APUSH Unit 6 Flashcards

Gilded Age

• Time period from the 1870s to the 1890s; characterized by a facade of prosperity hiding corruption and economic disparity.
• Significant growth in industrialization and urbanization, leading to a stark divide between the wealthy elite and impoverished workers.

Andrew Carnegie

• Scottish-American industrialist who founded Carnegie Steel Company in 1892.
• By 1901, Carnegie Steel was the dominant force in the U.S. steel industry through vertical integration and utilizing the Bessemer process for steel production.

John D. Rockefeller

• Founder of Standard Oil, creating a monopoly through horizontal integration.
• His practices led to significant control over the oil industry, shaping business strategies in the Gilded Age.

Vertical Integration

• Business strategy where a single company controls all aspects of production from raw materials to distribution.
• Enhanced efficiency and reduced costs, exemplifying the monopolistic practices of the era.

Horizontal Integration

• Business strategy involving the consolidation of multiple firms at the same production level into one entity.
• Promoted economies of scale and reduced competition in an industry.

Westinghouse

• Pioneered public relations efforts; established the first in-house PR department.
• Successfully promoted alternating current (AC) electrical systems over Thomas Edison's direct current (DC) systems.

Terence Powderly

• Leader of the Knights of Labor, a significant labor organization in the late 19th century.
• Advocated for inclusive membership, aiming to unite workers across various trades.

Knights of Labor

• Formed in 1869, it was the first nationwide union, open to all except bankers and lawyers.
• Suffered from unclear goals, poor leadership, and organizational weaknesses, leading to eventual decline.

Haymarket Riot

• A pivotal event in 1886 where a protest for workers' rights in Chicago turned violent after police intervention, resulting in deaths and promoting anti-immigrant sentiment.
• The incident significantly damaged the Knights of Labor's reputation and influence.

Samuel Gompers

• Founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), which focused on skilled laborers.
• Sought improved wages, working hours, and conditions, steering clear of socialism and advocating for non-violent approaches.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

• Established in 1886, it became a major force for labor rights, emphasizing practical gains for skilled workers.
• Emerged from discontent with the Knights of Labor, characterized by a more structured and militant organization.

Great Railroad Strike of 1877

• A nationwide railway strike triggered by wage cuts, resulting in violent clashes and federal intervention.
• Highlighted the government's alignment with employers over workers during labor disputes in the Gilded Age.

Homestead Strike

• A violent strike in 1892 against Carnegie Steel near Pittsburgh, resulting in ten deaths due to police and union confrontations.
• Demonstrated the tensions between labor and management during industrial conflicts.

Pullman Strike

• Originating in Chicago, it involved wage cuts without corresponding rent reductions in company-owned housing, leading to major disruptions.
• Led by Eugene Debs and resulted in little success for strikers and severe legal repercussions for Debs.

Social Darwinism

• Ideology asserting that only the strongest individuals or groups survive economically and politically, often used to justify inequality and imperialism.

W.E.B. Du Bois

• First African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard in 1895; prominent civil rights advocate.
• Co-founder of the NAACP, fought against racial segregation and for African American rights.

Booker T. Washington

• Prominent African American leader advocating for gradual equality through self-improvement and vocational education.
• Supported accommodation as a strategy, emphasizing economic advancement for African Americans.

Plessy v. Ferguson

• Landmark Supreme Court case that established the "separate but equal" doctrine, legitimizing racial segregation laws.

Ku Klux Klan (KKK)

• Secretive organization promoting white supremacy and anti-immigrant sentiments, notorious for violence and intimidation against minorities.

Barriers to African American Political Progress

• Literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses restricted voting rights for African Americans, undermining their political power.

New Immigrants

• Refers to the influx of migrants primarily from Southern and Eastern Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Chinese Exclusion Act

• 1882 legislation aimed at limiting Chinese immigration; barred laborers while allowing students and merchants entry.

Tenement Houses

• Overcrowded, poorly built housing units in urban areas, known for inadequate sanitation and safety, where many poor residents lived.

Jane Addams

• Founder of the Settlement House Movement and advocate for social reform, notable for establishing Hull House in Chicago.
• First American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931, recognized for her efforts in peace and social justice.

Hull House

• A settlement house initiated by Jane Addams, providing social services and educational opportunities for immigrants and the urban poor.