P6 Key Concepts Flashcards
Southern Farmers’ Alliance
Trade union for farmers, the biggest and most widespread trade union in American history.
Interstate Commerce Act of 1887
Established that the ICC had to keep railroad rates reasonable. While it wasn’t successful, it was the first attempt at government regulation.
Boomtowns
Towns that sprang up wherever gold was discovered. Tended to become ghost towns once gold ran out, but some (i.e. San Francisco) became large cities.
Las Gorras Blancas
Group of Mexican Americans that partook in violence resistance against white American settlers.
Indian Appropriation Act
Ended the act of making treaties with Native tribes, and also ended the notion that they were their own nation.
Dawes Act of 1877
Established to assimilate Natives into settler life style by declaring that Natives could gain citizenship if they farmed on the land given to them.
The Ghost Dance Movement
A dance praying that the white settlers would leave. Indicated the discontent Natives had with the current situation.
Plessy v. Ferguson
Ruled that segregation was constitutional as long as both facilities were equal. Caused lynching, discrimination, and scientific racism to rise.
Bessemer Process
Process of refining iron into steel; allowed America to become the leading producer in steel.
Gustavus Swift
Pioneered the assembly line, vertical integration, and predatory pricing.
Andrew Carnegie
Mastered vertical integration, owned U.S. Steel
John D. Rockefeller
Pioneered horizontal integration, owned ~95% of the oil industry by 1880
J. Pierpont Morgan
Controlled the banking industry, interlocking directorates
Interlocking directorates
Placing officers of your company on the board of rival companies to spy on the competition.
Conspicuous consumption
Spending of money for the sole purpose of displaying one’s wealth. (ie: Buying a Rolex)
Tenement
Poorly made housing complexes that were small and cramped. Often held several families and fostered widespread disease.
Knights of Labor
Labor union, accepting of blacks and women. Fell apart after the Haymarket Square Riot
American Federation of Labor
Led by Samuel Gompers, replaced the Knights of Labor. Only accepted trades men and believed that unskilled labor shouldn’t exist.
Haymarket Square Riot
Initially a peaceful strike protest, ended up killing several policemen after an anarchist threw a bomb at them.
Political Action (Union strategy)
Unions rallying voters to vote for a specific senator.
Strikes (Union strategy)
Workers attempt to negotiate with their employers; if that failed workers refused to work until their demands have been met.
Violence (Union strategy)
Usually destruction of property, but sometimes escalated to injury or death of a person or people.
Exoduster movement
Large migration of Black Americans out of the South to avoid persecution and lynching.
Ethnic enclaves
When one ethnicity (ie: Chinese) gathered in one area to form communities based on their culture.
Americanization
Assimilating immigrants and forcing them to adopt American culture.
Jane Addams
Worked in settlement houses; led and founded the Hull House
Nativists
People who believed that immigrants were harming American culture. Also believed that white Americans committed “race suicide” by allowing the entry of immigrants.
American Protective Association
An organization against Catholics (many Catholics were Irish and Italian immigrants).
Social Darwanism
The belief that inferior races/societies will fall under stronger ones. Used to justify the success of the wealthy during the Gilded Age.
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
Stopped Chinese immigration and prevented Chinese immigrants from gaining American citizenship.
White collar workers
People in office jobs (secretary, teachers, lawyers, managers, etc.).
Consumer culture
People buying non-necessities such as Coca-Cola and tennis rackets.
Philanthropy
The act of the wealthy giving generous donations to benefit the community.
Carnegie Foundation
Invested in free public libraries, universities, and concert halls. Founded by Andrew Carnegie.
Gospel of Wealth
Written by Carnegie, encourages philanthropy.
Phoebe Apperson Hearst
Radical philanthropist who advocated for women’s suffrage and public education.
National American Woman Suffrage Association
Established by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, the merging of the NWSA and the AWSA.
Women’s Christian Temperance Union
Used peaceful protesting and lobbying to fight for the Temperance movement.
Panic of 1893
Economic depression.
Bimetallic standard
Backing money by both gold and silver.
Gold standard
Backing money by only gold.
Sherman Silver Purchase Act
A compromise between silver and tariff supporters, ordered the U.S. Treasury to buy silver.
Populist Party
Farmer backed political party, called the government to regulate the economy and power held by banks and trusts.
Patronage system
The practice of hiring supporters during voting season in return for giving them jobs if you win.
Political Machines
Party organization that uses bribery and often controlled most of a cities politics.
