THE GILDED AGE

The Gilded Age describes an era in late 19th century U.S. history that seemed alright on the outside but was politically corrupt with serious social

problems internally. The term was derived from writer Mark Train’s 1873 novel the Gilded Age which he implied that the period was glittering gold on

the surface but unethical and dishonest underneath. 

Recall Warm-UpRead the paragraph and analyze the images above to jog your memory. Describe the major economic, social, and political issues from this era.

Economic Social Political

THE GILDED AGENeed to Know Terms/People1.) Industrialization- Economy is transformed from agricultural to one based on manufacturing and factories2.) Urbanization- Growth of cities (from rural to urban centers)3.) Laissez-Faire Capitalism- “Hands-off” policy of preventing the government from interfering in economic affairs, allowing a free-market (free enterprise)4.) Homestead Act- 1862 law stating that any U.S. citizen could occupy 160 acres of government land in the west and if the settler improved the land after 5 years, they could keep the property 5.) Dawes Act- U.S. federal legislation that aimed to assimilate American Indians into U.S. society 6.) Entrepreneur- Business owner; ability and willingness to develop, organize, and manage a business venture along with any of its risks in order to make a profit 7.) Monopoly (Trusts)- Market situation where a single company owns all or nearly all of the supply of a product or service, stifling competition (Robber Barons versus Captains of Industry)8.) Big Business- Powerful corporations who have influence over economic, political, and social policies9.) Nativist- Those that opposed immigration to the United States (led to immigration quotas)10.) Political Machine- Urban organizations designed to win elections and reward its followers, both rich/poor 11.) Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882- U.S. law prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years12.) Tenement- Run-down and often overcrowded apartment house, especially in a poor section of a large city13.) Andrew Carnegie- Wealthy and powerful owner of steel monopoly, became a philanthropist14.) Social Darwinism- The theory that people are subject to survival of the fittest in society15.) Interstate Commerce Act- 1887 federal law that was designed to regulate the railroad industry, particularly its monopolistic practices; required that railroad rates be "reasonable and just," but did not empower the government to fix specific rates or enforce law

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THE GILDED AGE: STAAR Questions

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