APUSH Unit 6

Social Darwinism

an ideology that applied Darwin's theory of evolution to capitalism, industry, and society, Championed by William Graham Sumner who stated that the wealthy had simply won the "survival of the fittest". This ideology was also applied to race and ethnicity, and used to justify Nativist and racist views.

Eugenics

a pseudo-science that focused on breeding superior humans that involved the sterilization of unwanted groups (those who were deemed mentally deficient and disabled). States enacted eugenics laws and thousands were sterilized in America and in American colonies. Often targeted people of color, and involved laws that prohibited interracial marriage and restricted immigration.

Social Gospel

a movement initiated by Protestants to renew religious faith, especially amongst urban immigrant groups. Protestant groups, like the Salvation Army, worked to combat injustice and aid the urban poor.

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896, Supreme Court case regarding the constitutionality of segregation. Lawyers representing Homer Plessy, who was 1/8 black and banned from riding a streetcar in New Orleans, argued that segregation violated the 14th amendment. The Supreme Court ruled against Plessy, citing the statement "separate but equal," and allowed segregation to continue.

Jim Crow Laws

segregationist laws passed by state legislatures within the South that forced African Americans to use separate facilities.

Antiquities Act

1906, enabled the US President, without congressional approval, to set aside objects of historical and scientific interest as national monuments. Passed by Theodore Roosevelt, and allowed for the creation of national parks.

Comstock Act

1873, act that prohibited circulation of information regarding sex or birth control.

Chicago School

A school of architecture dedicated to the design of buildings whose form expressed, rather than masked, their structure and function. This school also focused on designing skyscrapers.

Mutual Aid Societies

societies created by workers, often immigrant groups, to aid one another. These societies collected dues from members and gave these dues to those in need. Helped immigrants build community and maintain their culture.

Tenements

urban buildings that housed immigrants that were overcrowded and dangerous. Led to the spread of disease and high infant mortality rates.

Jacob Riis’ How the Other Half Lives

book that detailed the conditions immigrants faced daily, which included pictures of tenements. Helped raise awareness about the challenges Americans faced and also helped create positive change.

City Beautiful Movement

arose to advocate for cleaner and prettier urban spaces, which led to the creation of more parks and public spaces.

Union Pacific

the railroad company that began building the transcontinental railroad from Omaha to the West.

Central Pacific

the railroad company that began building the transcontinental railroad from Sacramento to the East.

Frederic Remington's Paintings

captured and glorified the lives of American cowboys, which contributed to romanticization of the West.

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show

a traveling show that performed across America. Portrayed a romantic and militaristic view of the West, whilst downplaying physical hardships of life on the Western frontier. Depicted Natives as warlike.

Women in the West

homesteading, despite depictions in the media, was a family affair. Voting rights for women in the West, Wyoming 1869 and Utah 1870.

Realities of Life in the West

tens of thousands of families took advantage of the Homestead Act, 60% of homesteaders did not last five years. Farming was difficult due to droughts and extreme temperatures.

Homestead Act

1862, an act passed during the Civil War that allowed any adult citizen or intended citizen to claim to 160 acres of surveyed government land, with the expectation that they would improve said land

Dry Farming

a way of farming dry land in which seeds were planted deep in ground where there was some moisture. Weeding and mulching were also utilized. Allowed for increased agricultural productivity in the West.

Russian Wheat

wheat brought by Russian immigrants that thrived in the harsh climate of the Great Plains, allowed for increased agricultural productivity.

Foreign Miner's Tax

California tax on foreign miners during the Gold Rush, unfairly enforced upon immigrants of color, Latino and Chinese immigrants specifically.

Rock Springs Massacre

1885, massacre of Chinese workers by white miners in Wyoming. Dozens of Chinese laborers were killed and property was destroyed. Increased racial tensions in the West.

Exodusters

African Americans who used the Homestead Act to escape the Jim Crow South, and move to the West. African Americans were granted more rights in the West and were afforded greater opportunities in the West.

Buffalo Soldiers

African American regiments within the US Army who arrived in the West to fight Natives. Some of the buffalo soldiers stayed in the West, and took advantage of the greater opportunities for African Americans in the West.

Comstock Lode

1859, a large silver vein discovered in Nevada that initiated the silver rush.

Bland Allison Act

1878, reinstated the silver dollar as legal currency and forced the US treasury to buy silver.

Sherman Silver Purchase

1890, further increased the amount of silver the US government was required to purchase. Repealed following the 1893 stock market crash.

Free Silver Movement

a movement in the 19th century that advocated for unlimited silver coinage, pushed for by silver miners, and ultimately adopted by the Democrat Party. Silver was a more flexible currency, and would lead to inflation, which supporters of the Free Silver Movement believed would allow those in lower socioeconomic classes (specifically farmers) to repay their debts. The Free Silver Movement was supported by laborers, miners, and farmers; this movement failed to achieve its goals.

The Cattle Frontier

Cattle were raised across the American West and once mature, they were driven on to train cars by cowboys. These cattle were then taken to meat processing plants in cities like Chicago where they were slaughtered and their meat was distributed across the country. Distribution was made possible by refrigerated railway cars

National Parks

emerged to protect wildlife and land, which were quickly disappearing due to westward expansion.

Indian Boarding Schools

reformers tried to turn Natives into white Americans through education and religious indoctrination. These schools were often underfunded, and Native children were forced to attend. At these schools, Native children were often forbidding from speaking their Native languages and were forced to forget their culture. Notable boarding school in Carlisle, PA.

Lone Wolf VS Hitchcock

1903, Supreme Court ruling that stated that Congress could enact any Indian policies that they chose to, and could ignore all existing treaties.

Ex Parte Crow Dog

1883, Supreme Court ruling that stated that Natives could not become US citizens.

Dawes Severalty Act

1887, intended to transform Native reservations into individual plots of land. Goal to transform Natives into individual landholders and break tribal ties. Also allowed Natives to gain citizenship only if they renounced their tribal identity.

Bureau of Indian Affairs

A government agency created in the 1800s to oversee federal policy toward Native Americans. Supposed to help Natives, but was in reality incredibly corrupt.

Battle of the Little Bighorn

1876, one of the last Native victories against the US government. Ultimately, the Plains Indians were broken as buffaloes were killed off, which made their way of life impossible.

Ghost Dance

a religious dance that emerged in Native communities in the late 1800s. This dance would supposedly eliminate all American people and restore Natives pre-Columbian way of life.

Massacre at Wounded Knee

1890, a brutal massacre of hundreds of Sioux people by US army troops. This act was fueled by fear surrounding the Ghost Dance, which was viewed as a threat to white settlement

Rise of Corporations

Corporations arose following the US Civil war due to: pro-growth economic policies from a laissez-faire federal government, technological advancements, and vast natural resources in the West. The rise of corporations led to: the creation of monopolies, an emphasis on consumption and marketing, and large-scale industrial production.

Andrew Carnegie

self-made Scottish immigrant who rose to become the leader of the US Steel industry. Wrote the book the Gospel of Wealth.

Bessemer Process

A way to manufacture steel quickly and cheaply, utilized by Andrew Carnegie in his steel factories.

Self Made Man

Refers to an individual who was able to achieve success in life through their own hard work. Emphasized during the Gilded Age for embodying the American ideal of upward mobility

Gospel of Wealth

1889, written by Carnegie, stated that the wealthy had a responsibility to engage in philanthropy but also stated that industrialization increased everyone's standard of living despite the increase in socioeconomic division between the rich and poor. Focus of philanthropy to elevate society and included donations for: libraries, universities, and concert halls. Philanthropy also helped titans like Carnegie change the public perception that they were greedy and selfish.

Conspicuous Consumption

Act of buying expensive goods to display wealth and social status, utilized by the upper classes during the Gilded Age to demonstrate their wealth and supposed virtue

Cost Accounting

tracked expenses and revenues

Management Revolution

internal structure for complex corporations, led to the emergence of white collar jobs.

Division of Labor

Division of work into a number of separate tasks to be performed by different workers. Led to the deskilling of the workforce, making workers more replaceable and an increase of profits.

Predatory Pricing

price reduction by large corporations to put smaller firms out of business, led to the creation of monopolies.

Taylorism/Scientific Efficiency

goal to decrease costs and wastes while increasing profits. Efficiency emphasized at the expense of workers happiness, and led to the dehumanization of laborers.

Vertical Integration

Practice where a single entity controls the entire process of a product, from the raw materials to distribution. Led to a decrease in costs. Ex: The Cattle Industry.

Horizontal Integration

Absorption into a single firm of several firms involved in the same level of production and sharing resources at that level. Ex: Standard Oil.

John D. Rockefeller

leader of the Standard Oil Company, a powerful monopoly that controlled the oil industry. Rockefeller controlled American politics as well as the American oil industry.

JP Morgan

Prominent American banker during the Gilded Age who helped reorganize railroads, insurance companies and banks. Morgan also helped make these businesses more efficient and profitable

Robber Barons

negative term used to refer to owners of corporations who gained huge profits through unscrupulous practices (such as paying their workers low wages and creating monopolies).

Industrial Statesmen

positive term used to refer to the owners of corporations who gained huge profits, which they supposedly used to benefit the American people.

Consumer Culture

a culture where identity centers around the purchase of goods. Emerged in America during the late 1800s due to increased industrialization. Led to cultural homogenization as Americans across the country purchased the same material goods. Goods were specifically targeted toward middle and upper class women.

Inventions During the Gilded Age

500k patents issued from 1860-90 for inventions, which was 10x more patents than were issued during the prior 70 years. Notable Gilded Age inventions include the telephone and the lightbulb.

Collective Bargaining

labor unions practice of negotiating as a agroup.

Bread and Butter Unionism

term used to describe basic rights that workers wanted: better wages, shorter hours, and safer working conditions.

American Federation of Labor

successful and moderate labor union founded by Samuel Gompers in 1886, supported bread and butter unionism. Represented skilled laborers, who were difficult to replace, which is likely why this union was successful.

Company Towns

towns built by corporations to house workers. Ensured a consistent labor force and discouraged strikes.

Sherman Antitrust Act

1890, first piece of federal antitrust legislation Helped restrict monopolies, but had unclear applications as it targeted those "in restraint of trade". This act was partially used to hinder the activities of labor unions.

Henry George

Author of Progress and Poverty, who was a vocal opponent of the evils of modern capitalism.

Poverty and Progress

1879, a book written by Henry George that stated: America had been overly optimistic about the effects of manufacturing as industrialization ultimately brought about poverty and not advancement.

Laissez-Faire Economics

Economic policy that opposes government interference in economic affairs. Favored during the Gilded Age, and allowed for the growth of corporations.

Granger Laws

laws advocated for by Grangers that protected farmers interests, attacked railroad rebates (better shipping rates for larger companies).

Grange Movement

organized in the 1870s in the Midwest, South, and Texas, made up of farmers. Set up cooperative associations where money was pooled together to help members. Social and educational components turned into political goals, but failed to pass legislation at the state level to control corporations because corporations engaged in interstate commerce.

Greenback Party

political party that sought to regulate corporations and enforce an eight hour workday. Specifically focused on the issue of paper money which they believed would: create jobs, stimulate the economy, and allowed for paying the debts. Constituency was farmers and laborers.

Producerism

an ideology that states that those who create tangible wealth are of greater value to society, advocated for by the Greenback Party.

Munn VS Illinois

1877, Supreme Court case that upheld the power of states to regulate private industry.

Wabash VS Illinois

1886, Supreme Court case that limited the power of states to regulate interstate commerce. Created the Interstate Commerce Commision.

Interstate Commerce Commision

national organization that helped regulate interstate trade and corporations, like railroads.

Farmers' Alliance

political entity that emerged separately within the North and South, that ultimately merged together. More politically focused than the declining Grange movement, successfully ran candidates for office and controlled 8 state legislatures along with 47 representatives in Congress during the 1890s.

Populist Party

1891, US political party that emerged during the Gilded Age as the two major political parties were unresponsive to the issues of those within the lower classes. Wanted silver to become a free and unlimited national currency, and hoped to limit corporations power. Specifically appealed to farmers in the Western United States. Included supporters of: the farmers alliance, the greenback party, and the free silver party.

Election of 1896

Election between Democrat William Jennings Bryan and Republican William McKinley. A key issue of the 1896 election regarded national currency. Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan believed in the free silver movement, which appealed to those within lower socioeconomic classes, specifically farmers. Republican candidate William McKinley believed in the gold standard, which appealed to those within higher socioeconomic classes and corporations. Ultimately, McKinley won the election, as many wealthy Democrats switched their allegiance to the Republican candidate. The 1896 election demonstrated a shift in American politics, as presidential candidates began appealing to urban voters as opposed to rural voters.

Omaha Platform

Platform favored by the Populists. Populists believed that corruption infiltrated every level of government, as corporations purchased the support of politicians across the nation. Populists also believed that wealth should be more equitably distributed amongst the American people. Populists advocated for the use of silver as a national currency, in order to lessen the burden that debts placed upon American farmers. Populists demanded greater rights for workers and measures to ensure the protection of the United States' democratic system. Desired to limit the power of corporations through federal government regulation and help the American lower class.

Boss Tweed

Tweed created a powerful political machine (Tammany Hall) that allowed him to rule New York City with impunity. Tweed was incredibly corrupt and scammed New Yorkers out of millions. Tweed gave out jobs and infrastructure contracts, which further increased Tweed's constituency.

Tammany Hall

political machine in New York that was created and headed by Boss Tweed.

William Jennings Bryan

Democratic candidate who ran for President in 1896, who believed in the free silver movement, which appealed to those within lower socioeconomic classes, specifically farmers. Known as "The Great Commoner" and ultimately lost election.

Civil Service Reform

Emerged due to the corruption associated with the spoils system. Mark Twain was among one of the most famous proponents of civil service reform. Supporters of this movement sought to eliminate the spoils system and introduce a meritocracy within the government.

James Garfield

1881, President James Garfield won the presidency by promising to eliminate the spoils system and introduce reforms to the civil service, but was ultimately assassinated due to his attempts to make reforms. Half Breed.

Chester A. Arthur

1881-1885, Vice President Chester A. Arthur became President following Garfield's assassination. Arthur expressed support for civil service reform despite the fact that he benefited from the spoils system. Arthur signed the Pendleton Civil Service Act, which led to the creation of an effective and qualified governmental bureaucracy. Stalwart.

Pendleton Civil Service Act

1883, law that created a Civil Service Commission and stated that federal employees could not be required to contribute to campaign funds nor be fired for political reasons. Helped partially eliminate the spoils system.

Cross of Gold

speech delivered by William Jennings Bryan's that criticized the monetary policy of the government for hurting farmers who were forced to bare a "cross of gold".

Thomas Nast's Political Cartoons

Nast's cartoons brought the public's attention to Tweed's corrupt policies. In his cartoons, Nast targeted Tweed, along with Tweed's partners, for their corruption. More specifically, these cartoons allowed the masses to learn of Tweed's corruption, as many New Yorkers in lower socioeconomic classes were illiterate. Nast's cartoons hindered Tweed's endeavors, as they appealed to these illiterate people in lower socioeconomic classes, which is where the majority of Tweed's support came from. Nast's cartoons contributed to Tweed's ultimate prosecution and imprisonment. Nast's success represented the increasing power of the media to control politics.

Spoils System

The spoils system was a system wherein a victorious political candidate would reward their constituents with jobs in the government. Those who obtained jobs through the spoils system were often unqualified and corrupt. Acceptable system within government throughout the 19th century.

Political Machines

corrupt and organized groups that controlled political parties in American cities during the Gilded Age. Won votes by aiding laborers and immigrants within lower socioeconomic classes, which gave these political machines large constituencies, allowing them to continue to control politics. Ex: Tammany Hall.

Ashcan School

Artistic movement in the United States that portrayed scenes of the harsh reality of daily life in cities

Stalwarts

faction of conservative Republicans during the Gilded Age who believed in the spoils system and favored party bosses. Also believed in aiding supposed Civil War veterans in obtaining their pensions, without validating whether or not these veterans had actually fought in the war, as this allowed the faction to curry favor amongst Americans.

Gold Standard

A monetary system in which paper money and coins are equal to the value of a certain amount of gold, therefore, gold backs up currency. The gold standard stabilized paper money. This system was in place during the Gilded Age, and gold was favored by corporations.

Coxey's Army

1894, group led by Jacob Coxey that peacefully marched on the US Capitol. Coxey and his supporters wanted the US government to hire unemployed Americans to work on building and fixing America's infrastructure. Populists supported Coxey and his followers, but they faced backlash, and Coxey was ultimately arrested upon his arrival in Washington DC.

Williams VS Mississippi

1898, US Supreme Court that upheld states rights to enact poll taxes and literacy tests. Literacy tests and poll taxes were used to stop African Americans within the South from voting.

New South

A new vision for the South promoted by Southerners following the Civil War, that involved a self-sufficient Southern economy built on modern capitalist values, industrial growth, and improved transportation. Ultimately unsuccessful due to a: lack of capital, impact of the Civil War, Northern legislation and control of markets, and a desire to maintain tradition.

Henry Grady

Editor of the Atlanta Constitution, who coined the term "New South". Grady believed the South should become economically diverse with industries and small farms, and promoted his ideas through his newspaper.

De Jure Segregation VS De Facto Segregation

De jure segregation was segregation enforced by state law, while de facto segregation was enforced by social pressure and the threat of violence.

Half-Breeds

faction of moderate Republicans during the Gilded Age who believed in civil service reform. Led by James Garfield.

Solid South

term used to describe the fact that Southern states repeatedly voted Democrat after the Civil War. This was because black men were unable to vote due to white supremacist terror groups such as the KKK.

Charles Guiteau

assassinated President Garfield in order to stop civil service reform, and make Arthur President, who was a Stalwart. Guiteau believed that this would lead to a continuation of the spoils system, but Arthur continued civil service reform as President.

Mugwumps

Republicans who supported President Grover Cleveland, a Democrat, and his anti-corruption policies. Hoped that Cleveland would create an impartial and disinterested government run by educated elites.