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Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall was in New York City and meant to oppose the Federalist party in 1789, when it was first formed. It became popular because of it's support and actions in helping the poor and immigrant people. Tammany Hall was significant for corruption charges it put on political leaders, which was major news at the time. -
Temperance movement
The Temperance movement was an attempt to ban the consumption of alcohol. This was because Americans felt that acting virtuously and not consuming alcohol would make god happy with them. Women also greatly supported this movement because men would be drunk a lot. -
Labor Unions Begin Forming
Labor unions were organizations that formed in order to fight against the injustice and mistreatment the working class in America faced. This included fighting for better wages, better working conditions, and less working hours. There were many labor unions, for example, the Knights of Labor, throughout the 1800's. -
Joseph Pulitzer
Joseph Pulitzer was a journalist and publisher. He was known for his controversial writing such as supporting labor attacks, attacking monopolies, and calling out political corruption. Pulitzer was significant because he created the Pulitzer prize, one of the most prestigious writing awards. -
Elizabeth Cady Stanton-Seneca Falls
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a women's rights activist and one of the leaders at the Seneca Falls Convention. She delivered her speech, the Declaration of Sentiments at this event. It was modeled after the Declaration of Independence and was very effective in calling attention to the injustices women faced. This was significant because the Declaration of Sentiments was ratified at the convention and it marked the beginning of the women's suffrage movement in America. -
Public High School Funded
Education used to be very difficult to come by, and many children from poor families were unable to go to school. With funds for public schools, everyone was able to attend. This was a significant change in America because before on the rich received any education, but now it was able to become more common. -
Transcontinental railroad
The idea of a railroad connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts was discussed in order to make trading and traveling faster and easier. In 1862, the Railroad Act approved construction for the Transcontinental railroad. This was significant because the Transcontinental railroad would greatly influence westward expansion by making the West more accessible. -
John Rockefeller
John Rockefeller was known for his work in oil refining. He recognized the potential of refining oil and started his own refinery called the Standard Works, which would evolve into the Standard Oil Company of Ohio, in 1866. He along with his brother and friend became very wealthy from this business. Rockefeller was significant because his refining work led to the large use oil in America today. -
Cornelius Vanderbilt and Rail Road Industry
Cornelius Vanderbilt was a commercial leader and the wealthiest man in the world at the time of his death. Cornelius recognized the major growth the railroad industry would have, so he began buying existing railroads. By 1867, he owned the Long Island Railroad, the New York Railroad, the Harlem Railroad, and the Hudson River Railroad. He was significant for his monopoly on the railroad industry. -
The Grange
The Grange was founded to promote agriculture in the U.S. and represent the needs of farmers. They were significant because they supported many influential reform groups such as the Populist Party and the Greenback Party. -
Knights of Labor
The Knights of Labor were a one of the early unions of the labor movement to fight for better working conditions, hours, and wages for laborers in America. The Knights of Labor grew to become a powerful organization. They were significant for their political influence and involvement in the Haymarket riot. -
Gilded Age
The Gilded age consisted of the period of reconstruction after the Civil War and ended at the beginning of the 20th century with World War 1. It was an extremely significant time for technology and the economy in the U.S. as both expanded greatly with the industrial revolution during this time period. It was also an important time for reform movements such as women's suffrage, labor unions, and fighting against segregation. -
The Second Industrial Revolution
The Second Industrial Revolution led to a boost in America's economy and an increase in globalization. Electricity and the telephone were among some of the most popular and influential inventions of that time. This was a significant time because of the impact these inventions had on society, for example, urbanization increased and more machines began to be used in workplaces. -
Social Darwinism
Social Darwinism was a misinterpretation of Darwin's theory of evolution, mainly the concept of natural selection and the survival of the fittest. According to Social Darwinism, the rich were naturally superior and made rich because they were meant to survive while the poor were meant to die out. This belief is significant to not because it was used as justification for segregation, which was a major issue at the time in the U.S. -
Solid South
After Reconstruction, the South became very Democratic. The Democrats cut back costs by getting rid of social programs and lowering taxes once they had control over the South. This was significant because white southerners became very influential in national politics, and the change reshaped society in the South. -
John Muir
John Muir was known for inventing and exploring. While exploring, he found glaciers in Sierra and formed a theory of the glaciation of Yosemite Valley. He published many books and articles about the subject. His work was significant and influential in persuading people to care about nature. -
Laissez Faire
The Laissez Faire policies opposed government intervention in all policies, like labor reform and the Reconstruction, in America. This ideology argued that it was best to allow businesses to do what they wanted because the rest would sort itself out. This was significant because the Laissez Faire ideas impacted society, politics, and the economy of America by influencing the corruption in the government and policies for laborers like wages. -
Munn Vs. Illinois
This case involved Illinois's right to charge the maximum charges for grain storage. This case was significant because it directly questioned the constitutionality of railroad regulations made by the state. The court ruled that the state could regulate private property when needed. -
The Railroad Strike of 1877
The Railroad Strike of 1877 was significant because it was the first major rail strike in the U.S. The strike occurred because railroad companies began cutting the wages and salaries of their workers after the Panic of 1873. The strike led to more throughout the country, and some got violent. -
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army was created to fight against poverty and religious indifference. It was meant to be an actual army like a country would have. It was significant because it also provided food and shelter for people during the World War's, and was part of religious changes in America. -
Civil Service Reform
President Rutherford B. Hayes worked to reform the system of civil service after he took office. He attempted to outlaw the spoils system, and gave an order that prevented federal office holders from being forced into party politics. This included acts like the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act and Postal Service reform. -
Booker T. Washington founded Tuskegee Normal
The Tuskegee Normal School was founded so black students could receive an education. It started with the signing of a bill to establish the school and train black teachers. This was a very significant development in America as African Americans were not allowed to be educated not too long before this. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act made it very difficult for Chinese people to immigrate to the U.S. by requiring certification from the Chinese government to prove that they were qualified. It also require Chinese immigrant who already lived in America to get certification if they left the country and tried to reenter. This act was notable because it was the first major law that restricted immigration to the U.S. -
Pendleton Act
The Pendleton Act created a system that allowed government officials to be selected based on their merit and to supervise them, and did not allow for a government officials to be fired for political reasons. This act was significant because it was a major change to the normally politically driven government. It is said to have transformed the nature of public service in America. -
Civil Rights Cases of 1883
The Civil Rights Cases of 1883 combined 5 cases that were related to the Civil Rights Cases of 1875. This included all people to use transportation in hotels, theaters, and all public places of amusement regardless of the race. The results of this case were significant because the Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Acts were unconstitutional since the 13th and 14th amendments did not allow ban segregation in private sectors. This would allow racial discrimination to grow for many years. -
Mark Twain
Mark Twain was a renowned author for writing books like "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." His writing was significant because he explored social injustice in his books and was influential in informing people about it through his writing. -
Haymarket riot
The Haymarket riot was led by immigrant workers in Chicago who were required to work long hours and were not paid well as a form of protest. A bomb went off at the riot, and bystanders and police officers were killed. This led to chaos and a messy, violent riot. It was significant because it was the first time a movement to fight for better working conditions had ended so violently, and it angered many Americans. -
American Federation of Labor Founded
The American Federation of Labor consisted of a group of skilled workers from smaller unions. It was significant because their strikes and boycotts provided relief for the workers. This was the main nation labor organization in the U.S. until the Great Depression, so it set the framework for future organizations. -
Wabash v. Illinois
This case debated the extent of a state's regulation on commerce. The result of the case was that Congress declared a law in Illinois banning long- and short-haul clauses in transportation contracts unconstitutional. This was significant because the case defined state power to regulate interstates, and would lead to the Interstate Commerce Act. -
Interstate Commerce Act
The Interstate Commerce Act was significant because it made the railroad industry the first industry to be controlled by federal regulations. By setting guidelines for how railroads could do business, it was meant to and capable of getting rid of the railroad monopolies. For instance, special ticket rates for certain people were banned. -
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act aimed to break up land reservations of Native Americans by allotting land to individual Native Americans who acted like white Americans. The goal of this act was to assimilate Native Americans and to get rid of those who would not accept the white American way of life. This was a significant change in American because previously there had not been much emphasis having the Native Americans become a part of the U.S. culture. -
Ghost Dance
The Ghost Dance was a spiritual movement meant to give the Native Americans hope despite the poor situation of their tribal reservations. It was significant because it empowered many Native Americans to fight against the policies of the white Americans, but they ultimately could not win. -
The Gospel of Wealth
"The Gospel of Wealth" was an essay written by Andrew Carnegie. It was very influential and considered foundational for the field of philanthropy. The essay became very popular, and it was significant for it's impact on the viewpoints of leaders and philanthropists. -
Hull House
The Hull House was founded by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr in the south side of Chicago to allow the large population of poor immigrants in that area to have a place to go to. The Hull House provided services like running kindergarten, a nursery, cooking and sewing lessons, and lectures by professors on various subjects. This was a significant action since the immigrants did not have access to many facilities and was part of social reform. -
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was significant because it was the first act that outlawed monopolies directly in the U.S. The act was accepted because of Congress's power to regulate commerce. The system of exchanging bonds and having stockholders buy trusts developed because of this change as well. -
Populist Party founded
The Populist Party was aimed to improve the working conditions for farmers. The party was significant because of its influence on politics at the time. It challenged monopolies, and their presidential candidate was able to gain popular votes. -
Andrew Carnegie and Steel Industry
Carnegie's steel industry manufactured almost all of the steel in America. The industry became so big that the price of steel actually decreased because of the efficiency of Carnegie's steel plants. This was significant because it led to the industrialization of buildings and cities. The greatly changed the infrastructure in America as steel skyscrapers were built. The conditions for workers in these steel factories were not good, so they also fueled the labor unions. -
Homestead Strike
The Homestead Strike was organized by steel plant workers working for Carnegie's steel industries. They were determined to lower the cost of production in the factories so they could get paid more. The strike was significant because it inspired many worker's to take action, but since the steel plant worker's lost it also led them to realize that they had a lot of work to do. -
Ellis Island Opens
Ellis Island opened as an immigration station for the first time in 1892. In the late 1800s, economic distress, religious persecution, and political instability in Europe drove many Europeans to America. To handle the large amount of immigrants, Ellis Island was opened. It was significant since it was allowed one of the first large waves of immigrants to settle in the U.S. -
JP Morgan
JP Morgan was well known for his banking houses, and impact on the railroad industry. Because of his large influence on industries like the railroad, he is considered to be essential in the creation of America's economy. He is especially significant because after the Panic of 1893, he helped to boost the railroad industry and other bankrupt companies. -
Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike was held by workers at the Pullman Company. The strike was large and it ended after the United States Army got involved. This strike was very significant and influential because many Americans were appalled by the labor problems in lower classes and felt motivated to support labor union movements. -
William Hearst
William Hearst was a journalist popular with the media. He is best known for creating "yellow journalism." Hearst took an opportunity to own a newspaper company and by 1897, he had two major New York Paper publication. He was significant because his publication hired writers like Mark Twain, who wrote about the conflict with classes in America, and became known for such topics. -
Annexation of Hawaii
America's interest in Hawaii began to grow in the early 1800's because of the opportunities for sugar trading there. There was some tension as the queen of Hawaii opposed foreign interference. After she was overthrown, Hawaii was annexed in 1898. -
Eugene Debs-founding IWW
Eugene Debs was a well known democratic and socialist figure and very involved in the locomotive industry. He founded the Industrial Workers of the World, or IWW, in an effort to overthrow the upper, employing class and fight for more power and better working conditions or the laborers. This was a significant and influential organization in fighting for laborers and led major events like the Lumber Strike of 1917. -
Ida B. Wells founded NAACP
Ida B. Wells was an African American journalist who strongly advocated for equals rights. She helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This was significant since not many women were leading movements like this, and it was very influential in fighting racial injustice. -
W.E.B. DuBois
W.E.B. DuBois was a socialist and civil rights activist. He was very well known as one of the co-founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This was significant since the organization was key in fighting against segregation. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire was a fire that spread through the Triangle Waist Company garment factory. The large fire killed many of the workers, especially women who had started working there, because there was only one fire escape and it collapsed. This tragedy was significant because it outraged the public that there were not more safety measures to protect the workers during incidents like this. It led to more support for reform movements. -
William Jennings
William Jennings was known being appointed Secretary of State by president Woodrow Wilson in 1913. This was significant because as Secretary, he was best known for his peace treaties and negotiation. He strongly opposed America's neutrality during war, and eventually resigned because of his differing opinions on this, but he still greatly influenced American Diplomacy with his arguments.
