Unit 4: Gilded Age- Emergence of Modern America Flashcards
Frontier
the furthest limit or boundary; in this era it was the untamed west
Dawes Allotment Act
law giving Indian families 160 acres for reservations; slowly land was taken away as more settlers moved onto Indian territory
Reservations
lands set aside for use by Native Americans; often not suitable for farming
Homestead Act
law giving 160 acres and a title after 5 years of ownership and cultivation of land
Morrill Act
gives federal land to the states allowing for agricultural state universities to be established
USDA
U.S. Department of Agriculture; established to help farming get started in the Great Plains (west)
Capitalism
an economic system in which private business runs most industries and competition thus determining how much goods cost and workers get paid
Corporations
companies that sell stock of ownership in the company to raise money
Monopoly
complete control over a business or industry
Trusts
partnerships of business owners who control businesses together
Black gold
nickname for oil; becomes more valuable than actual gold
Labor Unions
organizations formed to protect the rights of workers
Natvisits
favored native born Americans over immigrants; were anti-immigrants
Tenements
run down housing units lived in by 19th and 20th century immigrants; often were in poor conditions
Yellow Journalism
stories often published in newspapers that exaggerate the truth, but are meant to expose the problems in society
Hull House
settlement house and community service center established by Jane Addams
Political machines
similar to gangs run by politicians; political parties take control of city offices and control the entire city
Political bosses
people that ran cities often through use of fraud and intimidation
Graft
a method of fraud; using a bribe or falsehood to get political power
Muckrakers
investigative journalists that “raked up” and exposed the muck or filth of society
Gilded Age
period in American history where all seemed well, but beneath the surface, society was very corrupt; term coined by authors Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Moore
Pendleton Civil Service Act
law changing Civil Service requirements, making it necessary to take a test in order to get a government position (gets rid of old “spoils system” method)
National Grange
group established to help tackle economic and political issues facing farmers (i.e. high prices for shipping, storage their crops)
Progressive Movement
broadly based reform movement during the 20th century; lead by middle class, educated Americans who wanted to see a change
