Post on 17-Dec-2015
Growth of Industrialism: A Slideshow
U.S. History
The Bridge: 1883 Materials needed:
Labor Steel Cement Investment
Connected urban center to outlying areas
Technology depended on: Individual creativity Availability of resources
(close to the Midwest) Easy transportation of
materials Easy availability of labor
The Brooklyn Bridge, NYC was the longest suspension bridge of its time. Each steel
suspension cable was over 16 inches in diameter, supporting a bridge 1,600 feet long
The Impact of Industry
Manufacturing mostly in Northeast and Midwest--due to availability of resources
Few wealthy businessmen made vast fortunes, while millions worked under dangerous conditions for little money
The growth of industry was unbridled, unchecked, rapid, and without government regulation
Brooklyn Bridge, 2006
Bessemer Process: 1859
Henry Bessemer and William Kelly invented the “Bessemer Steel Process” Made steel production
faster Used hotter
temperatures to reduce impurities
Stole the idea from British inventors
Steel production increased from 2,000 tons (1865) to 7 million tons (1900)
Idealized picture of Bessemer Process
Bessemer Process
Used to make a stronger, lighter and more durable material for construction
Used for bridges, skyscrapers, machines, tools, railroads, military equipment
Allowed for the creation and growth of other industries: construction, railroads, etc.
Skyscraper: 1901
Over 20 stories, this building would have collapsed under its own weight, if built by iron
Allowed people to “build up”, instead of “out”
Saved space and used available space in congested cities
Used for office space, retail space, manufacturing space, and living space The Flat Iron Building, NYC. Shaped as a
triangle, or a flat iron for clothes, this is considered the first modern skyscraper. There are similar buildings, by the same architect in San Francisco and Chicago
Skyscrapers
The United States was the first country to build multi-level (20 + story) skyscrapers
Became a visible symbol of the U.S. reaching “toward the heavens”
The taller the building, the more it could hold=more profit for developer
Resulted in the rapid urbanization of the American Northeast and Midwest Areas closest to construction materials Greatest need for space (overpopulation)
The Flat Iron Building, NYC 2006
Andrew Carnegie Represented a new class
of “self-made” wealthy men
Through entrepreneurship, invention, ruthlessness, and luck earned millions
Carnegie sunk his small savings into early steel company, becoming one of the richest men in the world
Andrew Carnegie, center, with French nobility (to his right). Millionaires would
often travel with a coterie of advisors, lackeys, servants, and hangers-on. They
would also serve as de facto heads of state to visiting dignitaries.
Andrew Carnegie Number of millionaires increased to over 4,000 by 1900 Wealthy businessmen allowed for the increased
availability of cheap mass produced goods, a wide variety of quality products, jobs, investment opportunities, libraries, etc
Wealthy businessmen also exploited labor, prevented unionization, bribed government officials, and controlled most (sometimes all) of the social and political power
Carnegie believed in the importance of social responsibility with wealth
The Gospel of Wealth, Carnegie’s book, describes the importance of charity and community leadership
Pennsylvania: 1859
By 1859, oil prospecting and speculation was as popular as gold mining
Crude oil, previously a nuisance, could be refined creating petroleum products, fuel, and synthetic materials “Pioneer Run”, Titusville, PA (1859)
Pennsylvania Petroleum products supplied fuel for factory
machines, fuel for automobiles, fabrics, and electricity and municipal power
Oil extraction and refining caused massive environmental degradation
Politics of oil (acquisition, control, use, and sale) is one of the most important aspects of American politics Foreign Policy: Diplomacy with OPEC, Iran, Iraq,
Kuwait, the Gulf Wars (criticized as wars for oil) Domestic Policy: Environmental protection, SPR
(Strategic Petroleum Reserves), the auto industry, drilling in Alaska, Gulf Coast
Disasters: Exxon Valdez
John D. Rockefeller
Sole owner and titan over Standard Oil
By 1879, Rockefeller controlled over 90% of the oil refining process
Organized trusts, a collection of support companies and investors, to strangle competition
Rockefeller, due to a stress related illness which caused
balding, purchased 3 different sized wigs (S, M, L) indicating
successful hair growth
Rockefeller
Rockefeller expanded the oil business to encompass the entire U.S., providing fuel and power to much of the U.S.
Believed in “Social Darwinism”: the survival of the fittest
Often used bribery and ruthless tactics to acquire businesses
Strangled competition and forced “Ma and Pa” companies out of business
Formed monopolies
The Railroads
Transportation was the key to industrialization
Success as an industrialized nation depended on the rapid extension of the rail system
Existing rail, only 30,000 miles of track by 1860, remained in the North
Railroad yard outside Chicago, IL (1860) Built by the Irish and Chinese, the railroads connected the east coast to the west, the north with the south. It conquered all physical barriers: the Great Plains, the Rockies and Sierras, and the great southwestern deserts.
Railroads
Rail system benefited the Northeastern industrial system
Most rails, by 1860, were often disconnected, disjointed, and in poor repair
Shippers of product had to load and unload their goods many times before it reached destination
Rail transportation time was significantly faster than foot, carriage, or ship
***The only faster mechanism for travel would be through a Central American canal
Vanderbilt
National railroad systems bought, organized, and managed by people such as Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jay Fiske, and Jay Gould
Provided rebates to favorite customers
Prevented rail use to disliked customers
Rail monopolies resulted in faster shipping and transportation, as well as corruption “The Colossus of Roads” A modern colossus
over the rail lines, Vanderbilt is seen as holding the reins over lesser men and the rail system. Note the lecherous posture, the pollution, and
the emphasis of his height.
Vanderbilt
Railroad titans revolutionized the industry: Provided consistent and connected rail lines Standardized rail gauge Standardized safety features: the air brake and
the telegraph Bi-directional track (to and fro) to increase
transport speed Organized shipping zones by time zone:
Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific
Industrialists: Pros and Cons Ruthlessly drove out
competition Stamped out small businesses Exploited workers Cut corners on quality Overcharged customers for
goods Polluted the environment Wasted natural resources Organized gigantic and
powerful monopolies Created large gap between the
rich and the poor Bribed government officials
and corrupted the government
Industrialization could not have occurred without industrialists
Provided examples of risk and success
Showed example of American Dream
Created the wealth and military might of a young superpower
Built cities and factories Provided employment Gave money to charities,
libraries, and endowments Provided cheap manufactured
goods for consumers Improved the quality of life for
most Americans
The U.S. Senate Big businesses formed
trusts: groups of smaller companies under the leadership of a large corporation Made investors more profit Allowed for lower
operational costs Lower “overhead” resulted
in lower consumer cost Forced smaller business
out, and gained control of larger portion of the market
“The Bosses of the Senate” Puck Magazine. This famous political cartoon refers to the
rampant political corruption of the Gilded Age. The influence of business (in campaign contributions and perks) was evident in
government’s laissez-faire approach, pro-business legislation, and federal support to
combat unionization.
The Senate Reformers attempted to control businesses, but often failed
due to: Continued bribes Lack of enforcement Local political bosses (and their machines) controlled local and party
politics Politicians afraid to act decisively because they wanted re-election
Congress attempted reform laws: Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883): reformed Civil Service by
requiring examinations and requirements for hiring Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC, est. 1887): controlled
railroads and transportation of goods between states (authorized by the Constitution)
Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890): regulated trusts, and when possible, forced the trusts to break up
Homestead, PA
Homestead became the model for factory towns Close proximity to job Safe community Libraries and stores available
Provided cheap housing for factory employees
Employees were often paid only in scrip, vouchers for money, good only at the factory storeFactory towns such as Homestead, helped
spread industry, jobs, and population across the Northeast. These towns later became the model for the modern suburb, developed during the late 1940s and 1950s.
Homestead Factory towns in the Northeast were often destinations
for immigrants Milwaukee became a center for German immigrants
(beer and brats) Chicago became a center for Italian immigrants
Factory towns were often dirty, polluted, and dangerous places to live
Any action taken against the factory would often result in beatings, vandalism, and murder by the “Coal and Iron Police”
An average steel worker would make $22/wk; an immigrant would receive less than $12/wk for the same job
Factory, Homestead
The Bessemer converters sprayed fire, sparks, and steam
Men were expected to work 12 hrs/day; 6 days/wk
Once a month, workers were expected to work a 24 hr. shift
Average wage in 1907, at the Homestead Plant, was 16 cents/hr
Representative of working conditions in the average factory, the floor of this steel mill was so hot, it could fry an egg on contact. Hobnailed boots were required to relieve the discomfort, but burns were common.
Factory, Homestead
Conditions at factories (manufacturing, steel, textile, auto, coal, etc.) were terrible: Dangerous working conditions Low pay No job security No benefits High rate of accident
The Mines, PA Working conditions in
factories resulted in numerous chronic conditions Black Lung:
Derived from working in coal mines
Inhaled dust would coat the lungs, resulting in emphysema, lung cancer, and death
White Lung: Derived from working in
textile factories Inhaled cotton fibers would
coat the lungs, resulting in emphysema, lung cancer, and death
Prized for their smaller size, their ability to get into tight working spaces, the inexhaustible supply, the lack of child labor laws, and the opportunity to pay less (thereby increasing profit) resulted in the widespread use of child labor. “Mother” Jones, a famous reformer, marched on Washington, D.C., forcing Congress to pass laws banning child labor.
The Mines
Over 2 million children were employed in factories at the turn of the century
The average age of these children ranged between 8-15 years
A “renewable” resource, children were paid significantly less than even an immigrant worker
A Strike: Lawrence
Unions: a collective group of workers acting to improve working conditions; reformers
Started in the late 1860s to respond to low wages, dangerous working conditions, and periodic unemploymentLawrence, a textile factory town in
Massachusetts, was considered a hotbed of labor dissent and rebellion. Unions, as a group, were typically considered un-American, because they worked against the interests of government and business, “All-American” values.
A Strike
The Knights of Labor (1869): Organized by Terence Powderly Campaigned for 8 hour workday, safer conditions, equal
pay for men and women, and compensation for work related injury
Focused on women, African-Americans, immigrants, and unskilled laborers
American Federation of Labor (1881): Organized by Samuel Gompers Advocated for 8 hour workday, improved working
conditions, and the right of the union to represent workers during contract negotiations
Focused on white, male, and skilled workers
A Strike
Anti-Union activity rose during the Industrial Age
Federal, state, and local governments acted against workers’ rights
Most laws favored wealthy industrialists and to maintain the status quo
In response to the “Bread or Revolution” slogan of the Wobblies, government and business owners feared a
revolution against the U.S. by the lower classes. This fear generated violence against unions. Not without guilt, the
mob mentality of union collective actions resulted in the violent suppression of union activity by police.
A Strike
Unions used several strategies to force change: Boycott of goods: refusing to purchase goods Strikes/Work stoppage: refusing to work Picket Lines: “information” lines explaining
cause for strikes and demands Collective Bargaining: group representation for
contract negotiations Work to Rule: working only under the “letter” of
contract
The Strike: Problems Violence between government/business owners
and workers resulted in numerous riots Chicago Riots (1886): 8,000 workers, represented by
the Knights of Labor, went on strike Several workers were killed by police Riot started after a bomb was thrown at police 7 police officers and 4 workers were killed Management used this as an example of mob mentality
Carnegie Homestead Riots (1892): Represented by the AFL, workers went on strike protesting a wage cut
Manager sent in 300 guards to protect factory Upon arrival, workers killed 16 guards National Guard was sent in to quell riot Workers surrendered, and upon their return, got a 50%
wage cut
A Strike Pullman Strike (1894): Workers protested wage cut after high
corporate profit Strikers paralyzed rail business throughout the West Management asked help from the government Pres. Cleveland sent in troops to clear out the workers, move
the trains and end the strike Anthracite Coal Strike (1902): Workers protested working
conditions in Pennsylvania coal mines and difficult working conditions
Coal strike threatened to paralyze the Northeast during the coldest winter--nobody had coal to heat homes, provide power, etc
Management refused to settle strike and meet worker demands Management asked help from government and Pres. Roosevelt Roosevelt changed tactics and supported worker rights
In Sum
Unions, using collective action, greatly improved working conditions in most industries
As part of the Progressive Reform Movement, led by Pres. Roosevelt, the government worked to improve the life, liberty, and property of the exploited worker masses
Unions, although sometimes criticized as Communists, became a mainstay in American business (AFL-CIO is one of the most powerful unions in the country)
Labor usually associated with Democratic Party; Management usually associated with Republican Party