The Gilded Age (1865-1900) Practice Flashcards

A comprehensive set of practice questions and answers covering the key social, political, and economic developments of the Gilded Age (1865-1900).

During what years did the Gilded Age take place?

The Gilded Age lasted from $1865-1900$.

What does the term "Gilded" imply regarding this historical era?

It means the period was covered with gold on the outside but was not truly golden on the inside, characterized by rapid economic growth alongside social conflict and tension.

What was the result of the sharecropping and tenant farming system in the New South?

It kept people in a cycle of poverty because farmers had to give all profits to the landowner for living on the land.

What landmark Supreme Court case in $1896$ legalized segregation under the "Separate but Equal" doctrine?

Plessy v. Ferguson

How did the civil rights strategies of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois differ?

Booker T. Washington advocated for gradual equality through vocational education (creating the Tuskegee Institute), while W.E.B. DuBois advocated for immediate equality and was a founding member of the NAACP.

Who was Ida B. Wells and what was the focus of her book, The Red Record?

She was an African-American woman and civil rights leader who exposed the practice of lynching in the South and advocated for women's suffrage.

What is Manifest Destiny?

The belief that Americans were destined by God to expand across the country and the world.

How did the government use Eminent Domain during the Gilded Age?

The government took private property for public use (paying for it) to build railroads, taking land from people and giving it to railroad companies.

What was the goal of the Dawes Act and Native American Reform Policy?

To force the assimilation of Native Americans into American life by adopting the culture of the dominant American society.

What happened at the Battle of Little Big Horn in $1876$?

It was the largest Indian victory, where the Sioux Tribe destroyed U.S. General Custer and his cavalry.

What was the significance of the Battle of Wounded Knee in $1890$?

It was the last Indian battle and resulted in the complete destruction of the Sioux tribe, where U.S. forces killed $90$ unarmed men and $200$ women and children in retaliation for Little Big Horn.

In what year were Native Americans granted citizenship, and when were they granted voting rights?

They were granted citizenship in $1924$ and voting rights in $1965$ by the Voting Rights Act (VRA).

What are the five primary causes of Industrialization according to the notes?

1. Abundance of natural resources; 2. Abundance of labor due to immigration; 3. Abundance of investors; 4. New machines; 5. Laissez-faire capitalism.

How did mail delivery speed change between $1860$ and the $1900s$?

In $1860$, mail took $10$ days to reach the Midwest and $3$ weeks to the West Coast; by the $1900s$, travel from New York to San Francisco took $10$ days using the railroad.

What was the status of the telephone by the year $1900$?

There were $1.5 \text{ million}$ telephones in use all over the country.

Explain the concept of Laissez-Faire capitalism.

A system where the government leaves business alone with no laws or regulations to control them, which allowed businesses to take advantage of farmers, workers, and consumers.

Contrast the terms "Robber Barons" and "Captains of Industry."

"Robber Barons" implies business leaders built fortunes by stealing from the public and mistreating workers, while "Captains of Industry" suggests they served the nation positively by creating jobs, expanding markets, and founding museums or universities.

What did Andrew Carnegie argue in the "Gospel of Wealth"?

He believed the wealthy should give money to help the poor to help end wealth inequality and justify owning a monopoly.

What is Social Darwinism as applied to Gilded Age business?

The belief that the strongest and best people or businesses survive and make money, which was used to justify enormous wealth and the belief that God supported their success.

What were the primary goals of early Labor Unions like the National Labor Union, Knights of Labor, and American Federation of Labor?

They sought better hours, better pay, and improved working conditions.

How did the Knights of Labor differ from the American Federation of Labor (AFL)?

The Knights of Labor (led by Terrance Powderly) allowed everyone to join but became too diverse to be effective; the AFL (led by Samuel Gompers) only allowed skilled workers and was more effective.

What was the outcome of the Haymarket Affair?

Violence broke out during a meeting for an $8\text{-hour}$ work day, resulting in the deaths of $8$ police officers, and workers did not receive better hours.

How did the government's role change with the Sherman Antitrust Act?

It moved the economy away from Laissez-Faire toward regulation by prohibiting trusts or monopolies that restrained trade or commerce.

What is the difference between "Push Factors" and "Pull Factors" in immigration?

"Push Factors" (like poverty or religious persecution) make a person want to leave an area, while "Pull Factors" (like jobs or freedom) are reasons people want to move to a specific area.

What is Nativism?

A preference for native-born persons over immigrants (foreign-born).

How did Political Machines, such as Boss Tweed's Tammany Hall, operate?

The organization provided immigrants with food and jobs in exchange for their votes; once the politician was elected, the political boss received money from the politician, resulting in bribery and fraud.

Who was Thomas Nast?

A political cartoonist who exposed the corruption of Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall, leading to Tweed's imprisonment.

Define the Spoils System (Patronage).

The practice where a politician hires financial supporters, friends, or family for civil service jobs based on their relationship rather than their ability or qualifications.