"The American Pageant," Vocabulary from Chapters 23-25

This list focuses on the Gilded Age, industry, and moving to the city (1869-1900).

Here are links to all the chapters in Part Four, Forging an Industrial Society: Chapters 23-25, Chapters 26-27

Here are links to all the parts of the textbook published by Houghton Mifflin: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. extravagance
    excessive spending
  2. redemption
    repayment of the principal amount of a debt or security
  3. graft
    the practice of offering something for an illegal advantage
  4. bribe
    payment made to corrupt a person in a position of trust
  5. scandal
    a disgraceful event
  6. contraction
    the act of decreasing in size or volume or quantity or scope
  7. gilded
    made from or covered with gold
  8. filibuster
    a tactic for delaying legislation by making long speeches
  9. stalemate
    subject to a situation in which no progress can be made
  10. lien
    the right to take and hold the property of a debtor
  11. segregation
    a social system that provides different facilities for minority groups
  12. exclusion
    the state of being shut out
  13. laissez faire
    a doctrine that government should not interfere in commerce
  14. merit
    the quality of being deserving
  15. referendum
    a legislative act referred for approval to a popular vote
  16. deficit
    an excess of liabilities over assets
  17. plutocracy
    a political system governed by the wealthy people
  18. grant
    a transfer of property by deed of conveyance
  19. subsidy
    a grant of financial assistance, especially by a government
  20. terminus
    either end of a railroad or bus route
  21. consolidation
    the act of combining into an integral whole
  22. transcontinental
    spanning one of the large landmasses of the earth
  23. mogul
    a very wealthy or powerful businessperson
  24. baron
    a very wealthy or powerful businessman
  25. enterprise
    an organization created for business ventures
  26. monopoly
    a market in which there are many buyers but only one seller
  27. trust
    a group of organizations formed to limit competition
  28. justification
    the act of defending or explaining by reasoning
  29. technology
    the practical application of science to commerce or industry
  30. labor
    a social class comprising those who do work for wages
  31. organize
    form or join an organized group of workers
  32. arbitration
    the hearing and determination of a dispute by a referee
  33. commuter
    someone who travels regularly to and from work
  34. consumerism
    the theory that increasing use of goods is beneficial
  35. disposal
    the act or means of getting rid of something
  36. contradiction
    opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas
  37. tenement
    a run-down apartment house barely meeting minimal standards
  38. stately
    refined or imposing in manner or appearance
  39. uproot
    move forcibly from a homeland into a new foreign environment
  40. evolution
    sequence of events involved in the development of a species
  41. survival
    the state of remaining alive
  42. institute
    an association organized to promote art or science
  43. elective
    a course that the student can select from among alternatives
  44. edification
    uplifting enlightenment
  45. sensational
    causing intense interest, curiosity, or emotion
  46. pragmatism
    the doctrine that practical consequences determine value
  47. morality
    the quality of being in accord with right or good conduct
  48. diversion
    an activity that amuses or stimulates
  49. diverse
    distinctly dissimilar or unlike
  50. standardize
    cause to conform to a norm
Created on Tue Nov 22 11:21:18 EST 2016 (updated Thu Dec 01 16:46:21 EST 2016)

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