U.S. History Chapter 14 Lecture Notes

Inventions make people’s lives easier 1.Used the Steam Engine to drill for oil in the United States, “Black Gold”. Edwin L. Drake 2.Invented a faster and cheaper process for producing steel. Henry Bessemer 3.Invented the Incandescent Light Bulb. Thomas Alva Edison 4.Invented the Typewriter. Christopher Sholes

Railroad Scandals Exposed 5.Place where the two lines that would form the Transcontinental Railroad would be joined, used a symbolic “Golden Spike” to mark the junction. Promontory Point, Utah 6.His Company produced luxury railroad cars, built a “factory town” that provided all the services the employees would need. George Pullman 7.Scandal involving stockholders from the Union Pacific Railroad company bilking the government of hundreds of thousands of Dollars. Credit Mobilier

The Farmers Fight Back 8.Laws passed by local and state governments designed to protect farmers from Railroad abuse. Granger Laws 9.Supreme Court decision that stated that states had the authority to set maximum rates on the Railroad Companies. Munn v. Illinois 10.Supreme Court decision that overturned Munn v. Illinois by stating that individual states could not regulate interstate commerce Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific RR Company v. Illinois (The Wabash Case) 11.Act of Congress that established maximum rates on the Railroads, set up a commission to regulate trade crossing state lines. Interstate Commerce Act

Progress Quiz # Which of the following developed a faster and cheaper method for producing steel, which led a construction revolution in the United States (Railroads, Skyscrapers, etc.)? A. Thomas Edison B. Alexander Graham Bell C. Henry Bessemer D. George Pullman 32.Which of the following owned a company that produced luxury Railroad “Sleeper Cars”, he introduced the concept of a “Factory Town”? A. Thomas Edison B. Alexander Graham Bell C. Henry Bessemer D. George Pullman

Progress Quiz #25 (cont.) 33. Which of the following describes a set of laws passed at the state and local levels (particularly in Illinois) designed to protect farmers from Railroad abuse? A. Jim Crow Laws B. Granger Laws C. Neutrality Acts D. Enforcement Acts 34.Which of the following Supreme Court rulings established that the State Governments could regulate the freight rates of Railroads? A. Wabash Case B. Plessy v. Ferguson C. Munn v. Illinois D. Gibbons v. Ogden

Progress Quiz #25 (Cont.) 35. Which of the following Acts of Congress set up a commission to regulate the Railroads, which were abusing Midwest Farmers through excessive freight rates? A. Selective Service Act B. Social Security Act C. Interstate Commerce Act D. Sherman Antitrust Act

Progress Quiz #25 Answers 31. C 32. D 33. B 34. C 35. C Any Questions?

Running the Show 12.Wealthy businessmen who abused laborers and the consumer during the late-1800’s. Robber Barons 13.Built a monopoly in the Steel Industry, began U.S. Steel, gave millions of dollars away to charities. Andrew Carnegie 14.Built a monopoly in the Oil Industry, probably the most associated with the Robber Barons and attempts to stifle free trade and competition in America, Standard Oil Company. John D. Rockefeller 15.Built a monopoly in the Banking Industry, eventually took over ownership of U.S. Steel and built it into the largest company in America. J.P. Morgan 16.Modification of Charles Darwin’s theory on Natural Selection, developed by Herbert Spencer, used by the Robber Barons to justify their business practices, “survival of the fittest”. Social Darwinism

Running the Show 26. Developed a monopoly in the Railroad industry. Cornelius Vanderbilt

The Workers Unite 18.First large scale labor union to be organized in the United States. The National Labor Union 19.Organized by Uriah Stephens, they accepted members of any race, gender, or ethnicity, they were most involved in the Haymarket Square Riot, known for use of arbitration in disputes. The Knights of Labor 20.Organized by Samuel Gompers, they were the most successful organization of skilled workers during this period, focused on collective bargaining. The American Federation of Labor 21.Organized by Eugene V. Debs, organized workers from the entire Railroad Industry, Union of both skilled and unskilled workers, Debs was a leader in the Socialist Party. The American Railway Union

The Workers Unite 27. Organized by William “Big Bill” Haywood, organized unskilled workers, adversely opposed to Capitalism, used extreme measures such industrial sabotage. Industrial Workers of the World

Progress Quiz #26 36.

The Labor Movement Falters 24.Court order to stop the Pullman Strike, Court ruled that the Pullman Strike jeopardized the delivery of the mail. Injunctions Used commonly by the Courts to oppose striking workers 22.Confrontation between striking workers and police in Chicago, turned the American public against labor unions. Haymarket Square Riot (The Haymarket Affair) 17.Act of Congress that was aimed at busting up the monopolies, but was eventually used by the Monopolies to attack labor unions. Sherman Anti-Trust Act This government action was intended to break up the monopolies that were obstructing free trade, but it was worded so poorly that the Monopolies were able to use it to attack the Labor Unions

Labor Union Lingo 25.Contract workers were forced to sign stating that they would not join unions. Yellow Dog Contract 23.Individuals that crossed picket lines to work for companies, strikebreakers. Scabs