Unit 6 APUSH Terms - Chapter 16

Transcontinental Railroad (1869)

1) This connected the east and west coasts of the United States for the first time.

2) It took 6 years to build and was eventually completed in Utah.

3) This dramatically improved transportation because before it took 6 months to go across the country but was now reduced to 6 days.

Knights of Labor (1869)

1) Early labor union that organized all types of workers, including skilled and unskilled workers, women, and African Americans.

2) Focused on broad social issues including having workers own the companies in which they worked.

3) Lost popularity after being blamed for the Haymarket Riot in Chicago.

Alexander Graham Bell (1876)

1) His most famous invention is the telephone.

2) He revolutionized communication because he figured out how to transmit actual speech, not just a paper message that had to be translated like a telegram. 3) On the day of his burial, all telephone service in the US was stopped for one minute in his honor.

Great Railroad Strike of 1877 (1877)

1) First major labor strike in US History

2) Workers of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad refused to work due to pay cuts which spread through the country 3) President Hayes used federal troops to restore order after workers were killed

Andrew Carnegie (1880s)

1) He was a Scottish immigrant who became one of the richest Americans of all time.

2) He made his money by mass producing steel and dominating the American steel industry.

3) He controlled every aspect of the steel-making process, including owning the coal mines, railroad lines, and steel factories.

Standard Oil Trust (1880s)

1) This was created by John D. Rockefeller and controlled 90% of its industry.

2) Buying out his competitors made John D. Rockefeller, its head, the richest American of all time.

3) Eventually this company was deemed a monopoly and was broken up into smaller companies.

Social Darwinism (Late 1880s)

1) This philosophy applied the idea of "survival of the fittest" to the economy.

2) Supporters of this argued that helping the poor would weaken the evolution of humans.

3) This was one theory meant to justify the wealth of many Americans during this time.

Gospel of Wealth (Late 1880s)

1) An article written by millionaire Andrew Carnegie

2) Argued that the wealthy have a responsibility to share their riches for the betterment of society

3) As a result of this, Andrew Carnegie gave away hundreds of millions of dollars and was the largest investor in public libraries in American history

American Federation of Labor (1886)

1) Longest-lasting labor union of the Industrial Era

2) Founded by Samuel Gompers and organized only skilled workers

3) Focused on "bread and butter" issues like better wages, hours and working conditions

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)

1) First federal law against monopolies

2) Banned the formation of trusts and monopolies in the United States

3) Not enforced until President Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Movement

Homestead Strike (1892)

1) Began near Pittsburg, PA at one of Andrew Carnegie's steel plants

2) Steel workers were upset over wages being cut so stopped working but ultimately did not gain higher wages

3) Workers were locked out of the plant which led to rioting and workers being killed

Pullman Strike (1892

1) This took place in Chicago and involved manufacturers of railroad "sleeping" cars.

2) The workers received a cut in wages and went on strike, affecting railroad travel in the U.S.

3) After union leaders were arrested, the Supreme Court approved the use of court injunctions to stop strikes, which essentially gave employers more power to break up unions.

Eugene V. Debs (1890s)

1) Leader of the American Railroad Union

2) He supported workers during the Pullman strike, and caused a massive disruption of railroads in the U.S.

3) He was jailed and turned to more drastic tactics to fight for better working conditions.

Sears and Roebuck (1890s)

1) One of the first and largest mail-order companies in the U.S.

2) Used railroads to ship products to consumers all over the country

3) Known for their catalogs that Americans used to place orders