Gilded Age, Native American Treatment, and Immigration in U.S. History

How were Native Americans treated by European colonizers?

Native Americans faced violence, displacement, and cultural assimilation as European colonizers expanded their territories, leading to significant loss of land and resources.

How were Native Americans treated by the United States government?

The U.S. government implemented policies that often marginalized Native Americans, including forced relocation, broken treaties, and assimilation efforts.

How did government policies like the railroad and the Homestead Act change life in the US?

These policies facilitated westward expansion, promoted settlement of the western territories, and often led to the displacement of Native Americans and changes in land ownership.

How did Native Americans resist the encroachment of the railroads?

Native Americans employed various forms of resistance, including armed conflict, legal challenges, and forming alliances to protect their lands and rights.

How did the railroad, western expansion, and assimilation affect Native Americans' way of life?

These factors disrupted traditional lifestyles, led to loss of hunting grounds, and forced many Native Americans into reservations and assimilation into Euro-American culture.

What was the Gilded Age?

The Gilded Age was a period in U.S. history from the 1870s to the early 1900s characterized by rapid economic growth, industrialization, and significant social issues, including inequality and corruption.

How did industrialists build wealth during the Gilded Age?

Industrialists amassed wealth through monopolies, exploitation of labor, and innovations in production and transportation, often at the expense of workers' rights.

Describe labor unions and explain the struggles that workers faced in the Gilded Age.

Labor unions were organizations formed by workers to advocate for better wages, working conditions, and hours; they faced opposition from employers, government, and violence.

What new philosophies developed to address the growing wealth gap?

Philosophies such as Socialism and Progressivism emerged, advocating for social reforms, wealth redistribution, and addressing the needs of the working class.

What is a labor union?

A labor union is an organized group of workers that come together to make decisions about the terms of their work, including wages, hours, and working conditions.

What were some of the things that labor unions fought for during the Gilded Age?

Labor unions fought for higher wages, shorter workdays, safer working conditions, and the right to collectively bargain.

Why did owners fight against the formation of labor unions?

Owners opposed labor unions because they threatened profits, challenged their control over labor, and could lead to strikes and disruptions in production.

What was the Populist Party?

The Populist Party was a political movement in the late 19th century that represented farmers and laborers, advocating for economic reforms, including the regulation of railroads and the introduction of a graduated income tax.

How successful were the Populists as a political party?

The Populists had some electoral success in the 1890s, but ultimately faded as a distinct political party, with many of their ideas absorbed into the Democratic Party.

What issues did farmers face during the late 1800s?

Farmers faced issues such as falling crop prices, high debt, lack of access to credit, and exploitation by railroads and grain elevator operators.

What were the big issues of the Gilded Age and how did they affect the politics of the time?

Key issues included corruption, the power of big business, labor disputes, currency debates, and immigration, which shaped political debates and policies.

How did others (unions, cartoonists) respond to these issues?

Unions organized strikes and protests, while cartoonists used satire to critique corruption and social injustices, raising public awareness.

How did immigration change in the Gilded Age and beyond?

Immigration increased significantly during the Gilded Age, with many arriving from Southern and Eastern Europe, leading to diverse cultural influences and challenges related to integration.

What was nativism and how did it affect politics in the United States?

Nativism is the policy of protecting the interests of native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants; it influenced politics by fostering anti-immigrant sentiments and policies.

What connects industrial growth with these changes in immigration?

Industrial growth created a demand for labor, attracting immigrants seeking job opportunities, which in turn transformed the workforce and urban demographics.