Growth of Industrialism: A Slideshow

1. Growth of Industrialism: A Slideshow U.S. History

2. The Bridge: 1883 • Materials needed: • Labor • Steel • Cement • Investment • Connected urban center to outlying areas • Technology depended on: • Individual creativity • Availability of resources (close to the Midwest) • Easy transportation of materials • Easy availability of labor The Brooklyn Bridge, NYC was the longest suspension bridge of its time. Each steel suspension cable was over 16 inches in diameter, supporting a bridge 1,600 feet long

3. The Impact of Industry • Manufacturing mostly in Northeast and Midwest--due to availability of resources • Few wealthy businessmen made vast fortunes, while millions worked under dangerous conditions for little money • The growth of industry was unbridled, unchecked, rapid, and without government regulation

4. Brooklyn Bridge, 2006

5. Bessemer Process: 1859 • Henry Bessemer and William Kelly invented the “Bessemer Steel Process” • Made steel production faster • Used hotter temperatures to reduce impurities • Stole the idea from British inventors • Steel production increased from 2,000 tons (1865) to 7 million tons (1900) Idealized picture of Bessemer Process

6. Bessemer Process • Used to make a stronger, lighter and more durable material for construction • Used for bridges, skyscrapers, machines, tools, railroads, military equipment • Allowed for the creation and growth of other industries: construction, railroads, etc.

7. Skyscraper: 1901 • Over 20 stories, this building would have collapsed under its own weight, if built by iron • Allowed people to “build up”, instead of “out” • Saved space and used available space in congested cities • Used for office space, retail space, manufacturing space, and living space The Flat Iron Building, NYC. Shaped as a triangle, or a flat iron for clothes, this is considered the first modern skyscraper. There are similar buildings, by the same architect in San Francisco and Chicago

8. Skyscrapers • The United States was the first country to build multi-level (20 + story) skyscrapers • Became a visible symbol of the U.S. reaching “toward the heavens” • The taller the building, the more it could hold=more profit for developer • Resulted in the rapidurbanization of the American Northeast and Midwest • Areas closest to construction materials • Greatest need for space (overpopulation)

9. The Flat Iron Building, NYC 2006

10. Andrew Carnegie • Represented a new class of “self-made” wealthy men • Through entrepreneurship, invention, ruthlessness, and luck earned millions • Carnegie sunk his small savings into early steel company, becoming one of the richest men in the world Andrew Carnegie, center, with French nobility (to his right). Millionaires would often travel with a coterie of advisors, lackeys, servants, and hangers-on. They would also serve as de facto heads of state to visiting dignitaries.

11. Andrew Carnegie • Number of millionaires increased to over 4,000 by 1900 • Wealthy businessmen allowed for the increased availability of cheap mass produced goods, a wide variety of quality products, jobs, investment opportunities, libraries, etc • Wealthy businessmen also exploited labor, prevented unionization, bribed government officials, and controlled most (sometimes all) of the social and political power • Carnegie believed in the importance of social responsibility with wealth • The Gospel of Wealth, Carnegie’s book, describes the importance of charity and community leadership

12. Pennsylvania: 1859 • By 1859, oil prospecting and speculation was as popular as gold mining • Crude oil, previously a nuisance, could be refined creating petroleum products, fuel, and synthetic materials “Pioneer Run”, Titusville, PA (1859)

13. Pennsylvania • Petroleum products supplied fuel for factory machines, fuel for automobiles, fabrics, and electricity and municipal power • Oil extraction and refining caused massive environmental degradation • Politics of oil (acquisition, control, use, and sale) is one of the most important aspects of American politics • Foreign Policy: Diplomacy with OPEC, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the Gulf Wars (criticized as wars for oil) • Domestic Policy: Environmental protection, SPR (Strategic Petroleum Reserves), the auto industry, drilling in Alaska, Gulf Coast • Disasters: Exxon Valdez

14. John D. Rockefeller • Sole owner and titan over Standard Oil • By 1879, Rockefeller controlled over 90% of the oil refining process • Organized trusts, a collection of support companies and investors, to strangle competition Rockefeller, due to a stress related illness which caused balding, purchased 3 different sized wigs (S, M, L) indicating successful hair growth

15. Rockefeller • Rockefeller expanded the oil business to encompass the entire U.S., providing fuel and power to much of the U.S. • Believed in “Social Darwinism”: the survival of the fittest • Often used bribery and ruthless tactics to acquire businesses • Strangled competition and forced “Ma and Pa” companies out of business • Formed monopolies

16. The Railroads • Transportation was the key to industrialization • Success as an industrialized nation depended on the rapid extension of the rail system • Existing rail, only 30,000 miles of track by 1860, remained in the North Railroad yard outside Chicago, IL (1860) Built by the Irish and Chinese, the railroads connected the east coast to the west, the north with the south. It conquered all physical barriers: the Great Plains, the Rockies and Sierras, and the great southwestern deserts.

17. Railroads • Rail system benefited the Northeastern industrial system • Most rails, by 1860, were often disconnected, disjointed, and in poor repair • Shippers of product had to load and unload their goods many times before it reached destination • Rail transportation time was significantly faster than foot, carriage, or ship • ***The only faster mechanism for travel would be through a Central American canal

18. Vanderbilt • National railroad systems bought, organized, and managed by people such as Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jay Fiske, and Jay Gould • Provided rebates to favorite customers • Prevented rail use to disliked customers • Rail monopolies resulted in faster shipping and transportation, as well as corruption “The Colossus of Roads” A modern colossus over the rail lines, Vanderbilt is seen as holding the reins over lesser men and the rail system. Note the lecherous posture, the pollution, and the emphasis of his height.

19. Vanderbilt • Railroad titans revolutionized the industry: • Provided consistent and connected rail lines • Standardized rail gauge • Standardized safety features: the air brake and the telegraph • Bi-directional track (to and fro) to increase transport speed • Organized shipping zones by time zone: Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific

20. Ruthlessly drove out competition Stamped out small businesses Exploited workers Cut corners on quality Overcharged customers for goods Polluted the environment Wasted natural resources Organized gigantic and powerful monopolies Created large gap between the rich and the poor Bribed government officials and corrupted the government Industrialization could not have occurred without industrialists Provided examples of risk and success Showed example of American Dream Created the wealth and military might of a young superpower Built cities and factories Provided employment Gave money to charities, libraries, and endowments Provided cheap manufactured goods for consumers Improved the quality of life for most Americans Industrialists: Pros and Cons

21. The U.S. Senate • Big businesses formed trusts: groups of smaller companies under the leadership of a large corporation • Made investors more profit • Allowed for lower operational costs • Lower “overhead” resulted in lower consumer cost • Forced smaller business out, and gained control of larger portion of the market “The Bosses of the Senate” Puck Magazine. This famous political cartoon refers to the rampant political corruption of the Gilded Age. The influence of business (in campaign contributions and perks) was evident in government’s laissez-faire approach, pro-business legislation, and federal support to combat unionization.

22. The Senate • Reformers attempted to control businesses, but often failed due to: • Continued bribes • Lack of enforcement • Local political bosses (and their machines) controlled local and party politics • Politicians afraid to act decisively because they wanted re-election • Congress attempted reform laws: • Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883): reformed Civil Service by requiring examinations and requirements for hiring • Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC, est. 1887): controlled railroads and transportation of goods between states (authorized by the Constitution) • Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890): regulated trusts, and when possible, forced the trusts to break up

23. Homestead, PA • Homestead became the model for factory towns • Close proximity to job • Safe community • Libraries and stores available • Provided cheap housing for factory employees • Employees were often paid only in scrip, vouchers for money, good only at the factory store Factory towns such as Homestead, helped spread industry, jobs, and population across the Northeast. These towns later became the model for the modern suburb, developed during the late 1940s and 1950s.

24. Homestead • Factory towns in the Northeast were often destinations for immigrants • Milwaukee became a center for German immigrants (beer and brats) • Chicago became a center for Italian immigrants • Factory towns were often dirty, polluted, and dangerous places to live • Any action taken against the factory would often result in beatings, vandalism, and murder by the “Coal and Iron Police” • An average steel worker would make $22/wk; an immigrant would receive less than $12/wk for the same job

25. Factory, Homestead • The Bessemer converters sprayed fire, sparks, and steam • Men were expected to work 12 hrs/day; 6 days/wk • Once a month, workers were expected to work a 24 hr. shift • Average wage in 1907, at the Homestead Plant, was 16 cents/hr Representative of working conditions in the average factory, the floor of this steel mill was so hot, it could fry an egg on contact. Hobnailed boots were required to relieve the discomfort, but burns were common.

26. Factory, Homestead • Conditions at factories (manufacturing, steel, textile, auto, coal, etc.) were terrible: • Dangerous working conditions • Low pay • No job security • No benefits • High rate of accident

27. The Mines, PA • Working conditions in factories resulted in numerous chronic conditions • Black Lung: • Derived from working in coal mines • Inhaled dust would coat the lungs, resulting in emphysema, lung cancer, and death • White Lung: • Derived from working in textile factories • Inhaled cotton fibers would coat the lungs, resulting in emphysema, lung cancer, and death Prized for their smaller size, their ability to get into tight working spaces, the inexhaustible supply, the lack of child labor laws, and the opportunity to pay less (thereby increasing profit) resulted in the widespread use of child labor. “Mother” Jones, a famous reformer, marched on Washington, D.C., forcing Congress to pass laws banning child labor.

28. The Mines • Over 2 million children were employed in factories at the turn of the century • The average age of these children ranged between 8-15 years • A “renewable” resource, children were paid significantly less than even an immigrant worker

29. A Strike: Lawrence • Unions: a collective group of workers acting to improve working conditions; reformers • Started in the late 1860s to respond to low wages, dangerous working conditions, and periodic unemployment Lawrence, a textile factory town in Massachusetts, was considered a hotbed of labor dissent and rebellion. Unions, as a group, were typically considered un-American, because they worked against the interests of government and business, “All-American” values.

30. A Strike • The Knights of Labor (1869): • Organized by Terence Powderly • Campaigned for 8 hour workday, safer conditions, equal pay for men and women, and compensation for work related injury • Focused on women, African-Americans, immigrants, and unskilled laborers • American Federation of Labor (1881): • Organized by Samuel Gompers • Advocated for 8 hour workday, improved working conditions, and the right of the union to represent workers during contract negotiations • Focused on white, male, and skilled workers

31. A Strike • Anti-Union activity rose during the Industrial Age • Federal, state, and local governments acted against workers’ rights • Most laws favored wealthy industrialists and to maintain the status quo In response to the “Bread or Revolution” slogan of the Wobblies, government and business owners feared a revolution against the U.S. by the lower classes. This fear generated violence against unions. Not without guilt, the mob mentality of union collective actions resulted in the violent suppression of union activity by police.

32. A Strike • Unions used several strategies to force change: • Boycott of goods: refusing to purchase goods • Strikes/Work stoppage: refusing to work • Picket Lines: “information” lines explaining cause for strikes and demands • Collective Bargaining: group representation for contract negotiations • Work to Rule: working only under the “letter” of contract

33. The Strike: Problems • Violence between government/business owners and workers resulted in numerous riots • Chicago Riots (1886): 8,000 workers, represented by the Knights of Labor, went on strike • Several workers were killed by police • Riot started after a bomb was thrown at police • 7 police officers and 4 workers were killed • Management used this as an example of mob mentality • Carnegie Homestead Riots (1892): Represented by the AFL, workers went on strike protesting a wage cut • Manager sent in 300 guards to protect factory • Upon arrival, workers killed 16 guards • National Guard was sent in to quell riot • Workers surrendered, and upon their return, got a 50% wage cut

34. A Strike • Pullman Strike (1894): Workers protested wage cut after high corporate profit • Strikers paralyzed rail business throughout the West • Management asked help from the government • Pres. Cleveland sent in troops to clear out the workers, move the trains and end the strike • Anthracite Coal Strike (1902): Workers protested working conditions in Pennsylvania coal mines and difficult working conditions • Coal strike threatened to paralyze the Northeast during the coldest winter--nobody had coal to heat homes, provide power, etc • Management refused to settle strike and meet worker demands • Management asked help from government and Pres. Roosevelt • Roosevelt changed tactics and supported worker rights

35. In Sum • Unions, using collective action, greatly improved working conditions in most industries • As part of the Progressive Reform Movement, led by Pres. Roosevelt, the government worked to improve the life, liberty, and property of the exploited worker masses • Unions, although sometimes criticized as Communists, became a mainstay in American business (AFL-CIO is one of the most powerful unions in the country) • Labor usually associated with Democratic Party; Management usually associated with Republican Party