Comprehensive Study Guide for APUSH Periods 6–9: 1860s to Contemporary America

Overview of the Gilded Age:   - Society appeared prosperous but was marked by significant underlying issues.   - Income inequality grew, revealing a chasm between the wealthy and working class.

Industrial Revolution and Economic Transformation:
  - Began in the post-Civil War era (late $1860s$).
  - Led by industry titans like Andrew Carnegie (steel) and John D. Rockefeller (oil).
  - Transitioned from an agrarian-based economy to one dominated by manufacturing.

Urbanization and Demographic Shifts:
  - Massive migration to urban areas; by $1920$, most Americans lived in cities.
  - Shift from "Old Immigrants" to "New Immigrants" (mainly from Italy, Poland, Russia) in the $1890s$.   - Significant increase in Asian immigration, especially from China.

Nativism and Exclusionary Policies:
  - Rise of nativism led to laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act in the $1880s$.
  - Continued efforts into the $1920s$ to impose quotas limiting immigrants.

Labor and National Unions:
  - Workers organized to address industrialization issues.
  - Knights of Labor: Advocated for all workers, unskilled and skilled.
  - AFL: Led by Samuel Gompers, focused on skilled workers and practical issues like wages and conditions.

Agrarian Response and Populism:
  - Farmers faced challenges from mechanization and railroad dominance.
  - People's Party (Populist Party): Emerged in the $1890s$ advocating for a stronger government role in the economy.
  - Key demands included direct election of Senators and monetary reform.

Ideologies and Regulations of the Industrial Era:
  - Laissez-Faire Economics: Advocated minimal government intervention in business.   - Social Darwinism: Used to justify wealth concentration and social inequality.   - Interstate Commerce Act ($1887$): Began regulating railroad rates.
  - Sherman Antitrust Act ($1890$): Aimed at preventing monopolies.

The New South:
  - Advocated for an industrialized Southern economy but faced continued sharecropping and tenant farming.
  - Jim Crow Laws enforced rigid racial segregation.

Western Expansion and the Close of the Frontier:
  - Transcontinental movement driven by economic opportunity; led to conflicts.
  - Homestead Act ($1862$) provided land for settlers.
  - Pacific Railroad Act authorized the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.

Destruction of Native American Life:
  - Systematic slaughter of the Bison reduced resources for Native Americans.
  - Indian Wars, ending with Wounded Knee in $1890$.
  - Dawes Severalty Act ($1887$) aimed at assimilating Native Americans.

Overseas Expansion (1890s – 1914):   - Motivated by closing frontier and desire for new markets.   - Open Door Policy secured trade access in China.
  - Spanish-American War ($1898$): resulted in annexation of new territories.

The Progressive Movement (1890s – 1920):   - Core philosophy opposed Laissez-Faire, favoring government regulation to improve society.
  - Muckrakers exposed social and economic issues.
  - Key reforms included trust busting and direct election of Senators (17th Amendment).
  - Women's suffrage led to the 19th Amendment under pressure from activists.