Overview of the Gilded Age Era

Hey, English students, let's cover everything you need to know for Period 6. Before we start, print out the speed review sheet to help you follow along with this video. It's free and you can find the link in the description below. Right now, look at Period 6. Circle any people, events, vocab, things that you might not quite remember that you know you need to focus on as we review. Once you're confident that you've mastered a topic, then you can check it off and move on to the next one. The Gilded Age was a time of rapid economic growth, industrialization, and corruption following the Civil War. American industrialists dominated American business by building corporations, becoming some of America's first millionaires. For example, Andrew Carnegie grew his steel business through a process known as vertical integration. He controlled every stage of the steel production process, from mining to shipping his finished product. John D. Rockefeller grew his standard oil company through horizontal integration. He took control of the oil refining industry by buying out his competitors. Other wealthy businessmen include Cornelius Vanderbilt, who made his fortune in railroads, and J.P. Morgan, who dominated banking. These robber barons used trust as a means of consolidating power, controlling markets, and monopolizing industries. They also used the theory of social Darwinism or economic survival of the fittest to justify their fortunes while paying low wages. Despite his controversial business practices, Andrew Carnegie was extremely philanthropic. He argued in the Gospel of Wealth that the wealthy had a responsibility to give back for the betterment of society. The industrial capitalists were able to thrive due to laissez-faire government policies. They also benefited from a long line of pro-business Republican presidents. Many of their opera barons contributed financially to politicians like William McKinley to maintain their power. Political corruption also took place at the state and local levels, often through the use of political machines who traded votes for favors like jobs. The most famous of this time period is William Vos Tweed, who ran Tammany Hall in New York. His corrupt practices and exploitation of immigrants for votes was exposed by the political cartoons of Thomas Nast. Despite widespread political corruption, there was some political reform during this time. The spoils system ended after the assassination of James Garfield with the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Act. And the Sherman Anti-Trust Act was passed in an attempt to limit the power of monopolies, but it was difficult to enforce. To combat low wages, poor working conditions, and long hours, workers began to unionize. The Knights of Labor, founded by Terrence Powderly, was a union open to... all workers, including skilled, unskilled women and African Americans. But they declined following the violent Haymarket Riot. The American Federation of Labor, founded by Samuel Gompers, focused on skilled laborers and bread-and-butter issues like wages and working conditions. Strikes were frequent in the Gilded Age and usually occurred because of wage cuts and poor treatment of workers. Some of the largest strikes include the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, the Pullman Strike, and the Homestead Strike. They were all put down, sometimes with the help of federal troops. And the strikes of this time were generally ineffective for bringing about real change for workers. workers. As challenges from industrialization and urbanization rose, there were calls for reform. The social gospel movement encouraged Christians, especially from the middle class, to address issues such as poverty and homelessness. Inspired by the social gospel movement, reformers like Jane Adams supported the settlement house movement. She and other college-educated women opened the whole house in Chicago to help provide child care, health care, and education for the poor, especially immigrants. And photojournalist Jacob Rees brought attention to the living conditions of the urban poor through his book How the Other Half Lives, which led to legislation in New York for improving tenement housing. Innovations such as electricity, the typewriter, and the telephone improved communication and working conditions. These inventions also increased the number of middle class jobs. This also led to the development of streetcar suburbs as the middle class sought to escape pollution, crime, and other problems associated with urbanization. Finally, the middle class had more free time and disposable income to spend on leisure activities like attending sporting events, going to the theater, and visiting amusement parks and fairs. With the major economic changes happening in America, there were shifts in immigration and migration patterns. African Americans led a mass exodus out of the Jim Crow South, moving west for economic opportunities and political and social freedoms. Also because of extensive job opportunities, rapid urbanization occurred in cities like New York and Chicago, as well as newer industrial cities like Pittsburgh. While old immigrants like those from Ireland and Germany continued to seek opportunities in America, new immigrants from southern and eastern Europe also arrived on America's shores. Many came through Ellis Island and New York's harbor and eventually settled into eastern industrial cities for jobs. Immigration also increased from Asia, especially Chinese immigrants who settled in the West. The mass influx of new immigrants led to a rise in nativism, which resulted in the Chinese Exclusion Act. Following the Civil War and Reconstruction, the southern economy still revolved around agriculture and cash crops. Some, like Henry Grady, argued that the South should make an effort to diversify its economy and embrace industry. Grady referred to this as the New South, and some cities like Birmingham and Memphis adopted new industries, like steel and lumber. Despite promoting economic advancement, the South maintained racism and inequality through Jim Crow laws. This worsened after the Supreme Court upheld segregation in Plessy v. Ferguson. But African Americans fought back. Ida B. Wells led anti-lynching campaigns while Booker T. Washington advocated for economic independence and vocational education for African Americans. He also founded the Tuskegee Institute. Here at six also saw the rapid development of the West. Between the 1862 Homestead Act and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, the West was quickly settled and developed. New industries like mining and cattle ranching were established as a means to generate wealth in the western territories. While many farmers moved west for economic opportunity, the mining and ranching industries were largely dominated by corporations who had access to vast capital. Despite economic successes, the rapidly expanding population and infrastructure in the west had devastating negative effects. On the Great Plains, buffalo populations were decimated and violent conflicts with natives increased. While the Nez Perce fought in the northwest and the Navajo in the southwest, the Plains tribes fought a long and brutal war with the U.S. Army. Between the Sand Creek Massacre of 1862 and the Battle of Wounded Knee in 1890, tribes like the Lakota Sioux were forced to abandon their lands or die fighting to protect it. Some Americans disapproved of the violence against Natives. For example, Helene Jackson wrote a century of dishonor to expose the poor treatment of Native Americans by the American government. Many activists began supporting the process of assimilation. One of the most famous and controversial examples was the Carlisle School, where Native children were taught English, converted to Christianity, and forced to adopt American cultural values. The Dawes Severalty Act also supported assimilation. During the Gilded Age, farmers struggled with low crop prices, high shipping rates, and crippling debt, which often caused farm foreclosures. Farmers tried to combat their struggles and their exploitation by big businesses by forming Farmers'Alliances, like the Grange. They also formed the Populist Party. their Omaha platform supported by metalism, the direct election of senators, a graduated income tax, and government ownership of railroads. These ideas were later adopted by the Democratic Party under William Jennings Bryan, who reigned for president in 1896. Upon accepting the nomination, he famously gave the cross of gold speech, supporting the coinage of silver. So what does this look like on exam day? For causation, you'll be asked about the causes of the rise of big business or the effects of westward expansion. For comparison, you could see questions asking you to compare the Gilded Age reforms to the social reforms from period four, or to compare the immigrants from the Gilded Age to the immigrants who arrived before the Civil War. And for Change and Continuity, you'll likely be asked about economic changes, like new labor practices or business structures. Also, questions could ask about changes in the New South. Check out the A-plus Ultimate Review Packet for more help. We've got timelines, study guides, and essay practice. Follow the link in the description below for a free preview. And if you think this video is helpful, like and subscribe.

Once you're confident that you've mastered a topic, then you can check it off and move on to the next one. The Gilded Age was a time of rapid economic growth, industrialization, and corruption following the Civil War. American industrialists dominated American business by building corporations, becoming some of America's first millionaires.

For example, Andrew Carnegie grew his steel business through a process known as vertical integration. He controlled every stage of the steel production process, from mining to shipping his finished product. John D. Rockefeller grew his standard oil company through horizontal integration.

He took control of the oil refining industry by buying out his competitors. Other wealthy businessmen include Cornelius Vanderbilt, who made his fortune in railroads, and J.P. Morgan, who dominated banking. These robber barons used trust as a means of consolidating power, controlling markets, and monopolizing industries.

They also used the theory of social Darwinism or economic survival of the fittest to justify their fortunes while paying low wages. Despite his controversial business practices, Andrew Carnegie was extremely philanthropic. He argued in the Gospel of Wealth that the wealthy had a responsibility to give back for the betterment of society.

The industrial capitalists were able to thrive due to laissez-faire government policies. They also benefited from a long line of pro-business Republican presidents. Many of their opera barons contributed financially to politicians like William McKinley to maintain their power. Political corruption also took place at the state and local levels, often through the use of political machines who traded votes for favors like jobs.

The most famous of this time period is William Vos Tweed, who ran Tammany Hall in New York. His corrupt practices and exploitation of immigrants for votes was exposed by the political cartoons of Thomas Nast. Despite widespread political corruption, there was some political reform during this time. The spoils system ended after the assassination of James Garfield with the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Act.

And the Sherman Anti-Trust Act was passed in an attempt to limit the power of monopolies, but it was difficult to enforce. To combat low wages, poor working conditions, and long hours, workers began to unionize. The Knights of Labor, founded by Terrence Powderly, was a union open to... all workers, including skilled, unskilled women and African Americans. But they declined following the violent Haymarket Riot.

The American Federation of Labor, founded by Samuel Gompers, focused on skilled laborers and bread-and-butter issues like wages and working conditions. Strikes were frequent in the Gilded Age and usually occurred because of wage cuts and poor treatment of workers. Some of the largest strikes include the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, the Pullman Strike, and the Homestead Strike.

They were all put down, sometimes with the help of federal troops. And the strikes of this time were generally ineffective for bringing about real change for workers. workers.

As challenges from industrialization and urbanization rose, there were calls for reform. The social gospel movement encouraged Christians, especially from the middle class, to address issues such as poverty and homelessness. Inspired by the social gospel movement, reformers like Jane Adams supported the settlement house movement. She and other college-educated women opened the whole house in Chicago to help provide child care, health care, and education for the poor, especially immigrants. And photojournalist Jacob Rees brought attention to the living conditions of the urban poor through his book How the Other Half Lives, which led to legislation in New York for improving tenement housing.

Innovations such as electricity, the typewriter, and the telephone improved communication and working conditions. These inventions also increased the number of middle class jobs. This also led to the development of streetcar suburbs as the middle class sought to escape pollution, crime, and other problems associated with urbanization.

Finally, the middle class had more free time and disposable income to spend on leisure activities like attending sporting events, going to the theater, and visiting amusement parks and fairs. With the major economic changes happening in America, there were shifts in immigration and migration patterns. African Americans led a mass exodus out of the Jim Crow South, moving west for economic opportunities and political and social freedoms. Also because of extensive job opportunities, rapid urbanization occurred in cities like New York and Chicago, as well as newer industrial cities like Pittsburgh. While old immigrants like those from Ireland and Germany continued to seek opportunities in America, new immigrants from southern and eastern Europe also arrived on America's shores.

Many came through Ellis Island and New York's harbor and eventually settled into eastern industrial cities for jobs. Immigration also increased from Asia, especially Chinese immigrants who settled in the West. The mass influx of new immigrants led to a rise in nativism, which resulted in the Chinese Exclusion Act. Following the Civil War and Reconstruction, the southern economy still revolved around agriculture and cash crops. Some, like Henry Grady, argued that the South should make an effort to diversify its economy and embrace industry.

Grady referred to this as the New South, and some cities like Birmingham and Memphis adopted new industries, like steel and lumber. Despite promoting economic advancement, the South maintained racism and inequality through Jim Crow laws. This worsened after the Supreme Court upheld segregation in Plessy v. Ferguson. But African Americans fought back.

Ida B. Wells led anti-lynching campaigns while Booker T. Washington advocated for economic independence and vocational education for African Americans. He also founded the Tuskegee Institute. Here at six also saw the rapid development of the West.

Between the 1862 Homestead Act and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, the West was quickly settled and developed. New industries like mining and cattle ranching were established as a means to generate wealth in the western territories. While many farmers moved west for economic opportunity, the mining and ranching industries were largely dominated by corporations who had access to vast capital. Despite economic successes, the rapidly expanding population and infrastructure in the west had devastating negative effects. On the Great Plains, buffalo populations were decimated and violent conflicts with natives increased.

While the Nez Perce fought in the northwest and the Navajo in the southwest, the Plains tribes fought a long and brutal war with the U.S. Army. Between the Sand Creek Massacre of 1862 and the Battle of Wounded Knee in 1890, tribes like the Lakota Sioux were forced to abandon their lands or die fighting to protect it. Some Americans disapproved of the violence against Natives. For example, Helene Jackson wrote a century of dishonor to expose the poor treatment of Native Americans by the American government.

Many activists began supporting the process of assimilation. One of the most famous and controversial examples was the Carlisle School, where Native children were taught English, converted to Christianity, and forced to adopt American cultural values. The Dawes Severalty Act also supported assimilation.

During the Gilded Age, farmers struggled with low crop prices, high shipping rates, and crippling debt, which often caused farm foreclosures. Farmers tried to combat their struggles and their exploitation by big businesses by forming Farmers'Alliances, like the Grange. They also formed the Populist Party.

their Omaha platform supported by metalism, the direct election of senators, a graduated income tax, and government ownership of railroads. These ideas were later adopted by the Democratic Party under William Jennings Bryan, who reigned for president in 1896. Upon accepting the nomination, he famously gave the cross of gold speech, supporting the coinage of silver. So what does this look like on exam day? For causation, you'll be asked about the causes of the rise of big business or the effects of westward expansion.

For comparison, you could see questions asking you to compare the Gilded Age reforms to the social reforms from period four, or to compare the immigrants from the Gilded Age to the immigrants who arrived before the Civil War. And for Change and Continuity, you'll likely be asked about economic changes, like new labor practices or business structures. Also, questions could ask about changes in the New South. Check out the A-plus Ultimate Review Packet for more help.

We've got timelines, study guides, and essay practice. Follow the link in the description below for a free preview. And if you think this video is helpful, like and subscribe.

Transcript for:Overview of the Gilded Age Era

Transcript for:
Overview of the Gilded Age Era