Completed in 1869, this railroad caused the travel time between the East and West coasts to drop from one month to just one week.
What is the "Transcontinental Railroad?"
100
Aaron Montgomery Ward and Richard Sears helped popularize this method of buying and selling goods through mail delivery.
What is a "mail-order catalog?"
100
Besides farmers, this group of people was the biggest cause for the massive population growth during this time period.
What are "immigrants?"
100
This famous New York City landmark was the first steel-wire suspension bridge ever constructed.
What is the "Brooklyn Bridge?"
100
After the American Civil War, our nation went through this interesting economic crisis involving a gradual drop in the price of goods and labor.
What is "deflation?"
200
In 1883, largely due to the speed at which Americans could travel thanks to railroads, we switched from "sun time" to a system we still use today.
What is "standard time?"
200
Known for his invention factory and his development of many devices that influenced the modern world, this go-getter once helped electrocute a poor elephant named "Topsy."
Who is "Thomas Edison?"
200
Not to be confused with a kitchen dish, this metaphor was used to described the societal effect of many different cultures blending together in America's larger cities during the late 19th and early 20th century.
What is "the melting pot?"
200
James Buchanan Eads used this underwater apparatus to help build the first steel bridge in America, now known as the "Eads Bridge."
What is a "diving bell?"
200
This central policy issue in the late 19th century advocated in favor of using silver as America's primary monetary system, as opposed to gold.
What is "free silver?"
300
In the 1880's, American railroads agreed to this universal spacing system between railroad tracks.
What is "standard gauge?"
300
The discovery of this cheaper and safer oil helped tycoons like John D. Rockefeller revolutionize the industry.
What is "rock oil" or "petroleum?"
300
American skyscrapers wouldn't be possible without this safety device created by Elisha Otis.
What are "elevator brakes?"
300
This sickness, caused by ascending from underwater too quickly, severely afflicted or killed many of the men working on the Eads Bridge.
What is "the bends" or "decompression sickness" or "caisson disease?"
300
This tax on foreign imported goods was designed to promote American production and was a major political issue between the Republican and Democratic parties during this time period.
What is a "tariff?"
400
Promoted primarily by farmers, the main goal of this law was to regulate the unfair rates bestowed by railroad and grain elevator companies after the American Civil War.
What are "Granger Laws?"
400
Go-getters came up with the idea to create these kinds of large department stores in the hearts of America's biggest cities.
What are "buyer's palaces?"
400
This easily-transmittable disease with a 50% mortality rate that attacked a person's lungs was rampant throughout many of the slums in America's metropolises during this era.
What is "tuberculosis?"
400
This German immigrant is most famous for his invention of wire rope suspension bridge designs. Sadly, he was killed after a ferry crushed his foot while working on his final project.
Who is "John Roebling?"
400
This monetary system that the Democratic Party wanted abolished was the biggest talking point during the 1896 election.
What is "the Gold Standard?"
500
This act, instituted in 1887, aimed to fight the special or secret low rates that railroads would offer to larger companies.
What is the "Interstate Commerce Act of 1887?"
500
Instrumental in starting the public library system, this federal banker and financier combined forces with Andrew Carnegie to create the United States Steel Corporation.
Who is "J.P. Morgan?"
500
Although thought to be an improved, fireproof plan for crowded city buildings, major flaws were found in this building type resembling a common piece of exercise equipment.
What is a "dumbbell building?"
500
This type of chemical element was integral in the creation of most American bridges during this time period because of its "stainless" qualities.
What is "chromium?"
500
President Grover Cleveland turned to this go-getter to "fix" the decline of the US Gold Reserves.