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Tenement
A typical tenement building had 5 to 7 stories and held nearly all of the lot upon which it was built. Mostly immigrants and poor people lived here. It was often cramped, poorly lit, and lacked indoor plumbing and proper ventilation. They housed a population of 2.3 million people, a full 2/3 of the city's total population of around 3.4 million. 1800-1880 -
Nativism
This term refers to the preference for U.S residents rather than foreigners considered to be outsiders. The belief in nativism is a prejudicial attitude towards immigrants. The doctrine in nativism in America resulted in widespread attitude that rejected immigrants and their culture. -
Industrialization
The nation rapidly expanded its economy into new areas like heavy industry like factories, railroads, and coal mining. This caused problems over wages, work hours, child labor, safe work conditions, and etc. -
Robber Barons
This term is used to refer to the men who used union busting, fraud, intimidation, violence and their extensive political connections to gain an advantage over any competitors. They were relentless in their efforts to get rich while exploiting workers and ignoring standard business rules. -
Bessemer Steel Production
This was the first inexpensive industrial process for the mass production. This lowered the cost of production steel, leading to steel widely substituted for cast iron. -
Political Machines
The political machine of the late 1860's and early 1870's used graft, bribery, and rigged elections to bilk the city over $200 million. Political machines controlled the activities of political parties in the city. -
The Gilded Age
America saw unprecedented growth in industry and technology. During this time greedy, corrupt industrialists, bankers and politicians enjoyed a lot of riches off the expense of the working class. It was the wealthy people who had the mot power during this time. -
Susan B. Anthony
She was a fighter for the woman suffrage movement in the U.S and president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Her work helped pave the way for the 19th Amendment (1920). She founded the NWSA in 1869. -
Labor Unions
Wanted better wages, working conditions, shorter working days, and the creation of all-union workplaces for its members. The National Labor Union and the Knights of Labor and the AFL only represented skilled white males craftsmen in the cities. -
Social Gospel
A movement led by a group of liberal Protestant progressives in response to the social problems raised but the rapid industrialization, urbanization and increasing immigration of the gilded age. -
Andrew Carneige
Andrew Carnegie was an industrialist of the Gilded Age, the owner of the Carneige Steel Company. He entered the iron industry knowing steel rail would soon replace iron rails, so then he invested in the steel business. He also utilized the newest technologies like the Bessemer blast furnace to expand his steel company. -
Alexander Graham Bell
This man invented the telephone which changed the world by giving them a new form of communication, and meaning no more mail for communicating. -
Great Railroad Strike
Great railroad strike of 1877, in order to protect profit during the economic depression they reduced the pay of railroad workers by ten percent. This strike spread to from West Virginia and quickly spread to cities from St. Louis and Chicago to New York and Baltimore. The troops of the U.S army joined with the state militia to take control of the city. -
Samuel Gompers
Social Reformer union leader and founder of the American Federation of Labor (made of only skilled workers and sought better pay/hours/conditions) -
Haymarket Riot
This riot killed 8 people after someone threw a bomb at the police. For some people the events led to a heightened anti-labor sentiment, while others believed the men had been convicted unfairly and viewed them as martyrs. -
Interstate Commerce Act
Is a U.S federal law that was designed to regulate the railroad industry, mostly its monopolistic practices. This Act made railroad rates be reasonable and just, but it didn't empower the government to fix specific rates. -
Jane Addams
Jane Addams was thought to be the best known philanthropist of the Gilded Age. In 1889 she and Ellen Gates Star made a secular settlement house in Chicago known as Hull-House. A lot of struggling immigrants resided in this neighborhood. Hull-House gave them everything from midwife services and basic medical care to kindergarten, daycare, and housing for abused women. It also offered English and citizenship classes. -
Settlement House
Settlement houses were established all over American cities in respond to all the immigrants as well as the poverty. These houses provided support services to the urban poor and European immigrants often including education, healthcare, childcare and employment resources. The first house was made by Jane Addams and Ellen Starr in 1889 named Hull House. -
Jacob Riis
In 1890, reporter and photographer Jacob Riis brought the horrors of New York slum life to light in this book, "How the Other Half Lives" prompting New York politicians to pass legislation to improve tenement conditions. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
This was made to break up monopolistic business combinations, and the Interstate Commerce Act to regulate railroad rates. -
Populism and Progressivism
The populist were a political movement aimed at improving conditions for the country's farmers and agrarian workers. The people's party was political party founded in 1891. -
Homestead Strike
5k steelworkers struck Andrew Carnegie's steel plant near Pittsburg PA. A battle happened between the strikers and 300 Pinkertons hired by the plant manager Henry Clay Frick who was hired to protect the strikebreakers. 7 guards were killed. July 9, 7k state troopers were sent in by Governor Pattison. 15 July, the steel mill was reported by strikebreakers. Nov 14 Frick had broken the 24k member Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers and the strike ended. Happened in July 1892 -
Eugene V. Debbs
Debs was the president of the American Railway Union and a founding member of the Social Democratic Party of America. In 1893, he helped with the American Railway Union and became its first president. During the Pullman strike of 1894, he told the members of the ARU to support Pullmans employees by refusing to handle Pullman cars, which were a vital part of the nations passenger rail system. -
Pullman Strike
Wage was cut by 1/3, but no lower than rent on company housing nor price reduction at company stores. When Pullman fired a suspected Union organizer a strike grew ugly. This strike was ended by a court injunction, based on the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, which President Cleveland sent in 10k federal troops, along with 2k state troops and smashed the ARU. -
Ida B. Wells
She was an African-American journalist, abolitionist and feminist who led an anti-lynching crusade in the U.S in the 1890's. In 1896 she formed the National Association of Colored Women. -
William Jennings Bryan
He campaigned for peace, prohibition, and suffrage and criticized the teaching of evolution. His "Cross of Gold" speech at the 1896 democratic convection stirred the hearts of the midwest. -
Klondike Gold Rush
Gold was found in a tributary of the Klondike River in Canada's Yukon Territory, this set off the greatest gold rushes in history. Due to this so many people moved towards the west. -
Clarance Darrow
An American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union. He defended poor workers, blacks, and social and political outcasts, against big business, and fundamentalist religion. In 1898 he joined the anti-imperialist league. -
Initiative, Referendum, Recall
Initiative, referendum, and recall are three powers reserved to enable the voters, by petition, to propose or repeal legislation or to remove an elected official from office. This gave the people choice over who goes in the office. -
Theodore Roosevelt
He was the 26th president of the U.S in 1901, and a leader of the progressive movement. He used the media to appeal to the American people. He helped achieve many goals of the progressive movement. He felt there should be federal controls in place to keep people from making money off the backs of immigrants. -
Muckraker
A term used to describe reporters who exposed corruption among politicians and the superior. In 1902, the article "Tweed Days on St. Louis" this is considered the first muckraking magazine article. It exposed how city officials deceitfully made deals with crooked businessmen to maintain power. -
Upton Sinclair
In 1906, activist journalist named Upton Sinclair wrote "The Jungle" to expose the terrible working conditions in the meatpacking industry. The book and public outcry led to the passing of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
This was the first federal law to regulate foods and drugs. All the unsanitary methods used by the food industry were revealed. This act prohibited the transportation and sale of impure and contaminated food. This act stopped the transportation of contaminated food and impure food. -
Dollar Diplomacy
This was a form of American foreign policy to further its aims in Latin America and East Asia thru use of its economic power by giving loans to foreign countries. -
16th Amendment
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration. Congress passed this amendment in 1909. This amendment got ratified in 1913. -
Federal Reserve Act
Gave 12 banks the ability to print money to make sure economic stability. The federal reserve system created the dual mandate to maximize employment and keep inflation low. -
17th Amendment
The senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, elected by the people thereof for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislatures. Passed by Congress May 13, 1912. Ratified in April 8, 1913. -
18th Amendment
The 18th Amendment prohibited the making, transporting, and selling of alcoholic beverages. This Amendment was ratified on January 16, 1919. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment to the U.S Constitution prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the U.S on the basis of sex. It was adopted on. August 18th, 1920 -
Tea Pot Dome Scandal
This was a bribery scandal involving the administration of the U.S.
