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In the late 1800s and early 1900s there was a lot of corruption in business. Big Business pretty much controlled the government. How much do you know about the big names of this time?

A multiple-choice quiz by ccollins2. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
ccollins2

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
357,881

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
1195

Last 3 plays: carp599 (9/10), srandall (9/10), Guest 24 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What name is used to describe control of an entire sector of the economy (such as railroads or telecommunications) in any given country or region?
Hint

ownership

monopoly

industry

assembly line

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Who was the owner of the company Standard Oil and ended up becoming the richest person in U.S. history? Hint

J.P. Morgan

Andrew Carnegie

John D. Rockefeller

William H. Vanderbilt

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Who had a monopoly of the railroad industry in most of the northeastern states of the US? Hint

Andrew Carnegie

The government

J.P. Morgan

William H. Vanderbilt

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Andrew Carnegie had a monopoly in the steel industry.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What does 'to consolidate' mean in a business context? Hint

Sell/combine a business with yours.

Retire

Go out of business.

Sell the company

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. What did many businesses aspire to make sure people bought their products? Hint

Permanently lower their prices

Eliminate competition

Made better products than their rivals

Make someone else owner of the company

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What act was passed by Congress to try and stop monopolies and trusts? Hint

Monopoly Act

Business Anti-Corruption Act

Gameboard Act

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. In the 1860s and 70s, there were many "political bosses". They were very corrupt leaders in both government and business. Who was one of the biggest political bosses of this time? Hint

Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Johnson

J.P. Morgan

Boss Tweed

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Who was the most important man who drew cartoons exposing Tweed's corruption? Hint

Theodore Roosevelt

Ida Tarbell

Thomas Nast

Upton Sinclair

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What were the people like Upton Sinclair who exposed corruption called? Hint

Garbage pickers

Muckrakers

Politicians

Progressives

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 02 2024 : carp599: 9/10
Mar 31 2024 : srandall: 9/10
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 24: 10/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What name is used to describe control of an entire sector of the economy (such as railroads or telecommunications) in any given country or region?

Answer: monopoly

A small number of people had total (or near total) control of an industry during this time. They would usually buy out all the smaller businesses to take control. This is actually where the name of the game "Monopoly" comes from. Note that total ownership of the sector is not always necessary. An individual or company that has, for example, 90% of the share of the market is in effect a monopoly as it makes effective competition impossible.

2. Who was the owner of the company Standard Oil and ended up becoming the richest person in U.S. history?

Answer: John D. Rockefeller

He bought out all of the competition in the oil industry and had a monopoly.
His income was around $5 billion back then which, in today's money, is about $500 billion.

3. Who had a monopoly of the railroad industry in most of the northeastern states of the US?

Answer: William H. Vanderbilt

William Vanderbilt was ferocious and serious about his business. He bought out and took over almost all other railroad companies. He actually has a well known college named after him: Vanderbilt University.

4. Andrew Carnegie had a monopoly in the steel industry.

Answer: True

Not only did he have a monopoly but he controlled all the parts of it. He controlled the iron mines, the shipment, the production, and the selling.

5. What does 'to consolidate' mean in a business context?

Answer: Sell/combine a business with yours.

Many businesses did this and some (like Vanderbilt) used ruthless tactics to get this done. One well-known business that did this was The Pennsylvania Railroad. It 'consolidated' 73 companies.

6. What did many businesses aspire to make sure people bought their products?

Answer: Eliminate competition

Many businesses tried to buy out and eliminate competition in their industry. This would cause prices to rise because they would be the only company left selling that product.

7. What act was passed by Congress to try and stop monopolies and trusts?

Answer: Sherman Anti-Trust Act

This law was passed by Congress in 1890. It pretty much falied to do what it was supposed to do until Theodore Roosevelt became president. He used it against Big Business and was known as the "trust buster".

8. In the 1860s and 70s, there were many "political bosses". They were very corrupt leaders in both government and business. Who was one of the biggest political bosses of this time?

Answer: Boss Tweed

Boss Tweed Was an extremely corrupt boss in New York City. During the 1860s and 70s, he cheated the city out of $100 million. He found out he was going to be arrested, so he fled for Spain. There, officers recognized him and sent him back to the USA.

9. Who was the most important man who drew cartoons exposing Tweed's corruption?

Answer: Thomas Nast

Thomas Nast made many different cartoon exposing Tweed's corruption to the public. One example was a drawing with Tweed's head replaced with a bag of money.

10. What were the people like Upton Sinclair who exposed corruption called?

Answer: Muckrakers

There were many different muckrakers during this time. Thomas Nast drew cartoons about Tweed's corruption. Upton Sinclair wrote a book about the disgusting conditions in the meat packing industry. Ida Tarbell attacked the reputation of the Standard Oil Company in magazines, newspapers, and books.

Source: Author ccollins2

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Referenced Topics

History People Government U.S. History Names New York USA in the 19th Century New York City Meats Pennsylvania Spain New York History Pennsylvania History Theodore Roosevelt

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