Glossary
American Federation of Labor (AFL)
A prominent labor union founded by Samuel Gompers, which focused on organizing skilled workers and pursuing practical goals like better wages and working conditions.
Example:
Unlike the Knights of Labor, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) avoided broad political goals, instead concentrating on 'bread and butter' issues for its members.
Booker T. Washington
A prominent African American reformer who advocated for economic self-improvement and vocational training as the primary means for Black Americans to achieve equality.
Example:
Booker T. Washington's 'Atlanta Compromise' speech urged Black Americans to focus on economic advancement rather than immediate social and political equality.
Boss Tweed
The infamous leader of Tammany Hall, New York City's most powerful political machine, known for his widespread corruption and control over city politics.
Example:
Boss Tweed and his cronies defrauded the city of millions of dollars through inflated contracts and kickbacks.
Captains of Industry/Robber Barons
A dualistic term used to describe powerful entrepreneurs of the Gilded Age, viewed either as innovative leaders who built the economy or as exploitative figures who amassed wealth through unethical means.
Example:
Andrew Carnegie, with his vast wealth and philanthropic efforts, is often debated as either a Captain of Industry or a Robber Baron.
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
The first major law in U.S. history to prohibit immigration based on nationality, banning Chinese laborers from entering the country.
Example:
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 reflected widespread anti-immigrant sentiment and economic anxieties on the West Coast.
Cross of Gold Speech
A famous speech delivered by William Jennings Bryan at the 1896 Democratic National Convention, passionately advocating for the free coinage of silver and criticizing the gold standard.
Example:
The Cross of Gold Speech electrified the convention and secured Bryan's nomination, becoming a rallying cry for the Populist movement.
Depression of 1893 (Panic of 1893)
A severe economic depression in the United States, triggered by a railroad overbuilding and a banking crisis, leading to widespread unemployment and increased social unrest.
Example:
The Depression of 1893 intensified calls for currency reform and fueled the Populist movement's demands for government intervention.
Electricity
An emerging industry during the Gilded Age, pioneered by innovators like Westinghouse and Edison, bringing light and power to cities and factories.
Example:
The widespread adoption of electricity in factories allowed for longer workdays and more efficient production, fundamentally changing industrial operations.
Ethnic Enclaves
Urban neighborhoods where immigrants from a particular country or region settled together, preserving their culture, language, and traditions.
Example:
Cities like New York and Chicago saw the rise of vibrant ethnic enclaves such as 'Little Italy' and 'Chinatown,' providing a sense of community for newcomers.
Farmers' Alliances
Agrarian organizations that emerged in the late 19th century, working to curb the power of railroads and big businesses and advocate for the economic interests of farmers.
Example:
The Farmers' Alliances sought to create cooperative buying and selling agreements to help farmers overcome debt and low crop prices.
Free Silver
An inflationary monetary policy advocated by farmers and Populists, calling for the unlimited coinage of silver to increase the money supply and raise crop prices.
Example:
William Jennings Bryan's 'Cross of Gold' speech passionately argued for free silver as a solution to the economic woes of farmers and laborers.
Great Railroad Strike of 1877
A nationwide labor strike that highlighted the growing power of industrial workers but also demonstrated the government's willingness to intervene on behalf of businesses.
Example:
The federal government's deployment of troops to suppress the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 set a precedent for future interventions in labor disputes.
Haymarket Riot (1886)
A violent confrontation in Chicago between striking workers and police, which led to a bombing and subsequent arrests, significantly damaging the reputation of the Knights of Labor.
Example:
The public backlash against labor unions following the Haymarket Riot contributed to a decline in union membership and public support for workers' rights.
Homestead Strike (1892)
A violent industrial lockout and strike at Carnegie Steel Company's Homestead plant, brutally suppressed by private security forces and the state militia.
Example:
The defeat of the workers in the Homestead Strike (1892) severely weakened the power of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers.
Hull House
One of the most famous settlement houses in the United States, founded by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr in Chicago, providing a wide range of services to immigrants and the poor.
Example:
Hull House became a model for other settlement houses across the country, offering kindergarten, a public bath, and a library to its community.
Interstate Commerce Act (1887)
A federal law designed to regulate the railroad industry, making rates reasonable and just, and prohibiting discriminatory practices, though it was initially not very effective.
Example:
The Interstate Commerce Act was an early attempt by the federal government to regulate private industry, responding to public outcry over railroad abuses.
Jane Addams
A leading figure in the settlement house movement and a social reformer who co-founded Hull House in Chicago.
Example:
Jane Addams was a tireless advocate for social justice, women's suffrage, and peace, earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931.
KKK (Ku Klux Klan)
A white supremacist terrorist organization that used violence and intimidation to suppress the rights of African Americans, particularly voting rights, during and after Reconstruction.
Example:
The KKK engaged in widespread terror tactics, including lynchings and voter intimidation, to maintain white supremacy in the South.
Knights of Labor
An early labor union led by Terrance Powderly, notable for including both skilled and unskilled workers, as well as women and African Americans.
Example:
The Knights of Labor advocated for an eight-hour workday and the abolition of child labor, seeking broad social and economic reform.
Literacy tests
A voting restriction used in Southern states to prevent African Americans from voting by requiring them to pass difficult reading and writing tests, often administered unfairly.
Example:
Even educated Black citizens were often failed on literacy tests, while illiterate white voters were sometimes allowed to vote through 'grandfather clauses'.
New Immigrants
A term referring to the wave of immigrants who arrived in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily from Southern and Eastern Europe.
Example:
Unlike earlier immigrants from Western Europe, the New Immigrants often faced greater prejudice due to their different languages, religions, and customs.
Ocala Platform (1890)
A revolutionary plan for economic reform adopted by the National Farmers' Alliance, which later influenced the Populist Party's platform.
Example:
The Ocala Platform called for the direct election of senators, a subtreasury system, and the free coinage of silver, among other progressive ideas.
Oil
A dominant industry during the Gilded Age, largely controlled by John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company.
Example:
The discovery of vast oil reserves in Pennsylvania led to a boom in refining and distribution, making kerosene a common household fuel.
Patronage
The practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs, contracts, or other favors, a common feature of Gilded Age politics.
Example:
The assassination of President James Garfield by a disgruntled office-seeker highlighted the problems associated with the patronage system.
Pendleton Act (1883)
A federal law that established the Civil Service Commission and created a merit-based system for federal employment, aiming to reduce political patronage.
Example:
The Pendleton Act required applicants for many government jobs to pass competitive examinations, marking a significant step towards civil service reform.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
A landmark Supreme Court case that established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, legally sanctioning racial segregation in public facilities across the United States.
Example:
The ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) provided the legal foundation for Jim Crow laws, leading to decades of legalized discrimination.
Political Machines
Corrupt political organizations that controlled city governments, using graft, bribery, and patronage to maintain power and enrich their members.
Example:
New York City's Tammany Hall was a notorious political machine that exerted immense influence over local politics and public works.
Poll taxes
A voting restriction implemented in many Southern states after Reconstruction, requiring citizens to pay a fee to vote, effectively disenfranchising poor African Americans and some poor whites.
Example:
Despite the 15th Amendment, the imposition of poll taxes made it nearly impossible for many Black citizens to exercise their right to vote.
Populist Party
A significant third political party formed in the 1890s, primarily advocating for farmers and workers, pushing for reforms like free silver, government regulation of railroads, and a graduated income tax.
Example:
The Populist Party's platform, outlined in the Ocala Platform, represented a radical challenge to the established economic and political order.
Pullman Strike (1894)
A major railway strike that paralyzed rail traffic across the nation and was ultimately crushed by federal government intervention, including the use of an injunction and federal troops.
Example:
Eugene V. Debs gained national prominence during the Pullman Strike (1894), leading the American Railway Union in sympathy with the striking workers.
Railroads
A key industry during the Gilded Age that experienced massive expansion, connecting the country and fueling growth in other sectors.
Example:
The completion of the transcontinental railroad significantly reduced travel time across the United States, opening up new markets and opportunities for settlement.
Settlement Houses
Community centers established in urban immigrant neighborhoods to provide social services, education, and cultural activities to the poor and new arrivals.
Example:
Settlement houses offered English classes, childcare, and job training, helping immigrants adapt to life in America.
Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890)
The first federal law to outlaw monopolistic business practices, though it was initially used more often against labor unions than against large corporations.
Example:
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act aimed to promote competition by breaking up trusts and monopolies, but its vague language made it difficult to enforce effectively against powerful businesses.
Social Darwinism
A controversial social theory of the Gilded Age that applied Charles Darwin's concept of 'survival of the fittest' to human society and business, often used to justify wealth inequality and laissez-faire policies.
Example:
Many wealthy industrialists used Social Darwinism to argue that their success was a natural outcome of their superior abilities and that government intervention would disrupt this natural order.
Social Gospel Movement
A Protestant intellectual movement that applied Christian ethics to social problems, advocating for social reform and justice, particularly for the urban poor.
Example:
Ministers involved in the Social Gospel Movement preached that Christians had a duty to address poverty, inequality, and other societal ills.
Steel
A foundational industry of the Gilded Age, revolutionized by Andrew Carnegie and the Bessemer process, which made production cheaper and more efficient.
Example:
The availability of inexpensive steel allowed for the construction of towering skyscrapers and stronger bridges, transforming urban landscapes.
Tammany Hall
The powerful Democratic political machine that dominated New York City politics for decades, notorious for its corruption under leaders like Boss Tweed.
Example:
Tammany Hall often provided social services to immigrants in exchange for their votes, solidifying its power base.
Tariffs
Taxes on imported goods, a contentious issue during the Gilded Age, with industrialists generally favoring high tariffs to protect domestic industries and farmers advocating for low tariffs to reduce costs.
Example:
The debate over tariffs often divided the Republican and Democratic parties, reflecting the differing economic interests of industrial North and agricultural South.
Temperance Movement
A social reform movement that sought to reduce or entirely eliminate the consumption of alcoholic beverages, believing it was a root cause of societal problems.
Example:
The Temperance Movement gained significant traction during the Gilded Age, with organizations like the Women's Christian Temperance Union advocating for prohibition.
Tenement Housing
Overcrowded, unsanitary, and poorly constructed apartment buildings in urban areas, typically inhabited by impoverished factory workers and immigrants.
Example:
Life in tenement housing was often characterized by disease, lack of privacy, and dangerous living conditions due to poor ventilation and sanitation.
W.E.B. Du Bois
An influential African American reformer who challenged Booker T. Washington's approach, advocating for immediate civil rights, political equality, and higher education for the 'Talented Tenth' of Black Americans.
Example:
W.E.B. Du Bois co-founded the NAACP, believing that direct action and legal challenges were necessary to combat racial injustice.
William Jennings Bryan
A charismatic Democratic and Populist candidate in the Election of 1896, known for his powerful 'Cross of Gold' speech and his advocacy for free silver.
Example:
William Jennings Bryan's populist appeal resonated with farmers and laborers, though he ultimately lost the presidency to William McKinley.
William McKinley
The Republican candidate who won the Election of 1896, largely supported by industrialists and urban workers, and who favored the gold standard and high tariffs.
Example:
William McKinley's victory in 1896 marked a shift in American politics, signaling the decline of the Populist movement and the rise of Republican dominance.