U.S.History II-Exam One

KNOW THE BIRDS OF PASSAGE AND ITS EFFECTS

-"Birds of Passage" more prone to accidents -lower wages -Many of the millions of immigrants who arrived in the United States in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries did so with the intention of returning to their villages in the Old World -Known as "birds of passage," many of these eastern and southern European migrants were peasants who had lost their property as a result of the commercialization of agriculture -They came to America to earn enough money to allow them to return home and purchase a piece of land

KNOW WORKING CONDITIONS, WAGES ETC...BEFORE 1900

-1880-1900 23,000 Strikes involving 6 million workers. -Work was grueling and often dangerous. -More women and children worked -Few vacations, long hours, no overtime, dangerous, little representation -Unequal distribution of pay with men vs women -10 plus hour work days, six days a week -Earned about 20 cents an hour...if unskilled then only about half of that...adding up to $400-$500 a year when it took about $600 to run a family

KNOW THE TERM HOLDING COMPANY

-A holding company is a parent corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership that owns enough voting stock in another company to control its policies and management. -A holding company exists for the sole purpose of controlling another company, which might also be a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company, rather than for the purpose of producing its own goods or services. -Holding companies also exist for the purpose of owning property such as real estate, patents, trademarks, stocks and other assets.

EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION AFTER THE CIVIL WAR INCLUDING CHANGES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO ITS DEVELOPMENT

-Advantages of the railroad were: direct routes, new routes, speed, safety, comfort, on time, year round -This was America's first big business and it employed a lot of people...thousands in fact -After the civil war, RXR production increased from 35,000 to 193,000 in 1900 -With the break through of Trunk Lines-Four major railroad networks that emerged after the Civil War to connect the eastern seaports to the Great Lakes and western rivers. They reflected the growing integration of transport across the country that helped spur large-scale industrialization. Cattle drives were destroyed, people didn't need them anymore due to the connection of the RXR

Some of the Jim Crow Laws for certain places are as follows

-Alabama: It shall be unlawful for a negro and white person to play together or in company with each other at any game of pool or billiards. -Georgia: All persons licensed to conduct a restaurant, shall service either white people OR colored people and shall not sell to the two races in the same room or under the same license. -Mississippi: Any person guilty of printing, publishing, or circulating matter urging or presenting arguments in favor of social equality or of intermarriage between whites and Negroes, shall be guilty if a misdemeanor. -Arizona: The marriage of a white and negro will be null and void. -Georgia: No colored barber shall serve as a barber to white women or girls

IDENTIFY THE "WAGE EARNERS" AND HOW WORK WAS DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN

-Although entrepreneurs were important, it was the labor of millions of men and women that built the new industrial society. -In their individual stories, nearly all unrecorded, lay much of the achievement, drama, and pain of these years -In the last quarter of the 19th century, things looked up as real wages rose, working conditions improved, and the workers' influence in national affairs increased. -Wages of the average worker rose about $7 a year, and there was also benefits expanding in health and educational services -Boys were paid little, and girls were paid even less...Girls were argued to be heading for marriage. Those who worked were just doing so in order to help out their families, so they didn't pay them a living wage. -Women were still thought of to stay at home and take care of the children and the house...so even when working they were given house-hold like tasks...making clothes and textiles.

IDENTIFY THE CAUSE FOR PASSAGE OF THE PENDLETON ACT

-Arthur, Conservative in outlook, reversed Garfield's foreign policy initiatives in Latin America, but he approved the construction of the modern American Navy. Arthur worked to lower the tariff, and in 1883, with his backing, Congress passed this act to reform the civil service.

KNOW WHY SO MANY WORKERS WERE DISGRUNTLED

-As employers' attitudes hardened, strikes and violence broke out -They wanted shorter work days and more benefits -Wanted more freedom in work environments -Bad/hazardous work environments

DESCRIBE THE ROLE OF THE KKK DURING THE RECONSTRUCTION ERA

-Between 1868 and 1872, the main threat to southern Republican regimes came from the KKK and other secret societies bent on restoring white supremacy by intimidating blacks who sought to exercise their political rights -Prominent in South with thousands of members -In 1884, within 6 months 728 black men/women had been lynched by white mobs. -Henry Hayes was executed on June 6th, 1997. It was the first time a white man had been executed for a crime against an African American since 1913

KNOW THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT

-Chinese Exclusion Act was a United States federal law signed by President Chester A. Arthur on May 6, 1882. It was one of the most significant restrictions on free immigration in US history, prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers. -In other words, congress passed this act to prohibit immigration of Chinese workers for ten years

IDENTIFY BATTLES DURING THE "INDIAN WARS" AND THEIR OUTCOMES

-Chivington Massacre (STARTS INDIAN WARS): (Cheyenne/Arapaho), 1864 Colorado/Militia losing land-200 mutilations display body parts. In 1864, Chivington wanted to attack this little Cheyenne village which happened to be under the protection of Ft. Lyon. He camped outside an waited for the men to go on the buffalo hunt, then attacked...completely mutilating women,children and older men who couldn't attend the hunt. After killing most of the tribe, it was thought he was going to get in trouble (which he did indirectly by the rebelling of tribes) but was actually awarded a metal! -Sioux Wars: 1865-1867 (gold) -Fetterman Massacre: Bozeman Trail, '66 sparked debate- AFTER CIVIL WAR (HUMANE)....Sparks debate in congress one year after civil war ended. The Sioux set up ambushes using gorilla warfare tactics...over 12 thousand arrows found in only 81 men...there were no survivors. -Black Hills (VATICAN)- WAR OF 1875- Gold: Black hills were extremely spiritual place for Sioux. Government took control over the hills when there was gold found in there. War struck, and in the end, there was a treaty giving the land back to the Sioux. (Of course mid/late 1900's we took control again and the remaining members of the tribe took it to court...still wanting their land back to this day, government has offered millions of dollars and counting, but they only want the land (now Mt. Rushmore) that we cannot give back to them) -1890 Ghost Dances/Wounded Knee Massacre: Ghost dances were a religious movement that arose in late 19th century under the prophet Wavoka, a Paiute Indian. Its followers believed that dances and rites would cause white men to disappear and restore lands to Native Americans. The U.S government outlawed the Ghost Dances, and army intervention to stop them led to the Wounded Knee Massacre. In December 1890, troopers of the Seventh Cavalry, under orders to stop the Ghost Dance religion among the Sioux, took Chief Big Foot and his followers to a camp on Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. It is uncertain who fired the first shot, but 200 Native Americans were killed. -Battle of Little Bighorn: Custer and his men defeated and killed by the Sioux at the battle of Little Bighorn. It was an armed engagement between combined forces of the Lakota (Cheyenne and Arapaho) against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army. The fight was an overwhelming victory for the Lakota, led by several major war leaders, including Crazy Horse and Chief Gall, inspired by the visions of Sitting Bull.

IDENTIFY THE COMPROMISE OF 1877

-Compromise struck during the contested presidential election of 1876, in which Democrats accepted the election of Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican) in exchange for the withdraw of federal troops from the South and the end of Reconstruction. -What was precisely agreed to and by whom remains a matter of dispute, but one thing at least was at least understood by both parties: Hayes WOULD be president and southern blacks would be abandoned to their fate.

DESCRIBE DEMOCRAT PLATFORM & REPUBLIC PLATFORM OF THE 1870'S-1880'S

-DEMOCRATS: States rights, keep Govt. local, limit the power Centralized government -REPUBLICANS: Civil rights, strong centralized government, high tariffs, subsudes RXR, promote moral progress (Freeman) -Elections divided between North (Republican) and South (Democrat)

UNDERSTAND THE FARM PROBLEM

-Farmers drive up price for farm equipment (wages imported components more expensive) -Failed to halt price drops no competition from imports and American produce was already cheaper -Farmers were forced to buy high-priced, protected products from American manufactures but sell their own products into highly competitive, unprotected world markets

DESCRIBE THE MEMBERS OF COXEY'S ARMY AND THE REASON BEHIND THE MARCH

-Groups of wanders -1894: 300 unemployed workers left Massilion OH -Led by General Jacob S. Coxey -Wanted to put the unemployed to work by building roads -Coxey Good Roads Bill-$500 million finance from congress -Petition in boots nation wide attention from media...march to Washington demanding relief from the depression -In the end, less than 1,000 demonstrators arrived in Washington, most of whom were arrested for various misdemeanors -Started a chain reaction -Police blocked roads-Arrested beaten Coxey-21 days

IDENTIFY THE ISSUES IN THE ELECTION OF 1876

-Hayes vs. Tilden election 1876 -Disputed presidential election resolved in favor of Republican Hayes over Democrat Tilden -Because they didn't want a Democrat (Tilden) in office, there was huge controversy over who won. Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina counted the votes incorrectly. Originally, Tilden had won the popular vote and had a 184 electoral vote while Hayes lost the popular vote and only had an electoral vote of 165. Ultimately, there were 20 uncounted votes, after much legal and political battles, Hayes was awarded the 20 votes and won the electoral vote by ONE vote. Thus becoming the disputed winner of 1876. -This election just so happened to be the ending of reconstruction

EXPLAIN WHY THE POPULIST PARTY DECLINED AFTER 1896

-In 1896 McKinley beat out Democratic and Populist candidate in the "battle of the standards" -Fusion with the Democrats was disastrous to the Party in the South -By 1898, the Democrats were using a violently racist campaign to defeat the North Carolina Populists and GOP, and in 1900 the Democrats ushered in disfranchisement. Populism never recovered from the failure of 1896

KNOW AND UNDERSTAND TARIFFS

-In simplest terms, a tariff is a tax. It adds to the cost of imported goods and is one of several trade policies that a country can enact -Tariffs are often created to protect infant industries and developing economies, but are also used by more advanced economies with developed industries -The McKinley Tariff Act (Republicans)- raised tariff good for industry and bad for farmers. Farmers upset because government isn't protecting the farmers. -Tariff dictates economy and politics -Very complex: import tariff (moderate to generate revenue for government agencies) -Protective Tariff: (high) support American Business, good for jobs but hurt consumer-link to corruption.

IDENTIFY IMPORTANT INVENTIONS IN COMMUNICATIONS DURING INDUSTRIALIZATION

-In this new age of invention, communication became key. -The transatlantic cable, camera, typewriter, cash register, electric sewing machine, looms, phonograph and MOST important...the telephone. The telephone made it easy to send a message within minutes as opposed to what used to take weeks, sometimes even months.

KNOW THE CHANGE IN LITERATURE AND WHY CHANGE WAS NECESSARY

-Literature realism and naturalism -Years after civil war mood was to escape reality through romantisism -Rise of realism with depression- realism true relation with people...like Tom Sawyer -Reflect broader trends in society: Indust-Evolution -Twain, Darwin, Frank Norris---Big Business -Call of the Wild geared more towards naturalist -They needed change and positivity

KNOW WHAT STARTED THE PANIC OF 1893

-Marked by the collapse of the RXR overbuilding and shaky railroad financing which set off a series of bank failures -Many RXR companies tried to take over each other and over extended themselves (Philadelphia) -hording of money-no circulation -middle class loss of homes -factories mines rxr shut down

UNDERSTAND THE PLIGHT OF THE MINERS OF THE MIDWEST

-Miners were mainly English and Irish...who opposed each other, but worked together to ensure safety -Dangerous job...1/12 died underground -Linage work-passed down English/Irish -Mines closed for 6 months at a time due to falling wages -Attracted larger # of people to the west -After 1890-first large group of skilled workers affected by flood Italian/Polish -Division of old/new -"Birds of Passage" more prone to accidents...lower wages -These immigrants would make money and then go back to their country, putting economy in jeopardy -Wage reductions in 1894 led to unrest and strikes -City blackouts/factories close due to lack of energy supply -"NEW" prone to violent protest depression hit hardest -Italian Anarchists led violent strikes population against -Old immigration voted "POPULIST" platform against immigration -Pullman strike put miner rights on backburner

EXPLAIN THE NEW GOVERNMENT INDIAN POLICY AFTER 1867

-Most Indians now were living on reservations where they exercised a limited degree of self-government. -After the Chivington Massacre and the Indian Wars, people were sick of war, so the solution in 1867 was to just let go and have PEACE...by assimilating Indians into american culture...basically stripping them of their culture and forcing them into american culture.

DESCRIBE THE LIFESTYLE OF THE INDIANS ON THE GREAT PLAINS

-Nearly 2/3 of the Native Americans lived on the Great Plains -Nomadic and Warlike and dependent on buffalo and horse. The plain tribes gave up farming almost entirely and hunted the buffalo, ranging widely over the rolling plains. The men became superb warriors and horsemen, among the best light cavalry in the world. Drove deadly wooden arrows through buffalo. Against white troops/settlers, they were able to ride three hundred yards and shot 20 arrows by the time a soldier reloaded a firearm once -They formed tribes of several thousand people, but broke off into smaller bands of three-five hundred. People could transfer from band to band within the same tribe. These bands made it difficult for the U.S government to deal with each fragment. -(Comanches especially) Captured young children to integrate into tribe usually to replace those lost. treated them like their own, but killed and were violent towards settlers -Much war not only with settlers but also with other tribes. -Comanches broke in horses in a matter of minutes -High infant mortality rate

IDENTIFY FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO PARTY LOYALTY IN THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY

-Party loyalties-rooted in Civil War traditions, ethnic and religious differences, and perhaps class distinctions-were remarkably strong. Voters clung to their old parties, shifts were infrequent, and there were relatively few "independent" voters. -Party loyalties divide along civil war loyalties, ethnic and racial lines and religious beliefs.

DESCRIBE THE REDEEMER'S PROGRAM

-Redeemers were men who came to power in the south -They had differing backgrounds and previous loyalties -Group 1: were members of the Old South's ruling planter class who had warmly supported secession and now sought to reestablish the old order with as few changes as possible. -Group 2: members of middle-class origin or outlook, favored industrial and commercial interests over agrarian groups and called for a New South committed to diversified economic development. -Group 3: professional politicians bending with the prevailing winds, such as Joseph E. Brown of Georgia, who had been a secessionist, a wartime governor, and a leading scalawag Republican before becoming a Democratic Redeemer. -Most had different views except on Laissez-Faire (government stays out of stuff) and white supremacy -Redeemers held power not by ballot-box fraud and the support of a few Northern capitalists, but by representing the interests of rural areas and the majority of Southerners -Redeemers were supporters of the Black Codes which transformed into the Jim Crow Laws. These laws restricted black civil rights. The redeemers had promised to respect civil rights in the compromise.

IDENTIFY THE MAJOR ISSUES CONCERNING THE ELECTION OF 1896

-Republican McKinley defeats William Jennings Bryan, Democratic and Populist candidate, in "battle of the standards" -Battle of standards GOLD(Republicans)/SILVER(Democrats)-currency -Silver movement -Unemployment up, farm prices down -Quantity Theory of Money- Amount of money in circulation determine activity in the economy. Lack of money=depression. -More silver=more money=more business=prosperity -Dem. Problems: No longer national party-multiple platforms...focused on race issues, silver, anti-cleveland, farmers, laborers

EXPLAIN NEW CONCEPTS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE THAT CHANGED THE ROMANTICISM OF THE CIVIL WAR

-Rise of realism-after civil war, people were tired of fighting and reality. They wanted fantasy, where the hero comes and saves the day. They wanted feel good stories...and then they wanted stories that pertained to their situation and what they were going through. Mark Twain was the leader in realism along with several other close followers.

EXPLAIN WHY INDUSTRIALISM LAGGED IN THE SOUTH

-Southern economy was so tightly bound by agriculture as well as bound to slavery -The northern colonies and later states did not have the climate and soil for vast commercial farming, and so had always been a society of small farms and towns with more manufactories than the South -The South had sunk more and more money into cash crops such as cotton, and the slaves required to produce it over the years, while Northern investors had made factories a growing phenomenon, which was drawing increasing numbers of people from the farms to the new jobs in the cities

KNOW THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR

-The American Federation of Labor (AFL): Founded by Samuel Gompers in 1886, the AFL organized skilled workers by craft and worked for specific practical objectives, such as higher wages, shorter hours, and better working conditions. The AFL avoided politics and while it did not expressly forbid blacks and women from joining, it used exclusionary practices to keep them out.

EXPLAIN THE GOALS OF THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR

-The Knights of Labor ensured all workers would receive benefits EQUALLY -Founded in 1869, the labor organized pursued broad-gauged reform and practical issues such as improved wages and hours. The Knights welcomed all laborers regardless of race, gender, or skill.

EXPLAIN WHY MCKINLEY WON IN 1896

-The Populist were draining votes and both wanted to go away -McKinley had voters come to him -Used press to McKinley's advantage -Appealed to labor, well to do farmers, businessmen and middle class -Defended econ. nationalism and urban industry -McKinley won 50% -Destroyed populist party -Endorsed democrats, opened up to slander -The press abandoned Bryan and with no press, he was unknown and stayed that way... Bryan was defeated -The press/newspapers wanted republicans to win, so of course republicans were favored in the papers and news

KNOW THE SHERMAN ANTITRUST ACT AND ITS DOWNFALLS

-The Sherman Antitrust gave power to government to dissolve trusts -Harness big business, not harm it -fueled by farmers -very little bite, not very successful -Things were not clearly defined, so in many cases, people/lawyers could find big loopholes -In other words, due to intense pressure from Big Business & loose wording of Act failed to define such key terms as combination, conspiracy, monopoly, and trust. Not until early 1900's w/ rule of reason define what a trust was

DESCRIBE THE INDIAN RESERVATION POLICY 1830'S-1850'S

-The U.S. government's policies towards Native Americans in the second half of the nineteenth century were influenced by the desire to expand westward into territories occupied by these Native American tribes -By the 1850s nearly all Native American tribes, roughly 360,000 in number, lived to the west of the Mississippi River. These American Indians, some from the Northwestern and Southeastern territories, were confined to Indian Territory located in present day Oklahoma, while the Kiowa and Comanche Native American tribes shared the land of the Southern Plains.

KNOW WHY THE RXR WERE SUCCESSFUL

-The development of RAILROADS was one of the most important phenomena of the Industrial Revolution. -With their formation, construction and operation, they brought profound social, economic and political change to a country only 50 years old. -Over the next 50 years, America would come to see magnificent bridges and other structures on which trains would run, awesome depots, ruthless rail magnates and the majesty of rail locomotives crossing the country. -New railroads came swiftly -It was a new way to travel with many benefits, and pointed towards new business developments and innovation -Introduce standard time zones

ISSUES OF THE ELECTION OF 1896

-The election of 1896 brought to a head the fight between supporters of silver and gold, established the Republicans as the majority party, and shaped the nation's politics until 1932. -Known as the "battle of the standards" because it focused primarily on the gold and silver standards of money -Economic issues including bimetallism (a system allowing the unrestricted currency of two metals (e.g., gold and silver) as legal tender at a fixed ratio to each other) he gold standard, free silver, and the tariff, were crucial.

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OLD/NEW IMMIGRANTS

-The old immigrants were the English and Irish...who, even though they hated each other, worked together and made things work to ensure safety. -The new immigrants were the Italian and Polish...who were reckless and disruptive. They would make this money and bring it back home...killing our economy and balance

EXPLAIN THE RISE OF THE POPULIST MOVEMENT

-This political party was organized in 1892 by farm, labor, and reform leaders, mainly from the Farmer's Alliance. It offered a broad-based reform platform reflecting the Ocala Demands. After 1896, it became identified as a one-issue party focused on free-silver and gradually died away. -The rise of the Populist Party was the culmination of two decades of suffering among farmers of the South and West -The Populists supported policies to relieve the hardships of farmers and had an important impact on the politics of the 1890s -Government focus on industrialization leaving small farms to fail

KNOW THE ALLIANCE MOVEMENT AND ITS OBJECTIVES

-Two Factions: Northwestern Alliance and Southern Alliance -Southern: Lampasses Texas 1875 -1890 Million members -Spread word: newspaper, lectures -Established co-op grain elevators, marketing, and retail stores -Northwestern: 1880 -same goals as south except: secrecy, centralized control -quickly turn to politics: People's Party -Ocala demands 1890: crops in government warehouses, no national banks, subsidize treasury to make low-interest loans, free silver, tariff on necessary items -elected 4 Cong and U.S Senate

KNOW WOMEN WORKERS AND THEIR LIFESTYLE

-Women were still thought of to stay at home and take care of the children and the house...so even when working they were given house-hold like tasks...making clothes and textiles. -Girls were argued to be heading for marriage. Those who worked were just doing so in order to help out their families, so they didn't pay them a living wage. -Girls paid even less than the already low wages of men/boys

DESCRIBE HOW THE HAYMARKET SQUARE RIOT AFFECTED THE NATIONAL LABOR MOVEMENT

-Worst incident took place at Haymarket Square in Chicago, where workers had been campaigning for an 8 hour work day. Police intervened in a strike at the McCormick Harvester works, shot and killed two workers. The next evening, labor leaders called a protest meeting at Haymarket Square near downtown Chicago. The meeting was peaceful, even a bit dull. About 3000 people were there, and police ordered them to dispurse, and someone through a dynamite bomb that instantly killed one policeman and fatally wounded six others. Police fired into the crowd and killed four people. With that said, this riot affected the national labor movement by weakening it. Cities strengthened their police forces and armories. Violence again broke out in the unsettled conditions of the 1890's.

IDENTIFY INDUSTRIES IN THE WEST THAT INFLUENCED MIGRATION

-main reason was to find work -oil "Black Gold" ~need more info~

UNDERSTAND THE GOLD/SILVER DEBATE AND KNOW WHICH PARTY SUPPORTED GOLD/SILVER

Gold-Republicans Silver-Democrats -Republicans drooling for election -WILLIAM MCKINLEY won nomination Ohio-Platform Gold Standard -Democratic problems- no longer nation party, multiple platforms...focused on race issues, silver, anticleveland, farmers, laborers -WILLIAM J. BRYAN profound speaker little political exp. "Speech Cross of Gold" -1896 Democratic convention silverlites in charge focused on free coinage silver, anti cleveland and censure gold bond sales -cross of gold speech-Bryan sealed nomination for democrats -They implied that coinage of silver (on Bryan's side) or adherence to the gold standard (on the Republican side) was the single key to prosperity--and sometimes to the nation's honor

NAME THE INDIVIDUAL AND COMPANY MOST CLOSELY TIED TO "TRUSTS" AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A "TRUST"

Rockefeller and The Standard Oil Company were most closely tied to "trusts". Trusts were a device to centralize and make more efficient the management of diverse and far-flung business operations. It allowed stockholders to exchange their stock certificates for trust certificates, on which dividends were paid. John D. Rockefeller organized the first major trust, the Standard Oil Trust, in 1882. Competition almost disappeared and profits soared.

DESCRIBE WHAT ROCKEFELLER DID TO EXISTING COMPETITION

Rockefeller at age 24 worked for/started the Standard Oil Company became US 1st billionaire/richest in history. He also (like Carnegie) practiced vertical integration. He absorbed or destroyed competition. He was also a "penny pincher", meaning if it would save him even half of a cent, he would do it. He could see the future turning towards oil, so he starts standard oil...a segway into automobiles.

EXPLAIN HOW THE GOLD/SILVER CONTROVERSY ENDED

The Gold Standard Act establishes GOLD as the standard currency. This act passed by congress in 1900, made all currency redeemable in GOLD. The United States remained on the gold standard until 1933.

LIST THE REASONS THE HOMESTEAD ACT FAILED TO ACHIEVE ITS GOAL

The Homestead Act of 1862 was legislation granting 160 acres to anyone who paid a $10 fee and pledged to live on and cultivate the land for 5 years. Between 1862 and 1900, nearly 600,000 families claimed homesteads under its provisions. However, this act, due to the arid climate, difficult landscape and lack of sustainable family life, the act failed.

EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF THE NATIONAL RECLAMATION ACT

The National Reclamation Act (Newlands Act) Passed in 1902, this legislation set aside most of the proceeds from the sale of public land in sixteen western states to fund irrigation projects. Over the next decades, dams, canals, and irrigation systems channeled water to dry areas, creating a "hydraulic" society that was rich in crops and cities, but ever thirstier and in danger of outrunning the precious eater on which it all depended.

EXPLAIN WHICH INDUSTRY WAS THE NATIONS FIRST BIG BUSINESS

The RXR was the first big business in America. Railroads were a link, bringing the rural and the cities together. People were able to easily transport themselves, goods, and services all over...it was innovation leading.

EXPLAIN THE TIMBER CULTURE ACT AND WHO IT BENEFITED

The Timber Culture Act tried to adjust the Homestead Act, allowing use of more land. It allowed an additional 160 acres if they planted trees on a quarter of it within four years. Somewhat successful, it distributed 10 million acres of land, encouraged needed forestation, and enabled homesteaders to expand their farms to a workable size. This act applied only to lands "unfit for cultivation" and valuable chiefly for timber or stone. It permitted anyone in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington to buy up to 160 acres of forest land for 2.50 an acre.

NAME THE TWO RAILROADS THAT FORMED THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RR

The two railroads that formed the Transcontinental Railroad were the Union Pacific westward and the Central Pacific eastward.

DESCRIBE HOW THE DAWES ACT UNDERMINED INDIAN CULTURE

This 1877 act gave each Indian/family their own farmland. Legislation passed by Congress that aimed to break up traditional Indian life by promoting individual land ownership. It divided tribal lands into small plots that were distributed among members of each tribe. Provisions were made for education and eventual citizenship. The law led to corruption and exploitation and weakened tribal culture. Now a majority of the Indians had already died off, so there wasn't a whole lot of Indians to give land to. This act was meant to turn them into farmers. Many Indians did not know how to farm and many of the promises were not kept.

EXPLAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PENDLETON ACT

This 1883 law created a bipartisan Civil Service Commission to administer competitive exams for civil service jobs and appoint officeholders based on merit. It also outlawed compulsory political contributions from appointed officials.

EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT OF VERTICAL INTEGRATION IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY

This is where a single company owns and controls the entire process. Andrew Carnegie was a huge example, as he bought all the companies so that there was no middle man when he needed things like water and such, meaning he didn't have to pay. IT's a very self sustaining/functioning type of way of business

NAME THE AUTHOR OF THE "CROSS OF GOLD" SPEECH

William J. Bryan