APUSH Period 6 Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering major concepts and terms from APUSH Period 6.

second industrial revolution

rapid post–civil war industrial growth powered by steel, oil, railroads, and electricity that shifted the u.s. into large-scale corporate production

gilded age

period of extreme wealth for industrial leaders alongside widespread poverty, corruption, and worker exploitation

panic of 1893

severe economic depression triggered by railroad failures and shaky financing, causing mass unemployment

union pacific railroad

company that built the transcontinental railroad westward from omaha with heavy government aid

central pacific railroad

company that built eastward from california, relying largely on chinese immigrant labor

pacific railway act

federal law granting land and loans to railroad companies to speed up transcontinental construction

homestead act

law giving settlers free western land if they farmed it, accelerating migration and native displacement

dawes severalty act

policy dividing tribal lands into individual plots to push native americans toward private farming and weaken tribal identity

assimilation

forced effort to make native americans adopt white american culture, language, and customs

battle of wounded knee

1890 massacre of sioux by u.s. troops that symbolized the end of armed native resistance

cornelius vanderbilt

railroad magnate who consolidated rail lines and built powerful transportation systems

jay gould

railroad investor known for stock manipulation and aggressive, speculative business tactics

alexander graham bell

inventor of the telephone, transforming communication

thomas edison

inventor and entrepreneur who developed practical electric lighting and modern research labs

nikola tesla

engineer who improved alternating current systems, enabling widespread electricity use

john d. rockefeller

founder of standard oil who used aggressive tactics to dominate the oil industry

andrew carnegie

steel industrialist who controlled production through vertical integration and later funded philanthropy

j. pierpont morgan

influential banker who financed and reorganized major industries like railroads and steel

vertical integration

business model controlling every stage of production from raw materials to distribution

horizontal integration

strategy of merging with or buying competitors to dominate an industry

bessemer process

inexpensive method for mass-producing strong steel, fueling industrial expansion

sears, roebuck and company

mail-order retailer that connected rural americans to national consumer markets

laissez-faire

belief that government should avoid interfering in business and the economy

protestant work ethic

cultural belief linking hard work with moral virtue and financial success

great railroad strike of 1877

first nationwide labor strike, crushed by federal troops after wage cuts

national labor union

early labor organization advocating for shorter hours and worker rights

knights of labor

broad labor group seeking social and economic reform, weakened after association with violence

haymarket affair

1886 labor protest that turned violent, increasing public fear of labor movements

samuel gompers

labor leader who focused on practical workplace improvements for skilled workers

american federation of labor

union federation emphasizing wages, hours, and working conditions for skilled laborers

homestead steel strike of 1892

violent strike at carnegie’s steel plant broken by private guards and militia

pullman strike of 1894

nationwide rail strike over wage cuts ended by federal intervention

eugene v. debs

labor leader jailed after the pullman strike who later became a socialist political figure

george a. custer

army officer killed at little bighorn during conflict with sioux and cheyenne forces

great sioux war

series of battles between the u.s. army and sioux tribes over control of the northern plains

range wars

conflicts between ranchers and farmers over fencing and land use in the west

ellis island

main immigration processing center for european arrivals on the east coast

chinese exclusion act

law banning chinese labor immigration and limiting rights of chinese residents

nativist

person favoring the interests of native-born americans over immigrants

social darwinism

belief that economic success shows natural superiority, used to justify inequality

pragmatism

philosophy judging ideas by their practical results rather than abstract principles

william james

philosopher who promoted pragmatism and practical approaches to truth

reform darwinism

idea that society can improve conditions rather than letting the weak fail

political machine

party organization exchanging services and jobs for political support

tammany hall

powerful new york political machine known for corruption and immigrant assistance

william “boss” tweed

tammany hall leader convicted of massive political corruption

stalwarts

republicans who supported patronage and the spoils system

mugwumps

reform-minded republicans who opposed corruption and supported civil service reform

grover cleveland

president known for opposing political corruption and high protective tariffs

election of 1888

election centered on tariff policy, reflecting economic divisions

granger movement

farmers’ movement pushing for regulation of railroad shipping rates

farmers’ alliances

regional farmer groups that organized against debt and unfair economic practices

populist party

third party representing farmers and workers seeking government action against corporate power

omaha platform

populist reform plan calling for free silver, public rail ownership, and direct election of senators

gold standard

monetary system where currency is backed by gold, limiting money supply

mary elizabeth lease

populist speaker who urged farmers to challenge corporate and political elites

depression of 1893

prolonged economic downturn that increased support for reform movements

william mckinley

president favoring tariffs and the gold standard, supported by business interests

william jennings bryan

democratic leader who promoted free silver to help farmers and debtors

george washington carver

agricultural scientist who encouraged crop rotation to restore soil fertility

jim crow laws

southern state laws enforcing racial segregation after reconstruction

plessy v. ferguson

supreme court case upholding segregation under “separate but equal”

separate but equal

legal principle allowing racial segregation if facilities were claimed to be equal

ida b. wells

journalist and activist who exposed lynching and fought racial injustice

booker t. washington

black educator advocating vocational training and gradual advancement

w.e.b. du bois

civil rights leader demanding immediate equality and higher education opportunities

dr. walter reed

physician who proved mosquitoes transmit yellow fever, advancing medical science

de lome letter

spanish diplomatic letter criticizing president mckinley, increasing war tensions

alfred thayer mahan

naval strategist arguing that sea power was essential for national greatness

social gospel

reform movement applying christian ethics to social problems like poverty and inequality

settlement house

community center providing services to urban poor and immigrants

jane addams

reformer who founded hull house and promoted social welfare work

gospel of wealth

andrew carnegie’s belief that the wealthy should use their fortunes to benefit society

spectator sports

organized sports that became mass urban entertainment

barnum and bailey

famous circus representing the rise of large-scale popular entertainment

sherman antitrust act

first federal attempt to limit monopolies and promote competition

greenback party

political party advocating expanded paper money to help farmers and workers