1865-1890 Economic Flashcards Preview

Year 12 History- USA > 1865-1890 Economic > Flashcards

Flashcards in 1865-1890 Economic Deck (19)
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1
Q

between 1865-90 what was the increase in the farm population?

A

10m-25m (over half of pop was rural)

2
Q

what did the 1862 homestead act do?

A

made thousands of acres available as free land to settlers

3
Q

what industrial advancements were good for farms?

A
  • railroads (could transport more for more $)

- machinery allowed for larger scale farming

4
Q

what power did railroad companies (i.e Vanderbilt) have that was bad for other industries?

A

could control own prices through monopolies

5
Q

what ruled the southern economy?

A

king cotton

6
Q

what were the key features of the southern economy?

A

many smalltime farmers had to become sharecroppers

economy behind rest of country

7
Q

when was the union pacific railroad completed and what did this allow?

A

1869

rapid movement west

8
Q

by when were natives lands colonised?

A

1877

9
Q

what was the population difference in the west between 1860 and 1890?

A

1860=760k

1890=6m

10
Q

what ultimately hindered western economic expansion?

A

droughts (particularly after 1887)

11
Q

what were the effects of the panic of 1873?

A
  • slowed progress for a bit
  • 5 years of recession
  • many small firms bankrupted and bought by big firms (creating monopolies/cartels)
12
Q

how many miles of railroad tracks was there in 1893?

A

200k miles

13
Q

which industry emerged as the bullies of US business?

A

railroads

could literally make or break an emerging town depending on the route of the lines

14
Q

what was the annual growth rate of the steel industry?

A

7%

15
Q

what was found near lake superior?

A

high quality iron ore (class for steel)

16
Q

what city was the key in oil refining?

A

Cleveland, Ohio

17
Q

when did Rockerfeller form Standard Oil?

A

1870

18
Q

what was the 1872 Cleveland Massacre?

A

Standard Oil bough up 22 of 26 main competitors

19
Q

definer robber barons?

A

super-rich businessmen who controlled industries (e.g. Rockerfeller-oil, Carneigie-steel, Vanderbilt-railroads, Heinz-food)