THE GILDED AGE 1870 1900 BELL RINGER 7

THE GILDED AGE 1870— 1900

BELL RINGER #7 Define nativism Who was being persecuted during the late 19 th century? Why did so many Americans oppose immigration during the late 19 th century? PAGE 340

BELL RINGER #8 What is a political machine? What is a party boss? How were party bosses able to run political machines so easily during the late 19 th century? PAGE 345

BELL RINGER #9 Explain each amendment: 13 th 14 th 15 th

THE GILDED AGE Something is gilded if it is covered with gold on the outside but made of cheaper material inside. By 1900 the U. S. marveled with new inventions, experienced rapid industrial growth, built skyscrapers, and had electric lights light up the dark sky. However, beneath the surface lay corruption, poverty, crime, and great disparities in wealth between rich and poor.

INDUSTRIALIZATION The Industrial Revolution began in the U. S. in the early 1800 s, but didn’t take off until after the Civil War. By the early 1900 s, Americans had transformed the U. S. into the world’s leading industrial nation. An abundance of natural resources and the development of new technology allowed the U. S. to make this industrial transformation possible.

THE CHANGING AMERICAN LABOR FORCE

RAILROADS The railroad boom in the U. S. began in 1862 with the signing of the Pacific Railway Act. ***The act provided for the construction of a transcontinental railroad by both the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific railroad companies. ***The federal government gave land grants to many railroad companies in order to support the economic development of the West. ***

SOCIAL DARWINISM “Survival of the fittest” Social Darwinism was based on the ideas of Charles Darwin and his theory of natural selection. ***Social Darwinism justified the existence of poverty, the success of big business, and the power of millionaire industrialists. *** Many Social Darwinists

LAISSEZ-FAIRE Laissez-faire was a French phrase for, “let people do as they choose. ” People that believed in laissez-faire argued that the government should not interfere with the economy. ***Laissez-faire relies on supply and demand to regulate prices and

BIG BUSINESS The rise of big business in the U. S. occurred at the end of the 19 th century. By 1900 big businesses dominated the economy with complex factories, warehouses, offices, and distribution facilities. Competition grew between corporations, eventually leading to the consolidation of industries. Vertical Integration Horizontal Integration ***Industrial consolidation and trusts reduced competition between corporations. ***

INDUSTRIAL CONSOLIDATION Carnegie Steel – Pittsburgh, PA Standard Oil Company – Cleveland, OH ***Vertical integration – the combining of companies that supply equipment and services needed for a particular industry. ***Horizontal integration – the combining of competing firms into one corporation. *** Successful business leaders often eliminated their competition by using vertical or horizontal integration.

ANDREW CARNEGIE Andrew Carnegie was the first to increase manufacturing efficiency by vertically integrating the steel industry. He became one of the richest men the world has ever known and also one of its biggest philanthropists. Carnegie believed in Social Darwinism and laissez-faire, but came up with the Gospel of Wealth. This philosophy held that wealthy Americans bore the responsibility of engaging in philanthropy. 0

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER John D. Rockefeller became the richest man ever by monopolizing the oil refining business. By the end of the 1800 s, his Standard Oil Company, had gained control of more than 90 percent of the oil refining business in the U. S. His success came through mergers, elimination of competition, and by lowering shipping costs. His net worth adjusted for inflation has said to have been between 392 and 663 billion dollars.

MARXISM In the late 1800 s the ideas of Karl Marx led to an influential philosophy in Europe, known as Marxism. Marx argued that workers would eventually revolt, seize control of the factories, and overthrow the government. This would leave a Communist society where no social classes exist. Working conditions during the Industrial Revolution almost caused Marx’s predictions to come true in

CHILD LABOR

WORKING CONDITIONS Working conditions during the Industrial Revolution were very difficult, dangerous, and often unhealthy. Strikes and protests were very common during the late 19 th century. Many times angry workers would walk off the job and even destroy equipment. Many workers believed that the only way to improve their working conditions was to organize labor unions.

LABOR UNIONS Industrialization raised the standard of living in the U. S. , but it also caused the value of money to rise (deflation). Already dealing with harsh working conditions, companies now wanted to pay workers less money for the same work. This led to the creation of several labor unions: Knights of Labor American Railway Union (ARL) American Federation of Labor (AFL) Women’s Trade Union League (WTUL)

KNIGHTS OF LABOR § Eight-hour workday. § Abolition of child and prison labor. § Equal pay for men and women. § Safety codes in the workplace.

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR (AFL), 1886 § Catered to the skilled worker. § Represented workers in matters of national legislation. § Maintained a national strike fund. § Mediated disputes between management and labor. § Pushed for closed shops. Samuel Gompers

GREAT RAILROAD STRIKE, 1877

HOMESTEAD STEEL STRIKE, 1892

PULLMAN STRIKE, 1894

LABOR UNION MEMBERSHIP

IMMIGRATION Between 1860 and 1900 over 14 million immigrants came to the U. S. Job opportunities, few immigration restrictions, forced military service and religious persecutions in their home countries, the democratic government in the U. S. , and the opportunity for social advancement were all reasons why immigrants came to the U. S. Many immigrants arrived in the U. S. after a 14 day journey under harsh conditions on a steamship and disembarked at an immigration processing center. Ellis Island – New York 1892

ELLIS ISLAND

ANGEL ISLAND

NATIVISM Nativism is an extreme dislike foreigners by native-born people and a desire to limit immigration. ***Immigrants from eastern Europe were often discriminated against because they were primarily Catholic. ***Many labor unions opposed immigration, arguing that most immigrants would work for low

URBANIZATION Many Americans left their farms behind for urban cities between 1870 and 1900. Cities experienced a population growth during these years. New York grew from 800, 000 in 1860 to 3. 5 million by 1900. Chicago grew from 109, 000 in 1860 to more than 1. 6 million by 1900. Engineers and architects had to develop new approaches to housing and transporting larger populations.

New Architectural Style New Symbols of Change & Progress Make a New Start New Use of Space New Class Diversity New Energy The City as a New “Frontier? ” New Levels of Crime, Violence, & Corruption New Culture (“Melting Pot”) New Form of Classic “Rugged Individualism”

URBAN GROWTH 1870— 1900

WESTERN UNION BUILDING, 1875 MANHATTAN LIFE INSURANCE, 1893

BROOKLYN BRIDGE, 1883

STATUE OF LIBERTY, 1886

GRAND CENTRAL STATION, 1913

LITTLE ITALY, NYC

JEWISH SECTION, NYC CHINATOWN, NYC

CHICAGO CENTRAL YMCA, 1891 DEPARTMENT STORE, 1899

POLITICAL MACHINES A new type of political system emerged in urban cities. This system provided city services in exchange for political power. The political machine, an informal political group designed to gain and keep power, came about partly because cities had grown much faster than their governments. Party bosses ran the political machines, offering city

WILLIAM M. “BOSS” TWEED The most famous political machine was Tammany Hall in New York. During the 1860 s and 1870 s it was run by William M. “Boss” Tweed was a corrupt party boss that was eventually arrested for corruption and sent to prison. ***Many party bosses like “Boss” Tweed got rich at the expense of others. ***

TAMMANY HALL

TENEMENTS

MEN’S LODGING WOMEN’S LODGING

SLUM LIVING

STRUGGLING IMMIGRANTS

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM During the Gilded Age the U. S. experienced Civil Service reform, marches for women’s rights, the rise of Social Darwinism, and immigrant exclusion acts. ***Civil Service reform during the Gilded Age was largely due to the Spoils System. *** Government officials were hiring fellow party members rather than hiring officials based on merit. “Behind the scenes, ” control

GILDED OR GOLDEN? Write a reflection essay over the Gilded Age. 1 PAGE IN LENGTH Why do you believe the time period between 1870 and 1900 is known as the Gilded Age? Do you believe this is an accurate title for the era? Why or Why not? What would life have been like during the Gilded Age? Has there ever been another Gilded Age in the U. S. ? List examples to support your ideas.