American Labor Movement and Unions
Brooke Muenzenberger
Cornelius Vanderbilt Entrepreneur
Vanderbilt built his fortune on steamboats and railroads. If he were here today, he would tell you that education wasn't very important to him. Vanderbilt states, "If I had learned education I would not have had the time to learn anything else" (Quotes Daddy 1). At the age of 16, he started in the steamboat business. His business took off because of the War during the time. He quickly became a millionaire. Vanderbilt found a new love; he was in love with the railroad business. (Famous Entrepreneurs 3-4). The entrepreneur soon entered it, and in no time he became very rich. He became rich from holding stocks, and from financing the Hudson River railroad and the New York Central railroad. He also was very smart in business, which helped him in his path to becoming rich. Vanderbilt was also a tough guy to work with. Proof in this is when he once said, "You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for the law is too slow. I will ruin you" (brainy quote 1). Vanderbilt built his fortune up to twenty-five million dollars (Famous Entrepreneur 1-5).
Vanderbilt was said to have helped shape the American economy. He also made a huge impact on the Civil war by giving his fastest and most efficient ship to the Union Navy (History 5). The entrepreneur also was a huge impact on the railroad industry. He put together tons of short railroads to combine to one long stretch of railroad. This opened the door for other railroad industries to do the same. This method was more efficient, costed less, and sped up travel (History 6).
"Cornelius Vanderbilt." Famous Entrepreneurs. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
"Cornelius Vanderbilt(American Businessman)." Famous Quotes by Cornelius Vanderbilt. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
"5 Things You May Not Know About the Men Who Built America." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 16 Oct. 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
"Cornelius Vanderbilt." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
“If I had learned education I would not have had time to learn anything else.”
"Google Images." Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Railroad
Steamboat
Knights of Labor
Contributions to the Labor Movement
"Knights of Labor." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
"Knights of Labor Welcome Page." Knights of Labor Welcome Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
"Google Images." Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
Pullman, Illinois
Life in Pullman, Illinois was glorious, if you were rich. This town was built literally for the rich. It had beautiful landscape, big houses, the works, but one thing it didn't have was saloons. This picture perfect place to live was not all it seemed to be though. The average span of living there was four and a half years. This town was built for the high experienced officers, and professionals. The town was an attraction all over the United States, but it was greatly watched (The Pullman Strike 2). Most railroad workers lived outside of Pullman because it was so expensive. Pullman was built buy the railroad for workers to work on the railroad systems. This town would not let workers have freedom, but to have the people just do work, work, and more work. Pullman's town attracted single males, and the population soon became to a ratio of 2 women to 31 men living there. Many workers complained at the loss of alcohol or saloons in the town (The Pullman Strike 3-6).
"The Pullman Strike: The Town of Pullman." The Pullman Strike: The Town of Pullman. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
"Google Images." Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
Pullman Railroad Strike
"Strike Against Pullman Palace Car Company Paralyzed Railroads in 1894."About.com 19th Century History. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
"Google Images." Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
Labor Unions In The U.S. Today
"Union Plus." Labor Unions Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
"Google Images." Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013