USHC.3.CO Labor vs Capital Part 1 Spring 2025

The political cartoon The Protectors of Our Industries illustrates labor conditions during the early Industrial Age. Which of the following best explains how industrial leaders’ strategies contributed to these conditions?

• Industrial leaders often reduced wages and ignored safety to increase profits.

• Many workers had union protection, which improved pay and conditions.

• Most immigrant laborers were paid more for their advanced skill levels.

• The federal government passed strong laws to regulate workplace practices.

Answer explanation

The poor working conditions existed because Captains of Industry, or "Robber Barons," prioritized profit over worker safety and wages, leading to exploitation and harsh environments for industrial laborers.

The political cartoon The Bosses of the Senate and the slide suggest that laws during the Industrial Age favored big business. Which of the following was a major reason for this?

• Many lawmakers were influenced by business leaders who used money and power to shape legislation.

• Senators were chosen by voters and passed laws that supported labor unions and workers’ rights.

• Social Darwinists believed government should protect poor workers through new regulations.

• Laws were mostly written by labor unions, who had growing power in national politics.

Answer explanation

During the Industrial Age, big business leaders—sometimes called "robber barons"—had a lot of money and influence. Many lawmakers were not elected directly by the people at this time and were often connected to powerful industries. These business leaders used their wealth to persuade or pressure lawmakers to pass laws that helped their companies make more money, even if it hurt workers. The cartoon The Bosses of the Senate shows how these wealthy businessmen had more control over the government than everyday people did.

Match the following strikes with the information below

Groups:

(a) Great RR Strike (1877)

,

(b) Haymarket Affair (1886)

,

(c) Homestead Strike (1892)

,

(d) Pullman Strike (1894)

• Involved Union leader Eugene Debs.

• Shutdown nations railroads for 45 days.

• Strike for an 8 hour day at the McCormick reaper plant in Chicago.

• Ended the Knights of Labor organization.

• Between steel workers & Carnegie Steel Company.

• Tarnished the legacy of Andrew Carnegie.

• Turned violent & turned public opinion against radical parts of movement such as Anarchist.

• Led to the creation of Labor Day.

• Involved; lockouts, strike, scab, Pinkersons, & a battle.

• Strike against the harsh social restrictions on workers.

Answer explanation

Which of the following are tools of Capitalist and Labor?

Groups:

(a) Capitalist

,

(b) Labor (Unions)

• Strikes

• Scabs (replacement workers)

• Black lists

• Closed Shops

• Lock outs

• Pinkertons ( notable strike breakers).

• Collective bargaining

Answer explanation

Based on the timeline of labor strikes, the photograph of federal troops at Homestead, and the excerpt from In re Debs (1895), what do these sources suggest about the federal government’s response to labor unrest during the Industrial Age?

• The government often used its power to protect interstate commerce and industrial interests during strikes.

• The federal government consistently intervened on behalf of labor unions to protect workers’ rights.

• Federal troops were only used in extreme cases where industrial leaders faced threats from other businesses.

• The government remained neutral during most labor disputes, allowing both sides to resolve issues independently.

Answer explanation

These sources show that the government usually stepped in during strikes to protect railroads, mail delivery, and big business profits. It often sided with company owners, not the workers, making it harder for labor unions to succeed.

How was the Sherman Antitrust Act used in a way that negatively affected labor unions during the late 1800s?

• It was applied to break up labor strikes by treating unions as illegal restraints on trade.

• It prevented monopolies from exploiting workers by limiting their control over wages.

• It protected labor unions from being shut down by corporations during negotiations.

• It forced businesses to recognize unions as legitimate under federal law.

How do the views in these sources show the differences between industrial leaders and labor leaders during the Gilded Age?

• Industrial leaders thought wealthy people should control how money was used, while labor leaders wanted workers to get a fairer share.

• Industrial leaders wanted equal pay and worker rights, while labor leaders wanted big businesses to grow faster.

• Labor leaders wanted rich people to give to charity, while industrial leaders wanted to raise wages and shorten workdays.

• Both sides thought the government should take all wealth and decide how to divide it.

Based on these sources, which approach to wealth would most likely be supported by labor leaders like Gompers and Debs?

• A system where wealth is shared more equally and workers have a greater role in how it's earned and distributed

• A model where wealthy individuals choose when and how to donate their surplus profits to the community

• A free-market economy where successful businesses are rewarded with full control over profits and wages

• An economy where industrial leaders manage labor through philanthropy and personal judgment, not regulation

Answer explanation

Gompers and Debs believed that workers should get more of the wealth they helped create. They wanted better wages, education, and living conditions, not just handouts from rich business owners. They supported systems where workers had more power in shaping how wealth was earned and shared.

Based on the quotes by Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, it can be inferred that Carnegie supported ​ (a)   as a way for the wealthy to help society, while Rockefeller’s belief in “survival of the fittest” reflected his support for ​ (b)   .

• philanthropy
• Social Darwinism
• private investment
• wage cuts
• political donations
• labor reform
• trust regulation

Answer explanation

Carnegie thought the rich should use their money to help others through things like schools and libraries. Rockefeller believed that the most successful people rose to the top naturally and should keep their power, which fits with the idea of Social Darwinism.