Big Business and Technological Innovations Standard 11

Railroads The federal government granted areas of land to railroad owners so they would lay train tracks connecting the eastern and western states Companies relied mainly on Chinese labor (they accepted lower pay) 1 st Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869

Railroads Railroad companies sold some of their land for farming Settlers moved west… Goods moved back east

Steel Railroad companies helped expand industries that supplied the companies’ needs (steel, iron, wood, passenger cars, etc.) The rapid rise of steel and railroad industries encouraged the growth of other big businesses (oil, financial and manufacturing sectors) – A lot of the money made was used to control many aspects of American cultural and political life

Oil Standard Oil Company, founded by John D. Rockefeller (owned 90% of industry). – Monopoly: a single company that controls an industry

Inventions of Thomas Edison Changed how people lived – Electric light bulb – Phonograph – Motion Pictures Electricity soon replaced steam as a source of power Edison’s inventions eliminated manual labor and improved the quality of life

Standard 11 Assignment Create a graphic organizer that shows the relationships between the following: Transcontinental Railroad Railroads (in general) Steel Industry Use of Chinese Labor John D. Rockefeller and Standard Oil Rise of monopolies Inventions of Thomas Edison – Electric Light Bulb – Motion Pictures – Phonograph

Consequences of Industrial Growth Standard 12

Old Conflict More and more people began moving out west – Native Americans had to compete with these newcomers The gov’t signed a treaty with the Sioux Indians protecting their land, but when gold was discovered in the Dakotas, the Sioux had to fight to protect it. – Sitting Bull

Old Conflict Sitting Bull finally agreed to settle on a reservation After Sitting Bull dies (about 10 years later), several hundred of his people fled to Wounded Knee (South Dakota) – US soldiers were sent – 300 Sioux were killed – This battle ended the Native American conflict against Americans over land

New Immigrants Before the Civil War, most immigrants coming to America were from northern and western Europe (typically Protestant and spoke English) After the Civil War, more were coming from eastern and southern Europe (often Jewish or Catholic and spoke no English)

New Immigrants The wealthy were accepted Poor immigrants had to pass health and welfare tests at immigration stations – Ellis Island (east coast) – Angel Island (west coast) Most gathered in ethnic communities (did not blend into American society)

American Federation of Labor Many immigrants and poor Americans were unskilled laborers – Subject to low wages – Long workdays – No vacations – Unsafe workplaces

American Federation of Labor Workers began banding together in labor unions to demand better pay and working conditions – The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was led by Samuel Gompers – His goal was to use strikes to convince employers to giver workers better treatment

Pullman Strike During poor economic times, violence often erupted when employers sought to fire workers or lower wages. 1894, the Pullman railcar factory fired almost half of its workforce and cut wages by 25 – 50% – Workers went on strike – Rail traffic came to a halt