INDUSTRIALIZATION
What new invention helped factories produce goods faster?
Machines like the assembly line.
What were tenements?
Crowded, dirty apartment buildings for the poor.
What does “Gilded Age” mean?
Looks good on the outside but full of corruption on the inside.
What is a “pull factor”?
Something that attracts people to a new country (jobs, freedom).
What was the main goal of Progressives?
Fix social problems and reduce corruption.
Who were the “captains of industry”?
Powerful business leaders like Carnegie & Rockefeller.
Why did cities grow during this time?
Factory jobs attracted workers.
What were political machines?
Organizations that controlled city politics through favors and bribery.
What was Ellis Island?
Main immigration station in New York.
What is a muckraker?
Journalist who exposed problems in society.
What was the Bessemer process used for?
Making steel quickly and cheaply.
Name one major problem in overcrowded cities.
Pollution, disease, crime, or poor sanitation.
Who was Boss Tweed?
Leader of Tammany Hall and a symbol of corruption.
What challenges did immigrants face?
Low pay, discrimination, and language barriers.
What did Jane Addams create to help the poor?
Hull House (a settlement house).
Who were called “robber barons”?
Business leaders seen as using unfair or ruthless methods.
What role did streetcars & subways play?
Helped people travel and expanded city growth.
Why was corruption common in this era?
Weak government rules and powerful business influence.
What was the Chinese Exclusion Act?
A law banning Chinese immigration.
What issue did Upton Sinclair expose?
Unsafe meatpacking conditions.
How did industrialization change working conditions?
Long hours, low pay, unsafe factory conditions.
What caused major urban pollution?
Factories, waste, and overcrowding.
How did the spoils system affect government?
Gave jobs to friends/supporters instead of qualified people.
What are “push factors”?
Things that force people to leave their home (war, poverty).
What did the 17th Amendment change?
Allowed people to directly elect U.S. Senators.