U.S. History: Industrialization, Big Business, Labor Unions, Immigration, Urbanization, and Progressivism

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, historical figures, economic concepts, and political reforms of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era.

Monopoly

A company that controls an entire industry and limits competition.

Industrialization

The growth of factories and machine production.

Free Market Economy

An economic system where prices and wages are determined by supply and demand, with limited government involvement.

Steel Industry

An industry led by Andrew Carnegie that provided essential materials to build railroads, bridges, skyscrapers, and ships.

Labor Union

An organization of workers formed to improve pay, hours, and working conditions.

Strike

An action where workers refuse to work in order to put pressure on employers.

Haymarket Affair (1886)

A labor protest in Chicago linked to worker rights that turned violent, involved police action against workers, and heightened tensions between workers and employers.

Samuel Gompers

Leader and founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) who campaigned for shorter workdays, better wages, and safer working conditions.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

A labor organization founded by Samuel Gompers that focused on securing better wages, shorter hours, and safer working conditions for workers.

Urbanization

The growth of cities as people moved from rural areas, driven by industrial and factory jobs.

New Immigrants

Immigrants who arrived in large numbers during the late 1800s, primarily coming from Southern and Eastern Europe.

Push Factors

Negative conditions in home countries, such as poverty and famine, that encourage people to emigrate.

Pull Factors

Attractive opportunities in America, including jobs, freedom, and better living conditions, that draw immigrants to move.

Progressive Movement

A reform movement seeking government action, regulation, and new laws to solve social and economic problems, improve democracy, protect consumers, and reduce corruption.

Initiative

A progressive political reform that allows citizens to directly propose new laws.

Referendum

A progressive political reform where citizens vote directly on proposed laws.

Recall

A progressive political reform designed to improve democracy by allowing voters to remove elected officials from office.

Trust-Busting

Government legal actions taken against monopolies and unfair business practices to restore competition.

Theodore Roosevelt

Progressive president known as a 'trust-buster' who used the Sherman Antitrust Act and lawsuits to break up harmful trusts and protect the public interest.

J.P. Morgan

A powerful banker and businessman who controlled major railroad and steel companies, serving as a symbol of monopolies and corporate power.

John D. Rockefeller

A powerful oil industry businessman who controlled all aspects of the industry, from drilling to distribution.

Andrew Carnegie

A powerful industrialist in the steel industry who utilized the Bessemer process to establish his monopoly.

Bessemer Process

An industrial method that enabled the cheap mass production of steel, fueling rapid economic growth, railroads, bridges, ships, and skyscrapers.

Sherman Antitrust Act

Federal legislation used by Theodore Roosevelt to file lawsuits against illegal trusts and break up harmful monopolies.