APUSH Unit 6

Gilded Age

Period between the end of the Civil War (1865) and the beginning of the Spanish-American War (1898), marked by economic growth and cultural change.

Transcontinental Railroad

Railroad that linked the eastern US with the western territories, completed in 1869, promoting settlement and economic development.

Vertical Integration

Business strategy where a company controls every stage of production, from raw materials to distribution.

Horizontal Integration

Business strategy where a company acquires or merges with competitors to establish a monopoly in a given industry.

Social Darwinism

The belief that society should adhere to the principles of natural selection, favoring the 'fit' in economic and social competition.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States, established after the Reconstruction era.

Knights of Labor

A national labor organization founded in 1869 that aimed to unite all workers and promote reforms such as no child labor and equal pay.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

Organized in 1886, a labor union that focused on the interests of skilled workers through collective bargaining and strikes.

Farmers Alliances

Organizations formed in the late 19th century to promote the economic interests of farmers, advocating for political reform and cooperative buying.

National Grange

Founded in 1867, a social organization that became active in economic and political issues to support farmers and promote agriculture.

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Legislation that barred Chinese laborers from immigrating to the US, reflecting rising nativism and anti-Asian sentiment.

Ghost Dance Movement

A spiritual movement among Native Americans in the 1890s that sought to resist government control and restore their way of life.

Dawes Severalty Act (1887)

Law that aimed to assimilate Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land and granting US citizenship after 25 years.

Pullman Strike (1894)

A nationwide railway strike that escalated into a major confrontation between labor unions and the federal government.

Americanization

The process of assimilating immigrants into American culture, often involving the adoption of English language and American customs.

Settlement Houses

Community centers established in urban areas to provide services to immigrants and the poor, offering education and social services.

The Gospel of Wealth

Philosophy espoused by Andrew Carnegie advocating that wealthy individuals have a responsibility to use their fortunes for the greater good.

Industrial Capitalism

An economic system characterized by the private ownership of the means of production and the creation of goods and services for profit.

Progressive Era

Period of widespread social activism and political reform in the United States, primarily in the early 20th century.

Laissez-Faire

Economic philosophy advocating minimal government intervention in the economy, based on free market principles.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Homestead Act (1862)

Legislation that provided 160 acres of public land to settlers in the West for a small fee, encouraging westward expansion.

New South

Concept promoted after the Civil War envisioning a self-sufficient southern economy based on industrial growth and improved race relations.