US History Unit 2 Key Terms

  • Industrialization

    The process of making more factories and industries. America was practically built off of industries, thanks to the immigrant laborers, and a new era of technology.
  • Homestead Act 1862

    The Homestead Act stated that for $10, you were sold 160 acres of land. If you built a house and farmed on the land you purchased, you owned it permanently.
  • Great Plains

    People settled in the Great Plains because of the 160 acres of free land if they settled there and built their houses. The farming was difficult due to the sod on top of the soil.
  • Transcontinental Railroad

    The transcontinental Railroad was a 1,912 continuous railroad that shortened the amount of travel for laborers
  • “Civil War Amendments” {13, 14, 15}

    The Civil War Amendments are the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments from the constitution, passed to ensure equality between recently freed slaves. The 13th banned slavery in its entirety, and it was passed five years after the Civil War.
  • Imperialism

    Imperialism is the spreading of a country's power and influence by military force (war and conquering)
  • Immigration

    The international movement of people who lived in their country and wish to move and reside in a new one. Primarily it is where they are not native to.
  • Assimilation

    The process of adapting and understanding a culture of a group or a nation. For example, the assimilation of immigrants to American culture.
  • Chinese Exclusion Act

    The Chinese Exclusion Act stopped Chinese laborers from coming to America. It was passed by President Chester Arthur, due to the increase of Chinese laborers in the west
  • “Closing of the Western Frontier”

    Census Bureau announced that the “frontier” was closing. This meant that there was no OBVIOUS frontier line,which is a point beyond which the population density was less than two persons per square mile, no longer existed.
  • Urbanization

    The process of making a rural area more modern and city-like (making more urban)
  • Americanization

    Making someone or something more American in characterization or nationality that took place in the early 20th century.
  • Rural & Urban

    Rural refers to the countryside, whereas Urban refers to the city. (Example: New York City is very urban, where as somewhere like Nevada is considered somewhat rural)