APUSH Time Period 6

Reservation System

Policy forcing Native Americans onto designated lands, often poor quality; aimed to open land for white settlers

Dawes Act (1887)

Law that broke up tribal lands into individual allotments to encourage assimilation; resulted in major Native land loss

Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)

Native American victory against US forces led by Custer; intensified US efforts to control tribes

Wounded Knee Massacre (1890)

US troops killed hundreds of Sioux; marked the end of major Native resistance

Industrial Revolution (Gilded Age)

Rapid growth of industry (steel, oil, railroads) transforming the US into an industrial power

Transcontinental Railroad (1869)

Railroad connecting East and West; boosted trade, migration, and economic growth

Urbanization

Movement of people to cities for factory jobs; led to overcrowding and poor living conditions

Horizontal Integration

Strategy of buying out competitors to dominate an industry (used by Rockefeller)

Vertical Integration

Controlling all steps of production (used by Carnegie)

Monopoly

Complete control over an industry by one company

Trusts

Large business combinations that controlled multiple companies to reduce competition

Social Darwinism

Idea that success in business is due to “survival of the fittest”, justifying inequality

Knights of Labor

Early union open to most workers; pushed for broad reforms like 8-hour workday

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

Union of skilled workers focusing on wages and working conditions

Haymarket Riot (1886)

Labor protest turned violent; hurt public support for unions

Homestead Strike (1892)

Steel workers strike crushed by private security; showed power of big business

Pullman Strike (1894)

Nationwide railroad strike; federal government intervened against workers

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)

Law intended to break up monopolies; initially weakly enforced

U.S. v. E.C. Knight Co. (1895)

Supreme Court limited antitrust law by ruling manufacturing not interstate commerce

Injunctions

Court orders used to stop labor strikes

Laissez-Faire Economics

Government should not interfere in business

Robber Barons

Critics’ term for wealthy industrialists seen as exploiting workers

Captains of Industry

Supporters’ term for industrialists as economic leaders and philanthropists

Political Machines

Organizations that controlled city politics through patronage

Spoils System

Giving government jobs to political supporters

Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)

Reform law creating merit-based government jobs

Protective Tariff

Tax on imports to protect US industries; raised prices for consumers

“Billion Dollar Congress” (1889-1991)

Congress known for high spending and economic policies favoring business

Gold Standard

Money backed only by gold; limited money supply

Bimetallism

Money backed by gold and silver; increased money supply and inflation

Free Silver Movement

Push to coin unlimited silver to help farmers and debtors

The Grange

Organization of farmers seeking economic cooperation and regulation of railroads

Farmers’ Alliances

Groups advocating for political and economic reforms for farmers

Populist Party (1892)

Political party representing farmers and workers; called for major reforms

Omaha Platform (1892)

Populist Party goals including free silver, government ownership of railroads, and direct election of senators

William Jennings Bryan

Populist-aligned Democrat; supported free silver and farmers’ interests

Gilded Age (1865-1900)

Era of rapid industrial growth, political corruption, and economic inequality

Industrialization → Labor Conflict

Growth of big business led to poor working conditions and strikes

Farmer Discontent → Populism

Economic struggles of farmers led to political movements for reform