Chapter 17: Industrial America: Corporation and Conflicts

Question 1

Homestead lockout

Answer 1

A labor conflict in 1892 at the Homestead Steel Works in Pennsylvania, resulting in a strike by steelworkers against wage cuts and the use of Pinkerton detectives by management.

Question 2

management revolution

Answer 2

A shift in the organization and management of large corporations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by increased efficiency and coordination.

Question 3

vertical integration

Answer 3

A business strategy in which a company controls all stages of production, from raw materials to distribution.

Question 4

horizontal integration

Answer 4

A business strategy in which a company acquires or merges with competitors in the same industry to achieve market dominance.

Question 5

trust

Answer 5

A legal arrangement in which a board of trustees holds and manages the shares of several companies, effectively controlling them and eliminating competition.

Question 6

deskilling

Answer 6

The process of simplifying and standardizing tasks in the workplace to make jobs easier to perform, often reducing the need for skilled labor.

Question 7

mass production

Answer 7

The manufacturing of goods on a large scale using assembly-line methods to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

Question 8

scientific management

Answer 8

A management approach developed by Frederick Taylor that focused on maximizing worker efficiency through careful study and standardization of work processes.

Question 9

Chinese Exclusion Act

Answer 9

A law passed in 1882 that severely restricted Chinese immigration to the United States, reflecting anti-Chinese sentiment.

Question 10

Great Railroad Strike of 1877

Answer 10

A nationwide strike by railroad workers in response to wage cuts, leading to violent clashes with the authorities and the military.

Question 11

Greenback-Labor Party

Answer 11

A political party in the 1870s and 1880s that advocated for the expansion of paper currency (greenbacks) and represented labor interests.

Question 12

producerism

Answer 12

A belief that farmers and industrial workers were the true producers in society and should have more influence in government and economic policies.

Question 13

Granger Laws

Answer 13

State laws passed in the late 19th century to regulate the rates charged by railroads and grain elevator operators, inspired by the Grange movement.

Question 14

Knights of Labor

Answer 14

A prominent labor organization in the late 19th century that advocated for the rights of workers, including better wages, working conditions, and an eight-hour workday.

Question 15

anarchism

Answer 15

A political philosophy that advocates for the abolition of government and the establishment of a society based on voluntary cooperation.

Question 16

Haymarket Square

Answer 16

The site of a labor protest and a violent confrontation between police and demonstrators in Chicago in 1886, leading to the Haymarket affair and the trial of anarchist leaders.

Question 17

Farmers’ Alliance

Answer 17

A late 19th-century organization of farmers that sought to address economic issues and promote agricultural cooperatives.

Question 18

Interstate Commerce Act

Answer 18

A federal law passed in 1887 that regulated the railroad industry and established the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to oversee it.

Question 19

closed shop

Answer 19

A workplace in which only union members are allowed to be hired, ensuring that all workers are part of the same labor organization.

Question 20

American Federation of Labor

Answer 20

A major labor union founded in 1886, which focused on skilled workers and collective bargaining for better wages and working conditions.