CHAPTER 20AN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY

1860-1914

STANDARD TIME

• Who started standard time/time zones?– Railroads altered time for all of America– Standard time divided America into 4 zones– Helped railroads maintain schedules

STEEL INDUSTRY• Why was the steel industry such an important

industry?– Used in building railroad tracks– Used for barbed wire, nails, and beams for buildings

BESSEMER STEEL PROCESSnew manufacturing techniquecost less than previous methods to make steelused less than 1/7 amount of coal than older

processes used

RAILROAD STRIKE OF1877

• In July of 1877, the Baltimore & Ohio railroad cut workers’ wages by 10%

• Workers refused to run the trains the day the pay cut was to take effect (no labor union called the strike; workers themselves did)

• As news spread, workers in other cities began to strike, as well

• This threw the nation into turmoil• Federal troops were called out; dozens of

people were killed

THE HAYMARKET AFFAIR

• People began to fear labor unions• Thought union ideas might spread to workers in all

areas/jobs• Haymarket Affair occurred May 4, 1886– Unknown person threw a bomb– 7 police officers were killed– 60 people were wounded

After this riot, police arrested hundreds of union leaders, socialists and anarchists

Opposition to unions increased

Membership in Knights of Labor decreased

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER

John D. Rockefeller

• Lived 1839 – 1937• Born to a poor family in New York state• Learned to be frugal (not wasteful)• By 1897 he had made millions of dollars• Spent most of his life donating money to several

worthy causes• MONOPOLY—Rockefeller monopolized the oil industry

by buying up his competition• TRUST—he created the Standard Oil Trust (controlled

prices of oil)

ANDREW CARNEGIE

Andrew Carnegie

• Lived 1835 – 1919• Born in Scotland• Moved to Pennsylvania at age 12• His first job was in a cotton mill• Also worked in a telegraph office• Created a monopoly in steel industry– Bought companies that contributed to steel industry– Wiped out his competition

SWEATSHOPS

• Sweatshops– Workers labored long hours– Children were often employed (used)– Work was repetitive and boring– Work was sometimes dangerous• Small children were used to clean out insides of big

machines• Sometimes machines were turned back on before the

worker was completely out, causing injury or death

PULLMAN STRIKE

PULLMAN STRIKE

• The Pullman Strike began in 1894• Many railroad companies went bankrupt• Pullman Palace Car Company (which made

railroad cars) had to stay in business– Cut worker’s pay by 25%– Did not lower the rent it charged workers to live in

company housing– Workers took home almost no money after rent

was paid

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR

• Founded in 1886• Led for 37 years by Samuel Gompers• This group focused on improving working

conditions• Used strikes, boycotts and negotiation to gain

shorter working hours and better pay for workers

Effects of Transcontinental Railroads on Native Americans

RAILROADS CAUSE CHANGES

• Railroads carried hunters across the country– Hunters killed large herds of buffalo, thereby

limiting buffalo that Indians huntedRailroads carried miners across the country

Populations were increasedland was takenIndians were pushed off their lands

Union Pacific/Central Pacific Railroads

• Union Pacific– Started in Nebraska; built toward the west– Received large grants and government loans– Hired men from many different backgrounds• The largest group of men were of Irish background

Central Pacific Railroad

• Central Pacific – Started in California; built toward the east– Received large grants and government loans– Faced a severe labor shortage; most men wanted

to mine– Hired mostly Chinese workers– Work in the mountains was dangerous– Workers had to use dynamite to blast rock