Chapter 19 The Emergence of Corporate America,

An Expansive and Volatile Economy All sectors expanding, especially manufacturing Railroad was single most important agent of economic growth Economic power brought political influence and corruption Technological innovations Air Brakes, Bessemer process, open hearth, light bulb, elevators. telephone Business Organization J.P. Morgan Andrew Carnegie John D. Rockefeller Sherman Anti-Trust Act U.S. Vs E.C. Knight Company Social Darwinism Conspicuous consumption Economic class in America

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Consolidation of Middle Class Expansion of white collar workers Middle class life was home and family-oriented Department and mail order stores supply cities’ growing populations Advertising become major industry Middle-class women Began to explore world of work Seen in literature of the day Women’s Club movement Offered leaderships opportunities, as well civic and political outlets for women

Consolidation of Middle Class Consolidation of Middle Class (cont) New Woman Independent, threatening to traditional gender roles Comstock Law Higher education More women attending colleges Professional organizations barred women and blacks Cultural institutions Libraries Museums Genteel standards in literature William Dean Howells Edward Bellamy 1892 Columbian Exhibition

City and the Working class Culture Industrial economy created new jobs By 1900, 1/3 of single women worked Amusements Dance halls, vaudeville, nickelodeons, amusement parks Literature Dime novels and newspapers National Culture emerging Standardized time Rise in consumer goods and advertising Visual standards in culture changed Culture of consumption

Workers’ Resistance to the New Corporate Order Unsafe job conditions; loss of worker autonomy National Labor Union, 1866 Withered away in depression of the 1870s Great railroad strike of 1877 Knights of Labor, 1869 Terrance Powderly Haymarket Square Riot, dead, 50 wounded Hurt Knights of Labor

Workers’ Resistance Workers’ Resistance (cont) American Federation of Labor, 1886 Loosely affiliated association of trade or craft unions Critics of the wage-labor system Henry George, Progress and Poverty (1879) Edward Bellamy, Looking Backward (1887) Homestead Strike, 1892 Depression of 1893–1897 Began with railroad collapse, spread throughout economy Coxey’s Army, 1894 Pullman Strike 1894

Farmers’ Movements Increased production drove down agricultural prices Prolonged period of price deflation Farmers blamed banks, commission merchants, railroads, the monetary system Greenback Party “Free Silver” movement Bland-Allison Act 1878 Sherman Silver Purchase Act, 1890 Repealed in 1893 National Farmers’ Alliance and Industrial Union, 1890 Began as series of local/regional alliances Developed comprehensive political agenda

Rise and Fall of the People’s Party Nationwide farmers’ organization formed in 1892 Ran James B. Weaver as president Results disappointing Economic crisis after 1893 boosted chances Election of 1896 Silver issue divided Democratic party Nominated William Jennings Bryan –Silver and other reform issues Populists fused with Democrats and also nominated Bryan Republicans nominated William McKinley Gold standard and conservative economic platform Campaign most impassioned and exciting in a generation McKinley elected handily Proved to be advance agent of prosperity

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Discussion Questions What social and economic changes were brought on by the growth and development of cities? Consider Rockefeller and Carnegie. Were they robber barons or entrepreneurs who drove the industrial revolution? Why did the labor movement fail to take hold in the late 1800s? Were there any successes in this period? What were the roots of the Populist party? How did it develop and what was its platform?