Railroads and Their Economic Impact

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Questions and Answers

What is the standard gauge in train tracks?

5 feet

3 feet 6 inches

4 feet 8.5 inches (correct)

6 feet

What is a transcontinental line?

A railroad line that goes from the Pacific to Atlantic Oceans.

Standard time zones were created by major railroad companies.

True

What does the term 'national market' refer to?

The idea that when the railroads suffered financially, the entire economy would also suffer. Signup and view all the answers

What are national brands?

Companies that sold products nationwide Signup and view all the answers

What does A and P Stores stand for?

Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Thomas Edison?

An inventor who helped establish industries such as the phonograph, lightbulb, and motion picture. Signup and view all the answers

Who developed the electric motor using alternating current?

Nikola Tesla. Signup and view all the answers

Who was the financier who founded US Steel?

J.P. Morgan Signup and view all the answers

What was the Sherman Antitrust Act?

A law that banned combinations and practices restraining free trade. Signup and view all the answers

The __________ Act made it illegal to manage separate companies under one director.

trusts Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Dawes Act?

To break up land of Indian tribes into smaller areas for distribution among Indian families. Signup and view all the answers

The Ghost Dance was a Native American religious revitalization movement.

True Signup and view all the answers

What did the Gilded Age refer to?

An era from 1870 to 1890 characterized by remarkable expansion and a growing gap between the rich and poor. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following figures with their contributions:

John D. Rockefeller = Founded Standard Oil Company Andrew Carnegie = Established a vertically integrated steel company Thomas Edison = Invented the lightbulb and phonograph Nikola Tesla = Developed the alternating current electric motor Signup and view all the answers

What was the Great Railroad Strike of 1877?

The first nationwide strike by railroad workers Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Standardization and Expansion of Railroads

Standard gauge: Established at 4 feet 8.5 inches in 1886, standardized track width allowed interoperability between rail companies.
Transcontinental line: By 1890, five railroad lines connected the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Standard time zones: Implemented by major railroad companies to organize schedules across the nation.

Economic Impact of Railroads

National market: The financial health of railroads directly influenced the broader economy.
National brands: Products became widely available across the U.S.; prominent examples include Ivory Soap and Quaker Oats.

Notable Retail and Mail Order Businesses

A and P Stores: Known as the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, it was a nationwide grocery store chain.
Sears and Roebuck: A Chicago-based firm selling goods via mail order, catering to rural families.

Pioneering Inventors and Their Contributions

Thomas Edison: Innovator with inventions like the lightbulb, phonograph, and a system for electricity distribution, despite limited formal education.
Nikola Tesla: Developed the electric motor and promoted alternating current systems.

Business and Economic Practices

Trusts: Legal management of multiple companies under a single director, influencing various industries.
J.P. Morgan: Founded U.S. Steel in 1901 through the consolidation of eight major steel companies.
Standard Oil: Formed in 1870 by John D. Rockefeller, it became a massive oil monopoly, controlling 90% of the industry through aggressive competition.

Industrial and Economic Models

Vertical integration: Andrew Carnegie's concept for controlling all production phases in the steel industry, enhancing efficiency and profits.
Horizontal integration: John D. Rockefeller's strategy of acquiring competing companies to establish a monopoly.

"The Theory of the Leisure Class": Thorstein Veblen criticized the upper class's spending patterns in this 1899 publication.
"How the Other Half Lives": Jacob Riis highlighted poverty and poor living conditions through visual documentation.

Westward Expansion and Its Consequences

Frederick Jackson Turner: Argued that the frontier had significant cultural implications for American identity.
Homestead Act (1862): Provided land to settlers in the West, promoting family farming but later criticized as beneficial to whites at the expense of Native Americans.

Agricultural Developments and Challenges

Bonanza farms: Large-scale farms employing numerous workers, representing a minority in the agrarian landscape.
Long drives: The herding of cattle by cowboys, which declined due to changing agricultural practices and harsh weather conditions.

Native American Relations and Conflicts

Chief Joseph: Leader of the Nez Perce, argued for equality during his tribe's forced relocation.
Little Bighorn: A pivotal battle where Sioux and Cheyenne forces, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, defeated Custer’s troops.

Government Policies and Legal Challenges

Bureau of Indian Affairs: Established to manage policies affecting Native Americans and create boarding schools for "Americanization."
Dawes Act (1876): Divided tribal lands for individual families, aiming to assimilate Native Americans; resulted in significant loss of land ownership.

Great Railroad Strike (1877): Marked the first nationwide strike in response to wage cuts, resulting in violent clashes.
Knights of Labor: A significant labor organization of skilled and unskilled workers, advocating for workers' rights.

Economic and Political Reforms

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890): Aimed to curb monopolistic practices but faced enforcement challenges due to vague language.
Civil Service Act (1883): Established merit-based hiring for government jobs, reducing political machine influence.

Social Darwinism: Applied Darwin's theories of evolution to society, advocating for minimal government intervention in social issues.
Social Gospel: Movement aiming to improve society through charity and reform within Protestant churches.

Cultural and Political Dynamics

Gilded Age: Period known for economic growth contrasted by social inequality, named after Mark Twain's novel reflecting superficial prosperity.
"Solid South": Characterized by the Democratic dominance in Southern politics for a century following the Civil War.

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Description

Explore the pivotal role of railroads in standardizing transportation and their profound economic impact on the United States. From the establishment of standard gauges to the rise of national brands, this quiz covers key facts and notable figures that shaped the railroad industry and retail businesses in the country.