US History (USH) - Unit 6 Terms

Robber barons

Businessmen who knew how to use the system to amass large sums of money. Were seen as greedy, and often had monopolies in markets (owners of monopolies).

Trusts

Groups of individuals who control the stock of a company and then buy other companies.

Monopoly

One company that has control over a market.

Sherman Antitrust Act

Controlled trusts and monopolies, made to promote and preserve competition in the marketplace.

Social Darwinism

Survival of the fittest/natural selection, failure was a sign of laziness and character. Any help given to people should be self help, the more you give, the less people will do on their own.

Ellis Island

A common route for European immigrants to enter into the US, Atlantic/East Coast (New York), processing took place here before being allowed into the US.

Angel Island

A common route for Chinese and Japanese immigrants to enter into the US, Pacific Ocean/West Coast (California), processing took place here before being allowed into the US.

Push Factors

Religious persecution, lack of land and economic opportunity, revolts/political changes.

Pull Factors

Lots of cheap land, economics opportunities, religious freedom

Nativism

US born resented the influx of immigrants from the wrong countries, fearing competition for jobs and lowered wages, also feared Roman and Catholic influence (fear of outsiders).

Populism

The movement of the people, people’s party that wanted to make changes for the average working-class person (individual rights-bank regulations, owns, easier work days).

Urbanization

Growth of big cities as more people leave rural areas, escape from poverty with cities providing many jobs. Many clusters of ethnic groups, 200,000 African Americans moved to cities, many problems with this expansion however.

Tenement Housing

Some of the first apartments in big cities, had to be built up to fit more (3 or 4 families packed into rows of apartments).

Gilded Age

Period from 1870-90s, like an apple dipped in gold-looks nice on outside but rotten on inside.

Political machines

Offering services in exchange for political/financial support, pyramid structure, corrupt system used for votes. Also illegal payments to politicians, Ward bosses used to secure votes.

Literacy tests

Voting requirements that voters be able to read; formerly used in the South to disenfranchise Blacks.

Poll taxes

An annual tax that had to be paid before qualifying to vote.

Grandfather clause

If a man failed the literacy test or could not afford the poll tax, they could still vote if their father or grandfather had been eligible to vote before 1867. Did not protect rights for A.A.

Segregation

Separating White and Black people in public laws and private facilities. (Jim Crow Laws)

Jim Crow laws

Law preventing fair economics and enforcing segregation, mostly in the South.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Supreme Court case that ruled separation of races in public accommodations was legal and did not violate the 14th amendment (Separate but equal).

Booker T. Washington

Educator and leader in African American communities, suggested Whites and Blacks work together for social progress, argued for a gradual approach to racial equity through education.

W.E.B. Du Bois

Civil rights activist, wanted full and immediate social and economic equality for African Americans, seen as radical. Helped to found NAACP.

Great Plains

A large area in the United States including Minnesota, Illinois, Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas.

Transcontinental Railroad

Part of the expansion process of America, used to expand (open the west) and supply, lifeblood of America.

Sand Creek Massacre

1864, Chief Black Kettle was promised protection but the US Army of 700 massacred many Native Americans in their settlements.

Battle of Little Bighorn

George Armstonrg Custer rides to attack and destroy the SIouxand Cheyenne tribes, ran into a superior force led by Crazy Horse, his men are slaughtered. Quick, harsh response.

Assimilation

Trying to take Natives and transform them to the predominant culture, same values, same moral beliefs, becoming us. (Forced assimilation, sent people away to schools)

Dawes Act

Gave every head of family a piece of the reservation, but over time many of these plots of land were sold. (Tried to reinforce private ownership, but most ended up being sold off).

Ghost Dance Movement

A ceremony that was said to bring back American Indian ancestors, started by medicine man Wovoka, spread. Soldiers sent in to arrest Sitting Bull, ended up killing him.

Wounded Knee Massacre

American Indians were arrested for doing Ghost Dance, wounded up at Wounded Knee Creek, shot was fired and the rest of US soldiers opened fire, the official end of Native resistance.

1862 Dakota War

Conflict between US and several bands of Dakota, Little Crow and many natives fought back because of their terrible conditions, and ended up losing the war.

1862 Homestead Act

160 acres of land were given to settlers in the US as long as they lived and worked in that area, and by 1900 around 600,00 farmers owned around 80 million acres.

Oklahoma Land Rush

In 24 hours, around 2 million acres were claimed, very fertile land and high demand/stakes.

Chinese Exclusion Act

Ended most Chinese immigration, Congress passed a law that only students, teachers, merchants, and tourists could come through.