US History 311

Plessy v. Ferguson

"separate but equal" doctrine supreme court upheld the constitutionally of jim crow laws

Wyoming Stock-Growers' Association

-By and for big cattle ranchers' interests, they negotiated with railroads and stockyards, in the 1880s they turned their attention towards the competition (smaller farmers). -Started among Wyoming cattle ranchers to standardize and organize the cattle industry, and grew so large that it controlled the state legislature.

Abraham Lincoln

16th President of the United States saved the Union during the Civil War and emancipated the slaves; was assassinated by Booth (1809-1865)

Andrew Johnson

17th President of the United States, A Southerner form Tennessee, as V.P. when Lincoln was killed, he became president. He opposed radical Republicans who passed Reconstruction Acts over his veto. The first U.S. president to be impeached, he survived the Senate removal by only one vote. He was a very weak president. (Johnson's racism - grew up poor in the south, abrasive temperament, continuous vetos)

Johnson County War

1892, Wyoming Stock Growers Association hired gunmen to get rid of small operators accused of stealing cattle. They fought against small farmers for majority of land and they wanted to monopolize (key to upward mobility). Ordinary businessmen with power and wealth thought that they could do anything to advance or profit from their business

6. Andrew Carnegie

A Scottish-born American industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Carnegie Steel Company in 1892. By 1901, his company dominated the American steel industry. (read about his life in notes)

Civil Rights Bill of 1866

A bill passed by Congress in March 1866 as a measure against the Black Codes to reinforce black rights to citizenship (benefit of the law). It was vetoed by Johnson and was later passed as the 14th Amendment.

Ten Percent Plan

A plan proposed by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, but never implemented, that would have granted amnesty to most ex-Confederates and allowed each rebellious state to return to the Union as soon as 10 percent of its voters had taken a loyalty oath and the state had approved the Thirteenth Amendment.

Pinkertons

A private detective agency founded in 1850. During the labor unrest of the late 19th century, Pinkertons were hired to infiltrate labor unions, and as security guards. They were well known for their involvement in the Homestead Strike, where they protected the strikebreakers.

Confederate States of America

A republic formed in February of 1861 and composed of the eleven Southern states that seceded from the United States (had their own gov, constitution, and currency). Formed after Lincoln's election because they thought he would abolish slavery (even though he said he would protect it)

Pullman Strike (1894)

A staged walkout strike by railroad workers upset by drastic wage cut because of economic depression 1893. Eventually President Grover Cleveland intervened because it was interfering with trains and mail delivery (felony) and federal troops forced an end to the strike. The strike highlighted both divisions within labor and the government's continuing willingness to use armed force to combat work stoppages.

Monroe Doctrine

A statement of foreign policy which proclaimed that Europe should not interfere in affairs within the United States or in the development of other countries in the Western Hemisphere. (to protect America's sphere of influence)

Debt Peonage

A system that bound laborers into slavery in order to work off a debt to the employer. Sharecroppers normally fell into accumulated debt which made them keep working for their bosses

literacy test

A test administered as a precondition for voting, often used to prevent African Americans from exercising their right to vote. Included ridiculous questions, even if you got the right answer, you could be denied the right to vote

Roosevelt Corollary

Addition to the Monroe Doctrine asserting America's right to intervene in the western hemisphere's affairs (latin america) if there is ever any trouble

poll tax

After Reconstruction white southerners disenfranchise black voters to keep them out of politics. One had to pay in order to vote and show receipt

Radical Republicans

After the Civil War, a group that believed the South should be harshly punished and thought that Lincoln was sometimes too compassionate towards the South. Confederate leaders needed to be punished, pro AA rights, supported a proposal that would take away Confederate's plantations and distribute it to former slaves (Thaddeus Stevens was one of them) Agenda of all republicans: 1.) Extend full citizenship to AA 2.) Use Fed. Gov's power to provide assistance to AA in the South 3.) Plant their roots in the southern states to recruit AA and poor whites

Grandfather Clause

Allowed people to vote if their father or grandfather had voted before Reconstruction, so basically all white voters could vote. Allowed potential white voters to circumvent literacy tests, poll taxes, and other tactics designed to disenfranchise southern blacks.

7. George Pullman

American inventor of the Pullman sleeping car and founder of Pullman, Illinois. Thought new industrial economy could offer people a good life, thought there were other ways than the negative industrial present. Pullman took advantage of things that could be improved( Chicago's drainage- raised buildings, uncomfortable train cars- made them luxurious)

First Reconstruction Act of 1867

An act that divided the conquered South into five military districts, each under the command of a U.S. general. To reenter the Union, former Confederate states had to grant the vote to freed-men and deny it to leading ex-Confederates. (south was under military order to maintain law and order and have more control over their gov - no more black codes, had to have AA representatives, ratifies 14th and 15th (right to vote) amendments)

Consumer Protection Laws

Are a form of government regulation that aim to protect the rights of consumers. For example, a government may require businesses to disclose detailed information about products—particularly in areas where safety or public health is an issue, such as food. 1.) Meat Inspection Act: Higher standards were set for meat and food in general 2.) Pure Food and Drug Act: outlawed certain substances (pharmacies and food - drugs and coke)

Convict Lease System

Begun during Reconstruction, whereby southern state officials allowed private companies to hire out prisoners to labor under brutal conditions in mines and other industries. (Sending blacks to jail, releasing them and making them work as cheap/exploitable labor, convicts were worth nothing so they weren't protected- worse than slavery) -Pig Law 1876: anyone convicted of petty theft $10, is convicted of grand larceny and sent to jail for 5 yrs

Henry Clay Frick

Carnegie's #2, sometimes did his dirty work like with the strike. He was very anti-union. He was in charge of the mills when the Homestead Strike occurred. His decision to use strike breakers ignited the riot, and helped stain the image of unions. When Carnegie came back he threw Frick under the bus and they fell out.

Battle of Antietam

Civil War battle in which the North suceedeed in halting Lee's Confederate forces in Maryland. Was the bloodiest battle of the war resulting in 25,000 casualties. Antietam negotiation September 1862: Lincoln's last offer was that all would be forgiven if they came back within 100 days. If not, he would abolish slavery.

conservationist

Civilization did have the right to claim nature if necessary, in the end, the needs of civilization must be filled (could use resources as long as they used them efficiently)

Robert E. Lee

Confederate general who had opposed secession but did not believe the Union should be held together by force

Hetch Hetchy Controversy

Controversy over whether to build a dam in a large valley in Yosemite National Park to create a reservoir for San Francisco. After the earthquake and fires in SF, secretary of interior and congress decided to act and build the dam.

8. Progressivism

Criticized the free market system and the problems in cities in late 19th century (poor hygience, water wasn't safe to drink, factories dumped toxins into rivers, housing was overcrowded and unsafe...) Thought the government was becoming a "by big business for big business" gov. Characteristics and concerns: -urban movement -response to the problems of a rapidly industrializing society (increase in pop., city govs were not prepared) Progressive movement left behind social justice that is still with us today.

Fidel Castro

Cuban socialist leader who overthrew a dictator in 1959 and established a Marxist socialist state in Cuba (born in 1927) Drove old gov. out and started communist gov. driven by popular resentment towards US.

14th Amendment

Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws (African Americans became citizens)

Platt Amendment (1901)

Following its military occupation, the United States successfully pressured the Cuban government to write this amendment into its constitution. It allowed the US to control Cuba's economy, their relations with other countries, and the US has the right to restore order if there are internal problems. Cuba basically became a protectorate. (is a dependent territory that has been granted local autonomy and some independence while still retaining the suzerainty of a greater sovereign state.)

2. Freedmen's Bureau

Government organization created in March 1865 to aid displaced blacks and other war refugees. Active until the early 1870s, it was the first federal agency in history that provided direct payments to assist those in poverty and to foster social welfare. (Federal agency to assist AA in the transition from slavery to freedom temporarily: schools, work, resources, supervise contracts...)

Laissez-faire

Idea that government should play as small a role as possible in economic affairs. Gov didn't regulate businesses at all before because they thought it was not their job to get involved. Progressives thought that if the gov. didn't intervene with big businesses, ordinary Americans would suffer - gov had a moral obligation

Emancipation Proclamation

Issued by Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1862, it declared that all slaves in the Confederate states would be free. Abolishes slavery in 11 confederate states. The southern states did not listen and respect this law and it turned the civil war into a war against slavery.

Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers (AAISW)

It was affiliated with the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and was the most powerful trade union in the country. Its members were skilled workers, in great demand by employers and thus able to exercise significant power in the workplace. This union had a foothold in only one of Carnegie's three major factories - Homstead. This union was destroyed after the Homestead strike.

9. John Muir

John Muir stood with the preservationists: nature had a right to exist, not everything belongs to man/cannot be controlled (let it be). He founded the Sierra Club in 1892; fought unsuccessfully to prevent the damming of the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park. Originally came from a very strict religious family from Scotland. Found his peace in the woods. Soon, he rebelled against the exploitative and patriarchal system and nature began to be his religion.

1. Black Codes

Laws passed by southern states after the Civil War that denied ex-slaves the civil rights enjoyed by whites, punished vague crimes such as "vagrancy" or failing to have a labor contract, and tried to force African Americans back to plantation labor systems that closely mirrored those in slavery times.

Preservationist view

Nature had a right to exist, not everything belongs to man and it should not always be controlled (better to let it be) (John Muir)

Homestead Strike (1892)

On June 29, 1892, workers belonging to the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers struck the Carnegie Steel Company at Homestead, Pa. to protest a proposed wage cut. Henry C. Frick, the company's general manager, determined to break the union, hired 300 Pinkerton detectives to protect the plant and strikebreakers. After an armed battle between the workers and the detectives, several men were killed or wounded, the governor called out the state militia. The Homestead strike led to a serious weakening of unionism in the steel industry until the 1930s.

Maverick calves

People branded their calves to identify them. A Maverick calf was one without a brand, the unwritten rule was that the calf belonged to whoever could brand it first. Smaller ranchers built up their herd by finding Maverick calves on open range. Big ranchers don't like this practice, thought the calves were theirs and were being stolen. Big ranchers put two groups together to kick them out of cattle business and defend their economic interests.

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power. (another way of controlling voters)

Radical Reconstruction

Reconstruction strategy that was based on severely punishing South for causing war After Reconstruction Act, Republicans made Reconstruction more drastic: Confederate leaders needed to be punished, pro AA rights, supported a proposal that would take away Confederate's plantations and distribute it to former slaves (Thaddeus Stevens was one of them) to which white southerners' reacted angrily to

"The Pioneer"

Revolutionized passenger travel on railways. A more comfortable and fashionable passenger care, made it a pleasure. Used for Lincoln's funeral procession. (high standards, great reputation)

KKK (Ku Klux Klan)

Secret society that first undertook violence against African Americans in the South after the Civil War but was reborn in 1915 to fight the perceived threats posed by African Americans, immigrants, radicals, feminists, Catholics, and Jews.

Segregation

Separation of people based on racial, ethnic, or other differences. Plessy v. Ferguson: "seperate but equal", segregation was ok, doesn't violate 14th Amendment

Hull House

Settlement home designed as a welfare agency for needy families. It provided social and educational opportunities for working class people in the neighborhood as well as improving some of the conditions caused by poverty. Run by Jane Addams, were an advocate for the poor people of their neighborhood, funded by private philanthropy

Louis Henry Morgan

Studied the stages of human development 1. Savagery: primitive existence 2. Barbarism: develop agriculture, labor, laws but land is held in common by the group (this is holding them back) 3. Civilization

4. Dawes Severalty Act

The 1887 law that gave Native Americans severalty (individual ownership of land) by dividing reservations into homesteads. The law was a disaster for native peoples, resulting over several decades in the loss of 66 percent of lands held by Indians at the time of the law's passage. Was supposed to provide Native Americans with more "security" for their property.

Social Darwinism

The application of ideas about evolution and "survival of the fittest" to human societies - particularly as a justification for their imperialist expansion. Not a struggle between individuals but between races. Superior race would come out on top. (law of nature)

3. Sharecropping

The labor system by which landowners and impoverished southern farmworkers, particularly African Americans, divided the proceeds from crops harvested on the landowner's property. With local merchants providing supplies — in exchange for a lien on the crop — sharecropping pushed farmers into cash-crop production and often trapped them in long-term debt.

"The Maine" battleship

To supervise Cuba due to unrest with Spain, US sends battleship to Havana harbor. The ship exploded and newspapers said that the ship had been attacked by the Spanish. It was the excuse the U.S. was looking for, precipitated the Spanish-American War.

Yellow-dog contract

an agreement some companies forced workers to take that forbade them from joining a union. This was a method used to limit the power of unions, thus hampering their development.

10/11. Berlin Conference 1884-5

decided how European countries were going to divide the world and claim other countries (any part that wasn't already colonized was free for the taking)

breechloader

new tech innovations: guns which load a fire in seconds (made europeans and colonization basically unstoppable)

Eugenics

the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics. could improve society if you sterilize the "feeble minded" (criminals, drug abuse, mental problems, race) and prohibit them form passing their genes onto the next generation