Industrialization
Where did construction of the Transcontinental Railroad begin, and which companies were involved? each one is worth 100 points!
Omaha, Nebraska (Union Pacific) and Sacramento, California (Central Pacific)
What term describes when one company has complete control of an industry?
Monopoly
What was the first national labor organization in the U.S., and what types of workers could join?
Knights of Labor; both skilled and unskilled workers
Where did most immigrants arrive when coming to the East Coast?
What does the term “Gilded Age” mean?
Era of wealth and corruption beneath the surface of prosperity
What was one major effect of the Transcontinental Railroad on the United States?
Connected national markets and increased settlement in the West
Which industry did John D. Rockefeller dominate, and how did he gain control?
Oil; horizontal monopoly through controlling all refineries and predatory pricing
What union was led by Samuel Gompers and focused on skilled workers?
American Federation of Labor (AFL)
Who gifted us the Statue of Liberty?
France
What is Laissez-Faire economics, and how did it affect business during the Gilded Age?
Government “hands-off” approach; businesses operated without regulation, taxes, or labor laws
How did Cyrus McCormick’s mechanical reaper change agriculture?
It allowed farmers to harvest grain faster and more efficiently, reducing the number of workers needed
Which industry did Andrew Carnegie dominate, and what type of monopoly did he create?
Steel; vertical monopoly owning all steps of production
Who led the Pullman Strike of 1894, and why was it significant?
Eugene V. Debs; it involved nationwide rail boycotts and federal intervention
What 1882 law banned Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S.?
Chinese Exclusion Act
Define Social Darwinism and explain its effect on society and business
Applying “survival of the fittest” to humans; justified poverty and inequality, and discouraged government intervention
Who invented the light bulb, transforming factories and homes?
Thomas Edison
Describe Andrew Carnegie’s philanthropy
Donated millions to libraries, hospitals, schools, and other institutions
Describe the Homestead Strike and its outcome.
Strike at Carnegie Steel; Pinkertons and National Guard were involved, union gave in after months of conflict
What were some negative effects of urbanization during the Industrial Revolution?
Overcrowded housing, poor sanitation, crime, disease, political corruption
Define nativism and explain how it affected immigration policy.
Favoring native-born citizens over immigrants; led to restrictive laws like quotas and the Chinese Exclusion Act
How did Henry Ford revolutionize manufacturing, and what impact did it have on workers and consumers?
Assembly line; faster production, lower prices, higher wages, shorter hours
What role did J.P. Morgan play in U.S. industry and finance?
Banker; consolidated struggling companies, bought controlling shares, bailed out the government during the Panic of 1907
List the main goals of labor unions during the Industrial Revolution.
Shorter hours, better wages, safer working conditions, end child labor, collective bargaining rights
What were some positive effects of urbanization during the Industrial Revolution?
Public transportation, skyscrapers, parks, theaters, museums, newspapers
What was the purpose of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890?
To limit monopolies and regulate businesses “in restraint of trade”