Industrialization and the Gilded Age

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Questions and Answers

What was the main impact of the Bessemer process on steel production?

It made steel cheaper and easier to access. (correct)

It reduced the effectiveness of existing steelmaking processes.

It increased the reliance on imported steel.

It made steel production more labor-intensive.

What economic policy does laissez-faire promote?

Active support of labor unions by the government.

Strict government regulation of industries.

Minimal government interference in the economy. (correct)

Government ownership of all businesses.

How did John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil become a monopoly?

By diversifying into other sectors of the economy.

By using trusts and exerting influence over the railroad industry. (correct)

By acquiring smaller oil companies through government approval.

By eliminating competition through innovation.

Why were many children forced to work during the 1800s?

Families needed extra income for survival. Signup and view all the answers

What did Upton Sinclair aim to expose in his novel 'The Jungle'?

The unsanitary conditions in the meat-packing industry. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main goal of the NAACP during the Progressive Era?

To fight for the rights of African Americans. Signup and view all the answers

What effect did the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 have on immigration?

It completely banned Chinese immigration. Signup and view all the answers

How did urbanization relate to the arrival of industry in America?

Factories created jobs which attracted people to urban areas. Signup and view all the answers

Which law did President Wilson introduce to stabilize the banking system?

Federal Reserve System Signup and view all the answers

What was the main outcome of the Spanish-American War?

U.S. territories acquisition Signup and view all the answers

What triggered the USA's entry into World War I?

The Zimmermann note Signup and view all the answers

Why did many people oppose prohibition in the 1920s?

It led to increased crime Signup and view all the answers

What was a key feature of the Harlem Renaissance?

Cultural revival Signup and view all the answers

What did the Sedition Act allow the government to do during World War I?

Punish critics of the war Signup and view all the answers

What was the effectiveness of the assembly line in the 1920s?

Reduced production costs Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary cause of the Great Depression?

Overproduction and stock market crash Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the objectives of the Social Security Act?

To assist the elderly Signup and view all the answers

What characterized trench warfare during World War I?

Stalemate with little movement Signup and view all the answers

What was a major consequence of the Dust Bowl?

Mass migration of farmers Signup and view all the answers

Why was the Treaty of Versailles ultimately rejected by the U.S. Senate?

Concerns over collective security obligations Signup and view all the answers

What were yellow journalism's main effects on the public?

Influenced public opinion with sensationalism Signup and view all the answers

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Industrialization and the Gilded Age

The Bessemer process made steel cheaper and more accessible.
Electricity increased industrial production and extended working hours.
A monopoly is complete control over an industry.
John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil achieved its monopoly through trusts and railroad control.
Laissez-faire economics advocates minimal government intervention.
The Gilded Age was a period of wealth and rapid industrial growth.
The Pullman Strike, Haymarket Affair, and Homestead Strike were violent labor conflicts.
Tenements in slums offered unsanitary living conditions.
Child labor was common due to families needing extra income.
Workers formed unions and used strikes to improve conditions.
Immigration was driven by poverty and the search for jobs (push and pull factors).
Ellis Island was the main immigration processing center.
Nativists opposed immigration due to fears of job competition.
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prohibited Chinese immigration.
Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" exposed unsanitary meatpacking practices.
Industry spurred rapid urbanization, creating job opportunities in factories.
Political machines controlled local governments through corruption.
Immigrants often settled in ethnic neighborhoods to preserve culture.
Grandfather clauses prevented African Americans from voting in the South.
Child labor laws increased school enrollment.

The Progressive Era

Progressives aimed to address issues stemming from industrialization.
African Americans in the South endured segregation.
Booker T. Washington advocated for education to gain respect and advancement.
Progressive presidents implemented environmental protection measures, creating parks and enacting legislation.
President Wilson established the Federal Reserve system to stabilize banking.
Progressive presidents passed laws to protect workers and consumers, including food safety regulations.
The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote.

Imperialism

Some Americans supported imperialism to expand U.S. power.
Diplomacy is the management of international relationships.
The U.S. expanded its overseas markets through the acquisition of territories and trade deals.
The Spanish-American War transformed U.S. foreign policy, establishing the U.S. as a global power.
Yellow journalism used sensationalized stories to influence public opinion.
The Spanish-American War was fought in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
The Spanish-American War resulted in the U.S. gaining territories.

World War I

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparked World War I.
Contributing factors to the war included militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism.
The Zimmerman Note pushed the U.S. into World War I.
The draft system built the U.S. fighting force.
The Russian Revolution led to Russia's withdrawal from the war.
Trench warfare resulted in a stalemate due to the static nature of the front.
The Sedition Act allowed the government to punish war critics.
War bonds were government-issued certificates used to finance the war effort.
The War Industries Board controlled war-related industries.
President Wilson's League of Nations aimed for collective security to maintain peace.
The U.S. Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles.
Allied nations sought punishment of Germany through reparations, military restrictions, and territorial losses.
World War I boosted the U.S. economy through increased jobs and production.

The 1920s

The U.S. experienced a booming economy in the 1920s.
Henry Ford's assembly line reduced automobile prices.
One-eighth of Americans worked in the automobile industry.
Advertising drove consumer culture in the 1920s.
Suburbs grew more rapidly due to automobiles.
Jazz music was popularized by Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.
The Harlem Renaissance was a period of creativity within the African American community.
Mass media (radio, newspapers) unified culture.
Social values divided rural traditionalists and urban modernists.
Traditionalists supported prohibition due to alcohol-related issues.
Opposition to prohibition arose due to associated crime and enforcement challenges.
The Scopes Trial highlighted debates about evolution.
Flappers symbolized modern, tradition-breaking women.
Black Tuesday marked the stock market crash of 1929.
Overproduction exceeded consumer demand in the late 1920s.

The Great Depression

Causes of the Great Depression included the stock market crash, bank failures, and overproduction.
Bank failures were often caused by bank insolvency.
The business cycle involves periods of economic expansion, recession and recovery.
FDR's "First Hundred Days" saw the passing of New Deal legislation.
Liberals advocated for government intervention in the economy.
FDR's New Deal aimed to revitalize the economy.
The Dust Bowl was caused by drought.
Shantytowns on the edge of cities were called Hoovervilles.
New Deal programs like the CCC and WPA provided jobs and relief.
The Social Security Act aimed to provide financial support for the elderly.

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Description

Explore the transformative period of the Gilded Age, highlighting key inventions, economic theories, and labor movements. Understand the social challenges faced by immigrants and workers during this era of rapid industrial growth. Test your knowledge on major events and figures that shaped this significant time in American history.