APUSH Vocab - Period 6

Industrialization and the Gilded Age

Second Industrial Revolution

A period in the late 1800s marked by rapid industrial growth driven by steel, electricity, oil, and new technologies.

Gilded Age

A late 19th-century era characterized by great wealth for a few and widespread poverty for many.

Panic of 1893

A severe economic downturn caused by bank failures, railroad bankruptcies, and declining confidence in the economy.

Union Pacific Railroad

A railroad company that built westward from the Midwest toward the Pacific Coast.

Central Pacific Railroad

A railroad company that built eastward from California, employing many immigrant laborers.

Pacific Railway Act of 1861

A federal law that provided land and financial incentives to railroad companies.

Homestead Act

A law that allowed settlers to obtain land by living on and improving it for several years.

Dawes Severalty Act

A law that divided tribal land into individual plots to encourage private land ownership.

Assimilation

The process of forcing minority groups to adopt the culture, values, and customs of the dominant society.

Battle of Wounded Knee

A violent confrontation between U.S. troops and Native Americans that resulted in the massacre of hundreds.

Cornelius Vanderbilt

A powerful business leader who built a transportation empire through shipping and railroads.

Jay Gould

A controversial financier known for manipulating stock markets and railroads.

Alexander Graham Bell

An inventor who developed a device that allowed voices to be transmitted over wires.

Thomas Edison

A prolific inventor responsible for many practical technologies, including improvements to lighting and sound recording.

Nikola Tesla

A brilliant engineer known for developing alternating current electrical systems.

John D. Rockefeller

An oil tycoon who built the largest refining company in the nation.

Andrew Carnegie

A steel magnate who rose from poverty to immense wealth.

J. Pierpont Morgan

A powerful banker who financed major corporations and stabilized markets during financial crises.

Vertical Integration

A business strategy where a company controls every stage of production.

Horizontal Integration

A strategy where a company buys out competitors to control an entire industry.

Bessemer Process

A new method of producing steel more cheaply and efficiently.

Sears, Roebuck and Company

A mail-order business that sold goods to rural customers through catalogs.

laissez-faire

An economic philosophy that supports minimal government interference in business.

Protestant Work Ethic

A belief that hard work, discipline, and frugality are signs of moral virtue.

Great Railroad Strike of 1877

A nationwide labor uprising sparked by wage cuts.

National Labor Union

One of the first nationwide worker organizations in the U.S.

Knights of Labor

A labor organization that welcomed workers of different skill levels and backgrounds.

The Haymarket Affair

A labor protest that turned violent after a bomb was thrown at police.

Samuel Gompers

A labor leader who focused on practical gains like wages and working conditions.

American Federation of Labor

A labor organization made up of skilled trade unions.

Homestead Steel Strike of 1892

A violent labor conflict between steelworkers and management.

Pullman Strike of 1894

A nationwide railroad strike protesting wage cuts and high rents.

Eugene V. Debs

A prominent labor leader and socialist who led major strikes.

George A. Custer

A U.S. Army officer known for his aggressive actions against Native Americans.

Great Sioux War

A conflict between the U.S. government and Native tribes over control of western lands. It followed the discovery of gold in tribal territory.

Range Wars

Violent conflicts in the West over land use between ranchers, farmers, and corporations. They reflected competition for scarce resources.

Ellis Island

The primary immigration processing center for newcomers arriving on the East Coast. Millions passed through seeking opportunity.

Chinese Exclusion Act

A law that barred immigration from China. It reflected racial prejudice and economic fears.

Nativist

A belief system favoring native-born citizens over immigrants. It often led to discrimination and restrictive immigration laws.

Social Darwinism

A theory that applied ideas of natural selection to society. It argued that wealth and success proved superiority.

Pragmatism

A philosophy that judged ideas based on their practical outcomes. Truth was seen as flexible and useful rather than fixed.

William James

A philosopher who promoted the idea that beliefs should be evaluated by their effects. He helped popularize practical approaches to knowledge.

Reform Darwinism

A reinterpretation of evolutionary ideas to support social reform. It argued that cooperation could improve society.

Political Machine

An organized group that controlled local politics through patronage and favors. It often relied on immigrant support.

Tammany Hall

A powerful political organization that dominated New York City politics. It became synonymous with corruption.

William 'Boss' Tweed

A political leader who embezzled millions from the city government. His downfall exposed widespread corruption.

Stalwarts

A faction of Republicans who supported the patronage system. They resisted civil service reform.

Mugwumps

Republicans who opposed corruption and supported reform. They broke party lines during elections.

Grover Cleveland

A reform-minded president known for honesty and fiscal conservatism. He served two nonconsecutive terms.

Election of 1888

A presidential contest where the popular vote winner lost the electoral vote. Tariffs were a central issue.

Granger Movement

An organization formed by farmers to fight unfair railroad rates. It promoted cooperative action.

Farmers' Alliances

Regional groups that sought economic reforms for farmers. They laid the groundwork for a national political movement.

Populist Party

A political party representing farmers and laborers. It called for reforms to increase democracy and economic fairness.

Omaha Platform

A political document outlining demands such as free silver and government regulation of railroads. It reflected widespread rural discontent.

Gold Standard

A monetary system tying currency value to gold. It limited the money supply and favored creditors.

Mary Elizabeth Lease

A fiery political speaker who urged farmers to challenge economic elites. She encouraged political activism.

Depression of 1893

A prolonged economic crisis marked by unemployment and business failures. It intensified calls for reform.

William McKinley

A president who supported protective tariffs and a strong national economy. His election marked a shift toward Republican dominance.

William Jennings Bryan

A charismatic political leader who championed silver coinage. He appealed to farmers and workers.

George Washington Carver

A scientist who promoted crop diversification and soil conservation. His work helped southern farmers.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws enforcing racial segregation. They institutionalized discrimination in the South.

Plessy v. Ferguson

A Supreme Court case that upheld racial segregation. It legalized discrimination for decades.

Separate but Equal

A legal doctrine claiming segregation was constitutional if facilities were comparable. In practice, equality was never achieved.

Ida B. Wells

A journalist who exposed racial violence and lynching. She was a leader in early civil rights activism.

Booker T. Washington

An educator who emphasized vocational training and economic self-reliance. He advocated gradual progress.

WEB Du Bois

A scholar and activist who demanded immediate equality and civil rights. He helped found a major civil rights organization.

Dr. Walter Reed

A medical researcher who helped identify how yellow fever spread. His work improved public health.

De Lome Letter

A private diplomatic message that insulted the U.S. president. Its publication increased tensions with Spain.

Alfred Thayer Mahan

A naval strategist who argued that sea power was key to national strength. His ideas influenced U.S. expansion.

Social Gospel

A religious movement that applied Christian ethics to social problems. It promoted reform and aid to the poor.

Settlement House

Community centers offering services to urban immigrants and the poor. They focused on education and social reform.

Jane Addams

A reformer who founded a major community center in Chicago. She worked to improve urban living conditions.

Gospel of Wealth

An idea that wealthy individuals had a duty to give back to society. It encouraged philanthropy.

Spectator Sports

Organized athletic events watched by large audiences. They became popular forms of entertainment.

Barnum and Bailey

A famous entertainment company known for large-scale shows and performances. It popularized mass entertainment.

Sherman Antitrust Act

A federal law aimed at limiting monopolies and trusts. It sought to promote competition.

Greenback Party

A political group that supported paper money not backed by gold. It appealed to farmers and debtors.