Gilded Age

Knights of Labor

A labor organization that believed ordinary people should have control over the enterprises they worked in, promoting membership regardless of race or gender, but excluding Chinese immigrants.

AFL (American Federation of Labor)

An organization focused on securing better wages, working conditions, and hours for skilled workers through collective bargaining.

Granger movement (Patrons of Husbandry/The Grange)

A movement that organized farmers into a cooperative network to tackle economic challenges and reduce costs associated with transportation and purchasing supplies.

Samuel Gompers

Labor leader and founder of the American Federation of Labor.

Greenback-Labor Party

A national political movement that sought to increase the money supply to assist borrowers and encourage economic growth.

National Farmers Alliance

The first national organization of farmers that led to the creation of the Populist Party.

Producerism

An ideology that values those who produce tangible wealth over aristocrats who inherit wealth and status.

ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission)

The first federal regulatory board that supervised railroad regulations and ensured rates charged by railroads were reasonable and just.

Henry George

American writer and political economist known for being the most influential proponent of the land value tax.

Progress and Poverty

A treatise by Henry George that explores why poverty exists amidst economic and technological progress.

Coxey’s Army

A protest led by Jacob Coxey advocating for job creation through federal public works projects.

Captains of Industry

Wealthy business magnates recognized for their significant contributions to industry, such as Andrew Carnegie (steel) and John D. Rockefeller (Standard Oil).

Robber Barons

A term for powerful 19th-century businessmen who were believed to have used exploitative practices to amass wealth.

Consumerism

The cultural phenomenon surrounding the buying and selling of products, marked by the rise of national brands.

Collective Bargaining

A key strategy promoted by the AFL to negotiate better wages and conditions for workers.

Sprawling Organization

A characteristic of the Knights of Labor that contributed to its decline due to lack of structure.

Economic Challenges

Issues faced by farmers that led to the formation of cooperative networks like the Granger movement.

Membership Exclusion

The practice of the Knights of Labor, which excluded Chinese immigrants despite inclusive membership policies for others.

Public Works Projects

Government-conducted initiatives that aim to create jobs, as advocated by Coxey’s Army.

Interstate Commerce Act

Legislation that established the ICC to regulate railroad rates and ensure fairness in interstate trade.

Land Value Tax

A tax proposed by Henry George aimed at capturing the value derived from land and natural resources.

Economic Cycles

The tendency of economies to experience periods of boom and bust, as discussed in George's 'Progress and Poverty'.

Populist Party

A political movement that emerged from the National Farmers Alliance advocating for the interests of farmers and laborers.

Tangible Wealth

Goods and services produced by members of society, viewed as more beneficial than inherited wealth.

National Brands

Products marketed under a single brand name that have a nationwide distribution, reflecting consumerism.

Labor Movement

A collective struggle by workers to improve conditions and rights in the workplace.

Citizens' Protest

Acts of collective demonstration, such as Coxey's Army, to advocate for social or economic change.

Social Status

The hierarchical position or rank that someone holds in society, often tied to wealth and inheritance.

Railroad Regulations

Laws and guidelines enforced by the ICC to govern the operations of railroads and protect consumers.

Economic Growth

An increase in the output of goods and services in an economy, often sought by political movements like the Greenback-Labor Party.

Buying Culture

The social phenomenon where consumer culture promotes constant purchasing and consumption patterns.

Movement of Farmers

Collective action taken by farmers to address their needs through organization, exemplified by the Granger movement.