The new south
Idea that the future of the south would be based on economic diversity and industrial growth. Massive growth of population, industry, and railroads. Only in limited industrial centers though.
16 million immigrants (mostly from Europe) came looking for better economic opportunities
NAWSA
Worked to secure voting rights for women
Starting in 1865 many Americans started pushing westward again after the interruption of the civil war
Worked to ban alcohol, had over 500,000 members
congress sparked a new fight with the Sioux, by passing a law that nullified all previous treaties made with native Americans
Wanted to end indian culture by forcing them to assimilate to American values.
National Grange movement
Social and educational collective aimed at brining farmers together. Soon became political to lobby for farmers
Required railroad rates to be reasonable and just, and established a federal commission to oversee the railroads
Railroad companies cut salaries due to a recession. Railroad workers went on strike in 11 states. When the strike got violent, 11 people were killed before President Hayes sent in federal troops
After a railroad car manufacturer cut wages, and the union tried to negotiate, the company failed them all. The railroad union decided to not work on any trains with Pullman cars in them. The railroad owners tied the Pullman cars to mail trains in order to get the government to keep them moving, and the union members were jailed
Government support for railroads
Changes in farming
A new focus on cash-crops in the north and west, and a shift to more expensive mechanized farming methods put smaller farms out of business. Big trusts that farmers relied on (like railroads) also raised prices, making it even harder for farmers to make a living
Labor unions
Workers formed labor unions to have more negotiating power and fight for better pay and working conditions
American protective association
Heavily anti-catholic and Social Darwinists
Railroads
Massive extension of the railroad system created a truly national market for goods
Laissez-faire economics
There was an extreme lack of government regulation of the economy at the time
John D. Rockefeller
Pioneered horizontal integration, where one company controls every seller in the market.
Bessemer process
Debates over money
Farmers wanted to print more money so they could more easily pay back their debts, but the bankers and the wealthy wanted to keep the U.S. Dollar on the gold standard
Sioux wars
American federation of labor
Grew to over a million members by 1901 and had some modest successes
Chinese exclusion act
Nativists successfully pressured Congress to stop the flow of Chinese immigrants who were coming over during the gold rush.
Booker T. Washington
Panic of 1893
A severe economic depression during which nearly a quarter of railroads declared bankruptcy. This caused bankers to buy up many of the railroads, leading to consolidation.
Anti-Saloon league
Worked to close down saloons
Andrew Carnegie
Political machines
Corrupt political bosses and their followers
Jim Crow laws
Forced segregation and prevented african americans from exercising their civil liberties
