Questions of the Day: What impact did Industrialism have on the “American Dream” for most Americans? Are “Corporate Elite” (Captains of Industry or Robber Barons?) good for our society?

The Impact of Industrialism on Americans?

For Sale: Native American Land!! American settlers desire to move west pushed Native Americans off lands that were traditionally theirs. Some Native Americans Fought back! Sitting Bull Little Bighorn famousfamous Chief Joseph and Geronimo After facing losses, this ended Native American attempts to fight back

Taking the Trail out West Homestead Act west, coolwestcool A variety of different peoples moved out West Whites Middle Class people from the Midwest, farmers or businessmen, could afford supplies African-Americans Exodusters, dustersdusters Chinese Helped establish railroads across the country Europeans Poor immigrants moved to work on railroads (Irish) or to farm (Germans and Scandans)

A few big innovations… Bessemer Process info info Communications (Telegraph & Telephone) picpic RR Boom, Autos & Planes Striking Oil “Promethean”Growth - Steam and Electric Power

Importance of a “Patent” to an Inventor… Thomas Edison - inventions at Menlo Park - patent for light bulbpatent Alexander Graham Bell - sketchsketch

IMPORTANT! Industrial Ideas: Free enterprise (“laissez-faire” -gov.) Corporations w/ Stockholders “Social Darwinism” (Herbert Spencer link)link Vertical and Horizontal Integration (Monopolies- think Andrew Carnegie’s Steel(vertical) and John Rockefeller’s Standard Oil (horizontal)cartooncartoon Philanthropy (“Noblesse Oblige”?) pic Gates FoundationpicGates Foundation

Government Response (Anti-Trust Movement)? -Federal Government - eventually exerted some authority to regulate RR; Interstate Commerce Act (created: Commission) 1887 Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890) - meant to regulate monopolies (trusts), but not effective Because of Financial Panic of Populist push for reform influenced Election of 1896

Robber Baron or Captain of Industry? Now it’s your turn to decide… Were entrepreneurs like John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, or Cornelius Vanderbilt good for society or not? Are entrepreneurs like Martha Stewart, Donald Trump, Bill Gates, or Oprah good for our society today?

Is this an accurate portrayal of John D Rockefeller and his impact on America?

Or this…?

Work Environment Changes The New Workplace - machines run by unskilled workers replace many skilled craftspeople - Frederick W. Taylor’s ideas - “Taylorism” from Principles of Scientific. Management. linklink

Workers Unite! Rise of Unions - workers organize to recover loss of power - collective bargaining used to negotiate for better wages, working conditions, hours Knights of Labor - open to all - high and low skilled men and women, black and white. Terence Powderly-pushed for 8hr day, equal pay/work, regulate trusts, and end child labor; Mary Harris “Mother” Jones also organized strike. K of L backed RR strike 1877 link link American Federation of Labor - limited to special skilled - led by Samuel Gompers, became effective and nationally prominent, but excluded manyhttp:// link

Strike for better Conditions! Haymarket Riot - union strikers protesting for 8hr day, some anarchists present, Knights of Labor blamed linklink Homestead Strike - Carnegie owned, manager wanted more machinery, workers strike, Pinkerton security hired, face off, many die, strike lasts four more months linklink Pullman Strike - with Depression of 1893, Pullman Co. cut wages 25-40%, workers strike, Fed. Govt. put postal cars in trains, used Sherman Anti-Trust Act against union linklink

Industrialism and Farmers? (Populism takes root) Farm Production - grew quickly w/ machinery; pop. up, # farms up, yet farmers were overproducing and not profiting, farmers suffer National Grange - social and educational organization for farmers - formed cooperatives to buy farmer’s crops and then sell them for higher prices; then shifted to politics - choosing candidates who wanted regulation of RR and Corporations.linklink Farmer’s Alliances (including Colored Farmers) - joined to form Populist Party - tried to remove influence of Big Business on Government

A Reminder of Federal Government Response.. -Federal Government - eventually exerted some authority to regulate RR; Interstate Commerce Act (created: Commission) 1887 Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890) - meant to regulate monopolies (trusts), but not effective Because of Financial Panic of Populist push for reform influenced Election of 1896

Economic Impact of Industrialism? Silver vs Gold Debate - Gold standard (1873) was questioned, farmers wanted silver for inflation (making it easier to pay off debts); “Silver” candidates were supported by farmers, William Jennings Bryan Silver Purchase Act - because of Populist push, this act was passed in 1888, increased coinage based on silver William Jennings Bryan “Cross of Gold” speech at Democratic Convention split Populist Party, so McKinley (Rep) won in 1896 linklink

Back to the previous question.. Was America’s “Industrial Revolution” generally good or bad for Americans? Explain. What impact would you say the Industrial Revolution had on the American Dream?