Chapter 6 Flashcards
What has been the most important effect of the frontier in American history?
The promotion of democracy
The frontier fosters individualism and a primitive organization based on the family.
How does the frontier influence American individualism?
It produces traits such as:
* Antipathy to control
* Restless nervous energy
* Dominant individualism
These traits are seen as characteristics of the American intellect.
What historical period closed with the end of the frontier?
The first period of American history
This marks a significant transition in the nation’s development.
What economic philosophy dominated the post-Civil War economy in the United States?
Laissez-faire
This philosophy emphasized free competition, individual enterprise, and minimal state interference.
What interlinked ideas were associated with laissez-faire?
Social Darwinism
This applied Darwin’s theory of evolution to commercial competition.
Who was the most prominent American theorist of Social Darwinism?
William Graham Sumner
He viewed millionaires as the naturally selected agents of society.
What was the general attitude of leading churchmen towards laissez-faire?
They argued that ‘Godliness is in league with riches’
This view supported the idea that wealth was a sign of moral virtue.
What did laissez-faire allow individuals in terms of fortune?
An equal right to succeed or fail
This reinforced the idea of meritocracy in the economy.
What was a key term that refers to an economic philosophy emphasizing minimal regulation?
Laissez-faire
Originated in France and Britain in the eighteenth century.
Define Social Darwinism.
A term that applies natural selection to social and economic theory
Invented by Herbert Spencer.
What were the learning objectives of the chapter?
Key topics included:
* Importance of laissez-faire
* Consequences and reactions against it
* End of the moving frontier
* Situation of the USA in 1890
What was the key question posed in the chapter?
In what ways did the economy and society of the USA change and develop?
What was the dominant tendency in the economy during the Gilded Age?
The consolidation of competing enterprises into large scale units which rapidly became monopolies.
How did big businesses limit competition?
By merging with rivals and driving small firms out of business.
Who was Cornelius Vanderbilt?
A businessman known for consolidating the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad into a monopolistic network.
What did John D. Rockefeller admit about his business practices?
He wanted only the big businesses that proved they could do a big business, implying that others would have to die.
True or False: The markets created by industrial giants were genuinely free.
False.
What did big businesses depend on from the government?
Government support for business, including favorable tariffs and approval of schemes.
What was the title of Andrew Carnegie’s book?
The Triumph of Democracy: Sixty Years’ March of the Republic.
What did critics of laissez-faire capitalism denounce?
Materialism, uncontrolled speculation, corruption, and trampling over the little man.
What was the Knights of Labor?
A nationwide trade union organization formed in 1869 with over 100,000 members by the mid-1880s.
What was the Granger movement?
A movement by small farmers pushing for regulation of railroads and firms controlling storage and distribution.
What major event occurred at Haymarket Square in Chicago in May 1886?
A peaceful Knights of Labor demonstration turned into a major riot when bombs were thrown.
Who was Terrence Powderly?
Leader of the Knights of Labor from 1879 to 1893, advocating for labor reforms.
What did Henry George propose in his book Progress and Poverty?
The abolition of private land ownership.
What was the role of the American Economic Association (AEA)?
To promote scientific economic ideas influenced by German universities.
What was the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887?
Legislation aimed at outlawing restrictive monopolies and regulating railroad companies.
What was the Sherman Antitrust Act?
An act passed in 1890 aimed at combating monopolistic practices.
What was the impact of the end of the frontier on national mood by 1890?
It contributed to a change in national mood, leading to stronger protests against big business.
Fill in the blank: The Knights of Labor was a nationwide trade union organization first formed in _______.
1869
Which social reformers criticized laissez-faire capitalism?
Mark Twain, Henry George, and various social reformers and academic theorists.
What was the outcome of lobbying by the Granger movement?
Increased regulation of railroads and firms controlling storage and distribution.
True or False: The federal government actively disturbed the dominance of big business.
False.
What is the Turner Thesis?
The idea that American democracy was shaped by the attitudes and values associated with the frontier.
Who presented the Turner Thesis and when?
Frederick Jackson Turner in 1893.
What was the significance of the moving frontier according to Turner?
It was a decisive influence shaping American democracy.
Which historian is known for the Turner Thesis?
Frederick Jackson Turner.
What did Turner emphasize as essential American virtues?
- Free enterprise
- Hard work
- Self-help
- Minimal government interference
How did Turner view the impact of European ideas on American economic thought?
He rejected European ideas, particularly those influencing critics of laissez-faire.
What criticisms have been made about the Turner Thesis?
It pays little attention to gender, race, or class, and ignores the victims of the frontier experience.
What were the implications of the end of the frontier?
It was both physical and psychological, marking the consolidation of the nation.
What symbolized the end of the Indian Wars?
The suppression of the Ghost Dance Rebellion at Wounded Knee Creek.
Which states did not achieve full statehood until 1912?
- Utah
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
What role did transcontinental railways play in the end of the frontier?
They linked together the whole country.
What cities were becoming modern urban centers on the West Coast?
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Seattle
Fill in the blank: The ‘end of the frontier’ was a fulfillment of American _______.
continentalism
What did the West represent in American culture?
Limitless space and opportunities.
True or False: The Turner Thesis focused heavily on the economic impacts of the frontier.
False
What does the term ‘rugged individualism’ refer to in the context of American character?
The belief in self-reliance and personal independence shaped by the frontier experience.
What year did Frederick Jackson Turner receive a posthumous Pulitzer Prize?
1933
What major change occurred in the USA by 1890?
Territorial consolidation had been achieved
What was the state of the American economy by 1890?
The economy had been revolutionised since 1865 and was poised for dramatic growth
What political system replaced the divisive legacy of the Civil War?
A stable and resilient two-party system
What social issues persisted in America despite its growth by 1890?
Social tensions, ethnic divisions, poverty, industrial unrest, and racial tensions
What was the role of immigrants in America by 1890?
Millions of immigrants had been absorbed into an urbanised society
What was a significant concern for social reformers and muckraking journalists?
Evils such as alcohol, business corruption, and discrimination against women
What idealism characterized American foreign affairs by 1890?
Optimism and a desire for outward expansion
What was the belief underpinning frontier individualism?
All men were equal and should have the chance to prove their capabilities without societal restraint
Fill in the blank: The belief in the equality of men was the great common creed of the _______.
[West]
What complex questions of race relations were often overlooked in the popular imagination of the frontier?
The interactions between blacks and whites, and ethnic conflicts in cities
What diverse populations contributed to the ethnic landscape of Western America?
English, Irish, Cornish, Scottish, French, German, Portuguese, Scandinavian, Greek, Russian, Indians, Hispanics, Asians, black people, and Mormons
What was the significance of the year 1890 in the context of American history?
It was considered a major turning point by some historians, including in relation to the Turner Thesis
True or False: The United States was completely united during the period leading up to 1890.
False
What was the main focus of the activity in the summary section?
Evaluating the Turner Thesis and its arguments for and against the significance of 1890
What was a key study tip provided for evaluating historical extracts?
Analyze the extracts to determine key arguments and their differences
