Unit 3 - Expansion, Immigration, and Progress

urban

cities, high population density/crowded, industrial

suburban

areas surrounding a city, more space but still populated

rural

farmland, open space, agricultural

steerage

an inexpensive and often overcrowded section of a ship where immigrants traveled, typically located in the lower decks.

factory

a building or group of buildings where goods are manufactured or assembled, often using machinery.

sweatshop

a workplace, often in the garment industry, where employees work long hours for low wages in poor conditions.

Ellis Island

a historical immigration station located in New York Harbor, where millions of immigrants (mostly European) were processed between 1892 and 1954. Processing was generally quick, and most immigrants were allowed to enter.

Angel Island

a historic immigration station located in San Francisco Bay that primarily processed Asian immigrants, especially Chinese, between 1910 and 1940. Immigrants often faced long and detailed interrogations and were separated from their families.

soddies

a type of home built with blocks of dirt and grass, commonly used by settlers on the Great Plains during the 19th century.

The Jungle

A novel by Upton Sinclair that depicts the harsh conditions and exploited lives of immigrants in the meatpacking industry in Chicago.

Chinese Exclusion Act

a federal law enacted in 1882 that prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States.

Statue of Liberty

Often the first thing immigrants saw upon entering New York Harbor. A symbol of hope and freedom.

Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst

Two prominent newspaper publishers in the late 19th century, known for their role in sensationalist “yellow” journalism.

monopoly

A market structure where a single seller dominates the market, reducing competition and controlling prices.

John D. Rockefeller

An American industrialist and philanthropist, he founded the Standard Oil Company and is often considered the richest person in modern history.

49ers

The group of pioneers who flocked to California during the Gold Rush, seeking wealth and opportunity.

Promontory Point

The location in Utah where the First Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869, marking a significant moment in American transportation history.

Nez Perce Tribe

A Native American tribe from the Pacific Northwest that was forcefully relocated from Oregon to Oklahoma.

Black Cowboys and Vaqueros

Skilled horsemen and cattle herders in the American West and Latin America, playing crucial roles in cattle ranching and the cowboy culture. They made up 1/3 of all cowboys.

“I aimed at the public’s heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach”

Reflects Upton Sinclair’s intention to reveal societal issues through his novel "The Jungle."

Homestead Act

Legislation that encouraged western expansion by providing settlers 160 acres of land, provided they were a man over the age of 21, had a wife to run the household, lived and worked on the land for 5 years, and paid a $10 fee.

push factors

Economic, social, and political forces that drive people to leave their homeland.

pull factors

Conditions or attributes that attract people to a new place, often including economic opportunities, social connections, or political stability.

The American Dream

The belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination in the United States.

The Great Plains

A vast region in the central United States characterized by flat land, agricultural opportunities, and a history of settlement by farmers and immigrants. Climate includes harsh winters, hot summers, and heavy storms. Crops also faced grasshopper infestations.

reservation

A designated area of land, typically for Native American tribes, where they can live and govern themselves, often set aside by the federal government. During US expansion, Native American tribes were forcibly relocated to reservations, often far from their native land.

Levi Strauss

Created blue jeans, originally as pants for miners. They were popular because the strong denim material did not easily tear, the blue color hid dirt, and they became more comfortable over time.

Sears & Roebuck

A mail-order company that became widely known for selling a diverse range of products, including clothing and household goods, through catalogs. It played a significant role in expanding consumer access to goods in rural America by using the Transcontinental Railroad.

tenement

A multi-family dwelling, typically characterized by overcrowded and substandard living conditions, commonly found in urban areas (such as the Lower East Side of Manhattan) during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, housing many immigrant families.

muckraker

A journalist who exposed corruption, social injustices, and unethical practices in politics and business during the Progressive Era.

labor union

An organized group of workers that come together to make decisions about the terms and conditions of their work, including wages, benefits, and working conditions, often advocating for better treatment and rights through collective bargaining.

industrialization

The process of developing industries in a country or region through the growth of manufacturing and technological advancements, often leading to urbanization and alterations in labor practices.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory

A garment factory in New York City that was the site of a tragic fire in 1911, resulting in the deaths of 146 workers. This disaster highlighted unsafe working conditions and led to significant reforms in labor regulations.

6-second physical

The nickname for the abbreviated medical exam given to immigrants at Ellis Island.

ethnic enclave

A geographic area where a specific ethnic group is concentrated, often fostering community, cultural identity, and social support among its members.

Newsboy or Newsie

A term for newspaper sellers, often children or young adults, who sold newspapers on the streets in cities like New York during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

lynching

The extrajudicial killing of an individual, often by a mob, typically carried out as a form of punishment or social control, particularly in the context of racial violence in the United States.

Ida B. Wells

A prominent African American journalist and activist who led an anti-lynching campaign and fought for civil rights in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Lewis Hine

An American photographer and sociologist known for his work documenting child labor and the social conditions of impoverished workers in the early 20th century.

Pony Express

A mail service that used relays of horse riders to deliver messages between Missouri and California, operating from 1860 to 1861.