APUSH Unit 6.2 — Westward Expansion & Economic Development (Gilded Age)

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Unit 6.2 of APUSH focusing on Westward Expansion and Economic Development during the Gilded Age.

Gilded Age

A period in U.S. history from 1865 to 1898 marked by rapid economic growth, industrialization, and westward expansion.

Westward Expansion

The movement of settlers and immigrants into the American West, which was not just geographic but also an economic process.

Industrialization

The process of developing industries in a country or region, leading to increased demand for raw materials and economic growth.

Federal Subsidies

Financial assistance provided by the government to support specific sectors, such as railroads, during westward expansion.

Indigenous Peoples

Native American tribes who faced dispossession, forced assimilation, and violent suppression due to U.S. economic policies.

Vertical Integration

A business strategy that involves controlling all aspects of production from raw materials to distribution.

Corporate Giants

Large companies that dominated industries, such as Union Pacific and Central Pacific in the railroad sector.

Cattle Kingdom

A term used to describe the era when cattle ranching flourished across the plains of the American West.

Open-Range Ranching

A system where cattle were allowed to roam freely over vast areas, primarily in Texas after the Civil War.

Industrialization of Meat

The transformation of meat production into a large-scale industry, exemplified by Chicago's meatpacking companies.

Homestead Act

A law passed in 1862 that provided 160 acres of land to settlers who would improve it.

Commercial Agriculture

Farming primarily focused on producing crops for sale in national markets rather than for personal consumption.

Environmental Challenges

Difficulties such as droughts and soil exhaustion that farmers faced during the Gilded Age.

Boomtowns

Rapidly growing cities that emerged during mining booms but often became ghost towns when resources were exhausted.

Vigilante Justice

The act of taking the law into one's own hands, often seen in lawless boomtowns during the mining era.

Dawes Act

An 1887 law that divided tribal lands into individual allotments, aimed at assimilating Native Americans.

Reservation System

A policy that forced Indigenous tribes onto designated areas to control their populations and free land for settlers.

Military Conflicts

Armed confrontations between the U.S. government and Indigenous tribes over land and sovereignty.

Farmers’ Alliances

Grassroots movements formed by farmers in the late 19th century that aimed to address economic grievances and push for political reforms.

Corporate Capitalism

An economic system where businesses, especially large corporations, have significant control over production and economic policy.

Transcontinental Railroad

A railroad that connected the eastern United States with the west, completed in 1869, which facilitated commerce and migration.

Barbed Wire

A fencing material introduced in the 1870s that effectively ended the open range for cattle ranching.

Cattle Drives

The movement of cattle from ranches to market or railheads, essential for the meatpacking industry.

Mining Corporations

Large companies that engaged in mining activities, replacing individual prospectors and requiring considerable investment.

Grassroots Political Movement

A movement driven by the community to advocate for change, exemplified by the Farmers' Alliances.

Economic Grievances

Concerns expressed by farmers relating to high costs of railroads, low crop prices, and increasing debt.

Legal Framework

The laws and regulations established to govern business practices, often favoring corporations over individuals.

Populism

A political movement in the late 19th century that sought to represent the interests of farmers against the elite and corporations.

National Meat Market

A system of meat distribution across the country that developed due to advancements in transportation and refrigeration.

Cycles of Overproduction

Economic patterns where too much product is produced, leading to falling prices and increased debt for farmers.

Cultural Collapse

The disintegration of Indigenous cultures due to external pressures such as buffalo extinction and land dispossession.

Federal Power

The enhanced authority and involvement of the federal government in economic matters, particularly during the Gilded Age.

Railroad Impact on Native Americans

Railroads contributed to the destruction of Indigenous lands and resources, severely affecting Native American societies.