Industrilization, Urbanization, Labor Unions Reading Quiz's Review

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What fueled the rapid industrial growth in the U.S. during the late 1800s?

Harnessing new sources of power like steam and electricity

Which metal became the most important driver of industry and construction in the late 19th century?

Steel

What innovation made large-scale steel production possible in the U.S.?

Bessemer and open-hearth processes

The invention of the telephone in 1876 was credited to:

Alexander Graham Bell

What was Thomas Edison’s most famous invention that transformed daily life?

Electric light bulb

What was George Westinghouse’s key contribution to industrial growth?

Developed AC power systems and train air brakes

Why was the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 important?

It connected the Atlantic and Pacific, opening western markets

What was one major abuse by railroad companies in the late 1800s?

Giving secret rebates and overcharging small farmers

What was the first federal agency created to regulate railroads?

Interstate Commerce Commission

Andrew Carnegie dominated which industry?

Steel

What was Andrew Carnegie’s philosophy about wealth known as?

The Gospel of Wealth

John D. Rockefeller made his fortune by dominating what industry?

Oil

What business strategy did Rockefeller use to crush competition?

Sold oil at a loss until competitors failed

What was Standard Oil best known for?

Being the nation’s first big business monopoly

J.P. Morgan was most associated with which field?

Investment banking and corporate finance

Which of the following describes J.P. Morgan’s role in U.S. Steel?

He purchased Carnegie Steel and created U.S. Steel Corporation

What role did immigration play in U.S. industrial growth during the late 1800s?

Immigrants provided the cheap labor needed in factories and railroads

Why did urban populations double between 1880 and 1920?

Immigration and migration to cities for industrial jobs

How did industrial inventions like the flush toilet and tin can affect urban life?

They improved sanitation and health, making dense cities more livable

Which factor most directly connected immigration to the building of the Transcontinental Railroad?

Irish and Chinese immigrants formed the bulk of the railroad workforce

What was a major social impact of urbanization during the Gilded Age?

Crowded urban living created both opportunities and challenges for immigrants

How did new urban job opportunities affect women during the industrial era?

Household labor-saving inventions freed time for women to enter the workforce or education

What was the main cause of the shift from rural to urban living between 1865 and 1900?

Advances in farm machinery reducing the need for labor

How did industrialization change the nature of work for many Americans?

Workers shifted from independent farming to wage labor in factories

Why were factory wages in 1900 problematic for urban workers?

They left many families at or below poverty level despite long work weeks

What does the statistic of 25,000 workplace deaths in 1913 suggest about Gilded Age industry?

Workplace safety was largely ignored by factory owners

Why did women increasingly enter the workforce between 1870 and 1900?

Out of financial necessity, often in low-paying factory or clerical jobs

Why were women typically employed in clothing and textile factories rather than heavy industry?

Employers and society viewed heavy industry as inappropriate for women

Why did factory owners prefer hiring children?

They could be paid less and fit into tight machinery spaces

How did immigrant families often view child labor despite reformers’ concerns?

As a necessary contribution to family income

Why did the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 spread so quickly?

Workers across industries shared similar grievances about wages and working hours

What did the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 demonstrate about labor relations?

Mass strikes could shut down national industries and alarm elites

What does the government’s use of federal troops in strikes like 1877 and Pullman reveal?

The state generally sided with business owners over workers

What overarching demands united most labor movements of the Gilded Age?

Higher wages and safer working conditions

What was the main achievement of the National Labor Union (NLU)?

Securing the eight-hour workday for federal employees

How did the Knights of Labor differ from earlier unions?

They welcomed all wage workers regardless of race, gender, or skill

Why did the Haymarket Riot weaken the Knights of Labor?

Public opinion linked them to anarchist violence, damaging union credibility

How did the American Federation of Labor (AFL) differ from the Knights of Labor?

It emphasized economic gains for skilled workers, avoiding broad political reform

Why did the Homestead Strike fail in 1892?

Henry Frick used lockouts, Pinkertons, and militia force to break the strike

What was the central issue that sparked the Pullman Strike of 1894?

Wage cuts combined with high rents in company housing

What was the long-term impact of the Homestead and Pullman Strikes?

They crushed the labor movement for decades and turned public opinion against unions

How did industrialization change consumer culture by the late 19th century?

Mass production created a wider variety of goods and fueled consumer demand

Why were department stores and chain stores significant in the late 1800s?

They democratized shopping, offering middle-class families access to goods once reserved for elites

How did mail-order catalogs like Sears transform rural America?

They provided farmers with access to affordable goods previously unavailable locally

What role did advertising play in consumer culture around 1900?

It became essential for businesses to compete in crowded markets

Why did Americans increasingly accept consumer debt and credit by the end of the 19th century?

They sought to maintain lifestyles by purchasing goods beyond their immediate means

What does Roland Marchand’s “Parable on the Democracy of Goods” suggest about consumerism?

Americans equated access to goods with equality and lifestyle improvement