Gilded Age and Industrial Revolution Overview

The Gilded Age: A Period of Extremes

• The late 1800s in the US was a period of significant economic and social disparity, dubbed the "Gilded Age" by Mark Twain.
• Tycoons amassed immense wealth, while many workers struggled in poverty.
• J.P. Morgan exemplified this disparity, being a key figure in the formation of one of the first billion-dollar corporations.

Industrial Revolution Transformations

• The American economy shifted from agrarian to industrial by 1900.
• The Second Industrial Revolution, spanning roughly from the Civil War to World War I, saw a dramatic increase in factory output due to technological advancements.
• Factories became massive enterprises employing thousands of unskilled workers.
• Automation reduced the need for skilled labor, making worker replacement easier.

Working Conditions

• Industrial workers, especially immigrants, women, and children, faced dire conditions in the 19th century.
• Average wages were low ($483 annually for a male worker in 1900, equivalent to roughly $13,000 today).
• Workdays were often longer than ten hours daily with no paid holidays, and few safety regulations.
• Child labor was rampant, and children were paid far less than adults.
• Factory workers faced significant risks, with thousands killed or injured annually from industrial accidents.
• Employers generally had little liability in industrial accidents.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

• This tragic event highlighted the egregious working conditions of the time.
• On March 25, 1911, a fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, killing 146 workers, mostly young immigrant women.
• Design flaws, like locked doors and poor evacuation routes, exacerbated the tragedy.
• The fire illuminated the lack of safety regulations and employer responsibility.
• The fire significantly shaped public opinion and sparked changes in labor laws.

Conditions Gradual Improvement

• Reforms to improve working conditions for industrial workers began in the early 20th century, spurred by events like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.
• Labor unions started forming to increase worker leverage in the mid-1880s.
• Child labor decreased as scientific management and compulsory education increased, although this process occurred gradually.
• White-collar jobs and a growing middle class emerged as part of the Second Industrial Revolution.

Explore the key themes of the Gilded Age and the Industrial Revolution in America. This quiz highlights the economic disparities, the rise of tycoons like J.P. Morgan, and the harsh working conditions faced by many laborers. Test your knowledge on this transformative period in US history.