1. Industrialization, Urbanization, and Immigration
Late 19th Century

2. Introduction to Industrialism
Caused by development of American technological advances, i.e. railroads and light bulbs
Few individuals could actually access such technology because only they had the financial resources. These people became “captains of industry”
New ideologies about wealth sprung up, leading to a laissez-faire style government
Workers began being replaced with machines
Increase of immigrants led to greater competition for fewer jobs, subsequently leading to poor working conditions and low wages

3. Robber Barons J.D. Rockefeller: Standard Oil
Andrew Carnegie: Steel Industry
J.P. Morgan: Banking Industry
Cornelius Vanderbilt: Railroads

4. Captains of Industry and their Strategies
Vertical Consolidation
Horizontal Consolidation
Style of management control that unites companies in a supply chain under a common owner
Andrew Carnegie
Used in production
Goal: control all aspects of production, not paying other companies
Method of management that unites firms within the same industry
J.D. Rockefeller
Used in marketing
Goal: to consolidate like companies, monopolize industry, reduce competition, increase profit

5. Philosophies of the time
Social Darwinism
Application of scientific Darwinism on social, economic, and political issues
“Survival of the fittest”
Natural selection results from human competing for wealth and power
Support laissez-faire government
Gospel of Wealth
Andrew Carnegie, Horatio Alger, and Russell H. Conwell, all different types
Individual wealth of rich men a benefit for all, wealth leads to responsibility giving those with riches equally great obligation to society

6. Labor Unions
National Labor Union: William H. Sylvis; women not allowed; persuaded Congress for 8 hour workdays, failed after the Panic of 1873
Knights of Labor: Industrial Union; Uriah S. Stephens and Terence V. Powderly; skilled and unskilled; desired elimination of child and prison labor, equal pay for genders, 8 hour workdays, unionization of all workers
American Federation of Labor: Craft Union; Samuel Gompers; members mostly skilled craftsmen; desired general economic gains

7. Significant Strikes
Railroad Workers (1877): West Virginia, began June 14th, ended 45 days later by federal troops and militias
Haymarket Square (1886): Knights of Labor in Chicago, striking for shorter workday; a bomb was thrown followed by gunfire, killing more than ten people, including 8 police officers; marked the end of the Knights of Labor
Homestead (1892): Industrial lockout strike; between Homestead Steel Workers and Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers and the Carnegie Steel Company; AA wanted to prevent “Yellow-dog” contracts; violence occurred, Frick brought in Pinkertons
Pullman (1894): Pullman Palace Car Company, Eugene V. Debs; wages were going down as rent went up, wanted to reverse this; Debs made it a national issue in an attempt to succeed

8. Political Machine
A corrupt system of political organization that emphasizes patronage. The “boss” promises citizens work and wages if they promise to vote for the machine and support whoever it supports.
Tammany Hall: A group constructed to corrupt and control the city and politics through manipulating immigrants and other people in need
William Marcy Tweed: The “Godfather” of Tammany Hall
Thomas Nast: Political cartoonist that exploited the corruption and dishonesty of Tweed and Tammany Hall

9. Significant Acts
Pendleton Act (1883): Made it illegal for federal employees to make campaign contributions and created the Civil Service Commission which used competitive examination to appoint federal jobs
Interstate Commerce Act (1887): Designed to stop unfair business practices, became responsible for regulating economic affairs from state to national government
Sherman Anti-trust Act (1890): Attempt to break up corporate trusts, unclear in structure leaving courts responsible for interpreting meaning

10. Politics in the Gilded Age
Corrupt politicians took bribes and appointed people based off of personal gain
Jobs obtained through patronage system
1890’s Populist party was formed by farmers, as well as organizations like the Grange and Farmer’s Alliance
Elections were generally close and lots of people voted
None of the parties that ran in elections pursued ambitious agendas
The Civil War left people keeping away from political activism, establishing a policy of laissez-faire government

11. Farmers in the Gilded Age
Populist Party: focused on the “people” vs. the “elite” trying for social and political system changes, established late 19th century by farmers who want to emphasize hard work of regular people
The Grange: association founded in 1867 by farmers; advocated against corruption in banks and government
Farmer’s Alliance: economic movement in 1880s, goal to end effects of crop-lien system and promote higher commodity prices; destroyed by commodity brokers

12. “Cross of Gold” Speech William Jennings Bryan
July 8, 1886 Democratic National Convention in Chicago
Wanted to set value of a dollar to silver instead of gold
Since inflation would occur farmers would have an easier time paying off debts
Aimed to reverse deflation that began in the 1870s

13. 1890s
Panic of 1893
Coxey’s Army
Economic depression marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and the finances behind such project which caused bank failures
Considered worst economic depression in U.S. history until the Great Depression
Jacob Coxey lead unemployed workers on a march to protest the fact that they had no jobs
Wanted the government to create jobs in public works
Started in Ohio, 3/25/1894 with 100 men
Military intervened and protesters never made it to the capitol

14. Republicans: William McKinley
Democrats/Populists: William Jennings Bryan
Outcome: Throughout the campaign McKinley did not travel much so as not to leave his dying wife’s side; Bryan on the other hand traveled everywhere, asking his audience for votes, which was frowned upon. McKinley won with the support of immigrants as well as most of the Northern industrial areas.