Vocabulary List 7 Skyscraper Party Boss Tenement Graft

Vocabulary List 7 ● ● ● ● ● Skyscraper Party Boss Tenement Graft Political Machine Individualism Social Darwinism Philanthropy Settlement House Americanization

Second Industrial Revolution Urbanization & Social Reforms

I. Background ● A) Different viewpoints on Wealthy: ○ Robber Barons - exploiters of working class using monopoly to increase wealth ○ Captains of Industry - promoted technology and development, moving country forward ● B) Period is called “The Gilded Age” ○ Novel by Mark Twain ○ Era of political & business corruption ● C) Americans migrate to cities ○ Skyscrapers ○ Electricity, plumbing, public transportation ○ Better economic opportunity

II. The Political Machine ● A) Def: Organized group, headed by city boss, that controlled a city. ○ Police, Fire and Sanitation dept control ○ Provided city dwellers with vital services ○ Bosses became corrupt ● B) Methods ○ Graft - political influence for $$$ ○ Fake votes (dead, children) ○ Kickbacks - higher fee → Some goes back to boss

II. Political Machine (cont…) C) Boss Tweed (William Tweed) - eventually went to prison

III. Urbanization ● A) Cities began to grow to 1 million people ○ Chicago, NYC, Philadelphia ○ Came from farm areas ● B) Problems: ○ Overcrowding ○ Disease ○ Tenements - no fresh air or sanitation. ○ Slum conditions encouraged crime and drunkenness

IV. Response Movements ● A) Social Darwinism ○ Individualism - rags to riches ○ Supports Laissez-faire capitalism ○ Survival of the fittest ● B) Gospel of Wealth ○ Wealthy americans should engage in philanthropy ○ Ex: build schools and hospitals ● C) Progressive Movement ○ Transition into government intervention ○ Fought for farmers, workers, consumers, city dwellers ● D) Institutions formed: ○ Young Mens Christian Association (YMCA) ○ Salvation Army ○ Public Education

Bad Ass - Teddy Roosevelt

Why Teddy is the best: ● ● ● Spoke French/German + Harvard Educated Went mountain climbing for his honeymoon Wife/Mother died → He became a cowboy Was Commissioner of NYPD He and his rough riders won the Spanish American war in Cuba Became Governor of NY Became president after Mc. Kinley shot in 1901 (he was VP) Broke up trusts Booker T Washington first black in white house Won Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating end of Russ-Japanese war Shot while giving a speech, still read on Made his own political party - bull-moose party

Photo of Teddy:

V. Government Action Against Monopolies ● A) Sherman Anti-trust act ○ illegal to consolidate business if killed competition ○ Teddy used it to break Tobacco, Oil & Steel trusts ● B) Clayton Antitrust Act ○ No agreements between companies to fix prices ○ Cant be director in competing corporations ● C) Federal Trade Commission - watchdog over corporations