Part I: Monopoly and Upheaval, 1877-1914

Post-Civil War era

A period in U.S. history following the end of Reconstruction in 1877, marked by a shift from issues of slavery to industrial capitalism.

Industrial capitalism

An economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production and the creation of goods for profit, leading to vast social changes.

Progressivism

A social and political movement advocating for government intervention to address social, economic, and political issues, often led by women.

Acquisitive individualism

An ideology favored by industrial capitalists emphasizing personal success and wealth accumulation through free markets.

Collectivity

A belief system embraced by the working class that advocates for mutual support and action against the injustices of industrial capitalism.

Haymarket Affair

A violent conflict in 1886 in Chicago that began as a peaceful labor rally advocating for workers' rights.

Homestead Strike

A labor dispute in 1892 between strikers and private security agents hired by Carnegie Steel Company, resulting in violence.

Pullman Strike

A nationwide railroad strike in 1894 that escalated into a national crisis affecting transportation and mail delivery.

Child labor

The employment of children in industry or business, often in harsh conditions, which progressives sought to reform.

Political corruption

Dishonest or unethical conduct by those in power, which progressives aimed to reduce through reforms.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections, a key issue advocated for by women during the progressive movement.

Demographic changes

Significant alterations in the population structure due to immigration and urbanization during the industrial era.

Economic dependency

A condition where individuals, especially wage-laborers, rely heavily on industrial employers for their livelihood.

Radical ideologies

Political beliefs that seek to fundamentally change the social, economic, or political structures, including populism, feminism, anarchism, and socialism.