Gilded Age/ Industrialization

What did Samuel Gompers see as the benefit of joining a union?

• Workers had gained better working conditions.
• Workers now worked longer hours in coal mines.
• Workers were able to work for the same wages they had earned in the past.
• Workers were able to have their children work in mines.

In the late 1800s, which factor directly contributed to the growth of American steel industry?

• government regulation
• employee ownership
• new production techniques
• the formation of labor unions

The Interstate Commerce Act (1887) and the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) were efforts by the federal government to--

• regulate aspects of business
• expand the positive features of the trusts
• favor big business over small companies
• move toward government ownership of key industries

In the late 19th century, critics of big business claimed that monopolies in the US harmed the economy by--

• unfairly limiting competition
• decreasing the urban growth rate
• preventing technological innovation
• failing to keep pace with European industries

During the late 1800s, what was a major effect of industrialization on American workers?

• Membership in labor unions declined.
• Workers migrated to rural regions.
• Most factory jobs became service industry jobs.
• Skilled craftsmen were often replaced by unskilled machine operators.

What social issue was raised by the philanthropic activities of many American business leaders during the Gilded Age?

• Should private industries be taken over by workers organizations?
• Were American businesses charging too much for their products?
• Should state governments limit philanthropic activities of private citizens?
• Was it right for business owners to pay low wages to their workers to finance philanthropic activities?

Which best describes a positive contribution of Andrew Carnegie?

• helped workers obtain better conditions in his factories.
• showed how to organize large-scale production as well as how to use profits in philanthropic activities.
• obtained secret rebates from railroad companies shipping his products.
• obtained near monopoly control of one part of national industry, rather than engaging in several related activities.

Which was an important benefit of the laissez-fair policies of the federal government in the late 19th century?

• American entrepreneurs were able to invest in their businesses with little government interference.
• American businesses were able to avoid the ups and downs of the business cycle.
• American workers found it easy to organize into labor unions.
• American workers felt secure about the safety of conditions in factories.

During the period from 1865 to 1900, disputes between labor and business owners were sometimes marked by--

• use of violence by both sides
• cooperative efforts to resolve differences
• government support for striking workers
• negotiations by the federal government

What was the main purpose of the antitrust legislation passed by Congress?

• to promote corporate consolidation
• to restrict foreign access to American markets
• to protect competition between private business
• to reduce the average size of business