chr 14-15 test

Question 1

Bessemer Process

Answer 1

Definition: A method for producing steel by injecting air into molten iron to remove impurities. It was developed by Henry Bessemer in the 1850s.

Importance: This process revolutionized steel production by making it cheaper and more efficient, leading to a boom in steel manufacturing and contributing to the growth of industries like construction, railroads, and machinery.

Question 2

How did the growth of the steel industry influence the development of other industries?

Answer 2

Definition: The steel industry’s growth helped to fuel the construction of railroads, skyscrapers, and bridges. Steel became a critical material for infrastructure and manufacturing.

Importance: The expansion of the steel industry was foundational to the rise of modern cities and transportation systems, allowing for further industrialization and economic growth.

Question 3

How did inventions and developments in the late 19th century change the way people worked?

Answer 3

Definition: Inventions such as the electric light bulb, telephone, and the typewriter reshaped daily work life.

Importance: These innovations increased productivity, expanded working hours (e.g., factories staying open later), and led to the growth of office jobs, marking a shift from agricultural to industrial labor.

Question 4

Transcontinental Railroad

Answer 4

Definition: A railroad that connected the eastern U.S. to the western U.S., completed in 1869.

Importance: It revolutionized transportation by allowing goods and people to travel across the entire country more efficiently. It also facilitated economic development, trade, and settlement in the West.

Question 5

Credit Mobilier

Answer 5

Definition: A railroad finance company involved in a scandal where railroad companies overcharged the U.S. government for building railroads.

Importance: The Credit Mobilier scandal highlighted corruption in railroad construction and the U.S. government, leading to public distrust in corporations and government.

Question 6

Interstate Commerce Act

Answer 6

Definition: A law passed in 1887 that regulated railroad rates and practices to prevent abuses by railroad companies.

Importance: It was the first federal law aimed at regulating business practices, marking a step toward government intervention in the economy to ensure fairness.

Question 7

Why did people, particularly farmers, demand regulation of the railroads in the late 19th century?

Answer 7

Definition: Farmers faced high freight costs and monopolistic practices by railroad companies, which hurt their profits.

Importance: The demand for regulation was a response to perceived unfair business practices, and it led to the passage of laws like the Interstate Commerce Act.

Question 8

Why were attempts at railroad regulation often unsuccessful?

Answer 8

Definition: Railroad companies had significant political influence, and government regulators were often ineffective or corrupt.

Importance: The failure of regulation efforts demonstrated the challenges of controlling powerful industries and set the stage for future reforms in corporate regulation.

Question 9

Social Darwinism

Answer 9

Definition: The belief that business success was a result of the “survival of the fittest,” with wealthy businessmen seen as the most capable.

Importance: Social Darwinism was used to justify economic inequality, as it suggested that the rich were naturally superior and that helping the poor would undermine society.

Question 10

Sherman Antitrust Act

Answer 10

Definition: A law passed in 1890 to prevent monopolies and promote competition by making business practices that restrained trade illegal.

Importance: It was the first significant attempt by the U.S. government to curb the power of large corporations and monopolies, although it was not immediately effective.

Question 11

Knights of Labor

Answer 11

Definition: A labor organization founded in 1869 that sought to unite all workers, including women and African Americans, to improve working conditions.

Importance: The Knights of Labor represented a broad vision of worker unity and social reform, but their efforts were undermined by strikes and internal divisions.

Question 12

Collective Bargaining

Answer 12

Definition: The process in which workers, typically represented by unions, negotiate with employers over wages, hours, and working conditions.

Importance: Collective bargaining gave workers a more powerful voice in improving their working conditions and compensation.

Question 13

Great Strike of 1877

Answer 13

Definition: A nationwide railroad strike sparked by wage cuts and poor working conditions that led to widespread unrest.

Importance: It marked a major turning point in the labor movement, demonstrating the tension between workers and employers, and the need for labor reforms.

Question 14

Homestead Strike

Answer 14

Definition: A violent strike at Andrew Carnegie’s steel plant in 1892, which resulted in clashes between workers and Pinkerton agents.

Importance: The strike showed the harsh opposition workers faced when trying to improve their conditions and the willingness of employers to use force to maintain control.

Question 15

Pullman Strike

Answer 15

Definition: A nationwide railroad strike in 1894 protesting wage cuts and high rents in company-owned housing.

Importance: It led to significant violence and intervention by federal troops, further highlighting the conflict between labor and capital in America.

Question 16

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory

Answer 16

Definition The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory was a garment factory in New York City where a deadly fire occurred on March 25, 1911, killing 146 workers, mostly young immigrant women. The fire exposed unsafe working conditions, including locked doors and overcrowding.

Importance Labor Reform: The tragedy led to stronger workplace safety laws and reforms to protect workers.
Immigrant Workers: It highlighted the harsh conditions faced by immigrant workers in industrial cities.
Union Support: The fire fueled the labor movement, encouraging better rights and protections for workers.
Public Awareness: It raised awareness about the need for safer factory conditions and greater worker rights.

Question 17

How did Horatio Alger’s stories reflect the doctrines of Social Darwinism?

Answer 17

Definition: Alger’s stories often portrayed individuals rising from poverty to success through hard work and perseverance, aligning with Social Darwinism’s emphasis on self-reliance and competition.

Importance: These stories reinforced the belief that success was achievable for anyone willing to work hard, while ignoring systemic issues that made upward mobility difficult for many.

Question 18

Why were business leaders such as John D. Rockefeller called robber barons?

Answer 18

Definition: Rockefeller and other industrialists were called robber barons because of their ruthless tactics to gain wealth, often at the expense of workers and competition.

Importance: The term reflected public outrage over the monopolistic practices and exploitation of workers by powerful business leaders.

Question 19

Why did workers form unions in the late 19th century?

Answer 19

Definition: Workers formed unions to fight for better wages, hours, and working conditions, as well as to gain bargaining power against large corporations.

Importance: Unions became a critical tool for workers to gain rights and protections in an era of industrial exploitation.

Question 20

What factors limited the success of unions?

Answer 20

Definition: Factors such as government hostility, employer resistance, and the lack of unity among workers limited the effectiveness of unions.

Importance: Despite their challenges, unions played a significant role in advocating for workers’ rights and pushing for labor reforms.

Question 21

New Immigrants

Answer 21

Definition: Immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe who arrived in the U.S. in large numbers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Importance: These immigrants contributed significantly to the industrial workforce but faced discrimination and cultural barriers in their new country.

Question 22

Ellis and Angel Island

Answer 22

Definition: Immigration stations where millions of immigrants were processed upon arrival in the U.S., located in New York and San Francisco, respectively.

Importance: They symbolize the large-scale immigration to the U.S. and the difficult and often discriminatory process immigrants faced when entering the country.

Question 23

Chinese Exclusion Act

Answer 23

Definition: A law passed in 1882 that prohibited Chinese immigrants from entering the U.S.

Importance: It marked the first significant federal law to limit immigration based on race, reflecting anti-Asian sentiment during this period.

Question 24

Gentlemen’s Agreement

Answer 24

Definition: An informal agreement between the U.S. and Japan that limited Japanese immigration to the U.S. in exchange for better treatment of Japanese Americans.

Importance: The agreement symbolized the racial tensions and growing restrictions on immigration during the early 20th century.

Question 25

What trends or events in other countries prompted people to move to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

Answer 25

Definition: Economic hardship, religious persecution, and political unrest in Europe and Asia prompted many to seek better opportunities in the U.S.

Importance: These factors drove the massive wave of immigration that contributed to America’s growth as an industrial power.

Question 26

What difficulties did many of these new immigrants face?

Answer 26

Definition: Immigrants faced discrimination, language barriers, poor living conditions, and exploitation in low-paying jobs.

Importance: These challenges highlight the harsh realities of immigrant life in America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, while also emphasizing their contributions to the workforce.

Question 27

Tenements

Answer 27

Definition: Overcrowded, poorly constructed apartment buildings where many poor immigrants lived in cities.

Importance: Tenements were symbolic of the squalid living conditions many faced during urbanization, which led to calls for social reform.

Question 28

Social Gospel Movement

Answer 28

Definition: A religious movement that advocated for applying Christian principles to social problems, particularly poverty and inequality.

Importance: The movement inspired efforts to improve living conditions and provide social services to the poor and immigrants.

Question 29

Settlement Houses

Answer 29

Definition: Community centers established to help immigrants adapt to American life by offering education, healthcare, and job training.

Importance: Settlement houses were an important response to urbanization, providing support to immigrants and helping them integrate into American society.

Question 30

What problems did urbanization pose for cities?

Answer 30

Definition: Urbanization led to overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, lack of infrastructure, and increased crime.

Importance: These problems necessitated new urban policies and reforms to improve living conditions and make cities more livable.

Question 31

What solutions to urban problems did supporters of the Social Gospel propose?

Answer 31

Definition: The Social Gospel movement advocated for the creation of settlement houses, improved working conditions, and social reforms to address urban poverty.

Importance: These efforts represented a moral call to action and were influential in the development of social welfare programs in the U.S.

Question 32

Monopolies

Answer 32

Definition: A monopoly occurs when a single company or group controls the entire supply of a product or service, eliminating competition.

Importance: Monopolies stifled competition and often led to unfair practices, higher prices for consumers, and exploitation of workers. They became a key issue for progressive reforms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Question 33

Pendleton Civil Service Act:

Answer 33

Definition: Passed in 1883, this act established that government jobs should be awarded based on merit rather than political affiliation, aiming to reduce patronage and corruption.

Importance: It marked a significant shift toward professionalizing the civil service, reducing the influence of political machines and promoting more efficient government.

Question 34

Andrew Carnegie

Answer 34

Definition: Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish immigrant who became a leading industrialist in the steel industry, using the process of vertical integration.

Importance: Carnegie is a symbol of the American Dream, demonstrating how individuals could rise from poverty to wealth. His philanthropy also played a major role in shaping the cultural landscape of the era.

Question 35

Political Machines

Answer 35

Definition: Political machines were organizations that controlled local governments, often through corrupt and manipulative practices like voter fraud and patronage.

Importance: They maintained power by controlling votes and jobs, contributing to widespread political corruption, but also providing social services to immigrants in urban areas.

Question 36

Row House

Answer 36

Definition: A row house is a type of housing commonly found in cities, where homes are connected side-by-side in rows, often in crowded urban areas.

Importance: Row houses represented the rapid urbanization of the period, housing working-class families in cramped and often unsanitary conditions.

Question 37

Graft

Answer 37

Definition: Graft refers to the use of political influence for personal gain, especially through bribery or corruption.

Importance: Graft was widespread in the era of political machines and contributed to the corruption of local and state governments.

Question 38

Vertical Integration

Answer 38

Definition: Vertical integration is a business strategy where a company controls all aspects of production, from raw materials to the final product.

Importance: It allowed industrial giants like Carnegie to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and dominate industries, though it also led to the concentration of economic power.

Question 39

Tammany Hall

Answer 39

Definition: Tammany Hall was a political machine in New York City, most associated with Boss Tweed, that controlled local politics through patronage and corruption.

Importance: Tammany Hall symbolizes the power of political machines in the late 19th century and their role in shaping urban political landscapes through graft and bribery.

Question 40

Boss Tweed

Answer 40

Definition: Boss Tweed was the leader of Tammany Hall and a notorious figure in New York City politics who used bribery, graft, and corruption to control political outcomes.

Importance: Tweed’s corruption became a symbol of the abuses of political machines and sparked public outrage that eventually led to reforms in American politics.

Question 41

Captains of Industry

Answer 41

Definition: Captains of Industry were wealthy and influential business leaders in the late 19th century, such as Carnegie and Rockefeller, who controlled major industries.

Importance: While sometimes criticized as “robber barons” for their monopolistic practices, they also played a key role in shaping the modern industrial economy and philanthropy.

Question 42

New vs. Old Immigrants

Answer 42

Definition: Old immigrants came from Northern and Western Europe, while new immigrants arrived from Southern and Eastern Europe, China, and other parts of the world during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Importance: New immigrants faced more discrimination and challenges in assimilating, but also contributed greatly to the workforce and the growth of urban areas.

Question 43

Horizontal Integration

Answer 43

Definition: Horizontal integration is a business strategy where a company acquires or merges with other companies in the same industry, thereby reducing competition.

Importance: It helped create monopolies and allowed businesses like Rockefeller’s Standard Oil to dominate industries by controlling the market through fewer, larger companies.