DBQ

1. Wabash v. Illinois (1886)

• Definition: A Supreme Court case that ruled states could not regulate interstate railroads, as that power belonged to the federal government.

• Significance: Weakened state-level Granger Laws that regulated railroad rates; led to the Interstate Commerce Act (1887).

2. St. Louis & Pacific Railroad Act

• Definition: Likely referring to the Pacific Railway Acts (1862-1864), which granted land and government subsidies to railroad companies like the Union Pacific and Central Pacific to build the Transcontinental Railroad.

• Significance: Encouraged westward expansion, but also led to conflicts with Native Americans and land speculation.

3. The Pullman Strike (1894)

• Definition: A nationwide railroad strike led by the American Railway Union (ARU) after the Pullman Company cut wages but didn’t lower rents in its company-owned town.

• Significance: President Grover Cleveland sent federal troops to break the strike, leading to violent clashes and over 30 deaths. Highlighted the government's support for big business over labor unions.

4. Railroad Rebates

• Definition: Secret discounts offered by railroads to large businesses (such as Rockefeller’s Standard Oil), while small farmers and businesses had to pay full price.

• Significance: Farmers and small shippers were forced to pay unfairly high rates, leading to widespread anger and demands for regulation.

5. Need for Soft Money

• Definition: Farmers and debtors supported an increase in the money supply through paper money (Greenbacks) and silver coinage, rather than just gold.

• Significance: This would cause inflation, making it easier for farmers to pay off debts. Led to the Free Silver Movement and William Jennings Bryan’s "Cross of Gold" speech (1896).

6. The Push Westward

• Definition: The movement of settlers into the western United States due to government policies (like the Homestead Act), the railroad expansion, and economic opportunities.

• Significance: Created opportunities for farmers, but also led to conflicts with Native Americans, over-farming, and the rise of corporate farming.

7. Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)

• Definition: An African American leader who promoted economic self-sufficiency and vocational education for Black Americans over immediate political rights.

• Significance: Advocated for gradual integration through economic progress rather than political activism, in contrast to W.E.B. Du Bois, who pushed for immediate civil rights.

8. Railroad Supreme Court Cases

• Definition: A series of Supreme Court cases that shaped railroad regulation and state vs. federal power.

• Key Cases:

  • Munn v. Illinois (1877): Ruled that states could regulate businesses with a public interest, including railroads.

  • Wabash v. Illinois (1886): Overturned Munn, ruling that states could not regulate interstate commerce (railroads), leading to the Interstate Commerce Act (1887).

  • Interstate Commerce Act (1887): Created the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to regulate railroads, though it was initially weak.

9. Increased Productivity of American Farms with New Tech

• Definition: The introduction of mechanized farming tools like the mechanical reaper, steel plow, and seed drill that increased agricultural output.

• Significance: Allowed for mass production of crops, but also lowered crop prices, making it harder for small farmers to compete.

10. Lawsuits of Farmers Against Eastern Bankers

• Definition: Farmers sued banks over unfair lending practices and high-interest rates that kept them in debt.

• Examples:

  • Granger Cases (1870s): Farmers challenged railroad and grain storage monopolies.

  • Populist Movement (1890s): Farmers fought against the gold standard and Wall Street's financial control.

• Significance: Led to political action, including the formation of the Populist Party and demands for banking reforms like the Federal Reserve Act (1913).