Gilded Age Quiz: 1870-1890

Study Notes

The Gilded Age (1870-1890)

The 2nd Industrial Revolution led to significant industrial and infrastructural expansion predominantly in the North.
By 1880, farming jobs decreased, with ⅔ of Americans employed for wages rather than owning businesses.
Railroads accelerated national expansion, allowing transportation faster and more efficiently than horses.
Time zones were established by railroad companies to synchronize schedules, and a national standard gauge was adopted in 1886.

Economic Changes and Mass Distribution

Ore manufacturing contributed to the growth of mass market distribution.
Mail order sales offered an escape from in-person racial interactions.

Innovations

Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, carbon microphone, and light bulb in the 1870s.
Nikola Tesla introduced the AC electric motor and wireless lighting in the late 1800s.
The development of fully automated guns was led by Hiram Maxim.
Karl Benz created the gas-powered automobile.

Industrial Economy

The economy faced a recession during this time of innovation.
Large companies absorbed smaller ones, enforcing price-fixing and non-competition.
Trusts, or powerful business groups, dominated markets, exemplified by U.S. Steel and Rockefeller’s Oil.

Wealth Disparities and Workers

There was a massive wealth gap, with skilled laborers experiencing financial stability compared to unskilled workers.
Unskilled workers suffered from low pay, job insecurity, and high mortality rates.
The elite class had exclusive havens, with the richest 1% earning equivalent to the combined income of the bottom 50% and owning more property than the remaining 99%.

The Trans-Mississippi West

The Trans-Mississippi West became a focal point of economic and population growth, particularly in Texas and California.
Natives maintained their presence across the plains and mountains despite encroaching development.
The Homestead Act encouraged westward migration, while the cattle industry saw substantial growth.
Life on the frontier was challenging, leading to the rise of bonanza farms by the century's end.

Cowboys and Economic Activity

Cowboys, often poor laborers, attempted to organize strikes for better wages in the 1880s.
Western cities like Reno and San Francisco flourished due to tourism, logging, and mining activities, forming boomtowns.

Chinese Labor and Tensions

Chinese laborers played a crucial role in the economic development of the West, particularly in agriculture and railroads.
Racial tensions existed between white settlers and Asian immigrants.

Mormons and Native Americans

Under Brigham Young, Mormons settled in Utah, aiming to create a religious kingdom, leading to conflicts with federal officials.
Tension arose over issues including polygamy, which the Mormons agreed to abandon in exchange for official leniency.
Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce advocated for Native freedom before President Hayes.

Battles and Assimilation

The discovery of gold led to the invasion of Sioux reservations, igniting the Battle of the Little Bighorn (1876), where Custer’s forces were defeated.
Native American assimilation tactics included military force and the establishment of boarding schools that enforced English language use and altered cultural practices.

Dawes Act

The Dawes Act fragmented Native land into smaller parcels for Native families or sale to whites.
Natives accepting the new land parcels were promised full U.S. citizenship rights.

Description

Test your knowledge on the Gilded Age, focusing on the significant changes during the period from 1870 to 1890. This quiz covers topics like the 2nd Industrial Revolution, job market shifts, and the impact on American society. Dive into the industrial expansion and economic transformations of this era.