APUSH - Unit 6 (May)

Causes for United States' Industrialization

Causes for United States' Industrialization

A combination of technological advances (railroads, telegraphs), access to natural resources/land, and an increase in immigration during the late 19th century.

Transcontinental Railroad

Completed in 1869, it linked the eastern railroad system with California's railroad system, revolutionizing transportation in the west. Funded heavily through a government-sponsored competition.

Captains of Industry vs. Robber Barons

Opposing viewpoints that industrial leaders were either beneficial for the economy or wielded power without any accountability in an unregulated market.

John D. Rockefeller and Standard Oil

1870 Formed Standard Oil Company of Ohio & soon acquired 20 of 25 refineries in Cleveland (started expanding horizontally and vertically). By 1880s, he established dominance within petroleum industry that he was the leading symbol of monopoly to nation. Was also known for his philanthropy, donating $500 million dollars in his lifetime to charitable causes.

Horizontal and Vertical Integration

"Horizontal integration" combined a number of firms engaged in the same enterprise into a single corporation, such as the consolidation of many different railroad lines into one company; "vertical integration," a company took over all the different businesses on which it relied for its primary function, for example, Carnegie Steel, which came to control not only steel mills but mines, rail- roads, and other enterprises

Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie Steel, and the Gospel of Wealth

Carnegie was an American Steel (Carnegie Steel) millionaire and philanthropist who donated large sums of money for public works. His book "The Gospel of Wealth" argued that the wealthy have an obligation to give something back to society and act as its "caretaker."

Laissez-faire

Idea that government should play as small a role as possible in economic affairs. (Literally "let [them] do [what they want]."

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)

First federal action against monopolies, it was signed into law by President Harrison and was initially misused against labor unions and. Was not considered a real attempt to curb the power of big business in its time.

Middle Class

A social class made up of skilled workers, professionals, business people, and wealthy farmers. Evolved during the late 19th century in the United States and developed its own tastes/preferences.

Working Class

A social class broadly composed of people working in blue-collar, or manual, occupations. Begins to form a "consciousness" of its own concerns/tastes/preferences during the 19th century. Endured awful working conditions - long hours, unsafe workplaces. Many young children were forced to work in factories and mines.

Great Railroad Strike of 1877

July, 1877 - A large number of railroad workers went on strike because of wage cuts. After a month of strikes, President Hayes sent troops to stop the rioting. The worst railroad violence was in Pittsburgh, with over 40 people killed by militia men.

National Labor Union

Founded by William Sylvis (1866); supported 8-hour workday, banking reform, immigration restrictions to increase wages; excluded Black Americans. Considered the first "general" union of the United States.

Knights of Labor

Led by Terence V. Powderly; open-membership policy extending to unskilled, semiskilled, women, African-Americans, immigrants (general union); goal was to create a cooperative society between in which labors owned the industries in which they worked. Membership falls after association with Haymarket Affair.

Haymarket Affair (Riot) 1886

After a bomb went off during a workers' rally, police fired weapons as a response killing civilians and police. Labor organizations were blamed and associated w/ socialism and anarchy. As a result there was less unionization as well as strong anti-immigrant sentiment.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

1886

Combination of national craft unions representing labor interests in wages, hours, and safety. Individuals were members of their local unions, which in turn, were members of the AFL. Rather than revolutionary changes, they sought a better working life; their philosophy was "pure and simple unionism." First president was Samuel Gompers

Combination of national craft unions representing labor interests in wages, hours, and safety. Individuals were members of their local unions, which in turn, were members of the AFL. Rather than revolutionary changes, they sought a better working life; their philosophy was "pure and simple unionism." First president was Samuel Gompers

Homestead Strike (1892)

On June 29, 1892, workers belonging to the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers struck the Carnegie Steel Company at Homestead, Pa. to protest a proposed wage cut. Henry C. Frick, the company's general manager, determined to break the union. He hired 300 Pinkerton detectives to protect the plant and strikebreakers. After an armed battle between the workers and the detectives, several men were killed or wounded, the governor called out the state militia. The Homestead strike led to a serious weakening of unionism in the steel industry until the 1930s.

Pullman Strike (1894)

A staged walkout strike by railroad workers upset by drastic wage cuts. The strike was led by socialist Eugene Debs but not supported by the American Federation of Labor. Eventually President Grover Cleveland intervened because it was interfering with mail delivery and federal troops forced an end to the strike. The strike highlighted both divisions within labor and the government's continuing willingness to use armed force to combat work stoppages.

IWW (Industrial Workers of the World)

A labor organization for unskilled workers, formed by a group of radical unionists and socialists in 1905. Sometimes called "Wobblies."

Urbanization

An increase in the percentage and in the number of people living in urban settlements. Many "new" immigrants were part of this process, settling in large cities and enduring the unregulated living conditions within - Jacob Riis "How the Other Half Lives."

Tenements

Poorly built, overcrowded housing where many immigrants lived.

New Immigrants

Immigrants who came to the United States during and after the 1880s; most were from southern and eastern Europe, though there were many Chinese as well. Experienced discrimination because of their religious and cultural differences.

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

A law that suspended Chinese immigration into America. The first significant law that restricted immigration into the United States of an ethnic working group. Extreme example of nativism of period.

Social Darwinism

The belief that only the fittest survive in human political and economic struggle.

Reform Darwinism

A social philosophy that challenged the ruthlessness of Social Darwinism by asserting that humans could actively shape the process of evolutionary social development through cooperation and innovation.

Political Machines/Bosses

Corrupt organized groups that controlled political parties in the cities. A boss leads the machine and attempts to grab more votes for his party. Most common in the large cities of the time.

William "Boss" Tweed and Tammany Hall

An American politician most notable for being the "boss" of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in the politics of 19th century New York City and State.

Jane Addams and Hull House

Social reformer who worked to improve the lives of the working class. In 1889 she founded Hull House in Chicago, the first private social welfare agency in the U.S., to assist the poor, combat juvenile delinquency and help immigrants learn to speak English.

Interstate Commerce Act (ICC)

1887

Established the Interstate Commerce Commission in part to monitor discrimination within railroad industry. Prohibited rebates and pools and required railroads to publish their rates. Also prohibited unfair discrimination against shippers and outlawed the practice of charging more for short hauls than long hauls. In general, the Act opened competition, the goal of which was to preserve equality and spur innovation

Established the Interstate Commerce Commission in part to monitor discrimination within railroad industry. Prohibited rebates and pools and required railroads to publish their rates. Also prohibited unfair discrimination against shippers and outlawed the practice of charging more for short hauls than long hauls. In general, the Act opened competition, the goal of which was to preserve equality and spur innovation

Munn v. Illinois (1877)

Established that states may regulate privately owned businesses in the public's interest.

Wabash v. Illinois (1886)

Supreme court ruling that states could not regulate interstate commerce.

Farmers' Alliance

A Farmers' organization founded in late 1870s; worked for lower railroad freight rates, lower interest rates, and a change in the governments tight money policy ("free silver").

Populist Party (People's Party)

U.S. political party formed in 1892 representing mainly farmers and workers, favoring free coinage of silver and government control of railroads and other monopolies. Wins 8% of the vote in the 1892 election.

Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act (1883)

Passed in 1883, an Act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage. Also banned firing based on political reasoning.

Panic of 1893 Causes

Companies and individuals had borrowed too much, companies went bankrupt-many lost their jobs. Initial cause was the folding of two major railroads.

William Jennings Bryan

Democratic candidate for president in 1896 under the banner of "free silver coinage" which won him support of the Populist Party.