Industrial Revolution Overview
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Questions and Answers

What was the most significant technological advancement that allowed for the mass production of steel during the Second Industrial Revolution?

  • Electric Arc Furnace
  • Bessemer Process (correct)
  • Open Hearth Method
  • Crucible Steel Process

How did the Bessemer Process impact the labor force composition?

  • Greater reliance on unskilled laborers (correct)
  • Rise in artisan production methods
  • Reduction in factory jobs overall
  • Increased demand for skilled craftsmen

What was one effect of Frederick Taylor's principles of scientific management?

  • Improved worker autonomy
  • Increased complexities in production
  • Enhanced safety regulations
  • Streamlined efficiency in factory processes (correct)

What was a common reaction from workers to the implementation of scientific management principles?

<p>They opposed the restructuring of work (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of management structure began to emerge in large enterprises during the transformation of American manufacturing?

<p>Bureaucratic systems with a chain of command (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the economic impact of the Second Industrial Revolution on American wages and wealth?

<p>Rates of wages and wealth rose rapidly (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary focus of managers utilizing scientific management methods?

<p>Eliminating unnecessary movements (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Frederick Taylor believe about factory processes?

<p>Every process could be streamlined (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary consequence of scientific management on the relationship between management and labor?

<p>It created friction between management and labor. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did corporations gain a competitive edge during the Gilded Age?

<p>Through the use of anti-competitive organizational structures. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is horizontal integration in the context of corporate strategies?

<p>When one business buys out all its competitors in the same industry. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a trust in business organization?

<p>To oversee and control operations of multiple companies under one board. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What initial approach did the federal government take toward business practices?

<p>A laissez-faire approach to regulation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 specifically address?

<p>Anticompetitive practices in the railroad industry. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a limitation of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890?

<p>It did not provide definitions for trusts. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Bessemer Process

A method for making steel more cheaply and in large quantities.

Second Industrial Revolution

Shift from craft work to mass production in US.

Mass Production

Producing goods in large quantities.

Scientific Management

Improving worker efficiency through careful study.

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Taylorism

Scientific management, focused on efficiency and increased productivity.

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Unskilled Labor

Workers in factories who perform repetitive tasks.

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Chain of Command

Clear hierarchy in a business or organization.

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Statistical Reporting

Using data to track business operations.

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Monopoly

One company controls the entire market for a product or service, allowing them to set prices.

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Horizontal Integration

A strategy where a company buys out or eliminates its competitors, gaining control of the entire market in an industry.

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Vertical Integration

When a company controls the entire production and distribution process, from raw materials to the final product.

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Trust

A group of corporations that formally merge their operations by pooling stock into a trust, a holding company.

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Interstate Commerce Act

A law aimed at regulating anti-competitive business practices, particularly in the railroad industry.

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Sherman Antitrust Act

A law intending to limit trusts (groups of companies forming a monopoly) but initially lacked clear definition.

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Study Notes

Second Industrial Revolution

  • Marked a shift from craft production to mass production in the US (1865-1900)
  • Wages, wealth, capital, and GDP rose dramatically, outpacing global growth.
  • Key figures like Edison, Bell, and Westinghouse contributed to advancements.
  • Henry Bessemer's steel process (1855) was crucial for mass production & industrial mechanization.

Bessemer Steel Process

  • Enabled the mass production of steel at lower costs.
  • Led to significant changes in the workforce—more unskilled laborers in factories working machines.

Changing Management Styles

  • Large enterprises adopted bureaucracies with clear hierarchies (starting with railroads).
  • Frederick Taylor's scientific management aimed to improve worker efficiency.

Scientific Management

  • Analyzed worker tasks to optimize their motions and productivity.
  • Used stopwatches to measure efficiency, standardizing tasks.
  • Provided tools and training to employees for maximum productivity.
  • Compensation was tied to output, not time worked.
  • Increased supervisor-to-worker ratio, leading to dehumanized labor.
  • Caused tension between management and labor.

New Forms of Business Organization

  • Corporations, already existing, gained power and influence during the Gilded Age.
  • Pools: Informal agreements among companies to limit competition (e.g., setting prices).
  • Horizontal Integration: Buying out competitors to eliminate rivals (monopolizing a market).
  • Trusts: A group of companies formally controlled by a central board, streamlining management and giving control.
  • Vertical Integration: Control over all aspects of production, from raw materials to retail. This eliminates middlemen and rivals.

Government's Response

  • Initially, the government took a hands-off approach ('laissez-faire') to business.
  • The Interstate Commerce Act (1887) and the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) aimed to curb anti-competitive practices.
  • The Sherman Act lacked a clear definition for "trusts" and had limited enforcement initially.

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Description

Explore the Second Industrial Revolution and its impact on mass production in the United States from 1865 to 1900. Understand key advancements in steel production through the Bessemer process and the evolution of management styles, including scientific management techniques that optimized labor efficiency.

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