| Making
the Charts, p. 6 - 13
"Production of Raw Steel" and
"Price of Steel Rails"
Students will need a color pencil for the two line graphs
on this page. Red is a good choice.
Students should study the table, then neatly place dots
for the data and connect the dots with straight lines. Point out
that raw steel production in 1870 was only 0.1 million tons (that is, 100,000
tons), so the dot for 1879 will be just slightly above the 0.
What the Charts Show
These two graphs show a pattern typical of big industry
in the Gilded Age. The production of steel was growing with incredible
speed, while the price of the product fell dramatically.
The two trends are certainly related. Big industry
could take advantage of "economies of scale." That means it is cheaper,
per unit, to produce large quantities of a product than small quantities.
Improvements in technology are also part of the story.
New, more efficient steel making furnaces were developed in this period.
It is important to notice that prices were falling, because
students often have the impression that big industries of this era drove
prices higher and higher. In fact, an important result of large scale
industrialization was the lowering of prices.
Scroll down to see the finished graphs
|
Making
the Charts, p. 6 - 14
"Employment of Workers" and
"Real Wages"
Students will need two color pencils to complete the line
graphs on this page. Red and green are good choices.
The first line graph on this page is really two graphs
in one. Explain to students that it is easiest to do each part separately.
For example, use the red pencil and do the line for for total employment
of workers. When it is drawn, use the green pencil to do the line
for farm employment. Finish the Real Wages graph using the red color
pencil.
What the Charts Show
These two charts also show important trends in the economy
of the U.S. during the Gilded Age. Employment was growing rapidly,
mainly driven by growth in industry, not farms. Also, the average
pay for workers was rising.
This is an important point, because accounts of the Gilded
Age often leave students with the impression that life for workers in this
era was going from bad to worse. Certainly many workers experienced
horrific conditions on the job that would never be tolerated in an America
factory today. But for most workers, life was getting better, not
worse. That is the main fact that attracted so many immigrants in
this era.
Scroll down to see the finished graphs
|
