Gilded Age & Industrialism
Why was the period known as the "Gilded Age" (coined by Mark Twain), and what does this name imply about the era?
"Gilded" means "covered with gold." It implies that this time period looked good on the outside, but there was corruption beneath the surface.
What was the significance of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882?
Suspended Chinese labor immigration; reflected widespread anti-Chinese sentiment; first federal law to ban a specific ethnic group; denied naturalization rights; set a precedent for future restrictions
How did the Dawes Severalty Act (1887) aim to assimilate Native Americans and what was its impact?
Largely ineffective, as it broke up reservation land for individuals, like a Native American Homestead Act. It was insensitive to the needs and culture of the Native Americans.
What was the impact of the Supreme Court ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) on African Americans?
It made "separate but equal" the law of the land (but it was never equal).
This invention helped separate the property of farmers and ranchers and came in multiple designs.
Barbed wire
What were the main goals and strategies of labor unions (e.g., AFL, Knights of Labor) during this era?
Higher wages, safer working conditions, stopping child labor, fair wages for women/minorities, laws protecting workers.
How did political machines (e.g., Tammany Hall) operate and maintain power in cities?
They helped immigrants find housing and employment, but required their votes in elections.
What caused the "disappearance of the frontier" and what was its impact on the American psyche?
Causes: expansion of railroads, The Homestead Act, industrialization and mechanization, systemic tribal displacement
Frederick Jackson Turner claimed in his 1893 "Frontier Thesis" that without new territory, Americans lacked a "safety valve" to start fresh and moved the US toward imperialism.
How did the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act change the way government jobs were filled?
People desiring employment were required to pass the Civil Service Exam and be qualified for the position (merit-based) vs. the old "spoils system" way of giving jobs as political favors.
These were crowded, unsanitary, urban apartments that were largely inhabited by immigrants.
Tenements
What is the difference between vertical and horizontal integration in creating a monopoly?
Horizontal: buyout of competitors
Vertical: acquiring all companies that support the business
What was the purpose of muckraking journalism, as seen in Jacob Riis's How the Other Half Lives?
Muckrakers exposed corruption, injustice, poor living conditions, and corporate wrongdoing. They raised public awareness and prompted legislative reforms.
How did the Grange movement and the Farmers' Alliances attempt to help farmers?
To combat falling prices and unfair business practices toward farmers, these groups provided social and educational opportunities, Granger Laws against the railroads, and monetary reform.
How did Ida B. Wells and Booker T. Washington differ in their approaches to tackling racial injustice?
Wells favored direct confrontation, protests, and antilynching campaigns while Washington advocated for self-improvement, vocational training and accommodation to segregation. She challenged white supremacy; he focused on long-term economic stability to gain rights gradually.
This Native American movement was a spiritual resistance to the loss of their culture and a hope for the return of the old ways.
Ghost Dance
How did Andrew Carnegie’s "Gospel of Wealth" differ from the concept of Social Darwinism?
Gospel of Wealth: if you're rich, you must share and invest in society
Social Darwinism: "survival of the fittest" in business (strong companies should take over weak companies); wealth should be concentrated on those who could handle it
How did settlement houses, such as Jane Addams' Hull House, attempt to address urban social issues?
What were the core goals of the Populist Party (People’s Party), particularly regarding the money supply (gold vs. silver)?
The Populist Party was primarily focused on economic equality for farmers and laborers vs. business and industry. They desired both gold and silver to back US currency so there was greater money supply to help with debt reduction and increase crop prices.
Describe the "New South" in the late 1800s.
Although the South remained largely agricultural, it did develop more industry, especially in textiles. Much was still "old" socially: racial segregation, Jim Crow laws, sharecropping.
Name at least three reform movements in the Gilded Age.
women's suffrage (voting rights); temperance (against alcohol); civil service exams instead of patronage/spoils system; labor unions (against child labor; for equal pay, better working conditions, higher wages); anti-trust (against corporate monopolies)
How did the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 aim to limit the power of corporations?
Banned restraints of trade (no price-fixing agreements or collusion between companies); outlawed monopolies protected competition, not competitors; authorized the federal government to investigate violations
What were the primary push and pull factors for "new immigrants" arriving between 1870 and 1900, and how did they differ from previous immigrant groups?
Previous immigrant groups were from northern and western Europe. "New immigrants" were more from eastern and southern Europe, escaping economic hardship, persecution & violence, and political instability (push factors). Pull factors: economic opportunity, promise of freedom, land availability, and technical advancements.
What was the significance of the election of 1896, and what did William Jennings Bryan’s "Cross of Gold" speech represent?
William McKinley's election solidified the gold standard, and virtually ended populism in favor of banking and industry. The speech represented the difference between the goals farmers/laborers and the urban elite of the East.
Analyze the ways in which the U.S. government shifted from a laissez-faire policy to greater intervention in the economy.
"Laissez-faire," or "hands-off" described the government approach at the beginning of industrialization. Let business grow and do its thing. However, corruption, monopolies, and exploitation prompted the need for intervention such as the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the Food and Drug Administration.
What business were these captains of industry famous for?
Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt, JP Morgan, John D. Rockefeller
Carnegie=steel
Vanderbilt=railroads
Morgan=banking/finance
Rockefeller=Standard Oil