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Manifest Destiny
The belief that it is one's personal duty to move to the West. People also believed it was their duty from God, as well. It was used to justify why they were taking land and braving the elements in the West. -
Indian Removal
An act signed by Andrew Jackson, that relocated American Indians farther west, in order to gain sellable land west of the Mississippi. Many of the American Indians went peacefully, however some resisted. This is associated with the Trail of Tears. -
Homestead Act
A federal act signed by Abraham Lincoln, that said, if an adult citizen traveled west, they could pay a small registration fee and live on the land for five continuos years, they would receive 160 acres of land. This encouraged many people to migrate to the west. Especially freed slaves and other minorities, or people who have been oppressed. -
Susan B. Anthony
A reformer who attempted to to vote in an election. She was rejected the right after going to court. She argues that she was guranteed the right to vote by the 14th amendment. The judge however, ruled that it was constitutional to not let her vote. -
Populism and Progressivism
Populism- Belief started by a movement of farmers who believed rich business men ran the government and made policies against the farmers. Progressivism- Belief started by a movement of middle class and educated men/women. They fought to protect workers, corruption in business and legal system, and unfair elections. -
Civil Service Reform
A united States federal law that states, a person should be awarded a position in the federal government based on merit, not political merit. This was used to keep people out of office that didn't belong, but since they were backed by the republicans or the democrats, they got elected. -
Immigration and The American Dream
The movement of a family from one country to another. They completely uprooted their lives to look for a better opportunity in America. They believed that they would be treated more fairly, as well as be able to find a fortune due to the less hierarchical society in America, as well as be free from oppression in America. -
Haymarket Riot
Started as a labor rally. The rallies goals was to shrink the hours that you could work in a day to Eight hours. The rally turned violent when someone threw a bob at police. Eight people died in the riot. Despite evidence saying other wise, eight radical labor activists were convicted for the bombing. These men were later viewed as martyrs. -
Dawes Act
An act passed by congress, to take land away from the native americans. It treated the native Americans as individuals, not as a tribe. So it took away their land and allotted them some, but keeping the most of the land for settlers. So now they could just take one Native American's land instead of the whole tribe's at one time. -
Jane Addams
Founded settlement houses, the most famous of them being Hull House. The settlement houses gave immigrants, as well as others, a place to sleep and live. She did this because she felt that immigrants were treated very poorly. She wanted to show them that not every one in America cares solely about money. She was also a member of a group that helped to push laws, that would create better working conditions for the work force. -
The Gilded Age
An era in United States history that was characterized by many serious social problems, but was masked by "gold." For example, in New York there were many shady things going on in businesses and stuff, but big, huge skyscrapers were being built, so lets focus on those. It was a greater scale of slight of hand, something i going on over here, but something is also going on over there. -
Industrialization
A period of time that changed the United states socially and economically. It brought the United States out of the agrarian society, and into the industrial society we know today. -
Third Parties
Third parties impact politics by giving minorities a voice, as well as generating new ideas. During the 1890s the Populist Party showed up, they proposed graduated income tax, and direct elections of sneators. As fast as the party showed up they disappeared just as fast. However, there are many thir parties still today. -
Andrew Carnegie
Founder of the Carnegie Steel Corporation. He made leaps in social status through his life, starting as a penniless Scottish immigrant. Later, after good investments, he became one of the wealthiest men in the United States. He bought his own ships, iron ore fields, and coal mines so he could mine and transport his own iron. -
Klondike Gold Rush
A large migration to the Yukon (Alaska), in search of gold. It was a very hard journey since Alaska is remote. Gold was found in 1896, but the rush ended in 1899. Many people who made the long, hard, costly journey left in disappointment, because when they got there, they realized that there was little opportunity for work there. There are still people there today that mine the Klondike in search of fortune. -
Nativism
A belief that previous residents in a country/region have a higher claim then those that are immigrants. We have feared anything that was not "American." We still have this fear today with refugees from Syria, or with immigrants from Mexico. At the time we shunned minorities/immigrants and made them work harder than "natives." -
Political Machine
A political organization that has a boss that is in control of other small groups or businesses. When the businesses and small groups do good they get rewarded with prizes and things like money and recognition. -
Urbanization
Was the shift from a town being rural, to becoming a city. This happened due to the increase in population of new cities. It took place all throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s. Especially in small rural towns that had factories in them. -
Theodore Roosevelt
President of the United States. He believed that as a president, you should lead and be an example and take initiative. Known for looking out for the interest of the common people. He had to deal with the Coal Miner's Strike of 1902, where they said if they aren't treated better there would be a winter without coal. -
Initiative and Referendum
These were political reforms enacted by President Theodore Roosevelt and other progressive politicians. They were trying to end corruption of government at the state level. This would stop making things unfair for businesses owners. -
Suffrage
At the time it was the women seeking the right to voting equality. It can be applied to anybody, Black men fought for suffrage after they were set freed. Suffrage is just the right to vote in political elections. -
Eugene V. Debbs
A socialist, union leader. He started the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The IWW was a industrial labor union, the wanted better working conditions for the labor force. They also wanted workers to be united as a social class. They tried to start, Industrial Democracy, where the boss is elected by the work force in that factory, mills, etc. -
Upton Sinclair
Arthur during the Industrial Revolution. He wrote about the effects of the speed at which industrialization was taking place. His most famous book, The Jungle, talked about the unsanitary practices of the meat packing industry. By writing about he hoped people would push for a reform in the laws. -
Muckrakers
Name given to journalist that exposed scandals and corruption in businesses and in the US government. The first use of the term was by Theodore Roosevelt in a speech. He compared them to The Ma with the Muck-rake, who was so intent on raking the muck at his feet, he didn't bother to look up and see the celestial crown. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
An act passed in the interest of the people. It made it illegal for products to be misbranded, poisonous, or adulterated. It also states that meat had to be inspected before it was sold. President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Act, as well as the Federal Meat Inspection Act. The act is still in use today, it is enforced by the Food and Drug Administration, some consider them to be the unsung heroes of our society. -
Ida B. Wells
She founded an Anti-lynching crusade after three of her friends were hung. She ended founding the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Her goal was to lead others to a social reform, and get equal treatment for minorities and white people. -
16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment was a revision to Article 1 Section 9 of the Constitution. It allowed the government to place an income tax without dividing it or basing it on a Census. We can thank this Amendment for taking money out of our paycheck. -
Dollar Diplomacy
Foreign relations policy that used by President William Taft and Secretary Philander Knox. It was used to create stability and order in foreign countries that would help the American commercial trades. It was also used to keep countries out of political turmoil. -
William Jennings Bryan
He was an outspoken politician, who supported the Prohibition and was against the teachings of Darwinism. He was appointed the Secretary of State under the president, Woodrow Wilson, in 1913. He ran for the Presidency 3 times and lost all three. -
Federal Reserve Act
An act signed by Woodrow Wilson that gave the nation a more flexible, safer, and more stable financial system. This act created the Federal Reserve when Wilson signed the act into law. This act is why we have the Federal Reserve notes, AKA the US Dollar Bill. -
17th Amendment
The Amendment says that the people vote for senators, instead of the state legislature. It also says that there will be two senators from each state, regardless of size and population, that serve a term of six years. It became a part of the Bill of Rights in 1914. -
18th Amendment
Established the Prohibition of Alcohol. The amendment declared the sale, transportation, and production of alcohol illegal. However, the private possession and consumption of alcohol was legal. This started a big movement to get the alcohol back. We still see evidence of this today, we call them dry counties, where you can not purchase alcohol. -
19th Amendment
This amendment gave women the right to vote. It ended the Women's suffrage movement, by giving women equal voting rights. It stated that the right of citizens to vote, "shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of Sex. -
Tea Pot Dome Scandal
Albert Bacon Fall leased Navy petroleum reserves in Teapot Dome, in Wyoming, which provided low rates for without competitive bidding. After an investigation by Senator Thomas Walsh, Fall was convicted of accepting bribes from oil companies. However, nobody was convicted of making a bribe. Albert Fall was the only cabinet member to go to prison. -
Clarence Darrow
The defending lawyer in the Scopes "Monkey Trial." He was defending a biology teacher, who broke a Tennesse law outlawing the teaching of Darwin's Laws of Evolution. It was outlawed because it went against the Biblical account of how life was created.
