What’s a Government to Do?

Laissez Faire Economic Policy Economic Policy Businesses should make their own decisions Businesses should make their own decisions Government regulation is not needed and may even be harmful Government regulation is not needed and may even be harmful

Unions Fight for Workers’ Rights Haymarket Riot Haymarket Riot Chicago Chicago Labor rally turned violent when a bomb exploded. Labor rally turned violent when a bomb exploded.

Unions Make Strides Collective bargaining – representatives for the workers and for the management work together to agree on pay, working conditions, benefits… Collective bargaining – representatives for the workers and for the management work together to agree on pay, working conditions, benefits… Mediation – a third party helps workers and management agree on a contract Mediation – a third party helps workers and management agree on a contract

Populist Party Power to the People Power to the People -coinage of silver -income tax -railroad regulation -direct election of senators

Farmers and the Populist Movement Why had farming become unprofitable during this period? Why had farming become unprofitable during this period? Falling prices (surplus of crops Falling prices (surplus of crops High transportation costs (railroads were very powerful) High transportation costs (railroads were very powerful) Scarcity of good land (poor weather/ drought) High Interest Rates Why did farmers support free coinage of Silver Why did farmers support free coinage of Silver To cause inflation “cheap money They hoped that if more money was available they would get more of it They felt the gold standard favored big industries

Solutions for Farmers Free silver – more coins means more money for farmers Free silver – more coins means more money for farmers The Grange – farmers demand gov. control of railroads (so they can transport crops cheaply) The Grange – farmers demand gov. control of railroads (so they can transport crops cheaply)

Solutions for Farmers Free Silver Free Silver Interstate Commerce Act Interstate Commerce Act Gov. regulates trade between states Gov. regulates trade between states

BIG Business Corporation – stockholders share profits but are not personally responsible for debts Corporation – stockholders share profits but are not personally responsible for debts Monopoly – One company controls the sale and distribution of a product of service Monopoly – One company controls the sale and distribution of a product of service

I owe my soul to the company store… Company town – community where a corporation owns the factory, housing, and shopping Company town – community where a corporation owns the factory, housing, and shopping

Sherman Anti-Trust Act Banned monopolies Banned monopolies Companies had to allow competition and could not form unfair trusts Companies had to allow competition and could not form unfair trusts

What the Rich Told Themselves Gospel of Wealth – the rich give back by building hospitals, libraries, colleges, museums, and churches Gospel of Wealth – the rich give back by building hospitals, libraries, colleges, museums, and churches Social Darwinism – The rich were rich because of their good genes. If poor people suffer and die, it might be for their own good because they’re simply not fit to survive. Social Darwinism – The rich were rich because of their good genes. If poor people suffer and die, it might be for their own good because they’re simply not fit to survive.

What the Rich Called Themselves Entrepreneur – someone who takes risks and invests money into starting a business Entrepreneur – someone who takes risks and invests money into starting a business

What Other People Called the Uber Rich Robber Barons – business leaders who used didhonest methods to grow rich Robber Barons – business leaders who used didhonest methods to grow rich

Bring Your Poor and Huddled Masses…. Tenements – poorly built apartments in cities Tenements – poorly built apartments in cities Ghetto – usually poor neighborhood where recent immigrants lived together Ghetto – usually poor neighborhood where recent immigrants lived together

Bring Us Your Poor and Huddled Masses Settlement house – community center where poor immigrants could go for education and social services Settlement house – community center where poor immigrants could go for education and social services

Bring Us Your Poor and Huddled Masses…. Pluralism Pluralism People of all races and ethnicities are distinct but have equal social standing People of all races and ethnicities are distinct but have equal social standing Assimilation Assimilation One cultural group is absorbed into another

Bring Us Your Poor and Huddled Masses Nativism – a policy of favoring native-born individuals over foreign-born ones Nativism – a policy of favoring native-born individuals over foreign-born ones

Bring Us Your Poor and Huddled Masses…. Political machine – system in urban areas where political party “Bosses” controlled neighborhood government Political machine – system in urban areas where political party “Bosses” controlled neighborhood government

What About the First Americans Dawes Act Dawes Act Removed land from tribal possession and distributed it among individual Indian families Removed land from tribal possession and distributed it among individual Indian families Broke down tribes Broke down tribes Promote individualism Promote individualism

What the Charts Say…

What the Charts Say