🗽US History – 1865 to Present Unit 2 – The Gilded Age & American West (1870-1900)

Key Events and Timeline

• Reconstruction ended in 1877 with the withdrawal of federal troops from the South
• The Gilded Age, a term coined by Mark Twain, spanned from the 1870s to the 1890s characterized by rapid economic growth, industrialization, and political corruption
• The Compromise of 1877 resolved the disputed presidential election of 1876 and led to the end of Reconstruction
• The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prohibited Chinese immigration to the United States reflecting anti-Asian sentiment
• The Dawes Act of 1887 aimed to assimilate Native Americans by dividing tribal lands into individual allotments
  • The act led to the loss of millions of acres of Native American land
• The Panic of 1893, a severe economic depression, lasted until 1897 and led to widespread unemployment and business failures
• The Spanish-American War in 1898 resulted in the U.S. acquisition of territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines marking the country's emergence as a global power

Economic Developments

• The Gilded Age witnessed rapid industrialization and economic growth driven by technological advancements, immigration, and laissez-faire policies
• The rise of big business and monopolies, such as Standard Oil and U.S. Steel, dominated various industries and wielded significant economic power
• The development of transcontinental railroads, such as the First Transcontinental Railroad completed in 1869, facilitated the transportation of goods and people across the country
  • Railroads played a crucial role in the settlement of the West and the growth of industries
• The expansion of agriculture, particularly in the Great Plains, was fueled by new technologies (mechanical reapers) and the Homestead Act of 1862, which provided free land to settlers
• The rise of labor unions, such as the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor, sought to improve working conditions and wages for workers
• The Panic of 1893, triggered by overspeculation and a decline in gold reserves, led to a severe economic depression and widespread unemployment

Social and Cultural Changes

• The Gilded Age saw a significant increase in immigration, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe, leading to a more diverse population
  • Immigrants often faced discrimination and lived in overcrowded tenements in cities
• The growth of cities and urbanization led to the emergence of new social classes, including the wealthy elite and the urban poor
• The rise of the middle class and the concept of the "American Dream" emphasized social mobility and individual achievement
• The Women's Suffrage Movement gained momentum, with activists such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton advocating for women's right to vote
• The Populist Movement emerged in the 1890s, representing the interests of farmers and workers who felt left behind by the economic changes
  • The movement advocated for reforms such as the free coinage of silver and the regulation of railroads
• The Jim Crow laws and racial segregation in the South institutionalized discrimination against African Americans and reinforced a system of white supremacy

Political Landscape

• The Gilded Age was characterized by political corruption and the influence of big business on government policies
• The spoils system, in which political appointments were made based on party loyalty rather than merit, was prevalent during this period
• The Republican Party dominated national politics for much of the Gilded Age, advocating for pro-business policies and high tariffs
• The Democratic Party, particularly in the South, focused on states' rights and white supremacy
• The Populist Party emerged in the 1890s, advocating for reforms to address the economic and social inequalities of the time
  • The party nominated William Jennings Bryan for president in 1896, but he was defeated by Republican William McKinley
• The Progressive Era, which began in the late 1890s, sought to address the problems of the Gilded Age through political and social reforms
  • Progressives advocated for issues such as women's suffrage, child labor laws, and the regulation of big business

Westward Expansion

• The Homestead Act of 1862 provided free land to settlers who could claim 160 acres and live on it for five years encouraging westward migration
• The completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 facilitated travel and trade between the East and West Coasts
• The Indian Wars, a series of conflicts between Native American tribes and the U.S. government, resulted in the forced relocation and confinement of Native Americans to reservations
  • The Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, also known as Custer's Last Stand, was a significant victory for the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes against the U.S. Army
• The discovery of gold and silver in the West, such as the California Gold Rush of 1849 and the Comstock Lode in Nevada, attracted thousands of prospectors and led to the rapid growth of mining towns
• The cattle industry and the rise of the cowboy culture became iconic symbols of the American West
  • The Chisholm Trail was a major route used for cattle drives from Texas to Kansas
• The closure of the frontier, as declared by the U.S. Census of 1890, marked the end of the era of westward expansion and the settlement of the contiguous United States

Industrialization and Urbanization

• The Gilded Age witnessed rapid industrialization driven by technological advancements, such as the Bessemer process for steel production and the development of the assembly line
• The rise of big business and monopolies, such as the Standard Oil Company and the U.S. Steel Corporation, dominated various industries and wielded significant economic and political power
• The growth of cities and urbanization led to the emergence of new social classes and the concentration of wealth and poverty in urban areas
  • Tenements and slums became common housing for the urban poor and immigrants
• The development of new transportation systems, such as electric streetcars and subways, facilitated the growth of cities and the emergence of suburbs
• The rise of labor unions, such as the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor, sought to improve working conditions and wages for industrial workers
  • The Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago, which began as a peaceful rally for an eight-hour workday, turned violent and led to a crackdown on labor activism
• The Gilded Age also saw the emergence of new consumer culture, with the rise of department stores (Macy's) and the availability of mass-produced goods

Key Figures and Their Impact

• Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-American industrialist, founded the Carnegie Steel Company and became one of the wealthiest individuals in history known for his philanthropy
• John D. Rockefeller, the founder of the Standard Oil Company, became the world's first billionaire and was known for his business acumen and philanthropy
• J.P. Morgan, a prominent banker and financier, played a significant role in the consolidation of various industries and the creation of large corporations (U.S. Steel)
• Thomas Edison, an inventor and businessman, developed numerous innovations (light bulb, phonograph) and established the first industrial research laboratory
• Susan B. Anthony, a leading figure in the Women's Suffrage Movement, worked tirelessly for women's right to vote and co-founded the National Woman Suffrage Association
• Booker T. Washington, an African American educator and leader, founded the Tuskegee Institute and advocated for the economic and educational advancement of African Americans
• William Jennings Bryan, a politician and orator, ran for president three times as a Democrat and populist advocating for issues such as the free coinage of silver and opposition to imperialism

Legacy and Long-Term Effects

• The Gilded Age laid the foundation for the modern American economy, with the rise of big business, industrialization, and the growth of cities
• The period's economic inequalities and social problems led to the emergence of the Progressive Era, which sought to address these issues through political and social reforms
• The Gilded Age's legacy of political corruption and the influence of money in politics continues to be a subject of debate and concern in contemporary American politics
• The westward expansion and the settlement of the American frontier had lasting impacts on Native American communities, including the loss of land, forced assimilation, and cultural destruction
• The immigration patterns of the Gilded Age contributed to the cultural diversity of the United States and the ongoing debates about immigration and assimilation
• The rise of labor unions during the Gilded Age set the stage for the labor movement in the 20th century and the fight for workers' rights and protections
• The Gilded Age's emphasis on individualism, social mobility, and the "American Dream" continues to shape American culture and values to this day