Industrial Revolution and Mass Production

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What was the primary factor that led to the significant increase in McCormick's reaper production from 1880 to 1889?

A decline in the cost of raw materials lowered production costs.

Government subsidies for agricultural equipment boosted sales.

The adoption of new marketing strategies increased demand for the reaper.

The introduction of new, interchangeable parts made production more efficient. (correct)

What is the main reason provided in the text for the United States becoming the world's leading manufacturing nation by 1900?

The adoption of mass production techniques. (correct)

The abundance of natural resources.

The availability of a large and skilled workforce.

Government regulations that favored domestic manufacturers.

What is the key advantage of mass production mentioned in the passage?

Lower production costs per unit as output increases. (correct)

Reduced dependence on skilled labor.

Increased product quality due to standardized parts.

Greater efficiency in labor utilization.

Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned as a factor that contributed to the growth of mass production in the United States?

Government subsidies for industrial development. (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the passage, what was the role of the “visible hand” in the industrial revolution?

To mediate between workers and owners, ensuring efficient production. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the passage's discussion of the corporation’s role in the industrial revolution?

To argue that corporations were essential for the growth and success of mass production. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How did the corporation's ability to limit shareholder liability affect industrialization?

It encouraged investment by reducing the risk for individual investors. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Based on information in the passage, what is a plausible reason for the significant difference in industrial production between 1860 and 1900?

A major shift in the focus of the American economy from agriculture to manufacturing. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary factor that led to the widespread railroad strikes of the post-Civil War era?

The increasing concentration of capital in the railroad industry. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the "Great Upheaval" strikes for the labor movement?

They demonstrated the need for organized labor and the potential for collective action. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase "powerlessness in the coming industrial order" refer to in the text?

The diminishing influence of workers in the face of corporate power. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How did the federal government respond to the strikes?

They sent troops to quell the strikes and suppress worker protests. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors contributed to the growth of industrialization in the post-Civil War era?

The development of new technologies and efficient transportation networks. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary impact of the strikes on businesses?

It convinced businesses of the need for stronger government support and intervention. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary motivation behind the workers' actions in the strikes?

They sought to improve their working conditions and ensure fair wages. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term "The Great Upheaval" refer to in the text?

A wave of strikes and labor protests that occurred in the United States in the 1870s. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary reason behind the "great merger movement" in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

To avoid cutthroat competition and stabilize profits. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between investors and corporations during the period discussed in the text?

Investors sought to control corporations while corporations sought to maximize profits. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary driving force behind the cutthroat competition that threatened early industrial profits?

The desire of corporations to expand their market share at all costs. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary economic principle illustrated by the concept of "economies of scale"?

As production increases, the cost per unit decreases. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main impact of the "great merger movement" described in the text?

A decrease in the number of companies operating in key industries. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did the rise of industrial capitalism impact wealth distribution in America?

It resulted in the accumulation of immense fortunes in the hands of a select few. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary challenge faced by corporations during the industrialization era?

Managing the challenges posed by intense competition in the marketplace. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary impact of the formation of United States Steel in 1901?

It created a dominant monopoly in the American steel industry. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason for the rise of a vast American labor movement in the last quarter of the nineteenth century?

All of the above. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of the high protective tariff policy on American industry during the Gilded Age?

It shielded American businesses from foreign competition, leading to economic growth. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a consequence of the mechanization and mass production that occurred in American industry during this time?

Industrial work became more stable and consistent, with less fluctuation due to economic cycles. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How did the ideas of Social Darwinism justify national policies during this era?

They provided a moral justification for government policies that favored businesses and minimized government interference in the economy. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction on the labor movement?

The Civil War and Reconstruction caused a temporary decline in labor activity, but the movement quickly rebounded after the end of Reconstruction. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary motivation for workers participating in strikes during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?

Workers demanded higher wages, shorter hours, and safer working conditions. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes the economic situation of the typical industrial laborer during this time period?

They faced extreme poverty, often living in squalor and struggling to meet basic needs. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following groups was least likely to support the ideas of Social Darwinism?

Laborers and working-class Americans. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main policy that the Republican candidate, William McKinley, campaigned on in his bids for presidency in 1896 and 1900?

A currency backed by the gold standard (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Gold Standard Act passed by Congress in early 1900?

It shifted the country from a silver standard to a gold standard. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What did Bryan symbolize in the election of 1896, according to the text?

A growing movement of populist, rural-based interests (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the most likely reason for Bryan's defeat in the 1896 presidential election?

The Republican campaign's superior financial resources (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the most likely reason for the high voter turnout in the 1896 Election?

The widespread public interest in the issue of silver coinage (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the effect of William McKinley's “sound money” initiative on the American economy?

It resulted in a period of relative economic prosperity for the country. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What did Bryan's famous “crown of thorns” and “cross of gold” metaphor convey about his political stance?

That the gold standard was a symbol of oppression and hardship for the common people (C) Signup and view all the answers

How is Bryan described in the text after his multiple defeats in presidential races?

A skilled orator who was unable to translate his popularity into electoral victory (C) Signup and view all the answers

What strategy did the Democratic Party use to attract Populist supporters?

They adopted a more moderate platform. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements BEST describes the Populist Party's legacy?

Despite its failure to achieve a political revolution, the Populist Party laid the groundwork for later progressive reforms. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a primary complaint of the Populist movement?

Expansion of the gold standard. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What role did the Socialist movement play in continuing the Populist tradition?

They united farmers and workers in their fight for economic justice. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What did Republicans perceive as the outcome of William Jennings Bryan's presidential campaign?

A dangerous hijacking of the Democratic Party by the Populist movement. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the political cartoon mentioned in the text, depicting Bryan swallowing a mule, symbolize?

The Republican perspective on the Populist influence on the Democratic Party. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why was the Populist Party's strategy of "fusion" with the Democratic Party considered a failure?

It fragmented the Populist movement and weakened the party. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the major impact of the Populist movement?

It fostered the conditions for the later emergence of the progressive movement. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The American Yawp: Capital and Labor

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 marked a new era of labor conflict in the US
The strike followed a financial bubble burst in 1873.
Rail lines slashed workers' wages, even while paying shareholders lucrative stock dividends.
Workers from Baltimore to St. Louis shut down railroad traffic.
Striking workers often destroyed property rather than allow militias and federal troops to reopen rail lines.
Many strikers were killed by state militias and federal troops during this period
The strike cost nearly $40 million in property damage.
The strike convinced laborers of the need for institutionalized unions and persuaded businesses of the need for even greater political influence.
The strike foreshadowed a half-century of labor conflict in the United States.
Industrialization caused labor unrest
Workers perceived a loss of power in the industrial order
Skills became less important in the mass-producing economy.
Workers struggled with long hours, dangerous working conditions, and unpredictable wages.
They had difficulty supporting families and organized to fight the power of capital.

Technological Innovations and Mass Production

Post-Civil War era saw revolutions in American industry
Technological innovations slashed production and distribution costs.
National credit agencies handled rapid capital movements.
Transportation and communication costs plummeted, leading to nationwide media and advertising.
Scientific management (Taylorism) increased efficiency via subdividing tasks.
Workers became interchangeable, and production significantly sped up.
Mass production techniques increased the scope and scale of manufacturing.
Advanced mass-production techniques, such as improvements to assembly lines, aided in the rapid creation of products like automobiles.

The Rise of Inequality (Gilded Age)

Industrial capitalism brought unprecedented productivity and efficiency.
A few amassed enormous wealth.
Massive social inequities and deep-seated corruption emerged.
The Gilded Age was a period of great wealth alongside great poverty, often labeled with these terms.
The wealthiest 10% of Americans owned a significant share (perhaps 90%) of the nation's wealth in 1900.
Inequality worsened by 1900.
1879 economist Henry George noted this significant wealth disparity in his bestseller "Progress and Poverty."

The Populist Movement

Farmers were struggling economically due to falling prices and rising debt.
Farmers blamed monopolies, bankers, and railroads for their situation.
The Populist Party emerged as a political movement to address farmers' concerns.
The Populists advocated for government regulation of railroads, banks, and monetary policies.
They emphasized the use of cooperatives to gain control of their economic destiny.

William Jennings Bryan and the Politics of Gold

William Jennings Bryan was a prominent speaker and figure in the Populist movement.
Bryan ran for president and made a strong case against the gold standard, calling for the coinage of silver.
The debate over the gold standard became a central political issue.

The Rise of American Socialism

American socialists critiqued the inequalities of the Gilded Age and sought to create a more equitable society.
The socialist movement advocated for uniting all peoples, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or religion
The movement advocated for the socialist takeover of the means of production by the people.

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Explore the key factors that led to the rise of mass production and the industrial revolution in the United States from 1860 to 1900. This quiz examines the significance of corporations, shareholder liability, and other influences during this transformative period in history.