Gilded Age Study Guide

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the Gilded Age study guide, providing definitions and explanations to aid in exam preparation.

Gilded Age

A period in United States history (late 19th century) marked by rapid industrialization and economic growth but also significant social issues.

Labor Unions

Organizations of workers that unite to collectively bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Pullman Strike

A nationwide railroad strike in 1894 that resulted in violent clashes and highlighted the tensions between labor and management.

Robber Barons

Wealthy industrialists and business magnates who were accused of using exploitative practices to amass their fortunes.

Industrialization

The process of transforming an economy from agricultural to manufacturing and industry-driven.

Urbanization

The movement of people from rural areas to cities, resulting in city growth and expansion.

Assembly Line

A manufacturing process in which individual parts are added to a product in a sequential manner to increase efficiency.

Unskilled Worker

A worker who does not have specialized skills or training, typically performing manual labor.

The Progressives

A social and political movement in the early 20th century advocating for reforms to address problems caused by industrialization.

Prohibition

A nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933.

Women’s Suffrage

The movement advocating for women's right to vote, culminating in the 19th Amendment.

Progressive Amendments

The constitutional amendments adopted during the Progressive Era to enhance democratic governance.

16th Amendment

Constituted the federal income tax, allowing the government to tax individual income.

17th Amendment

Provided for the direct election of United States senators by the voters instead of by state legislatures.

18th Amendment

Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages, leading to Prohibition.

19th Amendment

Granted women the right to vote, ratified in 1920.

Progressive Legislation

Laws passed during the Progressive Era aimed at addressing social issues and reforming government.

Dawes Act

A law aimed at assimilating Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land.

Homestead Acts

Laws that provided land to individuals for farming, encouraging westward expansion.

Indian Residential Schools

Institutions aimed at assimilating Native American children, often through neglect and harsh conditions.

Reservation System

The policy of reserving land for Native Americans, often resulting in loss of traditional lands.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States.

Anti Trust Laws

Legislation enacted to prevent monopolies and promote competition in the marketplace.

Pure Food and Drug Act

A 1906 law aimed at halting the sale of contaminated foods and drugs, ensuring consumer protection.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, New York, during the 1920s.

Great Migration

The movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North for better economic opportunities.