Gilded Age Thought and Culture

Lecture 9: Gilded Age Thought and Culture

• "Gilded Age" is the phrase used.
• The U.S. underwent a transformation.
• Railroads played a significant role in this transformation.
• The U.S. experienced increasing diversity.
• Printing technology advanced.
• National daily publishing emerged.
• Local daily publishing was present.
• The concept of progress was theorized.
• Religion and science were debated in relation to progress.
• Darwin's "Origin of Species" influenced thought.
• Herbert Spencer championed "survival of the fittest."
• Charles Darwin contributed the concept of natural selection.
• Theories of progression developed.
• Social Darwinism gained traction.
• Liberal Protestantism emerged.
• Philosophy changed at the college level.
• Pragmatism became influential.
• Figures like John Fiske, Edward Youmans, and John Dewey were prominent.
• The "best man theory" was discussed.
• Edwin Godkin was a notable figure.
• "The Nation" was a relevant publication.
• Laissez-faire economics were advocated.
• Women were entering careers.
• Women's roles in homes were evolving.
• Culture was seen as a remedy to social issues.
• Carnegie Hall was established.
• Business schools grew in number.
• Traditional colleges underwent changes.
• Education expanded in various areas.
• Land Grant colleges were founded.
• Gilded Age rural life existed.
• Railroads impacted rural areas.
• Education was reformed.
• The McGuffey Reader was used in education.
• African-Americans were active in the Gilded Age.
• Fisk College was established.
• Jubilee Singers gained recognition.
• Tuskegee College was founded.
• Churches experienced revival movements.
• Values from new immigrants were present.
• Political cartoons gained meaning.

Lecture 10: Gilded Age Culture of Politics

• Political radicals were present.
• Marxism gained influence.
• Socialism emerged.
• Anarchism developed.
• Marx and Engels were key figures.
• Eugene Debs was a prominent figure.
• Political radicals promoted various ideas during the Gilded Age
• Etiquette and manners were emphasized.
• Traditional Anglo-Saxon values were upheld.
• Catholic and Jewish immigration occurred.
• Political cartoons conveyed meaning.
• Political effects of the Civil War were felt.
• Voters and issues in the 1890s were relevant.
• Veterans and Congress played roles.
• Elections involved campaigning.
• Voters and how they voted were studied.
• Ballots in the Gilded Age were used.
• Political cartoons of voting were created.
• Suffrage was a key issue.
• Wyoming granted voting rights for women.
• NAWSA was founded.
• Suffragettes advocated for suffrage.
• Voting pamphlets were distributed.
• The spoils system was in place.
• Stalwarts were a faction.
• Half-Breeds were another faction.
• Stalwarts and Half-Breeds influenced later elections.
• Candidates for parties emerged.
• Newspapers influenced voting.
• Thomas Nast created cartoons.
• Political cartoons targeted the Irish.
• Investigative reporting emerged.
• Attempts were made to manipulate the press.
• Democrats were associated with donkeys.
• Republicans were associated with elephants.
• Mascots were created.
• Panic occurred during the Third Term.
• The election of 1884 took place.
• Senator Blaine from Maine was a figure.
• Mugwumps were relevant.
• A stalemate existed in politics.
• Republican principles were held.
• Democratic principles were held.
• Political alliances formed.
• Traits of Republican and Democratic voters differed.
• A presidential map existed.
• Swing states were present.
• Core Republican and Democratic beliefs existed.
• The Billion Dollar Congress occurred.
• Voter turnout varied.
• Elections involved Republicans and Democrats.
• Anti-Catholic cartoons by Nast were published.
• Civil Service Reform took place.
• Federal bureaucracy and civil reform occurred.
• New government programs were established.
• President Garfield was assassinated.
• Charles Guiteau was involved.
• The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 was enacted.
• The Civil Service Act brought benefits.
• Women entered government.
• Government underwent changes.
• Power and authority shifted in government.

Lecture 11: Gilded Age Politics and Presidents

• The order of Gilded Age presidents is relevant.
• Grant's accomplishments were noted.
• Grant's scandals occurred.
• A Third Term cartoon was created.
• Hayes' accomplishments were noted.
• Hayes' scandals occurred.
• An election cartoon was created.
• Garfield's accomplishments were noted.
• The assassination of Garfield was important.
• Arthur's accomplishments were noted.
• Arthur's scandals occurred.
• Cleveland's accomplishments were noted.
• Cleveland's scandals occurred.
• An illegitimate child cartoon was created.
• Harrison's accomplishments and personality were noted.
• Cleveland's accomplishments in his second term were noted.
• A political cartoon of Hawaii was created.
• McKinley's accomplishments were noted.
• McKinley's presidency saw a transition to the progressive era
• McKinley was assassinated.
• The money question was debated.
• Bimetallism was advocated.
• A depression occurred from 1893-1897.
• A cartoon of the cross of gold was created.
• Socialism and anarchism were present.
• Railroad strikes occurred.
• Eugene Debs was involved.
• Strikes increased.
• Social gospel projects were undertaken.

Lecture 12: Imperialism

• Populism was present in the Gilded Age.
• An economic crisis occurred in the West and South.
• Goals for the nation were pursued.
• The success or failure of the Populist Party is relevant.
• The gold standard was in place.
• A political cartoon of the Cross of Gold was created.
• The election of 1898 occurred.
• William Jennings Bryan and William McKinley were involved.
• The importance of the 1898 election is relevant.
• The author of "Innocents Abroad" is relevant.
• Domestic policies were pursued.
• International thinking and politics were present.
• A political cartoon was created.
• Army and Navy limitations were set.
• State Department limitations were set.
• Overseas interests of the U.S. were pursued.
• Missionary work was conducted overseas.
• Business efforts were made overseas.
• Social Darwinism influenced overseas relationships.
• Navalism theory was developed.
• Strained relationships existed between Great Britain and the U.S. in South America.
• Investment occurred in Mexico.
• Early trade with China began.
• Perry and Japan were involved.
• Hawaii was involved with missionaries and businesses.
• Cleveland annexed Hawaii.
• Hawaii was annexed.
• China in 1850 is relevant.
• A political cartoon of China was created.
• The Open Door Policy was established.
• Spheres of influence existed..
• The Boxer Rebellion took place.
• A map of spheres of influence was created.
• The Old Monroe Doctrine was relevant.

Lecture 13: Imperialism

• Spanish influence was present in Cuba.
• Yellow journalism emerged.
• Hearst and Pulitzer were key figures.
• A political cartoon of Hearst and Pulitzer was created.
• McKinley responded initially to Cuba.
• The U.S.S. Maine was involved.
• There was press coverage of the U.S.S. Maine.
• The Spanish-American ambassador's letter is relevant.
• Political cartoons depicted the Maine and Cuba.
• The War of 1898 took place.
• Secretary John Hay was a figure.
• Story writers covered the war.
• Heroes emerged from the war.
• Preparations were made for war.
• Warfare occurred in Cuba.
• Campaigns were conducted in Cuba.
• Volunteer regiments were formed.
• The Rough Riders were involved.
• San Juan Hill was the site of battle.
• The U.S. blockaded Cuba.
• Manila Bay, Philippines was the site of battle.
• The length of war is relevant.
• The political cartoon of imperialism was created.
• Warfare occurred in the Philippines.
• George Dewey was involved.
• May 1, 1898 is a significant date.
• The War of the Philippines took place.
• The Philippines-American War (1902) occurred.
• Spain surrendered.
• Concessions were made by Spain.
• The debate over imperialism occurred.
• The Insular Cases of 1900 and annexation took place.
• Independence was considered for Cuba, Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
• Naval bases were established in the Pacific for the U.S.
• A map of imperialism in 1910 was created.
• A political cartoon of a big stick was created.
• The Panama Canal project was undertaken.
• US and Colombian relations were relevant.
• A Panama rebellion occurred.
• The process of building the Panama Canal is relevant.
• The cost of building the Panama Canal is relevant.

Lecture 14: The Progressives

• Pluralism existed in society.
• Progressives had general attitudes toward immigrants.
• Older stock Americans held certain views.
• Issues concerning immigration and older stock Americans arose.
• There was a political cartoon of suffrage.
• Scientific arguments were made by Progressives.
• The attitude of Progressives is relevant.
• Rapid economic growth occurred in the new century.
• Businesses in Progressive Era developed.
• A political cartoon of the Senate was created.
• Progressives wanted business consolidation
• J. Pierpont Morgan was relevant.
• Robber barons and multiple ownerships existed.
• Progressive literature was published.
• "The Jungle" and "Wizard of Oz" were examples.
• Leisure time in America increased.
• Luxuries became necessities.
• Entertainment options expanded.
• Baseball and football began.
• The winner of first world series is relevant.
• Ragtime music emerged.

Lecture 15: The Progressives

• Show business thrived.
• Vaudeville Acts, Broadway and Cohan, Irving Berlin were relevant.
• The movie business began.
• Buster Keaton, Keystone Cops, and Charlie Chaplin were relevant.
• Culture became more homogenized.
• WASP movement occurred.
• Strides forward were made for women, African-Americans, and immigrants.
• Eugenics and drawing became part of the culture.
• Key principles of eugenics movement are relevant.
• Margaret Sanger was involved.
• Prohibition efforts were made.
• Women's suffrage map was created.
• Class consciousness grew.
• Labor unions formed.
• Radicalism influenced politics and labor.
• The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire occurred.
• The AFL was founded.
• Child Labor Laws were enacted.
• Education expanded.
• Urban social justice programs were created.
• Progressives and WASP empire existed.
• Critics of progressive ideas opposed.
• The First World Series occurred.
• National disasters happened.
• The North, South, West, and Plains regions were relevant.
• The Spanish flu of 1919 to 1929 occurred worldwide.
• McKinley was assassinated.
• Roosevelt's domestic policies included First and Second Terms.
• Roosevelt's background is relevant.
• A political cartoon of Roosevelt was created.
• The election of 1908 occurred.
• Policies were undertaken by William Taft.
• The election of 1912 occurred.
• The Bull Moose Party was founded.
• Woodrow Wilson and Louis Brandeis were relevant.
• The Federal Reserve System was created.
• Progressive accomplishments included radical, conservative and moderate views.
• The 16th Amendment was ratified.

Lecture 16: World War I

• Uncle Sam political cartoon was created.
• Aggressive and passive imperialists existed.
• Markets and imperialism were relevant.
• Foreign service began
• Roosevelt's influence was felt in the Pacific, Asia, and Europe.
• A map of Pacific, European, and South American interests was created.
• Expansion of imperialism took place with competition in business, and nationalism.
• Theory of Progress was relevant.
• President Taft had foreign policy goals.
• Dollar diplomacy was practiced.
• Wilson had foreign policy goals and his presidency was relevant.
• Definition of Wilson's presidency is relevant.
• Expansion of imperialism took place with competition in business, and nationalism.
• Theory of Progress was relevant.
• Wilson's foreign policy in 1914, 1915, and 1916 is relevant.
• Political leaders acted as policeman of the world.
• A political cartoon of Wilson's domestic and foreign policies was created.
• There was a spark to US involvement in WWI.
• Allied Powers, Axis Powers are relevant.
• Roots to WWI was relevant.
• Nationalism, Militarism, Alliance system and Imperialism where important.
• A political cartoon of alliance system was created.
• The US entered WWI.
• The causes were unrestricted submarine warfare, Lusitania destroyed, and the Zimmerman note
• Wilson's notes are relevant.
• Selective Service Act was created.
• Registration to draft, Service in war, and Percentage of draft dodgers is relevant.
• The political cartoon of a big stick was created.
• The Panama Canal project was undertaken.
• US and Colombian relations.
• Panama rebellion occurred.
• Process of building and cost of Panama Canal are factors.

Lecture 17: World War I

• New types of warfare are relevant
• Schlieffen battle plan was created.
• The battles of Marne, Ypres, Somme, Verdun, stalemate all occurred.
• Map of Schlieffen Plan and Foch's Campaign map were created
• Trench life, Air power in WWI, Naval battles, Naval blockade, Submarine warfare.
• All affected warfare.
• The eastern front, Tannenberg, Gallipoli, Russo-Turkish Offensive, and the Brest-Litovsk Treaty all occurred.
• The western front and US entry, Pershing, AEF, and African-American service in WWI are all relevant
• Changes to Western Front 1918, Ludendorff Campaign, Counter-Offensive by Allies, 100 Day Offensive, Meuse Argonne Offensive, Alvin York, and the Armistice all occurred.
• The Schlieffen plan was created.
• The map of Schlieffen plan was made.
• There was war dead.
• Air power was used during war.
• Map of The Eastern Front was created.
• The Lusitania sinking and the Zimmerman note contributed to war.
• Wilson's notes were relevant.
• 14 points – main aspects, Big Four, League of Nations, Peace of Paris, Treaty of Versailles, and the End of Wilson's presidency are all relevant.
• Soldiers who served in WWI include Hitler, Churchill, Hemingway.