Industrialization and Social Changes in Early 20th Century America

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to industrialization, social dynamics, and legal frameworks affecting America in the early 20th century.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern U.S.

Black Codes

Laws implemented after the Civil War to restrict the freedom of African Americans.

Industrialization

The development of industries in a country or region on a wide scale.

Assembly Line

A production process that breaks down manufacturing into a series of distinct, repetitive tasks.

Vertical Integration

The combination of one company controlling multiple stages of production, from raw materials to finished goods.

Survival of the Fittest

A concept from Darwinian theory often misapplied to justify social and economic inequalities.

Frederick Winslow Taylor

An American mechanical engineer who sought to improve industrial efficiency through scientific management.

Benevolent Capitalism

A term used to describe capitalist systems where businesses are expected to consider public welfare alongside profit.

Social Darwinism

A theory that applies the concept of 'survival of the fittest' to human societies, often to justify social inequalities.

Labor Rights

The legal rights and protections afforded to workers, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize.

Efficiency

The ability to accomplish a job with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.

Specialization

The process of focusing on a specific activity or task to achieve greater efficiency and productivity.

Industrial Working Conditions

The environment and circumstances under which industrial workers operate, often characterized by long hours, low pay, and unsafe conditions.

Child Labor

The practice of employing children in an industry or business, often in harsh conditions.

Segregation

The enforced separation of different racial or ethnic groups in a society.

Reconstruction

The period after the Civil War during which the Southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union.

Proletariat

The working-class people, especially those who do not own the means of production.

Capitalism

An economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production and the operation of market forces.

Consumerism

The protection or promotion of the interests of consumers, often referring to the culture of purchasing goods.

Mass Production

The manufacturing of large quantities of standardized products, often using assembly lines.