ipl-logo

A Very Brief Look At Coney Island During The Gilded Age

992 Words4 Pages

Lindsey Stange HIS 2366 Paper #1 During the Gilded Age to not have seen Coney Island, truly was like not having seen your own country. Coney Island embodied what America was at this time: greater social freedom, diversity in the population, and innovation in technology and business practices. Coney Island showed the best of what America was, though it gave no indication of the political corruption and civil unrest that was rampant at the time. Coney Island grew to great notoriety in the 1880s with resorts, hotels, and amusement parks, the most famous being: Steeplechase Park, Luna Park, and Sea Lion Park. People flocked from all over to enjoy the rides, the food, and mostly the atmosphere. Coney Island offered people a type of freedom that …show more content…

At Coney Island visitors would be able to see the latest exhibits and innovations. The first roller coaster was invented at Coney Island, as was the hot dog. The tallest structure in the world at that time was brought to the island from the World Fair in Philadelphia for all to see (Class notes 9/14-9/18). This was a place for the public to experience things they never had before. Coney Island wasn’t just innovative in technology, but also in business practices. During the Gilded Age we saw the emergence of captains of industry: business moguls who absolutely dominated the field they were in. An example of this was Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie was an immigrant who worked his way up in the steel business to become one of the richest men in the country (OTP pg. 517-520). “ The conditions of human life have not only been changed, but revolutionized, within the past few hundred years.” (Foner pg. 28) Carnegie believed that the economic direction this country was taking greatly benefited the standard of living for Americans. While Coney Island portrayed the best of parts of America, though this wasn’t truly representative of what the country was actually going

Show More
Related
122 Words | 1 Pages

While in "Gilded Age", all levels of government had corruption, graft public money for their own. One of the most notorious New York City Boss Tweed William M. Tweed, his wealth has more than $25 million in 1871, all was dirty money. During the period he served as mayor of New York, the city requires all public officials to report false, false ratio as high as 85%. He presided over the construction of the New York county government office buildings, 40 chairs and 3 tables then discount about $179000, but a thermometer was quoted $7500. According to statistics, in 1860 ~ 1900, American municipal debt by $200 million soared to $1.4 billion, most of them are the City boss and partisans pocketed.

Read More
1533 Words | 7 Pages

Roller coasters are a great thrill, but Cedar Point has Kings Island beat in many areas. Cedar Point is a better amusement park than Kings Island, because it has the biggest rides, has more world records, and has a greater variety of rides for everyone to enjoy. Cedar Point is home to the tallest roller coaster in the world, the Top-Thrill Dragster. This monster is 420 feet tall and reaches speeds of 120 mph, that’s 190 feet taller than Kings Island’s ride and 40 mph faster. In just over three seconds

Read More
650 Words | 3 Pages

The Book “Amusing The Million”, written by John F. Kasson describes how the amusement parks in Coney Island changed the attitude towards new cultures in the United States. Kasson talks about the era of famous amusement parks which began in 1895 before the first world war. These amusement parks were an effort to bring together the different cultures seen in the urban cities. Coney Island was a cultural accommodation for all the people who desired adventure and excitement.

Read More
231 Words | 1 Pages

In the 19th century, a major way of transportation was crafted. This was called the Erie Canal. This Canal led to great economic growth throughout the United States. For example, the Canal brought in many people through the seaports in New York which made it more busy than it already was (Doc. 1a). This made New York City grow tremendously between 1830 and 1860 (Doc. 1a).

Read More
173 Words | 1 Pages

The New York colony soil was fertile and great for farming which was the reason the British wanted to remove it from the hands of the Dutch. New York was named after James the Duke of York. The Dutch were the first to settle in New York but then was preccoupied by the English in 1674. When the Dutch occupied New York they called it New Amsterdam.

Read More
925 Words | 4 Pages

“Much of the blame heaped on the captains of industry in the late 19th century is unwarranted.” (Document F). The Gilded Age was a time where the U.S. economy grew very quickly and rapidly, due to the inventive minds and entrepreneurs of that time; but it has different perspectives of opinions in history today. This era led the U.S. to its state and place in the present world, thanks to its important contributors, (who are involved in the main debate of whether they were robber barons, unethical men who yearn for money, or captains of industry, leaders who add positive ideas and methods to benefit their country.) The industrial leaders of the Gilded Age are captains of industry, worthy of some gratitude and credit for how our society’s structure

Read More
1076 Words | 5 Pages

Amusing the Million by John F. Kasson uses Coney Island as a turning point in American history before World War I. Coney Island at the rise of a new mass culture during the twentieth century allowed society to be free from the ever so conformity that the government has bestowed upon them. Being free from the urban industrialized genteel control; the creation of Coney Island served a purpose to detach from the formal culture in which they were living in. This era has sparked cultural freedom with that gave society a thrilling new find in amusement parks which went against societal genteel norms. Coney Island was used as an escape from the industrialized life that wanted to establish civil order. Kasson explains the turn of the century that encompassed educators, critics, and genteel reformers who took charge in controlling the public.

Read More
132 Words | 1 Pages

During the Gilded Age wealthy people lived by an unbendable social calendar. Most wealthy people spent their time going to fairs, circus, sporting events, etc. Many Women spent an enormous amount of time hosting parties. One host actually offered their guests a cigar wrapped in hundred-dollar bills. A fairly small percentage of wealthy people lived in luxury homes.

Read More
504 Words | 3 Pages

Grand industrial and economic growth, as well as personal opportunities for monetary success, were never higher than in the Gilded Age. The founding Industrial Fathers such as Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, J.P. Morgan, and Cornelius Vanderbilt, to name a few, were the pioneers of the Gilded Age and without them, the United States would not resemble even a fraction of what it does today. Without question, these men were the driving force behind the industrial boom, but the debate rages on as to whether these corporate magnates were sagacious business men seeking to debauch the United States for the procurement of monetary superiority or if they were a benevolent force seeking to bring America to the highest level of economic success ever seen

Read More
707 Words | 3 Pages

The decade between 1890 and 1900 expressed a crucial time in the United States of America’s history. Many people experienced struggles throughout this time while others prospered. Mark Twain suggested that despite the significant achievements of the United States, Americans experienced poverty. This statement is an accurate description of the lively hood people experienced in their daily lives during the Gilded Age whether it was positive or negative. Many people during this time period focused on the positive outcomes that resulted from the Gilded Age such as new inventions, the gospel of wealth, additions of land to the country, urbanization, and middle-class improvements.

Read More
330 Words | 2 Pages

The Gilded Age lasted from 1870-1900 The Gilded Age, which spanned the final three decades of the nineteenth century, was one of the most dynamic, contentious, and volatile periods in American history. America's industrial economy exploded, generating unprecedented opportunities for individuals to build great fortunes but also leaving many farmers and workers struggling merely for survival. Overall national wealth increased more than fivefold, a staggering increase, but one that was accompanied by what many saw as an equally staggering disparity between the rich and the poor. Industrial giants like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller revolutionized business and ushered in the modern corporate economy, but also, ironically, sometimes destroyed

Read More
703 Words | 3 Pages

The Great Migration was a time of change it was a time where African-Americans had the chance for a nice life. During this time people of color were moving to the northern half of the USA, in order to get a new start. During this they had to leave the only life they knew in hopes for something better in a different place. To begin with, after World War 1 began in 1914 industries lacked the laborers in their urban cities.

Read More
861 Words | 4 Pages

The Gilded Age lasted from 1870 to World War 1, “1900s.” The Gilded Age was a period of fast economic development, but also much social struggle. Mark Twain in the late nineteenth century founded the “Gilded” Age, which means covered with gold on the outside, but not really golden on the inside, for example, tin. This period of time was glittering on the surface but corrupt underneath. In other words, the outside looked beautiful, but the inside looked old and trashy.

Read More
1577 Words | 7 Pages

The Gilded Age was to describe America in the late nineteenth century. The outside of the US seemed glamorous and splendid alongside industrial development and massive economic growth. However, the dark sides were hidden beneath it. In my perspective, I believe we are living in the 2nd Gilded age.

Read More
235 Words | 1 Pages

Robber Barons and Captains of Industry Some might believe that the businessmen of the Gilded age are robber barons because of how some of them treated their workers and spent their money. The businessmen of the Gilded Age were captains of industry because of the impact that they made on the country. Carnegie, Rockefeller, Morgan, and Vanderbilt all have done things that can identify them as captains of industry. These businessmen gave their time and effort to help the economy grow.

Read More

More about A Very Brief Look At Coney Island During The Gilded Age

Open Document