The West and Gilded Age Review

Which example best defines a historical era?

• A collection of art by a world-renowned artist

• A period of time characterized by certain political, social, or economic events

• A genre of music specific to a region of a country

• A piece of landmark legislation passed during a congressional session

Which of the following best characterizes the Gilded Age?

• The discovery of goldfields in the West led to an increase in the amount of money issued for circulation.

• Industrialists used their connections with corrupt government officials for material gain and political power.

• In the Deep South a sharp increase in immigration brought a boom in construction and industry.

• Small, family-owned farms were bought and consolidated to form large agricultural corporations.

During the Gilded Age there was a notable increase in federal support for —

• the growth of big business

• involvement in foreign wars

• the acquisition of foreign territories

• increased temperance regulations

• Elected leaders helped immigrants to assimilate to life in the United States.

• Political machines justified corruption while providing benefits to communities.

• Progressive leaders protested eminent domain laws in the United States.

• Progressive leaders protested eminent domain laws in the United States.

The primary objective of the Dawes Act was to —

• promote cultural assimilation of American Indians

• turn American Indian reservations into corporate farmland

• end warfare between American Indians and the U.S. military

• promote American Indian investment in private industry

What was one reason for the expansion of machine politics in the late nineteenth century?

• The rapid influx of immigrants made it difficult for local governments to provide basic services.

• Federal restrictions prevented voters from influencing government decisions at the local level.

• The economy was too tightly regulated to allow urban growth.

• Settlement houses failed to help immigrants adjust to life in the city.

During the nineteenth century, one way political bosses gained voter support was by —

• campaigning for women’s suffrage

• advocating the use of poll taxes

• making improvements in urban infrastructure

• providing public assistance for former slaves

• Ratification of a suffrage amendment

• Building of the transcontinental railroad

• Passage of prohibition legislation

• Expansion of labor unions

The Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor developed in response to the —

• increased need to protect worker interests

• decreased power of political machines

• increased demand for skilled workers

• decreased profitability of the agricultural sector

• a civil service based on patronage rather than merit

• allowing powerful monopolies to dominate interstate commerce

• a lack of federal funding for essential transportation systems

• allowing labor unions to interfere with production goals