Feb 3 - In class

Time Period: 1862 to 1898
- Start Year: 1862
  - Homestead Act initiated westward expansion.
- End Year: 1898
  - Onset of the Spanish-American War, linking to the next unit.

Significant Developments:
- Earlier periods introduced westward expansion through the Oregon, Santa Fe, and California Trails (1830s-1840s).
- Motivations for Westward Migration:
  - Gold Rush, religious freedom (e.g., Mormons in Utah).
- Acceleration in 1860s-70s:
  - Transcontinental railroads completed, beginning with the first in 1869.
  - Decreased travel time from months to one week, promoting extensive migration.
  - Resulted in the opening of the West and accompanying conflict with Native Americans, leading to tragic events like Wounded Knee.

Transformation of American Economy:
- Rise of capitalism and industrialism post-Civil War.
- Key Figures:
  - Titans of industry: Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, Vanderbilt, and Jay Gould.
  - Often referred to as robber barons or captains of industry.
- Immigrant Labor Force:
  - Labor workforce primarily consisted of Italians, Jews, and Eastern Europeans.
  - Chinese immigrants faced severe discrimination, leading to the Chinese Exclusion Act in the 1880s.
- Labor Exploitation and Unionization:
  - Working conditions led to labor exploitation; workers formed unions for collective bargaining and protests, gaining momentum by unit's end.
  - Emergence of the Populist Party, advocating for farmers and laborers' rights.

Progressivism:
- Examines urban social challenges from industrial growth, such as