American Experience: The Gilded Age

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/gilded-age/#part01

In the closing decades of the nineteenth century, during what has become known as the Gilded Age, the
population of the United States doubled in the span of a single generation. The nation became the world’s
leading producer of food, coal, oil, and steel, attracted vast amounts of foreign investment, and pushed
into markets in Europe and the Far East. As national wealth expanded, two classes rose simultaneously,
separated by a gulf of experience and circumstance that was unprecedented in American life. These
disparities sparked passionate and violent debate over questions still being asked in our own times: How
is wealth best distributed, and by what process? Does government exist to protect private property or
provide balm to the inevitable casualties of a churning industrial system? Should the government concern
itself chiefly with economic growth or economic justice? The battles over these questions were fought in
Congress, the courts, the polling place, the workplace and the streets. The outcome of these disputes was
both uncertain and momentous, and marked by a passionate vitriol and level of violence that would shock
the conscience of many Americans today. The Gilded Age presents a compelling and complex story of one
of the most convulsive and transformative eras in American history.

Viewing Questions- PBS- American Experience- The Gilded Age

Scene 1: Progress- 0:00

1. Thirty years after the Civil War, America had transformed into an economic powerhouse. How did this
transformation divide Americans?
It caused wide divided in the economic status of people and their opportunities to grow.

2. What was the key to transforming America from a nation of regions, to an urban country with a
national market?
It went urban country due to the railroad network that allowed the market to grow.

3. By the 1880s what was the nation’s largest corporation?

Pennsylvania railroad.

4. How did Americans view progress?

It was seen as inevitable and they were destined to invent new inventions with an industrial spirit.

Scene 2: Carnegie- 8:16

5. Why is Andrew Carnegie used as an example of the American dream?

He would ride his hoarse around the park he was an example of a young man moving up. He was just a
regular immigrant boy from ireland to work in america.

6. How did Carnegie make his fortune?

Through the steel industry.

Scene 3: Alva Triumphs - 17:00

 7. What does Alva Vanderbilt do which challenges New York Society?
She shows the wealth via her home. She adds statue of nude people to shock them and show off.

8. How does Alva Vanderbilt’s childhood shape her adult life?

She was born in Alabama during the enslavement. She mingled with the rich people and their homes She
was willful and disobedient. Due to the fact that she was beaten.

9. How does access to mass media help Alva’s quest for social acceptance?
She was able to use the media to inform everybody of her party. This forced the elite of New york to come
attend her party.

Scene 4: Opportunity- 28:20

10. Why did immigrants come to America? How many came from 1880-1885 and where did they come
from?
There were more opportunities for you to grow in america. More than 3 million people came and they
came from russia, ireland, italy, scandinavia.

11. What impact does wage labor, working for a paycheck, have on the way immigrants lived?
Their was so many more workers that the wage was fixed and would be giving a fixed rate for
employment and could be replaced at any moment. They tried to improve pay by forming unions.

12. Why does historian Richard John say the United States is an anomaly in the late 19th century.
Due to the workers voting in the United States.

Scene 5: Mayor’s Race- 35:15

13. Who was Henry George and why was he a “perfect candidate” to represent the problems of the
working class?
Because he was a worker and public figure who represented the working class due to his work. He would
try to sell products to people.

14. What did Henry George identify as the problem in America?

The success of america wasn’t universal spread and went to the rich while the others delt into poverty.

15. How does George explain why poverty exists? How is this different from the traditional explanation?
It isn’t their vault it’s the way the system was established. He showed the product of the system.

16. What “big new ideas” did George offer in his campaign?
Increase tax on property, public ownership of mass transit, and better working conditions for workers.

17. According to historian H.W. Brands, what did the appeal and success of George indicate that a
growing number of Americans believed?
That a growing amount of Americans feel that their a major problem with the american economy. He
represented the growing majority of workers that wants change.
Scene 6: Morgan- 43:12

18. How does historian Richard John describe Morgan’s role between Europe and the United States?
He was conduit as european investment to american businesses. He worked with the Europeans to invest
their money into the american economy.

19. What does Morgan see as the major problem with the railroad industry?
Wasteful parallel infrastructure. They were not being economically viable.

20. How does Morgan attempt to solve the railroad industries problem?
To combine the railroad industry into one company.

21. After his failed attempts to bring the railroad bosses together, what conclusion does he come to and
what does he see as his only solution?
He’s never going to get these railroads together. He decided to merge the railroad companies into a
monopolistic company.

Scene 7: Lease & Populists- 51:55

22. What were the reasons that farmers were not sharing in the prosperity of the age?
They were working long hours and they had high interest loans . ALongside expensive transportation
fees. This caused economic growth for them to be unattainable.

23. How had farmers lives changed with the introduction of industrial capitalism?
The population tripled.

24. Who was Mary Elizabeth Lease? Why was she important?
She was a very charismatic person who could understand the rural people of america. Here siblings
suffered from death and she was a daughter of an immigrant. Her family lost most of their money and
went into poverty.

25. Why did the Populist feel like they had to abandon the two major parties?
They feel both parties are too corrupt and are bought by big business.

26. Why was Wall Street seen as the “arch villain”?

Because it controlled everybody's life through paper and didn’t contribute anything to the people.

27. What happened on election day in Kansas? What effect did this have on the rest of the nation?
They won 91 seats and had the majority of the seats while the decomcarts had 8 and republicans 26.

28. Who was attracted to the Populist Party? Why?

The working class of farmers, labor unions, minors, black professionals/farmers.

29. What were the radical and untested ideas the Populist Party platform was built upon?
A federal Income tax, Public owned railroads and utilities, and a treasury departments for low interest
lows.

Scene 8: Homestead- 1:02:32

30. Describe the community at Homestead.

It was a community of 4000 ish families where they had good quality home sand good education. They
felt like they had a stake in the company.
31. What was the simple reason Carnegie opposed raising wages?
BEcause he was an independent capitalist and wanted to keep making money.

32. Who was Herbert Spencer and what were his ideas?
An author on the book of nature. The survival of the fittest.

33. What happened at Homestead?

There was a wage cut and it was refused and their was a strike. A small skirmish erupted when the factory
owners of the plant wanted to put a garrison in the factory grounds.
Scene 9: Crash- 1:10:26

34. What caused the Panic of 1893?

Powerful company in wall street was losing value and caused many people to sell their stock in the
market.

35. Why was the Panic of 1893 different than the panics and economic downturns that came before?
It was a deeper, sharper, and more powerful impact on the people. Due to industrialization it caused more
people to more reliant on the overall economy.

36. How does the government help American citizens during hard times?
There was no support the government gave to the people of the United states.

Scene 10: Coxey’s March- 1:14:00 - 1:21:50

37. Who was Jacob Coxey and what was his goal?
He was a young irish man and he wanted to march for men to work. He wanted the government to hire
people who are out of work.

38. What did his “Army” experience as they looked to gain the attention of the federal government?
They started off bad with a bad storm but he got on the front page news against the federal government.

39. How did the Federal Government respond to this movement?

They labeled them as the rabble/criminals. The police beat up Coxey and was charged with crimes.
Scene 11: Gold Crisis- 1:21:50

40. How did Morgan use the economic downturn to gain control of the railroad industry?
It allowed him to buy low and enjoy the economic growth when they get out of the depression.
41. What is happening to the nation’s gold supply?
They were pulling all of the gold of the country due to the european investors wanting to pull out of their
investments.

42. In the fight over money, who supports the gold standard and who supports the introduction of silver
into the U.S. currency system?
Many Labor/Farmers supported new silver being added while the Capitalist support gold standard.

43. This is a very important concept to understand- “The whole idea that President Cleveland could solve
the problem by himself is based on this bizarre assumption that Presidents can solve economic
problems. That’s a 20th century assumption. It’s not a 19th century assumption.”
The President during this time didn;t have to power to change to economy while morgan does.
44. Why was Morgan better equipped to deal with the financial crisis than President Cleveland?
He had more economic wealth and connections.

45. How did Morgan prevent the United States from going bankrupt?
Morgan gave Cleveland money to the government in a private loan.

Scene 12: Alva Gets Divorced 1:30:00

46. Describe the social scene during the summers among Elite Society.
They spent most of their days trying to entertain themselves. They panned games and parties.
47. How does Alva Vanderbilt once again challenge social norms in the summer of 1895? Do you
consider her to ultimately be a winner or a loser in this situation?
She sued her husband for divorice. This was not something women did often and especially the elite. She
was the winner, she would have 3 estates and her children.
Scene 13: Bryan Nomination- 1:36:00

48. Why Bryan’s Cross of Gold speech so powerful?

He made sure to project his voice and makes urre all could hear his speech about his beliefs about the
wealth of the elite over the people.

49. How did the Democratic party’s view of the role of government change?
They started to use more populist ideals this caused the two parties to combine against big business.

Scene 14: The Election- 1:41:15

50. What is McKinley and the Republican party’s message during the campaign?
He strongly opposed the Democratic platform and he promised to keep the industrial economy and big
business.

51. How did Big Business support McKinley’s campaign?

They gave him massive donations for his campaign.
Scene 15: US Steel- 1:49:25

52. What are the results of the election of 1896? What do these results indicate about America and the
direction in which it is headed?
McKinley won showing that the rich still controlled america and capitalism will meddle with democracy.

53. How did the Gilded Age transform America?

We produce more goods like steel than europe and the economy doubled in size. Turning into a global
power.

54. Why are democracy and capitalism seemingly incompatible?

Democracy represents equality=1 vote per 1 person. Capitalism represent inequality, rich above the poor.

55. Synthesis Question: Was the Gilded Age a good thing for the United States?
Yes, The Gilded Age was good for America. While many inequalities were set up due to the capitalist
system. There were many improvements economically. In a short time the America econial doubled
and size and became an industrial powerhouse. This will allow more to spend in America. With more
money, eventually it will trickle down to the poor, one way or another.