Changes

Oil has been used since the Ancient Greeks learned to pour it into the sea and then set fire to it in order to defend against attacking fleets of ships.  Noah may have used thick oil (called "pitch") to waterproof Noah's ark.  Moses' basket may have been made waterproof using oil, just as American Indians used it to waterproof canoes.<ref name="Oil">http://www.seed.slb.com/qa2/FAQView.cfm?ID=906</ref>

Oil has been used since the Ancient Greeks learned to pour it into the sea and then set fire to it in order to defend against attacking fleets of ships.  Noah may have used thick oil (called "pitch") to waterproof Noah's ark.  Moses' basket may have been made waterproof using oil, just as American Indians used it to waterproof canoes.<ref name="Oil">http://www.seed.slb.com/qa2/FAQView.cfm?ID=906</ref>

But the first modern oil well was in Pennsylvania, when Colonel Edwin L. Drake drilled down 72 feet near Titusville (just east of Pittsburgh) and struck "Oil Creek."  Oil production began there in 1859.  That oil sold for $40 a barrel then, compared with about $100 now.  But because a dollar was worth far more in 1859 than today, oil was more expensive then.  Oil was first used for medicine, as there were no cars then.<ref name="Oil"/>

But the first modern oil well was in Pennsylvania, when Colonel Edwin L. Drake drilled down 72 feet near Titusville (just east of Pittsburgh) and struck "Oil Creek."  Oil production began there in 1859.  That oil sold for $40 a barrel then, compared with about $100 now.  But because a dollar was worth far more in 1859 than today, oil was more expensive then.  Oil was first used for medicine, as there were no cars yet.<ref name="Oil"/>

A devout Christian who abandoned public high school before finishing,<ref>When John D. Rockefeller later had children of his own, he and his wife homeschooled them until age ten. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/44035/john_d_rockefeller_jr.html</ref> John D. Rockefeller had just started his first job a few years earlier.  He developed a tremendous work ethic, and was immediately attracted to the discovery of oil in 1859.  He quickly entered the business and worked with an inventor who knew how to cheaply refine the oil into something usable.  By 1870 Rockefeller founded Standard Oil Company, and then began pursuing highly aggressive business tactics to drive out competitors and consolidate his control (monopolize the industry).<ref name="Rockefeller">http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h957.html</ref>   

A devout Christian who abandoned public high school before finishing,<ref>When John D. Rockefeller later had children of his own, he and his wife homeschooled them until age ten. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/44035/john_d_rockefeller_jr.html</ref> John D. Rockefeller had just started his first job a few years earlier.  He developed a tremendous work ethic, and was immediately attracted to the discovery of oil in 1859.  He quickly entered the business and worked with an inventor who knew how to cheaply refine the oil into something usable.  By 1870 Rockefeller founded Standard Oil Company, and then began pursuing highly aggressive business tactics to drive out competitors and consolidate his control (monopolize the industry).<ref name="Rockefeller">http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h957.html</ref>   

'''Debate:  Should government break up monopolies?'''

'''Debate:  Should government break up monopolies?'''

Rockefeller was part of a huge economic boom that began before the end of Reconstruction in 1877 and continued through 1900.  There was a massive increase in America's "gross domestic product," which is the total output (in dollars) of all the goods and services produced by labor and property located our country.  It is basically how much our entire country is producing, valued in dollars.  When we are prosperous it increases, and when we are in a depression it goes down or does not increase as much.

Rockefeller was part of a huge economic boom that began before the end of Reconstruction in 1877 and continued through 1900.  There was a massive increase in America's "gross domestic product" (GDP), which is the total output (in dollars) of all the goods and services produced by labor and property located our country.  The GDP is basically how much our entire country is producing, valued in dollars.  When we are prosperous it increases, and when we are in a depression it goes down or does not increase as much.

By the late 1800s the wealthiest city in the United States was Williamsport, Pennsylvania, which was the center of the profitable lumber industry.  Now it is best known for hosting the Little League World Series!

By the late 1800s the wealthiest city in the United States was Williamsport, Pennsylvania, which was the center of the profitable lumber industry.  Now it is best known for hosting the Little League World Series!

But from about 1878 to the end of the century there was strong pressure to return the nation's standard for money to Alexander Hamilton's "bimetallism", under which money and debts were based on two metals rather than one (gold and silver).  With gold as the standard, advocating "bimetallism" meant adding a silver standard to the gold standard.   

But from about 1878 to the end of the century there was strong pressure to return the nation's standard for money to Alexander Hamilton's "bimetallism", under which money and debts were based on two metals rather than one (gold and silver).  With gold as the standard, advocating "bimetallism" meant adding a silver standard to the gold standard.   

Two forces drove this pro-silver or "free silver" movement:  Westerners had discovered silver mines so they wanted the silver to become more valuable, and farmers wanted to cause inflation to increase the prices for their goods and lower the real cost of their debts to the banks.   

Two forces drove this pro-silver or "free silver" movement:  Westerners had discovered silver mines, so they wanted the silver to become more valuable, and farmers wanted to cause inflation to increase the prices for their goods and lower the real cost of their debts to the banks.   

Westerns and Southerners arranged for passage of the Bland-Allison Act in 1878, which required the government to purchase $2-4 million worth of silver each month.  In addition, a bill passed (over President Rutherford Hayes' veto) allowing for the free and unlimited coinage by the government of silver, such as silver dollars, at a ratio of 16 to 1 relative to gold.  The government began minting silver dollars that are collectors' items today (and worth much more than one dollar now).

Westerns and Southerners arranged for passage of the Bland-Allison Act in 1878, which required the government to purchase $2-4 million worth of silver each month.  In addition, a bill passed (over President Rutherford Hayes' veto) allowing for the free and unlimited coinage by the government of silver, such as silver dollars, at a value of 16-to-1 relative to gold.  The government began minting silver dollars that are collectors' items today (and worth much more than one dollar now).

But the price of silver fell as more was mined, because more of something usually means it is less valuable.  The monthly government purchases declined also.  Deflation continued for the next ten years.  $100 in 1878 was equivalent to only $84.43 in 1890.  Imagine that!  Deflation is devastating to farmers, as their income from milk and beef and other farm products decreases, while their debts grow higher in real value.

But the price of silver fell as more was mined, because more of something usually means it is less valuable.  The monthly government purchases declined also.  Deflation continued for the next ten years.  $100 in 1878 was equivalent to only $84.43 in 1890.  Imagine that!  Deflation is devastating to farmers, as their income from milk and beef and other farm products decreases, while their debts grow higher in real value.

:There are two ideas of government. There are those who believe that if you just legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, that their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous their prosperity will find its way up and through every class that rests upon it. ...

:There are two ideas of government. There are those who believe that if you just legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, that their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous their prosperity will find its way up and through every class that rests upon it. ...

:If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we shall fight them to the uttermost, having behind us the producing masses of the nation and the world. Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.

:If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we shall fight them to the uttermost, having behind us the producing masses of the nation and the world. Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. '''''You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold'''''.

Reporters wrote that Bryan's remarkable speaking style for this speech "came like one great burst of artillery" and that "some, like demented things, divested themselves of their coats and flung them high in the air."  Bryan was then selected on the next day, by the delegates who heard his speech, as the Democratic nominee for president.<ref name="Cross of Gold"/>

Reporters wrote that Bryan's remarkable speaking style for this speech "came like one great burst of artillery" and that "some, like demented things, divested themselves of their coats and flung them high in the air."  Bryan was then selected on the next day, by the delegates who heard his speech, as the Democratic nominee for president.<ref name="Cross of Gold"/>

== Unions and Immigrant Workers ==

== Unions and Immigrant Workers ==

As the American economy grew, and businesses became more profitable, workers began to band together and "unionize" (create "unions").  A union is a group of workers at a factory or business who join together in order to negotiate better wages and working conditions.  They acquire power by banding together, and they threaten to strike if the owner does not give in to their demands.  In the early 1800s there were no unions and no strikes, but by the late 1800s workers began to see that they could increase their wages and improve their conditions by forming unions and threatening to strike.  Today, Wal-Mart does everything it can to keep its workers from unionizing, and union organizations despise it for that reason.

As the American economy grew, and businesses became more profitable, workers began to band together and "unionize" (create "unions").  A union is a group of workers at a factory or business who join together in order to negotiate better wages and working conditions.  They acquire power through their collective action, by threatening to strike if the owner does not give in to their demands.  In the early 1800s there were no unions and no strikes, but by the late 1800s workers began to see that they could increase their wages and improve their conditions by forming unions and threatening to strike.  Today, Wal-Mart does everything it can to keep its workers from unionizing, and union organizations despise it for that reason.

Factory owners responded by hiring Chinese workers at lower wages, and unions objected to that.  Factory owners would also import Chinese workers to "break a strike," and keep the factory operating despite the refusal of the regular employees to work.  So quickly the unions became opposed to immigration from China.

Factory owners responded by hiring Chinese workers at lower wages, and unions objected to that.  Factory owners would also import Chinese workers to "break a strike," and keep the factory operating despite the refusal of the regular employees to work.  So quickly the unions became opposed to immigration from China.

A fascinating and influential political movement began to develop around 1900:  the progressive movement.  It started with a Republican governor of Wisconsin named Robert LaFollette.  It was not so much a political party as a movement that can be summarized in two words:  "better government."  Not "less government" that a conservative like President James Monroe wanted, and not "more government" that a liberal like Franklin Delano Roosevelt wanted, but "better government."

A fascinating and influential political movement began to develop around 1900:  the progressive movement.  It started with a Republican governor of Wisconsin named Robert LaFollette.  It was not so much a political party as a movement that can be summarized in two words:  "better government."  Not "less government" that a conservative like President James Monroe wanted, and not "more government" that a liberal like Franklin Delano Roosevelt wanted, but "better government."

Then, as now, progressives tended to work within other political parties.  We have progressives today in both parties.  New Jersey Republicans like Bret Schundler (the former mayor of Jersey City) and Chris Christie tend to be more progressive than conservative.  They try to run government in a smarter manner, rather than simply reducing it.  We have had two progressive presidents:  Republican Teddy Roosevelt and Democrat Woodrow Wilson.  The high point of the movement, the "progressive era," was 1900-1920.

Then, as now, progressives tended to work within other political parties.  We have progressives today in both parties.  New Jersey Republicans, like Bret Schundler (the former mayor of Jersey City) and Governor Chris Christie, tend to be more progressive than conservative.  They try to run government in a smarter manner, rather than simply reducing it.  We have had two progressive presidents:  Republican Teddy Roosevelt and Democrat Woodrow Wilson.  The high point of the movement, the "progressive era," was 1900-1920.

Here were the goals of the progressive movement:

Here were the goals of the progressive movement:

*More "equitable" tax laws (Constitutional Amendment)

*More "equitable" tax laws (Constitutional Amendment)

*Breaking up monopolies

*Breaking up monopolies

*Food and drug acts

*Food and drug laws

*Child labor laws

*Child labor laws

*Laws against "sweatshops"

*Laws against "sweatshops"

*Government commission to regulate railroad rates

*Government commission to regulate railroad rates

*Safety improvements in the workplace

*Safety improvements in the workplace

*Direct democracy in passing referenda or initiatives to make state laws directly

*Direct democracy in passing referenda or initiatives to make state laws by direct public votes

*More, but smarter, regulation

*More, but smarter, regulation

*Anti-war

*Anti-war

*Slightly pro-business

*Slightly pro-business

A specific example of what the progressive movement addressed was the "Triangle Fire" that took place in New York City on March 25, 1911.  This was the worst workplace disaster in New York City until the terrorist attack on 9/11 (note the odd similarity in dates!).  In the Triangle Fire, 140 people burned to death, many of them young girls, due to a 10-minute fire that swept through a "sweatshop" shirt factory in Manhattan.  Tragically, the doors had been locked to keep workers from taking breaks or stealing goods, and the girls could not quickly escape.  Public outrage followed, and the progressive movement passed building code laws to help protect against this happening again.  To this day it is not know what started the Triangle Fire, and (to the chagrin of the progressives) the owners were acquitted of any crimes.<ref>http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/</ref>

A specific example of what the progressive movement addressed was the "Triangle Fire" that took place in New York City on March 25, 1911.  This was the worst workplace disaster in New York City until the terrorist attack on 9/11 (interesting coincidence in the two dates: _911 and 9_11).  In the Triangle Fire, 140 people burned to death, many of them young girls, due to a 10-minute fire that swept through a "sweatshop" shirt factory in Manhattan.  Tragically, the doors had been locked to keep workers from taking breaks or stealing goods, and the girls could not quickly escape.  Public outrage followed, and the progressive movement passed building code laws to help protect against this happening again.  To this day it is not know what started the Triangle Fire, and (to the chagrin of the progressives) the owners were acquitted of any crimes.<ref>http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/</ref>

== References ==

== References ==