USHC.3.CO & 3.E Labor v. Management

How was the large size and great power of the Standard Oil Trust, depicted in cartoon, influenced by technological advances?

• Technology increased the demand for oil and gasoline, which the company produced.
• Technology allowed the company to advertise in new places and with novel methods.
• Technology allowed machines to replace human workers, which helped the company make more money.
• Technology increased demand job demand in other sectors so the Standard Oil Trust was the only oil company to survive, but it became larger.

Answer explanation

Simplified Question: How were technological advances related to the large size and power of the Standard Oil Trust?

Correct Answer: Technology increased the demand for oil and gasoline, which the company produced.

Explanation: Technological advances, such as the increased demand for oil and gasoline due to industrialization and the automobile, contributed to the large size and power of the Standard Oil Trust. The company capitalized on these technological changes to expand its operations and dominate the oil industry.

Why was the Standard Oil Trust MOST likely pictured as an octopus with many tentacles in the cartoon?

• The Standard Oil Trust was seen as a danger to the traditional American way of life.
• The Standard Oil Trust killed many different types of wildlife with its drilling practices.
• The Standard Oil Trust was seen as a monopoly that influenced government and other industries.
• The Standard Oil Trust built pipelines crossing the entire United States that endangered people and resources.

Answer explanation

Simplified Question: Why was the Standard Oil Trust likely depicted as an octopus with many tentacles in the cartoon?

Correct Answer: The Standard Oil Trust was seen as a monopoly that influenced government and other industries.

Explanation: The depiction of the Standard Oil Trust as an octopus with many tentacles likely symbolized its widespread influence and control over various aspects of society and the economy. The octopus imagery suggests that the company had extended its reach into multiple industries and branches of government, portraying it as a powerful and monopolistic entity with far-reaching influence

Done

Which statement provides the BEST evidence to support the conclusion that the growth of the railroad industry revolutionized "Big Business" in America in the late 1800's?

• The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1889 linked the eastern and western halves of the nation.
• The growth of the railroad industry and "Big Business" led to increased immigration from central and southern Europe.
• During the late 1800's, the growth of "Big Business" and the expansion of the railroad industry occurred completely independently of one another.
• The railroad helped to decrease transportation costs, increased the availability of new products and goods, and generally widened the American business market.

Answer explanation

Simplified Question: Which statement best supports the idea that the growth of the railroad industry revolutionized "Big Business" in America in the late 1800s?

Correct Answer: The railroad helped to decrease transportation costs, increased the availability of new products and goods, and generally widened the American business market.

Explanation: The growth of the railroad industry revolutionized "Big Business" in America in the late 1800s because the railroad helped decrease transportation costs, increased the availability of new products and goods, and generally widened the American business market. This statement provides strong evidence of how the expansion of the railroad industry facilitated the growth of "Big Business" by improving transportation networks and expanding markets for goods and services across the nation.

Choose the THREE items that correctly describe the contributions of Henry Ford to early 20th Century.

• Ford was one of the first to offer a high guaranteed daily wage- $5- for his workers.
• Ford invented the automobile.
• One of Ford's most popular early cars was the Model T.
• Ford became successful because of the newest technologies that were included in his cars.
• Ford was able to use the assembly line to make many cars quickly and efficiently.

Answer explanation

Simplified Question: Which THREE statements describe Henry Ford's contributions to the early 20th Century?

Correct Answers:

Ford was one of the first to offer a high guaranteed daily wage- $5- for his workers.
One of Ford's most popular early cars was the Model T.
Ford was able to use the assembly line to make many cars quickly and efficiently.
Explanation: Henry Ford made significant contributions to the early 20th Century through several key achievements:

He introduced the concept of a high guaranteed daily wage of $5 for his workers, which was one of the first instances of such a generous compensation policy in the automotive industry.
He revolutionized automobile manufacturing by implementing the assembly line production method, allowing for mass production of vehicles such as the Model T, which became widely popular and accessible to the public.
While Ford did not invent the automobile itself, he played a pivotal role in popularizing it and making it more affordable through efficient production methods and innovations like the Model T.

Which of these BEST describes the impact the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) had on business at the end of the 19th century?

• It had little immediate effect because of the vague wording of key points of the law.
• It prevented new businesses from forming because complying with the law proved too expensive.
• It resulted in the breakup of the country's largest monopolies by the start of the 20th century.
• It hurt small businesses most due to the increase costs of following its regulatory restrictions.

Answer explanation

Simplified Question: Which statement best describes the impact of the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) on business at the end of the 19th century?

Correct Answer: It had little immediate effect because of the vague wording of key points of the law.

Explanation: The Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) had little immediate effect on business at the end of the 19th century because of the vague wording of key points of the law. Despite its intention to promote competition and prevent the formation of monopolies, the act lacked clarity and enforcement mechanisms, leading to limited effectiveness in curbing anticompetitive practices in the business world during that time.

How was convict leasing a loophole of the Thirteenth Amendment?

• Convict leasing allowed for convicts to be rented for work in exchange for boarding as prisons were overflowing.
• Convict leasing allowed former slaveholders to keep control over a percentage of their slaves in indentured servitude.
• Convicts under the Thirteenth Amendment were forced to work for free, but were guaranteed humane and reasonable working conditions.
• Convicts technically were not slaves and therefore could be used to work railways, mines, and plantations with no pay and under inhumane conditions.

Answer explanation

Simplified Question: How did convict leasing exploit a loophole in the Thirteenth Amendment?

Correct Answer: Convicts technically were not slaves and therefore could be used to work railways, mines, and plantations with no pay and under inhumane conditions.

Explanation: Convict leasing exploited a loophole in the Thirteenth Amendment by technically not treating convicts as slaves, allowing them to be used for labor in railways, mines, and plantations without pay and under inhumane conditions. This practice violated the spirit of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, but allowed for the use of forced labor as punishment for a crime.

John D. Rockefeller was able to monopolize the oil market, due to

• driving out or buying other oil industries; hiring only immigrants and former slaves, so he was able to pay workers far less money; received large investments from wealthy Americans that allowed him to excel quicker
• vertical consolidation- buying/driving out all other oil companies and/or entrepreneurs and horizontal consolidation- buying into all other industries needed to minimize costs, maximize profits, and dominate the oil market
• horizontal consolidation- buying/driving out all other oil companies and/or entrepreneurs and vertical consolidation- buying into all other industries needed to minimize costs, maximize profits, and dominate the oil market
• driving out or buying other oil industries; hiring only immigrants and former slaves, so he was able to pay workers far less money; invested money into the campaigns of major political leaders to avoid strict business laws

Answer explanation

Simplified Question: How did John D. Rockefeller monopolize the oil market?

Correct Answer: horizontal consolidation- buying/driving out all other oil companies and/or entrepreneurs and vertical consolidation- buying into all other industries needed to minimize costs, maximize profits, and dominate the oil market

Explanation: John D. Rockefeller monopolized the oil market through horizontal consolidation (buying/driving out all other oil companies and/or entrepreneurs) and vertical consolidation (buying into all other industries needed to minimize costs, maximize profits, and dominate the oil market). This strategy involved acquiring or eliminating competitors horizontally within the oil industry and vertically integrating various aspects of the oil production and distribution process to control costs and increase efficiency.

Done

In order to improve the lives of their members, labor unions engage in collective bargaining with factory owners and management. Which of these is the BEST definition of the underlined word, "collective bargaining"?

• fighting
• meetings
• strikes
• walkouts

Answer explanation

Simplified Question: What is the best definition of "collective bargaining"?

Correct Answer: meetings

Explanation: Collective bargaining refers to the negotiation process between labor unions and employers (factory owners and management) to reach agreements on wages, working conditions, and other terms of employment. This negotiation typically involves meetings where representatives from both sides discuss and make decisions on various aspects of employment contracts.

Which state BEST describes the impact the Interstate Commerce Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act had on business in the Gilded Age?

• Both resulted in price controls for industry.
• Both prevented pricing controls for industry.
• Both created strong governmental regulations for dealing with corrupt business practices.
• Both proved to be ineffective in the regulation of business abuses and economic controls.

Answer explanation

Simplified Question: What was the impact of the Interstate Commerce Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act on businesses during the Gilded Age?

Correct Answer: Both created strong governmental regulations for dealing with corrupt business practices.

Explanation: The Interstate Commerce Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act were important regulations passed during the Gilded Age. They aimed to control unfair business practices and monopolies. The Interstate Commerce Act regulated the railroad industry, ensuring fair rates and prohibiting discriminatory practices. The Sherman Antitrust Act targeted monopolies and trusts, aiming to promote competition and prevent unfair business practices. Both acts helped establish governmental regulations to address corrupt business practices during this time.

"To protect the workers in their inalienable rights to a higher and better life; to protect them, not only as equals before the law, but also in their health, their homes, workers, and as citizens; to overcome and conquer prejudices and antagonism; to secure to them the right to life, and the opportunity to maintain that life, the right to be full sharers in the abundance which is the result of their brain and brawn and the civilization of which they are the founders and the mainstay...." - Samuel Gompers, President of the American Federation of Labor, 1898 Based on this passage, which issue facing laborers did Samuel Gompers want to focus on first?

• shorter working day
• obtaining higher wages
• guaranteed retirement pension
• guaranteed two weeks vacation

Answer explanation

Simplified Question: What was the first issue Samuel Gompers wanted to focus on for laborers, according to the passage?

Correct Answer: obtaining higher wages

Explanation: Samuel Gompers, the President of the American Federation of Labor, emphasized the importance of protecting workers' rights to a higher and better life, including obtaining higher wages. He advocated for fair compensation as a fundamental aspect of improving workers' lives and securing their well-being.

Done