APUSH unit 6

Social Darwinism

theory about biological evolution to society, economics, and politics aka survival of the fittest

context of social Darwinism

justified economic inequality, imperialism, and racism - Herbert Spencer was key proponent

Jim Crow Laws

A system of laws and practices that enforced racial segregation and discrimination in the Southern United States

context of Jim Crow Laws

Plessy v. Ferguson upheld racial segregation - "separate but equal doctrine"

Laissez-Faire Capitalism

advocated for minimal government intervention in free market

context of Laissez-Faire Capitalism

favored by industrialists and politicians; Rockefeller "positive" portrayal of business

sharecropping

landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a share of the crops produced on that land - portion of crop pays rent

context of sharecropping

system prevalent in South post Civil War

New South

slogan emphasizing the South becoming less reliant on agriculture

context of the new south

Promoted by Henry Grady and some Southern leaders to diversify economy, modernize, and embrace industrialization

vertical integration

company controls entire production process of a product

horizontal integration

monopoly: company buys out competition-Rockefeller

Sherman Antitrust Act

prohibited monopolies and protect competition in commerce

Gilded Age

rapid industrialization; agrarian->industrial, big business; large corporations aka trusts and dominated whole industries, economic concentration; few wealthy industrialists controlled economy, public concern; concern over power, stifling competition, and exploiting consumers and workers

Gospel of Wealth

Andrew Carnegie; wealthy industrialist, philosophy stating wealthy have responsibility to use it for public good, aim to help people help themselves, challenged role of public wealth in social issues

Immigration to US (Mid 1800's)

Ireland, Germany, UK, Homestead Act made more land available, economic opportunity; cities and expanding industries

effect of immigration (Mid 1800's)

rise of nativism and the Know-Nothing Party, debates over assimilation and impact on society

Immigration to US (Late 1800's)

1870's: North and West Europe, 1890's: South and East Europe, Major source countries: Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Poland, Concentration in urban areas, especially in the Northeast and Midwest; job opportunities

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

law that suspended Chinese immigration into America, belief Chinese were taking jobs, prejudice against culture/race, white supremacy, Political pressure from labor unions and Western states

Great Plains Settlement: Native American Impact

The settlement in the Great Plains and the building of the railroad caused a dramatic transformation of the Great Plains ecosystem and the near-extinction of the buffalo.

Great Plains: White Settlers and Agricultural Innovations

Introduction of Turkey Red Wheat (drought and cold resistant), Development of large-scale irrigation systems - Steel plow (invented by John Deere in 1837), Homestead Act of 1862, Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad (1869), Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889

Battle of the Little Bighorn

temporary victory for the Native Americans, led to more aggressive policies aimed at confining Native Americans to reservations and ruining traditional ways of life - accelerated the implementation of restrictive and often harmful policies

Dawes Act

aimed at helping Native Americans assimilate into American society, had devastating consequences for Native American communities, It resulted in massive land loss, cultural disruption, and economic hardship.

Labor Reforms and Unions

During Gilded Age - wealth inequality, poor working conditions; Great Railroad Strike of 1877, Haymarket Affair (1886), Homestead Strike (1892), Pullman Strike (1894)

"Bread and butter" unionism

The belief that unions should focus on improving working conditions and pay for skilled workers rather than political reform

"Cross of Gold"

William Jennings Bryan, a prominent American politician: promoted free silver and bimetallism, due to divide of rural and urban interests

The Grange Movement

focused on cooperative economic efforts, educational initiatives, and social activities for farmers, and political reforms to benefit rural communities.

The Populist Party/The People's Party

promoted free coinage of silver, graduated income tax, and government ownership of railroads, ultimately influencing major party platforms and contributing to progressive era reforms.

Jane Addams

a leader in women's suffrage and world peace. She co-founded Hull House, one of the first settlement houses in the United States.

context of Jane Addams

Hull House was established to provide social and educational opportunities for working-class people, especially European immigrants.

Andrew Carnegie

industrialist who led the expansion of the American steel industry

context of Andrew Carnegie

"Gospel of Wealth" - wealthy had a moral obligation to use their money to benefit society.

John D. Rockefeller

Established the Standard Oil Company - greatest monopoly in history

William Jennings Bryan

"Cross of Gold" speech - free silver (the unlimited coinage of silver into money on demand)

Westward Expansion and American Indian Conflicts:

continued conflict, forced relocation of tribes

trust

A business arrangement where multiple companies merge under a single board, often creating monopolies and undermining competition.

Talented Tenth

A term coined by W.E.B. Du Bois describing the educated elite of the African American population who he felt should lead the community towards racial progress.

Ghost Dance

A religious movement among American Indians aiming to restore traditional ways of life and expel white settlers.

Atlanta Compromise

Booker T. Washington's speech advocating for African Americans to focus on economic progress and vocational education over immediate social and political rights.

Great Railroad Strike of 1877

railroad workers went on strike because of wage cuts, President Hayes sent troops to stop the strike (example of how government always sided with employers over workers in the Gilded Age). The worst railroad violence was in Pittsburgh, with over 40 people killed by militia men

Haymarket Affair (1886)

a bomb went off during a union rally, Unions were blamed and associated w/ socialism and anarchy. resulted in less unionization as well as strong anti-immigrant sentiment

Homestead Strike (1892)

against the Homestead Steel Works, part of the Carnegie Steel Company, in retaliation against wage cuts, further damaged the image of unions.

Pullman Strike (1894)

A staged walkout strike by railroad workers upset by drastic wage cuts. President intervened and federal troops forced an end to the strike. The strike highlighted both divisions within labor and the government's continuing willingness to use armed force to combat work stoppages.

Homestead Act

1862 law that gave 160 acres of land to citizens willing to live on and cultivate it for five years

Tammany Hall

powerful political organization that dominated New York City politics, notorious for patronage, bribery, and kickbacks.

Boss Tweed

William M. Tweed was the leader of Tammany Hall, said to have stolen between $30 million and $200 million from New York City taxpayers.

Thomas Nast Political Cartoons

aimed at exposing and combating political corruption, raised public awareness about Tweed's corruption

Welcome to All by Joseph Keppler

published during a time of high immigration to the United States, particularly from Europe and continued conflict and displacement of Native American populations.