JP History

HOMEWORK 2-9-2007

Pageant, pages 536-545 (The Trust Titan Emerges)

EQ: What factors led to the unprecedented economic growth of the United States between 1865-1900? In what sense was the relationship between industrialization and westward expansion a symbiotic one?

Identifications: Define and give significance of relevant terms

Combination (pool)

Rebates

Kickbacks

Free enterprise

Grangers

Wabash Case

ICC/ICA

Millionaire

Natural resources (what were they)

Inventors/inventions

Transcontinental Railroad

Land grants

Subsidies

Union Pacific Railroad

Irish/Chinese immigrants

Big Four

Central Pacific

Cornelius Vanderbilt

“local” time

Railroad corruption

Monopoly

Questions:

1. Explain what impact each of the following had on American industrial development: natural resources, immigration, technological innovation, government polices. In what sense did the development of railroads stimulate industrialization? What were its other far-reaching social and economic consequences?

2. What specific measures did the federal government take to promote the building of railroads?

3. How did the system of American railroads change from a series of locally-owned and run lines to a industry dominated by a few large companies? What were the advantages of such consolidation? What did this indicate about the goals of American industrialists at the time?

4. What role did each of the following play in the creation of the transcontinental railroad: the federal government, Chinese and Irish immigrants, industrialists? Why did the completion of the transcontinental railroad set off such wild celebrations throughout the nation?

5. Pick two of the following: George Eastman, Gustavus Swift, Alexander Graham Bell, and Thomas Edison, and explain how their inventions promoted national unity and industrialization.