Ch. 4 - The Industrial Age

Section 1 -The Second Industrial Revolution Video - The Beginning of the Industrial Revolution The Big Idea The Second Industrial Revolution led to new sources of power and advances in transportation and communication. Main Ideas Breakthroughs in steel processing led to a boom in railroad construction. Advances in the use of oil and electricity improved communications and transportation. A rush of inventions changed Americans' lives.

The Second Industrial Revolution Main idea 1: Breakthroughs in steel processing led to a boom in railroad construction. Technological advances were important to Second Industrial Revolution, period of rapid growth in U.S. manufacturing in late 1800s Bessemer process - invented mid-1850s, allowed steel to be produced quickly and cheaply. Helped increase steel production from 77,000 tons in 1870 to more than 1 million tons in 1879

The Second Industrial Revolution As steel dropped in price, so did the cost of building railroads, generating a boom in railroad construction. Growth of railroads helped the country expand and prosper.

Railroads in 1860

Railroads in 1880

The Second Industrial Revolution: Main idea 2: Advances in the use of oil and electricity improved communications and transportation. Chemists invented a way to convert crude oil into fuel called kerosene in the 1850s. Kerosene, which could be used for cooking, heating, and lighting, created a demand for oil. A huge oil industry developed after a way to pump oil from the ground was developed in 1859.

Development of Electricity Invention Inventor Thomas Edison, who held more than 1,000 patents, worked to invent an electric light. Edison and his team introduced the first practical electric light bulb in 1879.* Edison created a power company to distribute electricity, but could not send it over long distances. George Westinghouse built a power system that could send electricity many miles across the country.

The Second Industrial Revolution Main idea 3: A rush of inventions changed Americans' lives. New telegraph technology connected the U.S. with Britain by cable in 1866. Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876. Telephones were rapidly adopted, the number rising from 55,000 in 1880 to almost 1.5 million in 1900.

Early Telephones

Automobiles and Planes The automobile industry grew in steps. 1876 - German engineer invented the gasoline-powered engine. 1893 - The United States built its first practical motorcar. Wilbur and Orville Wright invented an airplane powered by a gas engine in 1903. Who really invented the airplane?

Automobiles and Planes 1908 - Henry Ford introduced the Model T. Ford was first to implement the moving assembly line in manufacturing, making cars more affordable. History Channel - Assembly Line: Then and Now Henry Ford's Motor Company

Section 2 – Big Business The Big Idea The growth of big business in the late 1800s led to the creation of monopolies. Main Ideas The rise of corporations and powerful business leaders led to the dominance of big business in the United States. People and the government began to question the methods of big business.

Big Business Main idea 1: The rise of corporations and powerful business leaders led to the dominance of big business in the United States. Many entrepreneurs formed their businesses in the late 1800s as corporations, or businesses that sell portions of ownership called stock shares. Stock holders could sell stock whenever they wanted so many people invested in corporations. Corporate leaders were widely respected in American society.

Business Leaders Andrew Carnegie One of most admired businesspeople of the time Focused on steelmaking Used vertical integration, owning businesses involved in each step of manufacturing, to lower costs.

Business Leaders John D. Rockefeller Standard Oil Company was country's largest refinery Developed horizontal integration, owning all businesses in a field Formed a trust, grouping many companies under a single board

Business Leaders Leland Stanford Made fortune selling equipment to miners Governor of California, one of founders of Central Pacific Railroad, and founder of Stanford University

Big Business Main idea 2: People and the government began to question the methods of big business. Concerned about child labor, low wages, and poor working conditions Factory workers worked and lived in terrible conditions. Workers usually worked very long hours. 12-14 hour days with little pay. Most lived in squalor. The work was very dangerous. There were few safety regulations and the machines moved very fast and could easily pull in limbs and clothing. Factory owners rarely faced any liability and injured workers received no pensions and rarely had insurance. Other dangers included fire hazards and unsanitary conditions which spread disease.

Big Business Many business leaders believed in social Darwinism. Darwin's "survival of fittest" applied to which human beings would succeed in business and in life in general. Other business leaders believed that the rich should help the poor. Carnegie Rockefeller Stanford

The Antitrust Movement Critics said many businesses earned their fortunes through unfair business practices. Used size and strength to drive smaller competitors out of business Powerful trusts sold goods and services below market value until smaller competitors went out of business, then raised prices. Some people were concerned when a trust gained a monopoly, or total ownership of a product or service. The Sherman Antitrust Act - passed in 1890. Made it illegal to create monopolies or trusts that restrained trade. The act did not clearly define a trust in legal terms, so it was hard to enforce.

Political Cartoon: Puck Magazine 1881

What does it mean? Political cartoon from Puck magazine from 1881 by Joseph Keppler illustrating the dangers of monopoly. A snake representing Monopoly has the U.S. Capitol in the coils of its tail. The body has stripes with the names of prominent businessmen of the era. The snake's head has risen as if prepared to strike, threatening Columbia. At left Puck draws Uncle Sam's attention to the threatening snake, asking "What are you going to do about it?"

Political Cartoon: Standard Oil Octopus 1904

What does it mean? The Standard Oil Octopus is an example of the control that monopolies had over the economy and the government. This cartoon was published in 1904 during Teddy Roosevelt's presidency. The octopus is controlling the Congress (upper left building), the state capital buildings (upper right building), the shipping (upper left), the railroads (under center tentacle) and other business owner or politicians (lower right corner). The only thing not under control of the octopus is the White House. President Roosevelt is using the Sherman Anti-trust Act to regulate the monopolies. This means that there is no longer "Laissez Faire Economics."

Section 3 – Industrial Workers The Big Idea Changes in the workplace led to a rise in labor unions and workers' strikes. Main Ideas The desire to maximize profits and become more efficient led to poor working conditions. Workers began to organize and demand improvements in working conditions and pay. Labor strikes often turned violent and failed to accomplish their goals.

Industrial Workers Main idea 1: The desire to maximize profits and become more efficient led to poor working conditions. Several factors led to a decline in the quality of working conditions in the late 1800s. Machines and unskilled workers replaced skilled craftspeople. These low-paid workers could easily be replaced. They brought costs down and caused production to rise. Frederick W. Taylor, an efficiency expert, published The Principles of Scientific Management in 1909. Encouraged managers to view workers as interchangeable parts Injuries increased, and conditions worsened. Workers looked for ways to bring about change.

Poor Working Conditions Small, crowded rooms Specialization made workers tired, bored, and more likely to be injured. Managers paid less attention to working conditions. Stuffy air Unsafe workplaces Long hours Low wages No job security Watch video American Experience: Triangle Fire

Industrial Workers Main idea 2: Workers began to organize and demand improvements in working conditions and pay. Knights of Labor First national labor union, founded in 1870s Pushed for eight-hour workday, equal pay for equal work, and end to child labor Included both skilled and unskilled workers Terence V. Powderly became leader in 1879 and ended secrecy of organization.

Industrial Workers American Federation of Labor Organized individual national unions, such as mine-workers' and steelworkers' unions Limited membership to skilled workers Used collective bargaining, in which all workers acted collectively, or together, to negotiate with management

Industrial Workers Main idea 3: Labor strikes often turned violent and failed to accomplish their goals. Haymarket Riot – May 4, 1886 Erupted between protesters and police in Chicago Resulted in decline of Knights of Labor

Industrial Workers: Homestead Strike Strike occurred at Carnegie Steel Company in Homestead, Pennsylvania. Resulting fight left workers and Pinkerton guards dead. Homestead Strike Video Pullman Strike Began with workers who made Pullman train cars Spread to workers who worked on trains pulling sleeping cars Federal troops stopped strike.

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