Lesson 1: Railroads Bring Industrial might (24.1)
Lesson Objectives: The following lesson takes an in depth look at the building of the Transcontinental and its role on ushering in a new era of business in both the United States and the world. Our objective is to understand this development and assess the overall results of these developments and how they impacted the nation politically, economically, and socially. Directions:
1) Watch the below video from "The Men Who Built America."
2) Go through the assignment and make notes on the content and your opinions
3) Every so often there are four Focus Questions. On a separate piece of paper, write detailed responses to those focus questions. Those will be the focus of our class discussion for this assignment.
1) Watch the below video from "The Men Who Built America."
2) Go through the assignment and make notes on the content and your opinions
3) Every so often there are four Focus Questions. On a separate piece of paper, write detailed responses to those focus questions. Those will be the focus of our class discussion for this assignment.
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/9/9/15997692/3864026.gif?1391368816)
Theme 1: America’s “Second Industrial Revolution” in the Gilded Age (1865-1900) was spurred initially by the transcontinental rail network, and saw large businesses consolidate into giant corporate trusts, as epitomized by the oil and steel industries.
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/9/9/15997692/1391369087.png)
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/9/9/15997692/8001852.png)
Overview
A. By 1900 the U.S. was the most powerful economy in the world: exceeded the combined output of Germany and Great Britain.
1. U.S. still borrowed heavily from Europe; after World War I, U.S. emerged as the largest creditor.
2. Technological innovations:
a. Steel: railroads, skyscrapers, engines
b. Oil: used mostly to make kerosene for lighting homes, businesses, etc.
Later, provided fuel for internal combustible engine, cars, subways, streetcars
c. Electricity: lights, power, refrigerated railroad cars
d. Advances in business: telephone, typewriter, cash register, adding machines.
e. Mass popular culture (early 20th century): cameras, phonographs, bicycles, moving pictures, amusement parks, professional sports.
f. Contrasts 1st Industrial Revolution: textiles, coal, iron, early railroads.
3. In 1880, about 50% of Americans worked in agriculture; only 25% by 1920; (about 2% today)
4. Class divisions became most pronounced in U.S. history during this period.
5. Farmers lost ground
a. In 1880, 25% of those who farmed did not own their land.
b. 90% of African Americans lived in the South; 75% were tenant farmers or sharecroppers.
6. Depressions and recessions led to unrest
a. 1873-1879; 1882-1885; 1893-1897; 1907-1908; 1913-1915
A. By 1900 the U.S. was the most powerful economy in the world: exceeded the combined output of Germany and Great Britain.
1. U.S. still borrowed heavily from Europe; after World War I, U.S. emerged as the largest creditor.
2. Technological innovations:
a. Steel: railroads, skyscrapers, engines
b. Oil: used mostly to make kerosene for lighting homes, businesses, etc.
Later, provided fuel for internal combustible engine, cars, subways, streetcars
c. Electricity: lights, power, refrigerated railroad cars
d. Advances in business: telephone, typewriter, cash register, adding machines.
e. Mass popular culture (early 20th century): cameras, phonographs, bicycles, moving pictures, amusement parks, professional sports.
f. Contrasts 1st Industrial Revolution: textiles, coal, iron, early railroads.
3. In 1880, about 50% of Americans worked in agriculture; only 25% by 1920; (about 2% today)
4. Class divisions became most pronounced in U.S. history during this period.
5. Farmers lost ground
a. In 1880, 25% of those who farmed did not own their land.
b. 90% of African Americans lived in the South; 75% were tenant farmers or sharecroppers.
6. Depressions and recessions led to unrest
a. 1873-1879; 1882-1885; 1893-1897; 1907-1908; 1913-1915
Impact of the Civil War on the Economic Expansion
A. Republican legislation
1. Pacific Railway Act (1862) paved the way for the building of the transcontinental railroad
2. National Banking Act (1863) created a modern system that facilitated economic growth
3. The Morrill Tariff (1862) protected American companies from foreign competition
4. The Homestead Act (1862) facilitated westward expansion
5. The Morrill Land Grant Act (1862) provided federal land to create state agricultural colleges
B. Civil War economy foreshadowed the Second Industrial Revolution
1. Mass production used to manufacture muskets, bullets, uniforms, etc.
2. A new class of millionaires created; used their capital after the war to invest in industrial growth
A. Republican legislation
1. Pacific Railway Act (1862) paved the way for the building of the transcontinental railroad
2. National Banking Act (1863) created a modern system that facilitated economic growth
3. The Morrill Tariff (1862) protected American companies from foreign competition
4. The Homestead Act (1862) facilitated westward expansion
5. The Morrill Land Grant Act (1862) provided federal land to create state agricultural colleges
B. Civil War economy foreshadowed the Second Industrial Revolution
1. Mass production used to manufacture muskets, bullets, uniforms, etc.
2. A new class of millionaires created; used their capital after the war to invest in industrial growth
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/9/9/15997692/3324030.gif?1391370614)
FOCUS Question 1: Summarize the impact of the Civil War on the growth of the US economy and industrialization.
FOCUS QUESTION 2: Analyze how the building of the Transcontinental Railroad changed the United States politically, economically, and socially. (Give a minimum of 3 examples for each) Evaluate which of these changes was positive and or negative.
Railroad building (The Spark of the 2nd Industrial Revolution)
A. By 1900, 192,556 miles of track; more than all Europe combined
1. Gov’t subsidized transcontinental railroad building since unpopulated areas were initially unprofitable
a. Railroad companies given 155.5 million acres along RR lines (checkerboard)
b. Gov’t received low rates for postal service and military traffic in return.
2. Cities grew where tracks were laid while bypassed cities became "ghost towns"
3. Growth of railroads sparked the Second Industrial Revolution.
· Steel and coal industries received a huge boost
B. The Transcontinental Railroad (completed in 1869)
1. Pacific Railway Act (1862): Passed by Republican Congress during the Civil War.
a. Connecting the Pacific states to the east was seen as urgent to the national security of the U.S.
b. Construction began in 1865
2. Union Pacific Railroad: built west from Omaha, Nebraska
a. Company was granted 20 square miles for each mile of track constructed
b. Company was also granted federal loans for each mile: $16,000 for flat land, $32,000 for hilly country; $48,000 for
mountainous country
c. Irish "paddies" who fought in the Union armies worked at a frantic pace.
-Workers fended off attacks from hostile Indians; scores lost their lives
-"Hell on wheels": tented towns sprang up at rail’s end; drinking, prostitution
d. Insiders of the Credit Mobilier construction company pocketed $73 million for some $50 million worth of work.
- Bribed congressmen who looked the other way
3. Central Pacific Railroad pushed east from Sacramento over Sierra Nevadas
a. Led by the "Big Four" / They undercut Theodore Judah
• Leland Stanford -- ex-governor of CA and future Senator
• Collis P. Huntington: company vice president who managed the enterprise on a day to day basis.
b. Central Pacific was more ethical in its practices compared to the Union Pacific
c. Gov’t provided same subsidies as to the Union Pacific
d. 10,000 Chinese laborers, "coolies," built the railroad.
• Hundreds lost their lives in premature explosions and other mishaps
e. Sierra Nevada Mountains became the major challenge as workers could only chip through a few inches a day through rocky tunnels.
4. Railroad completed at Promontory Point, Utah on May 10, 1869
a. Union Pacific built 1,086 miles of line
b. Central Pacific built 689 miles
5. Significance:
a. Linked the entire continent via railroad and by telegraph
b. Paved the way for incredible growth of the Great West.
c. Facilitated a burgeoning trade with the Orient
d. Seen by Americans at the time as a monumental achievement
along with the Declaration of Independence and the freeing of
the slaves. (Internet of it's era)
A. By 1900, 192,556 miles of track; more than all Europe combined
1. Gov’t subsidized transcontinental railroad building since unpopulated areas were initially unprofitable
a. Railroad companies given 155.5 million acres along RR lines (checkerboard)
b. Gov’t received low rates for postal service and military traffic in return.
2. Cities grew where tracks were laid while bypassed cities became "ghost towns"
3. Growth of railroads sparked the Second Industrial Revolution.
· Steel and coal industries received a huge boost
B. The Transcontinental Railroad (completed in 1869)
1. Pacific Railway Act (1862): Passed by Republican Congress during the Civil War.
a. Connecting the Pacific states to the east was seen as urgent to the national security of the U.S.
b. Construction began in 1865
2. Union Pacific Railroad: built west from Omaha, Nebraska
a. Company was granted 20 square miles for each mile of track constructed
b. Company was also granted federal loans for each mile: $16,000 for flat land, $32,000 for hilly country; $48,000 for
mountainous country
c. Irish "paddies" who fought in the Union armies worked at a frantic pace.
-Workers fended off attacks from hostile Indians; scores lost their lives
-"Hell on wheels": tented towns sprang up at rail’s end; drinking, prostitution
d. Insiders of the Credit Mobilier construction company pocketed $73 million for some $50 million worth of work.
- Bribed congressmen who looked the other way
3. Central Pacific Railroad pushed east from Sacramento over Sierra Nevadas
a. Led by the "Big Four" / They undercut Theodore Judah
• Leland Stanford -- ex-governor of CA and future Senator
• Collis P. Huntington: company vice president who managed the enterprise on a day to day basis.
b. Central Pacific was more ethical in its practices compared to the Union Pacific
c. Gov’t provided same subsidies as to the Union Pacific
d. 10,000 Chinese laborers, "coolies," built the railroad.
• Hundreds lost their lives in premature explosions and other mishaps
e. Sierra Nevada Mountains became the major challenge as workers could only chip through a few inches a day through rocky tunnels.
4. Railroad completed at Promontory Point, Utah on May 10, 1869
a. Union Pacific built 1,086 miles of line
b. Central Pacific built 689 miles
5. Significance:
a. Linked the entire continent via railroad and by telegraph
b. Paved the way for incredible growth of the Great West.
c. Facilitated a burgeoning trade with the Orient
d. Seen by Americans at the time as a monumental achievement
along with the Declaration of Independence and the freeing of
the slaves. (Internet of it's era)
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/9/9/15997692/3506210.gif?1391373462)
Government land grant "checkerboard"
FOCUS QUESTION 3: Analyze the role of James G. Hill, Jay Gould, and Cornelius Vanderbilt in the construction of a national network of railroad lines. Were their efforts a necessity or a result of ruthless greed? Give support to both sides of the argument.
6. Other Transcontinental lines
a. No subsequent railroad lines received gov’t loans but all received generous land grants.
b. Northern Pacific Railroad completed in 1883 (Lake Superior to Seattle)
c. Southern Pacific: New Orleans to San Francisco via Los Angeles (1884)
d. Great Northern Railroad: Duluth, Minn. to Seattle; completed in 1893 (only privately funded RR)
· James G. Hill probably was the greatest of all railroad builders. Believed the prosperity of railroad was based on the prosperity of the area it served.
-He ran agricultural demonstration trains along his lines and imported bulls from England that he distributed to farmers.
a. No subsequent railroad lines received gov’t loans but all received generous land grants.
b. Northern Pacific Railroad completed in 1883 (Lake Superior to Seattle)
c. Southern Pacific: New Orleans to San Francisco via Los Angeles (1884)
d. Great Northern Railroad: Duluth, Minn. to Seattle; completed in 1893 (only privately funded RR)
· James G. Hill probably was the greatest of all railroad builders. Believed the prosperity of railroad was based on the prosperity of the area it served.
-He ran agricultural demonstration trains along his lines and imported bulls from England that he distributed to farmers.
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/9/9/15997692/1391630257.png)
Railroad Consolidation and Mechanization
1. Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877)
a. Popularized steel rails; replaced the old iron tracks of the New
York Central Railroad
• Steel safer and more economical since it could carry a heavier load.
b. Oversaw a near monopoly of railroad traffic in the eastern U.S.
c. Amassed a fortune of $100 million dollars
d. His monopolistic practices and considerable political influence
led critics to call him a “robber baron”
2. Jay Gould and Russell Sage by 1880 controlled much of the
railroads in the West.
a. Hurt their railroads by stock watering & keeping profits rather than reinvesting
b. Gould had earlier tried to corner the gold market during Grant's presidency.
1. Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877)
a. Popularized steel rails; replaced the old iron tracks of the New
York Central Railroad
• Steel safer and more economical since it could carry a heavier load.
b. Oversaw a near monopoly of railroad traffic in the eastern U.S.
c. Amassed a fortune of $100 million dollars
d. His monopolistic practices and considerable political influence
led critics to call him a “robber baron”
2. Jay Gould and Russell Sage by 1880 controlled much of the
railroads in the West.
a. Hurt their railroads by stock watering & keeping profits rather than reinvesting
b. Gould had earlier tried to corner the gold market during Grant's presidency.
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT: HISTORY CHANNEL VIDEO
Jay Gould Movie Preview Clip: Questionable Bias?
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/9/9/15997692/4831583.jpg?336)
Significant improvements in railroad building
a. Steel rails (Carnegie) , standard gauge of track width, Westinghouse Air Brake (Pittsburgh Company)
b. Pullman Palace Cars afforded luxurious travel, introduced in
1860s.
a. Steel rails (Carnegie) , standard gauge of track width, Westinghouse Air Brake (Pittsburgh Company)
b. Pullman Palace Cars afforded luxurious travel, introduced in
1860s.
Significance of America’s railroad network
1. Spurred the industrialization of the post-Civil War years (especially steel)
2. The continent became united physically.
3. Created huge domestic market for US raw materials and manufactured goods.
• Perhaps the largest integrated market in the world.
4. Stimulated creation of 3 Western frontiers: mining, agriculture, and ranching
5. Led to great exodus to cities from rural areas in late 19th century
• Railways could feed huge cities; supply raw materials & markets
6. Facilitated large influx of immigrants.
• Railroads advertised in Europe free travel to new farms in the West.
7. Spurred investment from abroad
8. Creation of distinct "time zones" from coast to coast.
9. Maker of millionaires; a new railroad aristocracy emerged
10. Native Americans were displaced and herded into ever-shrinking reservations.
1. Spurred the industrialization of the post-Civil War years (especially steel)
2. The continent became united physically.
3. Created huge domestic market for US raw materials and manufactured goods.
• Perhaps the largest integrated market in the world.
4. Stimulated creation of 3 Western frontiers: mining, agriculture, and ranching
5. Led to great exodus to cities from rural areas in late 19th century
• Railways could feed huge cities; supply raw materials & markets
6. Facilitated large influx of immigrants.
• Railroads advertised in Europe free travel to new farms in the West.
7. Spurred investment from abroad
8. Creation of distinct "time zones" from coast to coast.
9. Maker of millionaires; a new railroad aristocracy emerged
10. Native Americans were displaced and herded into ever-shrinking reservations.
RAILROAD CORRPUTION
Railroad corruption by the "Robber Barons"
1. Jay Gould: Forced prices of stocks to boom and bust on some of his lines.
2. Stock watering: Railroad stock promoters grossly inflated the value of stock.
• Railroad managers were forced to charge high rates and wage ruthless competition to pay off the exaggerated financial
obligations.
3. Railroad tycoons became America’s most powerful people
a. Bribed judges and legislatures, employed effective lobbyists, and elected their own men to office.
b. Gave free passes to journalists and politicians.
1. Jay Gould: Forced prices of stocks to boom and bust on some of his lines.
2. Stock watering: Railroad stock promoters grossly inflated the value of stock.
• Railroad managers were forced to charge high rates and wage ruthless competition to pay off the exaggerated financial
obligations.
3. Railroad tycoons became America’s most powerful people
a. Bribed judges and legislatures, employed effective lobbyists, and elected their own men to office.
b. Gave free passes to journalists and politicians.
4. Eventually ruled as an oligarchy instead of cut-throat competition.
a. "Pools"
• Formed defensive alliances to protect their profits from newer competitors
• Competing firms agreed to divide the market, establish comparable prices, place profits in a common fund, and pro-rate profits.
b. Some gave secret rebates or kickbacks to large corporations.
c. Slashed rates on competing lines but made up the difference on other lines.
d. Hurt farmers with long-haul, short-haul practices (charging farmers extraordinary prices for shipping their goods on short hauls (which were commonplace) and lower prices on longer hauls)
a. "Pools"
• Formed defensive alliances to protect their profits from newer competitors
• Competing firms agreed to divide the market, establish comparable prices, place profits in a common fund, and pro-rate profits.
b. Some gave secret rebates or kickbacks to large corporations.
c. Slashed rates on competing lines but made up the difference on other lines.
d. Hurt farmers with long-haul, short-haul practices (charging farmers extraordinary prices for shipping their goods on short hauls (which were commonplace) and lower prices on longer hauls)
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/9/9/15997692/3529464.jpg)
5. Cornelius Vanderbilt:
a. "Law! What do I care about the Law? Hain’t I got the power?"
b. Economically squashed opponents rather than sue them legally.
a. "Law! What do I care about the Law? Hain’t I got the power?"
b. Economically squashed opponents rather than sue them legally.
FOCUS QUESTION 4: Assess the job of the U.S. governments attempts to regulate big business. (List examples to support your response)
GOVERNMENT TRIES TO REGULATE THE RAILROAD
Government regulation of the railroads
A. Initially, Americans were slow to react to the excesses of the railroad oligarchy.
1. Jeffersonian/Jacksonian ideals were hostile to government interference with business. (laissez-faire)
2. Americans were dedicated to free enterprise and to the principle that competition fuels trade.
• Many believed anyone could become a millionaire; the "American dream"
A. Initially, Americans were slow to react to the excesses of the railroad oligarchy.
1. Jeffersonian/Jacksonian ideals were hostile to government interference with business. (laissez-faire)
2. Americans were dedicated to free enterprise and to the principle that competition fuels trade.
• Many believed anyone could become a millionaire; the "American dream"
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/9/9/15997692/8941311.jpg?1391632737)
B. Supreme Court decisions
1. Depression of the 1870s spurred farmers to complain about being forced into bankruptcy by unfair railroad policies.
• Organized agrarian groups such as the Grange (Patrons of Husbandry) that pressured many Midwestern legislatures to regulate the railroads
2. Slaughterhouse Cases, 1873 -- molded Court's interpretation of 14th Amendment for decades.
a. Court ruled protection of "labor" was not a federal responsibility under the 14th Amendment but a state responsibility.
b. Significance: Protected businesses from federal regulation if they engaged only in intrastate commerce (within a state).
3. Munn v. Illinois, 1877
a. The Court upheld one of the pro-farmer "Granger Laws"
b. Decision: The public always has the right to regulate business operations in which the public has an interest; ruled against railroads
1. Depression of the 1870s spurred farmers to complain about being forced into bankruptcy by unfair railroad policies.
• Organized agrarian groups such as the Grange (Patrons of Husbandry) that pressured many Midwestern legislatures to regulate the railroads
2. Slaughterhouse Cases, 1873 -- molded Court's interpretation of 14th Amendment for decades.
a. Court ruled protection of "labor" was not a federal responsibility under the 14th Amendment but a state responsibility.
b. Significance: Protected businesses from federal regulation if they engaged only in intrastate commerce (within a state).
3. Munn v. Illinois, 1877
a. The Court upheld one of the pro-farmer "Granger Laws"
b. Decision: The public always has the right to regulate business operations in which the public has an interest; ruled against railroads
Supreme Court Cases (Cont.)
4. Wabash case, 1886
a. Significance: Supreme Court ruled that individual states had no power to regulate interstate commerce; responsibility rested with the federal gov’t
b. In effect, the decision nullified Munn v Illinois.
• An Illinois law had prohibited railroad short haul & long haul practices
• Stimulated public demand for the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887
5. In 1886, the Court ruled that a corporation was a "person" under the 14th Amendment.
a. Thus, it became extremely difficult for the federal gov't to regulate corporations especially as Supreme Court justices and gov't officials often sided with corporations.
b. Railroad companies in particular hid behind the decision.
4. Wabash case, 1886
a. Significance: Supreme Court ruled that individual states had no power to regulate interstate commerce; responsibility rested with the federal gov’t
b. In effect, the decision nullified Munn v Illinois.
• An Illinois law had prohibited railroad short haul & long haul practices
• Stimulated public demand for the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887
5. In 1886, the Court ruled that a corporation was a "person" under the 14th Amendment.
a. Thus, it became extremely difficult for the federal gov't to regulate corporations especially as Supreme Court justices and gov't officials often sided with corporations.
b. Railroad companies in particular hid behind the decision.
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/9/9/15997692/1391633842.png)
C. Interstate Commerce Act passed in 1887 (despite President Cleveland’s disapproval)
1. First large-scale legislation passed by federal government to
regulate corporations in the interest of society
• Became a precedent for future regulatory commissions in the 20th century.
2. Set up the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), its most important provision, to enforce and administer the act.
3. Prohibited rebates and pools; required railroads to publish their rates openly.
4. Forbade unfair discrimination against shippers and outlawed charging more for short haul than long haul over the same line.
5. Positive result: provided an orderly forum where competing business interests could resolve conflicts in peaceful ways.
6. Yet, the ICC didn’t effectively regulate the railroads as it was more of a panacea to placate the public
• Lack of enforcement provisions meant the act had no “teeth”
Lesson 2 (24.2)
Part I. Watch the below videos and take brief notes. Then follow directions for Part II below.
Part II. Read the following Articles and answer the following questions. This will prepare you for a class discussion as well as for the Chapter 24 Quiz. (Note: both articles provide two different views regarding Captains of Industry/Robber Barons)
THIS ASSIGNMENT WILL BE DUE ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12
THIS ASSIGNMENT WILL BE DUE ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12
Source 1: Article 1: "The Truth About Robber Barons
Source 2: Howard Zinn A People's History of the United States: Chapter 11- "Robber Barons and Rebels"
Source 2: Howard Zinn A People's History of the United States: Chapter 11- "Robber Barons and Rebels"
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robber_baron_supplement.doc | |
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Lesson 3: (24.3) Labor Movement
Directions:
Part 1: Complete the following worksheet as you review the POWER-POINT or PDF presentation. Be sure to complete Part 1 and 2 on the work sheet. (DO NOT PRINT THE PDF OR PPT IN THE LIBRARY. ONLY PRINT THE WORKSHEET )
Part 2: Watch the following videos. Take brief, efficient notes. Attach them to the answers to the worksheet and FRQ PREP
Part 1: Complete the following worksheet as you review the POWER-POINT or PDF presentation. Be sure to complete Part 1 and 2 on the work sheet. (DO NOT PRINT THE PDF OR PPT IN THE LIBRARY. ONLY PRINT THE WORKSHEET )
Part 2: Watch the following videos. Take brief, efficient notes. Attach them to the answers to the worksheet and FRQ PREP
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the_industrial_workers_and_the_rise_of_labor.pptx | |
File Size: | 3365 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
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the_industrial_workers_and_the_rise_of_labor.pdf | |
File Size: | 3914 kb |
File Type: |
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flipped_classroom_lesson_industrial_worker.docx | |
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