1877–1900 - Gilded Age

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was a worker’s strike against several railroads, including the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The strike was caused by significant wage cuts, leading employees to go on strike and resort to violence to stop trains from moving. Federal troops eventually used force to bring an end to the strike, which had lasting repercussions on the development of labor, politics, and society in the United States.

Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States. His administration was responsible for the passage of the Sherman Antitrust Act and the establishment of several national parks, including Yosemite. However, Harrison’s policies regarding Native American Indians contributed to the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Hull House, founded in 1889 by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr, was a Settlement House in Chicago’s Near West Side. It assisted the ethnically diverse working-class community through various social services and educational programs. Over time, Hull House expanded to a larger campus, becoming a hub for social reform, and shaping theories about poverty in the Progressive Era.

Florence Kelley was a pioneering social reformer during the Progressive Era. She rose to prominence as an advocate for improved working conditions, child labor laws, and Women’s Rights. She was instrumental in passing key legislation and led the National Consumers’ League for more than 30 years.

“Manifest Destiny” is the idea that Americans had a “God-given right” — a divine right — to expand across the continent, from the east coast to the west coast, from “sea to shining sea,” planting democracy, capitalism, and Christianity along the way.

William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States. McKinley also served as an officer in the Union Army during the Civil War, represented Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives, and served as Governor of Ohio.

Key facts about William McKinley, Jr., twenty-fifth President of the United States.

The Monroe Doctrine is a cornerstone of America's Foreign Policy that warned against European influence in the Western Hemisphere and has been modified to justify American involvement in the region.

Lucretia Mott was an early advocate for abolition, women’s rights and Woman Suffrage. She was a member of the American Anti-Slavery Society in the 1830s and helped found the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society in 1833. After she met Elizabeth Cady Stanton in London, England in 1840, she became involved in the women’s rights movement and helped organize the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848.

The Panic of 1873 was a financial crisis that led to a four-year economic depression in the United States, also known as the “First Great Depression.” In the U.S., the panic was caused by the collapse of Jay Cooke and Company.

The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt was from September 14, 1901–March 4, 1909. He was sworn in as President after President William McKinley was assassinated in August 1901. Roosevelt finished McKinley’s term and was elected to a second term in 1904. His Presidency was marked by social and business reforms, along with the preservation of forests, landmarks, and wildlife habitats. His time in office is memorialized by his inclusion in the Mount Rushmore Memorial

The Settlement House Movement took place during the Progressive Era and was driven by groups of young people who wanted to provide services to poor urban communities. Inspired by the English Social Gospel movement, leaders like Jane Addams and Lillian Wald established Settlement Houses that provided social services and advocated for political reforms. These houses helped develop Social Work, serving immigrant groups and developing legislation related to labor and social reforms.

APUSH Definition — Philip Sheridan (1826–1885) was an officer in the United States Army during the Civil War. He is most famous for his destruction of the Shenandoah Valley in 1864, which is known as “The Burning.” Following the war, Sheridan led campaigns against Native American Indian tribes on the Great Plains and to general in chief of the army in 1883 and general of the army in 1888.

The Social Gospel Movement was an initiative that developed during the Gilded Age. It was driven by American Protestant ministers who aimed to apply Christian ethics to social problems caused by industrialization. The movement influenced Progressive Era politics and led to the establishment of the Federal Council of Churches in 1908. The ideology of the movement is still seen today.

The Spanish American War was fought between the United States and Spain. The U.S. won the short war, which took place primarily in Cuba. The outcome signaled the emergence of the United States as a global power and the end of Spain’s empire in the Americas.

The Spoils System was a process where Political Machines gave government jobs to their supporters, in return for helping run political campaigns and earn votes. The Spoils System is most closely associated with Andrew Jackson and Ulysses S. Grant, and led to several scandals during Grant’s presidency, including the Credit Mobilier Scandal and the Whiskey Ring Scandal.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a leading figure in the movements for abolition, women’s rights, and Woman Suffrage. She played a key role with Lucretia Mott in the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 and is the author of “The Declaration of Sentiments,” which called for social and legal changes to the status of women. She also collaborated with Susan B. Anthony on speeches, books, and articles devoted to the Woman Suffrage Movement.

The Supreme Court was established by the United States Constitution and organized by the Judiciary Act of 1789. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States of America.

William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Known for his legal expertise, he held many significant positions, including Governor-General of the Philippines and Secretary of War. During his career, he implemented important reforms in antitrust laws and conservation.