Gilded Age

has cartoon terms as well

Andrew Carnegie

leader/owner of the steel industry

John D. Rockefeller

leader/owner of the oil refinery industry

Cornelius Vanderbilt

leader/owner of the railroad industry

J.P. Morgan

leader of finance and electricity

monopoly

total control of a type of industry by one person or one company

trust

a centuries-old form of a contract whereby one party entrusts its property to a second party. These are commonly used to hold inheritances for the benefit of children, for example

mass production

the production of large quantities of goods using machinery and often, frequently an assembly line

First Transcontinental Railroad

first continuous railroad that merged the eastern and western railroad companies, meeting in Promontory Summit, Utah; built with the labor of Chinese and Irish immigrants

Battle of Little Bighorn

major battle between Plains Indians and the U.S. army after Native disappointment with broken treaties and resistance to relocation to reservations, resulted in a Native victory

assimilation

absorption of a group into the culture of a larger population

labor union

an organization of workers formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests, for example the American Federation of Labor

nativism

a preference for native-born people and a desire to limit immigration

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

law that banned immigration of Chinese laborers, and allowed current immigrants to stay but not to gain citizenship; renewed until World War II (1943)

Ellis Island

immigration processing station of the East Coast where many Southeastern European immigrants were processed

Angel Island

immigration processing station of the West Coast where many Asian immigrants were processed or detained

tenements

multi-family apartments, usually dark, crowded, and barely meeting minimum living standards

William M. Tweed

party boss of the political machine of Tammany Hall

political machine

an organization linked to a political party that often controlled local government

Populist Party or Populism

political movement founded in the 1890s representing mainly farmers, favoring free coinage of silver, and government control of railroads and other large industries

analogy

a comparison between two unlike things; by comparing a complex issue or situation with a more familiar one, cartoonists can help their readers see it in a different light.

labeling

labeling objects or people to make it clear exactly what they stand for

symbolism

using simple objects or symbols to stand for larger concepts or ideas

irony

the difference between the ways things are and the way things should be, or the way things are expected to be; often used to express their opinion on an issue

exaggeration

overdoing or exaggerating the physical characteristics of people or things in order to make a point

Gilded Age

the time between the Civil War and World War I during which the U.S. population and economy grew quickly, there was a lot of political corruption and corporate financial misdealings and many wealthy people lived very fancy lives

corporation

an organization that is authorized by law to carry on an activity but treated as though it were a single person

Robber Baron

a ruthlessly powerful U.S. capitalist or industrialist of the late 19th century considered to have become wealthy by exploiting natural resources, corrupting legislators, or other unethical means

Captain of Industry

businessman in the late 1800's who acquired great wealth and success from their endeavors and used their wealth and influence in a positive way making important contributions to the nation and to improve the lives of the American people

philanthropist

a person that provides money to support humanitarian or social goals

Americanization

the influence American culture and business has on other groups or countries, such as their media, cuisine, business practices, popular culture, technology, or political techniques

Ghost Dance

A ritual the Sioux performed to bring back the buffalo and return the Native American tribes to their land. It was crushed at the Battle of Wounded Knee after spreading to the Dakota Sioux. The Ghost Dance led to the Dawes Act of 1887. This act tried to reform Indian tribes and turn them into "white" citizens. It did little good.

Dawes Act

1887 law that distributed reservation land to individual Native American owners. Would be given back to the government to sell to settlers if the Native Americans didn't cultivate in 25 years.

Gospel of Wealth

This was a book written by Carnegie that described the responsibility of the rich to be philanthropists. This softened the harshness of Social Darwinism as well as promoted the idea of philanthropy.

Social Darwinism

The belief that only the fittest survive in human political and economic struggle.

graft

the acquisition of money in dishonest ways, as in bribing a politician

Laissez-faire

Idea that government should play as small a role as possible in economic affairs.