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American Labor History Trivia Quiz

Many people take things like Unions, the 40 hour work week, and minimum wage for granted. Let's see how much you know about their origins.

A multiple-choice quiz by paulzeromi. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
paulzeromi

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
222,545

Updated
Jun 25 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2697

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 35 (5/10), Guest 107 (9/10), colbymanram (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This term was coined for the rich industrialists who dominated American politics in The Gilded Age. Hint

The Gang of Four

Monopolists

The Big Five

Robber Barons

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. This person, although he started with a cigar maker's union, eventually founded the American Federation of Labor. Hint

Thomas Nast

Samuel Gompers

William Jennings Bryan

"Boss" Tweed

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. This railroad tycoon was famous for building towns for his workers which were highly regulated. Who was it? Hint

J.P. Morgan

J.D. Rockefeller

Andrew Carnegie

George Pullman

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. This banker is famous for financing the United States Steel Corporation, the first billion dollar business. Hint

Andrew Carnegie

George Pullman

J.D. Rockefeller

J.P. Morgan

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. This man controlled 90% of all oil refined in the US. Who was it? Hint

J.P. Morgan

John Rockefeller

Andrew Carnegie

George Pullman

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Which industrial mogul was famous for saying "Here's the goose that lays the golden eggs," after getting his first stock dividend? Hint

J.P. Morgan

Andrew Carnegie

J.D. Rockefeller

George Pullman

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Which of these philosophies called for decreased government control of business? Hint

Social Darwinism

Socialism

Communism

Existentialism

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which union, known as the 'Wobblies' and led by William Haywood, called for socialist government? Hint

Industrial Workers of the World

Congress of Industrial Organizations

American Federation of Labor

American Railway Union

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which Indiana native founded the American Railway Union and was a 5-time Socialist candidate for president? Hint

Mother Jones

Eugene Debs

Samuel Gompers

William "Big Bill" Haywood

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which Chicago strike by McCormick employees led to the deaths of 7 policemen and the arrest of 8 radical labor leaders? Hint

The Pullman Strike

The Great Strike of 1877

The Haymarket Affair

The Great Strike of 1869

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 11 2024 : Guest 35: 5/10
Dec 02 2024 : Guest 107: 9/10
Nov 30 2024 : colbymanram: 9/10
Nov 07 2024 : Nana7770: 7/10
Oct 30 2024 : Guest 149: 7/10
Oct 29 2024 : Guest 71: 6/10
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Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This term was coined for the rich industrialists who dominated American politics in The Gilded Age.

Answer: Robber Barons

The Gang of Four were a group of Mao Zedong's advisors, the Big Four (not five) were industrial tycoons in the Gilded Age, and the monopolists was just made up.

2. This person, although he started with a cigar maker's union, eventually founded the American Federation of Labor.

Answer: Samuel Gompers

William Jennings Bryan was a 3-time populist presidential candidate, "Boss" Tweed was in charge of the Tammany Hall political machine, and Thomas Nast was a political cartoonist who is widely credited for Boss Tweed's downfall.

3. This railroad tycoon was famous for building towns for his workers which were highly regulated. Who was it?

Answer: George Pullman

Of course, Pullman was even more famous for the railroad cars named after him, but that would be too easy.

4. This banker is famous for financing the United States Steel Corporation, the first billion dollar business.

Answer: J.P. Morgan

J.P. Morgan & Company, now partnered with Chase Financial, helped found America's largest steel company.

5. This man controlled 90% of all oil refined in the US. Who was it?

Answer: John Rockefeller

Rockefeller's Standard Oil was a notorious trust, at the height of its power power from about 1880-1910. The US government was slow to make effective use of anti-trust legislation and the anti-trust laws of individual states weren't well suited to dealing with nationwide trusts.

6. Which industrial mogul was famous for saying "Here's the goose that lays the golden eggs," after getting his first stock dividend?

Answer: Andrew Carnegie

Carnegie, the famous steel mogul who donated millions to charity, started with a 10 dollar stock dividend.

7. Which of these philosophies called for decreased government control of business?

Answer: Social Darwinism

Socialism and Communism call for increased government control, and Existentialism has nothing to do with government. Social Darwinism, however, believed that government should not do anything to hinder the 'survival of the fittest [in the economy and in society] by means of natural selection'.

8. Which union, known as the 'Wobblies' and led by William Haywood, called for socialist government?

Answer: Industrial Workers of the World

William Haywood's radical Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) demanded a socialist government. It was among the most radical American unions.

9. Which Indiana native founded the American Railway Union and was a 5-time Socialist candidate for president?

Answer: Eugene Debs

Although Haywood was a socialist, he never ran for president.

10. Which Chicago strike by McCormick employees led to the deaths of 7 policemen and the arrest of 8 radical labor leaders?

Answer: The Haymarket Affair

The Pullman strike, although it caused many deaths, was led by B & O employees.

Source: Author paulzeromi

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