(Period 6) 1865-1900 1/28/2025 Flashcards
What is the main idea of this excerpt?
Corporations are taking advantage of people and should be regulated
What did the U.S. emerge as by 1900?
Leading industry power (even over the largest rivals Great Britain, France, and Germany)
What are the factors that led to the U.S. becoming the lead industrial power by 1900?
Why were natural resources a lead factor that led to the U.S. becoming the leader of industry by 1900
Don’t have to buy resources from other places
Why was labor supply a lead factor that led to the U.S. becoming the leader of industry by 1900
The labor from immigrants was cheap
Why was the U.S.’s capital a lead factor that led to the U.S. becoming the leader of industry by 1900
People were investing in U.S. instead of their own country - fact check
Why was technology a lead factor that led to the U.S. becoming the leader of industry by 1900
There were many new inventions that not only for business but also increased labor rates
Why was Government a lead factor that led to the U.S. becoming the leader of industry by 1900
Protected entrepreneurs which allowed them to grow in the U.S.
Why was Government a lead factor that led to the U.S. becoming the leader of industry by 1900
The government Protected entrepreneurs which allowed them to grow in the U.S. - fact check
Why was transportation a lead factor that led to the U.S. becoming the leader of industry by 1900
It increased the amount of business going on at a time and the length of it
By how much did railroad mileage increase from 1865 to 1900?
More than 5x
What market did the nationwide railroad network create?
A market for goods
What economic aspects did the railroad network encourage?
Mass production, mass consumption, and economic specialization
Which industries grew due to the expansion of railroads?
Coal and steel industries
In what year were railroads divided into 4 time zones?
1883
What became standard time for all Americans due to railroads?
Railroad time
What type of corporation emerged modernly due to the railroads?
Modern stockholder corporation
Which structures were developed alongside the growth of railroads?
Structures in finance, business management, and regulation of competition
Why did railroads develop the 4 times zones spilt across America
As people expanded railroads West, they realized that the times were different in different places of America
Why was there less railroads in the north middle/western part of the map?
It was a mountainous area and difficult to blow up to make room for railroads safely.
What is the purpose of Eastern Trunk Lines?
Major route between large cities that solved inefficiencies of the railroad system
Eastern Trunk Lines facilitated better connectivity and efficiency in transportation.
Who used steamboat profits to merge local railroads into the New York Central Railroad?
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt’s actions in 1867 created a significant railroad that connected New York to Chicago.
In what year was the New York Central Railroad established?
1867
This merger allowed for a more efficient route from New York to Chicago.
Which two other trunk lines connected eastern seaports with Chicago?
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Pennsylvania Railroad
These railroads further enhanced the connectivity between the East Coast and Midwestern cities.
Fill in the blank: The New York Central Railroad ran from NY to _______.
Chicago
This route was crucial for trade and transportation in the late 19th century.
What’s are 3 things that Western railroads accomplished?
What’s are 3 things that eastern railroads accomplished?
What did the Federal government realize about railroad companies?
They would help lead the way for settlement in the west
How many acres of public land did railroad companies receive?
More than 170 million acres
What was the expectation of the government from railroad companies regarding land sales?
To sell land around railroad routes to new settlers to finance construction
What was a negative consequence of the Federal land grants?
Quick and poor construction
Name a scandal associated with corruption in government during the railroad expansion.
Credit Mobilier Scandal
In some western states, railroads controlled what percentage of the land?
Half of the land
What did Railroad companies do after they sold land to someone?
Eventually build railroads on their property
Give an example of of the Credit Mobilier Scandal/Affair
A Railroad company would sell land for $10k and then tell the government they sold it for $8k and then keep the extra $2K for themselves. The Railroad companies then built many excess railroads to show the government they were doing their job.
