Capital and Labor Parts 3 and 4 Questions

What was the primary economic system during the Gilded Age that led to significant advances in efficiency and productivity?

• Feudalism

• Industrial Capitalism

• Mercantilism

• Socialism

Who were some of the prominent figures known as "robber barons" during the Gilded Age?

• Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton

• Cornelius Vanderbilt and J. D. Rockefeller

• Henry Ford and Steve Jobs

• Bill Gates and Warren Buffet

Explain how the concept of "survival of the fittest" was applied to society during the Gilded Age.

• It was used to justify the wealth and power of the elite as a natural outcome of their superiority.

• It was a call for equal distribution of wealth among all citizens.

• It promoted the idea that government should heavily regulate businesses.

• It encouraged the development of social welfare programs to support the poor.

Analyze the role of the Republican Party in supporting big business during the Gilded Age. What were some of the policies they implemented?

• They opposed tariffs and supported free trade.

• They provided land and financial support to railroad companies and maintained high protective tariffs.

• They focused on reducing government intervention in the economy.

• They advocated for the nationalization of major industries.

Discuss the impact of social Darwinism on American society during the Gilded Age. How did it influence the perception of wealth and poverty?

• It led to widespread support for social welfare programs to reduce poverty.

• It reinforced the idea that economic success was a sign of superiority and justified the existing social inequalities.

• It encouraged the government to intervene in the economy to ensure fair distribution of wealth.

• It promoted the belief that poverty was a result of individual moral failings.

What was the primary goal of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) that distinguished it from the Knights of Labor?

• To represent all workers regardless of skill level.
• To advocate for a producer-centered economy

• To focus solely on women's labor rights.
• Pursuing practical gains through conservative approaches

What was unique about the Pullman Strike of 1894 compared to other major strikes of the era?

• The Illinois governor refused to send in the state militia

• The strike was led by unskilled workers

• The company raised wages as a result of the strike

• Local police supported the strikers

How did industrial workers' families often cope with poverty-level wages during this period?

• They received government assistance

• They formed cooperative businesses

• Women and children entered the workforce

• they relied on union support payments

Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of the working class during The Gilded Age?

• Worked an 8 hour day (40 hours per week)

• Lived in slums due to high rent and overcrowded cities

• Often unemployed at least 1 month per year

• Income was below the poverty line

By 1900, the richest ten percent controlled perhaps _______ percent of the nation’s wealth.

• 50%

• 66%

• 70%

• 90%