Historiography of Second Industrial Revolution Flashcards
(39 cards)
How did progressive historians like Richard Hofstadter view the Second Industrial Revolution?
They viewed it primarily through the lens of reform and reaction to industrial abuses
They emphasized the negative consequences of unchecked industrial expansion.
What issues did the Progressive movement seek to address?
It sought to regulate business practices, improve labor conditions, and curb the excesses of industrial capitalism
The movement arose in response to monopolies and exploitative labor conditions.
What did Hofstadter portray the corporate elite as?
Self-interested and resistant to reform
This perspective necessitated government intervention to restore balance.
Which two figures are often assessed in the context of monopolistic practices?
John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie
They amassed vast fortunes through horizontal and vertical integration.
What are the names of the two significant antitrust acts mentioned?
Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) and Clayton Antitrust Act (1914)
These acts are seen as victories for Progressivism against corporate dominance.
What is a critique of the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts?
They had limited immediate effect and many corporations found ways to circumvent regulation
Critics argue that the effectiveness of these measures was compromised.
Who were muckrakers and what role did they play in the Progressive movement?
Muckrakers were journalists who exposed corporate malfeasance and pressured the government into action
Notable muckrakers include Ida Tarbell and Upton Sinclair.
Fill in the blank: The Progressive movement arose in response to _______.
[unchecked industrial expansion]
Who critiqued industrialisation as a process that benefited elites at the expense of workers?
Gabriel Kolko
Kolko is a prominent New Left historian known for his critical analysis of industrialisation.
What did New Left historians argue about the regulatory efforts of the Progressive Era?
They were often co-opted by business interests
This co-opting ensured that reforms did not genuinely threaten corporate power.
What is the title of Gabriel Kolko’s work that discusses the relationship between large corporations and regulation?
The Triumph of Conservatism (1963)
This work posits that large corporations favored regulation for market stabilization.
Why did large corporations favor regulation, according to Kolko?
It helped them stabilize markets, limit competition, and consolidate power
This perspective challenges the notion that regulation was purely for public benefit.
What evidence supports the view of collaboration between industrialists and government officials?
The selective trust-busting efforts of Theodore Roosevelt
For example, Northern Securities was dissolved while U.S. Steel remained largely untouched.
What did the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 ultimately do?
Gave financial elites control over monetary policy
This reinforced economic hierarchies rather than challenging them.
What impact did industrialisation have on class divisions, according to New Left historians?
It deepened class divisions
The working class faced unsafe labor conditions, low wages, and employer opposition to unionisation.
What were the Homestead Strike and the Ludlow Massacre examples of?
Violent suppression of labor movements
Both events involved repression by corporations and state forces.
Fill in the blank: The New Left historians argue that industrialisation deepened _______.
class divisions
True or False: The Federal Reserve Act was designed to challenge economic hierarchies.
False
It ultimately reinforced existing economic hierarchies.
What do economic determinists focus on as the primary driver of industrial expansion?
Technological innovation
Economic determinists often downplay the role of government, reformers, or corporate elites.
What perspective suggests that industrialisation was an inevitable result of technological advancements?
Economic determinism
This includes advancements such as electrification, assembly-line production, and scientific management.
Which figure emphasized innovations in business structure and management that allowed firms to scale up production?
Alfred Chandler
Chandler is noted for not being a strict determinist.
What significant innovation did Henry Ford implement in 1913?
The moving assembly line
This innovation drastically reduced production costs and increased output.
How did technological advancements reshape industrial landscapes according to economic determinists?
Independently of political intervention
This is illustrated by Ford’s assembly line and its impact on production.
What corporation highlights the importance of research and development in sustaining industrial growth?
General Electric
The rise of corporations like General Electric is indicative of this importance.
