REFORM in the Gilded Age [APUSH Review Unit 6 Topic 11] Period 6:1865-1898

Summary

In this video from Heimler's History, we explore the various reform movements that emerged during the Gilded Age in response to the rise of industrial capitalism. The era saw a shift from small-scale artisan production to mass production in factories, leading to a concentration of wealth among the elite and harsh working conditions for the laborers. Reformers like Henry George proposed solutions such as the single tax on land to redistribute wealth. Edward Bellamy's novel 'Looking Backward' depicted a socialist utopia as an alternative. The socialist ideology gained traction, with figures like Eugene V. Debs founding the Socialist Party of America. The social gospel movement advocated for applying Christian principles to societal issues, particularly urban poverty. Women played a significant role in reform movements, with Jane Addams establishing settlement houses and the National American Woman Suffrage Association advocating for women's right to vote. The temperance movement, led by organizations like the Women's Christian Temperance Union, sought to combat alcohol consumption, with radical figures like Carrie Nation taking direct action against saloons.

Takeaways

• 🏭 The Gilded Age saw a shift from artisanal production to industrial capitalism, with factories mass-producing goods for national and international markets.
• 💼 Laissez-faire capitalism was prevalent, leading to minimal government intervention and rapid business growth, but also to wealth concentration among the elite.
• 📈 Industrial capitalism resulted in poor working conditions and low wages for the laborers, leading to widespread dissatisfaction and calls for reform.
• 💰 Henry George proposed a 'single tax on land' to address the wealth disparity, advocating for a more equitable distribution of resources.
• 📚 Edward Bellamy's novel 'Looking Backward' depicted a socialist utopia as a critique of industrial capitalism, influencing public thought.
• 🌟 The rise of socialism during this period was a response to perceived failures of capitalism, with some advocating for community ownership of production means.
• 🏛 Eugene V. Debs and the Socialist Party of America represented a political push for socialism, although it did not gain widespread acceptance in the U.S.
• 📖 The Social Gospel movement applied Christian principles to societal issues, with preachers advocating for social justice and urban reform.
• 👥 Women played a significant role in reform movements, focusing on various causes such as establishing settlement houses and advocating for women's suffrage.
• 🔇 The temperance movement, led by organizations like the Women's Christian Temperance Union, sought to combat alcohol consumption, which was seen as a cause of poverty.
• ⚖️ Carrie Nation, a radical temperance advocate, famously destroyed saloons and liquor barrels with an axe to make a statement against alcohol.
• 🌐 The video script provides a comprehensive overview of the various reform movements during the Gilded Age, highlighting the societal challenges and the responses to industrial capitalism.

Q & A

What was the primary focus of the video script?

The video script primarily focuses on explaining how different reform movements responded to the rise of industrial capitalism during the Gilded Age in American history.

What was the economic system that allowed businesses to flourish during the Gilded Age?

The economic system that allowed businesses to flourish during the Gilded Age was laissez-faire capitalism, characterized by minimal government intervention in economic operations.

What was Henry George's proposed solution to address the wealth disparity during the Gilded Age?

Henry George proposed the 'single tax on land' as a solution to address wealth disparity, suggesting that the elite who owned large tracts of land should be taxed more to even the playing field with the working class.

Who is Edward Bellamy and what was his contribution to challenging industrial capitalism?

Edward Bellamy was an author who used utopian art to challenge industrial capitalism. He wrote a novel in 1888 called 'Looking Backward,' which depicted a socialist utopia where capitalism had been replaced and everyone's needs were met.

What was the basic principle of socialism that gained traction during the Gilded Age?

The basic principle of socialism that gained traction during the Gilded Age was that all means of production in a society should be owned and regulated by the community for the benefit of everyone more or less equally.

Who was Eugene V. Debs and what was his role in the socialist movement?

Eugene V. Debs was the head of a significant union and, along with a few others, started the Socialist Party of America in 1901. He ran for president on the party's ticket, although they did not achieve significant success.

What was the social gospel and how did it relate to the reform movements of the Gilded Age?

The social gospel was a movement among Christians in America that believed Christian principles should be applied not just to the individual's soul but also to cure societal ills. Advocates of the social gospel, particularly Protestant preachers, crusaded for social justice for the urban poor during the Gilded Age.

What was the primary goal of the women's suffrage movement during the Gilded Age?

The primary goal of the women's suffrage movement during the Gilded Age was to secure the right to vote for women, which was led by the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) founded by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.

What was the temperance movement and how did it relate to the issues of the Gilded Age?

The temperance movement was a social cause that aimed to combat the consumption of alcohol, which was a significant problem among urban male factory workers contributing to the impoverishment of the working classes. The Women's Christian Temperance Union was formed to crusade for total abstinence from alcohol.

Who was Carrie Nation and what was her approach to the temperance movement?

Carrie Nation was a radical advocate of the temperance movement known for her direct and confrontational approach. She would carry a hatchet into saloons and destroy liquor barrels to protest against alcohol consumption.

What was the overall impact of the reform movements on the society during the Gilded Age?

The reform movements of the Gilded Age brought attention to the social and economic disparities caused by industrial capitalism. While some, like the women's suffrage and temperance movements, made significant strides, others, like socialism, did not achieve immediate widespread acceptance but contributed to the ongoing dialogue about social justice and equality.

How did the video script describe the transformation of the American economy during the Gilded Age?

The video script described the transformation of the American economy during the Gilded Age as a shift from artisans and skilled laborers crafting items by hand for small-scale sale to factories employing tens of thousands of unskilled laborers mass-producing goods for national and international markets.