APUSH UNIT 4 EXAM QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS(GRADED A+)
Transcontinental Railroad - ANSWERA train route across the United States, finished
in 1869. It was the project of two railroad companies: the Union Pacific built from the
east, and the Central Pacific built from the west. The two lines met in Utah. The
Central Pacific laborers were predominantly Chinese, and the Union Pacific laborers
predominantly Irish. Both groups often worked under harsh conditions.
Federal Land Grants - ANSWERFederal government granted land to railroad
companies to help them finance new routes
Homestead Act 1862 - ANSWERThis allowed a settler to acquire 160 acres by living
on it for five years, improving it and paying about $30. Designed to encourage
people to settle in the Great Plains area. Led to decline in Plains Indians
J.P. Morgan - ANSWERAn influential banker and businessman who bought and
reorganized companies. His US Steel company would by Carnegie steel and
become the largest business in the world in 1901.
Andrew Carnegie - ANSWERCreates Carnegie Steel. Gets bought out by banker JP
Morgan and renamed U.S. Steel. Andrew Carnegie used vertical integration by
buying all the steps needed for production. Was a philanthropist. Was one of the
"Robber barons"
Jay Gould - ANSWERUnited States financier who gained control of the Erie Canal
and who caused a financial panic in 1869 when he attempted to corner the gold
market (1836-1892). His unethical business practices involved the corrupt Tammany
Ring in NY.
Cornelius Vanderbilt - ANSWERThis man was one of the most powerful railroad
leaders during the industrial revolution. This man is credited with using ruthless
tactics such as forcing smaller owners to sell to him, as well as many others. By the
time of his dearth in 1877, his companies controlled 4,500 miles of track and linked
NYC to the Great Lakes.
John D. Rockefeller - ANSWERWealthy owner of Standard Oil Company.
Considered to be a robber baron who used ruthless tactics to eliminate other
businesses. Built trusts and used money to influence government.
Boss Tweed - ANSWERWilliam Tweed, head of Tammany Hall, NYC's powerful
democratic political machine in 1868. Between 1868 and 1869 he led the Tweed
Reign, a group of corrupt politicians in defrauding the city.
Speculation - ANSWERAn involvement in risky business transactions in an effort to
make a quick or large profit.
, Panic 1893 - ANSWERSharp economic downturn that began when the railroad
industry faltered during the early 1890s followed by the collapse of many related
industries
Credit Mobilier - ANSWER1872, This was a fraudulent construction company
created to take the profits of the Union Pacific Railroad. Using government funds for
the railroad, the Union Pacific directors gave padded construction contracts to
Congress members
Bessemer Process - ANSWERThe first inexpensive industrial process for the mast
production of steel by Andrew Carnegie
Standard Oil Trust - ANSWERsmall oil companies sold stock and authority to
Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company (consolidation), cornered world petroleum
market
Vertical Integration - ANSWERPractice in which a single manufacturer controls all of
the steps used to change raw materials into finished products.
Horizontal Integration - ANSWERType of monopoly where a company buys out all of
its competition. Ex. Rockefeller
Sherman Anti-Trust Act - ANSWERan 1890 law that banned the formation of trusts
and monopolies in the United States
Laissez-Faire - ANSWERThe economic concept of the Scottish philosophe Adam
Smith (1723-1790). In opposition to mercantilism, the government's role in the
economy was one of non-interference
Gospel of Wealth - ANSWERThis was a book written by Carnegie that described the
responsibility of the rich to be philanthropists. This softened the harshness of Social
Darwinism as well as promoted the idea of philanthropy.
Philanthropy - ANSWERcharity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
Social Darwinism - ANSWERA description often applied to the late 19th century
belief that "surival of the fittest" justifies the competition of laissez-faire capitalism
and imperialist policies.
Thomas Edison - ANSWERAmerican inventor best known for inventing the electric
light bulb, acoustic recording on wax cylinders, and motion pictures.
George Westinghouse - ANSWERInventor responsible for the manufacture of the rail
car air brake system, also worked with electricity and developed alternating current
Horatio Alger Myth - ANSWERis the "classic" American success story and character
arc, the trajectory from "rags to riches"
Labor Union - ANSWERAn organization of workers that tries to improve working
conditions, wages, and benefits for its members
ANSWERS(GRADED A+)
Transcontinental Railroad - ANSWERA train route across the United States, finished
in 1869. It was the project of two railroad companies: the Union Pacific built from the
east, and the Central Pacific built from the west. The two lines met in Utah. The
Central Pacific laborers were predominantly Chinese, and the Union Pacific laborers
predominantly Irish. Both groups often worked under harsh conditions.
Federal Land Grants - ANSWERFederal government granted land to railroad
companies to help them finance new routes
Homestead Act 1862 - ANSWERThis allowed a settler to acquire 160 acres by living
on it for five years, improving it and paying about $30. Designed to encourage
people to settle in the Great Plains area. Led to decline in Plains Indians
J.P. Morgan - ANSWERAn influential banker and businessman who bought and
reorganized companies. His US Steel company would by Carnegie steel and
become the largest business in the world in 1901.
Andrew Carnegie - ANSWERCreates Carnegie Steel. Gets bought out by banker JP
Morgan and renamed U.S. Steel. Andrew Carnegie used vertical integration by
buying all the steps needed for production. Was a philanthropist. Was one of the
"Robber barons"
Jay Gould - ANSWERUnited States financier who gained control of the Erie Canal
and who caused a financial panic in 1869 when he attempted to corner the gold
market (1836-1892). His unethical business practices involved the corrupt Tammany
Ring in NY.
Cornelius Vanderbilt - ANSWERThis man was one of the most powerful railroad
leaders during the industrial revolution. This man is credited with using ruthless
tactics such as forcing smaller owners to sell to him, as well as many others. By the
time of his dearth in 1877, his companies controlled 4,500 miles of track and linked
NYC to the Great Lakes.
John D. Rockefeller - ANSWERWealthy owner of Standard Oil Company.
Considered to be a robber baron who used ruthless tactics to eliminate other
businesses. Built trusts and used money to influence government.
Boss Tweed - ANSWERWilliam Tweed, head of Tammany Hall, NYC's powerful
democratic political machine in 1868. Between 1868 and 1869 he led the Tweed
Reign, a group of corrupt politicians in defrauding the city.
Speculation - ANSWERAn involvement in risky business transactions in an effort to
make a quick or large profit.
, Panic 1893 - ANSWERSharp economic downturn that began when the railroad
industry faltered during the early 1890s followed by the collapse of many related
industries
Credit Mobilier - ANSWER1872, This was a fraudulent construction company
created to take the profits of the Union Pacific Railroad. Using government funds for
the railroad, the Union Pacific directors gave padded construction contracts to
Congress members
Bessemer Process - ANSWERThe first inexpensive industrial process for the mast
production of steel by Andrew Carnegie
Standard Oil Trust - ANSWERsmall oil companies sold stock and authority to
Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company (consolidation), cornered world petroleum
market
Vertical Integration - ANSWERPractice in which a single manufacturer controls all of
the steps used to change raw materials into finished products.
Horizontal Integration - ANSWERType of monopoly where a company buys out all of
its competition. Ex. Rockefeller
Sherman Anti-Trust Act - ANSWERan 1890 law that banned the formation of trusts
and monopolies in the United States
Laissez-Faire - ANSWERThe economic concept of the Scottish philosophe Adam
Smith (1723-1790). In opposition to mercantilism, the government's role in the
economy was one of non-interference
Gospel of Wealth - ANSWERThis was a book written by Carnegie that described the
responsibility of the rich to be philanthropists. This softened the harshness of Social
Darwinism as well as promoted the idea of philanthropy.
Philanthropy - ANSWERcharity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
Social Darwinism - ANSWERA description often applied to the late 19th century
belief that "surival of the fittest" justifies the competition of laissez-faire capitalism
and imperialist policies.
Thomas Edison - ANSWERAmerican inventor best known for inventing the electric
light bulb, acoustic recording on wax cylinders, and motion pictures.
George Westinghouse - ANSWERInventor responsible for the manufacture of the rail
car air brake system, also worked with electricity and developed alternating current
Horatio Alger Myth - ANSWERis the "classic" American success story and character
arc, the trajectory from "rags to riches"
Labor Union - ANSWERAn organization of workers that tries to improve working
conditions, wages, and benefits for its members
