Key Concepts from American History: The Gilded Age

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to American history during the Gilded Age, focusing on significant political, economic, and social events.

Bloody Shirt

A political tactic used by Republicans accusing Southern Democrats of treason, targeting Union Veterans and patriotic voters.

Credit Mobilier Scandal

A scheme involving the Union Pacific Railroad that overcharged the government, exposing Gilded Age corruption.

Panic of 1873

A severe economic crisis due to overinvestment in railroads, leading to widespread bank runs and lasting depression.

Patronage

Political system where elected officials rewarded supporters with jobs, often leading to corruption and incompetence.

Compromise of 1877

An agreement resolving the disputed 1876 election, ending Reconstruction and enabling Jim Crow laws in the South.

Plessy v. Ferguson

The 1896 Supreme Court case that legalized segregation under the doctrine of 'separate but equal'.

Chinese Exclusion Act

The 1882 law that prohibited Chinese laborers' immigration and denied them citizenship, reflecting anti-Asian sentiment.

Pendleton Act

The 1883 law that established merit-based hiring for federal jobs, reducing patronage and increasing government efficiency.

Reservation System

Federal policy relocating Native American tribes to specific lands, often stripping them of independence and cultural autonomy.

Sand Creek Massacre

A 1864 attack on a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho village, highlighting violence during westward expansion.

Sodbusters

Settlers who farmed on the Great Plains under the Homestead Act, facing harsh conditions while promoting agricultural development.

Dawes Severalty Act

The 1887 law that divided Native American land into individual plots, promoting assimilation and weakening tribal unity.

Ghost Dance

A spiritual movement among Native Americans promising land restoration, leading to the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Land Grants

Parcels of land given by the government to encourage settlement and economic growth, often at the expense of Native lands.

Monopolies

Market domination by a single company, often leading to limited competition and public backlash, prompting regulation.

Captains of Industry

Wealthy industrialists like J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie, instrumental in U.S. economic growth but often criticized for exploitation.

Gospel of Wealth

Andrew Carnegie's idea that the wealthy should use their fortunes for public good, justified wealth inequality.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

The 1890 law prohibiting monopolies, laying the foundation for federal regulation of big business.