Posted: November 14th, 2022

The Gilded Age & The Progressive Era

Three Essays. Please write essays of about five paragraphs each on three of the following questions.
Include one or two pictures with each essay. In addition to the usual material from Cherny and class
discussions, include material from primary or secondary sources in Connecting California. Examine
each source critically and note how it adds to our understanding of the history.

1. The Gilded Age. What do you find remarkable about California in the late 1800s? Who had
power? In what ways was California growing and prospering? What problems do you see in the
era? What do you think we can learn from this era?
—

Note:
Definition of the Gilded Age
The Gilded Age was a period in American history (1870-1900) that was marked by rapid economic growth but also by corruption, materialism, monopoly businesses, and growing inequality.
The Gilded Age was a period of unbridled capitalism, with some business leaders becoming extremely wealthy as key industries were consolidated into powerful monopolies.
The term “Gilded Age” implies that outer wealth was a cover for inner corruption and poverty. ‘Gilded Age’ is a satire on wealthy monopolists who were accused of amassing wealth through monopoly practices, mistreatment of workers, and political corruption.
The railroad industry was a defining feature of the Gilded Age. Americans had a love-hate relationship with railroads. They changed society by allowing more travel and economic growth, but they were also run by business magnates with enormous power and the ability to set high prices for farmers, suppliers, and travelers. While the owners became extremely wealthy, the industrial work was also extremely dangerous, with numerous accidents and low pay.

Where did the phrase originate?
Mark Twain coined the phrase “Gilded Age” in The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873), a satire on materialism and political corruption. Twain most likely borrowed the phrase from Shakespeare.

Characteristics of the Gilded Age
Rapid economic growth as a result of industrialization and new technologies like railways, as well as mass immigration.
Disparities between the North and South. The term “Gilded Age” refers primarily to economic growth in the North and West. Because the Deep South was still coming to terms with the Civil War, it did not experience the same rise in living standards and industrialisation as the rest of the country.
Massive immigration The late nineteenth century saw a surge in mass immigration from Europe (the old world) to America (the new world) At its peak, Manhattan alone would process thousands of people per day.
The rise of business magnates who dominated industries such as steel, railroads, mining, construction, and oil.
Super-rich family growth. There were approximately 100 millionaires in the 1870s. By 1892, the figure had risen to 4,000. This figure had risen to 16,000 millionaires by 1916.
Poverty and social upheaval The industrial revolution created a new workforce that frequently worked long hours for low pay in hazardous conditions. As a result, trade unions were formed to represent and protect the interests of workers.
During the final decades of the nineteenth century, known as the Gilded Age, the population of the United States doubled in a single generation. The country rose to become the world’s leading producer of food, coal, oil, and steel, attracting massive foreign investment and expanding into markets in Europe and the Far East. As national wealth grew, two classes rose concurrently, separated by a chasm of experience and circumstance unprecedented in American history. These disparities sparked heated and violent debate over questions that are still being debated today: How is wealth best distributed, and by what process? Is the purpose of government to protect private property or to soothe the inevitable casualties of a churning industrial system? Should the government prioritize economic growth or economic justice? These battles were fought in Congress, the courts, the polling place, the workplace, and the streets. The outcome of these disputes was both uncertain and historic, and it was marked by passionate vitriol and a level of violence that would shock many Americans today. The Gilded Age tells the compelling and complex story of one of America’s most convulsive and transformative eras.

2. The Progressive Era. Describe some of the political or social movements that developed in the
early twentieth century in California. What sort of problems were people trying to solve? The Age of Progress. Describe some of the political or social movements that arose in California in the early twentieth century. What kinds of issues were people attempting to resolve?
Explain some of the long-lasting effects of this era.
Explain how some of the lasting changes that came from this era.
—
Notes:
The Progressive Era was a period in US history when the country experienced intense political and social reforms. The time span was from the 1890s to the 1920s. The era gave birth to many leading reformers who battled corruption in the country against all odds. Women’s significant role in society and their rights as equal citizens were widely acknowledged. Women in the United States gained the right to vote during the Progressive Era. Workers and consumers were given several safeguards, and worker exploitation was largely avoided. Overall, the Progressive Era mitigated the negative social effects of industrialization.

The Importance of Reform
Although the wave of industrialization in the United States in the nineteenth century made the country prosperous, only a small percentage of the population reaped the benefits of this prosperity. A large proportion of the population remained impoverished and saw little improvement in their standard of living. Industry and private enterprise owners profited greatly and became wealthy, while workers were exploited and paid low wages in exchange for arduous work schedules. Many corporate executives used unethical and unfair practices to increase profits. During such a crisis, several reformers began speaking out against the country’s widespread corruption. They also attempted to draw attention to the abuse of human rights by wealthy businessmen and politicians seeking personal gain.

Ideologies and Beliefs of the Progressives
Some fundamental assumptions shaped how progressive reformers perceived the world. They believed that by balancing regulations, punishments, and incentives, they could change human nature. These reformers also believed that the federal government’s power could be used to end unethical practices, exploitation, and oppression of the poor and needy.

Progressive Reformers at Work
Some Progressive Era reformers continue to inspire the masses today. For example, one of the reformers, Ida Tarbell, exposed an oil company’s corrupt practices and became one of the early pioneers of investigative journalism. Another reformer, Jane Addams, founded the Hull House to Help immigrants in adjusting to life in the United States. The Progressive Era reformers came from all walks of life, including US presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. They aided in limiting the power of the private sector and business owners while increasing the federal government’s power. They also safeguarded consumers and workers against exploitation and corruption.

An Era of Transition
The Progressive Era reformers were influential enough to cause waves of change not only in US society but also in the country’s laws. Their activities even had an impact on constitutional amendments. The Nineteenth Amendment, which granted women in the United States the right to vote, was one of the most notable of these amendments. A number of laws were also passed to put an end to the country’s corrupt practices. One of these laws was the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, which was enacted to ensure that consumers have access to safe and pure food and pharmaceutical products. The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 was another significant piece of legislation during this time period. This law sought to prohibit businesses from stifling competition through unfair means.

Controversy
However, not everything about the Progressive Era was positive. Several reforms and laws enacted during this time period were heavily criticized. For example, it was claimed that some of the reformers’ work promoted racial discrimination. During this time, the Ku Klux Klan experienced a revival, endangering the lives of African Americans and non-White immigrants to the country. Immigration to the United States was also restricted. Immigrants were blamed for the poor working conditions and low wages in the US industrial scene. Several laws passed during this time period severely restricted immigration to the United States.

3. Between the Wars. Describe how California developed during the boom of the 1920s and the
Great Depression that followed. Please consider economic, political, and cultural changes. — Best history dissertation writers

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