-These business owners were seen as smart and powerful because of the way they have taken full advantage of the laws about business
John D. Rockefeller
-Created Standard Oil Company (Very large and powerful oil monopoly)
-Spent large amounts of money on charity (called philanthropy) that many think was to keep his public image positive
-Richest man in history
-Example of Robber Baron/Captain of Industry
Andrew Carnegie
-Created Steel Company (Very large and powerful steel monopoly)
-Famous for his methods of running a business where he would work to buy out people who make the same product as him, making a monopoly
-This person also bought out all the companies making the materials he needed to make his own product--lowering the cost of his own product (steel)
Standard Oil Corporation
-A monopoly on oil, created by John D. Rockefeller
-Famous for its eventual control of oil in the U.S.. It set prices and quantities for sale because it was one of very few companies producing oil.
Push Factors of Immigration
-These things were what encouraged immigrants to LEAVE THEIR HOME COUNTRIES.
-Examples included: disease, lack of work available, lack of food, war
Pull Factors of Immigration
-These things were what encouraged immigrants to COME TO THE U.S.
-Examples included: opportunity, jobs, peace, land
Ellis Island/Angel Island
-Landing place for immigrants coming to the U.S. in either New York City or San Francisco.
-These islands were known for being immigrant processing stations. New immigrants were required to prove they were disease free and had employment waiting for them in the U.S.
Geography of Immigration (Where are immigrants coming from 1880-1920?)
-European immigrants: England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Poland, etc.--Mostly landed on the East Coast in cities like New York and Boston and worked in factories in the major cities or settled westward looking for wealth in farming or mining.
-Asian immigrants: Japan, China, Korea--Mostly landed in San Francisco and got work building dangerous railroads or working in mines.
Chinese Exclusion Act
-U.S. law created to not allow any more immigrants into the U.S. except students
-Americans were afraid Asian immigrants in particular were stealing jobs from U.S. citizens
-Americans felt that too many immigrants were coming into the U.S.
Tenements
-Houses/apartments in majorly overcrowded cities
-Unsafe and unsanitary living conditions where the poorer workers in factories and city centers stayed
-As more people moved to cities looking for work in factories (industrialization and urbanization) people were forced into these poor living conditions
-multiple families were crowded into single apartments
Gilded Age
-Period of time in U.S. history during the late 1800's where politics worked for business and against people
-Wealthy business owners spent large amounts of money while the poor suffered greatly during this time period
-Corrupt politicians like the Tammany Hall Ring helped the rich and hurt the poor
American Federation of Labor
-Labor Union created by Samuel Gompers
-Met in secret to avoid being fired by anti-union business owners
-Only wanted workers who had a skilled trade like wood-working, stone workers, etc.
Samuel Gompers
-Created American Federation of Labor
-Was trying to bring together skilled workers to work for common goals
Knights of Labor
-First major labor union in the U.S.
-Allowed workers who had skills or not
-Used strikes and boycotts to work for 8 hr. work day for workers--instead of 14-16 hr day which was more common.
Terence Powderly
-Founded the Knights of Labor
-Welcomed African Americans and Women into labor union
-Disliked strikes, but would eventually use them to work toward getting a limited workday (8hrs or work per day)
Pullman Strike
-Nonviolent strike by railway workers
-Workers forced to live in town created by company owner. Pay went down and rent went up.
-Peaceful strike and boycott shut down railroads connecting all parts of the country--eventually ended because it was interfering with the mail.
Homestead Strike
-Protest led by Pennsylvania steel workers against the Carnegie Steel Co. who had recently cut wages
-Fighting erupted between local police/state military and the workers
-'Scabs' or temporary workers were brought in to take the jobs of those on strike
