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Transcontinental Railroads
Railroads that connected the eastern United States with the Pacific coast, significantly enhancing trade, travel, and communication across the continent by facilitating the movement of goods and people over long distances.
Panic of 1893
A major economic depression that started in the spring of 1893, caused by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and financing, which led to bank failures, widespread unemployment, and significant economic distress throughout the country until 1897.
Second Industrial Revolution
A transformative era from the late 19th to early 20th centuries characterized by rapid industrial growth due to technological innovations like electricity, the internal combustion engine, and mass production techniques, resulting in urbanization and changes in the labor force.
Bessemer Process
An innovative steel-making process, developed in the mid-19th century by Henry Bessemer, which allowed for the mass production of steel by blowing air through molten pig iron to remove impurities, vastly lowering costs and revolutionizing construction and manufacturing.
Andrew Carnegie
A Scottish-American industrialist who led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century; he is also known for his extensive philanthropic work, advocating for libraries and educational initiatives.
Vertical Integration
A business strategy where a company acquires multiple levels of production within its supply chain, enabling greater control over the production process, improved efficiency, cost reductions, and potentially higher profit margins.
Protestant Work Ethic
A sociological concept rooted in the belief that diligence and hard work are signs of a person's relationship with God, forming a foundational principle of American capitalism and promoting values of discipline and productivity.
Horizontal Integration
A competitive business strategy where a company increases its share of the market by merging with or acquiring other firms at the same level of production, often leading to economies of scale and reduced competition.
Sherman Antitrust Act
The first federal legislation enacted in 1890 aimed at curbing monopolistic business practices by prohibiting contracts, combinations, or conspiracies in restraint of trade, thus promoting fair competition within industries.
Social Darwinism
A socio-political theory that applies the concept of natural selection to social and economic issues, suggesting that social progress results from the survival of individuals or groups best suited to their environment, often used to justify economic inequality.
Gospel of Wealth
A philosophy promoted by Andrew Carnegie that argues the wealthy have a moral obligation to distribute their surplus means in a way that promotes the welfare of the community, suggesting that philanthropy is a tool for improving societal conditions.
White-Collar Workers
Individuals employed in professional, managerial, or administrative roles that typically involve office work, characterized by their expertise and skills rather than manual labor.
Middle Class
A socio-economic class characterized by moderate incomes, educational attainment, and increased consumerism, emerging during the Second Industrial Revolution as industrialization transformed the economy and workforce.
Iron Law of Wages
An economic theory proposed by David Ricardo, positing that wages tend to stabilize at a level that is just enough to sustain the worker, thereby keeping them above the poverty line but not allowing for substantial savings.
Scab
A derogatory term for a worker who continues to work during a labor strike, undermining the efforts of striking workers and often hired to replace them, thus provoking further conflict within labor relations.
Lockout
A tactic used by employers during labor disputes where workers are forbidden from entering the workplace, effectively halting operations and putting pressure on employees during negotiations.
Blacklist
A list maintained by employers or associations that identifies individuals or organizations that are denied employment or services, often targeting union members or those associated with labor activism.
Yellow-Dog Contract
A type of employment agreement in which workers pledge not to join a union as a condition of employment, widely utilized by employers until it was rendered illegal by law.
Injunction
A legal order issued by a court that requires an individual or entity to act or refrain from acting in a specific way, commonly used against labor strikes to maintain order and prevent disruptions.
Knights of Labor
An influential labor organization founded in 1869 that aimed to unify all workers regardless of skill level, focusing on broad social reforms, including the eight-hour workday and the abolition of child labor.
American Federation of Labor (AFL)
A prominent national federation of labor unions in the United States, founded in 1886, representing skilled workers and emphasizing collective bargaining to improve working conditions and wages.
Samuel Gompers
An American labor leader and key figure in the labor movement who served as the first president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), advocating for the rights of workers and better labor conditions.
Homestead Strike
A significant and violent labor strike that occurred in 1892 at Carnegie Steel's Homestead Works in Pennsylvania, highlighting the intense labor conflicts of the time and the opposition between labor unions and industrialists.
Eugene V. Debs
An American labor leader and socialist who founded the American Railway Union and played a pivotal role in several major strikes, notably the Pullman Strike of 1894, advocating for workers' rights and social justice.
In re Debs
A landmark U.S. Supreme Court case from 1895 that upheld the government's right to issue injunctions against labor strikes, reinforcing the legal authority of federal courts in labor disputes.
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