APUSH Unit 6

Gilded Age

refers to the period of rapid economic growth, industrialization, and technological innovation alongside widespread corruption, social inequality, and political stagnation, characterized by ostentatious wealth and underlying social problems

Monopolies

dominated industries like oil, steel, and railroads during the Gilded Age, led to concentrated economic power, stifled competition, and prompted government intervention to regulate trusts and protect consumers

Laissez-Faire

an economic doctrine predominant during the Gilded Age, advocated minimal government intervention in economic affairs, allowing businesses to operate freely with limited regulation

Social Darwinism

applied Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection to human society, justifying social inequality and laissez-faire capitalism as the natural outcome of competition and survival of the fittest

Knights of Labor

a prominent labor union in the late 19th century, advocated for workers' rights, including the eight-hour workday and equal pay for men and women, while also promoting social reform and welcoming workers of all trades and backgrounds

Chinese Exclusion Act

the first significant law restricting immigration into the United States, barring Chinese laborers from entering the country and reflecting growing anti-Chinese sentiment fueled by economic competition and racial prejudice

A Century of Dishonor

written by Helen Hunt Jackson in 1881, exposed the injustices and mistreatment of Native Americans by the United States government, sparking public awareness and advocacy for Indigenous rights

Populist Party

formed in the late 19th century, advocated for agrarian interests, monetary reform, and increased government intervention to address the economic challenges faced by farmers and working-class Americans during the Gilded Age

Sherman Antitrust Act

was the first federal statute to limit monopolistic practices and promote fair competition, although its enforcement initially proved ineffective due to judicial interpretation favoring big business interests

“Cross of Gold”

speech, delivered by William Jennings Bryan at the 1896 Democratic National Convention, championed bimetallism and criticized the gold standard, encapsulating the populist sentiments of rural and agrarian America during the Gilded Age

Andrew Carnegie

a prominent industrialist and philanthropist during the Gilded Age, built a steel empire through vertical integration and advocated the Gospel of Wealth, promoting the idea that the wealthy had a moral obligation to use their fortunes for the betterment of society

William “Boss” Tweed

a notorious political figure in 19th-century New York City who led the Tammany Hall political machine, notorious for corruption and patronage, before being convicted of fraud and graft

Booker T. Washington

a leading African American educator and advocate, founded the Tuskegee Institute and promoted vocational education and economic self-reliance for African Americans, advocating a gradual approach to racial equality known as the "Atlanta Compromise"

Sitting Bull

a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux leader, played a significant role in the resistance against U.S. government policies, including the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and became a symbol of Native American resistance to encroachment on their land and way of life

William Jennings Bryan

a prominent figure in late 19th and early 20th-century American politics, was known for his "Cross of Gold" speech advocating bimetallism, his three-time Democratic presidential candidacy, and his role in the Scopes Monkey Trial, where he defended the teaching of creationism in schools

Big Picture Idea #1

The Gilded Age was characterized by rapid economic growth, the rise of corporations and monopolies, urbanization, and the power of business leaders known as “Robber Barons,” which was enabled by growing political corruption.

Big Picture Idea #2

In response to low pay and cruel labor practices, the working class fought against big business with strikes, protests, and the formation of organized labor unions such as the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor.

Big Picture Idea #3

New technologies led to economic development in the West in the mining and cattle industry as well as mechanized farming. However, these farmers suffered due to corporate power, leading to the creation of the Populist Party.

Big Picture Idea #4

Southern cities attempted to transition from plantation agriculture to industrialization, which was promoted as the “New South” by Henry Grady. African Americans, however, still lacked political rights and economic opportunities.

Big Picture Idea #5

The Indian Wars of the late 1800s were the last major defense of the Native Americans on the Great Plains to protect their land against westward expansion, economic development, and the migration of immigrants and homesteaders.