fight against big business Flashcards
give 4 problems caused by big business controlling markets
- large monopolies and fixed prices
- corruption and bribery
- no workers rights or safety measures
- lack of competition means lack of innovation
who passed and what was the act was made in 1890 to fight against big business
Harrison passed the Sherman Anti Trust Act
what did the Sherman Anti Trust Act do and when was it
1890; limit growth of large industrial trusts by making them illegal so the market could not be monopolised
who started the Granger Movement
Oliver Hudson Kelly
how did the Granger Movement start
Patrons of Husbandry set up to educate farmers in south who had medieval methods of farming compared to north
what was the national membership of the Granger Movement by the mid 1870s
approx 800,000 a grange in each state
why was the Granger Movement needed
for unified action against monopolistic railroads and grain elevators that charged farmers extortionate rates for transporting goods
what was a winning case for the Granger Movement in 1887
Muni v Illinois
when was Munn v Illinois and what happened
1887; Munn and Scott grain warehouse firm found guilty of violating the law by charging above the max rates for transport of goods; after appeal the Supreme Court sided with National Grange
give the 3 main farmers alliances
North- Western Alliance
Southern Alliance
Coloured Farmer’s Alliance
what was the political agenda of farmers alliances (4)
- wanted graduated income tax
- nationalisation of transport of goods
- free unlimited coinage of silver
- checks on the discriminatory power of big business
did the farmers alliances have any political success ?
in 1890 elections alliance candidates took control of legislature in Kansas and Nebraska
where else was there political success for farmers alliances
- held balance of power in South Dakota and Minnesota
-south had 4 pro alliance governors and 7 pro alliance legislatures
give two social influences that came from laissez faire
social darwinism- survival of the fittest for people and companies alike
rugged individualism- self reliance making it through your own hard work
give 4 reasons why laissez faire is good
- economy grows large very quickly and is self sufficient by bringing infrastructure to industry
- allows for manifest destiny and image if american dream
- big business are allowed to monopolise and gov likes this as it boosts the economy
give two groups that opposed laissez faire
Knights of Labour
American Federation Labour
when were the Knights of Labour founded and what were their aims
1869; to unite workers of all roles, genders, ethnicities and occupations
what did the Knights of Labour lobby the government for (3)
8 hour work days, child labour restrictions, better labour management relations
how many members did the Knights of Labour have in 1885 and 1886
100,000 in 1885
750,000 in 1886
what was the biggest controversy of the Knights of Labour
the Haymarket Bombings
what happened during the Haymarket Bomb
protest at Haymarket turned violent; police opened fire on crowd and bomb thrown and killed a policemen 60 others injured police retaliated wounding hundreds more; supporters of 8 hour work day blamed
what occurred due to the Haymarket Bomb
public opinion became too negative; KoL died out ; membership halfed within a year
when was the American Federation of Labour set up and by who
Samuel Gompers in 1885
who did the American Federation of Labour admit to their organisation
skilled white men
what did the American Federation of Labour aim for
achieving higher pay and shorter working day only for its members
how many members did the American Federation of Labour have by 1892
250,000
how did the American Federation of Labour differ from the Knights of Labour
aimed to avoid KoL’s mistakes by being more peaceful ; win recognition and secure agreements with employers via bargaining and if that didn’t work strike hard
give 3 academic responses to opposition groups to laissez faire
- Mark Twain wrote Gilded Age 1873
- Henry George wrote the Progress of Poverty 1879
- satirists and cartoonists made fun of big bosses and shaped public opinion
give 2 political responses to laissez faire opposition groups
- 27 states (mainly south and west) passed laws curbing safety and trusts
- 1887 Congress passed Interstate Commerce Act which outlawed restrictive monopolies and set up interstate commerce commission to investigate railroad companies
