Industrialization

Transcontinental Railroad

A series of railroads that linked the East to the West. It created more efficient transportation routes and that allowed more settlers to move out west.

Robber Barons

Monopolists who acquired wealth through ruthless means.

Monopoly

Complete control of a product or business by one person or group

Trade/Labor Unions

Workers organizations that try to improve working conditions

Urbanization

Movement of people from rural areas to cities

Tenements

Housing built in NYC to accommodate large numbers of European immigrants.

Nativism

Discrimination against immigrants. Favoring the interests of citizens over foreign-born people.

Chinese Exclusion Act

Anti-immigrant law that banned Chinese people from entering the United States

Gilded Age

Gold covered, rotten underneath. This time period appeared to be very prosperous, but underneath there was a lot of corruption and suffering.

Political Machines

corrupt political party organizations that controlled local city governments

Party Boss

A leader who controls votes and who ends up in office.

Pendleton Civil Service Act

a law that ended the "spoils system" and made hiring of federal employees merit based.

spoils system

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

Jim Crow Laws

state laws in the South that legalized segregation

Push factors

Something in their home country pushed them out. Examples: unemployment, repressive governments, lack of opportunity, avoiding military service, religious persecution.

Pull factors

Something about another country that pulls them to it. Examples: "better life", religious freedom, education, economic opportunity, safety.

Old immigrants

Immigrants who moved to the US from South/Eastern Europe in the late 1800's/early 1900's. Harder for them to adapt to life in America because they were more culturally different.

New immigrants

Immigrants who moved to the US from North/Western Europe in the 1850s. It was easier for them to adapt to life in America.