Industrial Revolution Lecture Notes
The Bessemer Process Henry Bessemer (Eng.), and William Kelly (U.S.) developed new process for making steel cheaper and easier allowed for mass production
Carnegie and the Corporation Vertical integrationconsolidation of all functions related to a particular industry Horizontal consolidationmerger of competitors in the same industry
Railroad Innovations Railroads were greatly expanded, and the industry was consolidated time zones, standard track gauge Credit Mobilier scandal (1867) tarnished Republican Party, President Grant s administration
The Grange and the Railroads Giant companies controlled most rail mileage workers were poorly paid, shipping rates remained high Grangers worked to elect sympathetic candidates, pushed for protective laws Interstate Commerce Act (1877) created a commission to regulate railroads, but remained ineffective until 1906 Panic of 1893 hit railroads hard, led to corporate consolidation (Vanderbilt, J.P. Morgan)
The Triumph of Technology New inventions stimulated industrial output and created new demand for consumer goods sewing machine (Singer 1860s) telephone (Alexander Graham Bell 1876) light bulb (Thomas Edison 1879) Edison s research lab provided a blueprint for corporate innovation phonograph, motion-picture camera, power plant
Social Darwinism Social Darwinism stated that the human race only evolves through competition wealth reflects fitness; poverty, weakness. Riches were a sign of God s favor Gospel of Wealth: Theory popular among industrialists that aiding the poor was of doubtful benefit
Andrew Carnegie: The Gospel of Wealth 1. According to Carnegie, what are the benefits of having an upper class? Has it always existed? 2. What are the three modes in which surplus wealth can be disposed of? 3. What is the responsibility of a Man of Wealth?
Cost & Benefits of Economic Growth Benefits The U.S. became the world s industrial superpower Consumer demand was encouraged by both innovative products and extensive advertising Costs Small companies were often bankrupted by predatory corporations Industrial growth led to exploitation of unskilled labor, environmental destruction
Migrants and Immigrants Over 10 million European immigrants came to America from 1860 to 1890 Ellis Island, New York Many also came from Mexico and Asia Angel Island, San Francisco Motivated by both push factors and pull factors
Push Factors and Pull Factors Push Factors Overpopulation Crop failure Famine Religious Persecution Violence Economic depression Unemployment Pull Factors Promise of good wages Broad range of jobs Abundance of cheap land Many rural Americans were also drawn to cities for similar reasons
Adjusting to an Urban Society Immigrants often settled near others from the same country or town chain migration Maintained cultural traditions, many became American traditions encouraged to Americanize Those who spoke English and practiced a skilled trade had relatively few problems others experience culture shock
The Rise of Nativism Many believed in the idea of America as a cultural melting pot others disliked immigrants, formed antiimmigrant groups Anti-Asian sentiment led to government action Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) led to prohibition of Chinese immigration until 1943 Gentlemen s Agreement limited immigration from Japan during early 1900s
Slums and Ghettos American cities were plagued by poverty, crime, and disease immigrants housed in overcrowded tenement buildings unsafe water, poor sanitation conditions, frequent fire, rampant crime Jacob Riis documented life in slums in How the Other Half Lives (1890)
The Gilded Age Term taken from the title of a Mark Twain novel, referenced false sense of prosperity in America Time of new technology, growth of industry, growing divide between the rich and poor
Bosses and Machine Politics Political machines controlled many city governments provided aid to the poor in exchange for votes characterized by corruption, graft, and kickbacks Tammany Hall machine stole millions from New York City Boss William Marcy Tweed exposed by political cartoons of Thomas Nast
Civil Service Reform Many criticized the spoils system Promotions based on power rather than skill Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) required examinations for officeseekers prohibited federal employees from soliciting or receiving contributions from government workers new emphasis on merit and skill
Expanding Public Education Public schools embraced a factory model stressed efficiency, standards, punctuality Americanization of immigrants Many states adopted compulsory attendance laws lower class families relied on children working Catholics formed separate schools upper class parents preferred private schools Colleges and universities grew in number, but remained out of reach for lower class
Education Influences Culture Art school known as realism captured nature and scenes of physical strength Winslow Homer, Thomas Eakins New strands of American literature emerged Regionalism (Mark Twain) Realism Naturalism
Thomas Eakins Winslow Homer
Higher Education for African Americans Educational opportunities remained limited for African Americans African American leaders differed in their views on segregation and inequality Booker T. Washington stressed compromise, and the learning of vocations W.E.B. DuBois challenged discrimination
Legal Discrimination: Jim Crow Laws Laws enforced discrimination and segregation in the South Du Jure segregation: legal segregation De Facto segregation: segregation by custom
Legal Discrimination: Literacy Test Could you pass this test in 10 minutes? Voting restrictions limited the impact of the 15 th Amendment Poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clause, threats of violence (Ku Klux Klan
Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 Supreme Court s decision in Plessy v. Ferguson upheld the legality of segregation separate but equal
American Leisure Expanded free time led to growth in leisure activities amusement parks (Coney Island, NYC) bicycling spectator sports (baseball, boxing) vaudeville shows (P.T. Barnum) ragtime music
The Origins of Reform Social conditions revealed a need for reform economic depression labor violence ineffective government economic inequity harsh working conditions Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1911)
Reforming Local Government City problems and natural disasters led to changes in municipal government City councils, city managers Reform mayors tackled urban issues unemployment schooling transit parks public ownership of utilities
State Level Reform Reform governors led passage of laws regulating railroads, mines, etc. Robert La Follette (Wisconsin) Progressives pushed for laws to end child labor, limit working hours Illinois prohibited child labor in 1893 Oregon cases led to limits on workdays
Reforming Elections States adopted electoral reforms Initiative Referendum Recall 17 th Amendment (1913) direct election of senators
Roosevelt s Path to the White House Teddy Roosevelt became president when McKinley was assassinated in 1901 youngest American president (42) Rejected conservative approach of Gilded Age presidents Square Deal : conservation, consumer protection, control of corporations
Taft in the White House TR handpicked William Howard Taft as his successor defeated William Jennings Bryan in 1908 Roosevelt hoped that Taft would carry out his policies supported conservation, income tax, antitrust policies TR criticized Taft when he appeared disloyal
The Election of 1912 Roosevelt, frustrated with Taft, challenged him for the Republican nomination Taft won the nomination TR formed the Progressive ( Bull Moose ) Party Democrats nominated Woodrow Wilson Roosevelt and Taft split the Republican vote Wilson won easily in the electoral college
Campaign Issues in 1912 You will be responsible for exploring one of the main campaign issues during the 1912 election. Be prepared to jigsaw your research next class! Women s Suffrage Race Relations Labor Tariffs Regulation of Trusts Conservation Direct Democracy
Progressivism Under Wilson 16 th Amendment led to first income tax (1913) Federal Reserve Act (1913) reorganized the nation s banking system adopt policies to prevent financial panics
Racism and Progressivism Progressives had a mixed record on race relations few outspoken critics of racial injustice President Wilson did little to address issues of race Racism was problematic in the North as well Great Migration Southern violence remained a major problem Revival of the Ku Klux Klan aided by success of The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Progressivism and the Constitution Sixteenth Amendment (1913) granted Congress authority to tax income Seventeenth Amendment (1913) direct election of senators Eighteenth Amendment (1919) prohibition of alcohol Nineteenth Amendment (1920) granted women the right to vote