Period 6 Vocab

Plains Indians

Native American tribes that lived on the Great Plains and relied on the buffalo for survival.

Rancheros

Mexican cattle ranchers in the Southwest who influenced cowboy culture.

Transcontinental Railroad

A railway system completed in 1869 that connected the East and West coasts, facilitating migration and economic growth.

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

A law that banned Chinese immigration to the U.S. for ten years, later extended, due to widespread anti-Chinese sentiment.

Homestead Act (1862)

Provided 160 acres of free land to settlers willing to farm it for five years.

Boom Town

A rapidly growing town, often due to the discovery of resources like gold or silver.

Turner’s Frontier Thesis

Frederick Jackson Turner’s idea that the American frontier played a key role in shaping democracy and national identity.

Concentration

A U.S. government policy that confined Native American tribes to specific areas (reservations).

Crazy Horse/Sitting Bull

Native American leaders who resisted U.S. expansion and fought at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Battle of the Little Bighorn (1876)

A battle in which Sioux and Cheyenne forces defeated General Custer and his troops.

Custer’s Last Stand

The defeat of General George Custer and his men at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Ghost Dance

A Native American religious movement that sought to restore their way of life and resist white domination.

Wounded Knee (1890)

A massacre of Lakota Sioux by U.S. soldiers, marking the end of major Native American resistance.

Dawes Severalty Act (1887)

A law that aimed to assimilate Native Americans by dividing their land into individual plots.

Barbed Wire

A fencing material that revolutionized farming by closing off the open range.

Bessemer Process

A method for producing steel quickly and cheaply, leading to industrial growth.

Andrew Carnegie

A steel magnate and philanthropist who used vertical integration to dominate the industry.

John D. Rockefeller

Founder of Standard Oil, known for using horizontal integration and trusts to create a monopoly.

J.P. Morgan

A powerful banker who controlled major industries, including railroads and steel.

Horizontal Integration

A business strategy where a company buys out competitors to dominate a market.

Vertical Integration

A business strategy where a company controls all production steps, from raw materials to distribution.

Trust

A business structure where multiple companies are managed under a single entity to reduce competition.

Cornelius Vanderbilt

A railroad magnate who helped consolidate rail systems and expand transportation networks.

Social Darwinism

The belief that business success comes from survival of the fittest and that government should not interfere.

Gospel of Wealth

Andrew Carnegie’s idea that the wealthy have a duty to use their riches for the public good.

Horatio Alger Myth

The belief that anyone can achieve wealth and success through hard work and determination.

Monopolies

Businesses that completely dominate an industry, eliminating competition.

The Great Railroad Strike (1877)

A nationwide railroad workers’ strike protesting wage cuts, leading to violent clashes.

The Knights of Labor

An early labor union that sought broad social reforms, including better wages and working conditions.

The AFL (American Federation of Labor)

A labor union focused on skilled workers, wages, hours, and working conditions.

Homestead Strike (1892)

A violent labor dispute at Carnegie Steel, where strikers clashed with private security.

Eugene V. Debs

A labor leader and socialist who led the Pullman Strike and was jailed for his activism.

Pullman Strike (1894)

A nationwide railroad strike that was crushed by federal troops after disrupting mail delivery.

Gilded Age

A term describing the late 19th century, marked by economic growth, political corruption, and social inequality.

Patronage

The practice of giving government jobs to political supporters, leading to widespread corruption.

Pendleton Act (1883)

A law that established a merit-based system for government jobs, reducing patronage.

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)

A law that aimed to break up monopolies and prevent anti-competitive business practices.

Interstate Commerce Act (1887)

A law regulating railroad rates and practices to prevent unfair pricing.

Populism/Populist Movement

A political movement representing farmers and laborers, advocating for reforms like free silver.

Free Silver

A policy advocating for the unlimited coinage of silver to increase the money supply and help farmers.

Coxey’s Army (1894)

A protest march of unemployed workers demanding government-funded job programs during an economic depression.

Cross of Gold Speech (1896)

A famous speech by William Jennings Bryan supporting bimetallism (gold and silver currency) to help farmers.