APUSH Chapter 17 Study Guide

Vocabulary Definitions

• Big Business, Industrial Capitalism: An economic system characterized by large-scale operations and corporate management in industrial production, often aimed at maximizing profit.

• Corporate Agriculture: The practice of large-scale farming managed by corporations for the purpose of efficiency and profit, often involving monoculture and intensive farming methods.

• Economies of Scale: The cost advantages that corporations obtain due to the scale of their operations, resulting in lower per-unit costs as production increases.

• Thomas Edison, Menlo Park: An American inventor known for his development of the electric light bulb and establishment of an industrial research laboratory at Menlo Park.

• Electricity: A form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles, widely used for power and illumination since the late 19th century.

• Railroads: Form of transportation using trains on tracks, revolutionizing transport of goods and people, crucial for industrial growth in the 19th century.

• Transcontinental Railroads: Rail networks that connected the eastern and western United States, dramatically reducing travel time and boosting commerce and migration.

• Corporations: Legal entities that are separate from their owners, providing limited liability, allowing for easier capital accumulation and management.

• Ownership, Management, Capital: Key components of corporations; ownership refers to shareholders, management involves directing operations, and capital is the financial resources employed.

• Competition, "Pools": Competition refers to the rivalry between businesses; pools were informal agreements between companies to fix prices to reduce competition.

• "Robber Barons": A derogatory term for unscrupulous business magnates who were accused of exploiting workers and resources for personal gain during the Gilded Age.

• John D. Rockefeller, Standard Oil: An American business magnate who founded Standard Oil and became known for his monopolistic practices in the oil industry.

• Horizontal and Vertical Integration: Horizontal integration involves acquiring competitors to dominate a market; vertical integration encompasses acquiring supply chains to control production from raw materials to customer delivery.

• Monopoly: Market structure where a single seller dominates the entire market for a good or service, eliminating competition.

• Trusts, Holding Companies: Trusts are arrangements where multiple companies come together to limit competition; holding companies are firms that own the majority of shares in other companies to control them.

• Andrew Carnegie: A leading industrialist known for his role in the steel industry, advocating for philanthropy through his concept of the "Gospel of Wealth."

• Bessemer Converter: An industrial process for the mass production of steel, revolutionizing the steel manufacturing industry in the 19th century.

• J.P. Morgan: An influential banker and financier who played a key role in the consolidation of industries, especially railroads and steel.

• Sears and Roebuck: A mail order company that revolutionized shopping by making a wide variety of goods accessible to rural customers in the U.S.

• Gospel of Wealth: An essay by Andrew Carnegie that argued that the wealthy have a moral obligation to distribute their surplus wealth for the benefit of society.

• Laissez-Faire: An economic philosophy advocating for minimal government intervention in business affairs, promoting free market conditions.

• The "Gilded Age": A term describing the late 19th century in America, characterized by economic growth, industrialization, and social issues concealed under a facade of prosperity.

• Middle Class: A social class during the Gilded Age that emerged with rising incomes and new job opportunities from industrialization.

• Jane Addams: A social reformer and activist who co-founded Hull House in Chicago, pioneering efforts in social work and improving conditions for the poor.

• Child Labor: The practice of employing children in industrial work, often under harsh and unsafe conditions during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

• Unions: Organizations formed by workers to protect their rights and interests, often advocating for better wages and working conditions.

• Pinkerton Detective Agency: A private detective agency known for its role in labor disputes, often hired by businesses to suppress strikes and organize security.

• Great Railroad Strike of 1877: A major railroad strike that turned violent, marking the first nationwide strike in the U.S., protesting wage cuts and tough working conditions.

• National Labor Union: The first significant national labor organization formed in 1866 to advocate for workers' rights and coordinate labor actions.

• Knights of Labor: A labor organization founded in 1869 that sought to unite all workers and advocated for social reforms and workers' rights.

• Mother Jones: A prominent labor activist and organizer known for her efforts in promoting workers’ rights and organizing strikes, particularly in the mining industry.

• Anarchism: A political philosophy advocating for a society without government, often associated with labor movements in the late 19th century.

• Haymarket Riot: A violent labor protest in 1886 in Chicago that led to significant backlash against labor movements and resulted in the execution of several activists.

• American Federation of Labor (AFL): A federation of labor unions formed in 1886 that focused on skilled workers and sought better wages and working conditions.

• Homestead and Pullman Strikes: Significant labor strikes that led to violent clashes between workers and authorities over wage cuts and poor working conditions in the late 1800s.

• Eugene V. Debs: Labor leader and socialist who co-founded the Industrial Workers of the World and was a prominent advocate for workers' rights and socialism in the U.S.

• Industrial Workers of the World: An international labor union formed in 1905, advocating for workers' rights and promoting industrial unionism across various trades.

1. Geographic factors included abundant natural resources and vast land; economic factors included the rise of Big Business and industrial capitalism driven by innovations; political factors involved government policies favoring business growth and an expansionist agenda.

2. Advances in production technology, like the Bessemer Converter, allowed for mass manufacturing; communication technologies, such as the telegraph, improved coordination; and transportation improvements, particularly the railroads, enabled efficient distribution of goods.

3. Entrepreneurs like John D. Rockefeller (Standard Oil) and Andrew Carnegie (steel) sought to maximize profits and market share. They used strategies like vertical and horizontal integration to dominate their industries. The consequences included the rise of monopolies and significant disparities in wealth.

4. The federal government supported economic development through policies that promoted industrial growth and infrastructure development. Big Business often influenced politics, with industrialists using their wealth to sway legislative and government decisions.

5. Social and economic class structures shifted, with a growing middle class benefiting from industrialization. The middle class became more prominent as new jobs emerged, reflecting rising incomes and new lifestyles.

6. Women began to enter the workforce in larger numbers, challenging traditional roles. They participated in social reform movements, advocating for rights and questioning societal expectations, leading to early feminist movements.

7. The labor movement arose in response to the harsh conditions of industrialization, often leading to significant conflicts over wages, working conditions, and labor rights. Major organizations, like the American Federation of Labor, differed in their approaches, with some favoring strikes while others pursued negotiations.