Period 6: 1865-1898

  1. What is meant by the term, Gilded Age?  Describe what happened politically during the Gilded Age?



  1. Define Laissez-faire.



  1. What are the advantages of Laissez-faire?  Disadvantages?




  1. What is Social Darwinism?  How did the captains of industry use it to rationalize their wealth and success? What is meant by the expression “survival of the fittest”?




  1. Describe the factory conditions for the working class during the Gilded Age. Be complete in your description.




  1. Describe the contributions of the following people:


Thomas Edison - 


Nikola Tesla -


Alexander Graham Bell -


Henry Ford -


Henry Besemer -


  1. Describe the events of the Haymarket Square riot which led to violence.  How did newspapers portray the protestors?





  1. Identify or describe the following terms or concepts?


Communism -


Capitalism -


Utilitarianism -


Egalitarianism -


Vertical Integration -


Horizontal Consolidation -


Credit Mobilier -


  1. Describe the impact of the assembly line on the automobile industry.  Be sure to address production, cost of an automobile, and worker satisfaction.




  1.  What was the accomplishment of Cornelius Vanderbilt?  Describe the way that he was able to create his monopoly in this industry.




  1. Which man would eventually become the nation’s largest producer of steel?  What was the name of his steel corporation?



  1. Which man created an empire in the oil industry, and would become the richest man in America?  What was the name of his oil company?



  1. What was life like in Pullman, Illinois?  What might be viewed as controversial or unusual about this factory town?



  1. Why did Pullman’s workers go on strike?  What did George Pullman eventually do to his factory during the Pullman Strike?





  1. What were the Knights of Labor?  Why was this union ineffective in getting the worker’s demands at  McCormick Harvester leading up to the Haymarket Square Riot?




  1. What extraordinary measures were taken by Henry Frick to break-up the union activity and the strike at the Homestead Steel Factory?  Be specific and complete in your response.






  1. What was collective bargaining?  What role did it play in improving the working conditions in America?



  1. Describe each of the following ways that industrial leaders attempted to break-up union activities:


Blacklisting:


Brainwashing/Cultural Grouping:


Hiring of detective agencies and strongmen/goons:


Court Injunctions:




  1. By the 1890s, what were the specific problems faced by farmers in America?  Be specific and complete.





  1. Describe the Populist platform.  What specific legislation was supported by the Populist Party?


  1. What were some of the successes of the Populist Party?  What prevented the Populist Party from making strong inroads in politics at the national level (Presidential elections)?





  1. Which two candidates ran for President in the election of 1896?  Who was victorious?



  1. In the 1800s, from which nations did immigrants to the US originate?  How was this different from immigrants who arrived earlier in history?




  1. Which two immigrant groups played an important role in building the transcontinental railroad?



  1. What types of tests did immigrants have to pass before they were allowed entrance into the United States?



  1. What were the goals of the Ku Klux Klan?  What methods did they use to limit access to rights of certain Americans or to increase membership?





  1. Which groups of Americans were targeted by the Ku Klux Klan?



  1. What were the goals of the American Party?  By what other name were they known?




  1. Identify the following:


Push Factors -


Pull Factors -


Refugees -


Xenophobia -


Melting Pot -


Ellis Island -


Angel Island -


Red Scare -


Kickbacks -



  1. Who was William “Boss” Tweed?  Of what crimes did he commit?




  1. What was Executive Order 9066?  What did the executive action do?





  1. What was the Bracero Program?  What was its purpose?