Unit 6

Question 1

Alexander Graham Bell / Telephone

Answer 1

Invented the telephone (1876), which allowed people to communicate instantly over long distances. This helped businesses expand and connect markets nationwide.

Question 2

Henry Bessemer / Steel

Answer 2

Developed the Bessemer Process, which made steel cheaper and faster to produce. Steel became essential for railroads, bridges, and skyscrapers, fueling industrial growth.

Question 3

Thomas Edison / Electricity

Answer 3

Invented practical electric lighting and power systems. Electricity transformed factories, cities, and daily life by allowing longer work hours and safer lighting.

Question 4

Otis Elevator

Answer 4

Invented the safety elevator, making tall buildings practical. This led to the rise of skyscrapers and modern urban cities.

Question 5

Cornelius Vanderbilt / Railways

Answer 5

Built a massive railroad empire by consolidating lines. Railroads linked regions, lowered shipping costs, and helped create a national market.

Question 6

Mail-Order Catalogs / Sears

Answer 6

Sears catalogs allowed rural Americans to order goods by mail. This connected farmers to the national economy and increased consumer culture.

Question 7

Rebate

Answer 7

A discount railroads gave to big corporations for shipping large amounts. This helped large businesses and hurt small competitors.

Question 8

Pools

Answer 8

Agreements between companies to fix prices and divide markets. Pools reduced competition but often collapsed because companies cheated.

Question 9

J. Pierpont Morgan / Banking

Answer 9

Powerful banker who created large corporations by merging companies. Helped stabilize the economy but increased monopoly power.

Question 10

Interlocking Directorates

Answer 10

When the same people sat on the boards of multiple companies. This reduced competition and gave elites control over many industries.

Question 11

Andrew Carnegie / Steel

Answer 11

Built a huge steel empire using vertical integration. Believed in the Gospel of Wealth—the rich should give back to society.

Question 12

John D. Rockefeller / Standard Oil

Answer 12

Built the largest oil monopoly by using horizontal integration and trusts. Controlled prices and crushed competition.

Question 13

Trust

Answer 13

A legal arrangement where one company controlled others. Trusts created monopolies and limited competition.

Question 14

Horizontal Integration

Answer 14

Buying out or destroying competitors in the same industry (Rockefeller did this in oil).

Question 15

Vertical Integration

Answer 15

Controlling every step of production, from raw materials to distribution (Carnegie used this in steel).

Question 16

Laissez-Faire

Answer 16

Idea that government should not interfere in business. Popular during the Gilded Age and favored big corporations.

Question 17

Social Darwinism

Answer 17

Belief that the strongest businesses and people succeed naturally. Used to justify wealth inequality and oppose government help.

Question 18

Knights of Labor / Terence Powderly

Answer 18

Early labor union that welcomed skilled and unskilled workers, women, and African Americans. Wanted better wages and working conditions.

Question 19

American Federation of Labor (AFL) / Samuel Gompers

Answer 19

Union for skilled workers only. Focused on higher wages, shorter hours, and better working conditions.

Question 20

Haymarket Strike (1886)

Answer 20

Labor protest in Chicago turned violent after a bomb exploded. Hurt public support for unions.

Question 21

Homestead Strike (1892)

Answer 21

Steelworkers struck against Carnegie’s company. Strike failed after violence with Pinkertons.

Question 22

Pullman Strike (1894)

Answer 22

Railroad strike over wage cuts. Federal troops broke it up, showing government support for business.

Question 23

Old Immigrants

Answer 23

From Northern and Western Europe. Mostly Protestant and more easily accepted.

Question 24

New Immigrants

Answer 24

From Southern and Eastern Europe. Faced discrimination and lived in crowded cities.

Question 25

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Answer 25

First law banning immigration based on ethnicity. Targeted Chinese laborers.

Question 26

Political Machines / Tammany Hall

Answer 26

Organizations that controlled city governments by trading jobs and help for votes. Often corrupt but helped immigrants survive.

Question 27

Jane Addams / Hull House

Answer 27

Social reformer who opened settlement houses. Helped immigrants with education, childcare, and healthcare.

Question 28

Melting Pot vs. Salad Bowl

Answer 28

Melting Pot: Immigrants blend into American culture Salad Bowl: Immigrants keep their cultural identities

Question 29

Interstate Commerce Act (1887)

Answer 29

First federal law regulating railroads. Tried to stop unfair practices but was weak at first

Question 30

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)

Answer 30

Law meant to break up monopolies and trusts. Initially used more against unions than businesses.

Question 31

United States v. E.C. Knight Co. (1895)

Answer 31

Supreme Court limited the Sherman Act by saying manufacturing wasn’t interstate commerce.

Question 32

Civil Service Reform

Answer 32

Movement to end the spoils system and require government jobs based on merit.

Question 33

Pendleton Act (1883)

Answer 33

Created exams for government jobs. Reduced corruption and weakened political machines.

Question 34

Soft Money vs. Hard Money

Answer 34

Soft money: Paper money (greenbacks) Hard money: Gold or silver-backed currency

Question 35

Silver Money / Bland-Allison Act

Answer 35

Law requiring the government to buy silver and coin it into money. Farmers liked it because it caused inflation, making debts easier to pay.

Question 36

Great American Desert

Answer 36

Nickname used in the early 1800s for the region between the Mississippi River and the Rockies, Seen as dry and unfit for farming. Later settled once railroads, farming methods and irrigation improved

Question 37

Buffalo Herds

Answer 37

massive populations of Buffalo that lived on the Great Plains. They were central to Native American life (food, shelters, tools). US govt and hunters destroyed herds in the late 1800s to control plain tribes

Question 38

Cattle Drives

Answer 38

long journeys where cowboys led herds of cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas in the late 1800s. Connected western ranches to eastern markets ; ended when railroads expanded and barbed wires ended open range

Question 39

National Grange Movement

Answer 39

Farmers' organization (1860-70s) to fight railroad monopolies and unfair prices. Pushed for regulation and helped farmers cooperate and improve their economic conditions

Question 40

Ocala Platform (1890)

Answer 40

Set of Political demands from farmers alliances in Ocala, FL. Called for lower tariffs gradated income tax more money in circulation (silver), and direct election of senators. Influenced populist party

Question 41

Frederick Jackson Turner

Answer 41

Historian who wrote the "Frontier Thesis" (1893). Argued that the frontier shaped American Democracy, Individualism and identity. Claimed the frontier's closing was a major turning point in US history

Question 42

Dawes Act of 1887

Answer 42

Law that broke up tribal lands into individual family plots to force Native Americans to assimilate into US culture. Resulted in loss of millions of acres of Native land to white settlers.

Question 43

Indian Reorganization Act (1934)

Answer 43

Reversed the Dawes Act. Restored tribal self-govt, recognized tribal identity, and encouraged tribes to manage their own lands and affairs

Question 44

Omaha Platform (1892)

Answer 44

Political platform of the Populist party. called for govt. ownership of railroads. Free coinage of silver, income tax, direct election of senators and other reforms to help farmers and workers

Question 45

Populist Party (People's party)

Answer 45

Political party formed in the 1890s from farmer alliances. Wanted to help farmers and laborers against big business and banks. Pushed for silver currency, railroad regulation and democratic reforms

Question 46

William Jennings Bryan

Answer 46

"cross of gold"- democratic politician who gave the famous "cross of gold" speech (1896) supporting free silver to help farmers. Became a symbol of Populism and economic reform

Question 47

Election of 1896-Mc Kinley

Answer 47

Presidential election between William McKinley (R) and William Jennings Bryan (D/ Populist). McKinley win, supporting gold standard and business interests. The loss weakened the populists and marked the start of a more urban/industrial US.