GA

Gilded Age

A term coined by Mark Twain, referring to Industrial America, characterized by gold and pretty appearances but rotten conditions inside.

Robber Barons/Captains of Industry

Term referring to powerful industrialists like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and JP Morgan who often used ruthless methods to grow their wealth.

Vertical Integration

The practice of controlling every aspect of production from raw materials to the final product, notable in Andrew Carnegie's steel industry.

Horizontal Integration

The strategy of buying out all competitors in the same industry, exemplified by John D. Rockefeller in the oil industry.

Social Darwinism

The belief that some individuals are naturally superior to others, often used to justify wealth disparities and poor treatment of the lower classes.

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

A devastating workplace fire in 1911 that highlighted the unsafe working conditions and led to reforms in labor laws.

Great Railroad Strike of 1877

A major strike that was part of the labor movement, sparked by wage cuts and poor working conditions in the railroad industry.

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)

A federal statute aimed at prohibiting monopolistic practices and ensuring competition, initially used against labor unions.

Muckraking

A form of journalism that seeks to expose corruption and injustices, popularized by figures like Thomas Nast.

The Grange Movement

An organization of farmers advocating for regulation of railroads and providing a political voice against monopolies.

Conspicuous Consumption

The act of spending money on luxury goods to publicly display economic power and wealth.

Jim Crow Laws

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

Laissez Faire Economics

An economic philosophy advocating for minimal government intervention in business affairs.

Philanthropic Mentality

The belief in using one's wealth to improve society, exemplified by Andrew Carnegie's principles of distributing wealth through projects like libraries and schools.

Political Machine

A political organization that uses patronage and immigrant votes to maintain political power, exemplified by Tammany Hall.

Knights of Labor

An early labor organization that sought to unite all workers regardless of skill level, advocating for labor rights.

Haymarket Riot (1886)

A labor protest rally in Chicago that turned violent, resulting in deaths and a backlash against labor movements.

Credit Mobilier

A scandal involving the Union Pacific Railroad and the Credit Mobilier of America construction company in the 1860s, where it was found that the company had overcharged for construction and bribed government officials.

Social Gospel

A religious movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that emphasized the importance of social justice and addressing societal issues such as poverty and inequality, advocating for the application of Christian ethics to social problems.

Whisky Ring Scandal

A 1870s political scandal involving government officials who conspired with whiskey distillers to defraud the government of tax revenue by underreporting production.

Election of William McKinley

The presidential election of 1896 in which William McKinley, supported by business interests and advocating for the gold standard, defeated Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan, who championed bimetallism.