Social Studies- Social Movements

Matrix of Domination

A conceptual framework that explains how various forms of social inequality, such as race, class, and gender, intersect and create unique experiences of oppression for individuals in society.

Freeholders

Individuals who own land, typically in a context of historical land ownership rights, often influence social and economic status.

Civil War

A conflict fought in the United States from 1861 to 1865, primarily over issues of slavery and states' rights, leading to the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections is often associated with movements advocating for equal voting rights for women and marginalized groups.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at eliminating barriers to voting for African Americans and protecting their right to vote, ensuring fair access to the electoral process.

Regionalism

A political and cultural movement that emphasizes the interests and identity of specific regions within a country, often advocating for greater local autonomy and representation.

The Homestead Act

A law passed in 1862 that granted 160 acres of public land to settlers in the western United States, provided they improve the land by building a dwelling and cultivating crops.

The Transcontinental Railroad

A historic railway system that connected the eastern United States to the western territories, facilitating westward expansion and economic development.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local statutes that legalized racial segregation in the Southern United States, enforced from the late 19th century until the civil rights movement.

The Laissez Faire

economic policy advocating minimal government intervention in the economy, allowing free market forces to operate.

The Spoils System (Patronage)

a practice where political parties reward their supporters with government jobs and benefits after winning an election, often resulting in corruption.

The Pendelton Civil Service Act

a federal law enacted in 1883 aimed at reforming the spoils system by establishing a merit-based system for federal employment, reducing corruption.

The Progressive Movement

a social and political movement in the early 20th century advocating for reforms to address issues like inequality, corruption, and social justice.

Women’s RIghts Movement

a social and political movement advocating for equal rights and opportunities for women, including suffrage and workplace equality. It sought to address issues such as reproductive rights, gender discrimination, and social equity.

Women’s Suffrage

the movement aimed at granting women the right to vote, primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It sought to promote gender equality in the electoral process.

Temperance Movement

a social movement aimed at reducing or prohibiting the consumption of alcohol. It gained significant traction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to the establishment of Prohibition in the United States.

Sherman Antitrust Act

a landmark federal statute passed in 1890 aimed at preventing monopolies and promoting competition in business. It was designed to regulate trusts and ensure fair trade practices.

Labor Unions

organizations formed by workers to advocate for better wages, working conditions, and labor rights. They emerged in the 19th century as a response to industrialization and exploitation.

Labor Day

a holiday dedicated to honoring and recognizing the American labor movement and the contributions of workers. It is celebrated on the first Monday in September.

Labor Movement

a collective effort by workers and labor unions to improve labor conditions, wages, and rights, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Waltham-Lowell system

was a labor and production model employed in the textile industry in the early 19th century, which combined mechanized manufacturing with a workforce primarily made up of young women known as "mill girls."

Lowell Female Labor Reform Association

an organization formed in 1844 by Sarah B Bagley, female textile workers in Lowell, Massachusetts, advocating for better working conditions, wages, and labor rights.

National Labor Union

the first national organization of labor unions in the United States, founded in 1866, aimed at promoting the interests of workers and advocating for labor reforms such as the eight-hour workday.

Knights of Labor

a significant American labor organization founded in 1869 that sought to unite all workers, regardless of skill level, and advocated for social reforms, including the establishment of an eight-hour workday and better working conditions.

American Federation of Labor

a national federation of labor unions in the United States founded in 1886, focusing on securing better wages, hours, and working conditions for skilled workers through collective bargaining.

Haymarket Square

a pivotal labor protest that took place in Chicago in 1886, which turned violent and led to a backlash against labor movements, highlighting the tensions between workers and law enforcement.

Pullman Strike

a nationwide railroad strike that occurred in 1894, initiated by workers at the Pullman Company in response to wage cuts and high rents in company housing, which escalated into a major conflict involving federal troops.

Railway Labor Act

a federal law enacted in 1926 to govern labor relations in the railroad industry, ensuring the right of workers to organize and engage in collective bargaining.

Wagner Act

a federal law passed in 1936 aimed at regulating labor relations and protecting workers' rights, particularly in the context of labor disputes and strikes.

Fair Labor Standards Act

a federal law enacted in 1938 that established minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards.

Taft-Hartley Act

a federal law enacted in 1947 that restricts the activities and power of labor unions, including provisions for union elections and limiting secondary boycotts.

Panic of 1893

A severe economic depression in the United States that began in 1893 was marked by the collapse of major railroad companies and widespread bank failures, leading to high unemployment and significant social unrest.

Black Codes

laws enacted in the South after the Civil War to restrict the rights of newly freed African Americans, aiming to maintain white supremacy and control over the labor force.

Chinese Exclusion Act

a federal law passed in 1882 that prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States, reflecting widespread anti-Chinese sentiment and racial discrimination.

Immigration Act of 1917

a federal law that imposed literacy tests and other restrictions on immigrants, aimed at limiting immigration from certain countries and reflecting nativist sentiments in the United States.