APUSH Unit 6

Okay, here are the answers to all the Unit 6 active recall questions in the requested format:

Rise of Industrial Capitalism:

What was the primary role of railroads in the growth of industrial capitalism?
The primary role of railroads was creating a truly national market for goods, connecting different regions of the country and facilitating mass production and consumption.
Describe the partnership between the government and railroad corporations. What incentives did the government provide?
The partnership involved the federal government providing land grants, loans, and subsidies to private railroad corporations to encourage the massive expansion of the railway network. About 170 million acres were given away.
Name the four transcontinental railroads mentioned.
The four transcontinental railroads mentioned are: Nebraska to California, New Orleans to Los Angeles, Kansas City to Los Angeles, and Minnesota to Washington.
What were the consequences of the Panic of 1893 on the railroad industry?
The Panic of 1893 led to about a quarter of all railroads filing for bankruptcy, allowing bankers to gain control over these companies.
How did the control of railroads become centralized by 1900?
By 1900, two-thirds of all railroad companies were controlled by only seven entities through mergers and acquisitions during the post-Panic of 1893 consolidation.
What was the Bessemer process and why was it significant?
The Bessemer process was a technological advancement that involved blasting air through molten iron to produce large quantities of high-quality steel more efficiently and cheaply. This fueled industrial growth.
Explain vertical integration and who famously used it.
Vertical integration is when one company controls every stage of the manufacturing process, from obtaining raw materials to the delivery of the final product. Andrew Carnegie famously used this in the steel industry.
Explain horizontal integration and who famously used it.
Horizontal integration involves a company making strategic business decisions to force competitors to sell their businesses to them, thereby consolidating control within a single industry. John D. Rockefeller famously used this in the oil industry with Standard Oil.
By the 1880s, what percentage of the oil industry did Standard Oil control?
By the 1880s, Standard Oil controlled about 90% of the oil industry.
What is laissez-faire capitalism? Whose writings supported this idea?
Laissez-faire capitalism is an economic system where the government is very hands-off with respect to business. The idea was rooted in the writings of Adam Smith.
Why did the American economic situation challenge Adam Smith's theories?
Smith's theories were built on competition, but the rise of monopolies in America eliminated much of that competition, undermining his thesis that individual self-interest would naturally lead to prosperity for all.
Explain Social Darwinism as applied to economics.
Social Darwinism in economics argued that wealth was concentrated in the hands of the "fittest," and this was best for everyone as it represented natural selection and progress.
What was the central argument of Andrew Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth?
Carnegie argued that those with wealth had a duty to invest it back into society through philanthropic works to benefit the public.
What was the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890? Why was it initially ineffective?
The Sherman Antitrust Act made monopolizing and activities in restraint of trade illegal. It was initially ineffective because it was vaguely worded, leading to few convictions or "trusts busted" during this period.

Societal Changes and Labor:

How did industrial growth impact the standard of living and class divisions?
Industrial growth raised the standard of living for most but sharply divided the classes into a wealthy elite, a growing middle class, and a large laboring class facing difficult conditions.
Describe the characteristics of the new "white-collar" worker.
White-collar workers were typically salesmen and managers who performed non-manual labor and dressed in suits and collars, distinct from factory laborers.
What were some of the difficult conditions faced by the laboring class?
The laboring class faced low wages barely enough for survival, long working hours (six days a week), and dangerous, exhausting work environments leading to injuries and premature deaths. Women and children often had to work as well.
Why was the influx of immigrants a challenge for early labor unions?
Employers could easily replace striking workers with poor immigrants who were willing to work for cheap wages due to their desperation for jobs, weakening the unions' bargaining power.
What tactics did labor unions use to achieve their goals?
Unions used various tactics, often the strike, to agitate for better wages and safer working conditions.
Describe the key events and outcomes of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.
Railroad companies cut wages during a recession, leading to workers striking in 11 states and shutting down much of the nation's railroads. Violence erupted, President Hayes sent in troops, resulting in about 100 deaths. It did get employers' attention, leading to some improved wages and conditions.
Describe the key events and outcomes of the Pullman Strike.
The Pullman company cut wages, leading to union workers being fired for negotiating. Eugene V. Debs' American Railroad Union directed members not to work on trains with Pullman cars, halting rail traffic. The federal government intervened, Debs and other leaders were jailed, and the strike ultimately failed.
What were the goals and membership of the Knights of Labor? Why did their influence decline?
The Knights of Labor aimed to abolish child labor and destroy trusts/monopolies. It was national in scope and open to all laborers, including black people and women, reaching over 700,000 members. Their influence declined after the Haymarket Square Riot, which the public wrongly associated with the Knights, leading to a loss of membership due to the perception of violence and radicalism.
What was the American Federation of Labor (AFL)? Who led it and what were its goals?
The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was an association of craft unions led by Samuel Gompers. Its main goals were to achieve higher wages and better working conditions for its skilled workers.
When did labor unions begin to see more real success?
Real success for labor unions would not come until the next period, the Progressive Era.

Immigration:

Approximately how much did the US population grow in the second half of the 19th century, and how many immigrants arrived?
The US population tripled, partly due to 16 million immigrants arriving in the second half of the 19th century.
Name three European countries that many immigrants came from during this period.
Many immigrants came from Ireland, Scandinavia, and Germany.
What were some of the reasons for European emigration to America?
Reasons for emigration included growing poverty, overcrowding and joblessness, and fleeing religious persecution. They came to America due to the notion of it being a land of liberty and opportunity.
Why did labor unions often oppose immigration?
Labor unions opposed immigrants because they worked for very cheap wages, fearing employers would use them to keep wages low and replace striking workers.
What was nativism? Name an example of a nativist organization.
Nativism is the advocacy for the interests of native-born inhabitants of a country over those of immigrants. An example was the American Protective Association, which was heavily anti-Catholic.
How did Social Darwinists view immigrants? Which immigrant group faced significant prejudice?
Social Darwinists believed some immigrant groups, especially the Irish, were racially inferior and would degrade the gene pool. Irish immigrants faced significant hatred, almost as much as the black population.
What was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and why was it significant?
The Chinese Exclusion Act barred further Chinese immigration. It was significant as the first US immigration law specifically targeting a race or nationality.

Westward Migration and the Frontier:

What motivated Americans to push westward after the Civil War?
Americans pushed westward motivated by the hope of self-sufficiency and independence.
What happened to the cattle industry in the Great Plains in the 1880s? Why?
Cattle drives ended due to overgrazing and homesteaders erecting barbed wire fences, which limited open grazing land.
What did the Homestead Act of 1862 offer? What was the requirement to obtain land?
The Homestead Act offered 160 acres of free land to those who settled and lived on the land for five years.
When was the frontier officially declared "settled" by the U.S. Census Bureau?
The frontier was officially declared settled by the U.S. Census Bureau in 1890.
What was the significance of Frederick Jackson Turner's "The Significance of the Frontier in American History"?
Turner argued the closing of the frontier was troubling because westward expansion had always been a way to release American discontent and had been a great class and societal leveler. He worried about potential European-style class struggles in its absence.

Native Americans and Western Expansion:

What was the reservation system?
The reservation system was where the federal government assigned Indian nations tracts of land called reservations with strict boundaries, which were smaller than previous grants.
What was the outcome of the Indian Appropriation Act of 1871?
The Indian Appropriation Act of 1871 ended federal recognition of the sovereignty of Indian nations, nullifying previous treaties.
What was the Ghost Dance movement?
The Ghost Dance movement was a nationwide resistance against white encroachment, where Indians believed performing the ritualistic dance would bring ancestors back to drive whites out.
What event is generally considered the end of Indian resistance? What happened there?
The period of Indian resistance effectively ended with the Wounded Knee Massacre in December 1890, where over 200 unarmed Indian men, women, and children were killed by the U.S. Army.
What was the goal of the assimilationist movement towards Native Americans?
The assimilationist movement aimed to end Indian culture by forcing assimilation to American values.
What was the Dawes Act of 1887? What did it aim to do?
The Dawes Act aimed to assimilate Native Americans by breaking up tribal organization, dividing tribal lands into 160-acre plots for individual ownership, and granting U.S. citizenship to those who lived on the land and "Americanized."

Agriculture in the West:

How did agriculture in the West change during this period? What type of crops did farmers focus on?
Agriculture shifted towards reliance on single cash crops like wheat and corn for national and international markets.
How did new farming methods impact smaller farmers?
New farming methods relying on expensive machinery like combines put smaller farmers out of business as they couldn't afford the equipment or compete with larger-scale operations.
What economic hardships did farmers face?
Farmers faced high prices on manufactured goods due to industrial trusts and high railroad shipping rates.
What was the National Grange movement? What were its goals?
The National Grange movement started as a social and educational organization for farmers but became political, defending farmers against trusts and railroad exploitation. They lobbied for laws against price gouging and special privileges.
What was the Interstate Commerce Act of 1886? What did it regulate?
The Interstate Commerce Act legally required railroad rates to be "reasonable and just" and established the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to oversee this regulation.

Urbanization:

What percentage of Americans lived in cities by the end of this period?
Almost 40% of Americans lived in cities by the end of this period.
What were tenements?
Tenements were poorly ventilated, overcrowded, and disease-ridden housing where poor laborers and immigrants often lived in cities.
What was suburbanization and who primarily moved to the suburbs? Why was this possible?
Suburbanization was the movement of people to individual houses built outside the city. The middle and upper classes largely resettled here, made possible by abundant low-cost land and cheap transportation by rail.
What were political machines? Name a famous example.
Political machines were corrupt organizations of political bosses and followers that dominated urban politics. The most famous was Tammany Hall in New York City.
How did political machines gain and maintain power?
Machines organized to meet the needs of businesses, immigrants, and the urban poor by handing out favors in return for their political support (votes) to stay in power.
Name three forms of popular entertainment that emerged in urban areas.
Newspapers (like Joseph Pulitzer's New York World), vaudeville variety shows, and spectator sports (like baseball, football, and boxing) became popular.
What were settlement houses? Name a famous one and its founder. What services did they provide?
Settlement houses were reform institutions that provided social services to the poor to enrich neighborhoods. The most famous was Hull House, established by Jane Addams in Chicago in 1889. They taught English to immigrants and pioneered early childhood education, among other services.

Women's Movements:

What was the primary goal of the women's suffrage movement? Name two key leaders and the organization they formed in 1890.
The primary goal was women's suffrage (the right to vote). Key leaders were Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, who formed the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1890.
What was the goal of the temperance movement? Name two key organizations involved.
The goal was abstinence from alcohol. Key organizations were the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and the Anti-Saloon League.
Who was Carry Nation and what methods did she use?
Carry Nation was a prominent figure in the temperance movement who took direct action, hacking away at beer kegs and liquor casks in bars with a hatchet.

Religious Reform:

What was the Social Gospel movement? What did its proponents advocate for? The Social Gospel was a reform movement preached from progressive pulpits. Its proponents advocated for applying Christian principles to right societal wrongs and urged middle-class citizens to address urban problems as their Christian duty.

Artistic Responses to Urbanization:

How did literature shift after the Civil War? Name a key author and a work.
Literature shifted from romanticized hero stories to realism. Mark Twain was a key author whose "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" realistically depicted American society's corruption, violence, and racism.
What artistic style did painters like James McNeill Whistler adopt?
Painters like James McNeill Whistler adopted realism in their art.
Name an architect who explored innovations during urbanization and describe his style.
Frank Lloyd Wright pioneered a natural style of architecture, incorporating lines and features of the natural environment.

The South (The "New South"):

What was Henry Grady's vision for a "New South"?
Henry Grady promoted a vision for a "New South" based on economic diversity, industrial growth, and laissez-faire capitalism.
In what industry did some Southern cities surpass New England?
Some Southern cities surpassed New England as the top manufacturer of textiles.
What characterized most of the South's economy despite some industrial growth? What was sharecropping often compared to?
Most of the South remained a racially segregated agricultural economy characterized by sharecropping, which was often seen as a form of servitude.
What happened in the South after the end of Reconstruction in 1877?
After Reconstruction ended, federal troops withdrew, removing protection for the newly emancipated black population, and white supremacy ideology led to a segregated society.
What was the significance of the Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)? What legal doctrine did it establish?
Plessy v. Ferguson upheld the constitutionality of "separate but equal" facilities for different races, establishing the legal doctrine of segregation provided the separate facilities were equal (though they rarely were in practice).
What were Jim Crow laws? Name some examples.
Jim Crow laws were a wave of new and expanded segregation laws that segregated bathrooms, water fountains, public transportation, and prevented black people from serving on juries.
How did Ida B. Wells resist racial inequity?
Ida B. Wells, a newspaper editor, editorialized against lynchings and Jim Crow, continuing her resistance even after threats and the destruction of her presses forced her to move north.
What was Henry Turner's proposal for black people?
Henry Turner started the International Migration Society in 1894 to facilitate black migration to Africa, although few took him up on it.
What was Booker T. Washington's approach to improving the lives of black people? What did he emphasize?
Booker T. Washington advocated for black people to focus on gaining economic self-sufficiency through education and vocational training, believing this would ultimately provide more power than solely pursuing political rights at that time.

Politics in the Gilded Age:

Describe the general nature of politics during the Gilded Age.
Politics during this time was largely hands-off regarding business and often corrupt, with a widespread belief in limited government and laissez-faire economics.
What were the two major political parties and what were their general bases of support?
The major parties were the Republicans (supported by blacks, middle-class businessmen, and Protestants) and Democrats (supported by big city political machines and immigrants).
What was patronage in politics?
Patronage was the practice of winning elections and awarding government jobs to supporters and party loyalists.
What were the three main issues that parties fought about during this period?
The three main issues were civil service reform, the money supply (gold vs. silver), and tariffs.
What led to the passage of the Pendleton Act of 1881? What did it aim to do?
President James Garfield's assassination by a man seeking a federal job led to the passage of the Pendleton Act, which aimed to correct the patronage system by creating competitive examinations for civil service jobs.
What did farmers and entrepreneurs want regarding the money supply? Why?
Farmers and entrepreneurs wanted the money supply expanded to include more paper money and later unlimited coinage of silver to lower interest rates and pay debts with inflated dollars.

What did bankers and investors want regarding the money supply? Why?
Bankers and investors wanted to keep U.S. currency on the gold standard, meaning the amount of paper money was limited by gold reserves. They favored this because it helped money hold its value against inflation.
Why were tariffs a point of contention? Who benefited and who was hurt by them?
Tariffs were a point of contention because while they benefited American industry by protecting it from foreign competition, they hurt farmers (by causing retaliatory tariffs and reducing international sales) and consumers (by keeping prices of imported goods high).
When was the Populist Party formed? What were they addressing?
The Populist Party was formed in 1892 to address the concentration of economic power in banks and trusts and the perceived lethargy of the major parties on key issues affecting farmers and laborers.
Name three political reforms sought by the Populist Party in the Omaha Platform.
The Populist Party sought the direct election of senators, the use of initiatives and referendums, and women's suffrage.
Name three economic reforms sought by the Populist Party in the Omaha Platform.
The Populist Party sought the unlimited coinage of silver, a graduated income tax, and an eight-hour workday for laborers.
What happened in the election of 1896 regarding the Populist Party and the Democratic Party? Who won the presidency?
In the 1896 election, the Democratic Party adopted some Populist tenets, especially the unlimited coinage of silver, gaining much of the Populist vote. However, the Republican candidate, William McKinley, won the presidency.
What event after McKinley took office briefly satisfied both proponents of the gold standard and silver coinage?
The discovery of gold in Alaska after McKinley took office increased the money supply, pleasing both Republicans (gold standard upheld) and Silverites (money supply increased).