Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumLabor Movements and Gilded Age Conflict

In 1895, the Supreme Court ruled in *In re Debs* that the federal government had the authority to issue an injunction to end the Pullman Strike, citing the government's duty to prevent obstructions to interstate commerce and the transit of the mail. This ruling and the government's actions during the strike best support which of the following conclusions about the Gilded Age?

  1. The federal government frequently intervened in industrial disputes to support business owners and protect corporate interests over labor demands.Answer
  2. B
    The federal government maintained a strict policy of laissez-faire, refusing to interfere in conflicts between private corporations and labor unions.
  3. C
    Industrial conflicts were primarily resolved through the regulatory reforms enacted by urban middle-class Progressive reformers.
  4. D
    The federal government intervened to protect the constitutional rights of workers under the newly ratified Reconstruction Amendments.

Answer

The federal government frequently intervened in industrial disputes to support business owners and protect corporate interests over labor demands.
The correct answer is correct because federal actions during the Pullman Strike—such as using the Sherman Antitrust Act against unions, dispatching federal troops, and issuing court injunctions—demonstrated that the state was willing to use its authority to suppress labor strikes and protect corporate property and interstate commerce. This was part of a consistent pattern of government intervention on behalf of employers during Gilded Age labor disputes.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the historical context of the Pullman Strike (1894) and the subsequent *In re Debs* (1895) Supreme Court ruling.
Identify that the federal government used an injunction and sent federal troops to end the strike, and the Supreme Court upheld this intervention.
This provides the factual basis for evaluating the relationship between the federal government, corporations, and labor unions during the Gilded Age.
2
Evaluate the options against the reality of federal intervention in Gilded Age labor disputes.
Eliminate the idea of strict laissez-faire policy (since the government clearly intervened) and the idea of Reconstruction Amendments protecting labor (since courts protected corporate property instead).
This narrows down the choices to the option that accurately represents the historical pattern of government action.
3
Select the option that matches the historical pattern of federal support for industrial capital over labor.
Determine that government intervention primarily favored corporate interests and suppressed labor activities to maintain interstate commerce.
This provides the final correct conclusion about the role of the government during this era.

Key Concept

The role of the federal government in Gilded Age labor disputes
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Labor Movements and Gilded Age Conflict

More questions from this topic