Immigration
Old Immigrants looked closer to Americans so they were able to easily blend in. The New Immigrants however were viewed differently and with suspision
Compare between the "Standard of living" and "Quality of Life" back then.
Standard of living got better because of more production while the quality of life was terrible with over crowding and a lack of sanitation.
Evaluate the economic impact of the Transcontinental Railroad on the concept of a "National Market."
It physically linked the East and West, allowing raw materials to move to factories and finished goods to reach distant markets rapidly.
Analyze the "Robber Baron" vs. "Captain of Industry" debate regarding figures like Rockefeller and Carnegie.
"Robber Barons" implies they gained wealth through exploitative practices, crushing competition, and low wages. "Captains of Industry" suggests they benefited society by increasing productivity, providing jobs, and engaging in philanthropy (e.g., libraries, universities).
How did "Muckrakers" like Upton Sinclair and Ida Tarbell differ from previous journalists?
They did not just report news; they engaged in investigative journalism to expose the "garbage" of society. Sinclair (The Jungle) exposed the filth of the meatpacking industry, and Tarbell (History of Standard Oil) exposed the corrupt business practices of monopolies.
How did the concept of the "Melting Pot" conflict with the reality of the "Ghetto" and ethnic enclaves?
The "Melting Pot" ideal suggested a blending of cultures into a distinct American identity. In reality, exclusion and the comfort of shared language led to "Ghettos" or ethnic enclaves where immigrants maintained their distinct cultural identities rather than fully "melting" immediately.
How did Frederick W. Taylor’s "Scientific Management" change the daily life of workers
It increased efficiency and production but dehumanized people as if they were just part of a machine.
How did the proliferation of the electric light bulb and improved transportation contribute to the "Growth of Leisure Time"?
Safe streetcars and electric lighting allowed city life to extend into the night.
How did the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 differ in application from the Clayton Antitrust Act (1914)?
The Sherman Act was vague and often used against unions (claiming strikes restricted trade). The Clayton Act was more specific, outlawing price discrimination and interlocking directorates, and explicitly stated that labor unions were not trusts, exempting them from antitrust prosecution.
Assess the function of the "Political Machine" (e.g., Tammany Hall) in the absence of a strong municipal welfare system.
Political machines filled a vacuum. In exchange for votes, "Bosses" like Tweed provided essential services to the poor (coal, jobs, legal help) that the "garbage" local government failed to provide. It was a system of transactional welfare built on graft and corruption.
How did the dominance of the WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) demographic influence the Temperance Movement?
The Temperance Movement was largely driven by WASP values that viewed alcohol consumption—often associated with Irish, German, and Italian immigrant cultures—as a moral vice and a source of societal corruption, making Prohibition partly a cultural attack on immigrant habits.
How did the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1911) serve as a turning point for labor legislation?
It moved the government from a laissez-faire stance to active regulation.
Discuss the relationship between "Interchangeable Parts," the "Assembly Line," and consumerism.
Interchangeable parts allowed for the Assembly Line (perfected by Ford). This drastically reduced production time and costs, lowering the price of goods (like the automobile). Lower prices made goods accessible to more people, fueling a consumer culture.
Explain the philosophy of the "Gospel of Wealth" and its connection to Philanthropy.
Andrew Carnegie argued that the wealthy had a moral obligation to act as trustees of their money. Rather than hoarding it or giving it directly to the poor (which he thought wasteful), they should fund public institutions (libraries, schools) to help people help themselves.
How did Jacob Riis’s "How the Other Half Lives" utilize new technology to expose urban "garbage"?
Jacob Riis used flash photography to capture the squalor of tenement life. This visual evidence made it impossible for the middle and upper classes to ignore the unsanitary and inhumane conditions of the urban poor, spurring housing reform.
Analyze the motivations behind the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) and the Gentleman’s Agreement (1907).
Both were driven by economic fear (labor competition) and racial prejudice (Nativism) in the West.
Evaluate the role of the Child Labor Act in the context of the Supreme Court's "Pro-business" stance.
The Act attempted to ban goods produced by child labor from interstate commerce.
How did Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst utilize technology to influence public opinion?
Advances in printing technology allowed for the mass production of cheap newspapers. They used "Yellow Journalism" (sensationalism) to compete for readership, effectively shaping public sentiment regarding wars (Spanish-American War) and politics.
Distinguish between Theodore Roosevelt’s view of "Good Trusts" vs. "Bad Trusts."
Theodore Roosevelt believed not all monopolies were evil. "Good Trusts" were efficient and lowered prices for consumers and should be regulated but preserved. "Bad Trusts" exploited consumers and crushed competition, and thus should be "busted" (dissolved).
Connect the publication of The Jungle to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act.
Sinclair intended to promote Socialism by showing worker exploitation, but the public reacted to the graphic descriptions of "garbage" (rats, poison, filth) in the meat. The public outcry forced the government to abandon laissez-faire attitudes toward food safety and pass federal inspection laws.
What role did Jane Addams and Settlement Houses play in the "Americanization" of immigrants?
Settlement Houses (like Hull House) provided social services, English classes, and childcare. They facilitated assimilation not through force, but by providing the tools necessary for immigrants to navigate American society, embodying the Social Gospel movement.
Analyze the effectiveness of the Solid South and labor unions in addressing the needs of African American workers during this era.
They were largely ineffective. The Solid South enforced segregation and disenfranchisement and most labor unions excluded African Americans.
In what ways did the "Bessemer Process" (implied via Steel/Carnegie) and vertical integration reshape the American landscape?
The ability to mass-produce cheap, strong steel allowed for the construction of skyscrapers (Urbanization) and stronger bridges/rail lines. This vertical growth defined the modern American city and allowed for higher urban density.
How did the Panic of 1893 and Panic of 1907 influence the demand for banking reform and the eventual Federal Reserve Act?
These financial crises exposed the instability of the unregulated banking system and the reliance on private bankers (like J.P. Morgan) to bail out the government. This led to the Federal Reserve Act (1913), creating a central banking system to manage currency and interest rates to prevent such crashes.
Evaluate the "Social Gospel" movement as a response to the moral and physical "garbage" of the Gilded Age cities.
Protestant ministers argued that salvation was linked to social reform. They believed they had a religious duty to clean up the slums, fight child labor, and address poverty, shifting the focus from purely personal salvation to systemic societal redemption.