Unit 6: The Gilded Age Notes

Study Guide for Unit 6 in US and The World II Honors

JD Rockefeller, who was he?

He was an American oil industry business magnate and philanthropist, co-founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust.

Andrew Carnegie, who was he?

He was an American industrialist and philanthropist who led the expansion of the steel industry in the late 19th century, founding Carnegie Steel Company and becoming one of the richest men in history.

Horizontal Integration

A business strategy where a company acquires or merges with competitors to gain market share and reduce competition. An example of this is Rockefeller’s Standard Oil.

Vertical Integration

A business strategy where a company controls multiple stages of production, from raw materials to final product distribution. This approach was notably used by Andrew Carnegie in the steel industry.

Alexander Graham Bell

He was an inventor, scientist, and teacher known for inventing the first practical telephone and founding the Bell Telephone Company.

Thomas Edison

An American inventor best known for his work on the electric light bulb, phonograph, and motion pictures. He held over 1,000 patents and significantly influenced modern technology.

Bessemer Steel

A process developed by Henry Bessemer that revolutionized steel production by creating high-quality steel at a lower cost, contributing to the expansion of industries such as railroads and construction.

Anarchist

A political activist who seeks to abolish all government and hierarchical structures, advocating for a society based on voluntary cooperation and mutual aid.

Social Darwinism

A theory that applies the concept of natural selection to society, suggesting that certain individuals or groups are superior to others, justifying social inequality and imperialism.

Capitalism

An economic system where private individuals or businesses own and control property and production, with the goal of profit. It is characterized by free markets and competition.

Gospel of Wealth

A philosophy proposed by Andrew Carnegie, promoting the idea that the wealthy have a moral obligation to use their wealth for the greater good of society, particularly through philanthropy.

Claude Monet

French painter known for co-founding the Impressionist movement, focusing on capturing light and natural scenes.

Alfred Krupp

A German industrialist known for establishing a vast steel empire and significant advancements in the production of armaments. He played a key role in the development of the German steel industry during the late 19th century.

Socialism

An economic and political system where the means of production are owned and controlled collectively, often by the state, with the aim of promoting equality and eliminating class distinctions.

Cornelius Vanderbilt

American business magnate who played a major role in the development of the railroad and shipping industries during the Gilded Age.

Collective Bargaining

a process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at establishing agreements on working conditions, wages, benefits, and other employment terms.

Robber Barons

Powerful 19th-century industrialists who gained wealth and influence through exploitative practices and monopolies, often criticized for their ruthless business tactics.

Nativism

a political policy favoring the interests of native inhabitants over those of immigrants, often manifesting in anti-immigrant sentiments and legislation.

Eugene Debs

A prominent labor leader and founding member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), he was a key figure in the American socialist movement and advocated for workers' rights and reforms.

Samuel Gompers

A labor union leader and co-founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), he advocated for higher wages, shorter working hours, and better working conditions for workers.

AFL

A national federation of labor unions in the United States, was founded in 1886. It focused on skilled workers and aimed to improve labor conditions through collective bargaining.

Knights of Labor

A significant labor organization founded in 1869, they aimed to unite all workers and advocated for social reforms such as an eight-hour workday and the end of child labor.

Pinkertons

A private security and detective agency founded in 1850, often employed by businesses to break strikes and manage labor disputes, becoming infamous for their role in anti-union activities.

Enclave

A distinct territorial, cultural, or social unit, often inhabited by a particular ethnic or cultural group.

Tenement Slum

A type of housing in urban areas characterized by crowded and often substandard living conditions, typically inhabited by low-income families and immigrants.

Realism

A literary movement in the late 19th century that aimed to depict everyday life and society as it truly was, often focusing on the struggles of ordinary people.

Combustion Engine

A type of engine that converts fuel into mechanical energy through the process of combustion, significantly impacting transportation and industry during the Gilded Age.

Tammany Hall

A powerful political organization in New York City that was known for its corrupt practices and influence over the Democratic Party during the Gilded Age, often associated with the patronage system.

Boss Tweed

A political leader and influential figure in Tammany Hall, known for orchestrating widespread corruption and embezzlement during the Gilded Age.

William Jennings Bryan

An American orator and politician who served as a Democratic Party leader, known for his advocacy of populism and for opposing the gold standard in favor of bimetallism during the Gilded Age.

Bimetallism

A monetary system that uses both gold and silver as legal tender, advocating for the free coinage of both metals to increase the money supply and promote inflation.