Gilded Age1877-1900

STAAR Questions

1. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the U.S.

government attempted to facilitate the growth of domestic industry by

 A placing high tariff barriers on foreign imports

B encouraging the growth of labor unions 

C repealing the Sherman Antitrust Act 

D providing subsidies to small businesses

This cover from a nineteenth-century periodical helps illustrate that the United States was beginning to change from — A a mostly rural society to a mostly urban one B a slave-owning society to one without slavery C a foreign policy of isolationism to one of interventionism D a direct democracy to a representative one

What was an economic impact of the introduction of immigration quotas?

A American urban populations shrank.B The wages of laborers in heavy industry fell.C Universities could not recruit enough students.D More jobs were available for American workers.

How did Andrew Carnegie’s leadership contribute to American society?

A He set an example that encouraged wealthy individuals to engage in acts of philanthropy.

B He revived conservative political thought and questioned the unlimited expansion of federal power.

C He led efforts to overturn unjust racist laws through peaceful litigation.D He used his position as an influential Christian minister to oppose both racial segregation and

Communism.

During the Gilded Age there was a notable increase in federal support for — 

A the growth of big business 

B involvement in foreign wars

C the acquisition of foreign territories 

D increased temperance regulations

How did Andrew Carnegie contribute to American society?

A He introduced new methods for teaching literacy, improving conditions for millions of immigrants and the urban poor.B He produced vast quantities of steel at lower prices, making it possible to expand railroad lines and to construct bridges and

skyscrapers.C He recognized labor unions and provided health benefits and shorter hours to employees, improving conditions for the

American worker.D He developed a series of inventions making use of electricity, improving living conditions for the average American household.

Ford’s production of Model Ts in the early 20th century demonstrated the economic relationship between specialization and - 

A reduced labor demand

B greater efficiencies in production 

C higher production costs

D decreased union organization

Which useful function was served by political machines in the late 1800s?

A They prevented corruption in local government.

B They helped provide a supply of cheap and skilled labor for industry.C They served as role models for future city governments by acting as city managers.D They assisted in the social and political assimilation of immigrants into the

community.

 During the nineteenth century, one way political bosses gained voter support was by — 

A campaigning for women’s suffrage 

B advocating the use of poll taxes 

C making improvements in urban infrastructure 

D providing public assistance for former slaves

This cartoon was published by Thomas Nast in 1871. What problem is addressed in the cartoon?

A New citizens were often unable to exercise their voting rights.B City governments were providing inadequate services to

residents.C Political machines were profiting from kickbacks on public contracts.D The deadlock between political parties was costing taxpayers money.

What was the primary purpose of the Chinese Exclusion Act passed by the U.S. Congress in 1882?  

A To ban Chinese from immigrating to the U.S.

B To exclude Chinese Americans from joining unions in the U.S.

C To ban Chinese Americans from working on railroads in the U.S.

D To exclude Chinese from claiming settlement lands in the western U.S.

Which of the following identifies an advantage of big business in the late 19th century?

A Large businesses were more efficient than smaller enterprises, leading to lower prices for consumers.

B Large businesses often exploited their workers, who had to work long hours for low pay.

C Large businesses were more careful to avoid the pollution of lakes and rivers than smaller businesses.

D Large businesses were more carefully regulated by the government than smaller businesses.

Which was a disadvantageous practice of big businesses in the late 1800s?

A They engaged in unfair conduct to put competitors out of business.

B They failed to conduct research to improve their products.

C They were slow to adopt innovations in production.

D They lacked the resources to produce goods in large quantities.

This drawing appeared in a newspaper in May 1893 with the caption “Panic at the New York Stock Exchange.” It illustrates the negative economic effects of—

A unregulated free enterprise during the Gilded Age

B widespread labor union strikes in the late 1890s

C American involvement in overseas wars for colonies

D the collapse of the Southern sharecropping system

Which statement best describes the growth of American labor unions in the late 19th century?

A Workers organized their own labor unions against harsh conditions despite hostility from their employers and the public.

B Government officials encouraged workers to form labor unions because they distrusted business-owners.

C Union leaders were unable to recruit members because most workers were satisfied with their conditions.

D Disagreements between native-born and immigrant workers made it impossible to organize labor unions.

Which of the following was a goal of the Populist Party, identified in its 1892 platform?

A Unlimited coinage of silverB unrestricted immigration into the United StatesC An end to racial segregation in Southern statesD Lower taxes on individuals

Based on this speech, what demand did Bryan make in his subsequent campaign for the Presidency?

A a policy of bimetallism that would help farmers by raising crop prices

B the acquisition of colonies to increase employment opportunities

C the creation of a national park system to protect the nation’s wildlife

D higher tariffs to protect American manufacturers from foreign competition

Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests, and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: “You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.” — William Jennings Bryan, Speech to the Democratic Convention, 1896.

The cartoon was published in Puck magazine in 1883. This cartoon attacks —

A the growing influence of labor unions

B the dangerous conditions of factory labor

C the excessive power of business combinations

D the corruption of American political machines

What was the significance of the Interstate Commerce Act (1887) and the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)?

A They prevented shoddy goods from being sold across state lines.

B They raised tariffs to encourage the further growth of “big business.”

C They were used to break up labor unions for interfering with free enterprise.D They established the principle that Congress

could regulate some business practices.

How did the free enterprise system most encourage American economic growth in the late 1800s?

A It provided incentives to inventors and entrepreneurs to produce better goods at lower

cost.B It permitted unskilled workers to leave their jobs

to move westward.C It allowed the government to tell manufacturers and farmers which goods and to produce.D It gave employers the right to fire their workers when business was slow.

This flier appeared on May 4, 1886. It called on workers to assemble at Haymarket Square in Chicago.What inference can be made from this flier about the demonstrations at Haymarket?

A The protesters intended to overthrow the U.S. government.

B The protesters were members of the American Federation of Labor.

C The rally was held in support of the strike at Andrew Carnegie’s steelworks at Homestead.

D A large number of the participants were German-speaking immigrants.

Which tactic was sometimes used by management in the late 19th century to resist the demands of labor?

A strikeB boycottC lock-outD picket line

This newspaper depicts a strike of workers that occurred at Homestead, Pennsylvania in 1892. Which of the following was the main cause of the event depicted in the newspaper?

A Andrew Carnegie had employed Civil War veterans in place of steelworkers.

B Anarchists intended to blow up the Homestead Steel Works near Pittsburgh.

C Andrew Carnegie wanted to break up the power of the iron and steel workers’ union.

D Steelworkers left their jobs to enlist as soldiers since a future war with Spain was likely.

In what way were most of the major strikes of the late 1800s similar?

A They were ended by the intervention of the U.S. Army.

B They were secretly organized by the American Socialist Party.

C They ended in important defeats for organized labor.

D They led to armed confrontations between workers and Pinkertons.

Why did government leaders generally sympathize with business owners against labor in the late19th century?

A Government leaders received support from business owners and believed in laissez faire.

B Government leaders were experimenting with new ideas from Europe such as socialism.

C Government leaders believed that conditions for industrial workers were generally good.

D Government leaders feared violence from business owners if they took the side of workers.

This excerpt is from a declaration made at an annual meeting of the National Grange. Who were the “middlemen” referred to in the declaration?

A landlords and local bankersB tax collectors and federal agenciesC sharecroppers and tenant farmersD railroad companies and grain elevator

operators

For our business interests, we desire to bring producers and consumers, farmers and manufacturers into the most intimate relations possible. Hence, we must dispense with a surplus of middlemen: not that we are unfriendly to them, but we do not need them. Their surplus and their exactions diminish our profits …. We are not enemies to capital, but we oppose tyranny of monopolies.

- Declaration of Purpose of the National Grange, 1874