The Gilded Age

Grafts

A bribe; money paid for a political favor such as voting.

Capt. of Industry

A business leader who contributed positively to the country in some way. Through increased productivity, expansion of markets, providing more jobs, or acts of philanthropy.

Monopolies - Market Expansion

A business or group that controls a specific market.

Political Machines

A corrupt city organization that uses favors (money, jobs, housing) to the poor to secure votes to remain in power.

Spoils System

A practice in which a political party, after winning an election, gives government jobs to its supporters, friends, and relatives.

Nativism

A set of beliefs favoring the interests of established inhabitants (old comers) against those of immigrants (new comers).

Unskilled Laborers

American or immigrant workers who were paid the lowest of wages and were easily replaceable.

Robber Barons

An American capitalist who became wealthy through exploitation (as of natural resources, governmental influence, or low wages.)

Social Gospel

Andrew Carnegie supported the idea that it was the duty of the rich to give back to help others in need.

Ethnic Neighborhoods

Areas of a city where immigrants of similar backgrounds lived making assimilation difficult.

Andrew Carnegie

Business leader who believed in the Gospel of Wealth and owned controlling interest in U.S. Steel.

John Rockefeller

Business leader who controlled Standard Oil.

Impact of the Railroad - Native Americans

Construction of this across the nation assisted in the destruction of the buffalo.

Cattle Drives

Cowboys move Longhorns from Texas to mid-western city railroads for profit.

Jane Addams

Created Hull House, a settlement house that assisted immigrants with social services, learning English, and employment.

Interstate Commerce Act

Created to regulate shipping costs and all commerce across state lines.

Farming techniques

Crop Rotation and Dry Farming allowed for Homesteaders to adapt to drier climates of the Great Plains.

Tin Pan Alley

Cultural area of New York City that promoted music publishing leading to the creation of popular music in America.

Klondike Gold Rush

Discovery of Gold in the Yukon territory encouraged miners to go west.

Trusts - Market Expansion

Exclusive ownership of a business or product that allows owners to set prices without competition.

Child Labor

Exploitation of young boys to work in factories in both unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

Chisholm Trail

Famous trail for Cattle Long drives from Texas to Kansas.

Native American Relocation

Government attempts to move Native Americans further west.

Dawes Act

Government attempts to promote Native Americans to own private land.

Pacific Railway Act

Government grants money & land to railroad companies to connect the country.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

Government legislation that stopped monopolies and trusts to protect the American consumer.

Chinese Exclusion Act

Government ruling intended to slow immigration to California in order to protect native born Americans.

Subways and Streetcar Lines

Helped reduce the problems with overcrowding and transportation in New York.

Thomas Edison

His discovery/invention led to longer work days allowing for factories to continue to operate after dark.

Living Conditions - Farmers/Homesteaders

Homesteaders were fearful & isolated. Life was unpredictable & challenging. Home were built of Sod instead of trees.

New Immigrants

Immigrants coming from southern and eastern Europe.

Haymarket Strike

Labor unrest that caused fear and resentment towards labor unions.

Assimilation - Native Americans

Lands granted to Native Americans to assimilate them to American culture.

Civil Service

Lucrative, non-elected government jobs that were often given as favors or to friends.

Mechanization - Farmers/Homesteaders

New inventions such as the plow led to the overproduction of crops leaving farmers in debt.

Barbed Wire

New technology utilized to protect crops and closed off the open range.

American Federation of Labor

Organization that unified unskilled labor which used strikes and collective bargaining to secure rights for workers.

Boss Tweed

Party Boss in New York City who took advantage of immigrants and stole money from taxpayers.

Ellis Island

Processing center for incoming immigrants in New York City.

Homestead Act

Provided 160 acres of federal land to anyone who agreed to farm the land in the Great Plains.

Pendleton Act

Provided that federal government jobs be awarded on the basis of merit and that government employees be selected through competitive exams.

Samuel Gompers

Started the American Federation of Labor.

National Origins Act

The U.S. Government attempts to reduce the amount of immigrants from both southern and eastern Europe.

Overpopulation

The influx of immigrants and people returning to cities from farms put a strain on transportation, sanitation, and housing.

Social Darwinism

Theory that individuals, groups, and people are subject to the same laws of natural selection as plants and animals. Survival of the fittest.

Pres. James Garfield

U.S. President who was assassinated prompting legislation to reform patronage in government jobs.

Pres. Chester A. Arthur

U.S. President who was responsible for passing the Pendleton Act.

Reservations - Native Americans

U.S. government's attempt to convert Native Americans to American life. Kill the culture not the person.

Tenements

Unsanitary and dangerous living accommodations in overcrowded cities.

Jacob Riis

Using photographs, he exposed the deplorable conditions facing tenement life in New York.