482 Chapter 17 An Industrial Giant Emerges
Key Terms
American Federation of Labor (AFL) A union,
formed in 1886, that organized skilled workers
along craft lines. It focused on workplace issues
rather than political or social reform, 479
Interstate Commerce Act Federal law establishing
the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1887,
the nation’s first regulatory agency, 476
Knights of Labor A national labor organization,
formed in 1869 and headed by Uriah Stephens
and Terence Powderly, that promoted union soli-
darity, political reform, and sociability among
members. Its advocacy of the eight-hour day led
to violent strikes in 1886 and the organization’s
subsequent decline, 478
laissez-faire A French term—literally, “to let
alone”—used in economic contexts to signify the
absence of governmental interference in or regula-
tion of economic matters, 471
National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry
A farmers’ organization, founded in 1867 by
Oliver H. Kelley, that initially provided social and
cultural benefits but then supported legislation,
known as the Granger laws, providing for railroad
regulation, 475
Sherman Antitrust Act A federal law, passed in
1890, that outlawed monopolistic organizations
that functioned to restrain trade, 477
social Darwinism A belief that Charles Darwin’s
theory of the evolution of species also applied to
social and economic institutions and practices:
The “fittest” enterprises or individuals prevailed,
while those that were defective naturally faded
away; society thus progressed most surely when
competition was unrestricted by government, 4721859 First oil well is drilled in Pennsylvania
Charles Darwin publishesThe Origin of Species
1868 Carnegie Steel Company is formed
1869 George Westinghouse invents air brake
Garment workers found Knights of Labor
1870– Railroad trunk lines are completed
1890
1876 Alexander Graham Bell invents telephone
1877 Great railroad strike convulses nation
Munn v. Illinoisupholds state regulatory laws
1879 Thomas Edison invents electric light bulb
Reformer Henry George publishesProgress
and Poverty
1884 Marxist Laurence Gronlund publishesThe
Cooperative Commonwealth
1886 Anarchists clash with police in Chicago’s
Haymarket bombing
Craft unions found American Federation of
Labor (AFL)
1887 Interstate Commerce Act regulates railroads
1888 Edward Bellamy publishes utopian Looking
Backward
1889 Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie publishes
“Gospel of Wealth”
1890 Sherman Antitrust Act outlaws monopolies
1892 Seven Pinkerton guards are killed in Homestead
steel strike
General Electric Company is formed
1894 Eugene V. Debs leads AmericanRailway Union in
Pullman strike
Henry Demarest Lloyd condemns laissez-faire in
Wealth Against the Commonwealth
1895 U.S. v. E.C. Knight Companyweakens
Sherman Act
1901 J.P. Morgan forms U.S. Steel, “world’s first
billion-dollar corporation”Milestones
Chapter Review