History Midterm

Vertical Integration

The practice of controlling all aspects of production from raw materials to finished goods in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Captain of Industry

A business leader who is viewed as having a positive impact on the economy through innovation, job creation, and philanthropy.

Robber Baron

A term used to describe business leaders who are perceived as using exploitative practices to amass their wealth at the expense of workers and consumers.

Andrew Carnegie

A steel magnate and philanthropist who led the expansion of the American steel industry and donated much of his wealth to causes such as education and libraries.

John D. Rockefeller

Founder of Standard Oil and one of the wealthiest men in history; he is known for creating a monopoly in the oil industry and for his charitable contributions.

Investment Capital

Money used to fund businesses or investments with the expectation of future returns or profits.

Skilled Labor

Workers who have specialized training or skills and are often employed in higher-paying jobs than unskilled workers.

Tariffs

Taxes imposed on imported goods to protect domestic industries and raise revenue.

Imperialism

A policy in which a nation seeks to expand its power and influence over other countries or territories through diplomacy or military force.

Annexation

The formal process by which a country adds a territory to its own.

Reconcentration

A policy used by Spain during the Spanish-American War, where Cuban civilians were forcibly relocated to camps to isolate them from insurgents.

Emilio Aguinaldo

A Filipino revolutionary leader who played a key role in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule and later against American colonization.

Yellow Journalism

A style of sensationalist journalism that exaggerates or fabricates news to attract readers, notably used during the Spanish-American War.

Muckraking

Investigative journalism aimed at exposing corruption and social injustices, particularly during the Progressive Era.

The Jungle

A novel by Upton Sinclair that exposed the harsh conditions and unsanitary practices in the meatpacking industry, leading to reforms in food safety.

Pure Food and Drug Act

A 1906 law that prohibited the sale of adulterated or mislabeled food and drugs, and created the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Assembly Line

A manufacturing process in which a product is assembled in stages as it moves along a conveyor belt, increasing efficiency and lowering production costs.This method revolutionized industrial production in the early 20th century, allowing for mass production of goods.

Taylorism/Scientific Management

A theory of management that analyzes and synthesizes workflows to improve economic efficiency, especially labor productivity. Developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor in the late 19th century, it emphasizes standardized tasks and time studies to optimize performance.

Conservationism

A political and social movement aimed at protecting natural resources and the environment, advocating for sustainable use and preservation of wildlife and natural areas.

Monopoly

A market structure where a single seller dominates the market, controlling prices and limiting competition, often leading to higher prices for consumers.

Standard of Living

The level of wealth, comfort, and material goods available to a certain socioeconomic class or geographic area, often measured by income, employment, and access to services.

17th Amendment

An amendment to the United States Constitution that established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote, rather than being chosen by state legislatures.

Black Hand

A secret society and nationalist group in Serbia responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

Triple Entente

An alliance formed in the early 20th century between France, Russia, and Great Britain to counter the threat posed by the Triple Alliance.

Triple Alliance

A military alliance formed in 1882 between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, aimed at countering the influence of the Triple Entente.

Zimmermann Telegram

A secret diplomatic communication sent by Germany to Mexico in 1917, proposing a military alliance against the United States during World War I.

14 Points

A statement of principles for peace proposed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in 1918, intended to end World War I and establish a framework for international relations.

Propaganda

Information, especially biased or misleading, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.

Shenck v. US

A landmark 1919 Supreme Court case that ruled the government could limit free speech if the speech posed a "clear and present danger" to national security during wartime.

Selective Service Act

A 1917 law that authorized the U.S. government to draft men into military service during World War I.

Essay Question:

In what ways did the Progressive Era (1900-1919) represent both a change and a continuity in the United States' approach to social and political issues?

The Progressive Era represented a significant shift in the U.S.'s approach to social and political issues, as it marked a period of increased government intervention in areas such as labor rights, consumer protection, and political corruption. Reforms like the Pure Food and Drug Act, the establishment of the Federal Reserve, and the expansion of voting rights reflected a growing belief in the government's responsibility to protect citizens and ensure fairness. However, continuity remained in the persistence of racial and gender inequalities, as well as the influence of business interests on politics. While Progressivism sought to address social injustices, many of the era’s reforms still left out marginalized groups, suggesting that the battle for equality was far from over.