Historical Eras A period, or era, is a unique time in history. Historians establish historical eras based on a wide variety of criteria.

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1 PERIOD 6: : The Gilded Age Aug. 24 th - 28 th / Aug. 31 s t - Sept.4 th Historical Eras A period, or era, is a unique time in history. Historians establish historical eras based on a wide variety of criteria. Periodization involves the ability to describe, analyze, evaluate, and construct models that historians use to organize history into discrete periods. Major Characteristics that Define an Historical Era An era of history having a distinctive feature Political, social or economic commonality Considered to be relative chronology (around this year) rather than absolute chronology (exactly this year) Nine Historical Eras in American History Advanced Placement American History begins here In the Age of Exploration, European explorers sailed the world s oceans searching for wealth. The era began in 1491 when Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World and ended in 1607 when the English establish the colony of Jamestown. During the Colonial Period in ships traveled from port cities to colonies where the settlers traded natural resources for manufactured goods made in Europe. The Colonial Period began with the founding of Jamestown in 1607 and lasted until the start of the French and Indian War in During the Revolutionary Period the American colonies created a new country. The Revolutionary Period began when the French and Indian War started in 1754 and ended in 1800 with the election of Thomas Jefferson. In the years of the Early Republic Period, the United States slowly established new laws and traditions as the country gradually moved westward. The Early Republic began with the Presidential election of 1800 and ended in 1848 the year of the Seneca Falls Convention. The Antebellum Period refers specifically to the period in US history before the Civil War as the regional divisions divided the nation into the North and South. The origins of the Antebellum Period began early in the 19 th century, but the acquisition of new territories made increased the likelihood of war. This era began with the 1844 election of James K. Polk and lasted until the end of Reconstruction in American History after Reconstruction begins here The Gilded Age was a period of rapid economic development which began in 1865 with the end of the Civil War in 1865 and lasted until the start of the Spanish American War in The American Empire Period began in 1890 when the results of the 1890 census showed the American frontier no longer existed and lasted until the end of the Second World War in Following the Second World War, the United States became the world s dominant economic power. The Post War Period began in 1945 and ended in 1980 with the election of President Ronald Reagan. The term Millennials is usually considered to apply to individuals who reached adulthood around the turn of the 21st century. Millennials are the last generation born in the 20th century. Members of Millennial Generation were born between 1980 and 2000.

2 Turning Point Years in Am. History Historical eras in American History are identified by significant events which are called turning points Spanish-American War begins World War One 1929 The Great Depression begins World War Sputnik launch begins the Space Race Martin Luther King assassination & Moon landing 1991 The Cold War ends 2001 The terrorist attack on World Trade Ctr The election of first African-American President The Declaration of Independence (the text, intent, meaning and importance) Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence while he was a delegate at the Second Continental Convention in the summer of The document explains the reasons why the American colonists were demanding independence from Great Britain and details their grievances (complaints) against the King and the British Parliament. Jefferson argued that all men were created equal and possessed certain unalienable rights which included life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He noted that governments should not attempt to limit or deny these rights to citizens. Jefferson argued that governments existed with the consent of the governed. He noted that the people hold supreme power and the powers of government are limited by what the people want. The Declaration justifies the overthrow of a government if that government abuses, or attempts to limit, people s rights. Many of the Founding Fathers, including Jefferson, were influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was a historical period in European History where new ideas of government and individuals rights were popular. John Locke was a British philosopher whose ideas have come to have profound influence on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. The Contributions of the Founding Fathers A Founding Father generally refers to someone who made a significant impact in the American Independence Movement. John Hancock was elected President of the Second Continental Congress which assumed many of the functions of a national government even though the colonies still had not declared independence. Earlier, Hancock was a leader in the Sons of Liberty Movement that often resisted British rule through intimidation of government officials and destruction of private property. Charles Carroll, a delegate from Maryland, was the only member of the Roman Catholic Church to sign the Declaration. Most members of the congress belonged to the Protestant faith. Although Carroll was quite wealthy and owned a vast plantation, he was barred from holding public office because the British government repressed the Catholic faith. Benjamin Rush, a delegate from Pennsylvania, was the only signer holding a medical degree. Like another delegate from Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin, Rush lived in Philadelphia. After the Second Continental Congress ended, Rush briefly served in the Continental Army. Later, he supported the emancipation of slaves, improved medical care for the mentally ill and public education for women.

3 John Witherspoon, was the President of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and a Presbyterian minister. Like Charles Carroll, Witherspoon belonged to a religious minority and was very aware of how the British discriminated against the predominately Scottish Presbyterian Church. Witherspoon had a huge influence on many of the country s political leaders who attended college at Princeton such as President James Madison. Jon Peter Muhlenberg was a Lutheran minister from Pennsylvania. Muhlenberg was a German-American who used his influence with the German population of the American colonies to recruit soldiers into the Continental Army. Muhlenberg served as a major-general during the Revolutionary War. Muhlenberg did not sign the Declaration because he was serving in the army. John Jay was a lawyer from New York. Jay had a long career of political service. Jay was Secretary of Foreign Affairs, a Supreme Court Justice and a Governor of New York state. Jay did not sign the Declaration of Independence because he opposed a complete break from Great Britain. Jonathan Trumbull was both the colonial governor of Connecticut and later, the state governor. Trumbull was the only colonial governor to support the American colonists in the Revolutionary war. As governor, he helped supply the Continental Army with badly need weapons, food and recruits. James Madison was a politician from Virginia. He is called the Father of the U.S. Constitution. Along with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton, he wrote the Federalist Papers-a pamphlet that argued in favor of the states adopting the new US Constitution. The Constitution of the United States of America (the text, intent, meaning and importance) The Constitution of the United States was written in The members of the Constitution Convention met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation in order to improve the national government, but instead the Framers of the new constitution created a new document authorizing the formation of a new government. The Articles of the Confederation was the United States first attempt at a national government. The Articles of Confederation government was weak and ineffective due to a number of reasons: (1) Congress could not enact or collect taxes, (2) Each state had only 1 vote in Congress, regardless of population, (3) There was no executive branch to enforce the laws of Congress, (4) There was no court system to settle legal disputes and (5) The states had far more political power than the federal government. On March 4, 1789, the Articles were replaced with the U.S. Constitution. A Framer was someone who helped write the US Constitution The Three Branches of the Federal Government are the executive (the President), the legislative (the Senate and the House of Representatives), and the judicial (the federal courts). Since each branch performs a specific function, historians use the term, separation of powers to indicate their responsibilities. Also, since one branch can limit the powers of another, the term, checks and balances is used to describe the powers of the federal government. The Connecticut Compromise was an agreement between the large and small states to determine representation in the legislature. Small states were concerned that large states would have too much power in the new government and the large states felt that the small states (with small populations) should not have an equal amount of power. It was decided that two legislative house (bicameral) would be established, one based on population (the House of Representatives) and another based on an equal representation (the Senate).

4 The 3/5 Compromise was an agreement between the Southern States and the Northern States. The Southern States had large slave populations, but since slaves were seen as property and not citizens, the slave population could not be counted toward legislative representation. Slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person for representation in the Congress. The Bill of Rights (the text, intent, meaning and importance) The Bill of Rights are the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution that were ratified in 1791 at the request of several influential political leaders who felt the constitution did not fully address civil liberties, or the limits of the government s powers. These amendments protect individual liberties 1 st Amendment Rights: (1) Congress cannot establish a state religion (2) Congress cannot make laws limiting someone s freedom of speech (3) Congress cannot make laws limiting the freedoms of the press (4) Congress cannot make laws prohibiting people from peacefully assembling (5)People have a right to petition the government to correct wrongs. The Second Amendment gives citizens the right to bear arms. The Third Amendment prohibits the government from quartering troops in private homes, a major grievance during the American Revolution. These amendments protect the rights of the accused The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure. The government may not conduct any searches without a warrant, and such warrants must be issued by a judge and based on probable cause. The Fifth Amendment provides that citizens not be subject to criminal prosecution and punishment without due process. Citizens may not be tried on the same set of facts twice, and are protected from selfincrimination (the right to remain silent). The amendment also establishes the power of eminent domain, ensuring that private property is not seized for public use without just compensation. The Sixth Amendment assures the right to a speedy trial by a jury of one's peers, to be informed of the crimes with which they are charged, and to confront the witnesses brought by the government. The amendment also provides the accused the right to compel testimony from witnesses, and to legal representation. The Seventh Amendment provides that civil cases also be tried by jury. The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments. These amendments define the limitations of government intervention The Ninth Amendment states that the list of rights enumerated in the Constitution is not exhaustive, and that the people retain all rights not enumerated. The Tenth Amendment assigns all powers not delegated to the United States, or prohibited to the states, to either the states or to the people.

5 The Application of the Founding Principles to events in US History: These principles were created to ensure the federal government would not become too powerful. In a Republic citizens elect representatives to manage the government In a Federal system political authority is shared between the national government and state government. For example drivers licenses and marriage certificates are issued by the state, but passports and postage stamps are federal programs Separation of Powers refers to how the U.S. Constitution divides the power of the federal government into three branches: the legislature (elected Congress), the executive (the President) and the Judicial (the court systems). Popular Sovereignty means that the American people are sovereign -all political power originates with the popular will of the citizens Through a system of checks and balances each branch of government "checks," or limits, the other two so that the power shared between them is balanced. An example of this is the president's veto power: the president can limit Congress's power by vetoing a bill. However, the legislative branch can overturn this veto with a two-thirds majority in both of the houses, thus maintaining the balance. In a limited government, the powers of the government are strictly limited by laws. All men are created equal key argument supporting suffrage amendments and Civil Rights acts The individual rights protected in the Bill of Rights include economic rights related to property, political rights related to freedom of speech and press, and personal rights related to bearing arms and maintaining private residences. Alexis de Tocqueville De Tocqueville was a French sociologist and author of the book, Democracy in America. Democracy in America was first published in De Tocqueville identified five key characteristics of American democracy that he believed set Americans apart from Europeans: Liberty is the freedom from random government intervention. Egalitarianism is a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political, and economic affairs. Individualism is a situation where people are free to pursue their individual goals. The individual's rights are valued above those of the government; individual initiative and responsibility are strongly encouraged. Populism is an expression of the people s will. In the US, the will of the people not only decides our government and laws, but also the economy Laissez-Faire is the belief that government should not interfere in commercial affairs, government is hands off business regulation. Historically, the United States has been an open-market economy where entrepreneurism is encouraged. American values reinforce and reward the spirit of hard work and entrepreneurism as opposed to systems of aristocratic privilege where a person is destined to remain in one social group.

6 National Mottos E Pluribus Unum is a Latin phrase that means Out of many, one. It was proposed to Congress in 1782 for use on the Great Seal of the United States and appears on most government tender and seals. The motto symbolized the 13 original States uniting together to form one compact and represented body. In God We Trust became the official motto of the U.S. in The motto can be found on U.S. coins dating back to the 1860s and paper currency since Methods Of Expanding the Right to Participate in the Democratic Process Lobbying is the act of persuading legislators to vote for legislation that favors an advocacy group. Lobby can refer to a group of people who support something (The Gun Lobby supports 2 nd Amendment rights) or it can refer to act of persuasion (The farm industry is going to lobby Congress for higher milk prices) Non-violent protesting is a strategy that refuses to use violence. The strength of nonviolence lies in its ability to dramatically reduce the moral legitimacy of those who persist in using violent strategies against non-violent opposition. Litigation is the legal method of changing discriminatory practices through the court system however, they must be enforced for change to occur. Amending the constitution can drastically change opportunities for participation in government. Reconstruction Era The Reconstruction Period was the period of 12 years ( ) immediately following the end of American Civil War. During these years the former slaves and former slave owners of the South adjusted to life in a new society. Jim Crow Laws were laws that were created to deny African Americans equal rights. During the 19 th century some states passed laws that enforced racial segregation policies. Poll Taxes were taxes voters had to pay to vote. In the South, poll taxes reduced the number of African Americans voters. The Reconstruction Amendments were ratified during the Reconstruction Period in American History. These amendments were originally created to protect the rights of African Americans but today they are used by many different minority groups to attain equality. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in April of 1865 and The Civil War ended in May of The 13 th Amendment formally abolished slavery in the United States. It was ratified in December of 1865 (8 months after the war ended). The 14 th Amendment declared that all persons born in the United States (except Native Americans) were citizens, that all citizens were entitled to equal rights regardless of their race, and their rights were protected by due process of the law. Ratified in The 15 th Amendment guaranteed (male) citizen s right to vote. Ratified in Spt. 8 th -11 th (Labor Day Monday) Spt. 14 th -18 th

7 The Gilded Age, The Gilded Age spans the last three decades of the 19 th Century. Historians agree that the Gilded Age began soon after the end of the American Civil War and ended close to the year The phrase, The Gilded Age may have originated from the title of a novel written by Mark Twain in 1873, The Gilded Age: a Tale of Today. To gild something is to apply a thin layer of gold to another material such as wood, metals, ceramics and even paper. When Twain used the term, Gilded Age he was commenting that the United States looked prosperous from the outside, but the wealth of the country was spread thin (only a few people were rich). Gilded Age may have been a humorous reference to the term Golden Age. To most Americans who lived in the 1870s, the United States appeared to be in a Golden Age because American cities were expanding as the population migrated from rural areas The U.S. was quickly settling the western frontier The introduction of new inventions and innovations encouraged America s rapid industrialization The Northern States had won the Civil War and U.S. was one nation again. However, the gilt (the lure of wealth) hide the corruption, greed and suffering prevalent during the last decades of the 19 th Century. Cities were expanding, but many people lived in slums (tenements) without access to basic services Prospectors and farming had settled the west, but the Native Americans Wars had killed thousands of American Indians forcing the few survivors onto government-policed reservations American factories employed women and children in unsafe working conditions; The Civil War had left most of the southern states in ruins reducing Southerners to decades of poverty and isolation. Gilded Age Politics Indian Policies Indian reservation system restricted Native American peoples to government supervised land. The Dawes Act was a govt. program to assimilate Native Americans into American culture. The elimination of the buffalo led to the end Plains Culture

8 Political Machines During the late 1800s well organized political parties dominated city governments in the United States. Because of their success in getting their members elected to local offices, these parties were called political machines. During the late 1800s political machines attempted to provide the public services required by growing U.S. cities. Political bosses financed expanded sewer and water systems, paved streets, and provided other public services. Political machines often resorted to corruption in their attempt to take control of city governments. Political corruption was traced to the spoils system. The spoils system was an illegal practice where winning politicians gave high-paying government jobs to friends and unqualified family members. President Garfield was assassinated in 1881 by someone who was denied a government job. Congress passed the Pendleton Act of 1883 in which government jobs were given on a competitive basis. Beginnings of Populism Populism is a political movement that starts outside the actions of the dominant political parties. Poul is the Latin word for the people, often the driving force behind Populist Movements are the common citizens. In the late 19 th century many Americans lived on farms in remote areas. New farm machinery and the settlement of the Great Plains led to the overproduction of crops causing the prices of agricultural goods to fall. Farmers were forced to borrow money and often fell into debt to the banks, and they charged excessive rates by railroads and grain storage operators. Farmers organized in the Grange Movement to fight for their interests. They passed laws regulating railroad rates. Later, Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act In 1892 farmers gave they support to the Populist Party, a new political party that also represented factory workers and miners Gilded Age Economics Industrialization Industries and Big Business grew in response to technological innovations Bessemer Steel Process enabled faster production of a less expensive steel product Other breakthroughs in electricity, mass communication, and shipping allowed factories to produce more, at a faster rate. Large numbers of immigrants provided industrialists with more workers.

9 Growth of Railroads Industry relied on railroads for shipping. Railroads often had a monopoly on regional transportation Railroads grew in response to increased demands of industrialization and Western Expansion. Railroads expanded westward to meet demands of settlement and economic development of the West. (They carried people and shipped products.) Railroad shipping facilitated the growth of ranching, farming, and mining industries in the West. Industrial and technological innovations in manufacturing and mass communication enabled rapid growth of railroads. Growth of Labor Unions Labor leaders criticized company owners and managers for reducing competition, paying low wages and maintaining unsafe working conditions for their employees. Factory workers formed and joined labor unions in order to engage in collective bargaining with employers. Many workers went on strike in the 1880s. Farm Issues Three significant events of the time period included the Great Strikes, Homestead, Pullman, and Haymarket Riot. Thousands of families migrated west, lured by the promise of landownership and fertile soil. In their effort to establish a new life, they endured extreme hardships and loneliness. Late 1800s famers began to rely on mechanization to improve and increase agricultural production. As a result, overproduction occurred and farmers went into debt. Cattle Industry Boom Cattle industry boomed in the late 1800s as the culture and influence of the Plains American Indians declined. Growing demand for beef in cities after the Civil War Railroads provided transportation of beef to urbanized areas effectively closing the frontier and ending the Era of the American Cowboy. Rise of Entrepreneurship An entrepreneur is someone who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business; an agent of change; discovers new ways to combine resources.

10 In the 1800s, many were considered entrepreneurs because they created value by moving resources out of less productive areas and into more productive ones. For example: skilled immigrants used their trade skills to establish businesses of their own. Free Enterprise As industry grew rapidly, the U.S. government promoted free enterprise (business that can operate competitively for profit with little government involvement/regulation). Big Business Industrialists and business leaders used Horizontal and Vertical Integration to reduce competition and expand their companies. Horizontal Integration is a where a company produces multiple products (brands) in a specific market to reduce competition. For example, the Coca-Cola Company also makes Sprite, Fanta, Minute Maid Juice and Dasani water. Vertical Integration is where the supply chain of a company is owned by that company. For example a car maker might also own a tire making factory and a rubber tree plantation. Reduction of competition led to the creation of monopolies and trusts. A monopoly exists when one company controls the market. For example, if you live in a town with only one gas station, the owner of the station can demand an unreasonable price for his product. A trust exists when several companies work together to control prices and reduce competition. For example, if all the gas stations in town secretly met and agreed not to sell gas under a certain price. Significant industrialists Andrew Carnegie built the Pittsburgh Steel Industry, and wrote The Gospel of Wealth which called on the rich to fund philanthropic programs. John Rockefeller was the co-founder of the Standard Oil Company. His oil empire was the target of govt. regulation J.P. Morgan was a wealthy banker and financier. Morgan s banks had the actual cash to offer credit for million dollar mergers and purchases. For example, Morgan financed the sale Carnegie s steel business Cornelius Vanderbilt made his fortune in railroads and shipping. He donated money to help fund Vanderbilt University. Some people viewed these men as Captains of Industry, while others viewed them as Robber Barons. Captain of Industry is a positive term for a business leader who invests money wisely for the advancement of society. Robber Baron is a negative term for a greedy businessman who becomes wealthy through dishonest means.

11 Gilded Age social issues affecting women, minorities, children, immigrants, urbanization, the Social Gospel, and philanthropy of industrialists. Affecting Women Many young women worked in dangerous factories where their wages (salaries) were lower than men s wages Affecting Minorities Despite Reconstruction Amendments, African-Americans were still subject to discrimination The Supreme Court case of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) upheld the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in public facilities under the doctrine of "separate but equal". African Americans mostly voted Republican from after the Civil War and through the early part of the 20th century, and the white, segregationist politicians who governed Southern states in those days were Democrats Lynching attacks on African Americans increased dramatically in the after the Civil War, after slavery had been abolished and recently freed black men gained the right to vote. Violence rose even more at the end of the 19th century, after southern white Democrats regained their political power in the South in the 1870s. Many Mexican American families were dispossessed of their land following the massive westward migration of white settlers Mexican Americans managed to maintain Spanish language and culture Most attempts to assimilate Native Americans into white-american culture failed Affecting Children The Dawes Act allowed the president to break up reservation land, which was held in common by the members of a tribe, into small allotments to be parceled out to individuals. Native American children were taken away from their homes (traditional Native American culture) and raised in boarding schools to become Americanized. Many children worked in factories, performing dangerous jobs. Affecting Immigrants Nativists were people who opposed the new waves of immigrants. Nativism was based on competition jobs which created tension and division between racial and ethnic groups Some minority groups faced exclusion from employment or housing. The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the United States was in response to Nativist sentiment.

12 Immigrants were encouraged to assimilate into American culture. Public schools played a large role in the assimilation of immigrants. Many immigrants entered the United States via ports of entry such as Ellis Island in New York, Angel Island in San Francisco, and Galveston Island in Texas. The immigrant experience at these ports of entry included physical examinations, interrogation, language, and intelligence testing Immigrants faced language and cultural barriers, and sometimes were separated from family members, detained for health or legal reasons, or deported before entering the United States. Immigrants faced the threat of poverty and often struggled to survive due to competition for jobs and living space. Immigrants often crowded into city tenements or moved westward in search of opportunities. Skilled immigrants used their trade skills to establish businesses of their own. Sweatshops were home factory-like operations where skilled and unskilled laborers worked in unsavory conditions. Causes and Effects of Immigration to the United States Cause: immigrants sought a better life in the United States escape poverty religious discrimination Effect: increased population over crowded cities urban centers labor force for factories Urbanization Cities grew around immigration and industrial centers. Cities were crowded and living conditions were often unhealthy (sanitation, water, etc.). Ethnic neighborhoods were established in cities where immigrants settled. (Chinatown, Little Italy) The Social Gospel Populist movement promoted service to the needy rather than financial gain Social Gospel supporters called on govt. leaders to do more for urban poor Late 19 th century US experienced new wave of religious awakening movements

13 Philanthropy of industrialists Several wealthy industrialists elected to give back to the community through philanthropic activities The Gospel of Wealth (1889) argued Carnegie s idea that rich men are trustees of their wealth and should administer it for the good of the public Early Reformers Jane Addams co-founder of Hull House which helped new immigrants with job skills, educational, and artistic programs to help them assimilate Frances Willard was a suffragette and President of the WCTU (Women s Christian Temperance Union) The WTCU supported the prohibition of alcoholic beverages Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle which exposed the conditions in the U.S. meat packing industry, causing a public uproar and leading to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act Susan B. Anthony was an American reformer and leader of the women s suffrage movement Ida B. Wells was an American reformer and leader in the anti-lynching crusade W.E.B. DuBois helped found the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). He encouraged a liberal arts education for African American civil rights leaders Spt. 21 st -25 th Spt. 28 th - Oct. 2 nd Geography of the American Frontier The American Frontier is usually understood to be the lands where settlement ends and wilderness begins. In the last half of the 19 th century (1870s-1890s), the American frontier was the territory located between Pacific coast cities and the farming communities of the Midwest. Much of the frontier was desert (Arizona-New Mexico) or high mountains (Colorado-Wyoming) occupied by the last remaining independent Native-American tribes. Impact of Physical and Human Geographic Factors on the Settlement of the Great Plains Human factors The Plains Indians were the earliest settlers Innovations such as the steel plow made it easier to break the dense soil and farm the land The Homestead Act encouraged settlement Physical Factors Located between the South and Midwest regions to the east and the Rocky Mountains to the west; Great extremes in temperature and climatic conditions.

14 Winters are cold, with frequent snowy blizzards, while summers bring hot, dry winds Excellent farmland, later called America s Breadbasket The Transcontinental Railroad and the Homestead Act Contributed to the Close of the Frontier in the late 19th century Following the end of the American Civil War ( ), railroad companies began building the transcontinental railroad. Eventually the west coast railroad line joined the eastern coast line in Utah in The new coast-to-coast railroad reduced travel time from the Eastern cities to the Pacific increasing the movement of goods and settlers. The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged farmers to migrate West by offering free land to people who lived on the land for five years and made improvements to the property (farms, orchards, wells, houses). Klondike Gold Rush Impact of Physical and Human Geographic Factors on the Klondike Gold Rush Human factors In 1890s thousands of prospectors boarded ships in Seattle to the gold fields of Alaska Physical factors Alaska was a distant and very cold source of raw materials. Working conditions were very difficult. Impact of Third Parties on Presidential Elections in the 19 th century Third parties can greatly impact presidential elections. They provide the populace an additional candidate on the ballot that represents another American viewpoint, idea, and call for change from the status quo. In a close election, this person has the ability to upset the balance of power in the current system. The Democratic Party was formed around It has never been a third party, and for much of its history it was the dominant party of the Southern States-including Texas. The Whig Party opposed the Democrats during the middle 19 th century. Generally, the Whigs supported programs that promoted the growth of the American manufacturing The Free Soil Party ran candidates in 1848 and 1852 on an anti-slavery platform. They strongly opposed the expansion of slavery into the Western Territories The Republican Party was founded in 1854 by former Whigs and Free Soil voters. Abraham Lincoln was a Republican candidate. Republicans supported Reconstruction Amendments The Populist Party was established in 1890s. The Populist leadership was convinced that rich industrialists and bankers had a strangle hold on government. Populists wanted the government to take a larger role in business and to help end oppression, injustice and poverty. Boundary Changes From the end of the American Civil War (1865) to the end of the Western Frontier Period (1890) the map of the United States changed with the addition of 8 new states

15 Causes and Effects of Changing Demographic Patterns Resulting From Legal and Illegal Immigration to the United States Large influxes of immigrants caused rapid growth in ports of entry and cities with heavy industry. Housing and land availability decreased in the Northeast due to increased population density. Pollution of cities and waterways increased due to overcrowding of cities. Human health and quality of life decreased as a result of overcrowding. Disease spread quickly in the overcrowded conditions Effects of Population Growth and Distribution on the Physical Environment Population density increased as workers crowded into cities in search of jobs causing a rise in water and air pollution US cities could not provide basic services such as clean water, sewage disposal, garbage removal Waterways became contaminated and air quality diminished due to industry. Oct. 5 th 9 th Oct. 12 th - 16 th Changing Relationship Between the Federal Government and Private Business Cost and benefits of laissez-faire A laissez-faire economy is one where the government lets business and industry regulate itself. Taxes are minimal and entrepreneurs are free to manufacture and sell whatever brings a profit Cost : Without govt. regulation dangerous products reach consumers Govt. revenue (taxes) are less so public projects are not funded Speculation (risky investing) can result in bubbles Benefit: Allows the market to govern itself based on the laws of supply and demand The market is unregulated so investors and entrepreneurs can sell anything Money moves quickly and investment cash goes to the best (most profitable) ideas Anti-trust Acts were the Federal laws forbidding businesses from monopolizing a market or restraining free trade Interstate Commerce Commission was the government s first large-scale attempt to regulate business in the interest of society at large. Foreign Policies Affect on Economic Issues Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the first major law restricting immigration to the United States. It was enacted in response to economic fears, especially on the West Coast, where native-born Americans attributed unemployment and declining wages to Chinese workers, whom they also viewed as racially inferior.

16 Effects of scientific discoveries and technological innovations on the economic development of the US Electric power facilitated increased production in factories by lengthening the work day (light bulb) and powering faster machines. The telegraph allowed information to be passed faster from one point to another quickly over vast distances Edwin L. Drake struck oil in 1859, enabling kerosene production and paving the way for future products such as gasoline. Improved methods of steel production were necessary to help build the transcontinental railroads that would be major social and economic drivers in the U.S. Steel greatly impacted the industrialization efforts in the early 20th Century. Specific Needs (feeding growing population) result in Scientific Discoveries and Technological Innovations in Agriculture Need: increase food production and reduce cost of farm labor The McCormick Reaper used by grain farmers to quickly cut and bind wheat into sheaves Need: increase the amount of usable farmland for growing number of settlers The steel plow (sometimes plough) could work soil in areas of the US that had previously been considered unsuitable for farming Need: increase the amount of food to urban populations who must rely on local markets Canned food was originally invented to feed armies, soon sold to growing urban populations Need: reduce the cost of transporting beef to food processing plants Refrigeration and refrigerated railroad cars improved the quality and availability of food products Need: an inexpensive alternative to wooden fencing to protect property (water) rights Barbed wire was needed in regions with few trees to provide fencing Impact of Technological and Management Innovations and Their Applications in the Workplace and the Resulting Productivity Enhancements for Business and Labor Assembly line manufacturing increased the speed of production Assembly line production could employ fewer skilled workers Light bulbs enabled factories to remain open at night Thousands of workers work late night hours (night-shift) Typewriters improved record keeping and increased response time to communications Typewriters indirectly created the occupation of the modern office secretary. Thousands of women joined the urban work force because women were generally well-educated workers who would willingly to work for low office wages.

17 How Scientific Discoveries and Technological Innovations, and the Application of These by the Free Enterprise System, Improve the Standard of Living in the United States Discovery/Innovation: electricity Raised standard of living by bringing light into dark homes and tenement buildings Created new market for labor saving appliances powered by electricity Discovery/Innovation: elevators Raised standard of living by making skyscrapers possible reducing cost and increasing availability of urban housing Created new housing markets and office space as taller buildings were built Discovery/Innovation: telegraph communications Raised standard of living by improving delivery rate of communication between long distances Created a national market for goods where consumers could purchase goods despite distance Discovery/Innovation: urban transportation (street cars, trolleys and subways) Raised standard of living by improving urban movement, people could live away from factories Created a new market for (efficient) urban transportation also crowds of people increased product advertising opportunities Discovery/Innovation: Bessemer Steel Process Raised the standard of living by reducing the cost to produce steel products thus increasing the use of rust-resistant steel in construction public projects Steel production created thousands of jobs