Unit 6: The Gilded Age

Laissez Faire

A policy or attitude of letting things take their own course without interfering. In economics, it advocates minimal government intervention in the economy.

Election of 1868

Ulysses S. Grant won against Horatio Seymour, securing his presidency during a time of Reconstruction after the Civil War.

Waving the Bloody Shirt

Political strategy used by Republicans post-Civil War to remind voters of the sacrifices made by Union soldiers, rallying support for their party

Credit Mobilier Scandal

A construction company involved in a bribery scandal during the building of the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s.

Whiskey Ring Rebellion

Scandal during Ulysses S. Grant's presidency where distillers bribed officials to evade taxes on whiskey, leading to arrests and convictions in 1875.

Fisk

A type of intercellular junction where cadherin molecules are connected to form strong adhesion between cells.

Gould Scandal

A financial scandal in the 1860s involving Jay Gould manipulating the gold market, leading to economic turmoil and public outrage.

Tammany Hall

a powerful political organization in New York City known for its corruption and influence in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

William Marcy Tweed

a powerful political boss in 19th-century New York City known for corruption and his control over Tammany Hall.

Tweed RIng

A notorious political organization in New York City led by William "Boss" Tweed, known for corruption and defrauding the city.

Thomas Nast

Influential political cartoonist known for his satirical illustrations in Harper's Weekly. He is credited with popularizing the symbols of the Democratic donkey and the Republican elephant.

Election of 1872

Presidential election where Ulysses S. Grant won a second term against Horace Greeley, who died before the electoral college voted.

Issue: Corruption

The misuse of power for personal gain or benefit, often involving bribery, fraud, or dishonest behavior. It undermines trust and can harm societies and economies.

Hayes V. Tilden

Disputed 1876 US presidential election resolved by Compromise of 1877, leading to the end of Reconstruction era in the South.

Election of 1876

Highly contested U.S. presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden, decided by a special commission. Led to the end of Reconstruction in the South.

Compromise of 1877

Political deal ending the disputed 1876 presidential election, leading to the withdrawal of federal troops from the South and the end of Reconstruction.

Chinese Exclusion Act

passed in 1882 restricting Chinese immigration to the United States, the first law to limit a specific ethnic group from entering the country.

Election of 1880

Presidential election where Republican James Garfield defeated Democrat Winfield Hancock, leading to Garfield's assassination in 1881.

Garfield

the 20th President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881, until his death on September 19, 1881, after being shot by an assassin.

Charles J. Guiteau

Assassin who shot President James Garfield in 1881. Guiteau believed he deserved a government job and was executed for the murder.

Chester Arthur

21st President of the United States from 1881 to 1885. Known for civil service reform and the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act.

Spoils System

Political practice where government jobs are given to loyal supporters as a reward for their help in winning elections.

Merit System

A system where employment and advancement are based on qualifications, skills, and performance rather than favoritism or political connections.

Pendleton Act

Passed in 1883, established the Civil Service Commission to oversee federal job appointments based on merit rather than political affiliation.

Election of 1884

Presidential election between Grover Cleveland and James G. Blaine, marked by mudslinging and corruption accusations. Cleveland won.

Mugwumps

a group of Republican political activists who bolted from the party in the 1884 presidential election to support the Democratic candidate.

Election of 1888

Presidential election where Benjamin Harrison won against incumbent Grover Cleveland, despite losing the popular vote.

Issue: Tariff

A tax imposed on imported goods, designed to protect domestic industries by making foreign products more expensive and less competitive in the local market.

Election of 1892

• Held in the United States

• Grover Cleveland won against Benjamin Harrison

• Populist Party made its debut

• Cleveland became the only president to serve non-consecutive terms

Issue: Deficit Economy

A situation where a government spends more money than it receives in revenue, leading to a budget deficit.

Populist Party- James Weaver

Populist Party candidate in the Election of 1892. Advocated for farmers and laborers, supporting free silver and government intervention.

Union Pacific Railroad

• Founded in 1862

• Part of the First Transcontinental Railroad

• Linked with Central Pacific Railroad in Utah in 1869

• Promoted westward expansion and economic growth

Irish Immigrants

arrived in the US during the mid-19th century, fleeing the Irish Potato Famine. They faced discrimination but played a significant role in building the country.

Government subsides

Financial assistance provided by the government to individuals or businesses to support certain activities or industries, often to promote economic growth or social welfare.

Centeral Pacific Railroad

• Founded in 1861

• Part of the First Transcontinental Railroad

• Linked with Union Pacific Railroad in Promontory, Utah in 1869

• Significant in connecting the East and West coasts of the United States

Chinese workers

crucial laborers in the 19th-century US, especially in building railroads. They faced discrimination and were integral to the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.

Credit Mobilier Scandal

Scandal during the Grant administration where a construction company overcharged the government for building the transcontinental railroad, involving bribery of politicians.

Promontory Point, Utah 1869

Location in Utah where the First Transcontinental Railroad was completed on May 10, 1869, connecting the east and west coasts of the United States.

J.P Morgan

a prominent American financier and banker who played a significant role in shaping the modern financial system.

Jay Ghould

a notorious American financier and speculator in the 19th century, known for his involvement in railroad and gold manipulation.

Cornelius Vanderbilt

• Known as the "Commodore"

• Dominated the railroad and shipping industries in the 19th century

• One of the wealthiest Americans of his time

The Frontier

The area at the edge of a settled territory where pioneers and explorers encountered new land, resources, and challenges. It played a significant role in shaping American history and culture.

Great Plains

Region in North America characterized by flat grasslands, stretching from Canada to Texas. Known for agriculture, oil production, and Native American history.

Short Hauls

transportation routes covering short distances, typically within a region or city, catering to passengers or goods for quick trips.

Long Hauls

refer to long-distance transportation of goods or people, typically covering extensive distances and requiring significant time and resources.

Refrigerator Cars

Specialized train cars equipped with cooling systems to transport perishable goods like fruits, vegetables, and meat over long distances.

Granger Laws

Legislation in the late 19th century US aimed at regulating railroad rates to prevent monopolistic practices and promote fair competition.

Munn V. Illinois 1877

• Legal case

• US Supreme Court

• Upheld state's right to regulate private industry

• Established precedent for government regulation

Walbash v. Illinois 1886

Case that established the federal government's authority to regulate private industries involved in interstate commerce, strengthening the Interstate Commerce Commission.

ICC

ICC (International Criminal Court): Intergovernmental organization to prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Founded in 2002 in The Hague, Netherlands.

Pullman Car Strike

A nationwide railroad strike in 1894 led by the American Railway Union against the Pullman Company due to wage cuts and high rents in company-owned housing. It halted rail traffic and was eventually suppressed by federal troops.

Eugene V. Debbs

a prominent American socialist leader and five-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America.

American Railroad Union

• Leader of the American Railway Union

• Five-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America

• Advocate for labor rights and socialism

Cattle

Large domesticated herbivores raised for meat, milk, and other products. Common types include beef and dairy cattle. Grazing animals found on farms and ranches.

Long Drive

A golf shot hit for maximum distance from the tee box towards the green, typically used on longer holes to set up a shorter approach shot.

Cowboy V Plowboy

Conflict between cattle ranchers and farmers in the American West due to disputes over land use and resources in the late 19th century.

Chisholm Trail

a famous cattle trail used in the late 19th century to drive cattle from Texas to Kansas for rail transport to eastern markets.

Goodnight Loving Trail

Historic cattle trail used in the late 1860s for cattle drives from Texas to New Mexico. Named after Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving.

Abilene

a famous cattle town in Kansas that served as a major railhead for the cattle drives from Texas to the East in the late 19th century.

Cheyenne

City in Wyoming that served as a major hub during the cattle boom of the late 19th century, becoming a key location for cattle ranchers and cowboys.

Dodge City

A frontier town in Kansas known for its lawlessness and cowboys in the late 1800s, earning the nickname "Wickedest Little City in America."

Outlaws

were individuals who engaged in criminal activities, often outside the law's reach, and were considered fugitives or rebels.

Joseph Glidden: Barbed Wire

invented barbed wire in 1874, revolutionizing the fencing industry and aiding in the settlement of the American West.

Cyrus McCormick

American inventor who revolutionized agriculture with the mechanical reaper, boosting crop production and transforming farming practices.

Mechanical reaper

Invented by Cyrus McCormick in 1831, a horse-drawn machine that revolutionized farming by efficiently cutting and gathering crops like wheat.

Plain Indians

Indigenous tribes from the Great Plains region of North America known for their nomadic lifestyle, hunting bison, and living in teepees.

Buffalo

was a major city in western New York and a key transportation hub in the 19th century due to its location on the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes.

Fort Laramie

Established in 1834, it was a vital trading post and military outpost on the Oregon Trail in Wyoming. It served as a meeting point for Native American tribes and settlers.

Sand Creek Massacre 1864

Event during the American Indian Wars where U.S. forces attacked Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, resulting in the deaths of around 200 Native Americans, mostly women and children.

Bozeman Trail

A historic path used by settlers to travel from Wyoming to Montana during the mid-19th century, leading to conflicts with Native American tribes.

Homestead Act 1862

U.S. law offering 160 acres of free land to settlers who improved it for 5 years, encouraging westward expansion and homesteading.

Exodusters

Group of African Americans who migrated to Kansas and other states in the late 19th century seeking better opportunities and to escape racial violence in the South.

Little Big Horn

Battle in 1876 between Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes against US Army led by Custer. Natives won, Custer and his men were killed.

Crazy Horse

a respected Oglala Sioux warrior who played a key role in the Native American victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Sitting Bull

a Hunkpapa Lakota leader who led his people during years of resistance against U.S. government policies. He played a significant role in the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Chief Joseph

a Nez Perce leader who led his people in their resistance against the US government's forced relocation to a reservation in 1877.

Nez Perce

Native American tribe known for their peaceful relations with white settlers until conflict arose in 1877 during their forced relocation to a reservation

I will fight no more

Phrase uttered by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe in 1877, signaling their surrender to the U.S. Army after a long and difficult journey to evade capture.

Helen Hunt Jackson A Century of DisHonor 1881

exposed the US government's mistreatment of Native Americans, advocating for reform and better treatment.

Dawes Severalty Act 1887

Legislation that aimed to assimilate Native Americans by dividing tribal lands into individual allotments, leading to the loss of indigenous communal land ownership.

Wovoka

• A Paiute religious leader who founded the Ghost Dance movement in the late 19th century.

Ghost Dance

Native American spiritual movement in the late 19th century. Believed to restore traditional ways of life and bring back deceased ancestors. Led to the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890.

Wounded Knee Massacre 1890

Violent clash between US troops and Lakota Sioux, resulting in the deaths of around 150 Native Americans in South Dakota.

American Indian Movement (AIM)

Founded in 1968 to address civil rights issues faced by Native Americans, advocating for sovereignty, land rights, and cultural preservation.

Sooners Oklahoma Land Rush

Term for settlers who illegally entered and staked land claims in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 before the official start time.

Turners and The Significance of the Frontier in AMerican History 1893

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and individual states, each with their own spheres of influence and responsibilities.

1890 Frontier Closed

The US government declared the frontier closed in 1890, signifying the end of westward expansion and the settling of the American West.

Urban

refers to areas characterized by high population density, infrastructure development, and economic activities, typically found in cities and towns.

Rural

characterized by a low population density and an abundance of open land, often used for agriculture or natural habitats.

Slums

are overcrowded urban areas with poor living conditions, inadequate infrastructure, and high levels of poverty.

Tenements

Tenements were multi-family buildings in urban areas, often cramped and lacking proper sanitation. They were common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

settlement

A permanent community where people live, work, and interact with each other, often forming towns or cities.

Hull House

Founded by Jane Addams in 1889, it was a settlement house in Chicago providing social and educational services to immigrants and the poor.

Jane Addams

was a pioneering social reformer and activist who founded Hull House in Chicago, a settlement house providing services to immigrants and the poor.

Chicago

Third most populous city in the United States, located in the state of Illinois, known for its architecture, cultural attractions, and diverse population.

Social Gospel Movement

A 19th-century Protestant movement emphasizing social reform and addressing societal issues through Christian principles and charity work.

Evangelical Movement

A Protestant Christian movement emphasizing personal conversion, evangelism, and the authority of the Bible in shaping beliefs and practices.

Dwight D. Moody

Who was an influential American evangelist during the 19th century known for his dynamic preaching style and founding the Moody Bible Institute?

Christian Science Movement

Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 19th century. Emphasizes spiritual healing through prayer over conventional medicine. Known for its reliance on spiritual understanding for physical well-being.

YMCA

organization was founded in 1844 to promote healthy living and social responsibility through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility programs