Gilded Age and Progressive Era Quiz

A political machine in NYC that gained control of government through bribery, corruption, and manipulating the city's money.

The head of Tammany Hall who profited from bribery and embezzlement, enriching himself and his followers at the expense of the city.

A significant economic downturn in the United States caused by the collapse of a major railroad company.

A major strike in 1877 that started with railway workers protesting low wages and expanded to involve other workers, leading to nationwide unrest.

A period of significant labor unrest in the late 1800s marked by strikes and protests, highlighting the struggles of workers against unfair labor practices.

A term associated with the Irish immigrants who resented the Chinese workers for their cheap labor, leading to violence and discrimination against the Chinese community.

A law passed in 1882 that banned Chinese immigration to the United States for decades, reflecting the prevalent anti-Chinese sentiment at the time.

A business strategy where a company controls every step of production, from raw materials to the final product.

A business strategy where a company buys out or controls competing companies in the same industry to eliminate competition.

A philosophy based on the idea that the strongest individuals and businesses survive and prosper, while the weak fail.

An ideology promoting the idea that wealth is a trust to be used for the benefit of society, often through charitable giving.

The belief that individuals should be able to succeed through hard work and determination without government interference.

A term used to describe wealthy industrialists who amassed their fortunes through unethical or exploitative means.

A term used to describe wealthy industrialists who used their wealth and influence positively to benefit society.

A period of rapid industrialization and economic growth in the United States during the late 19th century.

The belief that government should not interfere in the economy and allow businesses to operate freely.

Consolidated control of a particular industry, often by eliminating competition.

A system where one company controls nearly all of an industry, eliminating competition and often resulting in higher prices for consumers.

A period of rapid economic growth in the United States, but also characterized by corruption, poverty, and income inequality. It was named 'Gilded Age' because it appeared to be golden on the surface, hiding the social problems underneath.

A law passed in 1890 that aimed to stop monopolies and promote fair competition by prohibiting trusts and other arrangements that stifled trade.

A type of labor organization that aimed to unite skilled and unskilled workers, men and women, and people of different races, advocating for workers' rights.

A labor union led by Samuel Gompers, focusing on practical issues like higher wages, shorter hours, and better working conditions.

A major labor strike that took place in 1892 at the Homestead Steel Works in Pennsylvania. Workers went on strike to protest wage cuts and poor working conditions. The strike was ultimately broken by the Pinkerton Detective Agency, which was hired by the steel company to break the strike.

A compromise agreement reached in 1877 that effectively ended Reconstruction in the South. The agreement resulted in the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, which allowed white Southerners to regain political control. In exchange, Rutherford B. Hayes, a Republican, was elected president.

A landmark Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws. The court ruled that

A system of laws and customs that enforced racial segregation in the South after Reconstruction. Jim Crow laws included disenfranchisement, segregation in public places, and other forms of discrimination against blacks.

A system of agriculture in which farmers rented land from landowners in exchange for a share of their crops. Sharecropping often kept black farmers in a state of perpetual debt, as they were forced to give a portion of their crops to landowners and often faced high interest rates on loans.

Laws passed in the South after Reconstruction to restrict the rights of blacks. Black codes included bans on voting, serving on juries, and gathering in large groups. These codes were designed to limit the rights of blacks and to maintain white supremacy.

Methods used to prevent blacks from voting in the South. Literacy tests and poll taxes were used to disenfranchise blacks, as they were often illiterate or too poor to afford the poll tax. These measures were designed to deny black people the right to vote.

A system of agriculture where farmers borrowed money from merchants to purchase supplies for their crops. Often, farmers would find themselves trapped in a cycle of debt because of high interest rates and low crop prices. These liens contributed to the poverty of many black farmers in the South.

A law passed in 1877 aimed at regulating the railroad industry, primarily by prohibiting unfair pricing practices, like 'Pittsburgh Plus Pricing'.

A system of setting railroad rates that favored manufacturers in the North, giving them an advantage in the market, which contributed to the rise of industrialization in the North.

A political practice in the post-Reconstruction South that aimed to disenfranchise Black voters. It exempted from voting requirements (like literacy tests) anyone whose ancestors had voted before the Civil War. This effectively barred most Black people from voting.

A policy where the government sets taxes on imported goods to protect domestic industries. Higher tariffs can hurt consumers by increasing prices on imported goods.

A system where the value of currency is backed by both gold and silver. This is in contrast to the gold standard where the value of currency is solely backed by gold.

A system where the value of currency is solely backed by gold. This system increases the stability of the currency but can hurt farmers by making them more susceptible to price fluctuations.

An act passed in 1890 which required the Treasury to purchase more silver, leading to an increase in the money supply and potentially causing inflation. Some thought this could weaken the US's commitment to the gold standard.

The economic downturn in the US from 1893 to 1897, marked by unemployment, business failures, and financial panic. J.P. Morgan famously helped stabilize the economy by lending money to the government when its gold reserves were depleted.

A railroad company that built the western half of the Transcontinental Railroad, connecting the East and West Coasts of the US. This project was heavily subsidized by the federal government with land grants and loans.