Continuity and change in the Gilded Age | Period 6: 1865-1898 | AP US History | Khan Academy

Summary

The Gilded Age in the U.S. (1865-1898) marked a period of profound transformation driven by the Second Industrial Revolution. Technological advancements in steel, electricity, and communication revolutionized work and living patterns, shifting the nation from a rural farming society to an urban industrial one. Despite significant changes in work, with a rise in unskilled wage labor and business consolidation, and in living conditions, with increased urbanization and tenement living, cultural ideas about race, immigration, and the economy saw less change, with racial segregation and nativist sentiments intensifying. The era laid the groundwork for the Progressive Era's social reforms.

Takeaways

• ⏳ The Second Industrial Revolution marked a significant shift in the U.S. from a rural farming society to an urban, industrial one.
• 🔌 Key innovations like steel, electricity, and the telephone revolutionized transportation, communication, and manufacturing.
• 🌆 The expansion of cities was driven by new job opportunities in factories and the rise of skyscrapers.
• 🏭 The nature of work changed dramatically, with a move towards unskilled wage labor and the emergence of large corporations.
• 🌱 Mechanization negatively impacted farmers, pushing many to migrate to cities in search of factory work.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Racial segregation in the workplace persisted, with little change in the integration of different racial and ethnic groups.
• 🏘️ Urban living conditions worsened as cities became overcrowded, leading to the rise of tenements and poor living standards.
• 🌐 Immigration patterns shifted, with more Southern and Eastern Europeans coming to America, and African Americans moving north to escape Jim Crow laws.
• 🏛️ The push for racial equality post-Civil War waned, with the rise of segregationist policies and the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling.
• 💼 Despite the economic boom, there was a lack of significant government intervention to regulate the market or address social issues, leading to the beginnings of labor union movements.

Q & A

What was the Gilded Age and what major technological advancements characterized it?

The Gilded Age refers to the period in the United States from the 1860s to 1900, characterized by rapid economic growth and industrialization. Major technological advancements included steel production, electricity, the telephone, and the expansion of railroads, which transformed the nation's infrastructure and way of life.

How did the Second Industrial Revolution impact the transition of the United States from a rural to an urban society?

The Second Industrial Revolution facilitated the transition from a predominantly rural, agrarian society to an urban, industrial one. Innovations in transportation, communication, and manufacturing led to the growth of cities, as people moved to urban areas for work in factories and other industries.

What is the concept of 'continuity and change over time' in historical analysis?

Continuity and change over time is a historical analysis method that examines what aspects of society remained the same and what changed over a period. It helps historians to understand the extent and nature of transformations during a specific era, such as the Gilded Age.

What were the major work transformations during the Gilded Age?

During the Gilded Age, work transformed from primarily agricultural labor to industrial labor, with the rise of factories and mass production. There was also a shift towards unskilled wage work due to the process of deskilling, where complex tasks were broken down into simple, repetitive steps.

How did the organization of businesses change from 1865 to 1898?

Business organization evolved from smaller, independent entities to large corporations with monopolistic practices. The Civil War had initiated business consolidation, and by the end of the Gilded Age, businesses had undergone significant consolidation, often using monopolistic practices to dominate industries.

What was the state of labor unions during the Gilded Age?

Labor unions began to form in response to the harsh conditions and exploitation of workers in the industrial sector. However, their success was limited during the Gilded Age, as they faced significant opposition from business owners and the government.

What were the living and migration patterns like in the United States at the beginning of the Gilded Age?

In 1865, only about 20% of the population lived in cities, with most migrants being Irish and German immigrants from Northern and Western Europe. African Americans primarily resided in the South, and cities had areas of density and poverty but were not yet extremely overcrowded.

How did urbanization change the demographics and living conditions in American cities by 1898?

By 1898, the urban population had nearly doubled, with 40% of people living in cities. Cities saw an influx of Southern and Eastern Europeans, as well as African Americans moving north to escape sharecropping and Jim Crow laws. This led to overcrowded, poorly constructed tenements and the most densely populated neighborhoods in the world.

What were the predominant cultural ideas about the economy and race in the United States immediately after the Civil War?

Post-Civil War America saw a push for racial equality for African Americans with the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. There was also a strong belief in laissez-faire economics, with minimal government intervention in the market, and a rise in nativist sentiment against immigrants, particularly Irish Catholics.

How did cultural ideas about race, immigration, and the economy evolve by the end of the Gilded Age?

By 1898, racial equality had largely been abandoned with the rise of Jim Crow laws and the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling. Nativism intensified, supported by Social Darwinism, which justified social hierarchies. While some reformers began to question the effects of industrialization, the major social efforts to improve urban living conditions were yet to come in the Progressive Era.