Jessie's Flashcards
Grandfather clause
A clause in registration laws allowing people who do not meet registration requirements to vote if they or their ancestors had voted before 1867
Poll tax
A device to restrict blacks from their voting rights, required voters to pay a fee or have some form of property qualification
Literacy test
A test administered as a precondition for voting, used to prevent African Americans from voting, required voters to read and understand the constitution
Pendleton Act - merit system
1883 legislation that attempted to replace the “spoils system” by creating the Civil Service Commission
Basically, people seeking government jobs would now have to pass a test to receive the job
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
1890, attempted to restore business competition by prohibiting any contract, combination, or conspiracy (trusts) in restraint of trade or commerce
A.F.L.
The American Federation of Labor founded by Samuel Gompers in 1866, made up of 25 craft unions
concentrated on attaining practical economic goals, such as better wages, hours, and working conditions
Strikes
Workers rose up against their companies to get changes in hours, wages, or working conditions; there were over 23,000 of these from 1881-1900
Refusals to work organized by employees as a form of protest
Injunction
A court order that forces or limited the performance of some act, namely strikes, by a private individual or public official
Showed the power of corporate machines since corporation should call upon federal courts to issue these to stop strikers
Vigilantes
Groups that claimed to punish crime and maintain order even without the help of legal authorities
Interstate commerce commission
established by the Interstate commerce act in 1887
created to regulate railroad prices
The Supreme Court prohibited states from regulating railroads because Congress had the right to regulate interstate commerce
Progressive Movement
Various reforms that took place in the early 1900’s directly caused by industrialization and urbanization
Attempts to improve life through political changes and social improvements through governmental action
Progressives attempted to limit the power of corporations, strengthen justice, and improve democracy for the people
Muckrakers
Nickname of investigative journalists who revealed “muck,” especially regarding corporations
These journalists showed the public problems which needed fixing i.e. Ida Tarbell
William Jennings Bryan
A supporter of free silver who won his audiences with religion
Gave the cross of gold speech
From the Democratic Party
Secretary of State
John scopes
A teacher charged with violating the Tennessee butler act by teaching evolution
The scopes monkey trial
Sacco and Vanzetti
Convicted of murdering a Massachusetts paymaster and his guard
Italians, so the court was probably biased against them
