AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP US History Period 6 (1865-1898) Flashcards

Chapters 16-18+20

Terms : Hide Images
12162175635People'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
12162175636assimilationthe process by which a person or a group's language and/or culture come to resemble those of another group1
12162175637social servicesa range of public services provided by governmental or private organizations. Aimed at creating effective organizations, building stronger communities, and promoting equality and opportunity. Include benefits of education, health care, job training and subsidized housing2
12162175638The 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.3
12162175639Social 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.4
12162175640Gospel 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 philanthropy5
12162175641Jane 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.6
12162175642Plessy v. Ferguson1896 - Legalized segregation in publicly owned facilities on the basis of "separate but equal."7
12162175643racial segregationthe separation of humans into ethnic or racial groups in daily life. Generally applies to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, riding on a bus, or in the rental or purchase of a home.8
12162175644free enterprisean economic system that permits unrestricted entrepreneurial business activity associated with laissez-faire capitalism9
12162175645trustA set of companies managed by a small group known as trustees, who can prevent companies in the trust from competing with each other.10
12162175646socialistone who believes in the ownership and control of the major means of production by the whole community rather than by individuals or corporations11
12162175647radicalone who believes in fundamental change in a political, economic, or social system12
12162175648lockoutthe refusal by an employer to allow employees to work unless they agree to his or her terms13
12162175649cooperativean organization for producing, marketing, or consuming goods in which the members share the benefits14
12162175650anarchistone who believes that formal, coercive government is wrong in principle15
12162175651tenementa multi-dwelling building, often poor or overcrowded16
12162175652sweatshopa factory where employees are forced to work long hours under difficult conditions for meager wages17
12162175653paupera poor person, often one who lives on tax-supported charity18
12162175654tycoona wealthy businessperson, especially one who openly displays power and position19
12162175655filibusterto utilize the technique of obstructing legislation by tactics such as making long speeches and introducing irrelevant amendments20
12162175656landslidean overwhelming majority of votes for one side in an election21
12162175657reservein finance, the portion of money held back from circulation by a bank or treasury, which provides backing for its notes or loans22
12162175658bimetallismthe legalized concurrent use of two precious metals as currency at a fixed ratio of value in US History associated with the Free Silver movement23
12162175659Wabash v. Illinois (1886)Declared state-passed Granger laws that regulated interstate commerce unconstitutional.24
12162175660U. 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.25
12162175661Frontier Thesisstereotypical thesis that west represented individualism, democracy, economic freedom, and starting over Turner's idea26
12162175662Land Grantsland given by government to universities and railroad companies27
12162175663Dawes Act1887 land given to individual Indians to discourage tribal mindset encouraged Indians to farm for a living instead of communally owning land28
12162175664Bureau of Indian Affairsdesigned to assimilate Native Americans (children particularly) into American culture29
12162175665Open 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 land30
12162175666Vertical IntegrationStrategy to maximize profits by attempting to own every step of the manufacturing process (ex. Carnegie Steel)31
12162175667Horizontal IntegrationStrategy to maximize profits by attempting to purchase competing companies in the same industry; monopoly-building (ex. Rockefeller's Standard Oil)32
12162175668Knights 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.33
12162175669Haymarket 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 Labor34
12162175670American 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 Gompers35
12162175671Homestead Steel StrikesViolent labor conflict in Carnegie's mills Henry Frick (manager) announced pay cut Strike had to be put down by state militia36
12162175672Urbanizationmovement of people from rural communities and settlements to big cities37
12162175673"New Immigrants"immigrants from southern and eastern Europe such as Poland, Italy, etc. that arrived in the US during & after the 1880s38
12162175674Chinese Exclusion ActFirst law limiting immigration based on race; effectively stopped immigration from China through the end of WWII.39
12162175675Political 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 populations40
12162175676Tammany HallPolitical machine of New York City that was well-known for its corruption Lead by William Boss Tweed41
12162175677Pendelton 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.42
12162175678Sherman Antitrust ActOutlawed monopolistic business practices not effective initially without a strong progressive federal government that would enforce it.43
12162175679Grange 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.44
12162175680William Jennings BryanDemocratic presidential hopeful that was a member of the Populist Party free silver advocate "Do not crucify mankind on a cross of gold".45
12162175681Seward'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.46
12162175682Susan B. AnthonySocial reformer who campaigned for women's rights, the temperance, and was an abolitionist, helped form the National Woman Suffrage Association.47
12162175683Laissez-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.48
12162175684New 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.49
12162175685AmericanizationProcess of assimilating immigrants into American culture by teaching English, American history, and citizenship.50
12162175686middle classa social class made up of skilled workers, professionals, business people, and wealthy farmers51
12162175687Interstate 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.52
12162175688Andrew 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 philanthropist53
12162175689Transcontinental 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, UT54
12162175690Social 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.55
12162175691Standard 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 market56
12162175692Carnegie 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.57
12162175693John 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.58
12162175694Industrial RevolutionPeriod characterized by the rapid social and economic changes in manufacturing and agriculture that occurred in England during the late 18th century and rapidly diffused to other parts of the developed world. In the US, this occurred during the period roughly 1825-1925.59
12162175695AlaskaThe last frontier of the North American continent. It was purchased from Russia in 1867 and was considered to be worthless land; however, in time, this was proven false60
12162175696Central Pacific RailroadStarted in CA & pushed eastward Eventually connected with the Union Pacific RR in Promontory Point, UT Hired Chinese laborers to complete the work61
12162175697Union Pacific RailroadRR that started in Omaha, NE Connected with Central Pacific RR in Promontory Point, UT Hired inexpensive Irish laborers62
12162175698Wyoming & women's suffrageWY was the 1st state to provide women the right to vote in 1870 Sometimes referred to as the "Land of Freedom"63
12162175699"old immigrants"Immigrants who had come to the US before the 1880s Mainly from England and Northern Europe64
12162175700Yellowstone National ParkEstablished in 1872 by US Congress 1st national park65
12162175701Panic of 1873Financial panic in which banks closed and the stock market crashed66
12162175702US SteelLargest steel company of the US Created by JP Morgan by merging with Carnegie Steel Largest corporation in existence at the time67
12162175703Bessemer ProcessWay to manufacture steel quickly & cheaply68
12162175704Battle of Little Bighorn1876- Indian leaders Sitting Bull & Crazy Horse defeated Gen. Custer & his troops69
12162175705Nez Perce WarConflict between the Nez Perce & the US gov't Chief Joseph finally agrees to surrender & relocate to reservation70
12162175706Great Railway Strike of 1877RR workers initiated a strike in 1877 when they were told there would be a pay cut71
12162175707A Century of DishonorWritten by Helen Hunt Jackson Exposed mistreatment of Native Americans by US gov't & settlers72
12162175708James GarfieldBecame president in 1880 Republican Assassinated after only 4 months Promoted civil service reform, but died before it could be enacted73
12162175709JP MorganBanker that controlled 2/3 of RRs and eventually merged with Carnegie's steel company Formed US Steel Considered a robber baron74
12162175710Captains of IndustryOwners & mangers of large industrial enterprises who wielded great political & economic power More positive term in contrast to "robber barons"75
12162175711Robber 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 cheaper76
12162175712Hull 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 Chicago77
12162175713Jacob RiisDanish immigrant Report who pointed out terrible conditions of tenement houses Author of How the Other Half Lives (1890)78
12162175714Wounded Knee1890 Last Native American battle 300 Native killed by US military79
12162175715Ellis IslandImmigration processing center in NY Harbor80
12162175716Pullman 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 constitutional81
12162175717Homestead ActGave settlers 160 acres of land if they lived on the land for 6 months and cultivated crops82

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!