In the post–Civil War United States, corporations grew significantly in number, size, and influence.

Analyze the impact of big business on the economy and politics and the responses of Americans to these

changes. Confine your answer to the period 1870 to 1900

TIMELINE 1870-1900

-ROCKEFELLER INCORPORATES STANDARD OIL JUNE 10, 1870.

-1872 CARNEGIE EXPANDS INTO STEEL.

1873 MARK TWAIN PUBLISHES THE GILDED AGE / GREED AND POLITICAL CORRUPTION.

-PANIC OF 1873/ A PHILADELPHIA INVESTMENT BANK TRIGGERS A NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL PANIC.

- ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL INVENTS THE TELEPHONE.

-RAILROAD STRIKE OF 1877/ SHUTS DOWN THOUSANDS OF MILES OF TRACK.

-1881 GARFIELD WAS ASSASSINATED.

- PENDLETON ACT IN 1883/ HOPING TO REDUCE CORRUPTION IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOVERNMENT JOBS.  

-KNIGHTS OF LABOR STRIKE RAILROAD/ HAD MORE THAN 700,000 MEMBERS.

- 1886 HAYMARKET RIOT./ STRIKE  FOR WORKERS IN HAYMARKET SQUARE ENDS WITH A BOMB.

-AMERICAN FEDERATION  OF LABOR  FOUNDED/ SAMUEL GOMPERS FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNION.

-1889 ANDREW CARNEGIES  GOSPEL OF WEALTH/ OUTLINES SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND SOCIAL BENEFITS OF VAST PERSONAL WEALTH.

- HOMESTEAD STEEL STRIKE/ SHUTS DOWN THE FACTORY AND LOCKS OUT ITS EMPLOYEES WHEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH RESENTATIVES FROM THE AMALGAMATED ASSOCIATION OF STEEL AND IRON WORKERS BREAK DOWN.

- PULLMAN STRIKE 1894/ PULLMAN REFUSES TO REDUCE RENTS IN THE COMPANY HOUSING TO MATCH ANNOUNCED WAGE CUTS.

KEY PEOPLE

-ANDREW CARNEGIE- SCOTTISH AMERICAN OWNER OF CARNEGIE STEEL COMPANY.

- JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER- FOUNDER OF STANDARD OIL COMPANY.

-CORNELIUS VANDERBILT- STEAMBOAT AND RAILROAD, LAID THOUSANDS OF MILES OF RAILROAD TRACKS.

Thesis

In the late 1870’s began the time period known as the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age was an era of rapid economic growth, especially in the North and West, but also much social conflict. From 1870 to 1900, many big business such as George Pullman’s with the invention of the sleeping car and Andrew Carnegie’s steel had control over the economy and their workers. Therefore in response, the Americans formed labor unions to fight for their rights.