Period 6: The Broken System and the Fight for Change (1865–1898)

Gilded Age

The period from 1865 to 1900 characterized by political corruption and economic disparity, coined by Mark Twain.

Political Machines

Organized groups that controlled political party activities in a city, often through corruption.

Tammany Hall

The most infamous political machine in New York City, led by 'Boss' Tweed, known for graft.

Pendleton Civil Service Act

A law passed in 1883 to reform the spoils system by requiring merit-based selection for government jobs.

The Omaha Platform

The 1892 political platform of the Populist Party, advocating for direct election of Senators and other reforms.

Populist Party

A political party formed in 1892 that aimed to represent the interests of farmers and laborers.

Hard Money

Currency backed by gold, favored by bankers to limit inflation.

Soft Money

Currency supported by farmers and debtors, advocating for the inflationary impact of silver and paper money.

William Jennings Bryan

Democratic candidate in the 1896 election known for his 'Cross of Gold' speech supporting silver.

William McKinley

Republican candidate in 1896, supported by big business and known for his 'front porch campaign'.

Social Gospel Movement

A Protestant movement applying Christian ethics to social issues like poverty and inequality.

Hull House

A settlement house founded by Jane Addams in Chicago to aid immigrants with various social services.

National American Woman Suffrage Association

An organization formed in 1890 to advocate for women's suffrage and rights.

Ida B. Wells

An African American journalist and activist known for her anti-lynching crusade.

Booker T. Washington

A prominent African American leader advocating for vocational training and gradualism for black rights.

W.E.B. Du Bois

An African American leader who called for immediate equality and co-founded the NAACP.

Atlanta Compromise Speech

A speech by Booker T. Washington advocating for vocational education and gradual social change.

The Souls of Black Folk

A work by W.E.B. Du Bois emphasizing the need for immediate civil rights for African Americans.

McKinley Tariff

A high protective tax on imports favored by Republicans to shield industry but opposed by Democrats.

Graduated Income Tax

A tax system where the tax rate increases as income increases, proposed by the Populist Party.

Granger Laws

Laws enacted to regulate railroad monopolies advocated by the Grange movement.

Direct Election of Senators

A key demand of the Populist Party to reduce corruption in state legislatures.

Spoils System

The practice of giving government jobs to loyal party supporters, regardless of qualification.

Political Stalemate

A period of intense partisanship where neither party gained a majority, leading to ineffective governance.

'Bloody Shirt'

A Republican campaign tactic reminding voters of Civil War sacrifices to garner support.

Jim Crow Laws

Laws enforcing racial segregation in the South after Reconstruction.

Plessy v. Ferguson

A Supreme Court case that established the legality of 'separate but equal' racial segregation.