Quiz on the Gilded Age

Mark Twain first used the name “Gilded Age” in a novel. Why was this name used to describe the United States?

• The U.S. joined European countries in backing its currency with gold.

• U.S. society was in a Golden Era of new inventions and economic growth.

• Underneath its glittery growth and success, U.S. society was struggling with poverty and corruption.

• Many U.S. citizens were becoming wealthy as a result of new inventions fueling the rapidly growing U.S. economy.

Why did George Washington Carver work so hard to invent ways to make products from peanuts and sweet potatoes?

• to increase profits for his farm where he grew these crops

• to decrease costs for everyday goods that Americans needed and wanted

• to increase demand for new crops farmers could grow to replenish their soil

• to increase western settlement by finding ways to use crops that grew well on the Great Plains

How did Andrew Carnegie use vertical integration to succeed?

• He made sure he owned all the businesses needed to produce his product from start to finish.

• He made sure he owned different types of business, so he would still have businesses if one failed.

• He made sure he invented a lot of different things, so he would be wealthy even if one invention failed.

• He made sure he bought enough stock in a company that he would own it one day.

Does "entrepreneur" and "industry innovator" describes Cornelius Vanderbilt, Henry Ford, or both.

• Cornelius Vanderbilt

• Henry Ford

• Both

• Neither

How were individual companies able to become so powerful in the Gilded Age? (Choose 2)

• Labor unions

• Monopolies and trusts gave industry leaders more control.

• Arbitration

• Advancements in advertising and transportation helped create national markets.

• Specialization

Write the correct letter in each blank. Labor unions worked to ________ wages and ________ working hours.

• increase wages and decrease working hours

• decrease wages and increase working hours

• end wages and increase working hours

• increase wages and end working hours

Labor unions tried to improve working conditions through ________.

• collective bargaining

• skilled workers

• laissez-faire policies

What inventor helped solve the problem of only using candles for light?

• George Washington Carver

• Thomas Edison

• electric light bulb

• Alexander Graham Bell

What inventor helped solve the problem of only communicating face-to-face?

• George Washington Carver

• Thomas Edison

• electric light bulb

• Alexander Graham Bell

What inventor helped solve the problem of unproductive soil?

• George Washington Carver

• Thomas Edison

• J.P. Morgan

• Alexander Graham Bell