U.S History Study Guide- Exam 1

What differentiated a "robber baron" from other "captains of the industry" in the late nineteenth century America?

"Captains of industry" (such as Carnegie or Rockefeller) are noted for their new business models, entrepreneurial approaches, and, to varying degrees, philanthropic efforts, all of which transformed late nineteenth-century America. "Robber barons" (such as Gould) are noted for their self-centered drive for profit at the expense of workers and the general public, who seldom benefitted to any great degree. The terms, however, remain a gray area, as one could characterize the ruthless business practices of Rockefeller, or some of Carnegie's tactics with regard to workers' efforts to organize, as similar to the methods of robber barons. Nevertheless, "captains of industry" are noted for contributions that fundamentally changed and typically improved the nation, whereas "robber barons" can seldom point to such concrete contributions.

Which president made significant steps towards civil service reform? A. Chester A. Arthur B. Benjamin Harrison C. Grover Cleveland D. Roscoe Conkling

A. Chester A. Arthur

What brought the majority of Chinese immigrants to the U.S.? A. Gold B. work opportunities on the railroad C. prisoner of war status D. Chinese benevolent associations

A. Gold

Which of the following "robber barons" was notable for the exploitative way he made his fortune in railroads? A. Jay Gould B. Cornelius Vanderbiltc. C. Andrew Carnegied. D. J. Pierpont Morgan

A. Jay Gould

The American cowboy owes much of its model to what other culture? A. Mexicans B. Indians C. Northern European immigrants D. Chinese immigrants

A. Mexicans

Sodbusters

Sodbusters was the name given to Great Plains farmers because they had to break through so much thick soil, called sod, in order to farm. They were the people who came to live under the Homesteaders Act, and "broke the sod" by farming. Due to poor farming land, they were usually reduced to poverty.

What technological and economic factors combined to lead to the explosive growth of American cities at this time?

At the end of the nineteenth century, a confluence of events made urban life more desirable and more possible. Technologies such as electricity and the telephone allowed factories to build and grow in cities, and skyscrapers enabled the relatively small geographic areas to continue expanding. The new demand for workers spurred a massive influx of job-seekers from both rural areas of the United States and from eastern and southern Europe. Urban housing—as well as services such as transportation and sanitation—expanded accordingly, though cities struggled to cope with the surging demand. Together, technological innovations and an exploding population led American cities to grow as never before.

Which of the following was a disadvantage of machine politics? A. Immigrants did not have a voice B. Taxpayers ultimately paid higher city taxes due to graft. C. Only wealthy parts of the city received timely responses. D. Citizens who voiced complaints were at risk for their safety.

B. Taxpayers ultimately paid higher city taxes due to graft.

Which of the following was not a key goal of the Knights of Labor? A. an end to convict labor B. a graduated income tax on personal wealth C. equal pay regardless of gender D. the creation of cooperative business enterprises

B. a graduated income tax on personal wealth

Which of the following was not a primary method by which the American government dealt with American Indians during the period of western settlement? A. relocation B. appeasement C. extermination D. assimilation

B. appeasement

Which of the following does not represent a group that participated significantly in westward migration after 1870? A. African American "exodusters" escaping racism and seeking economic opportunities B. former Southern slaveholders seeking land and new financial opportunities C. recent immigrants from Northern Europe and Canada D. recent Chinese immigrants seeking gold in California

B. former Southern slaveholders seeking land and new financial opportunities

How were Hispanic citizens deprived of their wealth and land in the course of western settlement? A. Indian raids B. land seizures C. prisoner of war status D. infighting

B. land seizures

Which of these was not a successful invention of the era? A. high-powered sewing machines B. movies with sound C. frozen foods D. typewriters

B. movies with sound

Mark Twain's Gilded Age is a reference to______. A. conditions in the South in the pre-Civil War era B. the corrupt politics of the post-Civil War era C. the populist movement D. the Republican Party

B. the corrupt politics of the post-Civil War era

In what way did education play a crucial role in the emergence of the middle class?

Better public education and the explosion of high schools meant that the children of the middle class were better educated than any previous generation. While college had previously been mostly restricted to children of the upper class, the creation of land-grant colleges made college available on a wide scale. The curricula at these new colleges matched the needs of the middle class, offering practical professional training rather than the liberal arts focus that the Ivy League schools embraced. Thus, children of the emerging middle class were able to access the education and training needed to secure their place in the professional class for generations to come.

Bonanza farms

Bonanza farms were large farms that came to dominate agricultural life in much of the West in the late 1800s. Instead of plots farmed by yeoman farmers, large amounts of machinery were used, and workers were hired laborers, often performing only specific tasks. Minnesota and North Dakota and the Red River Valley in particular became one of the country's largest wheat producing areas.

What was one of the key goals for which striking workers fought in the late nineteenth century? A. health insurance B. disability pay C. an eight-hour workday D. women's right to hold factory jobs

C. an eight-hour workday

Which of the following did not contribute to the growth of a consumer culture in the United States at the close of the nineteenth century? A. personal credit B. advertising C. greater disposable income D. mail-order catalogs

C. greater disposable income

What specific types of hardships did an average American farmer not face as he built his homestead in the Midwest? A. droughts B. insect swarms C. hostile Indian attacks D. limited building supplies

C. hostile Indian attacks

Which of the following contributed directly to the plight of farmers? A. machine politics B. labor unions C. overproduction D. inadequate supply

C. overproduction

Which of the following does not represent one of the management strategies that John D. Rockefeller used in building his empire? A. horizontal integration B. vertical integration C. social Darwinism D. the holding company model

C. social Darwinism

What did the Last Arrow pageant symbolize? A. the continuing fight of the Indians B. the total extermination of the Indians from the West C. the final step in the Americanization process D. the rebellion at Little Bighorn

C. the final step in the Americanization process

Why did African Americans consider moving from the rural South to the urban North following the Civil War? A. to be able to buy land B. to avoid slavery C. to find wage-earning work D. to further their education

C. to find wage-earning work

Which of the following is true of late nineteenth-century southern and eastern European immigrants, as opposed to their western and northern European predecessors? A. Southern and eastern European immigrants tended to be wealthier. B. Southern and eastern European immigrants were, on the whole, more skilled and able to find better paying employment. C. Many southern and eastern European immigrants acquired land in the West, while western and northern European immigrants tended to remain in urban centers. D. Ellis Island was the first destination for most southern and eastern Europeans.

D. Ellis Island was the first destination for most southern and eastern Europeans.

Which of the following does not represent one of the ways in which William Jennings Bryan appealed to Populists? A. He came from farm country. B. He supported free silver. C. He supported the subtreasury system. D. He advocated for higher tariffs

D. He advocated for higher tariffs

How were members of Coxey's Army received when they arrived in Washington? A. They were given an audience with the president. B. They were given an audience with members of Congress. C. They were ignored. D. They were arrested.

D. They were arrested.

Which of the following was a popular pastime for working-class urban dwellers? A. football games B. opera C. museums D. amusement parks

D. amusement parks

Which of the following groups was not impacted by the invention of barbed wire? A. ranchers B. cowboys C. farmers D. illegal prostitutes

D. illegal prostitutes

Which of the following four elements was not essential for creating massive urban growth in late nineteenth-century America? A. electric lighting B. communication improvements C. skyscrapers D. settlement houses

D. settlement houses

Consider the fact that the light bulb and the telephone were invented only three years apart. Although it took many more years for such devices to find their way into common household use, they eventually wrought major changes in a relatively brief period of time. What effects did these inventions have on the lives of those who used them? Are there contemporary analogies in your lifetime of significant changes due to inventions or technological innovations?

Lights allowed people to work later or earlier and not just when the sun was out. This meant more could be produced and things could be made in less time. The phone allowed for people to order things over the phone and reach place that were not within their normal reach.

Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny is a term for the attitude prevalent during the 19th century period of American expansion that the United States not only could, but was destined to, stretch from coast-to-coast. It was coined by John O' Sullivan and led to the idea that white Americans had a duty to seize and settle in the west, in order to spread American values. This attitude helped fuel western settlement, Native American removal and war with Mexico.

Which of the following did the settlement house movement offer as a means of relief for working-class women? A. childcare B. job opportunities C. political advocacy D. relocation services

A. childcare

Which of the following was not an element of realism? A. social Darwinism B. instrumentalism C. naturalism D. pragmatism

A. social Darwinism

Which of the following wasnota vehicle for the farmers' protest? A. the Mugwumps B. the Grange C. the Farmers' Alliance D. the People's Party

A. the Mugwumps

Which of the following represents an action that the U.S. government took to help Americans fulfill the goal of western expansion? A. the passage of the Homestead Act B. the official creation of the philosophy of Manifest Destiny C. the development of stricter immigration policies D. the introduction of new irrigation techniques

A. the passage of the Homestead Act

In what ways did westward expansion provide new opportunities for women and African Americans? In what ways did it limit these opportunities?

Africans were free but the institution of Black Law they had certain rights - Africans occupied a wide variety of jobs ranging from cowboys and soldiers to railroad workers-had their own military divisions ( had to fight the IndiansWomen- made money doing housework - washed the miners clothes and cooked for them - showed they could work just like a man could ( had to birth children and care for the family) (women did most of the work and lack fresh food)

What was the major advantage of Westinghouse's "alternating current" power invention? A. It was less prone to fire. B. It cost less to produce. C. It allowed machines to be farther from the power source. D. It was not under Edison's control.

C. It allowed machines to be farther from the power source.

How did the Great Compromise of 1877 influence the election? A. It allowed a bilateral government agreement. B. It gave new power to northern Republicans. C. It encouraged southern states to support Hayes. D. It gave the federal government new powers.

C. It encouraged southern states to support Hayes.

Which of the following statements accurately represents Thorstein Veblen's argument in The Theory of the Leisure Class? A. All citizens of an industrial society would rise or fall based on their own innate merits. B. The tenets of naturalism were the only laws through which society should be governed. C. The middle class was overly focused on its own comfort and consumption. D. Land and natural resources should belong equally to all citizens.

C. The middle class was overly focused on its own comfort and consumption.

A Mugwump is ________. A. a supporter of the spoils system B. a liberal Democrat C. a former member of the Republican Party D. a moderate Stalwart

C. a former member of the Republican Party

Why and how did the U.S. government promote western migration in the midst of fighting the Civil War?

During the first two years of the Civil War—when it appeared that the Confederacy was a formidable opponent—President Lincoln grew concerned that a Union defeat could result in the westward expansion of slavery. He hoped to facilitate the westward movement of white settlers who promoted the concept of free soil, which would populate the region with allies who opposed slavery. To encourage this process, Congress passed the Homestead Act and the Pacific Railway Act in 1862. The government also constructed and maintained forts that assisted in the process of westward expansion.

Exodusters

Exodusters was a name given to African Americans who migrated from states along the Mississippi River to Kansas in the late nineteenth century, as part of the Exoduster Movement or Exodus of 1879. It was the first general migration of blacks following the Civil War. African Americans began to build a new life in public life, confronting racial prejudice as well as economic, political and social challenges to create a black urban culture

What accounts for the success of large, commercial "bonanza farms?" What benefits did they enjoy over their smaller family-run counterparts?

Farmers who were able to invest a significant amount of capital in starting up large farms could acquire necessary supplies with ease. They also had access to new, technologically advanced farm machinery, which greatly improved efficiency and output. Such farmers hired migrant farmers to work their huge amounts of land. These "bonanza farms" were often quite successful, whereas family farms—unable to afford the supplies they needed for success, let alone take advantage of the technological innovations that would make their farms competitive—often failed.

Why was Rockefeller's use of horizontal integration such an effective business tool at this time? Were his choices legal? Why or why not?

Horizontal integration enabled Rockefeller to gain tremendous control over the oil industry and use that power to influence vendors and competitors. For example, he could pressure railroads into giving him lower rates because of the volume of his products. He undercut competitors, forcing them to set their prices so low that they could barely stay in business—at which point he could buy them out. Through horizontal integration, he was able to create a virtual monopoly and set the terms for business. While his business model of a holding company was technically legal, it held as much power as a monopoly and did not allow for other businesses to grow and compete.

Compare and contrast the treatment of Chinese immigrants and Hispanic citizens to that of Indians during the period of western settlement.

In all three cases, white settlers felt that they were superior to these ethnic groups and morally correct in their exploitation of the groups' land and labor because of Manifest Destiny, which was the idea that Americans were destined by God to take control of the land. Whether mining sacred Sioux land or forcing Chinese immigrants to pay a special fine to mine for gold, white settlers were confident that their goal of Manifest Destiny gave them the right to do as they wished. Hispanic Americans, unlike chinese immigrants and Indians, were allowed citizenship rights, although racist laws and corrupt judges severely curtailed these rights. They were given some of the worst paying jobs with terrible working conditions. Chinese Immigrants were ultimately denied entry to the United States though the Chinese Exclusion Act. Also, Native Americans were treated very poorly during this period of western settlement due to the trail of tears and the Indian removal act. Native Americans were forced to change their culture due to Americanization, which was the process of Native Americans giving up their traditional customs in exchange for land. Overall, all there of these ethnic groups were treated very poorly during this time period.

Industrialization, immigration, and urbanization all took place on an unprecedented scale during this era. What were the relationships of these processes to one another? How did each process serve to catalyze and fuel the others?

Industrialization lead to the creation of new things which sparked excitement but also lead to new technologies. The technologies lead to more advancements and more industrializing. Industrializing created more and bigger factories that lead people to move toward urban areas. The excitement inticed people to immigrate over.

How did the new industrial order represent both new opportunities and new limitations for rural and working-class urban Americans?

Industrialization made it so now any class could could keep up with the upper class. However the new techniques such as credit made it so that it played with the finance of the average person and led to more distress than benefit.

Compare the myth of the "Wild West" with its reality. What elements of truth would these stories have contained, and what was fabricated or left out? What was life actually like for cowboys, ranchers, and the few women present in mining towns or along the cattle range?

In the "Wild West" much of the violence and and crime was exaggerated in the stories although the west did consist of a rough life for many of the people living in it. Much of the violence that did occur was much more isolated than the stories make them appear. The violence would usually occur because of scarce resources in mining towns or during range wars among large and small cattle ranchers. Some mining towns were indeed as rough as the popular stereotype. Men, money, liquor, and disappointment were the most common cause of the violence. For cowboys life was also violent, one example being the Fence Cutting War where cowboys began destroying fences that several ranchers erected along public lands, land they had no right to enclose. This confrontation between the cowboys and the rancers resulted in three deaths and got the government's attention. During this time period there very few women who played a major role in the Wild West. The few women who were there were typically prostitutes, but then some of the women emerged as businesswoman. However life remained challenging for these women during the westward settlement but some of the women powered through the male-dominate culture to become teachers in more established cities.

How did mining and cattle ranching transform individual "get rich quick" efforts into "big business" efforts when the nineteenth century came to a close?

In the cases of both mining and cattle ranching, diminishing resources played a key role. In mining, the first prospectors were able to pan for gold with crude and inexpensive materials, and therefore, almost anyone could head west and try his luck. Similarly, the quantity of cattle and the amount of grazing land meant that cowboys and would-be cattle barons had ample room to spread out. But as the easiest minerals were stripped away and large-scale ranchers purchased, developed, and fenced off grazing land, opportunities diminished. It took significantly more resources to tunnel down into a mine than it did to pan for gold; instead of individual prospectors, companies would assess a site's potential and then seek investment to hire workers and drill deep into the earth. Likewise, as the cattle trails were over-grazed, ranchers needed to purchase and privatize large swaths of land to prepare their cattle for market.

Briefly explain Roland Marchand's argument in the Parable of the Democracy of Goods

Marchand argues that in the new era of consumerism, workers' desire for access to consumer goods replaces their desire for access to the means of production of those goods. So long as Americans could buy products that advertisers convinced them would make them look and feel wealthy, they did not need to fight for access to the means of wealth.

How does the term "Gilded Age" characterize American Society in the late 19th centruy? In what ways is this characterization accurate or inaccurate?

Mark Twain referred to the time period after the American Civil War as the Gilded Age. He called it that because while everything on the surface might've seemed fine and dandy a closer look revealed many problems. This term proves very correct as the United States was not as fine as it seemed. Once the reformation ended newly freed slaves were severely mistreated under things such as Jim Crow laws. Corrupt business practices led to many smaller businesses failing and monopolies over several industries. Mistreatment of workers also led to the uprising of largely ineffective workers unions and a new political party known as the Populist Party.

How did the burst of new inventions during this era fuel the process of urbanization?

New inventions fueled industrial growth, and the development of commercial electricity—along with the use of steam engines—allowed industries that had previously situated themselves close to sources of water power to shift away from those areas and move their production into cities. Immigrants sought employment in these urban factories and settled nearby, transforming the country's population from mostly rural to largely urban.

What made recent European immigrants the ready targets of more established city dwellers? What was the result of this discrimination?

Newer immigrants often had different appearances, spoke unfamiliar languages, and lived their lives—from the religions they practiced to the food they ate—in ways that were alien to many Americans. In all of city life's more challenging aspects, from competition for jobs to overcrowding in scarce housing, immigrants became easy scapegoats. The Reverend Josiah Strong's bestselling book, Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Present Crisis, fueled this discrimination. The American Protective Association, the chief political activist group promoting anti-immigration legislation, formed largely in response to Strong's call.

What were the primary methods that the U.S. government, as well as individual reformers, used to deal with the perceived Indian threat to westward settlement? In what ways were these methods successful and unsuccessful? What were their short-term and long-term effects on Native Americans?

One of the methods that the U.S. government used to deal with the perceived threat of idaian westward expansion was the Indian Removal Act of 1830 with led to the trail of tears which resulted in thousands of Indians being relocated. Another method that was used was that treaties were signed for Indians to be assigned to reservations and they were supposed to be relocated to them. These treaties were not honored by the Americans because white prospects would trespass on the Indians sacred land. Another major method that America used to prevent westward migration of Indians was through Americanization. This stripped native americans of their traditional cultural rituals and beliefs. This was the idea that the Americsans would completely take away the Natibve American's traditions and replace them with American cultural traditions. This has had an everlasting long term effect on Native Americans because their natural ethnic traditions were taken away from them because Americans believed that their traditions and culture was superior over the Native Americans. This resulted in a loss of parts of the natural Native American tradition that has been passed down generation to generation. Overall, because of the fear of westward expansion of Native Americans, Americans caused both short term and long term effects of Native Americans through the passing of laws and stripping of culture.

Homestead Act

Passed in 1862, it gave 160 acres of public land to any settler who would farm the land for five years. The settler would only have to pay a registration fee of $25. It was an action that the U.S. government took to help Americans fulfill the goal of western expansion, and was the first proper settlement on the Great Plains.

Why were U.S presidents (with few exceptions) so adamant about protecting the spoils system of patronage during the late 19th century?

Politics of the day were fiercely fought and won with razor-thin margins. While presidents may have wanted to see the system change, few were in a position to effect such change. They owed their presidencies to the various party leaders and political operatives who had gotten them there, and they were expected to repay the favors with political positions. Any candidate who spoke out firmly against patronage virtually guaranteed that he would not receive the support of local or regional politicians, or machine bosses. Without such support, a candidate's chances of being elected were virtually nonexistent. Therefore, they continued to work within the system.

Bessemer Process

The Bessemer Process was a way to manufacture steel quickly and cheaply by blasting hot air through melted iron to quickly remove impurities. It had an immeasurable impact upon the US economy, manufacturing system, and work force. It allowed steel to become the dominant material for large construction, and made it much more cost effective.D

Bloody Shirt Campaign

The Bloody Shirt Campaign was a strategy used by Republican candidates to stress the sacrifices that the nation had to endure in its Civil War against Democratic southern secessionists. It ridiculed opposing politicians who made emotional calls to avenge the blood of the northern soldiers that died in the Civil War. It caused parties to draw votes to their side of the ticket, benefitting the Republican party

City Beautiful Movement

The City Beautiful Movement was an environmental design that was taken directly from the beaux arts school. Architects from this movement strove to impart order on hectic, industrial centers by creating urban spaces that conveyed a sense of morality and civic pride, which many feared was absent from the frenzied new industrial world. It made cities more livable and orderly, and shaped the American urban landscape in the manner of those in Europe

Dumbbell Tenements

The Dumbbell Tenements was a new form of housing that was developed in the early 1900's it was designed as a dumbbell and had more apartments for more families and shared restrooms. They were cheap housing units created when cities became packed with people during the industrial revolution. These tenements were cramped, poorly lit, under ventilated, and usually without indoor plumbing, the tenements were hotbeds of vermin and disease, and were frequently swept by cholera, typhus, and tuberculosis.

Gilded Age

The Gilded Age was a name for the late 1800s, coined by Mark Twain to describe the tremendous increase in wealth caused by the industrial age and the ostentatious lifestyles it allowed the very rich. The great industrial success of the U.S. and the fabulous lifestyles of the wealthy hid the many social problems of the time, including a high poverty rate, a high crime rate, and corruption in the government. New products and technologies improved middle-class quality of life. Industrial workers and farmers didn't share in the new prosperity, working long hours in dangerous conditions for low pay.

Great Migration

The Great Migration was the movement of over 300,000 African Americans from the rural south into Northern cities between 1914 and 1920. African Americans began to build a new place for themselves in public life, actively confronting racial prejudice as well as economic, political and social challenges to create a black urban culture that would exert enormous influence in the decades to come. It began a new era of increasing political activism among African Americans, who after being disenfranchised in the South found a new place for themselves in public life in the cities of the North

Haymarket Affair

The Haymarket Affair was an 1886 incident that made unions, particularly the Knights of Labor, look violent because a bomb exploded during a protest of striking workers. It was viewed as a setback for the organized labor movement in America, which was fighting for rights like the eight-hour workday. It created panic and hysteria in Chicago and increased anti-labour and anti-immigrant sentiment and suspicion of the international anarchist movement, throughout the country

Knights of Labor

The Knights of Lab was a labor union that sought to organize all workers and focused on broad social reforms. Founded in 1869, it was the first major labor organization in the United States. The Knights organized unskilled and skilled workers, campaigned for an eight hour workday, and aspired to form a cooperative society in which laborers owned the industries in which they worked.

What were the core differences in the methods and agendas of the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor?

The Knights of Labor (KOL) had a broad and open base, inviting all types of workers, including women and African Americans, into their ranks. The KOL also sought political gains for workers throughout the country, regardless of their membership. In contrast, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was a loose affiliation of separate unions, with each group remaining intact and distinct. The AFL did not advocate for national labor issues, but restricted its efforts to helping improve economic conditions for its members.

Describe the philosophy of Manifest Destiny. What effect did it have on Americans' westward migration? How might the different groups that migrated have sought to apply this philosophy to their individual circumstances?

The Manifest Destiny is the 19th-century principle or belief that the development of the US throughout the American continents was both right and inescapable. The idea of Manifest Destiny influenced the American's Westward Migration because it made that migration more probable to expand territorially. The idea of this philosophy held that Americans were greater to most other people in a number of ways. They were said to have a superior form of government - superior culture and religion. For these explanations, it was said, they were predestined by God to expand their territory. This attitude led to the westward migration. First, it helped lead to the growth of US Territory. It helped lead to the Mexican-American War because it endorsed the attitude that America deserved all the land more than the Mexicans did. America's God-given destiny made it acceptable to take the land from Mexico. The same attitude applied to the Indians as American settlers moved west. The idea was that the Indians were so lesser that they did not deserve the use of the land. They were to be relocated and the land was to go the Americans who deserved it and would use it well.

Pacific Railway Act

The Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 authorized construction of both the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific railroad lines, connecting the West to industries in the Northeast. It promoted the construction of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States by authorizing the issuance of government bonds and the grants of land to railroad companies.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was the first federal action against monopolies. It was signed into law by Harrison and was extensively used by Theodore Roosevelt for trust-busting. However, it was initially misused against labor unions. It outlawed contracts, conspiracies, and other business practices that restrained trade and created monopolies within industries.

What accounted for the relative weakness of the federal government during this era?

The contested elections of the Gilded Age, in which margins were slim and two presidents were elected without winning the popular vote, meant that incumbent presidents often had only a weak hold on their power and were able to achieve little on the federal level. Some Americans began to establish new political parties and organizations to address their concerns, undermining the federal government further. Meanwhile, despite the widespread corruption that kept them running, urban political machines continued to achieve results for their constituents and maintain political strongholds on many cities.

Describe the various attempts at labor organization in this era, from the Molly Maguires to the Knights of Labor and American Federation of Labor. How were the goals, philosophies, and tactics of these groups similar and different? How did their agendas represent the concerns and grievances of their members and of workers more generally?

The end goals were to advocate for workers and better conditions, wages, and hours. The goals of the unions were innocent and had the best intentions however, violence was brought into the equations and led to a distaste for the unions. Police and the general population didn't like the unions and were not supportive for the most part.

In what ways did writers, photographers, and visual artists begin to embrace more realistic subjects in their work? How were these responses to the advent of the industrial age and the rise of cities?

The growth of the industrial economy and the dramatic growth of cities created new, harsh realities that were often hidden from the public eye. Writers and artists, responding both to this fact and to the sentimentalism that characterized the writing and art of their predecessors, began to depict subjects that reflected the new truth. Photographers like Jacob Riis sought to present to the public the realities of working-class life and labor. Novelists began to portray true-to-life vignettes in their stories. Visual artists such as George Bellows, Edward Hopper, and Robert Henri formed the Ashcan School of Art, which depicted the often gritty realities of working-class city life, leisure, and entertainment.

Describe the various violent clashes between labor and management that occurred during this era. What do these events reveal about how each group had come to view the other?

The management did not listen to the unions requests and instead tried to replace the workers in order to continue the work of the factory. They did not work toward better wages or conditions. The laborers usually lashed out violently and did not gain any support and ended up making no strides forward and resulted in laborers begging for their jobs back.

How was Darwin's work on the evolution of species exploited by proponents of the industrial age?

The proponents of Industrial Age used Darwin's theory of evolution to justify imperialism, conservatism and racism, and this version is called Social Darwinism. Namely, the goal of advocating Social Darwinism was to preserve old exploitation systems and imperialist relations in order to prevent social reforms. According to Social Darwinism, those who are the most capable, as capitalist and imperialists, have the right to maintain such order, because they base this right on the idea of ​​a dominant species. Every intervention and reform would mean changes in political and economic relations, i.e. the possibility of losing existing influence and making profit.

How did the emergent consumer culture change what it meant to be "American" at the turn of the century?

To be an American at the turn of the century was all about becoming just like everyone else. Now things were cheaper so they were easier to access at any income level and anywhere in the country almost.

What were women's roles within the Farmer's Alliance?

Women were able to play key roles in the alliance movement. The alliance provided them with political rights, including the ability to vote and hold office within the organization, which many women hoped would be a positive step in their struggle for national women's rights and suffrage. In the end, nearly 250,000 women joined the movement.

How did everyday life in the American West hasten equality for women who settled the land?

Women who settled the West were considered by their husbands to be more equitable partners in the success or failure of the homestead. Because resources were so limited and the area so sparsely settled, women participated in work that was typically done only by men. Due in part to these efforts, women were able to inherit and run farms if they became widowed, rather than passing the farms along to male relations as they would in the East. The first states to begin granting rights to women, including the right to vote, were in the Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest, where women homesteaders worked side by side with men to tame the land.

Describe the ways in which the U.S. government, local governments, and/or individuals attempted to interfere with the specific cultural traditions and customs of Indians, Hispanics, and Chinese immigrants. What did these efforts have in common? How did each group respond?

laws passed in the United States intended to deprive Mexican Americans of their heritage as much as their lands. "Sunday Laws" prohibited "noisy amusements" such as bullfights, cockfights, and other cultural gatherings common to Hispanic communities at the time. "Greaser Laws" permitted the imprisonment of any unemployed Mexican American on charges of vagrancy.