Checkpoint 3: The Gilded Age (5.03-5.06, 5.09)

George Washington Carver invented ________ that can be produced from peanuts and sweet potatoes.

• 2 products

• approximately 100 products

• more than 300 products

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 was the Gilded Age a time of economic disparity?

• Most people became very wealthy, but a few people were very poor.

• A few people became very wealthy, but most people were very poor.

• Almost everyone gained wealth and was able to buy new goods such as cars and TVs.

• Wealth was redistributed so everyone had approximately the same amount of money to spend.

Which statement reflects the mistrust of wealthy industrialists that many people developed during the Gilded Age?

• Some industrialists were called “Robber Barons.”

• Some industrialists hurt society by joining labor unions.

• Some industrialists improved society by inventing new things.

• Some industrialists were called “Captains of Industry.”

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.

How were individual companies able to become so powerful in the Gilded Age?

• Labor unions were created to help protect workers.

• Monopolies and trusts gave industry leaders more control.

• Arbitration made a lot of industry leaders wealthy.

• Advancements in advertising and transportation helped create national markets.

• Specialization left owners with more time to invest in other businesses.

What conditions led to the development of labor unions?

• arbitration

• low wages and long hours

• strikes

• unsafe working conditions

• collective bargaining

Labor unions worked to_________ wages and decrease working hours.

Labor unions tried to improve working conditions through ________.

• collective bargaining

• skilled workers

• laissez-faire policies