The Gilded Age

Technological Advances Telephone Telephone Bicycle Bicycle Typewriter Typewriter Elevator Elevator Root Beer Root Beer Linoleum “floor covering of the future” Linoleum “floor covering of the future” Steel (skyscrapers, bridges) Steel (skyscrapers, bridges)

Industrialization and The Rise of Big Business During the Gilded Age, huge corporations were formed that employed thousands and produced enormous amounts of goods During the Gilded Age, huge corporations were formed that employed thousands and produced enormous amounts of goods The founders of these companies amassed great wealth while their workers were poorly paid The founders of these companies amassed great wealth while their workers were poorly paid

Captains of Industry Andrew Carnegie: bought out his suppliers and his competitors until he controlled the steel industry. Andrew Carnegie: bought out his suppliers and his competitors until he controlled the steel industry. John D. Rockefeller: turned his company into a “trust” by buying stock in his competitors companies until he controlled them. John D. Rockefeller: turned his company into a “trust” by buying stock in his competitors companies until he controlled them.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act Passed in 1890 to make trusts illegal Passed in 1890 to make trusts illegal Companies found many ways to get around this law Companies found many ways to get around this law 1906-, the government brought suit against Standard Oil and in 1911 the trust was finally ordered to dissolve 1906-, the government brought suit against Standard Oil and in 1911 the trust was finally ordered to dissolve

The Problems of the Industrial Workers There was almost no federal government regulation of businesses at this time, therefore there was: no minimum wage, no maximum number of hours per week, no higher pay for overtime, no regulation of unhealthy or unsafe working conditions, and no health insurance or other employee benefits. There was almost no federal government regulation of businesses at this time, therefore there was: no minimum wage, no maximum number of hours per week, no higher pay for overtime, no regulation of unhealthy or unsafe working conditions, and no health insurance or other employee benefits. Industrialization created low-wage, low-skilled jobs that made employees easy to replace. This led to the growth of labor unions. Industrialization created low-wage, low-skilled jobs that made employees easy to replace. This led to the growth of labor unions.

Communication Improves Transatlantic telegraph cable Transatlantic telegraph cable telephone- by million phones installed telephone- by million phones installed Improvements in printing- wide circulation of newspapers- mass advertising Improvements in printing- wide circulation of newspapers- mass advertising

Mass Production From small shops to large factories From small shops to large factories Workers perform 1 task over and over again Workers perform 1 task over and over again Long hours Long hours hours per day hours per day 6-7 days per week 6-7 days per week

Child Labor

The Early Labor Union Movement Labor Unions tried to improve wages and working conditions by collective bargaining and threatening strikes Labor Unions tried to improve wages and working conditions by collective bargaining and threatening strikes Between 1877 and 1893 there were several huge strikes Between 1877 and 1893 there were several huge strikes Union popularity declined because the public associated labor unions with violence Union popularity declined because the public associated labor unions with violence

The Problems of Farmers Westward expansion led to overproduction of crops – farm prices drop Westward expansion led to overproduction of crops – farm prices drop Railroad rates going up- more expensive to transport crops Railroad rates going up- more expensive to transport crops Farmers became deeply in debt Farmers became deeply in debt Farmers began the Populist Movement Farmers began the Populist Movement Asking for rr regulation and monetary reform to releive their indebtedness Asking for rr regulation and monetary reform to releive their indebtedness

Problems of Immigrants The thousands of immigrants that came from Southern and Eastern Europe between were often poor and illiterate The thousands of immigrants that came from Southern and Eastern Europe between were often poor and illiterate They accepted unskilled jobs in factories and had to move in to overly crowded cities They accepted unskilled jobs in factories and had to move in to overly crowded cities

Ellis Island, N.Y., Angel Island, CA.

Problems of Immigrants (Con’t) Triple Hardship: low wages, pooe housing conditions, and nativism (prejudice against immigrants) Triple Hardship: low wages, pooe housing conditions, and nativism (prejudice against immigrants) Nativists encouraged the government to pass immigration restriction laws Nativists encouraged the government to pass immigration restriction laws

Problems of Minorities The right to vote promised by the Fifteenth Amendment was undermined by the use of poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses The right to vote promised by the Fifteenth Amendment was undermined by the use of poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses Asians: The Chinese Exclusion Act banned further immigration from China Asians: The Chinese Exclusion Act banned further immigration from China

Big Cities Tightly knit ethnic communities begin to shape the big cities Tightly knit ethnic communities begin to shape the big cities

Urban Problems Industrial cities grew rapidly ad poor workers lived in slums Industrial cities grew rapidly ad poor workers lived in slums Police and fire departments were understaffed Police and fire departments were understaffed Clean water and sewer systems were inadequate Clean water and sewer systems were inadequate Tenement houses were were crowded and unsafe Tenement houses were were crowded and unsafe

Urban Problems (Con’t) City governments were often corrupt “political macines” stayed in power by winning the votes of the immigrants, but often abused their power City governments were often corrupt “political macines” stayed in power by winning the votes of the immigrants, but often abused their power Graft is when a public official uses his office to make himself rich through bribery or stealing public funds Graft is when a public official uses his office to make himself rich through bribery or stealing public funds