Unit 2 Study Guide – Gilded Age & Progressive Era

How did the belief in Social Darwinism influence both government policy and business practices during the Gilded Age, and how might this philosophy have justified economic inequality?

• It promoted laissez-faire policies that allowed monopolies to thrive unchecked

• It supported social programs to uplift poor immigrant families

• It inspired progressive reforms to protect urban workers

• It emphasized the moral duty of the wealthy to fund public charities

How did the contrasting educational philosophies of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois reflect larger debates within the African American community about the best strategies to achieve equality during the late 19th century?

• Washington supported political protest, while DuBois advocated patience and non-confrontation

• Washington promoted legal action, while DuBois insisted on religious reform

• Washington stressed vocational training for gradual progress, while DuBois emphasized higher education for leadership and immediate civil rights

• Washington encouraged urban activism, while DuBois urged rural self-sufficiency

In what ways did the Granger Movement contribute to the development of government regulation of business, and what lasting impact did it have on farmers' political power?

• It reduced tariffs on imported agricultural goods

• It supported child labor laws to protect rural families

• It developed trade unions for immigrant workers

• It encouraged regulation of railroads and set precedents for future antitrust actions

How did the leadership of Samuel Gompers and the AFL represent a shift in labor union strategies compared to earlier labor movements?

• He focused on unskilled labor rather than skilled trades

• He emphasized collective bargaining for practical gains like wages and hours rather than broad political reforms

• He encouraged violent strikes against factory owners to force change

• He demanded government ownership of major industries

What do the press reports and public debates about industrial struggles suggest about the growing tensions between farmers, workers, and big business in the late 1800s?

• They documented widespread decline of immigrant workers in factories

• They showed government consistently siding with labor unions

• They celebrated consolidation as the key to economic growth

• They revealed rising anger against railroad monopolies and corporate exploitation

Why were events like the Pullman Strike and Haymarket Affair turning points in the labor movement, and how did government responses shape future labor rights?

• They showed the government’s willingness to side with business, but also paved the way for future limits on the use of troops in strikes

• They proved unions were always successful in achieving wage increases

• They led to the permanent banning of collective bargaining agreements

• They encouraged businesses to immediately shorten workdays to eight hours

What do sources from the Gilded Age reveal about the balance of power between government and industrial leaders, and how did this relationship affect democracy?

• Government effectively limited industrial power through strong oversight

• Industrial leaders voluntarily supported workers’ rights to maintain stability

• Industrialists used wealth and monopolies to influence or evade laws, weakening democratic institutions

• Consumer prices fell sharply because monopolies created efficiency

What does Senator Sherman’s argument about trusts suggest about the challenges of maintaining capitalism in the face of monopolies?

• A. Trusts redistributed wealth more fairly, requiring no government intervention

• B. Trusts concentrated too much power in the hands of few, requiring government regulation to preserve fair competition

• C. Trusts promoted innovation by eliminating competition, strengthening the economy

• D. Trusts allowed foreign companies to dominate the U.S. market, threatening industry

What were the economic and social consequences of the rise of trusts in the late 19th century, and how did they affect both consumers and workers?

• A. A lack of competition enabled price-fixing that hurt consumers and limited opportunities for small businesses

• B. Consolidation of industries created more jobs and lowered prices for goods

• C. Monopolization reduced workplace dangers and improved safety standards

• D. Trusts made products more accessible by encouraging constant innovation

Sources about women and children in factories reveal the human cost of industrialization and show how these conditions sparked which of the following?

• Reform efforts to improve working conditions

• Increased support for child labor

• A decline in industrial production

• The elimination of all factories