Contextualization
After the Civil War the finance system in the US improved vastly with the national currency and growth in industry. Transportation and communication also became easier with the new transcontinental railroad and telegraph which helped increase productivity within the nation. Because the growth of industry and economic prosperity there was a spike in immigration to the States from "New Immigrants". Many were opposed to this influx of immigrants and were supporters of Nativism. These people believed their jobs and way of life were being threatened by immigrants. There were many monopolies formed within corporations such as Andrew Carnegie's Steel or Rockefeller's standard oil. These titans had far reaches over the States and corruption was running rampant until the Progressive Presidents take power back and start regulating the trusts.
Political Cartoons
H - Trusts and corporations were growing with Industrialists like Carnegie and Rockefeller in the mix with as much money as they had, that also came with much power.
P - The industrialists were gaining federal power swiftly and were getting too large to manage easily and were threatening to take over. P - Big business was gaining all the federal power and could make decisions that would benefit the trusts and not the people, the people were being overshadowed. |
H - Big business was taking over the country. Monopolies such as Standard Oil and Carnegie Steel had a mass amount of power and control over the federal government and working majority.
P - The artist believes that big business was initiating a complete take over the US and alludes that there could be a Corporate head in charge of the country if the beast wasn't made quick work of. P - The tentacles of the Standard Oil octopus portray the reach the big business corporations have over executive power, the people, and federal government. |
H - A "New" immigrant influx enter the States for economic opportunities and the possibility of defining themselves. Nativists are against them entering at such high rates and increasing the competition for jobs.
P - The artist is opposed to the mass amount of immigrants and believes the "New" Immigrants are disrupting the liberty in the nation. P - Displays the thinking of Nativists or the Know-nothings and their anti-immigrant views that the immigrants were taking over the country or taking advantage of the economy. |
H - Teddy Roosevelt is inaugurated after the assassination of McKinley. He defines himself as a progressive president and a trust-buster who is protecting the people.
P - Teddy Roosevelt was busting only the trusts that were considered bad and harmed the general population and destroying monopolistic corporations for the betterment of society. P - TR is displayed to be killing off the trusts that have too much reach and power. He regulates the trusts and ensures they don't become too overly powerful. |
Turning Points
Railroads
Labor Issues
J. P. Morgan
Pullman Strike
Haymarket Square Riot
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New Inventions
Credit Mobilier Scandal
Development of Labor Unions
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
TR Placed in VP Position
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Comparisons
Push v Pull factors of the West
PUSH Factors
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PULL Factors
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New v Old Immigration
New Immigration
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Old Immigration
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Knights v Wobblies
The Knights of Labor
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The Industrial Workers of the World
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