Industrial and Gilded Ages Vocab

The Industrial Age

Period during the 19th and early 20th centuries marked by the shift from agriculture to industrial production. Problems with political machines, big businesses, and the treatment of workers became major concerns because of this era.

The Industrial Age was a period when American businesses grew very large

It is characterized by machinery, factories, immigration, nativism, unions, big business (businesses grow very large), political bosses, urbanization, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and Laissez-Faire

The Gilded Age

Late 19th-century era of rapid industrial growth, marked by wealth disparity, political corruption, and materialism.

Gilding = steel bar w/ gold on the outside

• looks pretty and like gold on the outside

• The Gilded age looked good at first glance because the rich were living luxuriously and had ginormous houses, BUT the vast majority of ppl were not living like this

The Gilded Age occurred during the Industrial Age

It is characterized by corruption, big business, political bosses, and a large gap between the rich and the poor

It is called the Gilded Age bc on the outside it looked nice but on the inside it was not

Electricity

Used to power factories, enabling the invention and use of machinery and the light bulb. It helped to speed up efficiency and production.

Machines were powered by electricity

Factories became very productive as more machines were invented to help produce products at a past pace

Alexander Graham Bell

Invented the telephone, speeding up communication between businesses and people across the nation. targeted businesses

Telephone = Invented by Alexander Graham Bell, it allowed people to talk to each other over vast distances. It increased efficiency in businesses with improved communication.

Thomas Edison

Inventor of the first efficient light bulb.

• efficient = lit up longer

Light bulb made it possible to have light at night

• Invention perfected by Thomas Edison that made electric lighting widely available. It extended working hours, enabling factories to stay open later, increasing production.

As a result, factories were able to stay open later and produce more products

• increased production AND working hours

Bessemer Process

Made steel production faster, cheaper, stronger and more efficient, fueling industrial growth with railroads and skyscrapers.

Steel becomes more affordable and accessible = more railroads built and development of skyscrapers

Railroads

Major transportation innovation connecting distant regions, facilitating trade, and encouraging westward expansion.

More built bc of bessemer process

Began to cover the countryside and connected east to west coast of the US

• close frontier

• move goods and people

Laissez-Faire

The government does not interfere with the economy regardless of whether its going good or bad, it’s hands off.

economy = unregulated and based on supply and demand

Capitalism was able to flourish as businesses made profits

Capitalism = Economic system where private individuals and businesses own production and operate for profit with minimal government interference. Consumer demand drives product creation.

Vertical and Horizontal Integration

Vertical Integration = Business strategy where a company controls all stages of production and distribution of a product. Ex. Owning the farm, flour mill, bakery, and storefront to sell the baked goods in

Vertical Integration is when a company purchases another company that either does the process before or after them

Vertical = up/down a chain or hierarchy

• Manufacturer buys its supplier or a company acquires a distributor or retailor

• a company owns different stages of a process that feed into each other

Horizontal Integration is when a company purchases other companies that do the same thing

Business strategy of merging with competitors to dominate an industry, often leading to monopolies. Example: all of the bakeries in a city

Horizontal = across the same level/peers

• two competitors merge

• all storefronts are owned by the same company

• a company owns multiple businesses that do the same job at the same stage

Entrepreneurs/Entrepreneurship

Individuals who organize, manage, and assume the risks of starting and operating a business venture.

Used their own money to start businesses and took on the risks of success or failer

Capitalism = we can start a business (but there are risks)

Big Business

Large-scale corporate enterprises that dominated major industries such as oil, steel, and railroads during the late 19th century. They had influence over government policies.

Businesses that grew very big and took advantage of both their customers and employees

Corruption in business and politics became widespread → businesses paid politicians to pass laws that favored them

Industrialists used connections they had with corrupt politicians to make money and gain political power

They used unfair business tactics to drive competition out of business

Monopoly vs Trusts

Monopoly = Complete control of a product or service by a single company, eliminating competition and raising prices. Often achieved by ruthless business tactics.

• control the entire SUPPLY of a product or service

• became common as big businesses grew

• eventually made illegal

Trust = Legal arrangement where companies turn over stock to a board to reduce competition and control markets. These formed after monopolies became illegal

• companies that owned several small companies (still a monopooly)

• Sherman Anti-Trust Act made it illegal to form trusts

Sherman Anti-Trust Act = 1890 federal law aimed at breaking up monopolies and restoring competitive markets.

Monopoly = one entity

Trust = multiple companies owned by one

Political Machines & Political Bosses

Political bosses = Organized groups that controlled political parties in cities, often corruptly securing votes and power. Immigrants provided them with a steady stream of new voters.

• ran by Political bosses

• caused corruption in the government

• Voting was rigged

• Political bosses would promise new immigrants jobs (in a factory owned by someone loyal to political machine) and housing (home owned by someone loyal to political machine) if they promised to vote the way that they told them to → if they did not vote in favor of political machine, they would lose everything and be blacklisted from the city → immigrants too scared and have to listen

• political machines would get loyal members elected to government positions to control local politics

• They then used the spoils system to hire more members into government positions

• Political machines gained votes by improving urban infrastructure and providing community services

Political bosses = Leaders who controlled political machines and influenced city governments through bribery and patronage.

Political machines = the group

Political bosses = the leader of the group

Spoil system = Practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs regardless of their qualifications.

Boss Tweed

Corrupt political boss of New York's Tammany Hall, known for defrauding the city through political machines.

• He used favors and gifts to stay in power

• Eventually arrested and sent to jail

Immigrants

People who move from one country to another seeking better opportunities, safety, or improved living conditions.

New immigrants to the US were willing to work for low wages in factories and other industries

They would work for less and longer than those who were born in the US

They helped contribute to the rise of Big Businesses

Robber Barons

Negative term for wealthy and ruthless industrialists who exploited workers and bent rules for personal gain.

Big business owners who took advantage of both their employees and customers

Used ruthless business tactics to get what they wanted and to run competition out of business

• lower selling prices to the cost of production of lower → customers will buy from them instead of their competitors → competitors go out of business → robber barons skyrocket their prices because they are the only business left

Captains of Industry

Positive term for business leaders whose innovations and philanthropy greatly contributed to economic growth and society.

Captains of Industry became very wealthy during the Industrial and Guilded Ages

They made financial contributions to society through philanthropy

Philanthropy = Charitable giving by wealthy individuals to promote social welfare, education, or the arts. Giving back to society.

Andrew Carnegie & Gospel of Wealth

Leading industrialist and philanthropist who expanded the American steel industry and promoted the "Gospel of Wealth" philosophy.

• Andrew Carnegie was a Captain of Industry and a Robber Barron

• Owned Carnegie Steel Company and had a monopoly

• Built libraries and other public buildings

• Gives away most of his fortune before he died (children ticked off), but still bad because of his ruthless business tactics

• Wrote the Gospel of Wealth

Gospel of Wealth = Philosophy promoted by Andrew Carnegie stating that the wealthy had a duty to use their riches to help the less fortunate. He built libraries to provide a source of free education to the poor.

• built libraries and other public buildings

John D. Rockefeller

Founder of Standard Oil Company and major figure in the oil industry, known for building a powerful monopoly.

• A Captain of Industry and a Robber Barron

• Owned standard oil and had a monopoly

• Also practiced philanthropy

Light bulb = not accessible → people use wicks which needed oil, and he was the one that owned most of the oil

J.P. Morgan

Influential banker and financier who helped consolidate industries and stabilize the U.S. economy during crises.

Was a Captain of Industry and a Robber Barron

Controlled a large portion of the banking industry

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Powerful businessman who built wealth through railroads and shipping, influencing American transportation and commerce.

Captain of Industry and a Robber Barron

Owned a shipping and railroad empire

Immigration

Large numbers of immigrants continued to come into the US during the late 1800s

They were willing to work for less and for longer hours

There were both push and pull factors that contributed to the increased immigration to the US

Push factors - cause people to want to leave their home country (are negative)

• Negative conditions like poverty, war, or persecution that drive people to

  emigrate from their home country.

• Ex. War, Famine, poverty, unemployment, political unrest, religious persecution, censorship, etc.

Pull Factors = Positive conditions that attract people to a new country, such as jobs, freedom, and better living standards.

• Pull Factors are good things in other countries that make people want to move there

• Ex: Peace, political stability, employment opportunities, religious freedom, freedom of speech, etc.

Immigration Centers

Facilities like Ellis Island and Angel Island where immigrants were processed before entering the United States. They had to take IQ Tests, prove they were healthy, and that they could support themselves or they would be sent back.

Immigrants were processed thru facilities at Angel, Ellis, and Galveston Islands

Immigrants who traveled thru Ellis (NYC) and Galveston Islands

• Ellis Island = Main immigration station near New York City that processed millions of European immigrant.

• Galveston Island Immigration center for European immigrants located in Texas.

Immigrants who went through Angel (Cali) Island were mostly from Asia

• Angel Island = Immigration station in San Francisco Bay where mostly Asian immigrants were processed, often facing harsh questioning and conditions.

Hope for a Better Future (American Dream)

Immigrants to the US were hoping for a better future for themselves and their families

They were in search of the American Dream

American Dream = The belief that anyone, regardless of background, can achieve success, prosperity, and upward mobility through hard work and determination.

Often they were escaping famine, wars, poverty, and persecution in their home countries

Immigration Process

Immigrants were forced to go through physical exams

If they were found to be unhealthy, they were sent back

They also had to go through IQ tests

• If not intelligent enough to support themselves they were sent back, UNLESS they were brought in by someone who would take care of them

Family members were often separated during the process

Ethnic Neighborhoods

Urban areas where immigrants from the same country or culture lived together, preserving traditions and language.

Many immigrants settled into ethnic neighborhoods

Ex: Little Italy and China Town

Immigrants had a sense of belonging and felt like they were at home

Immigrant Struggles

Immigrants struggled to survive

Skilled workers were able to start their own business

Unskilled workers were forced to work for low wages and long hours in factories and other industries

Sweatshops

Factories with poor working conditions, low wages, and long hours, often employing immigrants, women, and children.

Unskilled immigrants worked in factories that were run like sweatshops

They were paid low wages and worked long hours

Working conditions were dangerous

Injuries and death were common

Factories wouldnt pay for injuries or funerals → workers would just get replaced

Child labor = Children working in mines and factories instead of attending school. Often paid the lowest wages and placed in the most dangerous conditions.

Labor Unions

Organizations formed by workers to advocate for better wages, working hours, and workplace protections. They used collective bargaining to fight for workers’ rights.

Formed as a result of low wages and dangerous working conditions

Big Business was taking advantage of immigrants

They worked for higher wages, shorter working hours and safer working conditions

Workers come together and practice collective bargaining to voice their wants

Labor Union Tactics

Labor unions provided a collective voice through collective bargaining

• collective bargaining = Negotiations between employers and labor unions to determine wages, working conditions, and other employment terms.

They also used strikes, refusing to work until their demands were met

• strikes = Work stoppages organized by labor unions to protest working conditions or demand better working conditions, hours, and wages.

Sometimes boycotts would also be used

• boycotts = Organized refusals to buy or use goods and services as a method of protest or to force political or economic change.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

A major national labor union founded in 1886, focused on securing better wages, hours, and conditions for skilled workers.

Samuel Gompers = Labor leader and first president of the AFL who emphasized pragmatic goals like higher wages and shorter workdays.

labor union founded by Samuel Gompers

Sought an 8-hr workday and improving labor conditions

Was created in response to the need to protect worker interests

Knights of Labor

Early labor union that welcomed all workers and fought for broad social reforms including an eight-hour workday.

A labor union organized by Terrance Powderly

Terrance Powderly = Leader of the Knights of Labor who advocated for broad reforms and worker cooperatives.

Their membership declined after the Haymarket Affair

Haymarket Riot/Affair of 1886

1886 Chicago labor protest that turned violent after a bomb exploded, harming the labor movement’s reputation.

Most famous of Industrial Age strikes

Strikers wanted an 8-hr workday

Police had killed some strikers the previous day

the strike turned into a riot after someone threw a dynamite stick into the crowd

Eight anarchists were convicted for the crime and four were executed

Great Strike of 1877

Nationwide railroad strike triggered by wage cuts, leading to widespread violence and the intervention of federal troops.

Railroad workers wages were cut three times

They blocked the trains until their last wage cut was reversed but were unsuccessful

Homestead Strike of 1892

Violent labor strike at Carnegie Steel in 1892 over wage cuts, resulting in a deadly clash between workers and private guards.

Andrew Carnegie’s steel company needed more workers to produce steel

He hired more unskilled workers to keep up with the demand

Skilled workers who were already working for him went on strike

The skilled workers clashed with a security force and several people were killed

Pullman Strike of 1894

Nationwide railroad strike of 1894 that disrupted rail traffic and led to federal intervention against labor unions.

Pullman Company cut wages for their railroad workers

These workers live in company-owned homes but refused to lower the rent

They went on strike but were not successful

After this strike, the government became more involved in labor unions