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Chapter 13 Section2. The Growth of Big Business. Social Darwinism. Survival of the fittest Believed in little government interference. How did the theory of social Darwinism affect the government’s relationship to big business?.
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Chapter 13 Section2 The Growth of Big Business
Social Darwinism • Survival of the fittest • Believed in little government interference
How did the theory of social Darwinism affect the government’s relationship to big business? • It encouraged government to take a hands-off approach to big business
Oligopoly • Occurs when to cost of starting a certain type of business is high
Monopoly • When a business gains complete control of a product or service
Cartel • A loose association of businesses that make the same product
Andrew Carnegie • Founded first plants to use Bessemer Process to produce steel
Gospel of Wealth • A personal philosophy of Andrew Carnegie • Became a movement of the early 20th century
Gospel of Wealth • Carnegie donated money to build 3,000 libraries • Supported art and research institutes
Vertical Consolidation • Business tactic of Andrew Carnegie
Economies of Scale • As production increases, the cost of each item produced is lower
John D. Rockefeller • Founded Standard Oil in 1870
Horizontal Consolidation • Business tactic of Rockefeller • Bringing together many firms in the same business (taking over your competitors)
How did methods such as vertical and horizontal consolidation, and factors such as economies of scale help companies dominate their markets? • Through horizontal consolidation, companies purchased competing companies • Through vertical consolidation and economies of scale, companies lowered production costs so much that other companies could not compete
Trust • Different firms in the same business (oil for example) being run as one company by a board of trustees
Sherman Antitrust Act • Outlawed any combination of companies that restrained interstate trade or commerce
Why did the Sherman Antitrust Act seek to stop big business from forming trusts? • Trusts threatened fair competition in industry • Trusts may cause prices to rise due to lack of competition
What were some features of the new big businesses? • Large amounts of capital • Wider geographic span • Broader range of operations (they make more than one thing)