Gold Group Review Industrialization PDF

Summary

This document provides an overview of industrialization in the United States. It discusses key events and figures, including the Bessemer process, the transcontinental railroad, and the Interstate Commerce Act. The material appears to be study notes or review material.

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The Expansion of Industry Edwin L. Drake- Edwin L. Drake was an American engineer who drilled the first successful oil well. His achievement is considered the birth of the modern petroleum industry, as it made large-scale oil extraction feasible and sparked the development of the global oil economy...

The Expansion of Industry Edwin L. Drake- Edwin L. Drake was an American engineer who drilled the first successful oil well. His achievement is considered the birth of the modern petroleum industry, as it made large-scale oil extraction feasible and sparked the development of the global oil economy. Bessemer process - The Bessemer process was the first inexpensive industrial process for the mass production of steel from molten iron. The Bessemer process is important because it allowed skyscrapers to be built. Thomas Alva Edison- Thomas Alva Edison invented the light bulb and a system for producing and distributing electricity. He was important because his inventions have had a big impact. Christopher Sholes- Christopher Sholes was an American inventor who is best known for developing the first practical typewriter. His invention revolutionized communication by enabling faster and more efficient writing, laying the foundation for modern office equipment and personal computers. Alexander Graham Bell- Alexander Graham Bell was an inventor best known for inventing the telephone in 1876. His groundbreaking work in communication technology transformed the way people connected across distances, revolutionizing both personal and business interactions and laying the foundation for modern telecommunications. What were America’s important natural resources? - Oil and Steel How did Edwin L. Drake help industry to acquire larger quantities of oil? - He successfully used a steam engine to drill a hole for oil. How did the Bessemer process allow better use of iron ore? - The Bessemer process improved the use of iron ore by efficiently removing impurities from molten iron, such as carbon, making it stronger and more flexible. This allowed for the mass production of high-quality steel at a lower cost, increasing the availability and utility of steel in construction, machinery, and other industries. Name two ways Americans used steel. - Railroads and Farm Machines. Name two ways in which electricity changed people’s lives. - Changed the way people in a factory work. Allowed manufactories to locate their plants. How did Christopher Sholes contribute to society? - Christopher Sholes contributed to society by inventing the first practical typewriter in 1868, which revolutionized office work and communication. The Age of the Railroads transcontinental railroad - The Transcontinental Railroad was a network of railroads that connected the eastern United States to the western part of the country, completed in 1869. It was important because it greatly facilitated the movement of goods, people, and resources across the country, promoting westward expansion, economic growth, and the development of new cities and industries. It also helped unify the nation after the Civil War. George M. Pullman - George M. Pullman was an American industrialist best known for designing and manufacturing luxury sleeping cars for trains, revolutionizing rail travel. Crédit Mobilier- Crédit Mobilier was a construction company created in the 1860s by executives of the Union Pacific Railroad, primarily to build the Transcontinental Railroad. It became infamous for its involvement in a major corruption scandal, where company officials used insider knowledge to overcharge the government for railroad construction, pocketing money. Munn v. Illinois - Munn v. Illinois is a landmark case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court that dealt with the issue of government regulation of private businesses, particularly in the context of the railroad and grain elevator industries. Interstate Commerce Act - The Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 was a landmark U.S. law that regulated the railroad industry by prohibiting unfair practices such as discriminatory rates and requiring public disclosure of rates. How did the railroads change the way Americans told time? - The railroads change the way Americans told time by the time zones we Have 4 now How does railroad time work? - Railroad time, introduced in the 19th century, was a system used to standardize time across different regions to improve scheduling and prevent accidents due to discrepancies in local time. The United States was divided into four time zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific), with each zone observing the same time to ensure trains could run on a reliable and consistent schedule. How did the growth of the railroads affect the nation? - Different areas in the nation started getting known for what they specialzed. What was one positive and negative effect of the growth of railroads? - Positive is it helped cities grow but negative farmers were not treated right. Why did the farmers fight the railroads? - Farmers fought the railroads because they faced unfair and discriminatory pricing practices, with railroads charging exorbitant rates to transport crops, often based on geographic location or specific customers. What problems did employees of the railroad companies face? - Employees of railroad companies faced long hours, often working in dangerous conditions with minimal safety regulations, leading to frequent accidents and injuries. They were paid low wages and had little job security, especially during economic downturns when layoffs were common. Additionally, many workers lived in company towns where they had to rent company-owned housing at high rates, further contributing to their financial struggles. What was it like to live as a Pullman employee in the town of Pullman? - Living as a Pullman employee in the town of Pullman was tightly controlled and highly regulated. The company built a model company town where workers lived in company- owned homes, with strict rules governing their behavior. Who was involved in Crédit Mobilier, and what was the purpose of this company? - Crédit Mobilier was a construction and financing company created by high-ranking officials of the Union Pacific Railroad, including executives like Thomas C. Durant. The company’s purpose was to oversee the construction of the transcontinental railroad, but it became infamous for fraudulent practices. In what ways did the railroad companies use their power to hurt farmers? - Railroad companies used their power to hurt farmers by charging exorbitant and discriminatory rates for transporting crops, often exploiting farmers in rural areas who had limited transportation options. They also engaged in "rate pooling," where railroads coordinated to keep prices high and reduce competition. Furthermore, railroads offered special rebates and lower rates to large businesses, leaving farmers with higher costs and fewer opportunities for fair pricing. Why didn’t the decision in the Munn v. Illinois case succeed in checking the power of the railroads? - The decision in Munn v. Illinois (1877) did not succeed in checking the power of the railroads because it focused mainly on grain elevators and warehouses, rather than directly regulating the railroads themselves. While the Court upheld the state's right to regulate businesses "affected with a public interest," it did not provide strong enough mechanisms to enforce fair pricing or prevent monopolistic practices in the railroad industry. Furthermore, the decision was not comprehensive enough to challenge the growing dominance of railroads, which continued to exploit their market power. Why didn’t the Interstate Commerce Act immediately limit the power of the railroads? - The Interstate Commerce Act did not immediately limit the power of the railroads because its enforcement was weak and the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) lacked the authority to effectively regulate rates or compel significant changes. Additionally, the railroads often found ways to bypass regulations, and the courts were initially reluctant to uphold strict government control over the industry. It took years of legal battles and further legislation to strengthen the act’s impact on railroad monopolies. Big Business and Labor Andrew Carnegie - Scottish-American industrialist who led the expansion of the steel industry in the US during the 19th century. He became one of the wealthiest men of his time through his control of the steel industry. vertical integration - A business strategy where a company controls all aspects of production, from raw materials to the finished product to reduce costs and increase efficiency. horizontal integration - a strategy in which a company expands its control over the same type of business by acquiring or merging with competitors, reducing competition in the market. Social Darwinism - A theory that applied Charles Darwin’s principals of natural selection to society, suggesting that individuals or groups who are most fit (wealthy/successful) would naturally rise to the top, while those less fit (poor/unsuccessful) would fail. Monopoly – A market structure in which a single company or group controls an entire industry, limiting competition and often leading to higher prices. Holding company – A company created to buy and hold the shares of other companies, which gives it control over those companies without having to manage them directly. Trust – a business arrangement where several companies combine to limit competition and set prices. It is often used to describe large-scale business combinations that dominate a particular market. John D. Rockefeller - An American industrialist and co-founder of the Standard Oil Company, which became one of the largest monopolies in the world. He revolutionized the oil industry and became one of the richest men in history. Sherman Antitrust Act - An 1890 US law aimed at preventing monopolies and promoting competition by making it illegal to restrain trade of attempt to establish monopolies. Samuel Gompers - Leader of the AFL, important labor lead who advocated for better working conditions, wages, and hours for workers. American Federation of Labor (AFL) - A labor union founded in 1886 that focused on improving wages, working hours, and conditions for skilled workers. Eugene V. Debs - A labor leader and socialist who was one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and ran for president of the US five times as the candidate of the socialist party. Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) - radical labor union founded in 1905 that sought to unite all workers, including unskilled workers, to fight for workers' rights and improve working conditions across industries. Mary Harris Jones - Also known as “Mother Jones,” she was an activist and labor organizer who worked to improve working conditions, particularly in the coal mines, and advocated for child labor laws and workers’ rights. How did Carnegie take control of the steel industry? - He implemented innovative production techniques and acquired control over every aspect of the steel manufacturing process. He built and expanded steel mills and focused on increasing efficiency, which helped him dominate the market. Describe two ways in which Carnegie tried to control the steel industry. - Vertical integration (controlled every step of the production process) and Horizontal integration (Bought out smaller steel competitors to consolidate his position in the market) How did entrepreneurs try to control competition? - They formed monopolies, trusts, integration (vertical and horizontal) they reduced competition in any way they could. Why did entrepreneurs form trusts? - to reduce competition, consolidate power, and maximize profits. Trusts allowed them to manage multiple companies as a single entity, control their prices, output, and market share. What were the two major types of unions? - Craft Unions: Consisted of workers in a specific trade of craft. Focused on improving wages, working conditions, and benefits for workers with specific skills. Industrial Unions: Workers across an entire industry, including both skilled and unskilled labor. The AFL was an example of an industrial union. The New Immigrants Ellis Island - Located in New York Harbor, Ellis Island was the primary immigration station for immigrants arriving on the East Coast of the United States from 1892 to 1954. It processed millions of immigrants, many of whom were from Europe. Angel Island - Angel Island was an immigration station located in San Francisco Bay, serving primarily Asian immigrants, especially Chinese, from 1910 to 1940. It was often referred to as the "Ellis Island of the West," but the conditions there were harsher, and many immigrants were detained for longer periods. melting pot - This is a term used to describe societies where various ethnic and cultural groups assimilate into a larger, common, culture. This is mostly by combining and blending their traditions in with each others as well as the American societies cultures and traditions. The entirety of America is a melting pot as majority of US citizens were immigrants to this land. nativism - The f that favors the interests of people born in America (or native-born) or the established inhabitants rather than the interests of immigrants. This belief leads to the marginalization of immigrants and hostility. These practices often end up having discriminatory laws and practices to back the hostility. Chinese Exclusion Act - The Act of 1882 was a federal law that prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers to the US. It was one of the first laws that restricted immigration based on ethnicity and was part of the broader effort to curb the influence of Chinese immigrants in the US. Gentlemen’s Agreement - The Agreement of 1907 was an informal agreement between the US and Japan. Japan agreed to limit the number of immigrants to the US, while the US agreed to end the segregation of Japanese students in California. It was a response to the anti-Japanese sentiment in the US at the time. Where did the new immigrants come from? - Primarily during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the immigrants mostly came from southern and eastern Europe. Countries include, Italy, Poland, Russia, and Greece. A significant number also came from China and Japan, especially on the West Coast. How did immigrants cope in America? - They formed communities of people that were from their same countries and ethnicities, they could then preserve their culture, language, and traditions while still being able to adapt to the American life. They also took jobs in factories, railroads, and other industries. They mostly had hard, harsh jobs that made them work for long hours. Immigrant aid organizations and settlement houses were formed to help immigrants. How did some Americans react to immigration? - Some of the American people reacted negatively, believing that the immigrants would take their jobs, reduce wages, and change the cultural makeup of the country. Nativist attitudes formed and discrimination against immigrants was rampant. Give two examples of antiimmigration measures in the U.S. - The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) and the Gentlemen’s Agreement (1907) Both were to limit and exclude members of Southeast Asia from immigrating into the US. The Challenges of Urbanization urbanization - The process of which an increasing proportion of the population comes to live in cities and urban areas, often due to industrialization and the growth of industires that create jobs in citie centers. Americanization movement - An effort in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to assimilate immigrants into the American culture. It aimed to teach immigrants English, American customs, and values. This was so they could better integrate into society. tenement - A type of apartment building, often poorly constructed, that housed low-income urban residents. Typically overcrowded and with unsanitary conditions. These buildings were common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially among immigrant communities. mass transit - Refers to public transportation systems, such as buses, subways, and streetcars. Designed to move large numbers of people efficiently within urban areas. Mass transit played a key role in helping cities accommodate growing populations by allowing people to travel across cities easily. Social Gospel movement - Religious movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that aimed to apply Christian ethics to social problems. Especially issues like poverty, labor rights, and inequality. It promoted the idea that Christians should actively work to improve society and help those in need. settlement house - a community center in urban areas that provided social services, education, and assistance to the poor, particularly immigrants. Aimed to improve the lives of urban dwellers by offering resources such as classes, childcare, and healthcare. Jane Addams - Social reformer and the co-founder of Hull House in Chicago, one of the most famous settlement houses. She worked to improve the living conditions of immigrants and the urban poor. Advocated for social justice and women’s rights. Why did people move to the cities? - Better job opportunities in industries and factories. Possibility of improved living conditions and access to better services (education/healthcare) Rural areas were also facing economic hardships due to technological farm advancements leading to less farmhands needed. Name two groups that settled in the cities. - Immigrants and African Americans from the South. What problems did city dwellers face? - highly overcrowded living conditions, poor sanitation and lack of safety. Gangs ruled certain areas which posed risks to citizens. High crime rates, lack of healthcare, and pollution were also problems the city dwellers faced. How did reformers help the poor? - The Social Gospel Movement as well as other reformers worked to improve living conditions for the poor by providing housing, education, healthcare, and social services. They also advocated for labor rights and the regulation of businesses to improve workers’ conditions. Name two things a settlement house provided for the poor. - Education (english, vocational training, and citizenship courses), Social Services (healthcare, child care, and assitance finding jobs and housing.)

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