The

Gilded

Age

By Brad Harris,

Grand Prairie HSSE: US 2A, 3A, 3B. 3C

Historical ErasCharacteristics of an Historical Era

1) They have certain recognizable

characteristics.

2) They often overlap with other eras and

time periods.

3) They are often unique to a specific

country or area.

Historical Eras of U.S. History (since 1877)

1) Gilded Age ……………………….. (1870s-1900)

2) Progressive Era ………………. (1900-1920)

3) World War I ……………………….. (1914-1918)

4) Roaring „‟20s …………………….. (1920-1929)

5) Great Depression …………… (1929-1939)

6) World War II …………………….. (1939-1945)

7) Cold War ………………………….. (1945-1991)

8) Civil Rights Movement …. (1950s-60s)

The Gilded Age

The term “Gilded Age” was coined by writer

Mark Twain

The Gilded Age is the period in U.S. history

between 1870 to around 1900

The Gilded Age

The era was called the Gilded Age because although

life in the U.S. looked bright and shiny, underneath the

surface, there was lots of poverty and corruption.

The Gilded Age

1) New policies dealing with Native Americans

2) Rise of political machines running local politics

3) The growth of industrialization

Characteristics of Gilded Age

Groups that suffered during the Gilded Age:

The Gilded Age

Native AmericansNative Americans were forced onto reservations and their

children were forced to assimilate into American culture

Groups that suffered during the Gilded Age:

The Gilded Age

African AmericansBlacks were denied many basic rights and lynching

of blacks was a common occurrence in the South

Groups that suffered during the Gilded Age:

The Gilded Age

FarmersOverproduction of goods and price gauging by

railroads drove many farmers out of business

Groups that suffered during the Gilded Age:

The Gilded Age

ImmigrantsMany immigrants were discriminated against and

most lived in horrible inner city conditions

Groups that suffered during the Gilded Age:

The Gilded Age

WomenWomen were denied the right to vote in most states

and could not work the same jobs as men

Groups that suffered during the Gilded Age:

The Gilded Age

ChildrenMost children lacked good educations because they

went to work after they learned to read and write

Coming up next:

The Old West