6.7-6.13 Flascards

The Gilded Age

Coined by Mark Twain in 1873 to describe the period from 1865 to 1869, in which a veneer of wealth of prosperity covered extreme wealth inequality and a multitude of other problems

"Iron Law of Wages”

Essay by David Ricardo that suggested that wages would remain low, because if wages increased, more workers would become available, and wages would fall due to competition

What shifts in the workforce do we begin to see?

Women and children began working in increased numbers as families needed more than one income to survive. By 1900, 20% of children held wage jobs.

How did workers deal with the horrid working conditions?

Workers fought back by joining labor unions

How did employers deal with the labor unions?

utilized lockouts, blacklists, yellow-dog contracts, private + state militias, and court injunctions

Railroad Strike of 1877

Striking workers shut down 2/3 of rail traffic across multiple states, prompting President Hayes to call in federal troops and end the strike. More than 100 people were killed in fighting between strikebreakers and the militias

National Labor Union

founded in 1866, it was the first major national labor federation in the US, as it successfully obtained a national 8/hr work day for federal employees

Knights of Labor

The second major Gilded Age labor union that sought to organize all workers regardless of skill, race, or gender into one union. It grew quickly, then lost support after the Haymarket Riot

Haymarket Riot

Strikers apart of the Knights of Labor began protesting at Haymarket Square in Chicago. When police show, an anarchist throws a bomb at the crowd, killing 7 police and 4 civilians when shots were fired

American Federation of Labor

a national alliance of craft unions for skilled workers that became the dominant U.S. labor organization, who focused on "bread and butter" issues—higher wages, shorter hours, and safer working conditions—through collective bargaining and strikes.

Homestead Strike (1892)

A violent labor dispute between the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers and the Carnegie Steel Company at the Homestead Steel Works after their wages were reduced by 20%. Led to a massive drop in support of the steel workers unions

Pullman Strike (1894)

A widespread railroad boycott led by Eugene V. Debs and the American Railway Union against the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago. Triggered by wage cuts without rent reductions in the company town during the 1893 depression, it halted national rail traffic until federal troops broke the strike

What were the “new immigrants” of the 1890s-1914s like?

Southern and Eastern Europeans; Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish; Less educated, low skill workers; more likely to settle in cities with the intention of returning home

The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

As large groups of Chinese immigrants came to the US following the California Gold rush, this act stopped most Chinese laborers from entering the US.

Tenements

multistory apartment buildings designed to house as many people as possible

Political Machines

corrupt urban political organizations—such as Tammany Hall in NYC—that controlled local governments, votes, and city services. These machines used patronage, bribery, and voter manipulation to maintain power, often providing essential services to immigrants in exchange for loyal votes.

Jane Adams

a leading Progressive and one of the major activists in the Settlement House movement, founding the most successful settlement home, Chicago's Hull House in 1889. As part of her fight for the poor, she also campaigned for worker's compensation, housing laws, and ending child labor.

Settlement House Movement

Taught basic literacy skills, helped immigrants find jobs and housing, and provided some day care assitance

What did growing industrialization lead to?

an increase in the size of the middle class

Andrew Carnegie’s Gospel of Wealth

argued that people should be allowed to make as much money as possible, but also had a responsibility to spend that money is a way that benefited society. Controversial for its social darwinist take, as well as the fact he cut wages from his workers whilst advocating for philanthropy.

How did education grow during the late 1800’s to early 1900’s?

School become compulsory, focusing on basic reading, writing, and arithmetic. Access and enrollment in high schools expanded, with the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890 providing the creation of “land-grant” state run universities. Access to higher education increased for women, along with the expansion of HBCU’s

Social Gospel Movement

argued that religious focus on the teachings of Jesus would inevitably lead to social activism, such as fighting poverty and improving housing, wages, and supporting public health

National Americans Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)

Founded by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, NAWSA fought for women’s suffrage; full enfranchisement, however, would not be earned by women until 1920 with the 19th amendment

Interstate Commerce Act

Eventually establishing the Interstate Commerce Commission, this act was designed to regulate the monopolistic railroad industry by curtailing unfair business practices. This, however, was largely ineffective

The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890

the first federal law designed to outlaw monopolistic business practices, trusts, and conspiracies that restrained interstate trade or commerce. This law was also ineffective

The Pendleton Act of 1881

Established the Civil Service Commision and set up competitive examinations to prove ability before someone could be considered for a government position. This weakened the political parties, but increased political reliance on financial support from wealthy donors

The Populist Party

Formed by Farmers’ Alliances; called for direct popular election of U.S. senators, use of initiatives and referendums, unlimited coinage of silver, graduated income tax, government ownership of railroads, telegraph lines, and the telephone systems, loans and federal warehouses for farmers (to stabilize crop prices), and 8-hour workday for industrial workers.

Bimetalism

the use of two metals, gold and silver, jointly as a monetary standard with both constituting legal tender at predetermined ratio

“Cross of Gold” speech

Delivered by William Jennings Bryan at the 1896 Democratic National Convention, the "Cross of Gold" speech argued against the gold standard, advocating for bimetallism ("free silver") to help struggling farmers and laborers. The speech, featuring the line "You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold," won him the Democratic presidential nomination.