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The Gilded Age

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1870s - 1890's - A name for the late 1800's, coined by Mark Twain to describe the tremendous increase in wealth caused by the Industrial Age and the ostentatious lifestyles it allowed the very rich. The great industrial success of the U.S. (rapid industrialization, urbanization, immigration and the rise of big business) and the fabulous lifestyles of the wealthy hid the many social problems of the time, including a high poverty rate, a high crime rate, and corruption in the government which led to the labor movement, and the Populist Party.

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Labor Movement in Gilded Age

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• Creating a living wage • Creating safer working conditions and company responsibility for injured workers • Restricting child labor, especially when children were used to layoff adult workers •Some ethnic integration, but mostly ethnically restrictive

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Bessemer process

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Developed around 1850 injected air to make iron to remove impurities and make steel better

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Railroads

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-Stimulated growth of other industries -City Growth -Corruption -Immigrants building the railroads! -Charged much higher rates to western farmers

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Rise of Big Business

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•Consolidation used to grow business -Vertical (Carnegie Steel) (Progress by yourself), [buying the lemon tree] robber baron -Horizontal (Standard Oil) (Buying out other peoples stuff to make money)

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Rise of Labor Unions

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The purpose of a labor union was strength in numbers attempted to gain better working conditions and pay •The Knights of labor •The American Federation of Labor (AFL)

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Social Darwinism

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19th century of belief that evolutionary ideas theorized by Charles Darwin could be applied to society. Survival of the Fittest: the poor deserved to suffer and die, and it would be best for society if they did; if you are not "smart" enough to avoid being taken advantage of, you deserve it. (Revised Calvinism).

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Gospel wealth

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Wealthy are superior: it is a gift from God to be that successful; but the wealthy are responsible to look out for the well being of those less fortunate. (Revised Nobles Oblige)

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Sherman Anti-Trust Act

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Law outlawing a combination of companies that restrained interstate trade or commerce; important to prevent monopolies. •Not initially enforced properly.

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The Knights of Labor

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Was the first union to accept workers of all races and gender. Pushed for: 8 hour workday, equal pay for women, accepted skilled and unskilled workers

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The American Federation of Labor

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Accepted only skilled white males won higher wages and shorter work weeks for its members ‣ Head of AFL was Samuel Gompers

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Setbacks for Labor Unions

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•Great Railroad Strike of 1877 •Haymarket Riot 1886 ‣ Speakers are socialists and anarchist (no government) ‣ Public blames labor unions and views them as radical, violent and mostly foreigners.

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The new immigrants

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•Between 1870 and 1920, 20 million Europeans mostly from Europe came to Ellis Island (Jews/Catholics), Asian-Angel Island ◦Hundreds of thousands more came from Mexico, The Caribbean and China ◦They looked and sounded different than long-time residents

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nativism

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Movement to ensure that native-born Americans received better treatment than immigrants

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political machines

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•An organized group of people that controlled the activities of a political party ◦By giving voters services they needed, the machine won their vote and controlled city government •City Boss-Head of political Machines

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Spanish American War

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1. The U.S. had invested money in Cuba (Sugar) 2. Spain was harsh toward Cuba 3. Many Cubans controlled plantations owned by Americans 4. Thus, Americans more likely to help Cubans out at the same time give freedom to spa ins colonies. (Spain still bad) 5. When the USS Maine exploded, it made Americans even more suspicious of Spain and this was the major spark of the war. --- • Cuba & Philippines • USS Maine • T.R. & the Rough Riders • Role of Yellow Journalism

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The USS Maine

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◦Exploded in Havana Harbor, Cuba ◦Most Americans believed it was Spain's fault ◦In 1976, the US Navy analyzed the sunken ship, decided that the hull blew OUT not IN How did it lead to war? ◦"Spark" that started the war ◦Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!

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Rough Riders

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Teddy Roosevelt resigns as Asst secrtary of the Navy to lead a "Cowboy Calvary". Ted bought his own photographer • Tedd's popularity from this leads to his VP and president ‣ US defeats Spain & becomes a world power ‣ Teddy Roosevelt elected VP in 1900 and becomes president in 1901 when McKinley is shot (Shot by anarchist), gets TR in office ‣ US must decide what to do about Spains former colonies (Philippines, Puerto Rico and Cuba)

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yellow journalism

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• Newspaper created highly exaggerated stories • Made money to keep the public scared and interested • Made Americans want war ‣ William Randolph Hearst - "You furnish the pictures, I'll furnish the war!" ‣ Sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor ◦USS Maine exploded in Havana, Cuba Harbor ◦Most Americans believed it was Spain's fault

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Manila Bay

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Site of famous naval battle where Commodore Dewey decimated the Spanish Navy on April 30th, 1898. However, lacking an occupying force, he was unable to press his advantage until August 13th

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American Imperialism

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Roosevelt Corollary (to the Monroe Doctrine) attempted to expand American influence through military, economic and cultural means. Prevalent throughout the 19th Century, sparked numerous conflicts.

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Panama Canal

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The United States built the this massive gateway to have a quicker passage to the Pacific from the Atlantic and vice versa. It cost $400,000,000 to build. The Columbians would not let Americans build the canal, but then with the assistance of the United States a Panamanian Revolution occurred. The new ruling people allowed the United States to build the canal.

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Great White Fleet

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1907-1909 - Roosevelt sent the Navy on a world tour to show the world the U.S. naval power. Also to pressure Japan into the "Gentlemen's Agreement."

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Roosevelt Corollary

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United States has the right to protect its economic interests in South and Central America by using military force, first put into effect in Dominican Republic

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Theodore Roosevelt

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•Disliked both excessive corporate power and potential violence by the working class •Believed the wealthy had a moral obligation to help the poor •Increased federal government's role in regulation •Only opposed monopolies he believed worked against worked against the public interest ◦Became very popular •Square Deal (pushed Progressivism through) ‣ Package of laws and regulations that he felt to be fair to all, particularly workers -Increased regulation of business -Workers had the right to organize -Eight hour work days -Pure food and drug laws -Income and inheritance taxes on the wealthy ◦Trustbusting (trust = bunch of people that controlled one thing ◦Conservation Ethic and Actions ◦Saw America's landscape as a central to its democratic spirit; natural resources vital to economic, political strength ‣ Resources belong to the public ‣ Set aside numerous public lands

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muckrakers

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Journalists who exposed corruption and social injustices ◦Term coined by Theodore Roosevelt ◦Works published in popular magazines ◦Jacob Riis

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The Jungle

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Harsh criticisms of working conditions in Chicago's meatpacking industry ◦Instant bestseller ◦Public more concerned about meat safety than working conditions •Written by Upton Sinclair

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(Anti-) Child labor movement

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1.75 million under 16 had jobs in 1900 (not including farms) ◦Progressives campaign against child labor and for higher adult wages ◦Mary Harris "Mother" Jones and the children's crusade and march to TR

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Women's Suffrage

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NAWSA formed in 1890 ◦More women served as progressive leaders ◦Susan b Anthony, Carrie Chapman Catt ◦19th Amendment passed in 1919.

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N.A.W.S.A.

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National American Woman Suffrage Association

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The Temperance Movement

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An organized campaign to eliminate alcohol consumption.

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President William McKinley

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◦Elected in 1896 ◦Handily won election of 1900 on prosperity platform ◦Supported rapid industrialization and trusts ◦Assassinated in 1901

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Food and Drug Legislation

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In response to growing public outrage over unsafe food and unsanitary food processing conditions.

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Chinese immigrants

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China had concentrated populations and low wages so many wanted to leave and go to the US to work. The US wanted to sell goods to China (Open Door Policy)

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James Garfield

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1880; Republican; President for only 4 months before being assassinated by Charles Guiteau; promoted civil service reform but did not live to see it implemented

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Chester A. Arthur

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Appointed customs collector for the port of New York - corrupt and implemented a heavy spoils system. He was chosen as Garfield's running mate. Garfield won but was shot, so Arthur became the 21st president.

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Conservatism

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A belief that limited government insures order, competitive markets and personal opportunity.

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Trustbusting

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Government activities seeking to dissolve corporate trusts and monopolies

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The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

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A fire that occurred in a factory where 90% of the workers died because the managers had locked the girls in the room so that they couldn't take unauthorized breaks; they said it was to prevent theft. A couple girls jumped out of the windows to avoid being burned alive.

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16th Amendement

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Allows Congress to levy taxes based on an individual's income.

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The 17th Amendment

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◦Constitution originally had State legislatures elect senators. ◦Direct election of Senators ◦Stops bribery

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labor laws

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State and federal safety regulations and compliance assistance to protect the wages, health benefits, retirement security, employment rights, safety, and health of America's workforce

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suffrage

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The right to vote.

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bribery

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An agreement to give a public official money or property of any value in exchange for the official to do or refrain from doing something that is against or contrary to an official duty.

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extortion

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Getting money or something else of value, by threats

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corollary

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A practical consequence that follows naturally

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consolidation

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Combining two corporations to form a new one

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civil service

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A system in which government employees are chosen according to their educational qualifications, performance on examinations, and work experience.

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spoils system

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A system of public employment in which incoming political parties throw out former government workers and replace them with their own friends.

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graduated income tax

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A tax on income in which the taxation rates grow progressively higher for those with higher income.

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bimetallism

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A monetary system in which the government would give citizens either gold or silver in exchange for paper currency or checks.

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monopoly

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(Economics) A market in which there are many buyers but only one seller.

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I.C.C.

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(Interstate Commerce Commission) - monitors the business operation of carriers transporting goods and people between states - created to regulate railroad prices

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inter

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Between, among

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Munn v. Illinois

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1876; The Supreme Court upheld the Granger laws. The Munn case allowed states to regulate certain businesses within their borders, including railroads, and is commonly regarded as a milestone in the growth of federal government regulation.

History: Events of the Gilded Age & Progressivism – Flashcards

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