Gilded Age Review (STAAR Questions)

Which statements describe effects of industrialization during the late nineteenth century?

Select TWO correct answers.

• Women were increasingly excluded from the workforce.

• Consumer goods became available at lower prices.

• Cloth production was fueled by the use of water-powered mills.

• Manufacturers sped up production by using more efficient processes.

• Factory owners were limited by shortages of available labor.

Answer explanation

Industrialization led to lower production costs, making consumer goods more affordable. Additionally, manufacturers improved efficiency through advanced processes, allowing for faster production rates.

Read the excerpt and answer the question that follows.

Other industrialists, including John D. Rockefeller, merged the operations of many large companies to form a trust. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Trust came to monopolize 90% of the industry. . . .

• - “The Industrial Revolution in the United States,” Library of Congress, www.loc.gov (accessed August 25, 2017)

What was one DIRECT effect of the business practice discussed in this excerpt?

• Employees were prevented from buying stock.

• There was decreased competition among producers.

• Consumers were denied access to goods.

• There was a lack of employment opportunities for immigrants.

Answer explanation

The merger of companies into trusts, like Rockefeller's Standard Oil Trust, led to decreased competition among producers, as one entity controlled a significant portion of the market, limiting choices for consumers.

How did the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad contribute to the settlement of the West?

• By providing people with access to essential goods

• By raising money to build factories along the routes

• By giving fund to local leaders to build schools

• By establishing military forts along the routes

Answer explanation

The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad provided essential goods to settlers, making it easier for them to access supplies and resources, which encouraged more people to move westward and establish communities.

1. This excerpt is from a law passed in the 1860s.

2. That any person who is the head of a family, or who has arrived at the age of twenty-one years, and is a citizen of the United States, or who shall have filed his declaration of intention to become such, . . . and who has never borne arms against the United States Government or given aid and comfort to its enemies, shall . . . be entitled to one quarter section or a less quantity of unappropriated public lands.

   • Homestead Act, May 20, 1862

   • Which phrase describes the purpose of this law?

• 1. To establish grant programs for universities

• 1. To encourage cooperation with native populations

• 1. To encourage Western migration

• 1. To expedite the naturalization process

Which statement describes how the Transcontinental Railroad affected the United States during the late 1800s?

• The railroad contributed to the rapid settlement and growth of towns in the West.

• The railroad caused a rapid decline in agriculture and mining in the West.

• The railroad contributed to population growth and increased sharecropping in the East.

• The railroad prompted Congress to buy land and create national parks in the East.

Answer explanation

The Transcontinental Railroad facilitated the movement of people and goods, leading to the rapid settlement and growth of towns in the West, making it easier for settlers to access new opportunities.

Why was the development of electric lighting important to the economic development of the United States?

• It limited production to certain geographic regions.

• It increased the need for producers to manage costs.

• It expanded the available hours for production.

• It lowered the cost of energy for manufacturers.

Answer explanation

The development of electric lighting was crucial as it expanded the available hours for production, allowing factories to operate longer and increase output, thus driving economic growth in the United States.

Which statement describes one way that the Bessemer process contributed to the economic development of the United States?

• The demand for iron decreased, and iron mines closed.

• The increase in telephone lines reduced the time to communicate over long distances.

• The mass production of steel allowed the construction of taller buildings.

• The development of vaccines lowered the cost of medical care.

Answer explanation

The Bessemer process enabled the mass production of steel, which was essential for constructing taller buildings, thus facilitating urban development and economic growth in the United States.

Which benefit resulted from the introduction of the Bessemer steel process?

• Mechanical reapers to replace horse-drawn reapers

• Stronger and cheaper material for railroads and bridges

• Transistors for radios

• Electric lightbulb

Answer explanation

The Bessemer steel process allowed for the mass production of steel, making it stronger and cheaper. This innovation significantly improved the construction of railroads and bridges, enhancing infrastructure development.

Which application of a new technology can be attributed to an invention of Thomas Edison?

• Refrigerated railroad cars allowed food to be transported long distances.

• Light bulbs made it efficient for factory workers to work at night.

• Diesel engineers were used in the production of airplanes.

• Sonar technology was used to track submarines.

Answer explanation

Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, which significantly improved working conditions by allowing factory workers to work efficiently at night, thus directly linking his invention to this application of technology.

Which result completes this diagram?

• Ratification of a suffrage amendment

• Building of the transcontinental railroad

• Passage of prohibition legislation

• Expansion of labor unions

Answer explanation

The expansion of labor unions aligns with the historical context of increased worker rights and organization during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, making it the most fitting result to complete the diagram.