DCUSH Notes

Edison

Invented the incandescent electric light in 1879, revolutionizing how cities and homes were lit.

Carnegie

Established a vertically integrated steel company in 1873, controlling mining, production, and distribution.

Rockefeller

Founded Standard Oil and dominated the oil industry by eliminating competition through integration.

Gilded Age

Period marked by unprecedented industrial growth and political corruption, satirized by Mark Twain.

Jacob Riis

Muckraking journalist and photographer who exposed poor living conditions in NYC tenements.

Published How the Other Half Lives (1890), influencing urban reform and housing laws.

Social Gospel

Christian-based reform movement seeking to address social inequalities, advocating for wealth redistribution.

West

Diverse region settled after the Civil War, significantly impacted by railroads and agriculture.

Civil Service Act (Garfield)

Required government jobs to be awarded based on merit rather than patronage.

Buffalo Bill

Organized a traveling Wild West show in 1883, blending entertainment with mythmaking.

Cleveland Administration

Focused on addressing corruption and monopolies, signed Interstate Commerce and Sherman Antitrust Acts.

Sherman Antitrust Act

Passed in 1890 to combat corporate monopolies and restore competition.

Interstate Commerce Commission

First federal agency to regulate commerce, targeting unfair railroad practices.

Populism

Originated from the Farmer’s Alliance, advocating for reforms like a graduated income tax.

Plessy vs. Ferguson

1896 Supreme Court decision upheld 'separate but equal' racial segregation laws.

Booker T. Washington

Promoted education and self-help, delivered the Atlanta Compromise speech.

Ida B. Wells

Journalist and activist who brought national attention to lynching.

New Immigrants

Came from Southern and Eastern Europe, faced discrimination in urban tenements.

Spanish American War

Sparked by the sinking of the USS Maine, resulted in U.S. acquisition of territories.

Bonanza Farm

Large cooperative farms in the West needing substantial resources and labor.

Boss Tweed

Leader of Tammany Hall, exemplifying urban political corruption while providing services.

Unions

Knights of Labor included women and African Americans, advocated for 8-hour workdays.

Republicans

Supported high tariffs, gold standard, and reduced government spending.

Democrats

Favored silver coinage, low tariffs, and policies benefiting farmers and workers.

Expansionism

Acquisition of overseas territories driven by the 'White Man’s Burden' ideology.

Sensationalism

'Yellow journalism' influencing public opinion, played a key role in the Spanish-American War.

Platt Amendment

Restricted Cuban sovereignty and allowed U.S. intervention in Cuban affairs.

William Jennings Bryan

Prominent figure in Populism, known for his 'Cross of Gold' speech.

James Garfield

Advocated for civil service reform but was assassinated in 1881.

Chester Arthur

Signed the Pendleton Civil Service Act to curb patronage in government.

Grover Cleveland

Focused on economic fairness and signed the Interstate Commerce Act.

Benjamin Harrison

Passed the McKinley Tariff, raised import duties.

William McKinley

Advocated for the gold standard, presided over the victory in the Spanish-American War.