Key Economic Terms
This economic philosophy advocates minimal government intervention in business, allowing for free-market competition.
Laissez-faire Capitalism
This form of protest was used by labor unions, where workers refused to work until their demands were met.
Strike
This term refers to business leaders who were praised for their positive impact on the economy and their philanthropic contributions.
Captains of Industry
Many immigrants lived in these overcrowded, often unsafe apartment buildings in urban areas.
Tenements
The rapid growth of cities due to industrialization and an influx of people from rural areas and other countries.
Urbanization
A market structure where one company controls an entire industry, reducing competition and often leading to higher prices.
Monopolies
This term describes the use of underage workers, often in dangerous factories with long hours and low pay.
Child Labor
Located in New York Harbor, this symbol of freedom and hope welcomed immigrants to America’s shores.
Statue of Liberty
These workplaces, characterized by long hours and poor conditions, were common for immigrants needing jobs.
sweatshops
Systems like streetcars, subways, and elevated trains allowed people to travel quickly across expanding cities.
Mass transit
This practice, embraced by industrialists like Carnegie, involved donating large sums of money to improve society.
Philanthropy
Goals of Unions
Unions aimed to secure fair wages, shorter hours, and safer working environments for laborers.
This term describes business leaders who were criticized for their ruthless tactics in eliminating competition and amassing wealth.
Robber Barrons
This group opposed immigration, fearing it threatened American jobs and culture.
Nativist
These tall buildings became possible with advancements in steel production, transforming city skylines.
Skyscrapers
This steelmaking process allowed for mass production of steel by removing impurities quickly and efficiently.
Bessemer Process
This is an organized group of workers who unite to improve working conditions, wages, and benefits.
Labor Union
Fill in the blank:_____ factors like poverty and persecution drove people to emigrate, while _____ factors like job opportunities drew them to the U.S.
push / pull
These immigration limits, set by the U.S. government, restricted the number of people allowed to enter from certain countries.
Quotas
What are some examples of public health challenges during the Second Industrial Revolution?
Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate sewage systems in cities led to the spread of diseases.
Passed in 1890, this law aimed to curb the power of monopolies and prevent anti-competitive business practices.
Sherman Antitrust Act
This 1886 protest for workers' rights turned violent, leading to backlash against unions and labor reform movements.
Haymarket Riot
This powerful banker and financier helped consolidate companies and stabilized U.S. business through investments and loans.
JP Morgan
this 1882 law banned Chinese laborers from entering the U.S., marking the first major immigration restriction based on nationality.
Chinese Exclusion Act
The growth of cities brought about shared leisure activities, such as theater, sports, and department stores, shaping a collective urban culture.
New Mass Culture