Rise of Industrial America (1865-1900)

A selection of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the rise of industrial America, as discussed in the lecture notes.

Transcontinental Railroad

The first railroad that connected the East and West coasts of the United States, completed in 1869.

Interstate Commerce Act

A law passed in 1887 to regulate the railroad industry by requiring reasonable and just railroad rates.

Vertical Integration

A business strategy where a company controls every stage of the industrial process, from raw materials to the final product.

Horizontal Integration

A business strategy where a corporation acquires or merges with competitors, effectively controlling a market.

Sherman Antitrust Act

A law established in 1890 that prohibited contracts, trusts, or conspiracies to restrain trade or commerce.

Laissez-faire Capitalism

An economic philosophy advocating minimal government interference in the economy, allowing businesses to operate freely.

Social Darwinism

A belief that the principles of natural selection and survival of the fittest apply to social and economic issues.

Gospel of Wealth

The philosophy that wealthy individuals have a responsibility to use their resources to benefit society.

Great Railroad Strike of 1877

A major strike that began on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and spread across the United States, marking a significant labor movement.

Pullman Strike of 1894

A nationwide railroad strike that began when workers protested wage cuts and led to federal intervention.