Westward Expansion and Industrialization

Major Themes The rise of rich industrialists The government’s role in the economy The creation of a national economy The destruction of Native American culture/society

Capitalism What is capitalism? What is your opinion of it? “laissez faire” -> hands off

Social Darwinism Herbert Spencer People, groups, and races are subject to natural selection like animals in nature. “Survival of the fittest” in society Supports capitalism

Horatio Alger Very popular author “Rags to Riches” stories Focus on poor boys becoming rich through hard work

Entrepreneur What are they? What is their role in society? Examples?

Robber Barons or Captains of Industry Were the entrepreneurs of the late 19th and early 20th century “Robber Barons” or “Captains of Industry” John D. Rockefeller Andrew Carnegie

Warm Up: What is the message of this political cartoon

Destruction of Native American Culture

Destruction of Native American Culture Causes: ->Westward Expansion ->Railroads built into NA territory ->Death of Buffalo ->Smaller reservations War with US Cavalry ->Once defeated assimilation begins -> NA adopt US culture Dawes Act : forces Native Americans to own private land

Populist Movement (People’s Party) Grassroots political mov’t focused on helping small farmers and poor workers. Main platform: Regulate Big Business to help farmers/workers Use Silver as money-inflationary Created an income tax Ends after 1896 election

Mechanized Farming Machines/stronger tools in farming lead to massive increase in production Reaper-mechanically cut crops/collected

What problem does the chart show?

Problems in agriculture ->Mechanized farming leads to overproduction -> price of crops decreases ->Many farmers bankrupt

Political Machine An often corrupt political organization that uses its influence to provide benefits for its members. “Graft”->using influence/power to make money  Corruption Cons (Negative) Pros (Benefits)

Populism: Important Laws Granger Laws (1860s-1870s) State laws put limits on rates railroads charge farmers Eventually overturned by state court decisions Interstate Commerce Act (1887) Creates Commission to regulate rates railroads charge Freight Rate Cases (1890s) - Limit the powers of the ICC to regulate railway rates. Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890) Makes monopolies illegal or any practice that restrains trade. EC Knight Case (1892) Limits powers of Sherman Act (federal gov’t cannot regulate local manufacturing, only interstate activities) Populism: Focus on helping farmers/workers

Labor Unions Definition: organization of workers formed to promote their rights/interests Formed in response to bad work conditions/hours/pay Wrongly associated with socialism Propaganda to discredit unions Yellow Dog Contracts: worker agrees to not join a Union

Government sides with business over labor Labor Union Incidents Haymarket Riot (1886) Chicago, IL Protest for 8 hour day turns into riot after bomb thrown Homestead strike (1892) Homestead, PA Steel workers strike against Carnegie Steel Major defeat for unions Pullman Strike (1894) Near nationwide railway strike President Grover Cleveland orders army to stop strike Sherman Anti-Trust Act applied to Labor Unions Government sides with business over labor

Election of 1896 William Jennings Bryan Republican William McKinley Hard Money candidate: endorses Gold Standard Front Porch Campaign: conducted campaign on his front porch Supporters: Big Businessmen Factory Workers Bankers Large-scale farmers Democrat Soft Money-Bimetalism-Silver and Gold Cross of Gold: Supports free silver Supporters Small farmers