APUSH Unit 6 Chapter 19 Vocabularly

Gilded Age: A period in the late 19th century characterized by rapid economic growth, significant social changes, and political corruption in the United States.

Solid South: The political term referring to the dominance of the Democratic Party in the Southern United States following the Reconstruction era.

Stalwarts: A faction of the Republican Party known for its support of political patronage and opposition to civil service reform during the late 19th century.

Halfbreeds: A faction within the Republican Party opposing the Stalwarts, advocating for civil service reform and a merit-based system.

Mugwumps: Republicans who broke from their party to support the Democratic candidate in the 1884 presidential election, focusing on honesty in government and reform.

Pendleton Act: A federal law enacted in 1883 that established a merit-based system for federal employment and made it illegal to fire or demote government employees for political reasons.

Greenback Party: A political party formed in the late 19th century that advocated for the issuance of paper money not backed by gold or silver to stimulate the economy.

Billion-dollar Congress: A term used to describe the U.S. Congress of 1890-1892, known for its extravagant spending and budget exceeding a billion dollars.

Sherman Silver Purchase Act: An 1890 law that aimed to increase the amount of silver the government was required to purchase, supporting the silver standard.

Populist Party: A political party that emerged in the 1890s representing the interests of farmers and the working class, advocating for monetary reform and regulation of the railroads.

Omaha Platform: The declaration of principles adopted by the Populist Party in 1892, outlining their political positions including support for the direct election of senators and a graduated income tax.

Panic of 1893: A severe economic depression in the United States triggered by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing.

Coxey’s Army: A protest march by unemployed workers led by Jacob Coxey during the Panic of 1893, advocating for public works programs to create jobs.

William Jennings Bryan: A prominent politician and orator known for his support of populist causes and his famous "Cross of Gold" speech advocating for bimetallism.

Cross of Gold: A speech given by William Jennings Bryan at the 1896 Democratic National Convention, advocating for the free coinage of silver to improve economic conditions for farmers and working-class citizens.