Test Review (Industrial Revolution & Progressionism)

Social Darwinism

The idea that natural selection applies to human society, justifying economic inequality and the success of the wealthy as 'survival of the fittest.'

Chinese Exclusion Act

A U.S. law passed in 1882 that prohibited Chinese immigration and denied citizenship to Chinese immigrants.

Political machine

A political organization that controlled local governments through corruption and patronage, often helping immigrants in exchange for votes.

Tammany Hall/Boss Tweed

A powerful political machine in New York City led by William 'Boss' Tweed, known for corruption and controlling city politics.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

1890 law aimed at breaking up monopolies and preventing anti-competitive business practices.

Robber Barons

Wealthy industrialists of the late 19th century who were accused of exploiting workers and using unethical practices to amass fortunes.

JP Morgan

A powerful banker and financier who helped consolidate industries like steel and railroads and bailed out the U.S. government during financial crises.

Andrew Carnegie

A steel magnate and philanthropist who promoted the 'Gospel of Wealth,' advocating that the rich should give back to society.

Rockefeller

Founder of Standard Oil, he built a monopoly in the oil industry and became one of the richest men in history.

Vanderbilt

A tycoon in railroads and shipping, known for his role in developing the transportation industry.

Gospel of Wealth

A philosophy by Andrew Carnegie stating that the wealthy have a duty to use their riches for the betterment of society.

Labor Union

An organization of workers that advocates for better wages, working conditions, and rights.

American Federation of Labor (Who was in charge)

Led by Samuel Gompers, it focused on skilled workers and practical economic gains.

Child Labor

The widespread employment of young children in factories and mines during the Industrial Revolution, often in harsh conditions.

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

A 1911 factory fire in New York City that killed 146 garment workers, leading to stronger labor laws and workplace safety reforms.

Homestead Strike

A violent 1892 labor strike at Carnegie Steel, where workers fought against wage cuts; it ended in a deadly battle between strikers and private security forces.

Haymarket affair

A violent clash in Chicago in 1886 between labor protesters and police, leading to deaths and a crackdown on labor movements.

Pullman Strike

A nationwide railroad strike in 1894, led by the American Railway Union, protesting wage cuts; the government intervened with force.

Mother Jones

A labor activist who fought for workers' rights, especially against child labor.

Tenements

Overcrowded, poorly built apartment buildings in cities where many immigrants and low-income families lived.

Jacob Riis/How the Other Half Lives

A journalist and photographer who exposed the harsh living conditions of urban poor through his book How the Other Half Lives.

White Ducks (What diseases were spread, what was wrong with the streets?)

A sanitation crew in NYC that cleaned up dirty streets, which were spreading diseases like cholera, typhoid, and tuberculosis.

Cities

Rapid urbanization in the late 19th and early 20th centuries led to overcrowding, poor sanitation, and the growth of industry and immigrant communities.

Ellis Island

The main immigration processing station in New York Harbor where millions of immigrants entered the U.S.

Jane Addams/Hull House

Jane Addams founded Hull House in Chicago, a settlement house that provided social services for immigrants and the poor.

Muckrakers

Journalists who exposed corruption, poor working conditions, and social injustices, leading to reforms.

The Jungle

A book by Upton Sinclair exposing the unsanitary conditions of the meatpacking industry, leading to food safety laws.

Frances Willard/Temperance movement

A leader in the movement to ban alcohol, believing it led to social problems.

Teddy Roosevelt (As President)

Known for trust-busting, conservation efforts, and progressive reforms like food safety laws.

Jim Crow laws

Laws enforcing racial segregation, such as separate schools, public transportation, and voting restrictions like literacy tests and poll taxes.

Ida B. Wells (Unwritten Law)

An African American journalist who fought against lynching, exposing the racist justifications behind it.

Booker T Watson

Advocated for African Americans to gain economic and vocational skills first before seeking full civil rights.

W.E.B. Du Bois

Believed in immediate civil rights and education for African Americans, co-founding the NAACP.

Plessy v Ferguson

A Supreme Court case in 1896 that upheld 'separate but equal' segregation laws.

New Freedom (Woodrow Wilson)

Wilson's policy aimed at breaking monopolies, reducing tariffs, and reforming banking to promote economic fairness.