The Western Frontier and Industrialization

The Western Frontier The Western Frontier and Industrializationand Industrialization

The Western FrontierThe Western FrontierIndustry and RailroadsIndustry and RailroadsBig Business and LaborBig Business and LaborThe Gilded AgeThe Gilded AgeImmigrants and UrbanizationImmigrants and Urbanization

The Western FrontierThe Western FrontierPrairie ProblemsPrairie Problems Native American and White cultures greatly differedNative American and White cultures greatly differed

Owning landOwning land Whites believed west was unsettled, but lure of striking it rich Whites believed west was unsettled, but lure of striking it rich

too strongtoo strong US Gov’t grants and restricts land for NA oftenUS Gov’t grants and restricts land for NA often

Massacre at Sand Creek-Massacre at Sand Creek- Troops attack Indian reservation Troops attack Indian reservation Treaty of Fort LaramieTreaty of Fort Laramie settle problems temporarily settle problems temporarily

Whites encroach on Indian land searching for goldWhites encroach on Indian land searching for gold Custer’s Last StandCuster’s Last Stand: NA lay in wait and ambush US troops: NA lay in wait and ambush US troops Many Americans wanted to assimilate NA- integrate into white Many Americans wanted to assimilate NA- integrate into white

cultureculture The Dawes ActThe Dawes Act: Broke up reservations, “Americanize” Indians: Broke up reservations, “Americanize” Indians

General Custer

Sitting Bull

The Western FrontierThe Western Frontier

NA still suffering NA still suffering starvation and povertystarvation and poverty Battle of Wounded Battle of Wounded

Knee-Knee- US army rounds up US army rounds up hundreds of homeless NAhundreds of homeless NA

Took them to a camp and Took them to a camp and demanded they lay down demanded they lay down armsarms

Someone fires shot and Someone fires shot and massacre ensuesmassacre ensues

Era of wide open range Era of wide open range over over


The Great PlainsThe Great Plains Railroads open west-Central Railroads open west-Central

Pacific and Union Pacific Pacific and Union Pacific race to reach west coastrace to reach west coast

Homestead ActHomestead Act: free land : free land to families headed westto families headed west

Historians claimed frontier Historians claimed frontier was closed and that parts of was closed and that parts of US had lost its lureUS had lost its lure

Prairie life tough- Prairie life tough- soddysoddy and and dugout homesdugout homes

Little to no farming Little to no farming equipment- pressure to grow equipment- pressure to grow as much as possible to stay as much as possible to stay out of debtout of debt


Farmer and Populist MovementFarmer and Populist Movement Farmers in trouble-> crop prices low, mortgage farms to pay billsFarmers in trouble-> crop prices low, mortgage farms to pay bills Civil War greenbacks worthless nowCivil War greenbacks worthless now RR charging high prices to transport grain and goodsRR charging high prices to transport grain and goods Farmers organize the Farmers organize the GrangeGrange- battle railroads and organize farm - battle railroads and organize farm

familiesfamilies


From the Grange comes the From the Grange comes the Populist Political PartyPopulist Political Party Increase money supplyIncrease money supply Federal loan programFederal loan program 8 hr workday8 hr workday

By 1893- full fledged depressionBy 1893- full fledged depression Republicans- industrialized North (Republicans- industrialized North (Gold Standard)Gold Standard) Democrats- farmers from west and south (Democrats- farmers from west and south (BimettalismBimettalism))

Williams Jennings Bryan- Cross of Gold SpeechWilliams Jennings Bryan- Cross of Gold Speech Compared crucifixion of Jesus to Southerners and their Compared crucifixion of Jesus to Southerners and their

economic plighteconomic plight Republicans win election: Republicans win election: William MckinleyWilliam Mckinley

Industry and RailroadsIndustry and Railroads

Expansion of IndustryExpansion of Industry Industrial BoomIndustrial Boom

Growing urban pop, natural resources, gov’t support of Growing urban pop, natural resources, gov’t support of businessbusiness

Oil Boom- Kerosene and eventually gasolineOil Boom- Kerosene and eventually gasoline Bessemer SteelBessemer Steel- Turning iron into steel- Turning iron into steel

Railroads, bridges, skyscrapersRailroads, bridges, skyscrapers InventionsInventions

Edison: lightbulb-> need for electricity rises, allowed factories Edison: lightbulb-> need for electricity rises, allowed factories to choose any area, not just near riversto choose any area, not just near rivers

Typewriter and telephone: growth of clerical jobs (women)Typewriter and telephone: growth of clerical jobs (women)


Age of RailroadsAge of Railroads Gov’t grants huge tracts Gov’t grants huge tracts

of land for RR expansionof land for RR expansion 1869: 1869: Promontory Promontory

Point, Utah-> 1st Point, Utah-> 1st Transcontinental RRTranscontinental RR

Building RR caused Building RR caused death and illness, using death and illness, using immigrant laborimmigrant laborChina China and Irelandand Ireland

Unified the country, first Unified the country, first use of time zonesuse of time zones


The Good and The BadThe Good and The Bad New towns and communitiesNew towns and communities George Pullman- RR car builder; also built town for his workers-George Pullman- RR car builder; also built town for his workers-

>very controlled>very controlled Credit MobilierCredit Mobilier Scandal Scandal

Union Pacific RR formed construction companyUnion Pacific RR formed construction company Ordered company to lay RR track 2-3 times higher than Ordered company to lay RR track 2-3 times higher than

necessarynecessary Pocketed the profitPocketed the profit


Farmers vs. RailroadsFarmers vs. Railroads Farmers mad: misuse land, fix prices, no Farmers mad: misuse land, fix prices, no

consistent pricesconsistent prices Congress passes Congress passes Interstate Commerce ActInterstate Commerce Act

Fed. Supervises inter-state activity (RR)Fed. Supervises inter-state activity (RR)

Corporate corruption, funds mismanagement, Corporate corruption, funds mismanagement, over building and competition lead to national over building and competition lead to national financial probsfinancial probs

Big Business and LaborBig Business and Labor

Carnegie’s InnovationsCarnegie’s Innovations Carnegie Steel CompanyCarnegie Steel Company

Make better products cheaperMake better products cheaper Offered stock in his companyOffered stock in his company

Vertical IntegrationVertical Integration- buy out his suppliers - buy out his suppliers (coal fields, iron mines, RR lines)(coal fields, iron mines, RR lines)

Horizontal IntegrationHorizontal Integration- buy out competing - buy out competing companiescompanies

Carnegie adhered to Social Darwinism- laissez Carnegie adhered to Social Darwinism- laissez faire policy, strong win, weak go homefaire policy, strong win, weak go home

Andrew Carnegie

John D. Rockefellar


Fewer Control MoreFewer Control More Mergers, stockholders, and trustees controlled wealth Mergers, stockholders, and trustees controlled wealth

of nationof nation John D. RockefellerJohn D. Rockefeller- - Standard Oil CompanyStandard Oil Company

Paid low wages, price gougingPaid low wages, price gouging Nicknames “Nicknames “Robber BaronRobber Baron”” Gov’t passes Gov’t passes Sherman Antitrust ActSherman Antitrust Act: illegal to form a : illegal to form a

trust that interfered with free trade b/t states or trust that interfered with free trade b/t states or countriescountries

South lags- tobacco, furniture, and textile industries South lags- tobacco, furniture, and textile industries flourishflourish


Labor UnionsLabor Unions Laborers join together to improve conditionsLaborers join together to improve conditions Injuries, poor ventilation, 7 day work weeksInjuries, poor ventilation, 7 day work weeks Early Unions: National Labor Union, Knights of Early Unions: National Labor Union, Knights of

LaborLabor Activists turn to Activists turn to SocialismSocialism- gov’t controls - gov’t controls

business- equal distribution of wealthbusiness- equal distribution of wealth Industrial Workers of the World – Industrial Workers of the World – WobbliesWobblies


Strikers ViolenceStrikers Violence Haymarket AffairHaymarket Affair- -

Bomb thrown into strike Bomb thrown into strike line in Chicagoline in Chicago

Pullman StrikePullman Strike- - Depression and low Depression and low wages force strike, wages force strike, Pullman Co. hires Pullman Co. hires ““scabsscabs””

Many companies Many companies blacklisted strikers, yet blacklisted strikers, yet union numbers grewunion numbers grew

The Gilded AgeThe Gilded Age

Political MachinesPolitical Machines Weak city gov’t and ruthless Social Darwinist Weak city gov’t and ruthless Social Darwinist

theory, cities receptive to new power structuretheory, cities receptive to new power structure: : Political MachinePolitical Machine

Organized group that controls activities of a Organized group that controls activities of a political partypolitical party

Offer services to voters and business in Offer services to voters and business in exchange for political or financial supportexchange for political or financial support

Political BossPolitical Boss: controlled city like a major: controlled city like a major

The Gilded AgeThe Gilded AgeGilded Age ScandalsGilded Age Scandals Often used election fraud to Often used election fraud to

gain votes (fake names, gain votes (fake names, multiple votes)multiple votes)

Once political machine Once political machine candidates were in office, candidates were in office, often used them to get often used them to get “kickbacks”, illegal profits and “kickbacks”, illegal profits and bribesbribes

Boss Tweed- head of Boss Tweed- head of Tammany HallTammany Hall in NYC in NYC Led Tweed Group- corrupt Led Tweed Group- corrupt

politicians in citypoliticians in city Broken up in 1871Broken up in 1871

The Gilded AgeThe Gilded Age

Civil Service Replaces PatronageCivil Service Replaces Patronage Complaints about Complaints about patronage-patronage- giving gov’t jobs to giving gov’t jobs to

people who helped a candidate get electedpeople who helped a candidate get elected Reformers press for adoption of Reformers press for adoption of merit system merit system Civil Service (gov’t jobs) go to those who are most Civil Service (gov’t jobs) go to those who are most

qualifiedqualified Presidents Hayes, Garfield, and Arthur further reformsPresidents Hayes, Garfield, and Arthur further reforms Garfield assassinatedGarfield assassinated Pendleton Civil Service Act- enforced merit systemPendleton Civil Service Act- enforced merit system Big Business ensure that foreign tariffs would remain Big Business ensure that foreign tariffs would remain

low by “buying” candidates in officelow by “buying” candidates in office

Immigrants and Immigrants and UrbanizationUrbanization

Life in a New LandLife in a New Land Seek better life- refuge from famine, religious/political Seek better life- refuge from famine, religious/political

persecution, rising populationpersecution, rising population In 50 yrs, ~20 million Europeans immigrateIn 50 yrs, ~20 million Europeans immigrate Chinese and Japanese seek gold (1898- US annex Chinese and Japanese seek gold (1898- US annex

Hawaii)Hawaii) Almost all immigrants travel by steamship- disease Almost all immigrants travel by steamship- disease

spreadsspreads Pass inspection at Pass inspection at Ellis IslandEllis Island- 5 hrs; - 5 hrs; Angel IslandAngel Island

on West Coaston West Coast Ethnic communities grow-> friction increasesEthnic communities grow-> friction increases


Immigrant RestrictionsImmigrant Restrictions America becomes America becomes melting potmelting pot Anti-immigrant feelings emerge->Anti-immigrant feelings emerge->NativismNativism (Favoritism (Favoritism

to native born Americans)to native born Americans) Right immigrants VS Wrong ImmigrantsRight immigrants VS Wrong Immigrants Chinese Exclusion ActChinese Exclusion Act- stopped Chinese immigration - stopped Chinese immigration

for 10 yrsfor 10 yrs 1907- Japan agrees to “1907- Japan agrees to “Gentlemen’s AgreementGentlemen’s Agreement”- ”-

Limit Japanese immigration to US, if US promises to Limit Japanese immigration to US, if US promises to stop segregating US schoolsstop segregating US schools


UrbanizationUrbanization Rapid growth of cities Rapid growth of cities

due to tech and industry due to tech and industry boomboom

Immigrants settle in Immigrants settle in cities- cheap/convenientcities- cheap/convenient

Ethnic neighborhoods Ethnic neighborhoods become overcrowdedbecome overcrowded

Tension b/t blacks and Tension b/t blacks and immigrants- compete for immigrants- compete for jobsjobs


Urban ProblemsUrban Problems Housing: Housing: Tenements Tenements

overcrowded and diseasedovercrowded and diseased Transportation: Street Transportation: Street

cars, subwayscars, subways Water: no indoor Water: no indoor

plumbing, unsafe drinking plumbing, unsafe drinking waterwater

Constant threat of fire (little Constant threat of fire (little water and wood buildings)water and wood buildings)

High crime and poor High crime and poor sanitationsanitation


ReformReform Social welfare programs developSocial welfare programs develop Settlement housesSettlement houses- community centers- community centers Run by middle class, college educated womenRun by middle class, college educated women Jane Addams: Hull HouseJane Addams: Hull House

The Western Frontier and Industrialization

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