The West and the Gilded Age Cities

Why did U.S. policy toward Native Americans change in the Great Plains?

White settlers demanded land, leading to U.S. policy shifts that displaced Native Americans.

What event marked the end of Native American resistance?

The 1890 Massacre at Wounded Knee, where U.S. troops killed over 200 Lakota Sioux.

How did the Homestead Act promote Western expansion?

It provided 160 acres of free land to settlers willing to farm it for five years.

What was the purpose of the Dawes Act?

To assimilate Native Americans by dividing tribal land into individual plots.

What were major challenges faced by Great Plains farmers?

Droughts, locust plagues, poor soil, and high railroad rates.

What incentives did the government provide for railroad expansion?

Land grants and financial subsidies to private railroad companies.

Why was the transcontinental railroad crucial for farmers?

It allowed them to transport crops to national markets.

Who were the Exodusters?

African Americans who migrated west for land and opportunity.

What economic issues hurt Plains farmers?

Falling crop prices, high railroad fees, deflation, and debt.

Why did farmers want inflation?

Higher prices for crops meant easier debt repayment.

How would bimetallism benefit farmers?

It would increase the money supply, leading to inflation and higher crop prices.

Why did industrial workers support the Populist Party?

They both sought inflation to ease financial burdens and debt.

What led to the late 19th-century industrial boom?

Abundant natural resources, government support, and cheap immigrant labor.

What is vertical integration, and who used it?

Controlling all production stages, used by Andrew Carnegie in the steel industry.

What is horizontal integration, and who used it?

Merging companies in the same industry to reduce competition, used by John D. Rockefeller.

How did trusts impact the economy?

They eliminated competition, leading to monopolies and higher consumer prices.

What were industrialists criticized for?

Exploiting workers, crushing competition, and amassing extreme wealth.

How did the government typically respond to labor strikes?

It sided with businesses, often using military force against workers.

How were monopolists depicted in political cartoons?

As controlling politicians and manipulating government policies.

What did the two-entrance Senate cartoon symbolize?

The government favored monopolists over ordinary citizens.

Where did most Southeastern European immigrants enter the U.S.?

Ellis Island in New York Harbor.

Where did Asian immigrants enter the U.S.?

Angel Island in San Francisco Bay.

What is nativism?

The belief in favoring native-born citizens over immigrants.

What was the Chinese Exclusion Act?

A law banning Chinese labor immigration to the U.S.

What was the goal of the Knights of Labor?

To unite all workers and advocate for an eight-hour workday.

How was the AFL different from the Knights of Labor?

The AFL focused on skilled workers and better wages.

What happened during the Haymarket Affair?

A labor protest in Chicago turned violent after a bomb exploded.

Define a robber baron and give an example.

An industrialist who exploited resources and workers for profit; example: John D. Rockefeller used monopolistic practices to dominate the oil industry.

Define a captain of industry and give an example.

An industrial leader who contributed positively to society; example: Andrew Carnegie, who revolutionized steel production and funded public institutions.