rachel+lindstrom+and+sarah+lapierre+extra+credit

= **__The Gilded Age__** (Chapters 16-19) =

= __**Summary**__ = This was an era that took place after the Civil War. Many Americans made the strive to migrate westward in hopes of expanding the American culture.During this time period, there was extreme growth of the economy, industry, and population in the United States. Methods of transportation increased and were more readily available. Things like the airplane and automobile came into play and production went up. Wealthy people began taking over the economic status while the middle class and poor stayed that way.

= __**Key Terms**__ = __Buffalo__ -The buffalo provided an economic basis for the Plains Indians, as well as a source of food and materials (clothing).

__Chinese Immigrants__ - When they settled in the United States, they were discriminated against and used for cheap labor. They established their own communities, known as China-towns, so they could escape racism. .

__Turner Thesis__ - His theory explained how advancements became increasingly prevalent, as Americans moved to the frontier. Americans adopted the uncivilized land in the West.

__ Little Big Horn __- Colonel George A. Custer led the seventh cavalry to the Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana, a battle between Indians and whites

__Wounded Knee__ - December 29th, 1890 the seventh cavalry tried to round up 350 Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee, SD, Fighting broke out

__Ghost Dance__ - This was a ritual, in which Native Americans would dance in a circle. This was integrated into their belief system.

__Dawes Act__ - This Act was adopted by Congress in 1887. It allowed the president to break up the land of tribes, and hand it out to individual Indians. The main objective was to assimilate the Indians as much as possible into the American culture.

__Farmers' Grievances__ - Railroads increased farmers' costs by gouging them, farming became increasingly commercialized/ industrialized, foreign competition began which caused overproduction that led to decrease prices, the issue of Gold vs. Silver was debated farmers wanted silver because it would lead to inflation

__ Assimilation __- Native Americans were almost forced to give up their traditions that derive from their ancestors, in order to assimilate with the American culture.

__Jacob Riis__ - He exposed the true conditions of city life and demanded reform through reports.

__Comstock Lode__- A place where Americans discovered silver, areas such as Nevada gained billions of dollars from the mines, they were later able to go deeper into the ground to retrieve more silver.

= __The Gilded Age Outline__ = [__**From**__: http://www.course-notes.org/US_History/Topic_Outlines/The_Gilded_Age]

A. Cities – offer jobs, entertainment, plumbing, electricity, phones, department stores, architecture

1. Immigration – antiforeignism – Nativistist Movement – Know-Nothing Party

A. Pre 1880 – immigrants came from Germany, British Isles – high literacy

B. Post 1880 – New Immigrant – Mediterranean, Slavic – poor literacy, arrive impoverished

C. Reasons for leaving – population explosion, persecution, exaggerated letters – streets paved with gold

2. City Problems – waste disposal of packaged products, sewage

A. Criminals, sanitoriums – homeless roaming the streets

B. Slums – dumbbell tenement – one toilet, poor ventilation, disease spreads – easy to build

3. Machine Politics – Boss System – a political machine “machine politics” controls who gets elected

A. Boss Tweed – help immigrants in exchange for votes – government leaders then have to give them kick-backs/money from government projects

B. Provides services/infrastructure for cities, but above the law – controls judges/politicians B. Politics – existed for benefit of interest groups – conservative leaders who want to avoid conflict

1. Conservative Presidencies – 1876-1992 – “Forgettable Presidents” – laissez faire policies

A. “Rutherfraud” B. Hayes – ended Reconstruction in exchange for votes – election 1876

B. Garfield – Killed by civil servant – eventually led to civil service reform – who gets what background jobs

C. Chester Arthur – elected due to strong boss system of New York

2. Tariff Controversy - $145 million budget surplus per year due to high tariffs

A. Solution – 1) pork-barrel bills or 2) lower tariffs – politicians and industry both interested

3. Railroad regulation – hesitant to intervene – building industry – American Dream

A. Wabash Case – 1886 – states can’t regulate interstate railroads

B. Interstate Commerce Act – creates Interstate Commerce Commission – supposed to regulate commerce, but hard to enforce – at least it’s a step to regulate monopolies

4. Trusts – competition hurts prices so companies unite to control prices/earnings – hurts customer

A. Veritical Integration – control all areas of production – oil from ground to gas station

B. Horizontal Integration – competitive companies from same industry form a trust C. Agrarian Discontent - Land not as productive – grasshoppers, overused soil, droughts

1. Land easy to tax – other industries can had profits/parts of company

2. Trusts – barbed wire, fertilizer, harvester trusts push prices too high – hurts farmers

3. Railroads control price of transportation

4. ½ population farmers, but can’t organize – consolidation not part of American independence ethos

5. Rising expenses plus lower prices for goods = can’t pay back debts – want free silver D. Crisis of 1890s – common man fights back – tired of being abused

1. Populism – People’s Party (Populists) came from Farmer’s Alliance – big gains in 1892 election

A. Free coinage silver – 16 to 1 ration

B. Graduated income tax based on wealth

C. Government ownership of utilities – railroad, telephone, telegraph – think Monopoly

D. Direct election of Senators/ One term presidents

E. Initiatives and Referundums for civilians to control municipal issues

F. Shorter workday

G. Immigration Restriction

H. Solicited black vote – black participation only increased anti-voting laws in South E. Election 1892 – free silver, William Jennings Bryan –Messiah- Democrat – Cross of Gold – great speaker 1. Populists have no party since Bryan’s silver views are theirs 2. Republicans create massive war chest from all industrialists/bankers who fear free silver 3. Millions show up to vote 4. Shift in politics – next 30 years, people become apathetic politically, Republicans dominate 5. Third Phase of Party System era

**__Notes__** [|Gilded Age Facts]

= __**Video-Clips**__ =

[|Gilded Age Video/Slideshow] [|Gilded Age Urbanization]

= __**Practice Quizzes**__ =

[|Practice Quiz 1] [|Practice Quiz 2] [|Practice Quiz 3] [|Practice Quiz 4] [|Practice Quiz 5] [|Practice Quiz 6]