the gilded age 1880-1900

urbanization

the growth of city life in the gilded age

the gilded age 1880-1900

defined as a period of fabulous wealth in the late 1800s, but it was also a period of widespread poverty

cycle of urbanization

new factory -> job creation -> people move to the city -> more workers and consumers -> back to the start

urban problems

low wages and competition for houseing leads to tenements and slums

slum

derogatory term for a highly populated urban residential area consisting of densely packed housing units of weak build quality and often associated with poverty

tenement

a room or a set of rooms forming a separate residence within a house or block of apartments

progressive era (1900-1920)

Americans tried to remedy Gilded age problems

lynching

putting a person to death by mob action without due process of law

naacp

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

birth of a nation

Controversial but highly influential and innovative silent film directed by D.W. Griffith. It demonstrated the power of film propaganda and revived the KKK.

muckraking

the action of searching out and publicizing scandalous information about famous people in an underhanded way.

professional class

a social and economic demographic, commonly identified as part of the upper middle class

socialists

An umbrella term for people of diverse perspectives but many of whom typically advocate equality, protection of workers from exploitation by property owners and state ownership of major industries. This ideology led to the founding of certain labor parties in the late 1800s.

monopolies

Corporations that gain complete control of the production of a single good or service.

Theodore Roosevelt

1858-1919. 26th President. Increased size of Navy, "Great White Fleet". Added Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine. "Big Stick" policy. Received Nobel Peace Prize for mediation of end of Russo-Japanese war. Later arbitrated split of Morocco between Germany and France.

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)

First federal action against monopolies, it was signed into law by Harrison and was extensively used by Theodore Roosevelt for trust-busting. However, it was initially misused against labor unions

meat inspection act

1906 - Laid down binding rules for sanitary meat packing and government inspection of meat products crossing state lines.

the jungle

This 1906 work by Upton Sinclair pointed out the abuses of the meat packing industry. The book led to the passage of the 1906 Meat Inspection Act.

pure food and drug act

1906 - Forbade the manufacture or sale of mislabeled or adulterated food or drugs, it gave the government broad powers to ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs in order to abolish the "patent" drug trade. Still in existence as the FDA.

hepburn act

This 1906 law used the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate the maximum charge that railroads to place on shipping goods.

triangle shirtwaist company

In 1911 the tragic fire killed 146 people, mostly women because the owner kept the stairway doors locked to prevent theft, following stricter building acts and factory codes, and worker insurance

organized labor (unions)

An association or union of workers for the purpose of improving the workers' economic status and working conditions through collective bargaining with employers.

william h taft

27th US president, took over presidency after theodore Roosevelt, strengthened ICC, trust buster

woodrow wilson

28th president of the United States, known for World War I leadership, created Federal Reserve, Federal Trade Commission, Clayton Antitrust Act, progressive income tax, lower tariffs, women's suffrage (reluctantly), Treaty of Versailles, sought 14 points post-war plan, League of Nations (but failed to win U.S. ratification), won Nobel Peace Prize

16th amendment

Allows the federal government to collect income tax

17th amendment

Established the direct election of senators (instead of being chosen by state legislatures)

populist party

U.S. political party formed in 1892 representing mainly farmers, favoring free coinage of silver and government control of railroads and other monopolies

womans suffrage

the right of women to vote

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote

birth control movement

A reform movement espousing the idea that right to control of one's body included the ability to enjoy an active sexual life without necessarily bearing women. Emma Goldman and Margaret Sanger were the leaders of this movement.

margaret sanger

American leader of the movement to legalize birth control during the early 1900's. As a nurse in the poor sections of New York City, she had seen the suffering caused by unwanted pregnancy. Founded the first birth control clinic in the U.S. and the American Birth Control League, which later became Planned Parenthood.

temperance movement

An organized campaign to eliminate alcohol consumption

20th amendment

Congress begins on January 30th; President starts on January 20th

"Lame-duck" Amendment

comstock law

Federal law promoted by a self-appointed morality crusader and used to prosecute moral and sexual dissidents

Griswold v. Connecticut

Established that there is an implied right to privacy in the U.S. Constitution

birth control

Any method used to reduce births, including celibacy, delayed marriage, contraception; devices or medication that prevent implantation of fertilized zygotes, and induced abortions