Period 6 Vocab

Laissez-faire capitalism

An economic system that advocates minimal government intervention in the economy, allowing free market forces to dictate production and prices.

New South

1875-1900, Southern states industrialized under a new ruling class of merchants and businessmen to catch up to the North proposed by Henry Grady.

Industrialization

The process of transforming an economy from primarily agricultural to one based on the manufacturing of goods and services, often marked by technological innovations, urbanization, and wage-based system. Began in the early 1800s. It provided factory jobs and easier working conditions for farmers. Benefited America during WWI and WWII as they could make weapons and advance them quickly, but also led to political corruption.

People’s Party

Populists; campaigned in election of 1892 with James B Weaver; wanted to bring together the aggrieved workers from across the nations, but had support primarily in the west; called for the ownership of railroads, free silver, income tax, direct elections of senators, 8 hour workdays, and limits on migration into the US; kind of merged with democrats

Business consolidation

The process of combining multiple businesses into a single entity, often to increase efficiency, reduce competition, and enhance overall profitability. This can include mergers, acquisitions, and trusts. A significant trend in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Gilded Age. Vertical and horizontal integration

Americanization

The movement, primarily in the early 1900s, aimed to assimilate immigrants into the American culture and social fabric. This involved efforts to teach immigrants about American values, history, and ways of life, often fueled by nativist fears that immigrants would disrupt the existing order.

Political machines

A party organization that recruits voter loyalty with the tangible incentives and is characterized by a high degree of control over member activity; often associated with corruption and patronage in urban politics.

Middle class

The social and economic group that exists between the upper and lower classes, often characterized by occupations like merchants, shopkeepers, doctors, journalists, and managers, with some level of financial stability and access to leisure activities and education

Transcontinental railroads

A railroad that spans the entire continental US, connecting the East Coast and West coast. The first continental railroad was completed in 1869, significantly impacting westward expansion, trade, and the overall development of the nation.

American bison

In native American culture bison are very important. They were used for food, shelter, clothing, and material. Additionally, bison were viewed in a religious sense. In retaliation, Americans killed the bison which greatly angered the Native Americans

Indian Tribal sovereignty

The inherent right of Native American tribes to govern themselves, make their own laws, and manage their own affairs, largely independent of state and federal authorities. It’s a key concept in understanding the historical and ongoing relationship between the US government and Native American tribes

Assimilation

The process of groups of people and cultures coming together and merging by instating things from the other culture into their own. This happened a lot during the great migration where people from many different countries came to American and a lot of aspects of their cultures merged with those that were already there.

Social Darwinism

The belief that some races are superior and that they are biologically better.

Gospel of Wealth

Andrew Carnegie defending wealth as a gift from God to be used on behalf of the people/public; justifies the wealth and inequality as gods natural order

Social Gospel

Christian faith practiced as a call not just to personal conversion but to social reform advocated by Walter Rauschenbusch

Jane Addams

The founder of Hull House, a settlement home, which provided English lessons for immigrants, daycares, and child care classes.

Settlement houses

Community centers located in the slums and near tenements that gave aid to the poor, especially immigrants

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896, legalized the “separate but equal” by upholding state ordered segregation so long as the facilities for blacks and whites were equal; justified Jim Crow