Essential InformationEssential InformationUS HistoryUS History

Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution

RailroadsRailroads

The reason the country was able to greatly The reason the country was able to greatly expand was because of the railroad. It expand was because of the railroad. It allowed goods to be shipped quickly and allowed goods to be shipped quickly and cheaply.cheaply.

As the railroads became stronger they began As the railroads became stronger they began to overcharge customers and destroy the to overcharge customers and destroy the competition. They became monopolies.competition. They became monopolies.

Because the railroads were out of Because the railroads were out of unrestricted (monopoly), Congress was unrestricted (monopoly), Congress was forced to pass legislation to control the forced to pass legislation to control the railroads.railroads.

Trusts & MonopoliesTrusts & Monopolies

Andrew Carnegie created a vertical steel industry Andrew Carnegie created a vertical steel industry and monopoly.and monopoly.

A “monopoly” happens when one business has total A “monopoly” happens when one business has total control over a specific market. This bad for control over a specific market. This bad for consumers because the company can charge consumers because the company can charge anything it wants without competition to keep it in anything it wants without competition to keep it in line.line.

A “trust” or “pool” is a combination of large A “trust” or “pool” is a combination of large companies working together to control an entire companies working together to control an entire industry. This also greatly decreases competition and industry. This also greatly decreases competition and greatly raises prices paid by consumers.greatly raises prices paid by consumers.

Different examples of trusts involved the steel Different examples of trusts involved the steel industry, railroads and oil.industry, railroads and oil.

Sherman Anti-Trust ActSherman Anti-Trust Act

The Interstate Commerce Commission The Interstate Commerce Commission and the Sherman Antitrust Act were and the Sherman Antitrust Act were passed by Congress to limit monopolies passed by Congress to limit monopolies and protect the interests of small and protect the interests of small business.business.

AgricultureAgriculture

Agriculture was greatly changed with Agriculture was greatly changed with the invention of new technology such as the invention of new technology such as the reaper.the reaper.

The effect of the new technology and The effect of the new technology and growth of large farms was hardest on growth of large farms was hardest on the small farmers. They were unable to the small farmers. They were unable to compete with the big farms.compete with the big farms.

Native AmericansNative Americans

During the last part of the 19th century the United During the last part of the 19th century the United States filled in from coast to coast. The group that States filled in from coast to coast. The group that were most effected by this were the Indians who were most effected by this were the Indians who were either killed or put on reservations.were either killed or put on reservations.

The Dawes Act of 1887 was an attempt to assimilate The Dawes Act of 1887 was an attempt to assimilate Native American Indians into American culture. It Native American Indians into American culture. It failed.failed.

The Indians were constantly being squeezed by the The Indians were constantly being squeezed by the white settlers. A famous Indian victory was at the white settlers. A famous Indian victory was at the Little Big Horn where Custer made his last stand. The Little Big Horn where Custer made his last stand. The defeated Indians were put on reservations where defeated Indians were put on reservations where conditions were very bad.conditions were very bad.

African AmericansAfrican Americans

The south tried to attract industry but was The south tried to attract industry but was unsuccessful. The result was the south was very unsuccessful. The result was the south was very poor and agricultural.poor and agricultural.

Because of the poor economic conditions whites Because of the poor economic conditions whites continued to discriminate against blacks. This is continued to discriminate against blacks. This is called segregation.called segregation.

Segregation was practiced in schools, restaurants, Segregation was practiced in schools, restaurants, hotels, hospitals and railroads.hotels, hospitals and railroads.

The Supreme Court in Plessy vs. Ferguson ruled that The Supreme Court in Plessy vs. Ferguson ruled that as long as the conditions that whites and blacks used as long as the conditions that whites and blacks used were the same, discrimination was legal; “Separate were the same, discrimination was legal; “Separate But Equal”. This would not be changed until the But Equal”. This would not be changed until the 1960’s.1960’s.

Gold RushGold Rush

The west was filled in because of the The west was filled in because of the railroads and the good farming lands. railroads and the good farming lands. People also rushed to California to find People also rushed to California to find gold.gold.

UrbanizationUrbanization

With all the opportunities businesses With all the opportunities businesses gave to people living in the city, it made gave to people living in the city, it made no sense to stay on small farms. This no sense to stay on small farms. This large movement from rural farms to the large movement from rural farms to the urban city was called “urbanization”.urban city was called “urbanization”.