Goal 1 Study Guide

GOAL 4 & 5 STUDY GUIDE Main Ideas/Terms Westward Expansion The Homestead Act, Morrill Act, Oklahoma Land Rush and transcontinental railroad all encouraged settlers to head west; others, like blacks and Mormons went west to escape persecution; moving west was dangerous and hard and settlers had to adapt to a treeless terrain by building sod houses; mining, ranching and farming were the dominant economic factors driving people west, leading to an increase in farmers, new agricultural technology, etc.; the Comstock Lode (silver) and a gold discovery in the black hills led miners to rush the west; westward expansion caused many conflicts with the Native Americans Populism and the Improved technology and railroad expansion led to overproduction and increase competition among American Farmer farmers, many of whom fell into debt and lost their farms; to improve the economic and social status of farmers, the Grange was formed, as well as farmer cooperatives, Farmers alliances, and the Populist Party (running on the Omaha Platform in support of government regulated railroads, help with debt and immigration control) which supported bimetallism; some businesses gained huge profits through vertical and horizontal integration (and the creation of monopolies) Immigration and Immigrants to the US after the Civil War were mainly from eastern and southern Europe and were Industrialization mostly Jewish or Catholic, poor and uneducated unskilled workers leading to urbanization and an increase in Nativism; entering through ports like Ellis Island, the immigrants faced culture shock and worked in sweatshops and lived in tenements; new social reformers, like Jacob Riis (How the Other Half Lives) and Jane Addams (Hull House/settlement house) tried to help the poor, while Frederick Olmstead designed city parks to meet a demand for green space Wealth and Power in the Justifying the difference in class with Social Darwinism, the Gilded Age was marked by a rise to wealth Industrial Age and power of several tycoons who were called Captains of Industry by their supporters and Robber Barons by their critics; men like Carnegie (steel), Vanderbilt (railroads/shipping), Rockefeller (oil), and Morgan (finance) became the head of huge corporations and monopolies Big City Politics and Corrupt political machines, such as NYC’s Tammany Hall, run by Boss Tweed met the needs of the Government Corruption urban poor in exchange for votes and support; this corruption was exposed by the political cartoons of Thomas Nast; several acts were passed to regulate big business and political corruption, including the Pendleton Act (civil service exams) and the Sherman Antitrust Act (outlawing monopolies); politics were also scarred by scandals such as the Credit Mobilier Scandal; inresponse to the corruption and scandals, political reformers and the progressives used initiatives, referendums and recalls to improve the lives of workers; populism (the Populist Party) and the Knights of Labor organization fought for better rights for workers, while the mugwumps supported civil service reform Labor and Government Labor unions, including trade unions and craft unions such as the AFL (Samuel Gompers/Eugene Debs) Regulation formed in response to the poor and dangerous working conditions of the poor; Unions tried to negotiate for better treatment of workers, but also used closed shops and strikes to have their demands met; businesses countered these tactics by forcing workers to sign yellow-dog contracts (prohibiting union membership), as well as lockouts, blacklists and injunctions to put down strikes; some strikes, like the Homestead Strike (steel); Haymarket Square Riot (reaper) and Pullman Strike (railroad cars) resulted in violent conflicts between union workers and their employers Court Cases Munn vs Illinois Ruled in support of the Grange, allows states to regulate the use of private property (such as railroads) when it is used in public interest Dudes (and Chicks) Brigham Young Leads the Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) west to Utah area Chief Joseph Nez Perce chief; tries to lead his people to Canada; captured and sent to reservation in Oklahoma Gen. George Armstrong Custer US Army general; sent to defend miners in Black Hills; he and his troops are killed by the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians in the Battle of Little Bighorn Chief Sitting Bull Thought by the US Army to be the leader of the ghost dance; killed during arrest, resulting in Wounded Knee Creek massacre Helen Hunt Jackson Wrote “A Century of Dishonor”, exposing the mistreatment and betrayal of the American Indians by the US government; results in public sympathy and the passage of the Dawes Act William Jennings Bryan Democratic candidate for president in 1896, supported by Populist Party because of his belief in bimetallism and the free coinage of silver; famous “Cross of Gold” speech Jacob Riis Social reformer; writes “How the Other Half Lives” exposing the public to the horrible living conditions of the poor in tenement housing Jane Addams Social reformer; Founder of Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago Frederick Olmsted Landscape architect; designed Central Park in NYC Jacob Riis Social reformer; writes “How the Other Half Lives” exposing the public to the horrible living conditions of the poor in tenement housing Jane Addams Social reformer; Founder of Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago Frederick Olmsted Landscape architect; designed Central Park in NYC Mark Twain American author who calls the rise of industrialism the “Gilded Age” Andrew Carnegie Steel tycoon; uses Bessemer process to mass produce steel; merges with Morgan to form US Steel Cornelius Vanderbilt Railroad and Shipping tycoon; one of the richest men of the 19th century; symbol of Gilded Age John D Rockefeller Oil tycoon; forms oil monopoly Standard Oil Company; ordered to break up by Supreme Court J P Morgan Financing/banking tycoon; greatest American financer of 19th Century Samuel Gompers Leader of the American Federation of Labor Eugene Debs Member of the American Federation of Labor; 5 time socialist candidate for president William “Boss” Tweed Corrupt leader of the Tammany Hall political machine in NYC; exposed in political cartoon of Thomas Nast Thomas Nast Political cartoonist who exposes Tweed’s corruption;most powerful political cartoonist of his time Elections/Debates and other Events Oklahoma Land Rush Government sponsored race starting on the borders of Oklahoma; rush on the land to stake a claim Completion of Transcontinental Led to a population and economic explosion in the west; greatly helped cattle ranching and Railroad mining; dangerous work on railroad done mostly by Chinese immigrants in the west Comstock Lode Huge silver strike that affects politics and economics; thousands of prospectors (miners) rush Discovery of Gold in Black White prosepectors rush Native American territory, attacked by Native Americans, Custer and the Hills Army are sent to defend and are killed by the Sioux and Cheyenne in the Battle of Little Bighorn Battle of Little Bighorn Custer and his troops are killed by the Sioux and Cheyenne Wounded Knee Creek Massacre Massacre of over 200 Sioux by US troops; fleeing Sioux are hunted down and killed; sparks outrage among American public Sand Creek Massacre Massacre of over 200 Native Americans, mostly women, children and elderly who are sleeping in their camp when they are attacked by a group of white men Election of 1896 William Jennings Bryan runs as Democratic nominee, supported by Populist Party for his belief in bimetallism; gives his “cross of gold” speech Homestead Strike 5 month strike of Carnegie’s steel workers; unsuccessful strike, but creates sympathy for workers Haymarket Square Riot Chicago riot between McCormick’s workers and police; bombs kill police; protestors arrested/executed Pullman Strike Pullman Car workers strike over low pay and long hours; Federal troops sent to put down the strike; looting and violence result; strike ends when leaders are arrested Credit Mobilier Scandal Stockholders of Union Pacific Railroad form Credit Mobilier Company to build railroads; shares given to Congressmen; no monitoring lf how money was spent; scandal in Congress Election of 1884 Independents called mugwumps leave the Republican Party to vote Democratic Parties (Not the Birthday Kind) and Other Groups of People Mormons Followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; led west to Utah by Brigham Young to escape religious persecution Buffalo Soldiers Black soldiers who helped in the campaign in the west to keep Native Americans on reservstions African Americans Went west for freedom from persecution and discrimination in the South Chinese Immigrants Did the dangerous work of building the transcontinental railroad in the west; were subjected to violence, discrimination and segregation, including the Chinese Exclusion Act (banning immigration from China for 10 years) Plains Indians Tribes on the western plains who relied on the buffalo as their primary resource; had many conflicts with whites and other settlers west; forced onto reservations; several massacres Nez Perce Indians Led by Chief Joseph; try to go to Canada; are forced onto reservations in Oklahoma Sioux Indians Fight Custer’s troops in Battle of Little Bighorn; massacred at Wounded Knee Creek Cheyenne Indians Join the Sioux in fighting Custer’s troops in Battle of Little Bighorn Grange Farmers group that worked to improve the social and economic status of farmers; successful in passing the Interstate Commerce Act Farmers Cooperatives Farmers joining together to help individual farmers by buying supplies as a group National Farmers’ Alliance Alliance representing farmers in the west; forms Populist Party with other farmers alliances Southern Alliance Alliance representing farmers in the south; forms Populist Party with other farmers alliances Colored Farmers’ Alliance Alliance representing black farmers; forms Populist Party with other farmers alliances Populist (People’s) Party Forms out of farmers alliances; runs on the Omaha Platform; supports government ownership of railroads, actions to help farmers get out of debt, immigration restrictions and bimetallism Social Darwinists Supporters of Social Darwinism; believe that government should not regulate economy or help with social problems; natural selection and class differences are not injustice, the fit (better, smarter) survive and the weaker will be weeded out Captains of Industry Leaders of business who provided jobs and were philanthropists, like Carnegie, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller and Morgan Robber Barons Greedy Businessmen who took advantage of their poor workers and made fortunes illegally or unethically, like Carnegie, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller and Morgan American Federation of Labor One of the 1st craft unions in the US; led by Samuel Gompers, wins many victories for workers Scabs Replacement workers hired by businesses to replace workers who were on strike Progressives Political reformers who used politics to improve the lives of workers and end corruption Knights of Labor Early national labor organization including women and blacks; supports strikes, 8hr work day, end of child labor, = pay for = work, and the end of private banks Mugwumps Independents who leave the Republican party to vote Democratic in the election of 1884; support civil service reform; blame partisanship (political party alliances) for corruption in politics Documents/Speeches/Policies Homestead Act Gave free land to westward settlers; requirements for land = stay for 5 years, build a home, improve the land; encouraged westward expansion Morrill Act Federal land given to state governments to establish colleges; 1st time US government helps higher education (lose your “morrills” in college) Chinese Exclusion Act Bans immigration from China from 1882-1892 A Century of Dishonor Written by Helen Hunt Jackson; book exposes mistreatment and betrayal of Amer. Indians Dawes Act Passed in response to public sympathy generated from A Century of Dishonor; attempts to compensate Native Americans by making them individual land owners Interstate Commerce Act Pushed by the Grange; required railroads to publicize rate schedules; upheld by Munn vs Illinois Omaha Platform Platform of Populist Party candidate; supports government regulation of railroads, help with farmer debts and immigration restrictions “Cross of Gold” Speech Given by William Jennings Bryan at Democratic National Convention in 1896 in support of bimetallism (free coinage of gold and silver); gains Bryan the support of the Populist Party How the Other Half Lives Written by Jacob Riis; exposes the public to the horrible conditions of poor tenement life Yellow-Dog Contracts Tactic of big businesses against labor unions; contracts workers were forced to sign to get a job, stating that they would not join a union Pendleton Act Created a civil service system, requiring a civil service exam for government jobs; ends the spoils system and patronage; government jobs now based on qualifications Sherman Antitrust Act Outlawed business monopolies because they stifle competition; forces the break up of monopolies into smaller companies Other Good Terms You Should Know Sod house Houses made of sod (soil mixed with grass roots); built by settlers on the plains (no trees) Transcontinental Across the continent (going across the country from the east coast to the west coast) Ban Stop, not allow Buffalo Primary resource of Plains Indians who used every part of the buffalo and respected the animals as a resource; killed off to near extinction by white settlers in a couple of decades Ghost Dance Ritual that is a part of Sioux religion; promised the return of native lands, rise of ancestors, disappearance of whites, peace and prosperity; frightened whites; army thought it would lead to rebellion Massacre Mass killing, mass murder Assimilate To give up one way of life or culture to become more like the mainstream or popular culture Vertical integration Strategy of putting down business competition and control prices while maximizing profits; buying companies that sold supplies needed to make, transport, market, etc. a final product Horizontal integration Strategy of putting down business competition by creating monopolies; buying out competititors Windmills Used by farmers in the west to bring up water from wells and irrigate crops Barbed Wire Changed free-range cattle ranching by dividing up property, livestock and crops in the west Refrigerator Cars Train cars took meat from west to Chicago (US meat packing center), then east and south Bimetallism Using a gold and silver standard for the US currency; bi=2 metal= gold and silver; supported by Populist Party, democrats, farmers ,working class, poor and William Jennings Bryan in his “Cross of Gold Speech” Gold Standard Basis for how much money is in circulation and how much it is worth; supported by Republicans, industrialists, merchants, rich Urbanization A boom in population in cities, mostly due to immigration Melting Pot Giving up ethnic identities to blend or assimilate into one national identity Culture shock Overwhelmed by a different, new culture Cultural Pluralism Keeping a culture and customs to contribute to the diversity of America & American culture Ellis Island Main port of entry for immigrants; located in NYC Industrialization Rise of business and industries; created economic and social inequalities Tenements/Dumbbell Tenements Poor worker apartments/little light or ventilation, no running water or gas, inaccessible toilets Settlement houses (Hull House) Offered support, education, arts, job training and other opportunities to the poor Social Darwinism Belief that humans compete in a struggle for existence and only the fittest (best, smartest, etc.) survive; justifies differences in social classes Philanthropists Generous donators of wealth to charities Trust Owners of many companies give up interest to a board of trustees, allow the fixing of prices and wages; in exchange, company owners have claims on profits; stopped by Antitrust laws/acts Labor unions Groups of workers that use different methods to improve the economic and social well-being of its members Collective bargaining Type of negotiation used by unions in which two sides try to agree on an employment contract that both parties agree to Mediation Type of negotiation used by unions in which a third party (mediator) tries to work out a compromise between unions and employers Arbitration Settles disputes between employers and employees; each accepts the decision of a 3rd party Trade Union Different kinds of workers (example- building trades union = laborers, bricklayers & painters) Craft Union Workers in the same field or job (example- carpenter union; teacher union; autoworker union) Closed shop Tactic used by unions; a business can only employ union members Blacklists Putting striking workers on a list that got passed around to other businesses and made it hard for them to get a job anywhere else. Injunctions Court orders to stop a strike Political machine Provided services to the poor in exchange for votes and support; often corrupt, like NYC’s Tammany Hall (led by Boss Tweed) Graft Taking money that is supposed to be used for city projects Laissez-faire “let it be”; hands off approach to economics or government