Gilded Age, Questions And Answers

Q1 - Explain at least five reasons for the rapid industrialization of the United States in the late nineteenth century. How did the culture of the time support wealth and big business? How was America transformed during the Gilded Age? What was the legacy of this era of American history? The competitive nature and lust for wealth of Americans led to the Gilded Age. During this time, America expanded its empire in the West with steel railroads, opening the floodgates to an industrial age. A few reasons for the rapid industrialization of the United States are the (1) “dispossession” of Native Americans which led to the demand of railroad systems; (2) Reconstruction Era left the South in shambles, but it allowed the South to urbanize quickly as

Also, with new discoveries and inventions being made frequently during the late nineteenth century, the inventors got rich off of their ideas and learnings. For one instance, the railroads “bestowed enormous riches on a handful of tycoons,” (Roark). But it was not just the innovators that benefited from the new booming businesses. All of the new businesses provided jobs for many Americans at the time which “left a legacy of lavish spending,” (Roark). The inventions and discoveries made during the Gilded Age changed the daily lives of Americans. With all of its glory, the Gilded Age led America into an urbanized era, but, left with notable calls for social reform. The Gilded Age was a time of industrialization, urbanization, and big businesses. The inventions of the late nineteenth century led to further advances in technology and allowed America to flourish. The Gilded Age is known mostly for its expansion of railroads, steel factories, the discovery of oil, and electric and telephone industries. For those at the time, it was an opportunity to get rich quick, and even, stay

How did people cope with the economic crisis? How did the Great Depression transform America? In an effort to improve American business, the United States established taxes which restricted foreign countries from importing and selling their products to Americans. By doing so, foreign nations were not receiving income to buy American products, hindering America’s export trade. With the banks also lending loans, debt began to grow, and the American economy began to spiral out of control. Between 1924 and 1929, the values of stocks skyrocketed. Many Americans were still hopeful in their “get rich quick” mindset and were actively buying stocks on margin. October 29, 1929 marked the beginning of a six-month period which the stock market lost six-sevenths of its total value (Roark). In November of 1929, President Hoover implemented a “voluntary plan for recovery: Businesses would maintain production and keep their workers on the job; labor would accept existing wages, hours, and conditions,” (Roark). But, the bargain was of no avail. Without consumer-demand, production came to a slow stop, wages were cut, and employees were laid off. With many people out of jobs, spending of consumers decreased, once again leading to a cease in production, more wage cuts, and further loss of jobs. By 1933, nearly 13 million people were jobless. Due to the lack of jobs, many became homeless, scavenging for food in garbage cans. The textbook