Apush Vocab 5

Social Gospel

A late 19th-century religious and social reform movement that applied Christian ethics to address societal issues such as poverty, inequality, and labor conditions. Advocates, including Walter Rauschenbusch, sought to reform urban America by promoting social justice, influencing the Progressive Era and movements for labor and housing reform.

Jane Addams/Settlement House

Jane Addams, a leading social reformer, founded Hull House in Chicago in 1889, one of the first settlement houses in the U.S. Settlement houses provided education, childcare, and services to immigrants and the urban poor, advancing Progressive ideals and the role of women in public life.

Temperance Movement/Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)

The Temperance Movement sought to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption, viewing it as a source of social problems like poverty and domestic violence. The WCTU, founded in 1874, became a leading force, advocating for prohibition and women’s suffrage, linking morality with political reform.

Frances Willard

A key leader of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, Willard expanded its mission to include women’s suffrage, labor rights, and social reform. Her efforts linked the temperance movement with broader Progressive Era reforms and helped elevate women’s roles in political activism.

Anti-Saloon League

Founded in 1893, this organization became a powerful lobbying group advocating for national prohibition. It used modern political tactics and aligned with evangelical Protestant churches to push for the eventual passage of the 18th Amendment in 1919.

Carrie Nation

A radical temperance activist known for her dramatic "hatchetations," in which she used a hatchet to destroy saloons. Her actions symbolized the militant wing of the temperance movement, drawing attention to the societal harm attributed to alcohol.

Social Darwinists

Advocates of applying Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection to human society, Social Darwinists argued that competition and survival of the fittest justified economic inequality, imperialism, and opposition to social welfare programs. This ideology was influential during the Gilded Age but faced criticism from Progressive reformers.

Horatio Alger

A popular 19th-century author known for his "rags-to-riches" novels, which promoted the idea that hard work, determination, and moral virtue could lead to success. Alger’s stories reinforced the American Dream and individualism during the Gilded Age, though critics argued they ignored systemic inequality.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton/Susan B. Anthony/National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony co-founded the NWSA in 1869, focusing on securing women’s voting rights through a federal amendment. Their efforts were pivotal in the women’s suffrage movement, culminating in the 19th Amendment in 1920. Stanton also advocated for broader women’s rights, including property and divorce laws.

Gilded Age

A term coined by Mark Twain to describe the late 19th century, characterized by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and economic growth but also marked by political corruption, social inequality, and labor unrest. The era set the stage for Progressive Era reforms.

Joseph Pulitzer

A newspaper publisher and editor who revolutionized journalism with sensationalized reporting, known as "yellow journalism." His New York World focused on investigative journalism and mass appeal, influencing public opinion on issues like the Spanish- American War. Pulitzer also established the Pulitzer Prizes for excellence in journalism and the arts.

William Randolph Hearst

A rival of Joseph Pulitzer, Hearst expanded his newspaper empire using sensationalism and investigative reporting to attract mass readership. His publications, including the New York Journal, played a significant role in shaping public opinion and promoting U.S. involvement in the Spanish-American War.

Frederick Law Olmsted

A pioneering landscape architect who designed major urban parks, including New York City’s Central Park and Boston’s Emerald Necklace. Olmsted’s designs aimed to provide urban residents with natural spaces to improve public health and social cohesion, reflecting Progressive ideals of urban reform.