vocab Flashcards
transcontinental railroad
A railroad that connected the eastern U.S. to the Pacific coast, facilitating westward expansion, trade, and migration
americanization
A process aimed at assimilating immigrants and Native Americans into American culture, promoting English language and American customs
new south
A term describing the South’s economic shift post-Civil War towards industrialization and diversification beyond agriculture
sharecropping
An agricultural system in which landowners allowed tenants to farm land in exchange for a share of the crop, often leading to cycles of debt
social darwinism
A belief that natural selection applied to society, justifying social inequality and the dominance of the wealthy over the poor
gospel of wealth
An idea promoted by Andrew Carnegie that the wealthy have a moral obligation to give back to society through philanthropy
industrial capitalism
An economic system characterized by private ownership of industrial production, resulting in increased production and urbanization
jane addams
A social reformer and co-founder of Hull House, which provided social services and education to immigrants and the urban poor
settlement houses
Community centers in urban areas that offered services and education to help assimilate immigrants and improve living conditions
SOCIAL gospel
A religious movement advocating for social justice and reform based on Christian ethics, addressing issues like poverty and labor rights
pro-growth gov policies
Policies that support economic growth through infrastructure investment, regulation favoring industry, and immigration
lasseiz-faire policies
An economic philosophy advocating minimal government intervention in business and economic affairs
business consolidation
The merging of companies to form monopolies or oligopolies, often leading to reduced competition and increased power
labor unions
Organizations formed by workers to advocate for better wages, working conditions, and labor rights
political machine
An organized group that controlled a political party in a city, often using patronage and corruption to maintain power
