APUSH PERIOD 6

Gilded Age

Gilded Age

A period of rapid industrialization and economic growth in the late 19th century United States, characterized by social inequality, political corruption, and cultural changes.

Political Machines

Powerful and corrupt political organizations, such as Tammany Hall in New York City, that controlled city politics through patronage and often at the expense of good governance.

Scandals during President Grant's administration

Numerous financial improprieties and corrupt dealings that occurred during President Ulysses S. Grant's administration, leading to a call for civil service reforms.

Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883

An act enacted in 1883 to reform the civil service by introducing a merit-based system for federal appointments, reducing political patronage, and promoting professionalism in government positions.

Laissez-faire Economic Policy

An economic policy during the Gilded Age that emphasized minimal government intervention in the economy, allowing businesses to operate with limited regulation, contributing to economic growth and social inequalities.

Carnegie, Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Morgan

Industrial titans who played key roles in shaping America's industrial landscape, amassing vast fortunes, and influencing economic policies during the Gilded Age.

Robber Barons/Captains of Industry

The debate over whether industrial leaders were "Robber Barons" exploiting workers and resources or "Captains of Industry" fostering economic growth and innovation, reflecting differing perspectives on their impact.

Vertical Integration

A business strategy employed by industrialists like Carnegie, involving controlling multiple stages of the production process within a single company to increase efficiency and profitability.

Horizontal Integration

A business strategy exemplified by Rockefeller, involving acquiring or merging with competitors to dominate a particular industry, often leading to monopolistic practices and antitrust concerns.

New South Concept

A concept aimed at transforming the post-Civil War Southern economy by diversifying industries, promoting industrialization, and moving away from the agrarian traditions of the antebellum South.

Jim Crow and Plessy v

Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States, and the Supreme Court's Plessy v. Ferguson decision in 1896 upheld the constitutionality of "separate but equal" facilities, institutionalizing racial discrimination.

Booker T

A prominent African American leader who advocated for vocational and industrial education as a means for black Americans to uplift themselves economically and gain social acceptance.

W.E.B

A leading African American intellectual and civil rights activist who argued for political and social equality, founding the Niagara Movement and later co-founding the NAACP to combat racial injustices.

Social Darwinism

The application of Charles Darwin's evolutionary ideas to society, suggesting that societal progress resulted from natural competition, often used to justify social inequalities and laissez-faire economic policies.

Gospel of Wealth

An ideology advocated by industrialist Andrew Carnegie, arguing that the wealthy had a moral responsibility to use their fortunes for philanthropic purposes and societal betterment.

Inventions

Transformative inventions such as the light bulb by Thomas Edison, the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell, and other technological advancements that fueled industrialization during the Gilded Age.

Immigrants and Industrial Growth

The influx of immigrants during the Gilded Age provided a vital labor force for growing industries but also led to social tensions and nativism sentiments against these newcomers.

Nativism and "New" Immigrants

Anti-immigrant sentiments, particularly targeting "new" immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe, leading to discriminatory practices and restrictive immigration laws.

Jane Addams and Settlement Houses

Social reformer Jane Addams pioneered the establishment of settlement houses, such as Hull House in Chicago, to address urban poverty and provide social services to immigrant communities.

Tenements and Jacob Riis

Journalist Jacob Riis exposed the harsh living conditions in urban tenements through his work, shedding light on the need for housing reform.

Social Gospel

A movement that sought to apply Christian ethics to social issues, emphasizing social justice, charity, and reform in addressing the problems of industrial society.

Chinese Exclusion Act and Geary Act

Acts that restricted Chinese immigration to the United States, reflecting growing anti-Chinese sentiment and labor competition fears.

Railroad Expansion

A transformative force in the Gilded Age, connecting distant regions, facilitating economic growth, and contributing to westward expansion.

Battle of Little Bighorn

A significant conflict between U.S. forces and Native American tribes in 1876, resulting in a rare victory for the Native Americans led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.

Wounded Knee

The tragic end of Native American resistance, as U.S. troops suppressed the Sioux uprising in 1890, underscoring the harsh treatment of indigenous peoples.

Dawes Severalty Act

An act that aimed to assim