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Was the Industrial Revolution “Good” for the United States?. 1865-1910. The IR is a Civil War Aftermath. How and Why this occurred? Natural Resources harnessed New Industries emerged New Markets Spark Rise of Consumerism Railroads Transform Life Big Business Emerges It’s EFFECT
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Was the Industrial Revolution “Good” for the United States? 1865-1910
The IR is a Civil War Aftermath • How and Why this occurred? • Natural Resources harnessed • New Industries emerged • New Markets Spark Rise of Consumerism • Railroads Transform Life • Big Business Emerges • It’s EFFECT • 1870-1920 • Nation’s Wealth Increased 5 ½ times • By 1920 U.S. is Leader in • Agricultural production • Industrial Production
IR Evaluation • Was this beneficial for “United States”? • Business Owners • Workers • Investors • Consumers • Citizens • National Economy
IR Good for “Big Business” Owners? Consolidation: organize to stabilize economy • Panic 1893 : A Four Year Depression • Vertical Integration • By 1901 U.S. Steel Corp. producing 80% all steel • Horizontal Consolidation • Standard Oil Company • Trusts • JP Morgan Company Social Darwinism • Carnegie “Rags to Riches” Story
IR Good for U.S.?YES • Patents Increase • Number of Industrial Workers Increased • Exports Increased • Steel Production Increased • Oil Production Increased • Railroad Tracks Laid Increased • National Wealth Increased • Gospel of Wealth
IR Good for U.S.?NO • Monopolies • Political Corruption • Social Darwinism • Influences Laissez-Faire Policy • Political Machines • Tammany Hall • Plutocracy • Gilded Age Income Inequality • Economic Tumult
IR Consequences for Workers/Consumers • Positive • Increased number of jobs • Increased living standard • Decreased cost of goods • Cultural Enhancements • Technology Innovations (Conveniences) • Growth of Middle Class
IR Consequences for Workers • Negative • Environmental harm (Oil Drilling) • Dangerous Working Conditions • Exploited Child Labor • Exploited Free Workers • “Wage Slaves” • Long Working Hours • Monotonous/Repetitive Work • “Part of the Machine”
IR Mixed Benefit Triggered Response • Government Response • Worker Response • Business Owner Response
Government Regulation b) Response to “Big Business” Behavior • Government Regulation • Munn v. Illinois 1877 • Wabash Case 1886 • Interstate Commerce Act 1887 • Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890 • Court Rulings Dilute Anti-trust Legislation • U.S. Knight (1895) • Maximum Freight Case (1897) • Federal government consistently denied unions recognition as legally protected organizations under 14th Amendment
Rise of National Labor Unions b) Response to “Big Business” Behavior • Rise of National Labor Unions • American Federation of Labor • National Labor Union Actions • Collective Bargaining • Strikes • 1877 Great RR Strike • Haymarket Square Riot 1886 and Homestead Strike 1892 • Pullman Strike 1894
Response of Big Business Owners c) Response to Labor Union Actions • Employer Responses • Yellow-dog contracts • Closed Shops • Public Response to Worker Strikes: Disdain • Supreme Court Classified Strikes as Illegal Trust • Federal Government Support of Big Business • Combination of public disdain, federal government opposition limit union gains for 30 years!!!
Interpretations of IR Effects • Big Business as • Robber Barons • Big Business as • Captains of Industry