Key Figures and Events of America's Industrial Era

Mike Dobrejcak: A Life in Industrial America

The eldest son of a carpenter from Dubik's village of Tvarsoc in Sarisa, Mike Dobrejcak immigrated to Braddock and boarded with Dorta and John. He married Kracha's first daughter, Mary, and became the father of Johnny (Dobie) Dobrejcak. Mike was able to create a better life for his family, demonstrating a kind nature, much unlike Kracha. Tragically, he died in a blast furnace explosion, leaving his family to survive on their own.

The Gilded Age: Wealth and Hidden Problems

A term for the late 1800s, coined by Mark Twain, the Gilded Age describes the tremendous increase in wealth brought about by the Industrial Age and the ostentatious lifestyles it afforded the very rich. While the United States experienced great industrial success and the wealthy enjoyed fabulous lifestyles, these achievements often concealed significant social problems of the era, including a high poverty rate, a high crime rate, and widespread government corruption.

Andrew Carnegie: Steel Magnate and Philanthropist

Andrew Carnegie founded Carnegie Steel, which was later acquired by banker J.P. Morgan and renamed U.S. Steel. Carnegie famously employed vertical integration to eliminate competition by acquiring all stages of production, thereby maximizing profits. He also implemented a profit-sharing plan for his workers to foster appreciation and loyalty. Despite his philanthropic efforts, Carnegie was often categorized as a "robber baron," a term for industrialists who amassed wealth through potentially unfair business practices.

The Haymarket Affair: A Violent Protest

The Haymarket Affair was a protest in Chicago in 1886, initially organized by the Knights of Labor. The event escalated into violence when anarchists, attempting to overthrow the government, became involved. A bomb was thrown, leading police to open fire. As a result, many protesters were subsequently arrested or killed.

The Homestead Strike of 1892: Labor Conflict

The Homestead Strike was a steelworker strike in 1892 near Pittsburgh against the Carnegie Steel Company, triggered by wage cuts. Ten workers were killed in a riot when "scab" labor was introduced to break the strike. The ensuing violence severely damaged the public image of unions, and the union involved in the strike was ultimately shut down.

Key events of the strike included:

• Andrew Carnegie had placed Henry Clay Frick in charge of the mills in Pennsylvania.
• Frick's primary objective was to break the union.
• He initiated a lockout, erected a fence around the plant, and sought to hire replacement workers.
• Amalgamated Association (AA) workers were determined to keep the plant closed and prevent "scab" workers from entering.
• Workers organized into a military-style unit.
• Violence erupted when Pinkerton agents arrived by boat to break the strike.
• The Pennsylvania National Guard was ultimately called in to restore order.
• The Amalgamated Association (AA) union was broken.