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Transcontinental Railroad
The Transcontinental Railroad, completed in 1869, had dramatic economic, cultural, and political significance to the development of the United States. It had a major effect on how Americans perceived their nation, and it became a symbol of America's growing industrial power and a source of confidence that led them to take on even more ambitious quests. For the first time, U.S. Americans could freely travel from coast to coast. This radically changed both business and pleasure travel. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
The last landmark civil rights legislation of the 19th century was the Civil Rights Act of 1875. The Civil Rights Act of 1875 guaranteed universal access to inns, public transportation, theaters, and “other places of amusement” regardless of race. The Act called for the ban on discrimination in public transportation and accommodations. Additionally, the legislation prohibited exclusion of African American citizens from jury duty. -
Gospel of Wealth
The 'Gospel of Wealth' was an article written by Andrew Carnegie in 1889. Carnegie argued that very wealthy men like him had a responsibility to use their wealth for the greater good of society. The rich should give their money to institutions or ideas that promote the poor to cultivate “better” habits. Its a significant break from the individualist narrative. It spoke to issues of contribution, legacy, and community as important values. -
Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890
The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 is a federal statute which prohibits activities that restrict interstate commerce and competition in the marketplace; it was the first United States Federal statute to limit cartels and monopolies. The Supreme Court (1904) stated that large size and monopoly in themselves are not necessarily bad and do not violate the Sherman Antitrust Act. Rather, it is the use of certain tactics to attain or preserve such position that is illegal. -
Homestead Strike of 1892
The Homestead Strike of 1892 was a violent labor dispute between Carnegie Steel Company and many of its workers that occured in Homestead, Pennsylvania--the workers protested a proposed wage cut. The Homestead Strike was a total defeat for the workers and unionism as a whole. The Homestead strike inspired many workers, but it also underscored how difficult it was for any union to prevail against the combined power of the corporation and the government. -
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a national economic crisis set off by the collapse of two of the country's largest employers, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad and the National Cordage Company. When the financial crisis struck, banks and other investment firms began calling in loans, causing hundreds of business bankruptcies across the United States. It affected the economy and produced political upheaval that led to the realigning election of 1896 and the presidency of William McKinley.
