New Inventions
What was a time when machines started doing the work people used to do by hand, changing how goods were made called.
Industrial Revolution
What were working conditions like in most factories?
Long hours, low pay, unsafe conditions
What is a labor union?
A group of workers who fight for better pay and working conditions
Who led the oil industry during the Industrial Era?
John D. Rockefeller
What does laissez-faire mean?
“Hands off” — the government should not interfere in business
Who/what company used the assembly line
Henry Ford/Ford
Why did factory owners hire children?
They could pay them less and fit them into small spaces
What is a strike?
When workers stop working to protest conditions
Who led the steel industry during the Industrial Era?
Andrew Carnegie
Why did business owners like laissez-faire
It allowed them to make money without government rules
A form of transportation that connected the East and West coasts of the U.S., making travel and trade easier.
Transcontinental Railroad
How many hours did many factory workers work each day?
12–14 hours
Name one early union.
Knights of Labor or American Federation of Labor (AFL)
Who led the Banking industry during the Industrial Era?
J.P. Morgan
What is an monopoly
When a business or business owner, owns all of a certain industry
What process made steel cheaper and stronger?
The Bessemer Process
What types of jobs did children often do in factories and mines during the Industrial Revolution?
They fixed machines, cleaned cotton, carried coal, and worked in tight spaces underground.
What did unions want from business owners?
Better pay, shorter hours, safer workplaces
Who led the railroad industry during the Industrial Era?
Cornelius Vanderbilt
What law tried to stop monopolies and trusts?
The Sherman Antitrust Act
How did new inventions help cities grow?
They made work faster, safer, and more efficient
How did child labor affect children’s lives outside of work
Most child workers couldn’t go to school and often got sick or injured from long hours, unsafe machines, and poor living conditions.
Why were labor unions important to American workers, and what lasting impact did they have on the workplace?
Labor unions helped workers earn fair pay, shorter hours, and safer conditions — and they set the stage for future worker rights laws and protections.
What’s the difference between a Robber Baron and a Captain of Industry?
Robber Barons were seen as greedy; Captains of Industry helped society
Why did the government eventually stop being “hands off”?
To protect workers, stop monopolies, and create fair competition