Railroads:The military demand led to an abundant amount of business for American railroads. the Union Pacific and Central Railroad corporations, which both received 60 million acres in land grants and 20 million in loans from the government.

RAILROAD MAP

Iron vs. SteelThe sudden rise in railroads caused a demand for a new metal other than iron. It’s during this time that steel began to become a popular metal for construction.

Iron vs. SteelSteel production was revolutionized during the period by Andrew Carnegie with the Bessemer process.

A new technology, which shot a blast of air through melted iron, burning off carbon and impurities..

Coal, rubberDue to the boost in the railroad industry, and the need for these materials in the war, the demand for such goods as coal and rubber increased.

Food ProcessingModern food processing technology in the 19th and 20th century was largely developed to serve military needs.

Technology and Industrial Growth

Food Processingcanned goods Pasteurization, discovered by Louis Pasteur in 1862, was a significant advance in ensuring the micro-biological safety of food.

Technology and Industrial Growth

Mining

Drilling, Dynamite, and Hydraulic water pumps were used.

Technology and Industrial Growth

Farming mechanization  tractor,  fertilizerpesticides 

Technology and Industrial Growth

RanchingBarbed wire, refrigerated railcars transformed the ranching industryHomestead Act of 1862 offered 160 acres of free public land to any family who settled for at least five years

“Robber Barons”Implies that the business leaders build their fortunes by stealing from the public.Many people worked in sweatshops.

“Captains of Industry”

Leaders “serve” nation by increasing types of goods and lowering price.Creating many jobs.Donation of large amounts of money for good causes.

Political Cartoons: Robber BaronsTRANSPARENCY

Technology and Industrial Growth

Innovation Drives the NationMain Idea: •By the late 1800s, electricity's’ availability led to the development of many products. •The number of patents grew much during this time and businessmen invested heavily in these new innovations.

The RailroadsOn May 10, 1869, the 1st transcontinental railroad was finished.In 1883, the railroads adopted a national system of time zones to improve scheduling.

Railroads and Industry

Faster, cheaper way of transporting goods.Led to developing the Midwest and West.They created national markets.They provided a model for big business.

Rail Map

Industrial AgeElectricity allowed cities to develop.

TelegraphInvented by Samuel F. B. Morse.Changed communications dramatically.Newspaper sales skyrocket.

The Light BulbThomas Alva Edison

Also invented the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the microphone.Had over a thousand patents.

Thomas Edison

Telephone-1876

By Alexander Graham BellBecame very popular quickly.1.5 million by 1900.“Talking Telegraph”

Bell’s first Call

Switch Board Operators

SteelStrong, long lasting and easy to shape.This new industrial age would of not been possible without it.Bessemer Process.

Carnegie

John D. Rockefeller

Powerful Industrialist who created Standard Oil Company and controlled the oil industry.

JD Rockefeller Pic

Cornelius VanderbiltEarly railroad tycoon who used investments to gain control of a large portion of the railroad lines.Vanderbilt University.

Milton HersheyEntrepreneur who developed his fortune through candy making.

Pierre Samuel DupontBegan with selling gunpowder which led to controlling the chemical industry.

Charles Goodyear

Vulcanized Rubber: Process that made rubber more practical for industrial use.Much harder, more durable.

Gustavus SwiftInventor of the refrigerator railcar.

Enabled meat to be shipped long distances without spoiling.Lead to a boom in the cattle industry.

George WestinghouseDeveloped air breaks for trains.

Develop AC electricity (vs. DC)

America: Pathways to the PresentAmerica: Pathways to the Present

Chapter 8

Politics, Immigration, and Urban Life(1870–1915)

Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing asPrentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. All rights reserved.

The Business of PoliticsChapter 15, Section 1

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

Scandal under Grant

Black FridayJay Gould and James Fisk try to use the government to artificially raise the price of gold on the New York Stock Exchange, then sell the gold at a huge profit.Causes a financial panic in 1869.

Scandal under Grant

Whiskey Ringa group of mostly Republican politicians were able to siphon off millions of dollars in federal taxes on liquorthe scheme involved an extensive network of bribes involving tax collectors, storekeepers, and others.

Scandal under Grant

Credit Mobilier ScandalCompany overcharged government for the building of railroadsBribed government officials, offering stock at a lower price that the market price.Stole millions from the American public.Garfield was one of those who accepted bribes.

The Spoils System

Under the Spoils System, candidates for political office would offer potential jobs in exchange for $upport/votes.

Arthur Reforms the Civil ServiceAfter Garfield’s assassination,

President Arthur was able get congressional support for the Pendleton Civil Service Act. This act classified government jobs and tested applicants.

Arthur Reforms the Civil Service

cartoon

The Business of PoliticsIn the late 1800’s businesses operated without much government regulation. This is known as laissez-faireIf regulation benefited business—business supported regulation.

Regulating RailroadsThe Granger Movement:

Group of farmers that collectively tried to fight abuse from the railroads.Railroads would charge different rates for different customers, the farmers often paying more.

Regulating RailroadsWas successful in regulating the railroads and grain warehouses Granger Laws: series of laws passed to regulate railroad freight rates and rebates and to address long- and short-haul discrimination and other railroad abuses against farmers.

Regulating RailroadsIn 1887, Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act Did not have the power to set railroad rates, but to “regulate”Often overruled in the Supreme Court.

Populist Party 1892Set up by farmers out West who had similar goals, The People’s PartyWanted the Government to take over the railroads.Had impact on elections of the time, but quickly faded.

Dawes Act of 1887Each Indian family was granted 160 Acre FarmThis was out west, the land was poor farming land, and 160 acres was not enough to support a family.The Governments attempt to assimilate Indians into American culture.

Set up schools, missions to convert Indians to Christianity.

Changed dress, customs of Indians to be like mainstream American Culture.

Gospel of WealthJacob RiisSettlement Houses