Apush Time period 6 words

Dawes Act

Law to break up Native American tribes and give them individual land to make them more “American.”

Assimilation

Forcing a group to adopt another culture’s way of life.

Ghost Dance

Native American spiritual movement hoping to restore their land and culture.

Battle of Wounded Knee

U.S. soldiers killed over 200 unarmed Lakota Sioux, ending Native resistance.

Sand Creek Massacre

U.S. troops attacked and killed many peaceful Cheyenne, including women and children.

Homestead Act

Gave settlers 160 acres of free land if they farmed it for five years.

Trust

A group of companies controlled by one board to reduce competition.

Monopoly

One company controls an entire industry.

IWW (Industrial Workers of the World)

Labor union for all workers that wanted radical change.

Social Darwinism

Belief that the strongest businesses and people naturally succeed (“survival of the fittest”).

Andrew Carnegie

Steel industry leader; believed in using wealth to help society.

John D. Rockefeller

Created Standard Oil; used monopolies and trusts to dominate the oil industry.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

Law meant to stop monopolies and trusts.

Interstate Commerce Act

Regulated unfair railroad practices.

American Federation of Labor

Labor union for skilled workers focused on better pay and hours.

Ellis Island

Main entry point for European immigrants in New York.

Angel Island

Entry point for Asian immigrants in San Francisco.

Chinese Exclusion Act

Banned Chinese immigration to the U.S.

Nativism

Preference for native-born Americans and dislike of immigrants.

Gentleman's Agreement

Japan limited emigration to the U.S. in exchange for fair treatment of Japanese already here.

Melting Pot

Idea that immigrants blend together to form one American culture.

Graft

Using political power for personal gain or bribery.

Political Machines

Corrupt city organizations that traded favors for votes (like Tammany Hall).

Pendleton Act

Required government jobs to be earned by merit, not connections.

Spoils System

Giving government jobs to political supporters.

Patronage

Giving jobs or favors in exchange for political support.

Social Gospel

Christian movement that said people should help the poor and improve society.

Sharecropping

System where freed slaves farmed land for a share of crops, often keeping them in debt.

Poll Tax

Fee required to vote, used to stop poor and Black people from voting.

Literacy Tests

Reading tests used to prevent African Americans from voting.