Industrialization in the US (1865-1900)

The period between 1865 and 1900 witnessed a dramatic increase in industrial production in the United States. This era witnessed rapid growth, fueled by abundant resources, a plentiful labor supply, and supportive government policies.

The combination of business leadership, capital, technology, markets, labor, and government support played a crucial role in the development of the American economy. These factors interacted to create a favorable environment for industrial growth.

The United States had a vast amount of natural resources, such as coal, iron ore, and timber, which were essential for building and powering factories. These resources provided the foundation for industrialization.

The arrival of millions of immigrants from Europe between 1865 and 1900 provided a growing workforce for factories and mines. This influx of labor contributed to the expansion of industrial production.

A growing population and an extensive transportation network, particularly railroads, made the U.S. the largest market for industrial goods. This facilitated the growth of American industries that could cater to a national market.

The development of labor-saving technologies and an efficient patent system increased productivity. Inventions and new methods of production enabled industries to produce more goods with fewer resources.

Government policies played a crucial role in supporting industrial growth. Policies like land grants for railroads, protective tariffs, and limited regulation created a favorable environment for businesses to thrive.

The railroad industry was a major catalyst for economic growth. The expansion of railroads created a national market, encouraged mass production, and promoted the growth of other industries like coal and steel.

A method of business organization where one company controls all stages of production, from raw materials to finished product.

A term referring to the period in American history from the 1870s to the early 1900s marked by rapid industrial growth, technological innovation, and social change.

A process developed in the 1850s that revolutionized steel production by blowing air through molten iron to create high-quality steel.

This individual rose from poverty to become a steel tycoon, adopting vertical integration and the latest technology to dominate the market.

A business tactic where companies merge or control all competing firms in the same industry, creating monopolies.

A powerful oil magnate who applied new technologies, efficient practices, and ruthless competition to control nearly all US oil refining by 1881.

A type of business organization where numerous companies are managed by a board of trustees, centralized control.

This act, passed by Congress in 1890, was intended to curb monopolistic practices and promote competition in the marketplace.

The idea that government should not interfere with the free market, allowing businesses to operate with little regulation.

An economic theory that suggests the market is self-regulating, guided by individual self-interest and invisible forces of supply and demand.

Laws passed by midwestern states in the 1870s to regulate railroad rates, but largely overturned by the courts.

A federal law passed in 1886 to regulate interstate commerce, initially ineffective but strengthened later during the Progressive era.

A period of political and social reform in the early 20th century, which led to stronger government regulation of big businesses.

A business strategy that involves using technology to streamline production and reduce costs, often associated with Rockefeller's Standard Oil company.

A group in American society who opposed the growing power of large corporations and monopolies, advocating for greater regulation.

Large, interconnected railroads that connected major cities and formed the backbone of the national railway system.

Small, local railroads that branched off from trunk lines, connecting smaller towns and suburbs to the main network.

The process of merging smaller, competing railroads into larger, more integrated systems, leading to greater efficiency.

A financial strategy where companies inflate the value of their assets and profits before selling stock to the public, often resulting in deception and manipulation.

Discounts or secret deals that railroads offered to favored shippers, while charging exorbitant rates to smaller customers like farmers.

Illegal agreements among competing railroads to fix prices and share traffic, eliminating competition and harming customers.

The practice where the same individuals serve on the boards of directors of competing companies, leading to potential collusion and reduced competition.

The act of driving a golden spike into the last rail tie of the first transcontinental railroad, signifying the completion of a monumental engineering achievement.

The first transcontinental railroad, linking the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, built by two companies (Union Pacific and Central Pacific) and completed in 1869.

A railroad company that built westward across the Great Plains, employing war veterans and Irish immigrants.

A railroad company that built eastward across the Sierra Nevada mountains heavily relying on Chinese immigrant labor.

The federal government's investment in western railroads, primarily through land grants and loans. This was intended to promote westward expansion and settlement.

A notorious construction company involved in corrupt practices and bribery during the building of the transcontinental railroads.

A large-scale financial panic that occurred in 1893, leading to widespread economic hardship and the bankruptcy of many railroads.

A leading financial tycoon who, during the financial panic, consolidated and restructured many bankrupt railroads, creating powerful regional monopolies.

An economic theory supporting minimal government intervention in the market, often championed by conservative business figures in the late 19th century, advocating for competition and limited regulation.

The application of Darwin's theory of natural selection to human society, arguing that wealth and success were indicators of superior fitness, often used to justify inequality.

A prominent Social Darwinist who believed that helping the poor would weaken the species and interfere with natural selection.

The idea that wealth and success are a sign of God's favor, used to justify the wealth of industrialists and bankers in the late 19th century.

A significant invention by Samuel Morse that revolutionized communication by enabling instant messages over long distances.

An invention by Cyrus W. Field that allowed for faster communication across the Atlantic Ocean.

A significant inventor who established the world's first modern research laboratory, introducing the concept of teamwork in invention and producing numerous innovations.

A significant invention by Alexander Graham Bell that transformed communication, enabling voice-based conversations over distance.

The invention of the safety razor and blade by King Gillette, which made personal hygiene more accessible and efficient.

Large department stores in urban centers that offered a wide selection of consumer goods, catering to urban shoppers.

A successful chain store that offered a wide selection of goods at affordable prices, catering to both rural and urban areas.

Mail-order companies (Sears, Roebuck, Montgomery Ward) that used the rail system to deliver goods to rural areas via catalogs.

The use of refrigerated railroad cars and canning techniques that transformed the American diet by providing access to mass-produced meat and vegetable products.

The development and use of new consumer goods and technologies that spurred economic growth and reshaped American life.

Advertising and new marketing techniques played a major role in the development of a consumer economy, encouraging people to buy goods and services for enjoyment and status.

Industrialization led to a wider gap between the wealthy and the poor, although many believed in opportunities for upward mobility.

The richest 10% of Americans in the 1890s controlled 90% of the nation's wealth, highlighting the growing inequality between the wealthy and the rest.

The story of successful 'self-made' men like Andrew Carnegie and Thomas Edison became a popular idea, but the reality was that true rags-to-riches stories were rare.

The rise of large corporations created a demand for white-collar workers to handle administration and management, contributing to the growth of the middle class.

Most workers in the late 19th century were wage earners, often working long hours for low wages, barely enough for basic needs.

The 'iron law of wages' argued that raising wages would only lead to more workers, lowering wages again, creating a cycle of poverty.

While real wages rose, many working-class families relied on women and children working to make ends meet.

Women made up a significant portion of the workforce, working primarily in industries considered extensions of the home like textiles and food processing.

The rise of clerical work opened opportunities for women in formerly male-dominated jobs, but these occupations often lost status and received lower pay.

Factory work was monotonous and repetitive, requiring workers to adapt to a strict work schedule, which led to discontent and rebellion.

Workers expressed their discontent through absenteeism, quitting, and limited participation in labor unions.

The growth of factories and industries pushed workers away from agriculture and into non-farm jobs, reflecting the shift towards industrial production.

The US workforce saw a dramatic increase in non-farm jobs between 1900 and 1960, indicating the continuous growth of industrial and other non-agricultural industries.

A period of intense labor conflicts in the late 19th century, marked by strikes, violence, and the rise of organized labor.

Strategies employed by employers to suppress labor unions and maintain control over workers.

A tactic employers used to break union strikes by closing factories and refusing to pay wages.

Lists circulating among employers containing names of pro-union workers, preventing them from getting jobs.

Agreements signed by workers, prohibiting them from joining unions as a condition of employment.

The first national union, formed in 1866, aiming to organize all workers for better wages, an eight-hour workday, and social reforms.

A national union founded in 1869, advocating worker cooperatives, abolition of child labor, and arbitration in labor disputes.

A violent incident in Chicago in 1886, where a bomb exploded at a labor rally, turning public opinion against labor unions.

An association of craft unions founded in 1886, led by Samuel Gompers, focusing on higher wages and better working conditions through collective bargaining.

A process where union representatives negotiate with employers on behalf of workers to reach a contract regarding wages, hours, and working conditions.

A widespread strike in 1877, sparked by wage cuts on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which paralyzed the nation's rail system.

Individuals hired by employers to replace striking workers, often seen as scabs or strikebreakers.

A slowdown or intentional decrease in productivity by workers to exert pressure on employers.

A tactic used by unions where consumers are encouraged to avoid purchasing goods or services from a company to pressure the employer.

A public demonstration where workers gather outside a workplace, peacefully expressing their grievances or demands.

A 1892 strike at the Homestead Steel plant near Pittsburgh, led by steelworkers against a significant wage cut by Andrew Carnegie's manager, Henry Clay Frick. The lockout, private security, and strikebreakers ultimately ended the strike after five months, setting back unionization in the steel industry until the 1930s.

A strike in 1894 of workers in Pullman, Illinois, a company town built by the Pullman Palace Car Company. It was triggered by wage cuts without a reduction in rent and living expenses, and workers refused to work Pullman cars leading to a nationwide rail stoppage. President Grover Cleveland intervened with the army to keep mail trains running, leading to the arrest of union leader Eugene V. Debs and a setback for labor.

A court order prohibiting certain actions, often used against labor unions during strikes to prevent boycotts and interference with business operations. The use of injunctions against strikes was later upheld by the Supreme Court in 1895.

A political and economic philosophy advocating for government control of the means of production and distribution of goods. Eugene V. Debs, after his involvement in the Pullman Strike, embraced this ideology and became a prominent figure in the American Socialist party.

A period of intense industrial growth and transformation in the United States, roughly from the late 19th century to early 20th century, characterized by new technologies, large corporations, and increasing economic inequality. The term is sometimes associated with superficial prosperity masking underlying social problems.

The concentration of economic activity and population in the Northeast and Midwest regions during the Gilded Age. These regions had ample resources, capital, and infrastructure contributing to industrial development and attracting immigrants.

The increasing awareness during the late 19th century for a balance between the needs of employers and employees. While management dominated labor relations, strikes and unrest highlighted the need for better working conditions and employee rights.