During the last quarter of the nineteenth century, the united states completed its transition from an agrarian federal republic to an industrial. The gilded age janette thomas greenwood oxford university. In 1886, albert parsons and seven other anarchists were sentenced to death because of their role in the haymarket affair, a labor demonstration that turned violent. The oxford companion to united states history gilded age the quarter century between the end of reconstruction and theodore roosevelt s accession to the presidency in 1901 obtained its name from an 1873 novel by charles dudley warner and mark twain, the gilded age. By this, he meant that this period was glittering on the surface but corrupt underneath. And dont forget to cite your documents and key content. Library of congress cataloginginpublication data the gilded age. The library of congress is home to many of the most important documents in. The importance of the gilded age and the progressive era. A tale of today was a famous satirical novel by mark twain set in the late 1800s, and the term gilded age soon came to define the tumultuous years between the civil war and the turn of the twentieth century. However, we should not remember the era only for the strides made. The gilded age and liberty the basics voices across time. Roughly spanning the years between reconstruction and the dawn of the new century, the gilded age saw rapid industrialization, urbanization, the construction of great transcontinental. I did this activity in one period but next time will.
While robber barons got rich during the gilded age, average americans struggled to get ahead. Includes nearly 70 documents which cover the period from the end of the civil war and reconstruction in the 1870s through world war i explores the experiences. Each title, compiled and edited by a prominent historian, is a collection of primary sources relating to a particular topic of historical significance. Primary documents in american history virtual services and programs, digital reference section, library of congress. Huck finn and the gilded age research paper throughout the many works of mark twain, huckleberry finn is one that can metaphorically serve as a time machine, in which as soon as one enters, one is quickly taken back to a time where social differences heavily marked history. The original gilded age was followed by the progressive era 19001920, a period marked by a. Analyze the impact of big business on the economy and politics and the responses of americans to these changes. Contains primary source documents related to the study of the presidency.
Far too often, united states history curricula race through the fifty years between the civil war and reconstruction on the one end, and the great depression and world war ii on the otherbut the tumultuous, crisisfilled, frequently violent, and wholly transformative gilded age 1870s1890s and progressive era 1890s1920s deserve our focused consideration. Textbooks may interpret history, but the books in the pages from history series are history. Students read six different sources that provide insight into what happened at haymarket square on the day of the riot, and the nature of parsons anarchistic beliefs. Gilded age, period of gross materialism and blatant political corruption in u. The gilded age primary sources and historical documents for the gilded age. Primary sources on the web the gilded age research. Industry, urbanization, immigration, and the gilded age. Few politicians had an impact on the tremendous change transforming america. The gilded age will be remembered for the accomplishments of thousands of american thinkers, inventors, entrepreneurs, writers, and promoters of social justice. Causation, analyzing evidence, and interpreting documents gilded age immigration the third wave of immigrants came during the rapid industrialization of the united states during the gilded age, 1870s1890s. This is a selected bibliography of primary source collections pertaining to the gilded age and progressive era in u.
In united states history, the gilded age was an era that occurred during the late 19th century, from the 1870s to about 1900. Uses a wide variety of documents to show how americans dealt with an age of extremes from 1887 to 1900, including rapid industrialization, unemployment, unprecedented wealth, and immigration. The gilded age and progressive era a documentary reader. The gilded age documents mark twain, charles dudley warner. This term was coined by mark twain in the late 1800s.
Albert parsons sac stanford history education group. What were at least five of the reasons why the gilded age. Indeed, the late 19th century was a period of extreme poverty thinly veiled by fabulous wealth. Students read each newspaper closely to identify the key phrases that.
As american wages grew much higher than those in europe, especially for skilled workers, the period saw an influx of millions of european. Timeline 1862 cities west 1879 1875 1873 1876 1880 1887 1890 1869 1886. The books satirical, critical tone shaped the way historians viewed the period until the late. Pages from history when many americans think of the gilded age, they picture the mansions at newport, rhode island, or the tenements of new york city. This volume presents documents that illustrate the variety of experiences and themes involved in the transformation of american political, economic, and social systems during the gilded age and progressive era 18701920.
The thirty years following the end of the civil war is often referred to as the gilded age. A photographic analysis of americas working class from kristen debona grade 11th grade u. The rise of big business in the united states encouraged massive migrations and urbanization, sparked government and popular efforts to reshape the u. The gilded age and liberty the basics time required 1 class period subject areas 10th grade us history development of the industrialist u. Uses a wide variety of documents to show how americans dealt with an age of extremes from 1887 to 1900, including rapid industrialization, unemployment, unprecedented wealth, and. Please note, the library is not responsible for the content on these sources and it is the students responsibility to properly cite from the proper location. The links chose carefully to achieve geographic, chronological, and thematic balance. Describe how the united states transformed from a rural nation to an industrialized nation. The emergence of an industrial culture in the united states led to both greater opportunities for, and. Primary documents in american history library of congress. American memory primary documents, images, and media. When the pullman company slashed factory workers wages in the summer of 1894, thousands of railroad workers went on strike and refused to run trains, including pullman cars. A tale of today was a famous satirical novel by mark twain set in the late 1800s, and the term gilded age soon came to. To learn about our use of cookies and how you can manage your cookie settings, please see our cookie policy.
This treasure trove of documents is a terrific classroom resource. These new immigrants differed greatly from those in the first two waves. Ap u s history document based question the years after the american civil war have been characterized by mark twain and others as the gilded age. The term gilded age refers to the political and economic situation 1876 to 1900. The gilded age is a period of american history between 1870 and 1900.
Uses a wide variety of documents to show how americans dealt with an age of extremes from 1887 to 1900, including rapid industrialization. Many politicians elected during the gilded age were the product of machine party politics. The gilded age a history in documents janette thomas greenwood oxford university press in memory of my mother, feme. The period takes its name from the earliest of these, the gilded age 1873, written by. Grant wins the presidency for the republican party in 1868 temporary social and political revolution black voters vote for republican candidates corruption during the grant. Includes presidential papers, party platforms, candidates remarks, statements of administration policy, documents released by the office of the press secretary, and election debates. Primary documents in american history, created by kenneth drexler. The books organization represents all aspects of the gilded age and progressive era and ties them together interpretatively. By closing this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Pages from history includes bibliographical references p. The gilded age, complete by mark twain and charles dudley warner. Gilded age period when corruption existed in society but was overshadowed by the wealth of the period. Library and internet resources for research on the gilded age. It is a primary source, the raw material of history. When many americans think of the gilded age, they picture the mansions at newport, rhode island, or the tenements of new york city. A document may be more than the expected government paperwork, such as a treaty or passport. It includes a 1page reading about the basics of the gilded age, including key figures, what the era was like for immigrants and robber barons, and more. Home history the gilded age best of the web historical documents. Generally, historians have emphasized the decline of human values, the low state of public morality, greed, corruption and crass materialism. Driven by the north, which emerged from the civil war an industrial powerhouse, the united states experienced a.
Background and a full transcript has been made available by the gilder lehrman institute of american history. However, we should not remember the era only for the strides made by steel magnate andrew carnegie. This great gilded age reading and worksheet is a simple overview of the important aspects of this era in us history. When many americans think of the gilded age, they picture the mansions at newport, rhode island, or the tenements. Voiceover so i brought you here to talk about the gilded age, which is one of my favorite eras of american history. The gilded age was an era of rapid economic growth, especially in the northern united states and the western united states. American history brinkley chapters 15, 17, 19 americas history henretta chapters 15, 17, 20 gilded age politics civil war hero ulysses s. Pa ge description unit 2 cover page daily objectives unit timeline will now be highlighted in orange key vocabulary terms will now be in blue isn set up.
Writing standards for literacy in historysocial studies 612 author theone sexauer 2004 the lesson introduction. Gilded age gilded age period when corruption existed in society but was overshadowed by the wealth of the period gilded is when something is goldenbeautiful on the surface but is really cheapworthless underneath term comes from a book written about the time period by mark twain and charles dudley warner in 1873 the gilded age. The term gilded age was coined by mark twain a period of ruthless profit, government corruption, mass consumption, and vulgarity in taste and manners. This page includes our standalone printable worksheets on the gilded age circa 18701900 in american history. Causation, analyzing evidence, and interpreting documents. History matters, from the american social history project center for media and learning city. But the belief that we live in a second gilded age raises an intriguing question. The presidency was at an alltime low in power and influence, and the congress was rife with corruption. In this lesson, students read parallel accounts from two opposing chicago newspapers. For more of our free educational materials covering this period in united states history, click here. A history in documents pages from history 9780195166385. The gilded age and the progressive era are time periods that played an important role in the development of the american society.