Unit 2: Gilded Age Review

Andrew Carnegie-

A powerful industrialist in the Gilded Age. His companies manufactured steel and built railroads. He authored "The Gospel of Wealth" which promoted philanthropic actions such as the building of libraries and schools.

Americanization Movement to Assimilate Immigrants and American Indians into American Culture.-

American Indian children were taken away from their homes and traditional culture and sent to boarding schools to become "Americanized." Immigrants - schools were "Americanization" centers for new immigrants to learn English and patriotism.

Civil service reform-

Assassination of Garfield, Pendleton Act of 1883 Graduated income tax Direct election of senators Beginnings of Populism

New technologies can also introduce unintended consequences such as?-

Atomic research leading to nuclear weapons, antibiotic use increasing drug-resistant forms of disease, and the elimination of outdated forms of employment like telegraph operators, ice cutters, and lamplighters.

An expansion of air travel has allowed for?-

Business and leisure travel.

The Social Gospel-

Early reform movement that preached salvation could be reached by serving the poor Helped to start the establishment of settlement houses (community centers in slum neighborhoods that provided assistance to people in the area)

Communication innovations starting with the telegraph and later the telephone has allowed for?-

Easier and quicker spread of information and increased connectivity between individuals.

Western Expansion-

Cause: Homestead Act, Klondike Gold Rush Effect: populated the western Unites States, especially with generations of European descendants, forced American Indians off lands.

Rural to urban - urbanization during the Gilded Age-

Cause: growing economic opportunities in cities because of industrialization Effect: densely populated cities mainly in the Northeast

Urbanization-

Cities grew around immigration and industrial centers. Cities were crowded and living conditions were often unhealthy (sanitation, water, etc.). Ethnic neighborhoods were established in cities where immigrants settled.

Political machines-

Corruption in politics (e.g., Tammany Hall, Boss Tweed, Thomas Nast's illustrations) Leaders of ________________ known as political bosses gained support of the populous by making improvements to urban infrastructures, providing jobs to immigrants and the poor, and giving favors to local businessmen. Because of the rapid increase in immigrant populations, local governments could not provide basic services quickly; therefore, local political machines filled the void by providing such services. The expectation was to then have support from these groups, especially immigrants, at the ballot box.

Causes and Effects of Changing Demographic Patterns Resulting from Legal and Illegal Immigration to the US-

Economic conditions and political persecution led many immigrants to enter the United States legally and illegally Large influxes of immigrants caused rapid growth in ports of entry and cities with heavy industry. Border states with Mexico have experienced greater cultural diffusion and a higher density of the Hispanic population due to proximity. Western states have experienced greater cultural diffusion and a higher density of Asian populations due to proximity. Businesses have responded to growing immigrant populations by providing telecommunications in a variety of languages, promoting products consumed by various cultural groups, and marketing and product packaging in multiple languages

The introduction of satellite and cellular technologies has?-

Enhanced telephone service to be faster and farther reaching.

Populist Party-

Established in 1890s; comprised of poor farmers from the south; generally opposed to banks, railroads and upper class.

Electric Power-

Facilitated increased production in factories by lengthening the work day (light bulb) and powering faster machines.

Light bulbs enabled:-

Factories to remain open at night.

Internal-Combustion Engine-

Fueled by gasoline, improved transportation allowing for expanded markets and lower transportation costs.

The need to conserve water amid dwindling availability has resulted in?-

GPS-guided precision agriculture

Settlement of the Great Plains-

Human factors - the Plains Indians were the earliest settlers; innovations such as the steel plow made it easier to break the dense soil and farm the land (increased settlement); The Homestead Act encouraged settlement Physical factors - located between the South and Midwest regions to the east and the Rocky Mountains to the west; experience the greatest extremes in temperature and climatic conditions of any region in the U.S. Winters are cold, with frequent snowy blizzards, while summers bring hot, dry winds; due to the consistency of the topography, the land was ideal for farming.

Klondike Gold Rush - late 1800s, in Northern Washington and Alaska-

Human factors - thousands, hoping to ease the woes of economic depression, sold farms, dropped businesses, and boarded ships to follow their dreams north. Physical factors - Alaska was seen as a large and distant source of raw materials.

Optimism of the Many Immigrants Who Sought a Better Life in America-

Immigrant optimism is typically based on the idea that each generation will do better in life than the one that preceded it. (Pursuit of the American Dream)

Alexander Graham Bell-

In 1876 invents the telephone, revolutionizing communications Long-distance communication made possible the expansion of national market

Indian policies-

Indian removal reservation system, Dawes Act, and destruction of buffalo and plains culture

Introduction of electricity allowed for?-

Longer work days, and improved quality of life by bring light into home and allowing for the use of small appliances.

Economic Issues

Industries and "Big Business" grew in response to technological innovations such as the Bessemer Steel Process, which enabled faster production of a stronger steel product. (e.g., Steel and railroad manufacturing businesses became "big business" as the demand for steel increased, and railroads began to be built from steel.) Other breakthroughs in electricity, mass communication, and shipping allowed factories to produce more, at a faster rate. Large numbers of immigrants provided industrialists with more workers. Shift from rural to urban society Growth of labor unions Labor leaders criticized company owners and managers for reducing competition, paying low wages and maintaining unsafe working conditions for their employees. Factory workers formed and joined labor unions in order to engage in collective bargaining with employers. Many workers went on strike in the 1880s. Three significant events of the time period included the "Great Strikes," Homestead, Pullman, and Haymarket Riot. Farm issues Westward expansion Late 1800s famers began to rely on mechanization to improve and increase agricultural production. As a result, overproduction occurred and farmers went into debt. Farmers generally supported adoption of a free silver coinage monetary policy. This would increase money supply and inflate prices benefiting them when agricultural products were sold. Cattle industry boom Cattle industry boomed in the late 1800s as the culture and influence of the Plains American Indians declined. Growing demand for beef in cities after the Civil War Railroads provided method of transportation of beef to urbanized areas. Rise of entrepreneurship An entrepreneur is someone who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business; an agent of change; discovers new ways to combine resources. In the 1800s, many were considered entrepreneurs because they created value by moving resources out of less productive areas and into more productive ones. Other example: skilled immigrants used their trade skills to establish businesses of their own. Free enterprise As industry grew rapidly, the U.S. government promoted free enterprise (business that can operate competitively for profit with little government involvement/regulation). Big business Industrialists and business leaders used Horizontal and Vertical Alignment to reduce competition and expand their companies. Reduction of competition led to the creation of monopolies and trusts. Significant industrialists include, Carnegie, Rockefeller, Morgan, Vanderbilt, etc. Some people viewed these men as "Captains of Industry," while others viewed them as "Robber Barons." Socio-economic divisions widened as industries grew.

Bessemer Process-

Introduced in the 1850's, revolutionized the steel production process by significantly speeding up the process.

Innovations in technology contributed to?-

Longer workdays and higher levels of production (e.g., assembly line manufacturing).

The availability of automobiles and access to mass transportation in the United States has facilitated access to?-

Jobs, retail, recreation venues as well as allowing for a wider spatial distribution of the population.

New technologies often influence everyday life by?-

Leading to the creation of new jobs. Increased efficiency, greater convenience, greater speed, and cheaper costs are often associated with the impact of new technologies.

Affecting children-

Many children worked in factories, performing dangerous jobs. Children were sometimes paid lower wages than adult workers.

Affecting immigrants-

Many immigrants entered the United States via ports of entry such as Ellis Island in New York, Angel Island in San Francisco, and Galveston Island in Texas. The immigrant experience at these ports of entry included physical examinations, interrogation, language, and intelligence testing, etc. Immigrants faced language and cultural barriers, and sometimes were separated from family members, detained for health or legal reasons, or deported before entering the United States. Immigrants faced the threat of poverty and often struggled to survive due to competition for jobs and living space. Immigrants often crowded into city tenements or moved westward in search of opportunities. Skilled immigrants used their trade skills to establish businesses of their own. Sweatshops were home factory-like operations where skilled and unskilled laborers worked in unsavory conditions.

Affecting Women-

Many young women worked in factories that made textiles. They tended to be young and single. Often wages were lower than men's wages

William Jennings Bryan-

Most popular candidate; in the election of 1896 Bryan at the age of 36 ran as the Democratic Party nominee after delivering his famous "Cross of Gold" speech at the nominating convention and was defeated by Republican Party candidate William McKinley

Affecting minorities-

Nativists opposed the new waves of immigrants and supported restrictions on immigration. Competition for resources (jobs, living space, etc.) created tension and division between racial and ethnic groups and fueled nativist sentiment. Some minority groups faced exclusion from employment or housing. Immigrants were encouraged to assimilate into American culture. Public schools played a large role in the assimilation of immigrants.

Impact of Third Parties-

Often focus on issues the main parties ignore Candidates can split the major party with which they are most similar, leading to the other major party's victory.

The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)-

Prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the United States; passed in response to nativist sentiment.

Appealed to farmers-

Promoted political action to try to protect the agricultural industry Wanted the government to own the railroads, telephone, and telegraph to keep large companies from being able to control the prices Supported the monetary policy of free coinage of silver as that would provide more access to money, inflate prices, and result in higher prices for agricultural products

Access to information has been facilitated by the expansion of?-

Radio, television and computer technologies, and most significantly by the creation of the Internet.

Philanthropy of industrialists-

Several wealthy industrialists elected to give back to the community through philanthropic activities (e.g., founding of Carnegie Hall). "The Gospel of Wealth" (1889) set forth Carnegie's idea that rich men are "trustees" of their wealth and should administer it for the good of the public.

Edwin L Drake-

Struck oil in 1859, enabling kerosene production and paving the way for future products such as gasoline.

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882-

The first major law restricting immigration to the United States. It was enacted in response to economic fears, especially on the West Coast, where native-born Americans attributed unemployment and declining wages to Chinese workers, whom they also viewed as racially inferior.

The need to increase agricultural output and preserve surplus agriculture resulted in?-

The invention of the McCormick Reaper, steel plow, canned food, and refrigeration.

How Economic Impact of the Transcontinental Railroad and the Homestead Act Contributed to the Close of the Frontier in the late 19th Century

Transcontinental Railroad (completed 1869) Attracted settlers to the West, attracted immigrants for jobs working on the railroad, and significantly reduced travel time across the United States Allowed for the transport of crops and cattle to markets creating economic expansion of the agricultural sector Large cities grew where railroads converged, such as Chicago, Kansas City, and Denver Towns thrived along railroad stops, local economy grew Homestead Act (1862) Attracted European immigrants to settle the Great Plains 270 million acres were claimed by homesteaders Homesteaders were able to successfully farm the land In combination, the building of the Transcontinental Railroad and the passage of the Homestead Act allowed for economic development and settlement of the West thereby closing the vast frontier

Effects of Population Growth and Distribution of the Physical Environment-

Urbanization occurred as cities grew around industrial centers. Population density increased as workers crowded into cities in search of jobs. Cities became polluted; waterways contaminated; air quality diminished Urban sprawl of the major U.S. cities; growth of suburbs Disruption to animal migration patterns and habitats, including deforestation The establishment and protection of the National Park System, and efforts of private nonprofit organizations to protect the physical environment from the effects of population growth

Growth of railroads

ds for shipping. Railroads grew in response to increased demands of industrialization and Western Expansion. Railroads expanded westward to meet demands of settlement and economic development of the West. Railroads carried people and products to new markets in the West and across the United States. Railroad shipping facilitated the growth of ranching, farming, and mining industries in the West. Industrial and technological innovations in manufacturing and mass communication enabled rapid growth of railroads.