DCUSH Notes

Multiple Choice Questions

Edison

  • Invented the incandescent electric light in 1879, revolutionizing how cities and homes were lit.

  • His innovations helped establish New York as the first electrified city​.

Carnegie

  • Established a vertically integrated steel company in 1873, controlling mining, production, and distribution.

  • Emphasized philanthropy, donating millions to libraries, education, and the arts​.

Rockefeller (Generally)

  • Founded Standard Oil and dominated the oil industry by eliminating competition through horizontal and vertical integration.

  • By 1880, controlled 90% of U.S. oil refining, setting the stage for antitrust legislation​.

Gilded Age

  • Period marked by unprecedented industrial growth and political corruption, satirized by Mark Twain in The Gilded Age.

  • Witnessed significant labor struggles and a widening gap between the rich and poor​.

Jacob Riis

  • Not directly mentioned in the slides, but his work likely aligns with Gilded Age discussions about poverty and urban conditions.

Social Gospel

  • A Christian-based reform movement seeking to address social inequalities, led by figures like Walter Rauschenbusch.

  • Opposed unbridled capitalism, advocating for wealth redistribution as a moral imperative​.

West

  • The West was a diverse region including the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and the California coastline, settled heavily after the Civil War.

  • Railroads played a significant role in bringing settlers and fostering agriculture, such as large-scale Bonanza farms​.

Civil Service Act (Garfield)

  • Also known as the Pendleton Act of 1883, required government jobs to be awarded based on merit rather than patronage.

  • Marked a turning point in reducing corruption in government hiring practices​.

Buffalo Bill

  • Organized a traveling Wild West show in 1883, blending entertainment with mythmaking about frontier life.

  • Showcased performers like Sitting Bull, Annie Oakley, and Calamity Jane​.

Cleveland Administration

  • Focused on addressing corruption and monopolies, signing the Interstate Commerce and Sherman Antitrust Acts.

  • First president to serve two non-consecutive terms​.

Sherman Antitrust Act

  • Passed in 1890 to combat corporate monopolies and restore competition.

  • Often used initially against labor unions rather than corporations​.

Interstate Commerce Commission

  • First federal agency to regulate commerce, specifically targeting unfair railroad practices.

  • Set a precedent for future government regulatory bodies​.

Populism

  • Originated from the Farmer’s Alliance in the late 1870s and evolved into the People’s Party.

  • Advocated for reforms like a graduated income tax, nationalizing railroads, and direct election of senators. Prominent figure: William Jennings Bryan​.

Plessy vs. Ferguson

  • 1896 Supreme Court decision upheld "separate but equal" racial segregation laws.

  • Justice Harlan’s dissent argued for a color-blind Constitution, emphasizing equality before the law​.

Civil Rights Leaders on ppt

  • Booker T. Washington: Promoted education and self-help, famously delivering the Atlanta Compromise speech.

  • Ida B. Wells: A journalist and activist who brought national attention to lynching​.

New Immigrants (not Anglo-Saxon Protestant)

  • Came predominantly from Southern and Eastern Europe, including Italians, Poles, and Jews.

  • Often faced discrimination and harsh living conditions in urban tenements​.

Spanish American War

  • Sparked by the sinking of the USS Maine and fueled by yellow journalism.

  • Resulted in U.S. acquisition of territories like Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, marking the country’s rise as an imperial power​.

Bonanza Farm

  • Large cooperative farms in the West that required substantial resources and labor.

  • Facilitated by railroad expansion, enabling mass transportation of crops to markets​.

Boss Tweed

  • Leader of Tammany Hall in New York, exemplifying urban political corruption.

  • While corrupt, he also provided essential services to immigrants, earning their loyalty​.

Unions

  • Knights of Labor included women and African Americans, excluded Asians, and advocated for 8-hour workdays.

  • Faced significant opposition, as seen in events like the Haymarket Riot of 1886​.

What did Republicans and Democrats believe in?

  • Republicans: Supported high tariffs to protect industry, gold standard, and reduced government spending.

  • Democrats: Favored silver coinage to expand currency, low tariffs, and policies benefiting farmers and workers​.

Expansionism

  • U.S. acquired overseas territories like Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, driven by the idea of the "White Man’s Burden."

  • The Open Door Policy sought to ensure U.S. access to Chinese markets​.

Sensationalism

  • "Yellow journalism" used dramatic and exaggerated reporting to influence public opinion.

  • Played a key role in rallying support for the Spanish-American War​.

Free Response Question

Spanish-American War

  • Causes: Triggered by the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, with yellow journalism amplifying public outrage and calls for intervention.

  • Conflict: Declared in April 1898, the war was fought in Cuba and the Philippines, with key battles including the Battle of Manila Bay and the Battle of San Juan Hill (Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders).

  • Outcome: Ended with the Treaty of Paris in December 1898, granting the U.S. control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and effectively ending Spanish colonial rule in the Americas.

  • Significance: Marked the U.S.’s emergence as a global power, showcasing its military strength and imperial ambitions.

  • Platt Amendment: Restricted Cuban sovereignty and allowed U.S. intervention in Cuban affairs, establishing a lasting influence in the region​.

Populism

  • Origins: Began as the Farmer’s Alliance in the 1870s, evolving into the Populist Party to address agricultural and economic issues.

  • Political Platform: Advocated for the direct election of senators, progressive income tax, regulation of railroads, and free coinage of silver to inflate currency and reduce farmers’ debts.

  • Figures: William Jennings Bryan emerged as the leading Populist, gaining fame with his “Cross of Gold” speech in 1896, which emphasized the plight of farmers and workers.

  • Coalitions: Attempted to unite rural farmers and industrial workers, though it struggled to gain widespread urban support.

  • Decline: Faded after 1896 as the Democratic Party absorbed many Populist ideas, and economic recovery reduced some of its appeal​​.

Presidents of the Gilded Age

  • James Garfield: Advocated for civil service reform but was assassinated in 1881, leading to the passage of the Pendleton Act during Chester Arthur’s presidency.

  • Chester Arthur: Signed the Pendleton Civil Service Act to curb patronage and corruption in government hiring practices.

  • Grover Cleveland: Focused on economic fairness, signing the Interstate Commerce Act and Sherman Antitrust Act while opposing high tariffs and supporting limited government.

  • Benjamin Harrison: Passed the McKinley Tariff, which raised import duties, and expanded pension benefits for Civil War veterans.

  • William McKinley: Advocated for the gold standard and high tariffs, presiding over victory in the Spanish-American War and territorial expansion