gilded age

Industrialization

The shift from small-scale, hand-made production to factory-based mass production that transformed how Americans worked and lived.

Corporation

A large business organization legally separate from its owners, gaining enormous economic and political power during the Gilded Age.

Mass production

The rapid manufacturing of large quantities of identical goods using machines and assembly lines, which made goods cheaper and altered working conditions.

Transcontinental railroad

A railroad completed in 1869 that connected the East and West coasts, reducing travel time and opening national markets.

Horizontal integration

A business strategy where a company buys out or eliminates competitors in the same industry, a method used by Rockefeller.

Vertical integration

A business strategy where a company controls every step of production, used by Carnegie to dominate the steel industry.

Monopoly

When one company gains near-complete control over an industry, raising concerns about fairness and corporate power during the Gilded Age.

Social Darwinism

The belief that economic success comes from 'survival of the fittest,' justifying inequality and opposing government assistance for the poor.

Gospel of wealth

Andrew Carnegie’s belief that the rich have a moral duty to benefit society with their fortunes, promoting philanthropy.

Income inequality

A large gap in wealth, power, or opportunity within society, notably increased during the Gilded Age.

John D. Rockefeller

Founder of Standard Oil, known for employing aggressive tactics like horizontal integration to control a significant portion of the oil industry.

Andrew Carnegie

Business magnate who built the nation’s largest steel company and promoted philanthropy through the 'Gospel of Wealth'.

J.D. Morgan

A powerful banker who financed railroads and formed U.S. Steel, raising concerns about the influence of financiers on the economy.

Mark Twain

Author who coined the term 'Gilded Age' to describe an era of wealth masking deep social and political issues.

Urbanization

The rapid growth of cities as people migrated from rural areas for jobs, transforming American life and creating social challenges.

Tenements

Crowded, poorly built apartment buildings that housed working-class families, often lacking adequate living conditions.

Nativism

A movement favoring native-born Americans over immigrants, driven by fears of economic competition and cultural change.

Political machine

A corrupt political organization controlled by a 'boss' that traded favors for votes and influenced municipal politics.

Corruption

The illegal use of political influence for personal gain, prevalent during the Gilded Age among city officials.

Labor union

An organized group of workers advocating for better wages, hours, and working conditions, playing a crucial role against corporate power.

Strike

A work stoppage organized by workers to exert pressure on employers, often faced with violence or government intervention.

Scab

A replacement worker hired during a strike, undermining union efforts and escalating tensions between workers and management.

Yellow dog contract

An agreement workers were forced to sign, promising not to join a union, used to suppress unionization.

Collective bargaining

Workers joining together to demand improvements, leveraging strikes and protests as a powerful labor tool.

Thomas Edison

Inventor of electric lighting and power systems, significantly transforming urban life by extending work hours and improving safety.

Jacob Riis

Reformer and journalist known for exposing the harsh realities of tenement life, inspiring urban housing reforms.

William 'Boss' Tweed

Leader of New York’s Tammany Hall political machine known for massive corruption and public money theft.

Rutherford B. Hayes

President who sent federal troops to end the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, highlighting government support for business over labor.

Samuel Gompers

Founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), advocating for practical labor goals such as higher wages and shorter hours.

Consumer culture

A societal shift where buying goods becomes central to daily life, accelerated during the Gilded Age by urbanization.

Normal schools

Institutions focused on training teachers and standardizing instruction, reflecting education's growing importance.

Land-grant colleges

Colleges created through Morrill Acts aimed at teaching agriculture, engineering, and science for industrial growth.

Settlement houses

Community centers providing services to immigrants and the poor, led largely by educated women, promoting early socio-economic reform.

Temperance movement

A campaign aimed at limiting or banning alcohol, linking excessive drinking to social issues like poverty and violence.

Women’s suffrage movement

The long-term struggle for women's right to vote, utilizing organizing, lobbying, and protests to expand democracy.

Victoria Woodhull

Radical activist advocating for women’s rights and free love, running for president in 1872.

Jane Addams

Founder of Hull House, significant in providing services and advocating for immigrant families and social reforms.

Carrie Nation

Temperance activist known for her saloon-smashing protests, symbolizing women’s reform efforts.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Co-leader of the suffrage movement, influential in drafting arguments and speeches for women’s equality.

Alice Paul

Militant suffrage leader who employed aggressive tactics like parades and hunger strikes to advance women’s voting rights.

Progressivism

A reform movement that arose in the early 20th century to address issues from industrialization and political corruption.

Pragmatism

A philosophy focusing on the practical consequences of ideas, encouraging adaptability in reforms.

Muckraker

Investigative journalists exposing corruption and inequality, mobilizing public support for reform efforts.

Trust

A large corporation controlling an entire industry, often limiting competition, targeted by reformers.

Social Gospel

A movement urging Christians to address social issues like poverty, inspiring many Progressive reformers.

Antitrust laws

Legislation aimed at breaking up monopolies and regulating corporations to ensure fair competition.

Federal Reserve System

A national banking system established in 1913 to stabilize the economy and regulate the money supply.

Federal Trade Commission

Federal agency created to investigate unfair business practices and protect consumers.

Lincoln Steffens

Muckraker known for exposing political corruption in his work, 'The Shame of the Cities'.

Ida Tarbell

Muckraker who revealed unethical practices of Standard Oil, contributing to its breakup.

Ida B. Wells

Muckraker who investigated racial discrimination and violence, expanding the scope of Progressive concerns.

Upton Sinclair

Author of 'The Jungle', whose work led to significant reforms in food safety and inspection laws.

Theodore Roosevelt

Progressive president who expanded federal power to regulate trusts and protect natural resources.

William Howard Taft

Roosevelt's successor known for continuing antitrust actions and splitting the Republican Party.

Woodrow Wilson

Progressive president who introduced major economic reforms while supporting racial segregation.