Industries of the Gilded Age

1. Industries of the Gilded Age Click Here to Begin!

2. Welcome to the Gilded Age! After Reconstruction, our country was experiencing lots of industrial growth and development. Some people grew very rich, while others had trouble supporting their families. As you travel around the United States, make sure to pay close attention to the people and events taking place!

3. Please Select Your Destination! Practice Quiz

4. What Do All of These Buttons Do? Previous Slide Back to Map Next Slide

5. Chicago, Illinois Railroads Who’s Around?

6. Railroads • Railroads were the first big business in the United States • They were privately owned by investors • The government gave railroad companies land grants so more track could be laid • By 1880, over 115,000 miles of track had been laid across the country • Railroads moved people, mail, and goods across the U.S. • Cities, such as Chicago, became markets for the shipped goods and grew very quickly • Since railroads were privately owned and the government did not interfere with their business, they could charge people whatever price they wanted • In 1887, the Interstate Commerce Act and Commission made • sure prices were “reasonable and just” for everyone • As the railroads grew, so did the need for steel for tracks and coal for fuel

7. Pullman Strike • In May of 1894, the Pullman Palace Car Company decided to cut their workers’ wages by 25% • The workers protested by going on strike • The railroad companies hired replacement workers (strike breakers), which angered the strikers • In July of 1894, President Grover Cleveland sent 12,000 U.S. Army troops to Chicago to end the strike • The President was able to send the troops because he believed the strike was interfering with the delivery of U.S. mail • Violence broke out, killing 13 strikers and injuring 57 • Over $300,000 worth of damage was done to railroad property

8. It seems like everything is being shipped by the railroads now a days. It is the fastest way to ship goods after all. Cattle and crops from the West. Oil and other goods from the East. Chicago is the place where all of these things come together.

9. West Virginia Coal Mining Who’s Around?

10. Coal Mining • Railroads were spreading across the country and needed coal to power them • In 1867, 489,000 tons of coal were extracted from West Virginia • By 1887, 4.9 million tons of coal were being extracted • Mine communities formed as miners and their families moved closer to their jobs • These communities were run by the mine company and had schools, banks, general stores, and churches • Miners dug out coal using shovels and pick axes and hauled it in carts pulled by oxen and mules • Mining was a dangerous job: cave-ins were a constant threat, poison gas seeped through cracks in the tunnels, and poor air quality lead to serious respiratory conditions, such as “black lung”

11. My pa and I work in these here mines. The work is hard and I’ve been coughin’ mighty hard lately, but pa says we need the money. I quit goin’ to school so I could make more money. What good is schoolin’ when I’m in a mine all day?

12. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Steel Who’s Around?

13. Steel • The demand for steel increased as more railroads and skyscrapers were being built • The new Bessemer Process (blowing air through molten iron) allowed steel to be made quickly and at less cost • Steel mills were often built along the railroad lines for easy shipping • Steel goods such as needles, wire, nails, screws, pots, and pans were made more available at lower costs • Workers often worked 12 hour days, 6 days a week • Many accidents occurred on the job, including molten iron burns and being crushed by machinery

14. Carnegie Steel Company • Andrew Carnegie started a J. Edgar Thomson Steel Works, later Carnegie Steel Company, in 1873 in Pittsburgh • Carnegie’s company used vertical integration to control the market • Carnegie bought iron and coal mines, steel mills, and railroads to have complete control of the industry • By using these tactics, Carnegie was able to sell his steel at lower prices, which drove his competition out of business

15. My steel mills were the first to use the new Bessemer Process in the United States. Owning the mines and railroad lines also helped me pull ahead in this market. America truly is the land of opportunity. That’s why my family came here from Scotland. I have achieved the American dream.

16. Cleveland, Ohio Oil Who’s Around?

17. Oil • Different kinds of oil products were used in medicines, as lubricants for machine gears and wheels, but mostly in lamps to light homes • In 1870, the United States produced 5 million barrels of crude petroleum • By 1892, 50 million barrels were produced • Cleveland quickly became the center for oil business because of railroad routes and access to Lake Erie • By the end of the Nineteenth century, over half of America’s oil was being exported

18. Standard Oil Company • John D. Rockefeller formed the Standard Oil Company in 1870 • Rockefeller made secret deals with railroad companies in order to get the best shipping price • These savings were passed on to consumers: rock bottom prices allowed more people to light their homes • Other oil companies could not compete with Standard Oil and most either went out of business or were bought by Rockefeller • Buying out competition is called horizontal integration • At its peak, Standard Oil controlled 90% of the petroleum market

19. As the founder of Standard Oil, I had to take risks to get where I am today. When I first got into this business, the need for petroleum products was quite low. A gamble indeed. Of course, my business savvy was no match for my competitors…

20. Lowell, Massachusetts Textiles Who’s Around?

21. Textiles • Textile mills were often built along rivers and used hydropower to run the machines • Dresses, shirts, bedding, yarn and other cotton products were produced • Lowell and other companies built communities for their workers • These communities had churches, libraries, and living quarters for workers • Most workers were young women and children • Most women worked for a few years, got married, raised families, and the children would continue the cycle and work in the mill • New England factories worked their employees long hours and paid little • Textile jobs were given the nickname “wage slavery” because of such poor working conditions

22. I work here in the mill with my mother. She says that I should keep my hair short so that it won’t get caught in the machines. My family can’t afford any accidents; its hard enough to live off of what we make. At least the mill company gave us a place to live…we can use the money to buy food.

23. Practice Click Here to watch a video. Based on what you saw, which was the most successful group of people in the Gilded Age? Workers Bosses

24. Practice Click Here to watch a video. Based on what you saw, which was the most successful group of people in the Gilded Age? Workers, who were often immigrants, were better off in America than their home countries. Unfortunately, they were still working long hours for little pay. Parents often sent their children to work. Workers

25. Practice Click Here to watch a video. Based on what you saw, which was the most successful group of people in the Gilded Age? Big business bosses were very successful during the Gilded Age. They paid their workers (especially immigrants) low wages and made millions. While some “captains of industry” gave some of their money away, others spent it on huge mansions, clothes, and automobiles. Bosses

26. Quiz

27. Question 1 The Interstate Commerce Act and Commission made sure that… • Railroad companies had reasonable shipping rates for everyone • Goods were delivered on time • Railroad companies were able to change their rates without notice

28. Nice Try! Hint: Before this act, companies could charge any price they wanted.

29. Great Job! Go to Question 2

30. Question 2 Coal miners of the Gilded Age faced all of these dangers in the mine EXCEPT… • Threat of cave-ins • Poison gas • Injuries caused by malfunctioning conveyer belts • Serious respiratory conditions

31. Nice Try! Hint: At this time, there was little technology available for improved mining practices.

32. Great! Go to Question 3

33. Question 3 The Bessemer Process allowed steel to be made quickly, but at a high cost. • True • False

34. Try Again! Hint: The Bessemer Process produced small amounts of waste, so the price of manufacturing steel dropped.

35. Super! Go to Question 4

36. Question 4 At its peak, Standard Oil Company controlled ____% of the petroleum market. • 30% • 50% • 90%

37. Try Again! Hint: Horizontal integration eliminated almost all of Standard Oil’s competition.

38. Nice Work! Go to Question 5

39. Question 5 Textile mills produced dresses, shirts, bedding, and yarn from which material? • Wool • Cotton • Silk

40. Try Again! Hint: In the South, this crop was “king.”

41. Great Job! You Finished the Quiz!

42. I hope you enjoyed exploring the industries of the Gilded Age! References

43. References • Coal and Steel Working Conditions - http://www.jaha.org/edu/discovery_center/work/img/conditions/index.html • THE RISE OF THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY - http://www.history.rochester.edu/fuels/tarbell/UPTO52.HTM • EARLY COAL PRODUCTION IN WEST VIRGINIA - http://www.as.wvu.edu/WVHistory/html/unit10.htm • History of West Virginia Mineral Industries – Coal - http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/geology/geoldvco.htm • Industrialization: 1869–1901 - http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/gildedage/section2.rhtml • Age of Gild - http://www.gildedage.net/age.html