USH EOC
Study Guide on Key Concepts
Indian Removal Act
A law passed in 1830 that authorized the president to negotiate treaties with southeastern Native American tribes to exchange their land for territory west of the Mississippi River. This act led to the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans, culminating in the infamous Trail of Tears, where many suffered from disease, starvation, and exposure during the journey.
Sovereignty
The authority of a state to govern itself or another state. In the context of Native Americans, it refers to their right to self-govern and their political independence, which was often denied by the U.S. government.
Dawes Act
Enacted in 1887, this law aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by allotting them individual plots of land and granting them U.S. citizenship in exchange for the relinquishment of tribal affiliation.
Allotment
The act of assigning a specific quantity of land to an individual, particularly under the Dawes Act, aimed at promoting farming and breaking up communal tribal land.
Trail of Tears
The forced relocation of Native American nations from southeastern U.S. to designated "Indian Territory" in the 1830s, resulting in the death of thousands due to harsh conditions.
Assimilation
The process through which individuals or groups of differing ethnic heritage come to identify with and be absorbed into the dominant culture of a society.
Carlisle Boarding School
A government-run boarding school established in 1879 in Pennsylvania aimed at eradicating Native American culture through forced assimilation into European-American culture.
Americanization
A process where immigrants and Native Americans were encouraged or forced to adopt American culture, language, and societal norms, often at the expense of their original identities.
Nativism
A political policy favoring the interests of established inhabitants over those of immigrants; marked by opposition to immigration and advocating for the interests of Native-born Americans.
Manifest Destiny
A 19th-century doctrine that Americans were destined to expand across the continent, promoting the belief in inevitable expansion and the spread of democracy and capitalism.
Transcontinental Railroads
Railroads that spanned the continent, completed in 1869, facilitating transportation and communication across the U.S. and promoting westward expansion.
Homestead Act
Passed in 1862, this act provided 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, encouraging westward migration and settlement.
Exodusters
African Americans who migrated from the Southern United States to Kansas in the late 19th century, seeking a better life free from racial oppression and economic hardship.
Gilded Age
A period in American history from the late 19th century characterized by rapid economic growth, industrialization, and stark social inequalities disguised by a thin layer of prosperity.
Industrialization
The process of developing industries in a country or region on a wide scale, leading to the growth of factories and urban centers.
Urbanization
The increasing population of urban areas, typically resulting from migration from rural areas into cities, often associated with industrialization.
Tenements
Overcrowded and poorly maintained apartment buildings in urban areas, often housing immigrant families during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Immigration Pull and Push Factors
Pull Factors: Conditions that attract individuals to a new area, such as economic opportunities, political stability, and social freedoms.
Push Factors: Conditions that drive individuals away from their homeland, such as war, poverty, persecution, and lack of opportunities.
Chinese Exclusion Act
A law passed in 1882 that prohibited all immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States, marking the first significant law restricting immigration based on nationality.
Progressives
Reformers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries who sought to address the social, political, and economic issues caused by industrialization and urbanization, advocating for actions to improve society.
Reforms
Changes introduced to improve social conditions and government processes. Included labor laws, anti-monopoly regulations, and measures to increase democratic participation.
Mark Twain
A prominent American author known for his novels, including "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"; he was also a social critic and commentator on the societal issues of his time, particularly regarding imperialism and corruption.
Corruption
The abuse of power for personal gain; common in politics during the Gilded Age, leading to social and governmental reforms.
Political Machines
Organizations that controlled political parties in cities; used patronage and corruption to maintain power and influence over voters, often providing services in exchange for votes.
Unions
Organizations formed by workers to advocate for better wages, working conditions, and benefits; played a significant role in the labor movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Government Reforms
Initiatives aimed at improving government operations and reducing corruption, including the establishment of professional city managers and civil service systems.
17th Amendment
Ratified in 1913, it established the direct election of U.S. Senators by the people, rather than by state legislatures, aiming to make the government more democratic.
18th Amendment
Ratified in 1919, it prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States, marking the beginning of Prohibition.
19th Amendment
Ratified in 1920, it granted women the right to vote, a significant milestone in the women's suffrage movement.
"Old Immigrants" vs. "New Immigrants"
Old Immigrants: Generally referred to immigrants from Northern and Western Europe (e.g., British, Irish, Germans) who came before the 1880s.
New Immigrants: Refers to immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe (e.g., Italians, Poles, Russians) who arrived in large numbers after the 1880s, often facing discrimination and cultural barriers.