unit 6 (1865-1898) Flashcards
What period is unit 6 in?
1865-1898
Tammany Hall
A political organization within the Democratic Party in New York city (late 1800’s and early 1900’s) seeking political control by corruption and bossism.
Boss Tweed
William Tweed, head of Tammany Hall, NYC’s powerful democratic political machine in 1868
Who exposed the political corruption during the Gilded Age?
Exposed by Thomas Nast Cartoons
What was a notable economic feature of the Gilded Age?
The rise of big businesses
How did big businesses during the Gilded Age profit?
Built monopolies/trusts, eliminate competition
-Made huge fortunes but did not translate profits to lower class workers
What was the result of big businesses not paying their employees enough even though they made large profits?
Labor disputes
What were the benefits of big businesses?
Job opportunities, giving back through charitable good works, giving consumers more affordable products bc of mass prodcution
What were the consequences of big businesses?
Eliminated smaller businesses
What was the difference between Robber Barons and the Captains of Industry?
Robber Barons: typically employed ethically questionable methods to eliminate their competition and develop a monopoly in their industry
Captains of Industry: used their profits to pay their workers better, donate to charities, etc.
What catalysts resulted in a boom of economic growth?
The American Industry and Trains/Locomotives
What industries rapidly grew during the Gilded Age?
ROSE
Railroads, Oil, Steel, Electricity
What is the result of rapid ROSE and American industry growth?
Growth of the labor movement
Knights of Labor
an unskilled labor union designed to bring about better wages and better conditions
- Distrust following the Haymarket Riot leads to its downfall.
The American Federation of Labor
a skilled labor union and thus carried a bit more leverage into the negotiating room and was more effective in improving conditions for its members.
What were labor strikes used for?
means to combat poor working conditions and low wages
What were the significant labor strikes that took place during this time
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877, the Homestead Strike of 1892, and the Pullman Strike of 1894
Who did the government side with during the labor strikes?
The big businesses and even took actions to break the strike
What led to the failure of many of these strikes?
The attitudes of the government, combined with the power and resources of the big businesses
Plessy vs. Ferguson
established the constitutionality of laws mandating separate but equal public accommodations for African Americans and whites
What prevented political progression in polls?
Literacy tests and poll taxes
Ethnic enclaves
New immigrants settle in communities of familiar people creating areas such as Little Italy and Chinatown
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
a set of laws that barred Chinese immigration for 10 years and prevented Chinese already in the country from becoming citizens
What were the typical lifestyles of immigrant families?
immigrant families overcrowd cities and live in packed tenement houses with little sanitation or hygiene.
Who established the Hull House?
Jane Addams
What was the purpose of the Hull House?
to assist struggling immigrants and address issues of poverty and inequality. These settlement houses provided services such as education, healthcare, and job training to help immigrants and other marginalized groups assimilate into American society.
The Social Gospel movement
advocating for social reform through religious means.
Advocates of this movement believed that it was their Christian duty to address social issues such as poverty and inequality, and they encouraged people of means to take action to address urban problems.
Agricultural issues that took place during this time?
Farmers face issues of low prices for their crops combined with high costs of production.
The Interstate Commerce Act
a federal law designed to regulate the railroad industry, particularly its monopolistic practices.
attempts to address farmer complaints, however, it fails to solve the problems in agriculture
Populist Party
A U.S. political party formed in the 1890s to represent the interests of farmers and laborers
their legacy is seen in the Progressive achievements of the early 20th century.
Ocala platform
In 1890, created by delegates of the National Alliance in which they supported: direct elections/low tariff rates/graduated income tax/new banking system.
Also demanded that Treasury notes/silver be used to increase money circulation & federal storage.
Leading issue of the period?
Money Supply
What did farmers advocate for in order to combat the issue of money supply?
Farmers advocated for free silver to increase the money in circulation resulting in an inflationary policy as well as lower tariffs.
William McKinley
Republican candidate for the Election of 1896
- Gold Standard
- Strong Tariff
- Corporate Backing
William Jennings Bryan
Democratic candidate for the Election of 1896
- gained Populist Endorsement
- Free Silver/ Bi-metalism
- “Cross of Gold Speech” (electrifying the crowd in support of the inflationary policy)
- Gov Regulation of RR and Business
- Direct Election of Senators
- Income Tax on Wealthy to Replace Tariff
Who won the Election of 1896?
William McKinley
What factors aided in distracting people from the negative impacts of urbanization and industrialization, such as poverty and inequality.
Art, music, literature, and entertainment.
