Unit 9

Characterized by: Political corruption led by “bosses” Need for reform Constant debates over tariffs Weak / nonexistent leadership

President Politics IndustrialismGarfield

Arthur

President Politics IndustrialismCleveland

Harrison

1804

1890s

May 10, 1869: Transcontinental railroad completed…

By 1890: Almost 200,000 miles of track Major companies developed:

Union Pacific; Credit Mobilier; Central Pacific Numerous government actions taken:

Millions of acres given in land grants and financial loans for development

Created the Interstate Commerce Commission

How did railroads impact the following?Steel…

How did railroads impact the following?Lumber

How did railroads impact the following?Raw materials and agricultural goods

Railroads impact on…Communication:

Travel:

Business:

Politics:

American living:

(1876) Bell’s telephone

(1879) Edison’s light bulb

(1903) Wright brother’s airplane

You decide?

Scottish immigrant; found Carnegie steel in 1889

Secret to Success:1.Always looked for new techniques to

improve products2.Hire the best employees3.Vertical integration:

buy out suppliers4.Horizontal consolidation:

buy out competition Sold the company to Morgan for 480 million

1870: Founded the Standard Oil Company 1890: Controlled 90% of the oil business

Offered lower prices to drive out competition Raised prices after competition quit

1911: Forced to break up the company because it was a monopoly

Worth 1.4 billion in 1937… 190 billion today

Carnegie , Rockefeller and Morgan all for either trusts or monopolies to control industries

Many believed in the Gospel of wealth Many became philanthropists

Carnegie over 350 million Rockefeller over 500 million

Many believed that the poor were just lazy and weren’t working hard enough

Many made millions at the expense of the poor

You decide?

1890: Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act

Any attempt to interfere with free trade by forming a trust would be illegal Made monopolies illegal

Difficult to enforce…trust was to vague

Poor working conditions…16 hour shifts & little pay

Treated like slaves Forced to sign yellow dog contracts Rebellious workers were put on black lists Dangerous machines that caused injury or

death Toxic materials caused many diseases Women & children were excellent

employees

1870s-1890s: Fewer than 1% of the workforce is a

union workerWages do not support standards of

living

 

The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American Historyhttp://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/module_pop_resource.php?module_id=342&resource_id=690

Screen clipping taken: 2/7/2011, 4:22 PM  

Remaining: $116 $34 $153

1886: Samuel Gompers helps to form the American

Federation of Labor (AFL)1894 Eugene V. Debs helps to create the American

Railway Union (ARU)1903 Teamsters formed as a craft union dedicated

to delivery drivers

What causes people to unionize?

 Labor Unions in the United States | Economic History Serviceshttp://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/friedman.unions.usScreen clipping taken: 2/7/2011, 4:15 PM  

Unions fight for better wages and working conditions

Employees look upon employers as the enemy

Use strikes to achieve goals Achieve:

a shorter work day Restrictions on child labor Minimum wage laws Better working conditions

 

The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History

http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/module_pop_resource.php?module_id=342&resource_id=689

Screen clipping taken: 2/7/2011, 4:32 PM

  

Were they successful?