US History

laissez-faire capitalism

an economic system in which the market makes all decisions and the government plays no role

Social Darwinism

The application of ideas about evolution and "survival of the fittest" to human societies - particularly as a justification for their imperialist expansion.

Captains of Industry

Owners and managers of large industrial enterprises who wielded extraordinary political and economic power

Robber Barons

People who'd built fortunes by swindling investors and taxpayers, and bribing officials

labor union

An organization of workers that tries to improve working conditions, wages, and benefits for its members

yellow dog contract

an agreement some companies forced workers to take that forbade them from joining a union. This was a method used to limit the power of unions, thus hampering their development.

strike breakers

In a labor disagreement, people who interfere with workers efforts to protest against management.

Haymarket Riot

1886 labor-related protest in Chicago which ended in deadly violence

Pullman Strike

violent 1894 railway workers' strike which began outside of Chicago and spread nationwide

Nativism

A policy of favoring native-born individuals over foreign-born ones

Chinese Exclusion Act

(1882) Denied any additional Chinese laborers to enter the country while allowing students and merchants to immigrate.

Social Gospel

A movement in the late 1800s / early 1900s which emphasized charity and social responsibility as a means of salvation.

Settlement Houses

neighborhood centers in poor areas that offered education, recreation, and social activities

Gospel of Wealth

The belief that, as the guardians of society's wealth, the rich have a duty to serve society; promoted by Andrew Carnegie; Carnegie donated more than $350 million to libraries, school, peace initiatives, and the arts

Bessemer Process

A way to manufacture steel quickly and cheaply by blasting hot air through melted iron to quickly remove impurities.

Vertical Integration and Horizontal Integration

vertical controls the raw materials and transportation systems and horizontal means companies producing similar products merge together

political machine

a party organization that recruits members by dispensing patronage

Spoils System

the system of employing and promoting civil servants who are friends and supporters of the group in power

Tweed Ring

A symbol of Gilded Age corruption, "Boss" Tweed and his deputies ran the New York City Democratic party in the 1860s and swindled $200 million from the city through bribery, graft, and vote-buying. Boss Tweed was eventually jailed for his crimes and died behind bars.

Thomas Nast

Newspaper cartoonist who produced satirical cartoons, he invented "Uncle Sam" and came up with the elephant and the donkey for the political parties. He nearly brought down Boss Tweed.

Sherman Antitrust Act

1890 law banning any trust that restrained interstate trade or commerce

Pendleton Civil Service Act

Passed in 1883, an Act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.