Gilded Age and U.S. History Review

Flashcards covering key terms, historical figures, laws, and concepts from the Gilded Age study guide.

What is the definition of Laissez-faire?

A government hands-off approach to the economy with minimal regulation.

What is a corporate Trust in the context of the Gilded Age?

A large corporate organization created to monopolize a market under one board.

What does the term Robber Baron describe?

A derogatory term for corrupt and ruthless businessmen who used corrupt practices to amass wealth.

What were Titans of Industry, and who were four prominent examples?

Leaders who drove innovation and economic growth; examples include John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, and J.P. Morgan.

What was the Homestead Act of 1862?

An 1862 law giving 160 acres of western land to settlers who farmed it.

What occurred during an Executive Retreat regarding Native Americans?

The government withdrew protections or treaty rights.

What is Nativism?

Prejudice favoring native-born citizens over newly arriving immigrants.

What is White Washing, and what phrase was used to describe it?

Altering multicultural history to promote a Eurocentric narrative, described by the phrase 'Americanization'.

What is a Monopoly?

A single company controlling an entire industry to eliminate competition and raise prices.

Which animals transformed Plains Native American culture, and who introduced them to the Americas?

Horses, which were introduced to the Americas by the Spanish.

What was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882?

An 1882 law banning Chinese laborers, which was the first U.S. immigration ban by race.

Why did Titans of Industry control politics during the Gilded Age?

Corporate leaders used bribery, campaign contributions, and lobbying to control politicians.

What characteristics made someone an 'ideal immigrant' according to nativists?

They were mostly Protestant, literate, and assimilated more easily into American culture.

Why were 'not ideal immigrants' targeted and opposed by nativists?

They were often Catholic, Jewish, or Buddhist rather than Protestant, and were viewed as uneducated, impoverished, and unlikely to assimilate into democratic institutions.