1. Unit 6 Vocab

2. Railroads
The expansion of railroads after Reconstruction changed travel and business in America
The growth of railroads led to the growth of big business and other industries, like steel which was used for the tracks.
Led to development of the West

3. Steel Industry that grew quickly with the expansion of railroads
The Bessemer process made making steel efficient and cheap
Andrew Carnegie created a monopoly over the steel industry

4. Big Business
Industries controlled by monopolies and trusts, such as railroads, steel and oil
Andrew Carnegie was the giant of the steel industry
John D. Rockefeller was the giant of the oil industry

5. Development of the West
The expansion of railroads led to the development of the west because it allowed people and business to move west faster and easier
This led to conflict between Native Americans in the West and the U.S. government

6. Transcontinental Railroad
A railroad line linking the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, completed in 1869
Built mostly by Chinese immigrants

7. Impact on Native Americans
Battle of Little Bighorn – Sioux defeat the U.S. army, General Custer is killed
Sitting Bull – Sioux leader who defeated Custer at Little Bighorn, but is taken at Wounded Knee
Wounded Knee – U.S. army rounds up Sioux and kills 300 unarmed people

8. Pooling
Railroad companies agreed to divide up business in an area and set high prices
They did this to get rid of competition and keep prices high

9. Vertical and Horizontal Integration
Vertical – owning or buying out all of the raw materials necessary in an industry
Horizontal – Buying out or merging with other companies in the same industry

10. Trusts and Monopolies
Trust – a group of companies controlled by one board of directors
Monopoly – complete control over an industry

11. John D. Rockefeller Owned Standard Oil Company
Established nation’s first trust that controlled every aspect of the oil industry
Led to the government creating anti-trust laws

12. Immigration Immigrants make up large part of the industrial work force
By the late 1800s, immigrant origins changed from northwestern Europe to southeastern Europe
Changed urban America and led to development of ethnic enclaves and tenement housing

13. Nativism
Belief that immigrants posed a threat to native-born Americans and their way of life
Americans with ancestors from northern Europe looked down on new immigrants from southeastern Europe

14. Ellis Island
Processing center for European immigrants entering the U.S. on the east coast
Immigrants were inspected and granted or denied access to the U.S.

15. Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
Banned Chinese immigrants from entering the U.S.
Americans did not want Chinese laborers taking their jobs because they would accept lower wages

16. American Federation of Labor (AFL)
Labor union for skilled workers
Formed by Samuel Gompers
Did not allow unskilled workers, women and African Americans

17. 1894 Pullman Strike
Workers at Pullman Sleeping Car company strike because Pullman lowers their wages but refuses to lower their rent
Strike turns violent and federal troops were called in
Example of industrial unrest

18. Progressive Era
Time period in which reformers made efforts to change or improve the U.S. after the growth and expansion of the era of railroads and big business

19. Muckraker
Journalist who writes about corruption or problems in business or government
Brought about changes in business or government during the Progressive Era
Examples: Ida Tarbell and Upton Sinclair

20. Ida Tarbell Wrote “The History of the Standard Oil Company”
Exposed corruption by Rockefeller in the creation of his trust and control over oil industry
Her writing encouraged laws against trusts and monopolies

21. Upton Sinclair Wrote The Jungle
Exposed disgusting conditions in the meatpacking industry
His writings led to government oversight of food and drug industries and laws like Meat Inspection Act

22. Jane Addams Founder of the Hull House
Hull House was a settlement house in Chicago
Settlement houses helped immigrants adjust to life in America and sought to improve living conditions for the poor in cities

23. Jim Crow
Laws enacted in the South to segregate black and white people in public and private facilities

24. Plessy v. Ferguson
Supreme court case in 1896 that said segregated public facilities was legal
This case established the “separate but equal” doctrine that upheld segregation in the South

25. NAACP An organization founded in 1909 to promote full racial equality
Stands for National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

26. Political Progressive Reforms
Made the U.S. more democratic
Initiative: law is written and voted on by the people
Recall: the people remove a public official from office by a vote
Referendum: people vote on a law proposed by lawmakers

27. 17th amendment
Creates the direct election of senators by the people, instead of the House of Representatives electing them
Makes representation more democratic

28. Conservation Movement
Preserved some wilderness areas and planned development of others for the common good
Theodore Roosevelt set aside millions of acres for national parks and forests
This was an attempt to correct the misuse of natural resources during expansion and industrialization

29. Thomas Edison
His inventions led to new industries and increased productivity
Light bulb – changed American way of life and increased productivity in industry
Kinetoscope – led to film industry
Phonograph – led to development of radio and music industries