Gilded Age
the Gilded Age was the period following the Civil War, roughly from the end of Reconstruction in 1877 to the turn of the twentieth century. A
... [Show More] gilded patina is "pretty" on the outside / "ugly" on the inside.
Immigration
European Immigration / Nativism (hatred towards immigrants) / Nativist ideals towards Irish Catholics.
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
First federal law to restrict immigration (1882) / Chinese had helped with the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Big Business
Capitalism (free enterprise) / monopolies, trusts / laissez-faire (government does not get involved with the economy), "hands off" economics.
Labor Unions
Fought for workers rights (shorter work days and better pay) / American Federation of Labor (Samuel Gompers) / Knights of Labor. Organizations that protected the interests of the worker. They created the 40- hour workweek and dealt with dangerous working conditions. They also organized strikes.
Political Machines
Political corruption / services in exchange for votes / Tammany Hall in New York / William "Boss" Tweed / Pendleton Act (must pass exam). Corrupt organized groups that controlled political parties in cities. A boss led the machine and attempted to grab more votes for their party. (Machine is used to describe a group of people that is organized to gain influence in political offices/positions). As a result, the Gilded Age was marked by high voter turnout.
Urbanization
Growth of cities / rural to urban / farms to cities. With urbanization came a large range of urban problems including sanitation, transportation, and crowded living conditions. With the increase of job opportunities in factories, a mass migration from rural areas to the cities led to urban issues that led to social progressive reforms.
Industrialization
Manufacturing / factories / new inventions / light bulb allowed production to continue at night. The rise of a manufacturing economy and decline of an agriculture economy. Includes the increase of the factory system, increasing the demand for cheap labor and high production levels.
Andrew Carnegie
Successful entrepreneur (steel industry) / Gospel of Wealth / philanthropist (charity), libraries and universities. Also Known as the "Captain of Industry" and a "robber baron."
John D. Rockefeller
Rockefeller was an American industrialist business tycoon and philanthropist who owned Standard Oil and controlled 90% of the oil industry in the late 1800s. He controlled the industry by making Standard Oil a trust. Also Known as the "Captain of Industry" and a "robber baron."
Monopoly
A market situation in which one company controls an entire industry.
Trust
Small companies join together to form one large company.
Laissez-Faire
The idea that government should not interfere with business practices.
Eugenics
The proposed improvement of the human species by encouraging or permitting reproduction of only those people with genetic characteristics judged desirable
Social Darwinism
The belief that the rich succeed because they are superior to the poor. This belief applied to big business during the Gilded Age.
Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)
Outlawed business monopolies, but was not very effective at limiting the power of big business.
Free Enterprise System
Individuals are free to produce and sell whatever they wish; they are also free to buy and use whatever they can afford.
Bessemer Process
The first inexpensive industrial process for the mass-production of steel from molten iron prior to the open hearth furnace. The process is named after its inventor, Henry Bessemer. This process allowed for the increase production of steel products (steel beams) the allowed for the rapid construction of high rise building.
Child Labor
Children were viewed as laborers throughout the 19th century. Many children worked on farms, small businesses, mills, and factories. This was a major problem during the Gilded Age.
Populism
A political philosophy [Show Less]