Ch. 5 Industrialization Study Guide
Mr. Judd
Name_______________
Between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the twentieth century, the United
States was transformed into a world industrial power at a pace not previously seen in
history. Great Britain and Germany, the most prosperous European nations, lagged
behind the United States. The gross national product increased by 44 percent between
1874 and 1883. The consequences for the nation’s political institutions were profound.
The discovery of new natural resources, a vigorous and expanding population, foreign
investment capital, and a growing national market shielded by protective tariffs all
contributed to the flourishing of manufacturing enterprise. In the name of progress,
business glorified material wealth. Such attitudes produced a generation of robber
barons who, in their search for wealth, engaged in such corrupt practices as stock
manipulation, bribery, cutthroat competition, and monopoly. Many immigrants viewed
America as a land of opportunity, though some became mired in grinding poverty and
struggled for survival in dreary, unhealthy living conditions.
New machinery increased productivity in industry and agriculture, but it also displaced
increasingly dependent workers and farmers. Expanded industry affected nearly
everyone, making available such consumer goods as packaged cereals, canned foods,
ready-made clothing, and cigarettes. New inventions by Alexander Graham Bell,
Thomas Edison, and George Westinghouse helped spur economic development and
improve daily life.
Pre-Test
1. T / F
The principal use of petroleum in the late nineteenth century was oil for lubrication of machines rather than
fuel.
2. T / F
Due to overbuilding in the pre-Civil War era, the number of miles of railroad track in the United States
actually declined from 1860-1900.
3. T/ F
John D. Rockefeller began building Standard Oil by concentrating on the refining stage of the petroleum
industry.
4. T / F
In the developing economy of the late nineteenth century the majority of business tycoons personified the
"rags to riches" rise to wealth and power.
5. T / F The "Gospel of Wealth" referred to the idea that the rich had a responsibility to use their money to promote
social progress.
6. T / F The theory of Social Darwinism argued that great concentrations of wealth in the late nineteenth century
violated the principles of evolution and that a great economic collapse was inevitable.
7. T / F In general, railroads, mining companies, and industrial employers tried to discourage the immigration of
workers from Europe.
8.
T / F Low wages, long hours, and dangerous working conditions caused workers to organize labor unions.
Vocabulary
Gross national productlaissez-fairecorporationstockvertical integrationhorizontal integrationmonopolytrusttrade unions- (membership is restricted to what type of workers?)
industrial unions- (membership included what type of workers?)
blacklistlockoutMarxism- (sum up the beliefs of Karl Marx)
Knights of LaborarbitrationAmerican Federation of Labor-
Mr. Judd
Rise of Industry
Mr. Judd
As you read about the changes brought about by industrialization, complete the following
graphic organizer by listing and explaining the causes of industrialization.
The United States
Becomes an Industrial
Nation
New Inventions
Mr. Judd
During the late 1800’s, inventions such as the telephone and the light bulb spurred economic
development. Fill out the following graphic organizer by listing and explaining how their
inventions improved the daily lives of people in the late 19th century.
Inventor
Alexander
Graham Bell
Thomas Alva
Edison
George
Westinghouse
Thaddeus
Lowe
Gustavus
Swift
Cyrus Field
Invention(s)
How did the inventions spur economic development?
Improve daily lives?
The Railroads
Mr. Judd
1. What part of the United States had the greatest concentration of railroads by 1870?
Why?
2. Draw an X on the map where the Union Pacific Railroad met the Central Pacific Railroad.
What was this place called? What happened there on May 10, 1869?
3. What two immigrant groups helped build the Transcontinental Railroad?
4. How long did it take to build the Transcontinental Railroad?
5. Based on the map, why do you think Union Pacific workers were able to lay so many
more miles of track than Central Pacific workers?
Captains of Industry or Robber Barons?
Mr. Judd
Some feel that the powerful industrialists of the gilded age should be referred to as "robber barons." This view
accentuates the negative. It portrays men as cruel and ruthless businessmen who would stop at nothing to achieve
great wealth. These "robber barons" were accused of exploiting workers and forcing horrible working conditions
and unfair labor practices upon the laborer.
Another view of the industrialist is that of "captain of industry." The term captain views these men as ingenious
and industrious leaders who transformed the American economy with their business skills. They were praised for
their skills as well as for their philanthropy (charity)
Business Man
Andrew Carnegie
John D. Rockefeller
Cornelius Vanderbilt
John P. Morgan
What techniques did he use to consolidate
his industry?
Robber Baron or Captain
of Industry? Why?
Development of Labor Unions (1880-1920)
Mr. Judd
Background:At the end of the nineteenth century and at the beginning of the twentieth
century, American workers debated how they could best defend their interests in the
face of powerful national corporations. One of the most contentious questions that faced
them was whether labor should agitate for higher wages, shorter hours, and better
working conditions, or for more fundamental transformations in the nation's economy.
Another source of controversy was whether unions should try to organize whole
industries (what are called industrial unions) or organize particular skilled crafts (craft
unions).
At stake in these debates was the very meaning of the labor movement: Whom to
organize? How to organize them? What to do once they are organized? Playing key
roles in providing their own answers to those questions were three labor unions: the
Knights of Labor, the American Federation of Labor and the Industrial Workers of the
World.
Activity: Read Chapter 5 Section 4 of your text book and answer the following
questions about the early labor unions in American History.
Knights of Labor
American
Industrial Workers
1869
Federation of Labor of the World (IWW)
(The Knights)
(AFL) 1886
1905 (The Wobblies)
Leader(s)
Goals
Tactics to Achieve
Goals
Any famous strikes
they were involved
in? Explain.
Comparing Major Labor Strikes
Mr. Judd
Compare and contrast the conditions, tactics, unions involved, role of government and
outcome of these famous labor strikes.
Haymarket Riot
1886
What did the Union
want?
What kind of tactics
were used by the
workers?
Employers?
What was the role
of the government?
What was the
outcome?
Homestead Strike
1892
Pullman Strike
1894
Political Cartoon
Mr. Judd
Figure it out with a partner.
What is the cartoonist comparing Standard Oil Company to in this picture? What is it doing?
Now to the hard part. Consider all the other items in the cartoon. In the real world of industrial America in the
late 1800’s, why would Standard Oil want to grab them up and how was it able to do so?
What is the cartoonist’s point of view? Does he think all this is good?
Post-Test
Mr. Judd
1. What factors contributed to industrialization?
A. lack of natural resources
B. free enterprise system
C. limited workforce
D. deteriorating railroad system
2. Supporters of __________ believe that the government should not interfere in the economy other
than to protect private property rights.
A. high tariffs
C. laissez-faire
B. industrial regulations
D. high taxes for private individuals
3. Laissez-faire relies on
A. the government to regulate wages and prices
B. high taxes and government debt to fund businesses
C. high tariffs on foreign goods
D. supply and demand to regulate wages and prices
4. Corporations are organizations that
A. receive federal funding
B. sell stock to the public
C. have a monopoly on a product or service
D. earn profits for their workers
5. In the late 1800’s, which of the following helped business leaders eliminate competition?
A. strikes
C. closed shops
B. labor unions
D. monopolies
6. Labor unions were formed to
A. protect factory owners and improve worker’s wages
B. improve worker’s wages and make factories safer
C. make factories safer and prevent lockouts
D. prevent lockouts and fight deflation
7. In the last half of the 1800’s, which development led to the other three?
A. expansion of the middle class
B. growth of industrialization
C. formation of trusts
D. creation of labor unions
8. The slogan “Eight hours for work, eight hours for sleep, eight hours for what we will” was used in
the late 1800’s to promote a major goal of
A. Farmers
C. industrialists
B. Politicians
D. organized labor
9. What does this cartoon say about Gould and Vanderbilt?
A. They are giving money to the hard-working laborers
B. They are getting rich at the expense of other’s backbreaking work.
C. The ship is slowly crumbling like their empires
D. The workers are determined to overthrow them