Pendleton Act
Jim Crow laws
Feared that factory owners would use immigrants to keep wages low and to replace striking workers
Made monopolizing an entire market illegal
Sioux wars
Sioux initally won a deceive victory against the U.S. army.
Social and educational collective aimed at brining farmers together. Soon became political to lobby for farmers
Labor unions
Workers formed labor unions to have more negotiating power and fight for better pay and working conditions
Growth of immigration
The most famous political machine organized and met the needs of immigrants and the poor in exchange for votes
Laissez-faire economics
There was an extreme lack of government regulation of the economy at the time
Interstate commerce act
Required railroad rates to be reasonable and just, and established a federal commission to oversee the railroads
Pioneered vertical integration, where one company controls every stage of the manufacturing process
Debates over money
Women's Christian Temperance Union
Worked to ban alcohol, had over 500,000 members
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.
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
American federation of labor
Grew to over a million members by 1901 and had some modest successes
NAWSA
Worked to secure voting rights for women
John D. Rockefeller
Dawes act
Indian appropriation act
congress sparked a new fight with the Sioux, by passing a law that nullified all previous treaties made with native Americans
Nativists successfully pressured Congress to stop the flow of Chinese immigrants who were coming over during the gold rush.
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
Anti-Saloon league
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.
Massive extension of the railroad system created a truly national market for goods
Wanted to end indian culture by forcing them to assimilate to American values.
Knights of labor
National union open to ALL laborers. Wanted to end child labor and end trusts
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
Enabled manufacturers to produce huge quantities of steel
