Comprehensive Study Notes on U.S. Industrialization and Society from 1865 to 1914

PART 6: BECOMING AN INDUSTRIAL WORLD POWER: COSTS, BENEFITS, AND RESPONSES, 1865–1900

Overview of Period 6: 1865–1900

  • Transformation from predominantly agricultural society to industrialized and urbanized nation.
  • Major changes in economic, political, diplomatic, social, environmental, and cultural arenas.

Key Concepts

  • Key Concept 6.1: Rise of big business led to massive migrations and urbanization.
  • Key Concept 6.2: Emergence of industrial culture created opportunities and restrictions for immigrants, minorities, and women.
  • Key Concept 6.3: The Gilded Age featured new cultural movements and political debates regarding economics and social policies.

CHAPTER 16: CONFLICT IN THE WEST, 1865-1900

Objective

  • Understand post-Civil War changes in the American West.

Chapter Summary

  • After the Civil War, migration to the West increased, driven by the desire for new opportunities.
  • Relationships with Native Americans became central as they faced encroachment from Eastern migrants.
Comanche Nation
  • The Comanches were one of the most powerful Plains Indian nations pre-Civil War, thriving on buffalo hunting and trade.
  • Used the Civil War to redirect attention from their conflicts, forming alliances.
  • In the mid-1800s, they began to decline due to U.S. government pressure and conflict with Texas Rangers.
  • Developed new trading relationships with New Mexicans, known as Comancheros, causing tension with the U.S. government.
Medicine Lodge Creek Treaty of 1867
  • Established a Comanche reservation and hunting rights in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma).
  • Divergent expectations ensued: U.S. government vs. Comanche lifestyle.
  • U.S. expected agricultural adaptation while Comanches aimed to maintain semi-nomadic ways.
Key Figures
  • Quanah Parker emerged as a leader opposing U.S. compromise, advocating resistance.
  • Spiritual leader Isa-Tai encouraged the rejection of white cultural influences in favor of traditional practices.
  • Conflict with U.S. forces led to the destruction of the Comanche camp, resulting in severe hardships for the Comanches.
Transition to Ranching and Farming
  • Parker led the Comanche transition from warfare to ranching, engaging with modern American life while retaining cultural elements.
The Navajo Nation
  • The Dine (Navajo) were also significantly affected, facing U.S. Army offensives post-Civil War.
  • The Bosque Redondo reservation proved a failure due to high tensions and poor land quality.
  • An agreement in 1868 allowed Navajos to return to their homeland, leading to a tripling of their population by 1900.
California Indian Groups
  • Population substantially reduced due to white settlement, starvation, and conflicts over gold.
  • Modoc leader Kintpuash attempted to resist relocation but ultimately faced military defeat.
Nez Perce Dilemma
  • Conflict within the Nez Perce tribe illustrated divisions between progressives and traditionalists.
  • Chief Joseph led a tragic retreat towards Canada but was intercepted by U.S. forces.
  • His surrender speech, “I am tired of fighting… I will fight no more forever,” became historic.
Sioux Nation
  • The Sioux resisted U.S. encroachment vigorously, signing the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868.
  • Major conflicts persisted, particularly after the discovery of gold in the Black Hills, leading to the legendary Battle of Little Bighorn (1876) where Custer's forces were defeated.
The Ghost Dance Movement
  • The movement aimed to reject white culture, resulting in the Wounded Knee Massacre (1890), marking the end of armed Indian resistance.
Westward Expansion and Economic Policies
  • The Homestead Act (1862) encouraged white settlement, while railroads played a crucial role in linking the nation and enhancing economic activity.
  • The emergence of “Buffalo Soldiers” and changes in federal policy towards Indian nations stemmed from increased military focus post-Civil War.
Assimilation vs. Cultural Identity
  • Ulysses S. Grant’s Indian Peace Policy sought to treat Indians with dignity while managing white settlement, resulting in mixed outcomes.
  • The Dawes Act (1887) aimed to assimilate Native Americans by allotting land to families, undermining tribal identity.
New Settlers
  • The western migration included diverse groups like Germans, Scandinavians, and African Americans seeking better opportunities.
  • Agricultural techniques improved, allowing cultivation in previously unsuitable lands leading to significant growth in farming.
Mining and Economic Shifts
  • Mining towns sprang up due to numerous silver and gold discoveries, leading to often violent social climates influenced by ethnic tensions.
  • Larger corporations began to dominate the mining industry, affecting labor dynamics.

CHAPTER 17: THE GILDED AGE: TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGHS AND SOCIAL CHANGE, 1876–1913

Objective

  • Understand the rise of big business and its impacts on American society.

Chapter Summary

  • The late 19th century was marked by rapid technological innovations that transformed daily life, work, and leisure.
Second Industrial Revolution
  • Characterized by significant inventions, including the telephone (Bell) and electric light bulb (Edison).
  • Innovations also encompassed transportation (railroads) leading to changes in travel time and experiences.
Business Structures and Economy
  • The shift from family-run businesses to large corporations requiring new business structures to handle expansive growth and cut costs effectively.
  • The consolidation of industries exemplified by figures like Vanderbilt (railroads) and Rockefeller (oil), who established monopolistic practices.
Panics and Economic Crises
  • Economic fluctuations, marked by periods of boom and bust, linked directly to railroads, banking, and business practices.
  • The Panic of 1873 exemplified the interconnected risks of financial markets and industries.
Major Business Figures
  • Cornelius Vanderbilt: Transitioned from steamboats to railroads, creating vast wealth through corporate management.
  • John D. Rockefeller: Leveraged oil refining to monopolize the oil industry through strategic partnerships and competitive pricing.
  • Andrew Carnegie: Applied the Bessemer process to dominate steel manufacturing, emphasizing cost-cutting measures.
Social Impacts and Class Divide
  • The rise of a distinct middle class navigating between poverty and wealth.
  • Increased leisure time influenced consumer culture with department stores and public spaces becoming prevalent.
Political Landscape
  • The political parties reflected middle-class aspirations, navigating the complexities of industrialization and social reform.

CHAPTER 18: RESPONSE TO INDUSTRIALISM, RESPONSES TO CHANGE, 1877–1914

Objective

  • Examine transformations leading to the growth of the U.S. as an industrial power and resultant societal changes.

Chapter Summary

  • The Gilded Age brought severe social tensions, marked by racial discrimination and the struggle for workers’ rights.
New South
  • Henry Grady's vision portrayed a “New South” thriving with industry and railroads but obscured racial inequalities.
  • Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): Established “separate but equal,” normalizing racial segregation.
Political Unrest Among Black Americans
  • African Americans responded violently to oppression; leaders such as Ida B. Wells mobilized against lynching.
  • Movements championed by figures like Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B. Du Bois regarding the path forward for Black Americans.
Farmer Discontent and Alliances
  • Economic hardships resulted in the rise of Farmers’ Alliances and the formation of the Populist Party advocating for farmer and labor rights.
Labor Movements
  • The Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor sought to improve conditions amid rising industrial tensions.
  • Major strikes highlighted the labor struggle against corporate power during this period, which included events like the Haymarket Affair and the Pullman Strike.
Economic Discontent
  • Increased economic disparities prompted workers to organize and strike for better conditions, reflecting a growing class consciousness.