Geology Chapter 3: Study Guide Flashcards

Mining Techniques

• Placer Mining: Involves using simple equipment to extract minerals from the earth's surface.
• Quartz Mining: Requires digging deep beneath the surface and blasting holes to reach minerals.

Important Sites and Events

• Comstock Lode: Known as the richest silver mine in the U.S., located in Six-Mile, Nevada, discovered by Henry Comstock.

Geography and Settlement

• Great Plains: Central U.S. region where cattle ranching and farming homesteads developed significantly.

Community and Justice

• Vigilance Committee: Groups of volunteers who tracked and punished criminals in mining boom towns.

Livestock

• Texas Longhorn: Cattle breed known for endurance, able to travel long distances without water.

Legislation and Land Policies

• Homestead Act: Enacted in 1862, allowed settlers to acquire land in the Great Plains for just $10, provided they improved it over five years.

Native American Relations

• Helen Hunt Jackson: Authored "A Century of Dishonor" in 1881, highlighting mistreatment of Native Americans.
• Assimilation: The process through which Native Americans became integrated into American society as landowners and citizens.
• Dawes Act: 1887 legislation that allocated 160 acres of reservation land for Native American families to farm.

Economic Concepts

• GNP (Gross National Product): Represents the total value of goods and services produced by a country.
• Petroleum Demand: Increased due to its conversion into kerosene for lighting and heating, fueling economic growth.
• Laissez-Faire: Economic philosophy opposing government intervention in business operations.
• Tariffs: Taxes on imports aimed at protecting American industries, but disadvantageous for small businesses selling overseas.

Transportation and Development

• Pacific Railway Act: Signed by Abraham Lincoln in 1862 to support the construction of a transcontinental railroad by Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads.
• Land Grants: Governmental support for railroad expansion by granting land to rail companies, raising concerns over public land use.

Theories and Social Movements

• Marxism: A socialist theory by Karl Marx advocating for a class struggle leading to a classless society.
• Corporation: A business entity owned by multiple individuals, treated as a single legal person.
• Vertical Integration: Business strategy where a company owns all aspects of production.
• Horizontal Integration: The process of merging multiple firms in the same industry to form a large corporation.

Labor Relations

• Lockout: A tactic used by employers to prevent union workers from accessing the workplace, employing replacement workers instead.
• Labor Unions: Organizations formed by workers to advocate for better wages and working conditions.

Immigration and Cultural Dynamics

• Workingman's Party of California: Founded by Denis Kearney in the 1870s to combat Chinese immigration, gaining legislative seats.
• Angel Island: Immigration processing station in California for Asian immigrants opened in 1910.
• Ellis Island: Processing center for European immigrants in New York Harbor, established in 1892.

Political and Social Issues

• Political Machine: Informal groups aimed at maintaining power in cities, often corrupt and exchanging votes for services.
• William "Boss" Tweed: Corrupt leader of Tammany Hall, New York’s Democratic political machine.

Social Commentary

• Gilded Age: Period marked by apparent prosperity and industrialization alongside widespread corruption and social issues.
• Individualism: The belief that anyone can achieve success regardless of their background, popularized by Horatio Alger.

Social Theories

• Social Darwinism: Concept introduced by Herbert Spencer suggesting that societal progress is driven by survival of the fittest.
• Social Gospel: Movement led by Washington Gladden emphasizing urban reform based on Christian values.
• Gospel of Wealth: Andrew Carnegie’s philosophy advocating for the wealthy to contribute to society through philanthropy.
• Henry George: Critiqued labor exploitation in his book "Progress and Poverty," initiating discussions on economic fairness.

Community Support

• Settlement Houses: Established by middle-class families to assist poor urban residents, providing services like healthcare and meals.

Education and Rights

• Booker T. Washington: Advocated for African American education and founded the Tuskegee Institute in 1881 to empower black Americans.

Regulation and Reform

• Interstate Commerce Act: The first federal law aimed at regulating interstate commerce.
• Pendleton Act: Established a civil service system requiring examinations for federal appointments.

Political Movements

• Populism: A grassroots movement aimed at increasing political power for farmers and advocating for legislation in their favor.
• Granger Laws: Aimed to regulate railroads and promote the printing of more greenbacks and silver coins.
• Grange: A national organization for farmers that advocated for agricultural interests.

Social Issues

• William Jennings Bryan: Prominent advocate for the free silver movement, supported by populists despite concerns over vote splitting.

Civil Rights

• Segregation: The enforced separation of races, exacerbating social tensions.
• Jim Crow Laws: Legal statutes that institutionalized racial segregation.
• W.E.B. Du Bois: Influential leader among African American activists; authored "The Souls of Black Folk," promoting civil rights and voting access.

This study guide features essential flashcards covering key terms from Chapter 3 of Geology. Explore important concepts such as placer and quartz mining, the Comstock Lode, and the Great Plains. Perfect for reviewing the basics of mining and geography in the United States.