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Transcontinental Railroad
Following the Civil War was a boom in railroad construction. Around 56,000 miles of new track was laid across the country. The East and West was connected with the first transcontinental railroad. Most of the excitement in railroad investment was mainly driven by government land grants. The railroad industry was the nation's largest employer outside of agriculture. -
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Urbanization and Industrialization Reform
During this time period, many changes and improvements were made in America. Women and children were also affected by the new changes. -
Gilded Age
The Gilded Age was a post-Civil War era full of rapid economic and population growth in the United States. It was most famous for the creation of a modern industrial economy. It was rooted in industrializtion such as factories, railroads, and coal mines. This age helped increase mechanization of industry. -
The Factory and Workshop Act 1878
This Act brought all the previous Factory Acts together. The Act's code applied to all trades. It stated that no child under the age of ten was to be employed, so the child labor force was slightly reduced. Children 10 to 14 years of age could still be employed for half days. There was now exucation for children ten years and up. Women were to work no more than 56 hours per week. -
Pendleton Act
This act was steered through Congress by long-time reformer Senator George Hunt Pendleton of Ohio. Congress passed the Pendleton Act in January of 1883. The Act provided that Federal Government jobs be awarded on the basis of merit and that Government employees be selected through competitive exams. The act also made it unlawful to fire or demote for political reasons employees who were covered by the law. The Pendleton Act transformed the nature of public service. -
American Federation of Labor (AFL)
AFL was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded by and alliance of unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor. Samuel Gompers was the president of the Federation. The AFL opposed unrestricted immigration from Europe.They feared that the new workers would flood the labor markets and lower wages. -
Populist Party Formed
The Populist Party, or People's Party, grew out of agrarian unrest in response to falling cotton and wheat prices in the South. It consisted of white cotton farmers in the South and wheat farmers in the Plains states. The party represented a radical crusading form of agrarianism and hostility to banks, railroads, and elites. -
Prohibition Movement
Prohibition was designed to reduce drinking by eliminating the businesses that manufactured, distributed, and sold alcoholic beverages. The prohibition movement's strength grew, especially after the formation of the Anti-Saloon League. The consumption of beverage alcohol declined dramatically under prohibition. -
Working Women
The status of women was changing rapidly. Most women started working in agriculture, factories, and as domestic servents.The upper class women that graduated from college excelled as lawyers, doctors, and journalists. Most women that worked outside of the house were single. -
Hepburn Act of 1906
The Hepburn Act gave the Interstate Commerce Commission the power to set maximum railroad rates. This led to the discontinuation of free passes to loyal shippers. The Act crippled railroads and gave much advantage to the shippers. The act also created the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), the first true federal regulatory agency. The ICC was charged with investigating and hearing complaints about unfair business practices. -
Child Labor
During the Industrial Revolution, children as young as four were employed in production factories with dangerous, and often fatal, working conditions. The number of children under the age of 15 who worked in industrial jobs for wages climbed to 2 million in 1910. -
Women Can Vote
Many women, incluiding Susan B. Amthony and Dorthea Dix, fought for woman's rigthts. Women were finally able to vote after the 19th amendment was passed on June 18, 1920.
