Westward Expansion: Economic Development

This study guide covers the Gilded Age (1865-1900) in AP US History, focusing on industrialization, westward expansion, and the resulting social and political changes. Key topics include the Transcontinental Railroad, the Mining Frontier and the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Agricultural Frontier including the Homestead Act and the Cattle Frontier, the rise of farmer organizations like the Grange Movement and Farmers' Alliance, and the emergence of the Populist Party from the Ocala Platform. The guide provides practice questions and exam tips for these high-value topics.