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The Gilded Age

The Gilded Age. Or was it? The negative side…. Legislation. At first, government stayed out of business Laissez-Faire had them “hands off” and looking the other way Wealth and power had some government officials benefiting from the success of the monopolies.

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The Gilded Age

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  1. The Gilded Age Or was it? The negative side…

  2. Legislation • At first, government stayed out of business • Laissez-Faire had them “hands off” and looking the other way • Wealth and power had some government officials benefiting from the success of the monopolies

  3. Legislation:Interstate Commerce Act (1887) • Situation: • RR’s were charging small companies more to ship short distances than large companies to ship long distance • What would you do?

  4. LegislationInterstate Commerce Act (1887) • State passed laws to stop this • Problem: Supreme Court ruled this Unconstitutional • Why? • Because interstate commerce (biz happening over state lines) is regulated by the US Congress per the Constitution • US Congress passed Interstate Commerce Act to prohibit unfair pricing across state lines • Who made sure they followed the law? • Interstate Commerce Commission

  5. Legislation:Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890) • Situation • Large corporations are forcing small companies out of business or buying them • Reformers called for government to step and stop the unfair practice • What would you do?

  6. Legislation:Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890) • Sherman Anti-Trust Act • Stops monopolies from unfair practices that prevented fair competition • Significance? • Changed how Congress is looked at big business and its abuses

  7. Labor - Situation • Long hours – average 10-14 hours per day • Wages – extremely low • Employees – whoever could be hired for the least money • Conditions – extremely dangerous • The work – boring and repetitive • Children – worked in mills and mines, did dangerous work no one else was small enough for (1/5 under 15 in 1910 worked) • Job security – None! You could be fired for any reason, any time

  8. LaborReforms • Unions – groups formed by some workers to act together • Held strikes and protests • Carnegie used immigrant workers or shut down his plants rather than negotiate

  9. LaborReforms • Knights of Labor – Terrence Powderly (founder) • Single national union • United skilled and unskilled laborers • Demands • 8 hour work day • Higher wages • Safety codes • No child labor • Equal pay for women • Results • Dissolved – too loosely organized & skilled laborers resented being grouped with unskilled laborers

  10. Labor Reforms • American Federation of Labor (AFL) – Samuel Gompers (founder) • Unions of people with similar interests (skilled workers) • All the unions joined in a federation • Demands • 8 hour work day • Higher wages • Better conditions • Closed shops (places where only union members could work)

  11. Labor Reforms Now… Let’s think about the two unions…How you ask? Why, with a thinking map, of course! We need to compare/contrast the unions…What map should we use? A circle map! Don’t use just 2 circles, this is just an example.

  12. LaborThe Government • Business leaders had political influence • Saw worker demands as greedy • Concern was to protect the economy not the people • Sherman Anti-Trust Act was used to rule unions a “restraint of trade” • Troops were used to put down strikes

  13. LaborThe Government • Laissez Faire • Supported by the people • People feared higher prices • Haymarket Affair of 1886 • Worker striking in Haymarket Square in Chicago • Labor leaders blamed when bomb exploded • 7 policemen killed – 67 others wounded

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