American Civilization 101

Industrialization & Democratization of America: 1830’s to early 20^th Century

Concepts to know for next scantron quiz Thursday, March 15

The Tradition

Jeffersonian—Envisioned an “Agrarian Democracy.” Citizens vested with property ownership will create a “participating electorate.”

Hamiltonians—Preferred an American system where industrious individuals create wealth and efficiency in government.

The Rural Problem

Supply-side economics--relationship between price/value vs. amount/supply. In general, the more you have of anything, the less valuable it becomes.

More land: War-torn South competes with mid & southwestern farmers; hence, farm products decrease in value.

Mechanization increases production resulting in decreased farm prices.

World markets become more competitive resulting in fewer exports and a decrease farm prices.

Surplus labor—Freedmen compete with White, Mexican, and Chinese labor resulting in decrease in wages.

The Economic Problem

Economic conversion (rural to industrial economy) prompts financial entities (corporation) to engage in horizontal and vertical integration. Government land policies favor railroad industries resulting in an increase land foreclosures

The Urban Problem: The "jungle"

Economic conversion results in massive internal migration to cities. External and Internal migration tax cities: crime, diseases, housing, education, and violence (1877 Great Railroad strike and 1886 Haymarket riot); Political graft in local government breed apathetic citizenry

The Responses: From Grangers (Agrarian movement) + Populist (urban movement) = Progressive era (1890-1930s): Propensity for democracy and reform

graduated tax 16^th amendment, popular election of Senators 17^th amendment, Prohibition 18^th amendment, Women's suffrage 19^th amendment, Secret ballot, recall, initiative, petition, referendum

collective bargaining laws, child labor laws

In Search of New Ideas

Capitalism--individuals are responsible for securing “wealth”

Socialism—State regulates the procurement of “wealth”

Communism—State owns the “means of production” to the procurement of “wealth”