Guilded Age Test Review

What is the free enterprise system?

Economic system in which consumer demand dictates prices and production rather than government regulation

What port of entry did most Europeans immigrating to the United States use?

Ellis Island in NYC

Why were children working in factories?

Families needed the money

How did the US Government react to the Great Strikes?

Government took the side of Big Business and stayed that what unil the Great Depression

What is Rockefeller known for?

His success in the oil industry and his Standard Oil Trust

What is laissez faire? If a government is said to have laissez-faire economic policies, what does that mean?

If there is little to no government Regulation of business, it is said to be a laissez faire economy

what factors caused urbanization during the Gilded Age?

Industrialization immigration farmers struggling

What was the Great Migration of African Americans?

Large scale migration of African Americans from the rural South to the Urban North

Who used the Term Guilded Age and what was meant by that name?

Mark Twain--the period was glittering on the surface but corrupt underneath.

What is the American Federation of Labor and who could become a member?

Most exclusive labor union, only allowed skilled, male, white workers

Who could become a member of The Knights of Labor?

Most inclusive union, allowed skilled and unskilled, white and black, male and female

Know the 6 Reasons for industrial growth.

Natural Resources Immigration Laissez-Faire government regulations T he Trans-Contintental Railroad Talented new Entrepreneurs New Technology

List reasons workers were going on strike

Poor working conditions low wages long hours unsafe working conditions

How did the invention of the electric light bulb affect industrialization?

Provided for clean, safe light, and longer working hours.

What were some pull factors for immigration?

Religious Freedom Economic opportunities Land Jobs

What is Horizontal integration (consolidation)?

Rockefeller - acquiring control of all production in one phase of the manufacturing process.

How did businesses react to the labor unions?

Scabs Strikebreakers Yellowdog Congracts

What is a Nativist? What would they push for in this county?

Someone who favors native born population over immigrants. Immigration restriction

What is Carnegie known for?

Steel industry

What group was targeted by the Interstate Commerce Act and what group was the Act created to help?

Targeted the Railroad owners---- Created to help farmers

Describe urbanization:

The process by which cities grow and become more populated

What is the Bessemer Process used for?

The refining process made steel cheaper and more widely available

What was the "Gospel of Wealth"?

The title of Andrew Carnegie's book stated that there was no limit on the amount or method of acquiring wealth, but at the end of one's life, you must give your fortune away

Who invented the light bulb?

Thomas Edison

What is the purpose/goal of the Sherman Antitrust Act? Was it successful?

To break up businesses that were "acting in restraint of trade" (monopolies and trusts) Was not successful

Who made up the first wave of immigrants?

Up until 1890, immigrants were mainly from Northern and Western Europe

What were some push factors for immigration?

War Famine Racial and Religious Persecution

What strikes did we talk about in class?

a. Great RR strike of 1887 b. Haymarket Strike/Riot/Massacre c. Homestead Strike d. Pullman STrike

How did the Transcontinental Railroad impact the United States?

cheaper & faster movement of goods provided people with needed essentials connected distant markets Connected the east and west making travel easier

What was Social Darwinism?

the theory that certain groups were destined to be successful, while others were destined to be unsuccessful based on genetic and cultural traits. "Survival of the Fittest"

Describe the distribution of wealth in America during the Gilded Age.

."Robber Barons" acquired tremendous wealth while factory wages and conditions declined

What was the cultural difference between the first and second wave of immigrants

2nd wave was mostly Non English Speaker, non-Protestant religions, didn't blend in well

What was Tammany Hall? What were they doing with the democratic process? Underming it b/c corruption and scandal

A political organization in NYC that was run through the Democratic Party. Overwhelmingly corrupt. Underming it b/c corruption and scandal

Who made up the second wave of immigrants?

After 1890, immigrants were mainly form southern and Eastern Europe

What is the purpose of Labor Unions?

Allowed workers to unite to protest/strike for better working conditions, wages, or shorter working hours

What was the Guilded Age

An age of rapid industrialization, urbanization and wealth in an era also known for difficult working conditions, poor living conditions and political corruption.

What is an entrepreneur?

An individual who invests in an idea, assuming financial risk but also has the potential to make profits.

Why did farmers begin to move to the cities?

As farmers became more efficient, crop prices dropped and many farmers were forced to take factory jobs.

Describe the difference between "Robber Barons" and "Captains of Industry."

Captains of Industry were seen as innovative and good for the nation's economy Robber BARONS were seen as greedy and corrupt

What is vertical integration (consolidation)?

Carnegie - controlling all steps in the manufacturing process to make your product more efficiently

What are tenements? Describe the conditions.

Dilapidated, crowded, unsanity dwellings in major cities. Describe the conditions. Unsanitary, overcrowded, unhealthy