gilded
covered in a layer of gold
industry
manufacture of goods
development
growth or advancement
robber baron
a person who has become wealthy through unethical means
fortune
large amount of assets or cash
controversy
heated disagreement
territory
an area of land under the jurisdiction of a nation
venture
dare to do something or go somewhere
Homestead Act
an act providing free land for the masses
prospector
a miner who searches for mineral deposits
circuit
a closed electrical path
electrical current
a stream of charged particles running through a conductor
reputation
the beliefs that are generally held about someone or something
research
a systemic investigation
propose
put forth or introduce an idea
labor
work, especially physical work
