U.S. History - First Semester Exam

Both the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor shared which goal?

• To help large corporations increase their production.

• To introduce new and improved techniques to factories

• To promote immigration of skilled workers from Asia to Europe

• To organize workers to demand better conditions from employers.

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

• Government regulation

• New production techniques

• The formation of labor unions

• Employee ownership

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

• Favor big business over small companies

• Regulate aspects of business

• Expand the positive features of their trusts.

• Move toward government ownership of key industries.

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

• 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 entrepreneurs were able to invest in their businesses with little government interference.

• American workers felt secure about the safety conditions in factories.

In the late nineteenth century, critics of big business claimed that monopolies in the United States harmed the economy by -

• Unfairly limiting competition

• Decreasing the urban growth rate

• Preventing technological innovation

• Failing to keep pace with European industries.

Which best describes the positive contribution of Andrew Carnegie?

• Carnegie helped workers obtain better conditions in his factories.

• Carnegie obtained secret rebates from railroad companies shipping his products.

• Carnegie obtained near monopoly control of one part of a national industry, rather than engaging in several related activities.

• Carnegie showed how to organize large-scale production as well as how to use profits in philanthropic activities.

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

• To restrict foreign access to American markets

• To reduce the average size of business

• To protect competition between private businesses

• To promote corporate consolidation

After 1880, where did the majority of 'New Immigrants' to the United States come from?

• Northern and Western Europe

• Canada and Latin America

• Southern and Eastern Europe

• China and Southeast Asia

During the late nineteenth century, where were the reservations located that North American Indian tribes were sent to?

• In sparsely populated areas of the West

• Near large cities in the Northwest

• East of the Mississippi River

• Along the major rivers of the Midwest

During the last part of the nineteenth century, most immigrants to the United States found work as -

• Educated professionals.

• Unskilled factory and sweatshop workers

• Scientists and technicians

• Skilled craftsman