie Steel Company and was a major figure in the expansion of the American steel industry.

Immigration

the process of individuals moving to a new country with the intention of settling there, often to seek better economic opportunities or escape persecution.

Gentlemen’s Agreement

An informal agreement between the United States and Japan in 1907 to limit Japanese immigration to the US, aimed at reducing tensions over immigration policies.

Politcal Machines

Corrupt organizations that influenced local politics and elections, often through bribery and patronage.

Social Gospel Movement

A religious movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that sought to apply Christian ethics to social problems, advocating for social justice and improving living conditions for the poor. It emphasized the responsibility of Christians to address issues such as poverty, labor rights, and education reform.

Settlement Houses

Community centers in urban areas that provided services such as education, healthcare, and social support to immigrants and the poor, aiming to improve their living conditions and integrate them into society.

Row House

A type of multi-family dwelling that emerged in urban areas during the late 19th century, characterized by its narrow, rectangular shape and shared walls with adjacent houses. Row houses were often built to accommodate the growing population of immigrants and working-class families.

Graft

The illegal use of political influence for personal gain.

Vertical Intergration

When one company controls the whole process of making a product. A company's taking over its suppliers and distributors to gain total control over the quality and cost of it products.

Tammany Hall

The Democratic political machine that dominated New York City in the late 19th century.

Ellis Island

Immigrants arriving on the East Coast in the late 1800s gained entry into the United States through this.

Angel Island

The immigration station on the west coast where Asian immigrants, mostly Chinese gained admission to the U.S. at San Francisco Bay.

Growth of Industry

The immigration station on the west coast where Asian immigrants, mostly Chinese gained admission to the U.S. at San Francisco Bay.

Bessemer Process

A cheap and efficient process for making steel, developed around 1850. Created by Henry Bessemer

Tenements

A multi-family dwelling in the urban core, usually old and occupied by the poor. Had terrible living condition and were overpopulated.

Boss Tweed

A group of corrupt New York politicians, led by William Marcy "Boss" Tweed, who took as much as $2 million from the city between 1869 and 1871.

Robber Barons

Refers to the industrialists or big business owners who gained huge profits by paying their employees extremely low wages. They also drove their competitors out of business by selling their products cheaper than it cost to produce it. Then when they controlled the market, they hiked prices high above original price.

Capatian of Industry

Someone who owns or runs a large successful business or company. They also use their ideas and innovations for good.