Industrialization, Progressivism, and the Gilded Age

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the American Industrial Revolution, the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era, and the Populist movement.

Jim Crow Laws

Segregation based on race, characterized by the phrase "separate but equal" though in practice resulting in inequality.

Reconstruction

The period following the Civil War aimed at rebuilding the South, reunifying the states, and providing civil rights for newly freed slaves.

Urbanization

The growth of cities, which brought about issues such as housing shortages, pollution, and sewage management.

Robber Barons

An insulting term for the wealthy elite characterized as corrupt and lacking ethics or morals.

Monopoly

A single company that seeks to control an entire industry, distinct from a trust which is composed of multiple companies.

Trust

A group composed of ext{MULTIPLE} companies that work together to control an industry.

Labor Union

A group that represents the interests and rights of workers.

Social Darwinism

A theory with origins from Darwin involving concepts of Natural Selection and Survival of the Fittest.

Industrialization / Gilded Age

A period occurring from the $1860\text{s}$ to the $1920\text{s}$ marked by the growth of factories and machines, as well as issues with pollution and lack of sanitation.

Ellis Island

An immigration processing center outside of NY/NJ that processed more than $12\text{ million}$ immigrants, primarily from Europe.

Progressive

A reaction to industrialization aiming to solve issues like low wages, child labor, housing, sanitation, pollution, women’s rights, discrimination, and xenophobia.

Xenophobia

Discrimination against foreigners or immigrants.

Ohio

The state identified as having the most factories during the industrial era.

American Bridge Co.

A specific company mentioned as being located in New Jersey.

Pittsburgh and Cleveland

The two major industrial cities highlighted in the lecture.

Standard Oil

A company founded in $1870$ by John D. Rockefeller (implied); its Kentucky branch later became Chevron.

Sherman Antitrust Act

The legislation used to force Standard Oil to split or break up.

Populist

Known as the "Party of the People," founded to protect agrarian interests and oppose corrupt economic and political practices.

William Jennings Bryan

A politician and Populist presidential candidate in $1896$, $1900$, and $1908$, known for his advocacy against the gold standard.

Gold Standard

A monetary system where paper money is backed by equivalent amounts of literal gold, which Populists believed was harmful to the producing masses.

"Cross of Gold" Speech

An $1896$ speech by William Jennings Bryan attacking the gold standard and supporting the minting of silver to help farmers with inflation.