Development of the MIDDLE CLASS [APUSH Review Unit 6 Topic 10] Period 6: 1865-1898

Summary

This video from Heimler's History series dives into the rise of the American middle class during the Gilded Age, a period marked by significant changes in business practices. Large corporations developed a three-tier structure: executives, laborers, and a new managerial class known as white-collar workers. The growth of this managerial layer, along with the advent of the typewriter, led to increased opportunities for women in clerical roles. The middle class, earning more than the working class but less than the elite, found themselves with surplus income and leisure time, which they spent on new forms of entertainment like Coney Island and emerging sports. The video also touches on the philanthropic efforts of wealthy individuals like Andrew Carnegie, who advocated for the rich to reinvest their wealth into society to create opportunities for the less fortunate, as outlined in his 'Gospel of Wealth.' Carnegie's philosophy, along with that of other philanthropists like Phoebe Apperson Hearst, aimed to reduce social disparities by funding cultural and educational institutions, thereby providing a path for some to ascend into the middle class.

Takeaways

• 🏭 The rise of the middle class in America during the Gilded Age was marked by the development of a new managerial layer in large corporations, known as white-collar workers.
• 👔 The managerial class included professionals such as accountants, legal services, and health care workers, with women's roles growing significantly in clerical positions.
• 💼 The advent of the typewriter led to a surge in women learning typing skills, which opened up new job opportunities and wages in the industrial economy.
• 👩‍🏫 Women were also increasingly hired as school teachers during the late 1800s, contributing to the expansion of educational opportunities.
• 💰 The middle class earned more than the working class and worked shorter days, leading to increased leisure time and disposable income.
• 🎢 The increase in leisure activities for the middle class resulted in the construction of amusement parks like Coney Island, which was the largest in the U.S. at the time.
• 🤹‍♂️ Alongside amusement parks, P.T. Barnum's circuses and new spectator sports such as baseball and American football gained popularity during this period.
• 💰 Andrew Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth advocated that the rich had a duty to reinvest their wealth into society to create opportunities for the less fortunate.
• 📚 Carnegie believed in investing in cultural institutions like public libraries, universities, and concert halls to provide opportunities for self-improvement rather than providing handouts.
• 🏫 Philanthropists like Phoebe Apperson Hearst shared similar beliefs, focusing on education as a means to elevate the poor to the same level as the upper class.
• 🚶‍♂️ The Gospel of Wealth philosophy indeed created opportunities for some individuals to rise into the middle class, reducing the societal gap between the rich and the poor.

Q & A

What was the significance of the development of the middle class during the Gilded Age?

The development of the middle class during the Gilded Age was significant as it represented a new social stratum that was neither working class nor elite upper class. This class was characterized by white-collar workers, such as managers, accountants, and clerical staff, who played a crucial role in the operation of large corporations. Their rise also led to an increase in leisure activities and consumer culture.

How did the structure of large corporations change during the Gilded Age?

During the Gilded Age, large corporations restructured themselves into three distinct layers: top executives, middle managers, and laborers at the bottom. This new managerial layer was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company and came to be known as white-collar workers.

What role did the invention of the typewriter play in the growth of women's roles in the workforce?

The invention of the typewriter allowed many women to learn the new skill of typing, which in turn led to an increase in the number of women employed in clerical roles. This development was a significant factor in the growth of women's roles within the burgeoning middle class.

How did the middle class spend their increased income and leisure time?

With more disposable income and leisure time, the middle class began to engage in leisure activities and consumerism. This included visiting amusement parks like Coney Island, attending circuses and sporting events, and purchasing new goods, which contributed to the rise of consumer culture.

What was the Gospel of Wealth as proposed by Andrew Carnegie?

The Gospel of Wealth was Andrew Carnegie's philosophy that the rich had a duty to use their wealth to benefit society, rather than simply passing it on to their children. He believed that the wealthy should invest in cultural and educational institutions to create opportunities for the less fortunate to improve their lives and potentially rise into the middle class.

How did the philanthropic efforts of the wealthy impact the lower classes during the Gilded Age?

The philanthropic efforts of the wealthy, inspired by the Gospel of Wealth, provided opportunities for the lower classes to access education and cultural institutions. This investment in social infrastructure helped to reduce the societal distance between the rich and the poor and offered some individuals the chance to elevate their social status.

What was the role of P.T. Barnum's circuses in the leisure culture of the middle class?

P.T. Barnum's circuses gained wide popularity during the period and were a significant part of the leisure culture of the middle class. They provided entertainment and were a form of leisure activity that the newly affluent middle class could enjoy.

How did the concept of the 'white-collar worker' emerge?

The term 'white-collar worker' emerged to describe the new managerial class that developed within the structure of large corporations. These individuals were involved in administrative and management roles, as opposed to manual labor, and were often dressed in formal business attire, hence the term 'white-collar'.

What was the impact of the rise of the middle class on the American economy?

The rise of the middle class had a significant impact on the American economy. With higher wages and more disposable income, middle-class consumers fueled economic growth through increased spending on goods and services, contributing to the expansion of the consumer market.

What was the role of women in the middle class during the late 1800s?

Women in the middle class during the late 1800s began to take on roles in clerical work, particularly after the invention of the typewriter. They also found employment as teachers, which expanded their roles and opportunities within the workforce.

Who was Phoebe Apperson Hearst and what was her contribution to the middle class?

Phoebe Apperson Hearst was a millionaire and a radical philanthropist who was also a supporter of the women's suffrage movement. She contributed to the middle class by investing her wealth in education, establishing schools that aimed to provide the poor with the same level of education as the upper class.

How did the middle class's lifestyle differ from that of the working class and the upper class?

The middle class had a lifestyle that was more affluent than the working class, with higher wages, shorter working hours, and more leisure time. Unlike the upper class, the middle class did not have excessive wealth and was more focused on maintaining a comfortable standard of living through their professional careers and consumer activities.