The Best and Worst of AmericaUnit 5

The Gilded Age

The Industrial Era, 1865-1900• After the Civil War, America enters a period

of…..WASTE, GREED, and CORRUPTION

Why Now?

• Railroads established!!!• Settlement of West

– Homestead Act – gives away land to settlers free• New Innovations• Rise of Entrepreneurs• Availability of raw materials in U.S.• Government favors business• Rise in immigration

•Oil •Mining •Sugar •Steel•Meatpacking•Beef/Cattle •Construction•Telegraph•Telephone

•Railroad•Marketing•Sewing Machine•Vacuums•Typewriters•Automobile •Salt•Coal•Agricultural

• 1869 at Promontory, Utah • Central Pacific and Union Pacific

• 1869 at Promontory, Utah • Central Pacific and Union Pacific

Video Clip

• Episode 6• Impact of Railroads• Natives• 36 to 44 min.

Life in the 1860s• No indoor electric lights• No refrigeration• No indoor plumbing• Kerosene or wood to heat• Wood stoves to cook with• Horse and buggy• In 1860, most mail from the

East Coast took ten days to reach the Midwest and three weeks to get to the West Coast.

• A letter from Europe to a person on the frontier could take several months to reach its destination.

Life in the 1900s• US Gov’t issued 500,000 patents

—electricity• Refrigerated railroad cars• Sewer systems and sanitation• Increased productivity made live

easier and comfortable.• Power stations, electricity for

lamps, fans, printing presses, appliances, typewriters, etc.

• NY to SF in 10 days using railroad.

• 1.5 million telephones in use all over the country

• Western Union Telegraph was sending thousands of messages daily.

Two Different Worlds 1

The wealthy lived extravagant lifestyles and considered themselves elitists.

The common people resented their snobbish attitudes and wealth. 1861---------3 millionaires----------1900--------3,800

1900, 90% of wealth, controlled by 10% of population.

Political Machine• controls a city’s political party

• Give services to voters (usually immigrants) in exchange for votes

• After Civil War, machines gain control of major cities

• Machine organization: precinct captains, ward bosses, city boss

* This is corrupt, this is NOT democracy

The Emergence of Political Machines

With the Bessemer Process

and Carnegie steel, Skyscrapers & large

bridges are built

Thomas Alva EdisonThomas Alva Edison

“Wizard of Menlo Park” “Wizard of Menlo Park”

Edison Inventions helped to shape modern society • More than 1,000 inventions patented

• Light bulb • Phonograph

• Incandescent electric lamp • Starter for automobiles that eliminated hand crank

• Batteries• Perfected stock ticker

• New York City first city to powered by electricity• The motion picture camera and projector

• First used “hello” as phone greeting • Helped Alexander G. Bell with the telephone

Edison Inventions helped to shape modern society • More than 1,000 inventions patented

• Light bulb • Phonograph

• Incandescent electric lamp • Starter for automobiles that eliminated hand crank

• Batteries• Perfected stock ticker

• New York City first city to powered by electricity• The motion picture camera and projector

• First used “hello” as phone greeting • Helped Alexander G. Bell with the telephone

“Wizard of Menlo Park”

“Wizard of Menlo Park”

The Light BulbThe Light Bulb

The Phonograph (1877)The Phonograph (1877)

The Ediphone or Dictaphone

The Ediphone or Dictaphone

Video Clip

• Episode 7• Edison & Electicity• 32:45-37

The AirplaneThe Airplane

Wilbur Wright Orville Wright Wilbur Wright Orville Wright

Model T AutomobileModel T Automobile

Henry FordHenry Ford

BETWEEN 1860 TO 1900

• Specialty stores----sold single line of goods• Department stores---combined specialty stores

• Chain stores---stores with branches in cities• Mail catalog stores

• New ways to advertiseMontgomery Wards, J.C. Penney, Macy’s, Sears and Roebuck and

Woolworths

1790s 276 patents issued. 1990s 1,119,220 patents issued.

Gave an inventor the right to make and sell an invention.

1790s 276 patents issued. 1990s 1,119,220 patents issued.

Gave an inventor the right to make and sell an invention.

Trusts or Monopoly

•Companies in related fields combine under the direction of

a single board of trustees.

•Shareholders had no say.

•Outlawed today.

BIGGER IS BETTERA trust or monopoly

controls an entire industry

•make product cheaper• lower prices to customer

Coke fields

purchased by

Carnegie

Coke fields

Iron ore deposits

purchased by

Carnegie

purchased by

Carnegie

Coke fields

Iron ore deposits

Steel mills

purchased by

Carnegie

purchased by

Carnegie

purchased by

Carnegie

Coke fields

Iron ore deposits

Steel mills

Ships

purchased by

Carnegie

purchased by

Carnegie

purchased by

Carnegie

purchased by

Carnegie

Coal fields

Iron ore deposits

Steel mills

Ships

Railroads

purchased by

Carnegie

purchased by

Carnegie

purchased by

Carnegie

purchased by

Carnegie

purchased by

Carnegie

Vertical Integration You control all phases of production from the raw material to the finished

product

Horizontal Integration Buy out your competition until you have control of a

single area of industry

Captain of Industry

• Monopolized the steel industry

• Rags to riches story---came from Scotland very poor.

•Used Bessemer Process to produce steel cheaply.

• Used Horizontal vertical integration.

Captain of Industry

• Monopolized the steel industry

• Rags to riches story---came from Scotland very poor.

•Used Bessemer Process to produce steel cheaply.

• Used Horizontal vertical integration.

Carneige Picture

Video Clip

• Episode 7• “New Immigrants”• Carnegie and Bessemer Process• 9 – 18 min.

Captain of Industry• Came from wealth

• Formed the first modern corporations in the oil industry

Standard Oil

• The first billionaire in the U.S. by 1900.

• Used Vertical Integration and Horizontal Integration to gain a monopoly in the oil business.

• After Civil War Vanderbilt bought most railroad lines from New York

to Chicago • 1877, controlled 4,500 miles of

railroads • Worth over $100 million

• Philanthropist--donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University

• After Civil War Vanderbilt bought most railroad lines from New York

to Chicago • 1877, controlled 4,500 miles of

railroads • Worth over $100 million

• Philanthropist--donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University

Rockefeller/Control Govt

Rockefeller was so wealthy, he dictated to the U.S. Government to protect big business---- laissez faire

Rockefeller would be hated by many because he had too much control over the oil industry and the government as viewed by the common man-----Some believed he was corrupt because he took away

the right to compete---free enterprise

Trusts control govt

Big business, monopolies controlled Congress through bribery. This is corruption

“History repeats itself-----The Robber Barons of the Middle Ages and the Robber Barons of Today…..”

Social DarwinismSocial DarwinismBelief that in the

economic world the strongest companies

will survive“The growth of a large business is merely a

survival of the fittest.” J. Rockefeller

Belief that in the economic world the strongest companies

will survive“The growth of a large business is merely a

survival of the fittest.” J. Rockefeller

Philanthropist• Gave millions to

colleges and libraries.

• It was the sacred duty of the wealthy to give

back to society who has given to him.

• Stressed education as a means to better one’s

self.

• Carnegie HallCartoon Carnegie

“Gospel of Wealth”“Gospel of Wealth”

Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie

The Anglo-Saxon race is superior.

Inequality is inevitable and good.

Wealthy should act as “trustees” for their “poorer brethren.”

The Anglo-Saxon race is superior.

Inequality is inevitable and good.

Wealthy should act as “trustees” for their “poorer brethren.”

Picture: Workers vs Owner

¨ Poor working conditions¨ Unfriendliness/impersonalization

¨ Rise in Immigration¨ Machines replacing workers

¨ Child labor¨ No Job security

¨ Urbanization

1880 – 5% of industrial workers are kids.

Children began at 12 or 13Girls sometimes took jobs

so their brothers could stay in school.

No welfare, or public help.Social Darwinism held

poor = weakness. Giving relief or aid will

weaken work ethic

Division of Labor Some owners viewed

workers as parts of the machinery.

Most owners never interacted with workers. impersonalization

Work Environment Factory workers worked by the

clock. Workers could be fired for being

late, talking, or refusing to do a task.

Workplaces were not safe. Unsafe, unhealthy conditions

Video Clip

• Episode 7• Working conditions• Women• 37:00- 43:00

Labor Strike Workers stop working until the conditions they are seeking are met.

Labor Union Wage earners who organize against their employers to seek better wages and

working conditions.

“New” immigrants who would replace strikers and work for less pay. Scab Worker

Oral histories of Jewish immigrants to Pittsburgh

“Our synagogue was in a room with the windows blacked out. We were afraid to speak Yiddish on the streets. We

often had to hide from people who came to persecute the Jews.”

“During the pogrom (organized government persecution of the Jews) in Vitebsk (Russia) around 1905, my collarbone

was broken and the back of my head still bears the scar of a dagger.”

“I still have a scar on my thigh where a Russian soldier struck me with his sword. I was three years old and my mother tried to protect me with her body, but he got to me. It did

not seem reasonable for me to serve the Czar in the Army.”Why they came

Oral histories of Italian immigrants

“The main reason was bread. There was always bread in America.”

“Life in America was better. There was always work in America.”

“I never went to an American school, but I insisted that my children attend university in the United States where they had more chance.”

“I have progressed; I have lived well. I have been able to send my children to good schools so that today they hold positions of respect.

My brother who stayed here in Italy cannot say that.”

Why they came

New Immigrants from Europe

Old New New New

RELIGION

BIRTHPLACE

REASONS

DESTINATION

OCCUPATION

RELIGION

BIRTHPLACE

REASONS

DESTINATION

OCCUPATION

Protestant Catholic and Jewish

North/Western Southern/Eastern Europe Europe

Both escaping poverty, religious and political persecution

Moved to farms Moved to cities in the in the Midwest Northeast

Became farmers Unskilled workers

Protestant Catholic and Jewish

North/Western Southern/Eastern Europe Europe

Both escaping poverty, religious and political persecution

Moved to farms Moved to cities in the in the Midwest Northeast

Became farmers Unskilled workers

Old vs New Immigrants

American Citizens: What weight can my vote have against this flood of ignorance, stupidity and fraud?

Cartoon: Immigration• Old Immigrants resented the New Immigrants.

•New Immigrants came to this country for the same reasons as the Old Immigrants.

• Resentment and

discrimination against the

Chinese.

• First law to restrict

immigration.

• Taking away jobs from Nativists

Chinese Exclusion Act 1

Ellis Island, NY was built in

1892 as the 1st “Immigration Center”, East

CoastAngel Island,

CA – West Coast Center

• The goal was to “screen” immigrants coming from Europe.

• Immigrants took physical examinations and were held at Ellis Island before they were released to the US mainland.

Cities grew rapidly

¨ near raw materials¨ industrial areas

¨ transportation routes. ¨ Opportunities in the job market.

¨ Modern & attractive

¨Terrible Conditions¨ Poor sanitary and living conditions

¨ Tenement apartments¨ Sweathouses

By 190076 million population

60% lived in rural areas

By 190076 million population

60% lived in rural areas

187040 million population75% lived in rural areas

187040 million population75% lived in rural areas

• In 1860 no American city could boast a

million inhabitants.

•1890, New York, Chicago and

Philadelphia had are past the million mark.

• In 1860 no American city could boast a

million inhabitants.

•1890, New York, Chicago and

Philadelphia had are past the million mark.

Cities

Immigrants Settle in Cities Industrialization leads to urbanization, or growth of cities Most immigrants settle in cities; get cheap housing, factory

jobs Americanization—assimilate people into main culture Schools, voluntary groups teach citizenship skills

English, American history, cooking, etiquette Ethnic communities provide social support

• Many American nativists disliked new immigrants

because they would not assimilate into American society.

• Would stay segregated in their

ethnic neighborhoods.

Migration from Country to CityFarm technology decreases need for laborersMany African Americans in South move North & West

1890–1910, “Great Migration” want to escape racial violence

Competition for jobs between blacks, white immigrants causes tension & violence

Housing:Tenements—multifamily urban dwellings, are overcrowded, unsanitary

Transportation:Mass transit -Subways and Electric CarsBy 20th century, transit systems link city to suburbs

Water 1860s cities have inadequate or no piped water, indoor

plumbing rare Filtration introduced 1870s, chlorination in 1908

Sanitation Streets: manure, open gutters, factory smoke, poor trash

collection By 1900, cities develop sewer lines, create sanitation

departments

Crime As population grows, thieves flourish Full time police forces are formed

Fire Fire hazards: limited water, wood houses, candles, kerosene

heaters 1900, most cities have full-time, professional fire

departments Fire sprinklers, non-flammable building materials make cities

safer

Video

• Episode 7• Urban problems• How they are solved• 22:00 -32:30

• Social Gospel movement—preaches salvation through service to poor

• Settlement houses—community centers in slums, help immigrants

• Run by college-educated women

• Jane Addams founds Hull House in 1889

Phrase penned by Mark Twain as satire for the way America had become. It revealed the

“best and worst” of America. The Gilded Age suggests that

there was a glittering layer of prosperity that covered the poverty and corruption that existed in much of society.

Theme: The Coming of America It needed reform.

Video Clip

• Episode 8• Oil Boom• Impact of Cars• Assembly Line production• 1:30-14:00