Warm Up. Complete the Captains of Industry vs. Robber Barons DBQ

Transcription

1 Warm Up 1 Complete the Captains of Industry vs. Robber Barons DBQ 2 Be prepared to argue whether the industrial entrepreneurs of the Gilded Age are CI or RB 3 Read the intro to help you answer the questions located on page 3

2 THE GILDED AGE HOLDING BACK BIG BUSINESS

3 Industrial Entrepreneurs 1) A. Carnegie - Steel 2) JP Morgan- 3) J. Rockefeller - Banking Oil Henry Ford automobiles 5) Vanderbilt railroads

4 Industrial Entrepreneurs Andrew Carnegie John D. Rockefeller Henry Ford JP Morgan Cornelius Vanderbilt Carnegie Steel à US Steel Co. Standard Oil Co. Ford Automotive JP Morgan/ Chase Bank New York Central RR Used vertical and horizontal integration to create monopolies in their industries and charge high prices hurting people Carnegie Hall/ Gospel of Wealth à rich people should give their money to poor Rockefeller Center à supported arts in NYC Laborers paid good wages/ cars cheap Donated art collection to MoMA in NYC / provided loans to businesses Created Vanderbilt University

5 HOLDING BACK BIG BUSINESS I. Big businesses grew incredibly powerful in the U.S.A. during the Gilded Age II. Millionaires are making record profits but their business practices are hurting the consumers (people) III. The U.S. government stepped in to protect the people from unfair business practices used during the Gilded Age

6 INTERSATE COMMERCE ACT I. Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act: A. Created the ICC à Interstate Commerce Commission which regulated railroads and ended unfair business practices B. US government can regulate any business that is in multiple states C. First time the U.S. government stepped in to control big businesses

7 Sherman Anti-Trust Act I. Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 A. Law outlawing the combination of companies B. Prevented monopolies from forming C. Forced businesses to compete benefiting consumers D. Allowed the U.S. Government to break up trusts and monopolies E. Federal Trade Commission attacks monopolies What can I do when both Parties insist on kicking

8 Labor Unions

9 Industrial Workplace Problems I. Conditions for industrial workers had slowly improved with time but industrial workers still struggled with: A. Low wages, working conditions were dangerous and child labor was common i. 675 workers were killed in industrial accidents every week B. Industrial workers were expected to work 12 hour days/ 6 days a week C. No vacation, no sick days, no workers compensation D. Business owners had tremendous power over employees (could fire them for any reason) E. Employees grew incredibly unhappy with dangerous, low paying, uncomfortable working conditions and fought back

10 The Rise of Labor Unions I. Industrial workers organized together to create labor unions II. III. A. Labor Union à group of workers who unite to improve their wages, working conditions and benefits They were created to fight back against the poor working conditions in 19 th century factories Workers had few rights and no protection from the government

11 The Rise of Labor Unions I. Labor union provided strength in numbers II. Attempted to gain better working conditions and pay III. Stand together à against the company IV. Company could not fire their entire workforce so that had to negotiate with labor unions

12 Early Labor Unions I. The Knights of Labor A. First union to accept workers of all races and gender B. Pushed for 8 hour workday, equal pay for women, accepted skilled and unskilled workers II. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) A. Samuel Gompers created the AFL for skilled white males, won higher wages and shorter work weeks for its members B. Effectively used strikes to end poor industrial working conditions C. Collective bargaining agreements between laborers and company D. Written agreements to set wages & hours to avoid strikes

13 Unions Turn to Socialism I. Some unions soon turned to socialism to fight against big business A. Socialism = economic & political system based on government control of business & property B. Wealth is distributed evenly à eliminate capitalism, eliminate greed II. Socialist created Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) A. Eugene V. Debs was the founder of the IWW B. Never achieved significant membership C. Limited striking victories

14 Important Labor Strikes I. Haymarket Strike 1886 = strikers were fired upon by Chicago PD for protesting poor wages and bad working conditions II. Homestead Strike 1892 = workers used a strike to protest bad wages à attacked scabs filling their roles à National Guard stopped the strike with force III. Pullman Strike 1894 = RR workers protest wage cuts, strike turned violent and US Army was sent in to stop strike IV. The U.S. government always supported the owners, not the workers in labor disputes

15 Labor Unions I. Unions utilized strikes and work slow downs to protest poor working conditions II. Labor unions struggled to make gains as the government supported owners not workers III. Labor unions gained some support but failed to cause meaningful change in the late 19 th century

16 The Fight Against Big Business I. Big Businesses were able to grow during the late 19 th century due to favorable factors A. Laissez-faire, Social Darwinism, Vertical Integration, Horizontal Integration and RR II. The U.S. government attempted to fight back against big business using: A. Interstate Commerce Act & Sherman Anti-Trust Act III. Labor unions attempted to make meaningful change against big business but struggled IV. The USA is entering into the Gilded Age when industrialization, immigration and urbanization become the new American way of life!

17 Are You With Me? 1 What law passed in 1890 allowed the US government to break up monopolies? 2 Discuss the workplace conditions that industrial workers in the 19 th century endured? 3 What did workers form to fight back against their poor working conditions? (Name two labor unions) 4 How did unions and workers protest poor working conditions? (Name two strikes)