The Gilded Age Labor Conflicts

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Questions and Answers

What was one of the main arguments used to justify wealth inequality in the late 19th century?

The wealthy were simply more skilled at making money.

Industrial capitalism was a more efficient system than agrarianism.

Social Darwinism argued that the wealthy were naturally superior and deserved their riches. (correct)

The government was actively trying to redistribute wealth.

How did the wealth distribution in the United States change between 1890 and 1900?

The wealth distribution remained relatively stable.

The wealth gap widened significantly. (correct)

The richest 1% lost a considerable amount of their wealth.

The gap between the rich and poor narrowed significantly.

Which of the following figures are mentioned as prominent followers of Herbert Spencer's ideas?

Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller (correct)

Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes

Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt

Charles Darwin, Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx

What did Herbert Spencer believe about government intervention in social issues?

He believed the government should not interfere in social matters. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the Republican Party's role in the rise of big business during the Gilded Age?

The Republican Party was a strong advocate for big business. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase "survival of the fittest" mean in the context of social Darwinism?

The wealthy are inherently superior to the poor. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did the rise of industrial capitalism affect American society?

It caused widespread social unrest and conflict. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was Charles Darwin's contribution to the development of social Darwinism?

He provided a scientific basis for justifying social inequality. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary economic factor that motivated immigrants to come to the United States between 1880 and 1920?

Industrial capitalism (B) Signup and view all the answers

What role did immigrant neighborhoods play in the lives of new arrivals?

They provided a sense of community and cultural preservation. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the population in large northern cities did immigrants and their children account for by 1890?

50 to 60 percent (A) Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon allows immigrants to encourage others from their homeland to join them in the United States?

Chain migration (B) Signup and view all the answers

What challenges did many immigrants face upon arriving in American cities?

Life in crowded and crime-ridden slums (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did immigrants contribute to the growth of American cities from 1880 to 1920?

By laboring in large industrial complexes (B) Signup and view all the answers

What types of organizations did immigrant communities form to assist with their transition in America?

Cultural clubs and mutual aid societies (B) Signup and view all the answers

What concern arose among Americans regarding urban living conditions in the late 19th century?

The decline of rural life quality (C) Signup and view all the answers

What did the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 establish?

The Interstate Commerce Commission (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which act aimed to limit anticompetitive practices such as monopolies?

The Sherman Anti-Trust Act (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main focus of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act?

To declare trust and conspiracies illegal (A) Signup and view all the answers

What significant change did the Clayton Anti-Trust Act introduce in 1914?

It closed loopholes in previous antitrust legislation (B) Signup and view all the answers

How did Theodore Roosevelt view his role regarding businesses during his presidency?

As a mediator between labor and corporate interests (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, what distinction is made regarding monopolies?

Only monopolies that unreasonably stifle free trade are illegal (C) Signup and view all the answers

What characterized Roosevelt's approach to monopolies during his presidency?

He used moral judgment to determine good and bad trusts (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a challenge faced by the Sherman Anti-Trust Act after its passage?

It was misused to limit the power of labor unions (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was Du Bois's primary role in the NAACP?

Editor of The Crisis (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did Du Bois's approach to civil rights differ from that of Booker T. Washington?

Du Bois advocated for immediate change, while Washington supported gradual improvements. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which movement did Du Bois help establish that focused on civil rights for African Americans?

Niagara Movement (C) Signup and view all the answers

What strategy did Du Bois encourage African Americans to adopt in their fight for rights?

Boldly demand equal rights without concessions (C) Signup and view all the answers

During which historical period did Du Bois's intellectual contributions primarily emerge?

The Progressive Era (D) Signup and view all the answers

What did Du Bois aim to expose through his scholarship and activism?

Racial injustices in American society (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which publication did Du Bois edit that became prominent in the African American community?

The Crisis (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was Rudyard Kipling's perception of Chicago during his visit in 1889?

A city overwhelmed by technology and greed (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was Booker T. Washington's main educational focus at the Tuskegee Institute?

Industrial education and vocational training (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about W.E.B. Du Bois is accurate?

He was the first Black American to earn a PhD from Harvard. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What issue did Du Bois identify as the central problem of the twentieth century?

Systemic racial and economic discrimination (C) Signup and view all the answers

What kind of support did individuals like Andrew Carnegie provide to Washington?

Financial assistance for educational initiatives (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did Du Bois's upbringing differ from that of Washington?

Du Bois was raised in a predominantly white community, while Washington was in a segregated environment. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What did Booker T. Washington hope to achieve for Black Americans through education?

Economic independence and self-worth (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which university did Du Bois attend after Fisk University?

Harvard University (D) Signup and view all the answers

What common goal did both Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois share?

Improving the economic status of Black Americans (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the manslaughter charges against the owners of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory?

They were acquitted after a brief deliberation. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main message conveyed by Rose Schneiderman in her statement following the fire?

The fire was a symbol of the growing gap between the rich and the poor. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following groups played a significant role in pushing for reform during the time period discussed in the text?

Journalists, politicians, religious leaders, and activists. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the strike that the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory workers participated in before the fire?

It highlighted the workers' concerns about safety and sanitation in the factories. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How did journalists contribute to the movement for reform during this era?

They exposed corruption and injustice in society, raising public awareness of social problems. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did the tragic events of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire contribute to the movement for reform?

The fire solidified the belief that government regulation was necessary to ensure worker safety. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What did Jacob Riis's book, How the Other Half Lives, expose about life in New York City?

The harsh realities of poverty and living conditions in the slums. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase “muckrakers” refer to?

Journalists who exposed corruption and injustice (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Gilded Age

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 marked a new era of labor conflict in the US.
The stagnant economy following the 1873 financial bubble led to wage cuts for rail workers.
Workers protested across the country, shutting down rail traffic.
Local authorities often failed to suppress the strikes, leading to state militias being called out.
Many strikers destroyed rail property rather than allow militias to reopen the lines.
The conflict escalated, approaching a class war.
Strikes convulsed Pennsylvania towns.
Violence erupted in Baltimore, with militia firing on striking workers, resulting in casualties.
Strikers set fire to cities, destroyed buildings and rail property.
Federal troops were eventually deployed to quell the strike.

The March of Capital

Growing labor unrest occurred alongside industrialization.
Railroads were the first industry to effectively combine capital, government support, and bureaucratic management.
Workers felt increasingly powerless in the face of industrial power.
Low wages, unpredictable employment, and poor working conditions led to labor organization.
National investments and technological innovations slashed production costs and increased distribution efficiency.
Corporate leaders embraced scientific management, or Taylorism, to improve efficiency. Efficiency was achieved by specializing tasks.

The Rise of Inequality

Industrial capitalism produced unprecedented wealth but also massive social inequalities.
Low-paid, unskilled, and unreliable jobs increased amidst industrial output.
Deep-seated social corruption existed in this era.
The uneven distribution of wealth created enormous fortunes alongside severe poverty.
Wealthy industrial and financial leaders amassed immense wealth
The contrast between the immense fortunes of industrial tycoons and the poverty of the urban/rural poor was jarring.
The rich 1% owned ~25% of the nation's assets
The richest 10% owned ~70% of the nation's assets
The idea of "survival of the fittest" was increasingly applied to society.

The Labor Movement

American workers faced difficult conditions, long hours, and low pay despite industrial growth.
Mechanization and mass production eliminated skilled labor and increased unemployment.
Laborers' income often fell below poverty levels.
American industrial laborers lacked support among social Darwinism advocates and the upper-class activists.
The Knights of Labor attempted to unite skilled and unskilled laborers. The group eventually failed, resulting in the emergence of the AFL.
The American Federation of Labor (AFL) advocated for skilled laborers and for a more conservative approach to labor relations.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

In 1911, a fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in Manhattan led to the deaths of many garment workers trapped inside.
Locked doors and inadequate fire escapes contributed to the high death toll.
The event was a pivotal moment for reform, highlighting the dangerous working conditions and exploitation of workers in the garment industry.

Trust Busting and the Progressive Movement

The concentration of power and wealth within trusts was a major concern of the Progressive Era.
Trusts or cartels were entities that used agreements and consolidations to control a specific product or industry.
Businesses wielded significant control over markets.
Progressives like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson advocated for regulatory reforms to combat the abuses of the trusts and corporations.
Trust busting aimed to curtail the power of large corporations and to restore competition.
New legislation helped curb corruption and price discrimination in business practices.

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Description

Explore the pivotal moments of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and the ensuing labor unrest during The Gilded Age. This quiz examines the socio-economic factors that led workers to protest and the violent escalations that followed, delving into the intersection of labor struggles and industrialization.