Industrialization Flashcards

Interstate Commerce Act

• Established in 1887 to regulate the railroad industry and its monopolistic practices.
• Mandated reasonable and just railroad rates, without enabling the government to set specific prices.
• Required railroads to publicly disclose shipping rates and prohibited discriminatory pricing between short and long hauls.
• Created the Interstate Commerce Commission to monitor compliance with regulations.

Horizontal Integration

• Refers to a company's strategy to increase production of goods at the same supply chain stage.
• Achieved through internal growth, mergers, or acquisitions.
• Can lead to monopolistic control if a single company dominates the market.

Vertical Integration

• Involves the consolidation of multiple production stages within a single company that are typically managed by separate entities.

Social Darwinism

• A discredited theory positing that human societies and individuals are subject to natural selection similar to other species.
• Advocated by Herbert Spencer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Used to justify political conservatism, imperialism, and racism while opposing intervention and reform.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

• Landmark federal statute passed in 1890 aimed at curbing monopolistic business practices.
• Allowed federal regulators to investigate and challenge trusts deemed anti-competitive.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

• Founded in December 1886 in Columbus, Ohio, by craft unions separating from the Knights of Labor.
• Samuel Gompers served as the first president, leading until his death in 1924.
• Dominated U.S. labor movement for the first half of the 20th century and shifted to organizing on an industrial basis post-1935.

Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

• Founded in 1905 in Chicago, known as "Wobblies."
• Combines general and industrial unionism, focusing on revolutionary industrial tactics.
• Associated with influential labor leader Eugene V. Debs, who was instrumental in the ARU and the Pullman Strike.

Scabs

• Derogatory term for strikebreakers who take over jobs during labor strikes.

Bessemer Process

• Inexpensive method for producing steel from molten pig iron.
• Key technique involved blowing air through molten iron to eliminate impurities and keep it molten.

Political Machines

• Political organizations led by a boss or small group that garners support through rewards.
• Notable figure: William "Boss" Tweed, who manipulated voter loyalty via patronage through Tammany Hall.

Haymarket Riot

• Resulted from a labor demonstration on May 4, 1886, in Chicago advocating for an eight-hour workday.
• Followed a bombing and subsequent violence, resulting in multiple deaths.

Pullman Strike

• Nationwide railroad strike occurring on May 11, 1894, involving the American Railway Union and the Pullman Company.
• Triggered by wage cuts and resulted in significant disruptions to transportation.

Ida Tarbell

• Influential journalist and muckraker, known for her investigative works, particularly against Standard Oil.
• Authored "The History of the Standard Oil Company," acclaimed for its impact on journalism.

Homestead Strike

• Major labor conflict beginning June 30, 1892, at the Homestead Steel Works in Pennsylvania.
• Involved violent clashes between strikers and private security, resulting in a setback for union efforts.

Settlement Houses

• Institutions in urban areas providing educational, recreational, and social services to local communities.

Sherman Silver Purchase Act

• Enacted on July 14, 1890, and aimed to increase government purchase of silver to support farmers and miners' interests.
• Required the government to buy 4.5 million ounces of silver monthly, addressing economic challenges like deflation.

Social Gospel Movement

• A religious movement connecting salvation with good works in the late 19th century.
• Advocated for helping the needy and critiqued Social Darwinism, influencing the Progressive Movement.