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
John D. Rockefeller
Populist party
Wanted to correct the concentration of power held by banks and trusts. Proposed the Omaha platform: Direct election of senators, more referendums, graduated income tax, and an 8-hour workday
Grew to over a million members by 1901 and had some modest successes
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
Homestead act
Gave settlers 160 acres of land if they lived there for 5 years.
White collar workers
All the industrialization created a new type of work for managers and administrators who ran the factories instead of working in them
Sioux initally won a deceive victory against the U.S. army.
Great railroad strike
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
Facilitated the migration of black people to africa
Laissez-faire economics
Dawes act
Broke up tribal organizations and divided up tribal land and gave U.S. citizenship to natives who "Americanized" themselves
Ida B. Wells
Views on immigration
Anti-Saloon league
Worked to close down saloons
Booker T. Washington
National Grange movement
Social and educational collective aimed at brining farmers together. Soon became political to lobby for farmers
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.
Government support for railroads
Railroads supported by the government through money and land grants
Assimilationist movement
Political machines
Corrupt political bosses and their followers
Settlement houses
Provided resources to the poor to enrich the neighborhood. Largely led by women
NAWSA
Worked to secure voting rights for women
Starting in 1865 many Americans started pushing westward again after the interruption of the civil war
Railroads
Nativists successfully pressured Congress to stop the flow of Chinese immigrants who were coming over during the gold rush.
Ghost dance movement
nationwide movement of resistance. They began to believe that if they took up the ritualistic ghost dance, that their ancestors would return and drive the Americans out.
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.
Bessemer process
Indian nations were assigned land called reservations. However this land was much less than before, and many decided to just keep following buffalo
