Homestead Strike (1892)
A violent labor strike at Andrew Carnegie’s Homestead Steel Plant in Pennsylvania, sparked by wage cuts and the use of strikebreakers. The strike escalated when Carnegie’s manager, Henry Clay Frick, hired Pinkerton agents, resulting in deadly clashes. The failure of the strike marked a significant setback for organized labor during the Gilded Age.
Pullman Palace Car Company
A manufacturer of luxury railroad cars that became the center of the Pullman Strike in 1894. Workers protested wage cuts and high rents in company-owned housing. The strike disrupted rail traffic nationwide and prompted federal intervention under President Grover Cleveland, highlighting tensions between labor and government.
In re Debs (1895)
A Supreme Court decision that upheld the use of federal injunctions against labor strikes, particularly the Pullman Strike. It affirmed the government’s authority to intervene in labor disputes affecting interstate commerce, dealing a blow to union efforts and reinforcing the judiciary's pro-business stance.
Turner’s “Frontier Thesis” (1893)
Historian Frederick Jackson Turner argued that the American frontier was a key factor in shaping the nation’s democratic values, individualism, and innovation. Presented in "The Significance of the Frontier in American History," his thesis suggested that the closing of the frontier marked the end of a critical era in American history, influencing future scholarship and policy.
Forty-Niners
The nickname for prospectors who flocked to California during the Gold Rush of 1849. This massive migration spurred rapid population growth, the expansion of infrastructure, and California's admission to the Union in 1850, while also displacing Native Americans and intensifying debates over slavery.
Greenback Party
A political movement in the late 19th century that advocated for the issuance of paper money ("greenbacks") to stimulate the economy and alleviate debt for farmers and workers. The party reflected broader tensions between agrarian interests and industrial capitalism during the Gilded Age.
Homestead Act of 1862
A landmark law that granted 160 acres of federal land to settlers who agreed to farm it for five years. It encouraged westward expansion and agricultural development but also led to conflicts with Native Americans and challenges for settlers facing harsh conditions on the frontier.
Sodbusters
A nickname for farmers on the Great Plains who broke up tough prairie soil to plant crops. These settlers faced difficult living conditions, including droughts, pests, and isolation, but played a crucial role in developing agriculture in the western United States during the late 19th century.
National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry
Founded in 1867, this organization aimed to support farmers through education, social events, and cooperative purchasing. The Grange also became a political force, advocating for railroad regulation and agricultural reforms, laying the groundwork for the later Populist movement.
Populist Party (People’s Party)
A political party founded in the 1890s to represent the interests of farmers and laborers against industrial monopolies and economic elites. The party advocated for policies like free silver, government ownership of railroads, and direct election of senators. Though short-lived, it influenced Progressive Era reforms.
Munn v. Illinois (1877)
A Supreme Court case that upheld the power of states to regulate businesses, particularly grain elevators, affecting public interest. This decision marked a victory for farmers and reformers but was later weakened by subsequent rulings favoring laissez- faire principles.
Interstate Commerce Act (1887)
A federal law that established the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to regulate railroads and ensure fair rates and practices. It marked the first significant attempt by the federal government to regulate private industry, reflecting growing concerns about corporate power.
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)
Created by the Interstate Commerce Act, the ICC was the first federal regulatory agency tasked with overseeing railroads and preventing monopolistic practices. Although initially weak, it set a precedent for government intervention in the economy, paving the way for Progressive Era reforms.
Knowt
