GIlded Age Vocab 1

This law was passed to regulate the railroad industry and ensure fair rates. It was the first time the federal government tried to control big businesses that crossed state lines.

• Interstate Commerce Act of 1887

• Sherman Antitrust Act

• Pendleton Civil Service Act

• Homestead Act

A law passed in 1890 that aimed to break up large companies that were so powerful they could control entire industries. It was meant to stop monopolies and promote competition.

• Sherman Antitrust Act

• Pendleton Civil Service Act

• Homestead Act

• Dawes Act

A law passed in 1883 that required government jobs to be given based on merit (how well you can do the job) instead of political connections. It helped reduce corruption in government hiring.

• Pendleton Civil Service Act

• Homestead Act

• Dawes Act

• Sherman Antitrust Act

A law passed in 1862 that gave free land to people willing to move west and farm it. This act encouraged westward expansion and settlement.

• Homestead Act

• Dawes Act

• Chinese Exclusion Act

• Interstate Commerce Act of 1887

 Passed in 1887, this law aimed to assimilate Native Americans by dividing their communal lands into individual plots. It was part of a broader policy to encourage Native Americans to adopt Western ways of life.

• Dawes Act

• Chinese Exclusion Act

• Sherman Antitrust Act

• Pendleton Civil Service Act

A law passed in 1882 that banned Chinese immigrants from coming to the United States. It was the first law to target a specific ethnic group.

• Chinese Exclusion Act

• Dawes Act

• Sherman Antitrust Act

• Interstate Commerce Act

 A wealthy industrialist who made his fortune in the steel industry. He is also known for his philanthropy, donating much of his wealth to build libraries and support education.

• Andrew Carnegie

• John D. Rockefeller

• J.P. Morgan

• Henry Ford

The founder of Standard Oil, Rockefeller became one of the wealthiest men in history. His company controlled most of the oil industry in the U.S., leading to concerns about monopolies.

• John D. Rockefeller

• Andrew Carnegie

• J.P. Morgan

• Boss Tweed

A powerful banker who played a significant role in financing and consolidating large companies during the Gilded Age. He helped stabilize the American economy during financial crises.

• J.P. Morgan

• Henry Ford

• Andrew Carnegie

• Thomas Edison

 A corrupt political leader in New York City who ran a political machine called Tammany Hall. He controlled the city’s government through bribery and fraud.

• Boss Tweed

• John D. Rockefeller

• J.P. Morgan

• Thomas Edison