Preparation Advice: Use the speed review sheet available in the video description to mark topics of uncertainty and track mastery.
The Gilded Age
Economic Growth and Corruption: Post-Civil War era of rapid industrial growth, industrialization, and corruption.
Industrialists Dominate: Figures like Andrew Carnegie (steel) through vertical integration, John D. Rockefeller (oil) with horizontal integration, Cornel Vanderbilt (railroads), and JP Morgan (banking) became America's first millionaires.
Monopolization Tactics: Use of trusts, control over markets, and monopolies. Advocated social Darwinism to justify wealth.
Philanthropy vs. Practices: Controversial business practices contrasted by significant philanthropic efforts, such as Carnegie’s argument for wealthy to give back for society's betterment.
Political Corruption and Reform
Government Policies: Laissez-faire approach that enabled industrial capitalist success. Pro-business Republican presidents.
Political Corruption: Involvement of Robert Barons in politics, state/local corruption via political machines (e.g., William "Boss" Tweed in New York).
Reform Efforts: Pendleton Civil Service Act, Sherman Antitrust Act trying to limit monopolies’ power. Difficulty enforcing anti-monopolistic laws.
Labor Movements and Strikes
Unionization: Response to low wages/working hours. Knights of Labor (inclusive union) decline after Haymarket Riot. American Federation of Labor focused on skilled laborers.
Major Strikes: Included the Great Railroad Strike (1877), the Pullman Strike, and the Homestead Strike. Generally ineffective in securing workers’ rights en masse.
Social Reforms and Innovations
Social Gospel and Settlement Houses: Addressing poverty/homelessness. Notable figures like Jane Addams with Hull House.
Technological Advances: Improvements in communication/working conditions, led to middle-class jobs and urban/suburban developments.
Leisure Activities Increase: With greater disposable income, the middle class engaged more in leisure activities.
Immigration, Migration, and Urbanization
Changing Patterns: Significant migration and urbanization, both from within America and abroad. New immigrants faced nativism, leading to policies like the Chinese Exclusion Act.
Post-Civil War South and West Development
Southern Economy: Efforts to diversify beyond agriculture with "New South" movement yet maintained inequality via Jim Crow laws.
Western Expansion: Settlement and development driven by the Homestead Act and Transcontinental Railroad. Negative impacts on Native Americans and environment.
Farmer Challenges and Populism
Farmers’ Distress: Faced low crop prices and high shipping rates leading to debt and foreclosures.
Populist Movement: Focused on bimetallism, direct senator elections, graduated income tax, and public ownership of railroads. Influenced later Democratic Party platforms.
Exam Tips for Period 6
Causation: Understand causes of the rise of big business and effects of Westward expansion.
Comparison: Expect to compare Gilded Age reforms with earlier periods, or immigrants of different eras.
Change/Continuity: Identify economic changes in labor practices, business structures, and shifts in the South.