HIST 1302 Chapter 16

Who was Charles Darwin, and what was his contribution to science?

"survival of the fittest." Evolution, natural selection.

How was wealth inequality divided at the end of the 1800s?

1% of Americans owned ¼ of nation's assets; top 10% owned over 70%, richest 10% controlled 90% of nation's wealth.

Who was the American Federation of Labor? Who joined the organization, what changes did they want to make, and what successes/failures did they experience?

AFL. Conservative alt to Knights of Labor. Alliance of craft unions (skilled workers). Advocated "pure and simple trade of unionism," program aimed for practical gains (higher wages, fewer hours, safer conditions) thru a conservative approach that tried to avoid strikes, althou workers continued strike.

What happened at Homestead, Pennsylvania?

Amalgamated Assoc of Iron and Steel Workers struck at one of Carnegie's steel mills. Wage cuts, workers shut down plant and occupied mill. Pinkertons tried to suppress it, but workers fought back. Pinkerton's surrendered, kicked out of mill. Pennsylvania gov called militia, broke strike, reopened mill. Union essentially destroyed in aftermath.

What led to corporate mergers? What were the advantages and disadvantages of these mergers?

Companies folded into rival firms. Rather than suffer from ruinous competition, firms combined and bypassed it. But it gave birth to monopoly. Created un-heard of profits, but also created millions of low-paid, unskilled, unreliable jobs w/ longs hours, dangerous working conditions. Powerful wealthy men over terribly poor working people.

Who were the Knights of Labor? Who joined the organization, what changes did they want to make, and what successes/failures did they experience?

Enjoyed considerable success in early 1880s thanks to efforts in uniting skilled and unskilled workers. Welcomed all laborers, including women (except lawyers, bankers, and liquor dealers). Over 7,000 members, aimed to form society rewarding labor, but focused on practical gains that could be won thru organization of workers into local unions.

What led to the rise of the People's (Populist) Party? What were its main beliefs?

Farmer's dissatisfaction with erratic and impersonal system. Systems believed to enrich parasitic bankers and industrial monopolists at expense of many laboring farmers who fed the nation by producing its many crops and farm goods.

How did Jay Gould's rail company in Marshall, Texas respond to the Knights of Labor? What was the outcome of this event?

Fired a member for attending union meeting. Local union walked off job, others joined him, 200,000 included. Gould hired workers as well as Pinkerton Detective Agency to suppress strikes and get rails rolling again. Angered by Texas gov calling out Texas Rangers, countered by destroying railroad property, only winning negative reactions and ended justifying use of strikebreakers and militiamen. Strike broke, briefly undermined, but organization regrouped, set its eyes on ntl campaign for the eight-hour day.

How did the Republican Party support the interests of big business?

Gave congress millions of acres and dollars to railroad companies. Maintained a high protective tariff, an import tax designed to shield American businesses from foreign competition.

What happened during the Pullman Strike of 1894? How did the American Railway Union respond? What was the outcome of this strike?

George Pullman cut wages by a quarter but kept rents and utilities in his company town constant. American Railway Union (URA) led by Eugene Debs, launched sympathy strike: ARU refused to handle any Pullman cars on any rail line. Thousands of workers struck and ntl railroad traffic ground to a halt. Gov of IL sympathized with workers, refused to dispatch militia. But President Cleveland dispatched soldiers to break strike, fed court issued preemptive injunction against Debs and union's leadership. Debs arrested, realized political and judicial leaders mere tools for capital in its struggle against labor. Many strikes still occurred, denounced political corruption for enabling economic theft.

What demands did American workers make through strikes and protests?

Higher wages, shorter hours, safer working conditions.

What led to the rise of the Farmers' Alliance? How did this organization grow?

Hit hard by industrialization. Efficiency in markets and technological improvements decreased commodity prices. Commercialization of farming put farmers at mercy of bankers, railroads, etc. More fell into debt, lost land, forced to enter industrial workforce.

1. What happened at Haymarket Square?

Labor leaders and radicals called for protest at ____ following police killing several workers in Chicago. Police tried to break them up, but a bomb detonated, killing 7 policemen. Police fired into crowd, killing 4. Deaths sparked outrage, Haymarket riot was sensationalized. Many Americans associated unionism w/ radicalism. 8 Chicago anarchists were arrested and found guilty of conspiracy w/o evidence. 4 hanged, one killed themselves. Group became associated w/ violence and radicalism. Ntl movement of 8-hour day stopped.

What conditions could American workers expect in their jobs?

Long hours, difficult jobs, little pay. Skilled laborers stuck with unskilled positions. Annual income falling below poverty line. Wives and children forced to work. Crowded cities failed to accommodate growing urban populations; skyrocketing rents forced families into slums.

What was Social Darwinism?

Natural order that extended from the laws of the cosmos to the workings of industrial society. All species and societies governed by a relentless competitive struggle for survival. Inequality of outcomes not only tolerated but encouraged and celebrated.

What happened during the Great Railroad Strike of 1877?

New era of labor conflict. Slashed workers' wages. Workers shut down railroad traffic across country. Police tried but couldn't stop strikers, strikers destroyed railroad property. Protests happened; protestors were killed. Federal troops defeated strikes and reopened lines. 100 Americans died.

What allowed for corporations to rise after the Civil War, and how were shareholders protected?

New state incorporation laws passed became legal mechanism for nearly any enterprise to marshal vast amounts of capital while limiting the liability of shareholders. Weren't held back to legal and financial obligations, but could still retain right to profit massively.

Who was Cyrus McCormick, and how did he improve production in his factories?

Overseen construction of mechanical reapers. Enabled massive efficiency gains in grain farming.

Who was William Jennings Bryan? What ideas did he support while running for president?

Populists' first ntl election campaign. Received over one million votes, 22 electoral votes. Opposed Darwinism. Ntl renown for his attack on gold standard and tireless promotion of free silver, policies for benefit of avg American.

What were the new principles of scientific management, or Taylorism, that were applied to industries?

Proponent Frederick Taylor. Precision of steel parts, harnessing electricity, innovations of machine tools, mass markets wrought by railroads offered new avenues for efficiency. Urged all manufacturers to increase efficiency by subdividing tasks. Different laborers assigned to complete different tasks. Increased the scale and scope of manufacturing and allowed for the flowering of mass production.

What was the Gold Standard Act?

Put the country on the gold standard, ending debate over nation's monetary policy. Estbl gold as the sole basis for redeeming paper currency.

Who were some of the major industrial giants, or robber barons, mentioned in Chapter 16, and what industry did they command?

Railroad operators AKA Cornelius Vanderbilt, oilmen J.D. Rockefeller, steel magnates Andrew Carnegie, bankers J. P. Morgan.

What were the proposals of the Omaha Platform?

Sought to counter the scale and power of monopolistic capitalism with a strong, engaged, and modern federal gov. proposed unprecedented expansion of federal power. Nationalizing country's railroad and telegraph systems to ensure that essential services would be run in the best interests of the people. Advocated postal savings banks to protect depositors and extend credit. Establishment of a network of federally managed warehouses-called subtreasuries-extend gov loans to farmers who stored crops in warehouses, awaited higher market prices. Inflationary monetary policy by monetizing silver. Serving interests of people rather than entrenched partisan interests.

Who was Herbert Spencer? What did he mean by survival of the fittest?

Supported Darwin's view. Said the fittest would demonstrate their superiority through economic success.

What nation was the leading manufacturing nation in 1900?

United States

What led to the rise of the Socialist Party? What were their goals?

Uniting farmers and workers. Argued wealth and power consolidated in hands of too few individuals. Monopolies and trusts controlled too much of the economy, owners and investors grew rich while workers still suffered from low pay, long hours, unsafe working conditions. Wanted to ensure all men and women received a fair wage for their labor.