The Gilded Age Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

How did William Vanderbilt acquire his wealth?

He inherited his father's steamboat company and gained enough money to make a name for himself in the railroad industry.

How did William Vanderbilt treat his workers?

His workers were overworked and underpaid.

How did William Vanderbilt spend his money?

He bought other railroad companies.

How did William Vanderbilt donate his money?

He donated $1M to creating Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Signup and view all the answers

How did Andrew Carnegie acquire his wealth?

He made money off of the steel industries. Signup and view all the answers

How did Andrew Carnegie treat his workers?

His workers were underpaid and overworked. Signup and view all the answers

How did Andrew Carnegie spend his money?

He spent his money to get wealthier, and eventually sold his business to JP Morgan. Signup and view all the answers

How did Andrew Carnegie donate his money?

He donated 90% of his wealth after he sold his business, and wrote the Gospel of Wealth. Signup and view all the answers

How did John D. Rockefeller acquire his wealth?

He refined and purified oil to make kerosene. Signup and view all the answers

How did John D. Rockefeller treat his workers?

He treated his workers poorly, by paying them little and making them work in harsh conditions. Signup and view all the answers

How did John D. Rockefeller spend his money?

He bought other oil companies and created the first monopoly. Signup and view all the answers

How did John D. Rockefeller donate his money?

He donated $500,000 to charity. Signup and view all the answers

How did JP Morgan acquire his wealth?

He was an investor, and he also bought out other businesses. Signup and view all the answers

How did JP Morgan treat his workers?

He did not have workers. Signup and view all the answers

How did JP Morgan spend his money?

He invested in Thomas Edison's light bulb project, bought Carnegie Steel, and bailed out the US Government. Signup and view all the answers

How did JP Morgan donate his money?

He secretly gave money to the urban poor. Signup and view all the answers

How did Henry Ford acquire his wealth?

He created the assembly line with interchangeable parts, and helped create the Model T car. Signup and view all the answers

How did Henry Ford treat his workers?

He paid them little and work was exhausting, but eventually increased their pay. Signup and view all the answers

How did Henry Ford spend his money?

He bought hundreds of acres of farmland and spent money on business. Signup and view all the answers

How did Henry Ford donate his money?

He donated 1/3 of his income to philanthropy, and increased his workers' pay. Signup and view all the answers

What is vertical integration?

The combination in one company, of two or more stages of production usually owned and operated by two separate companies. Signup and view all the answers

What did Cyrus Field invent and what two countries did it connect?

He invented the Transatlantic cable and it connected Ireland and Newfoundland. Signup and view all the answers

Who invented the telephone?

Alexander Graham Bell. Signup and view all the answers

Where did Thomas Edison open a research lab?

In Menlo Park, New Jersey. Signup and view all the answers

What are a few of Thomas Edison's inventions?

The light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture projector. Signup and view all the answers

Who invented the refrigerated railroad car?

Gustavus Swift. Signup and view all the answers

Who perfected the typewriter?

Christopher Sholes. Signup and view all the answers

Who invented the lightweight Kodak camera?

George Eastman. Signup and view all the answers

Who invented a device that oils machines automatically?

Elijah McCoy. Signup and view all the answers

Who found a way to send telegraphs between moving trains?

Granville T. Woods. Signup and view all the answers

Who invented the machine that could perform almost all of the steps needed to make a shoe?

Jan Matzeliger. Signup and view all the answers

Who invented the first flying machine in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina?

Orville and Wilbur Wright. Signup and view all the answers

When was the Triangle factory fire?

<ol start="1911"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

When was the Bangladesh factory fire?

<ol start="2012"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

How many workers were left in the building of the Triangle factory fire?

<ol start="500"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Wealth Acquisition and Treatment of Workers

William Vanderbilt inherited a steamboat company and later excelled in the railroad industry.
Andrew Carnegie made his fortune in the steel industry, facing criticism for underpaying and overworking employees.
John D. Rockefeller built wealth through oil refining, notorious for exploiting workers in poor conditions.
JP Morgan profited as an investor and business buyer but did not employ workers directly.
Henry Ford revolutionized manufacturing with the assembly line and the Model T, initially underpaying workers before raising their wages.

Wealth Utilization

Vanderbilt spent money purchasing additional railroad companies.
Carnegie sold his steel business to JP Morgan and reinvested profits.
Rockefeller expanded his monopoly by acquiring competing oil firms.
Morgan invested in key projects like Edison’s light bulb and purchased Carnegie Steel.
Ford invested in farmland and business expansion while also improving worker pay.

Philanthropy

Vanderbilt contributed $1 million to establish Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
Carnegie famously donated 90% of his wealth and authored the "Gospel of Wealth."
Rockefeller gave half a million dollars to charity, emphasizing philanthropy in his later years.
JP Morgan provided discreet financial assistance to urban poor communities.
Ford donated a third of his income to philanthropy and raised employee wages.

Important Innovations and Inventions

Vertical integration merges stages of production within one company, enhancing efficiency.
Cyrus Field created the Transatlantic cable connecting Ireland to Newfoundland.
Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the telephone.
Thomas Edison established his famous research lab in Menlo Park, New Jersey, innovating the light bulb, phonograph, and motion picture projector.
Gustavus Swift invented the refrigerated railroad car, improving food transportation.
Christopher Sholes perfected the typewriter, enhancing communication.
George Eastman introduced the lightweight Kodak camera, revolutionizing photography.
Elijah McCoy invented an automatic lubricating device for machinery.
Granville T. Woods developed technology for telegraph communication between moving trains.
Jan Matzeliger created a machine capable of performing nearly all shoe-making tasks.
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, invented the first flying machine in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Significant Events

The Triangle factory fire occurred in 1911, highlighting workplace safety issues.
The Bangladesh factory fire took place in 2012, raising ongoing concerns about labor conditions in manufacturing sectors.

Casualties and Work Conditions

During the Triangle factory fire, approximately 500 workers were trapped inside, emphasizing the dangers of poor safety standards in factories.

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Description

Test your knowledge of William Vanderbilt and the Gilded Age through these flashcards. Learn about how Vanderbilt acquired his wealth, his treatment of workers, and his spending habits. Perfect for anyone studying American history during this transformative era.