Untitled Flashcards Set

Gilded Age

Period from 1865 to 1900 marked by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and economic growth, alongside political corruption and social inequality.

New South

Movement after the Civil War advocating for economic modernization through industrialization and diversification beyond agriculture.

Sharecropping

A system where farmers rented land and paid rent with a portion of their crop, prevalent in the post-Civil War South.

Political Machines

Organizations that controlled city politics, offering services in exchange for votes, often leading to corruption.

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896 Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Knights of Labor

An early labor union that included all workers and aimed for broader reforms in labor rights.

Eugene V. Debs

Labor leader and Socialist candidate for president, known for his role in the Pullman Strike and advocacy for workers' rights.

Dawes Severalty Act

1887 law that aimed to assimilate Native Americans by breaking up tribal lands into individual plots.

Social Darwinism

The belief that only the fittest individuals or businesses would succeed, often used to justify social inequalities.

Spanish-American War

1898 conflict between the U.S. and Spain that resulted in the U.S. acquiring territories including Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

Theodore Roosevelt

U.S. president known for his progressive reforms, the Roosevelt Corollary, and his leadership of the Rough Riders.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern U.S. after Reconstruction.

Ghost Dance Movement

A Native American religious movement that aimed to restore Indigenous culture and spirituality, leading to the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

1890 legislation aimed at curbing monopolies and promoting fair competition in business.

Homestead Act

1862 law that provided land to settlers for a small fee, promoting westward expansion.

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalized news reporting aimed at influencing public opinion, notably during the Spanish-American War.

Booker T. Washington

African American leader who advocated for vocational education and economic self-reliance for Black Americans.

W.E.B. Du Bois

Civil rights activist who emphasized the need for immediate civil rights and co-founded the NAACP.

Railroads

Critical infrastructure for transportation and economic development in the late 19th century, especially for farmers.

Robber Barons

Term for unscrupulous industrialists who amassed wealth through exploitation and unethical practices.

Racial Segregation

The enforced separation of different racial groups in public and private facilities, dominant in the Southern U.S.

The Maine

U.S. battleship whose explosion was used to justify American action against Spain during the Spanish-American War.