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AP US History Period 6 (1865-1898) Flashcards

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6212778745People's (Populist) PartyAn agrarian-populist political party in the United States For a few years, 1892-96, it played a major role as a left-wing force in American politic Drew support from angry farmers in the West and South and operated on the left-wing of American politic Highly critical of capitalism, especially banks and railroads Allied itself with the labor movement.0
6212778746assimilationthe process by which a person or a group's language and/or culture come to resemble those of another group1
6212778748The Gilded AgeMeans something is gold covered The late 19th century, from the 1870s to about 1900. Term derived from writer Mark Twain's 1873 The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, which satirized an era of serious social problems masked by a thin gold gilding of economic progress.2
6212778749Social DarwinismTerm coined in the late 19th century to describe the idea that humans, like animals and plants, compete in a struggle for existence in which natural selection results in "survival of the fittest." Provided a justification for the enormous wealth and power wielded by industrialists in the latter half of the 19th century.3
6212778750Gospel of WealthAn essay written by Andrew Carnegie in June of 1889 that describes the responsibility of philanthropy by the new upper class of self-made rich. Promoted the idea of philanthropy4
6212778751Jane AddamsA pioneer American settlement activist/reformer, social worker, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in women's suffrage and world peace. She created the first Hull House. Co-winner of 1931 Nobel Peace Prize.5
6212778752Plessy v. Ferguson1896 - Legalized segregation in publicly owned facilities on the basis of "separate but equal."6
6212778754free enterprisean economic system that permits unrestricted entrepreneurial business activity associated with laissez-faire capitalism7
6212778755trustA set of companies managed by a small group known as trustees, who can prevent companies in the trust from competing with each other.8
6212778756socialistone who believes in the ownership and control of the major means of production by the whole community rather than by individuals or corporations9
6212778757radicalone who believes in fundamental change in a political, economic, or social system10
6212778758lockoutthe refusal by an employer to allow employees to work unless they agree to his or her terms11
6212778759cooperativean organization for producing, marketing, or consuming goods in which the members share the benefits12
6212778760anarchistone who believes that formal, coercive government is wrong in principle13
6212778761tenementa multi-dwelling building, often poor or overcrowded14
6212778762sweatshopa factory where employees are forced to work long hours under difficult conditions for meager wages15
6212778767reservein finance, the portion of money held back from circulation by a bank or treasury, which provides backing for its notes or loans16
6212778768bimetallismthe legalized concurrent use of two precious metals as currency at a fixed ratio of value in US History associated with the Free Silver movement17
6212778769Wabash v. Illinois (1886)Declared state-passed Granger laws that regulated interstate commerce unconstitutional.18
6212778770U. S. v. E. C. Knight Co. (1895)Due to a narrow interpretation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, the Court undermined the authority of the federal government to act against monopolies.19
6212778771Frontier Thesisstereotypical thesis that west represented individualism, democracy, economic freedom, and starting over Turner's idea20
6212778772Land Grantsland given by government to universities and railroad companies21
6212778773Dawes Act1887 land given to individual Indians to discourage tribal mindset encouraged Indians to farm for a living instead of communally owning land22
6212778774Bureau of Indian Affairsdesigned to assimilate Native Americans (children particularly) into American culture23
6212778775Open Rangethe idea that cattle can be grazed on large tracts of public and/or private property invention of barbed wire ended this idea and drove many small cattle ranches out of business and off their small plots of land24
6212778776Vertical IntegrationStrategy to maximize profits by attempting to own every step of the manufacturing process (ex. Carnegie Steel)25
6212778777Horizontal IntegrationStrategy to maximize profits by attempting to purchase competing companies in the same industry; monopoly-building (ex. Rockefeller's Standard Oil)26
6212778778Knights of LaborAmerican labor organization in the 1880s led by Terence V. Powderly. Organized a wide range of workers, including skilled and unskilled, and had broad reform goals.27
6212778779Haymarket Riot1886 Labor dispute in Chicago that ended with a bomb being thrown at police resulting in many deaths. Led to an unfavorable public opinion of organized labor especially the Knights of Labor28
6212778780American Federation of Labor (AFL)An organization of various trade unions that fought for specific reforms Wanted better wages, fewer hours, better working conditions Founded by Samuel Gompers29
6212778781Homestead Steel StrikesViolent labor conflict in Carnegie's mills Henry Frick (manager) announced pay cut Strike had to be put down by state militia30
6212778782Urbanizationmovement of people from rural communities and settlements to big cities31
6212778783"New Immigrants"immigrants from southern and eastern Europe such as Poland, Italy, etc. that arrived in the US during & after the 1880s32
6212778784Chinese Exclusion ActFirst law limiting immigration based on race; effectively stopped immigration from China through the end of WWII.33
6212778785Political MachineUnofficial political organization that works to win elections in order to exercise power Sometimes referred to as a shadow government Rose to power in the late 1800s because of ill-equipped local governments that failed to meet the needs of growing urban populations34
6212778786Tammany HallPolitical machine of New York City that was well-known for its corruption Lead by William Boss Tweed35
6212778787Pendelton Civil Service Act, 1883Standardized an exam for federal employees so that people were awarded jobs on merit rather than political affiliations Made it illegal to remove federal employees without just cause.36
6212778788Sherman Antitrust ActOutlawed monopolistic business practices not effective initially without a strong progressive federal government that would enforce it.37
6212778789Grange Movement and Farmers AllianceGrassroots movements that attempted to address the plight of farmers in the late 1800s; attempted to regulate railroads and enlarge opportunity for credit evolved into Populist movement.38
6212778790William Jennings BryanDemocratic presidential hopeful that was a member of the Populist Party free silver advocate "Do not crucify mankind on a cross of gold".39
6212778791Seward's Folly or Seward's Ice BoxSecretary of State William Seward's negotiation of the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. At the time everyone thought this was a mistake to buy Alaska the "ice box" but it turned out to be the biggest bargain since the Louisiana purchase.40
6212778792Susan B. AnthonySocial reformer who campaigned for women's rights, the temperance, and was an abolitionist, helped form the National Woman Suffrage Association.41
6212778793Laissez-Faire EconomicsThis was an economic philosophy begun by Adam Smith in his book, Wealth of Nations, that stated that business and the economy would run best with no interference from the government. This economic thought dominated most of the time period of the Industrial Revolution.42
6212778794New SouthAfter the Civil War, southerners promoted a new vision for a self-sufficient southern economy built on modern capitalist values, industrial growth, and improved transportation. In reality, this growth was fairly slow.43
6212778795AmericanizationProcess of assimilating immigrants into American culture by teaching English, American history, and citizenship.44
6212778797Interstate Commerce Act1887 Created the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to regulate railroads to be fairer to farmers First legislation to regulate corporations Ineffective because government failed to enforce it.45
6212778798Andrew CarnegieA Scottish-born American industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Carnegie Steel Company in 1892. By 1901, his company dominated the American steel industry. Great philanthropist46
6212778799Transcontinental RailroadRailroad that would cross the continent and connect the East to the West Opened new markets and helped spur the Industrial Revolution Completed in 1869 at Promontory, UT47
6212778800Social GospelLate 19th-century movement Protestant movement preaching that all true Christians should be concerned with the plight of immigrants and other poor residents of American cities and should financially support efforts to improve lives of these poor urban dwellers. Settlement houses were often financed by funds raised by ministers of this movement.48
6212778801Standard OilJohn D. Rockefeller's company that gained a monopoly over the world petroleum market with the practice of trusts and swift elimination of competition. By 1890, owned 90% of the US oil market49
6212778802Carnegie SteelA steel producing company created by Andrew Carnegie to manage business at his steel mills in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area in the late 19th century Significance: had a monopoly in the steel industry. vertical integrations.50
6212778803John D. RockefellerWealthy owner of Standard Oil Company. Considered to be a robber baron who used ruthless tactics to eliminate other businesses. Built trusts and used money to influence government.51
6212778806Central Pacific RailroadStarted in CA & pushed eastward Eventually connected with the Union Pacific RR in Promontory Point, UT Hired Chinese laborers to complete the work52
6212778807Union Pacific RailroadRR that started in Omaha, NE Connected with Central Pacific RR in Promontory Point, UT Hired inexpensive Irish laborers53
6212778808Wyoming & women's suffrageWY was the 1st state to provide women the right to vote in 1870 Sometimes referred to as the "Land of Freedom"54
6212778809"old immigrants"Immigrants who had come to the US before the 1880s Mainly from England and Northern Europe55
6212778810Yellowstone National ParkEstablished in 1872 by US Congress 1st national park56
6212778811Panic of 1873Financial panic in which banks closed and the stock market crashed57
6212778812US SteelLargest steel company of the US Created by JP Morgan by merging with Carnegie Steel Largest corporation in existence at the time58
6212778813Bessemer ProcessWay to manufacture steel quickly & cheaply59
6212778814Battle of Little Bighorn1876- Indian leaders Sitting Bull & Crazy Horse defeated Gen. Custer & his troops60
6212778815Nez Perce WarConflict between the Nez Perce & the US gov't Chief Joseph finally agrees to surrender & relocate to reservation61
6212778816Great Railway Strike of 1877RR workers initiated a strike in 1877 when they were told there would be a pay cut62
6212778817A Century of DishonorWritten by Helen Hunt Jackson Exposed mistreatment of Native Americans by US gov't & settlers63
6212778819JP MorganBanker that controlled 2/3 of RRs and eventually merged with Carnegie's steel company Formed US Steel Considered a robber baron64
6212778820Captains of IndustryOwners & mangers of large industrial enterprises who wielded great political & economic power More positive term in contrast to "robber barons"65
6212778821Robber BaronsRefers to industrialists or big business owners who gained huge profits by paying employees low wages Drove competition out of business by selling goods much cheaper66
6212778822Hull HouseSettlement home designed as a welfare agency for needy family Provided social & education opportunities for working class Worked to improve conditions caused by poverty Est. by Jane Addams in Chicago67
6212778823Jacob RiisDanish immigrant Report who pointed out terrible conditions of tenement houses Author of How the Other Half Lives (1890)68
6212778824Wounded Knee1890 Last Native American battle 300 Native killed by US military69
6212778825Ellis IslandImmigration processing center in NY Harbor70
6212778826Pullman StrikePullman RR car announced pay cut American Railway Union boycotts the use of the Pullman cars US mail failed to be delivered US gov't sent injunction to end boycott SCOTUS ruled injunction was constitutional71
6212778827Homestead ActGave settlers 160 acres of land if they lived on the land for 6 months and cultivated crops72

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