A Level History - America - Practice Exam

Horizontal and vertical integration are key concepts in the context of industrialization that relate to how businesses can consolidate power and control within their industries.

Horizontal integration refers to a business strategy where a company acquires or merges with its competitors to increase market share and reduce competition. By doing so, companies can dominate specific markets, control pricing, and ultimately increase their profitability.

Vertical integration, on the other hand, involves a company controlling all aspects of its production process, from raw materials to final product distribution. This could mean a company owning the supply chain, thus minimizing reliance on external suppliers and ensuring consistent quality and supply.

Together, these strategies allowed industrial leaders during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to eliminate competition, maximize efficiency, and increase their control over the market, contributing significantly to the formation of monopolies and trusts in American industry. This consolidation often sparked public concern and led to regulatory responses aimed at curbing these power dynamics, but the immediate impact of horizontal and vertical integration was the effective nullification of competition and control over production processes.