Unit 4-6

Populist Party (People's Party) [1892]

A political party formed by farmers and laborers to challenge big businesses. Advocated for free silver, railroad regulation, and direct election of senators.

Political Machine [1877-1898]

Corrupt city organizations that traded favors for votes. Examples like Tammany Hall helped immigrants but fostered widespread corruption.

Pendleton Civil Service Act [1883]

Ended the spoils system by requiring government jobs to be awarded based on merit through exams, reducing corruption.

The Grange Movement [1867-1880s]

A farmers' group that pushed for education, cooperation, and railroad regulation to fight monopolies.

Farmers' Alliance [1870s-1890s]

A network of farmers advocating for reforms like railroad regulation and easier loans. It led to the formation of the Populist Party.

Omaha Platform [1892]

The Populist Party's reform plan calling for free silver, public ownership of railroads, income tax, and direct election of senators.

The Gold Standard (money) [1870s-1890s]

A monetary system tied to gold that favored the wealthy. Farmers opposed it and pushed for free silver to reduce debt.

William Jennings Bryan [1896]

Populist leader famous for his "Cross of Gold" speech supporting free silver and farmers. Ran for president three times.

4 Political Changes Called for in the Omaha Platform [1892]

Direct election of senators.
Secret ballot.
Public ownership of railroads.
Term limits for officials.

Sharecropping (1870s-1950s)

A system where tenant farmers, often freed African Americans, rented land and paid a portion of their crops to landowners. It trapped many in debt and economic dependence in the post-Reconstruction South.

Literacy Test (Voting) (late 19th century)

A discriminatory method used to disenfranchise African Americans by requiring voters to pass reading and interpretation tests, often administered unfairly.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

A Supreme Court case that upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine, legalizing Jim Crow laws and institutionalizing racism.

Jim Crow Laws (1870s-1960s)

State and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the South, denying African Americans equal rights in public facilities, schools, and voting.

Poll Tax (late 19th century)

A fee required to vote, used to disenfranchise poor African Americans and whites in the South.

Exodusters (1879)

African Americans who migrated from the South to Kansas to escape racial oppression and seek opportunities in the West during Reconstruction.

Social Gospel (late 19th century)

A religious movement advocating for social reform to address poverty and inequality, emphasizing Christian principles in public life.

Voluntary Organization (late 19th century)

Groups like the YMCA and Salvation Army, which sought to address urban problems and provide aid to the poor through charity and religious principles.

Gospel of Wealth (1889)

An essay by Andrew Carnegie advocating for the wealthy to use their riches for the public good, justifying wealth disparities through philanthropy.

Settlement House (late 19th century)

Community centers like Jane Addams' Hull House that provided education, childcare, and services to immigrants and the urban poor.

Tammany Hall (1789-early 20th century)

A New York City political machine that helped immigrants, especially the Irish, rise in politics but was criticized for corruption and patronage.

Tammany Hall Critics (1870s-1880s)

Critics claimed Tammany Hall exploited taxpayer money for bribes, manipulated elections, and perpetuated urban corruption.

New South (post-1877)

A vision promoting Southern industrialization and economic diversification while maintaining racial segregation and white supremacy.

Ida B. Wells (1862-1931)

A journalist and activist who exposed lynching and fought for racial justice, becoming a leading voice against violence and discrimination.

Lost Cause Myth (late 19th century)

A romanticized view of the Confederacy, portraying it as a noble fight for states' rights while downplaying slavery's role.

Vaudeville (1880s-1930s)

A form of entertainment featuring diverse performances, reflecting growing urban leisure culture and middle-class affluence.

Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

An inventor who developed the light bulb and phonograph, symbolizing the technological advancements of the Gilded Age.

Homestead Act (1862)

Granted 160 acres of public land to settlers who farmed it for five years, encouraging westward migration and settlement.

Transcontinental Railroad impact on American migration (1869)

Connected the East and West, speeding up migration, enabling trade, and displacing Native Americans from their lands.

Battle of Wounded Knee (1890)

U.S. troops killed over 200 Lakota at Wounded Knee, ending Native armed resistance and worsening federal-Native relations.

The Turner Thesis (1893)

Frederick Jackson Turner's idea that the American frontier shaped democracy and culture, emphasizing westward expansion's importance.

McCormick's Mechanical Reaper (1880s manufacturing change)

Improved farming efficiency; assembly line production reduced costs, making it widely accessible to farmers.

Knights of Labor (founded 1869)

A labor union that sought to unite all workers, advocating for better wages, hours, and working conditions, but declined after the Haymarket Riot.

The Haymarket Riot (1886)

A Chicago labor protest turned violent when a bomb exploded, leading to anti-labor sentiment and weakening the labor movement.

Board of Indian Commissioners (1869)

Oversaw Native policies to assimilate tribes, often forcing cultural and lifestyle changes, including reservations and boarding schools.

California Gold Rush (1848-1855)

Triggered mass migration to California, spurring economic growth and statehood but displacing Native Americans.

Cattle Drives (1860s-1880s)

Cowboys herded cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas for transport to markets, fueling the beef industry.

Colorado Gold Rush (1858-1861)

Drew settlers to Colorado, increasing conflict with Native tribes over land and resources.

Cowboys (Vaqueros) (1860s-1880s)

Skilled horsemen and cattle herders, influenced by Mexican vaqueros, crucial to Western ranching culture.

Crazy Horse (1840-1877)

Lakota leader who resisted U.S. expansion and helped defeat Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Dawes General Allotment Act (1887)

Divided tribal land into individual plots to assimilate Native Americans, reducing Native land holdings.

George Custer (1839-1876)

U.S. Army officer defeated at the Battle of Little Bighorn, symbolizing tensions with Native tribes.

Indian Reservation (1850s-1880s)

Designated lands where Native Americans were forced to live, often with poor conditions and limited autonomy.

Native American Boarding Schools (1870s-1920s)

Schools aimed to assimilate Native children by erasing their culture and teaching English and U.S. customs.

Sitting Bull (1831-1890)

Lakota leader who resisted U.S. policies, played a key role in Little Bighorn, and was killed during a Ghost Dance crackdown.

The Comanche (18th-19th century)

A powerful Plains tribe that resisted U.S. expansion but was eventually confined to reservations.

The Ghost Dance (1889-1890)

A spiritual movement promising Native restoration; feared by U.S. authorities, leading to the Wounded Knee massacre.

The Sioux (19th century)

A coalition of Native tribes that resisted U.S. expansion but suffered greatly after events like Wounded Knee.

Wild West Shows (1880s-early 1900s)

Entertainment spectacles romanticizing the West, featuring cowboys, Native Americans, and famous figures like Buffalo Bill.

Homestead Strike (1892)

A violent labor dispute at Carnegie Steel; weakened unions and highlighted industrial workers' struggles.

Laissez-Faire Economics (late 19th century)

A policy of minimal government interference in business, promoting rapid industrial growth but leading to inequalities.

Labor Union (19th century)

Organizations of workers advocating for better wages, hours, and working conditions, pivotal in industrial America.

Child Labor (19th century)

Widespread use of children in factories and mines, sparking reform movements for labor laws.

Trusts (Business) (late 19th century)

Large business combinations controlling industries, reducing competition and creating monopolies.

Monopoly (Business) (late 19th century)

When one company dominates an industry, often exploiting workers and consumers.

Vertical Integration (Carnegie Steel) (late 19th century)

Control of all production steps in an industry to reduce costs and maximize profits.

Horizontal Integration (Standard Oil) (late 19th century)

Buying out competitors to dominate an industry, used by Rockefeller to control oil.

Robber Baron (late 19th century)

Term for wealthy industrialists who exploited workers and resources to amass wealth.

Captain of Industry (late 19th century)

Industrialists praised for innovation, creating jobs, and advancing the economy.

Social Darwinism (late 19th century)

Applied "survival of the fittest" to justify wealth inequality and oppose social reform.

Government Subsidy (railroads) (1860s)

Federal land and funds given to railroads to promote construction and economic growth.

Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

Inventor of the light bulb and phonograph; symbolized industrial innovation.

Menlo Park (1876)

Edison's research lab where groundbreaking inventions like the light bulb were developed.

Labor Strikes (late 19th century)

Worker protests for better wages and conditions, often met with violence and suppression.

Nat Turner's Rebellion (1831)

An 1831 slave revolt led by Nat Turner in Virginia, where enslaved people attacked and killed approximately 60 white people, making it one of the most significant slave rebellions in U.S. history. Turner's rebellion intensified Southern fears of slave uprisings, leading to stricter slave laws and increased repression of African Americans.

Second Great Awakening (1790s-1840s)

A religious revival movement in the early 19th century that emphasized personal faith and salvation. The movement inspired widespread social reforms, including temperance, prison reform, and especially the abolitionist movement, as many believed in the moral imperative to end slavery.

Abolitionist (1830s-1860s)

A person or activist advocating for the immediate end of slavery in the United States. Influential abolitionists included Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Abolitionists used speeches, writings, and organizing efforts to oppose slavery on moral and religious grounds, often sparking significant social and political tension.

Free Labor (1830s-1860s)

An economic system based on the belief that labor should be freely chosen and compensated, as opposed to slave labor. It was championed in the North, where free labor became associated with independence, opportunity, and social mobility, contrasting sharply with the Southern reliance on slave labor.

Slave Labor (1600s-1865)

A labor system in which enslaved African Americans were forced to work without wages and were treated as property. In the antebellum South, slave labor was the backbone of the agricultural economy, especially in the production of cotton, sugar, and tobacco.

King Cotton (1820s-1860s)

A term describing the dominance of cotton as the primary cash crop in the Southern economy. "King Cotton" became a slogan expressing the South's economic power and its belief that cotton production was vital for both the American and global economy, especially as the North and Europe relied heavily on Southern cotton for their textile industries.

"Positive good" (1837)

A phrase used by pro-slavery advocates like John C. Calhoun to justify slavery as beneficial for both enslaved people and slaveholders. Proponents argued that slavery provided enslaved people with structure and care, while benefitting the Southern economy and culture, framing it as a "positive good" rather than a "necessary evil."

Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)

A series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas during the Illinois Senate race. Lincoln, a Republican, argued against the spread of slavery, while Douglas promoted "popular sovereignty," allowing states to decide on slavery. These debates raised Lincoln's national profile and highlighted the growing sectional divide over slavery.

Union (1861-1865)

The term used to refer to the Northern states and those loyal to the United States government during the Civil War. The Union, led by President Abraham Lincoln, fought to preserve the nation and later to abolish slavery.

Confederacy (1861-1865)

A group of Southern states that seceded from the United States in 1860-61 to form the Confederate States of America, led by President Jefferson Davis. The Confederacy fought to protect states' rights and maintain slavery, leading to the Civil War with the Union.

Robert E. Lee (1807-1870)

A Confederate general and commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, known for his tactical skill and leadership during the Civil War. Lee was respected by both North and South for his military ability and ultimately surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in 1865, marking the end of the war.

Stonewall Jackson (1824-1863)

A Confederate general known for his fearlessness and skilled command. Nicknamed "Stonewall" for his stand at the First Battle of Bull Run, Jackson was a key leader under Robert E. Lee until his death in 1863 from friendly fire.

Jefferson Davis (1808-1889)

The President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. Davis, a former U.S. senator and secretary of war, struggled to unify the Southern states and provide effective leadership amid internal conflicts and resource shortages.

Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885)

A Union general who became the commanding general of the Union Army in 1864. Known for his aggressive tactics and willingness to engage Confederate forces continuously, Grant accepted Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House in 1865, ending the Civil War.

Sherman's "March to the Sea" (1864)

A military campaign led by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, in which Union troops marched from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia, destroying infrastructure and supplies along the way. This campaign aimed to cripple the South's war resources and morale, embodying the concept of "total war."

Total War (1864-1865)

A strategy used by the Union, especially under General Sherman, that aimed not only to defeat Confederate armies but to destroy the South's economic and social structure. Total war involved targeting civilian infrastructure and resources to break the Southern will to continue fighting.

Emancipation Proclamation (1863)

An executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declaring all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories to be free. The proclamation reframed the Civil War as a struggle for abolition and encouraged African Americans to join the Union Army.

Gettysburg Address (1863)

A short but impactful speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln in November 1863 at the dedication of the Gettysburg battlefield. In it, Lincoln honored fallen soldiers and reaffirmed the Union's commitment to winning the war, redefining the war's purpose as a fight for a "new birth of freedom."

African American participation in Reconstruction (1865-1877)

During Reconstruction, African Americans voted, held public office, and built institutions like schools and churches. This marked progress toward equality but faced violent opposition.

Rise of the 1st KKK (1865)

The Ku Klux Klan, formed by former Confederates, used violence to intimidate Black voters and restore white control in the South.

Reconstruction's impact on women (1865-1877)

Reconstruction sparked debates on women's rights. While Black men gained voting rights, women remained excluded, fueling the suffrage movement.

Reconstruction (1865-1877)

The period after the Civil War aimed at rebuilding the South and integrating freed slaves into society. It saw advances in Black rights but faced intense resistance.

13th Amendment (1865)

Abolished slavery in the United States, ending forced labor except as criminal punishment.

14th Amendment (1868)

Granted citizenship to all born in the U.S. and ensured equal protection under the law, aiming to protect freed slaves' rights.

15th Amendment (1870)

Guaranteed that voting rights could not be denied based on race, giving African American men the right to vote.

Sharecropping (1860s-1940s)

A farming system where landowners rented land to poor farmers (often freed slaves) in exchange for a share of the crop, often trapping them in debt.

Segregation (late 1800s)

The enforced separation of races, especially in the South, following Reconstruction, leading to widespread discrimination against African Americans.

Black Codes (1865-1866)

Laws passed in the South to limit the freedom of African Americans, aiming to control labor and behavior post-slavery.

Jim Crow laws (late 1800s-1960s)

State and local laws enforcing racial segregation, solidifying second-class status for African Americans.

Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)

A conflict where Sioux and Cheyenne warriors defeated U.S. troops, symbolizing Native resistance to U.S. expansion.

Seward's Folly (1867)

The purchase of Alaska from Russia, initially criticized as foolish but later valued for its resources.

Exodusters (1879)

African Americans who migrated from the South to Kansas to escape racism and find better opportunities after Reconstruction.

Carpetbaggers (1865-1877)

Northerners who moved South after the Civil War, often to help with Reconstruction, but seen by Southerners as opportunists.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902)

A leading women's rights activist who pushed for women's suffrage during and after Reconstruction.

Annexation of Florida (1819)

The U.S. gained Florida through the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819 with Spain. Spain ceded Florida in exchange for the U.S. renouncing claims to Texas. This expanded U.S. territory and fulfilled part of the nation's Manifest Destiny goal of spreading across the continent.

Cherokee v. Georgia (1831)

This Supreme Court case ruled that Native American tribes were not foreign nations but "domestic dependent nations." Although it did not help the Cherokee in keeping their lands, it set the tone for future legal interpretations regarding Native American sovereignty.

Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

The Supreme Court ruled that Georgia could not impose its laws on Cherokee tribal lands, affirming Native American sovereignty. President Andrew Jackson ignored the ruling, leading to the forced removal of the Cherokee along the Trail of Tears.