1. The Gilded Age

2. The Gilded Age: Innovation & Inequality
Guided Notes
The Gilded Age: Innovation & Inequality

3. Life Before 1870* Limited technology No indoor electric lighting
Only candles or oil lamps
No refrigerators
only iceboxes
Mail delivered by horse and carriage

4. New Inventions* Steel invented (1856) Oil is used for fuel (1858)
Railroad tracks begin to cross the country (1869)
Telephone (1876)
Light bulbs become common (1880s)

5. A New Capitalist Class*
These new inventions led to large corporations controlled by powerful capitalists.
Standard Oil Company
John D. Rockefeller
Carnegie Steel
Andrew Carnegie

6. A New Working Class*
Thousands of people move to cities to work in the new factories
Immigrants from Europe
African Americans from the South
Farmers from rural areas
The working class experiences very harsh conditions

7. Exploitation*
Workers were paid very low wages and worked hours
Children as young as 6 worked in factories
Dangerous working conditions and no safety laws  many injuries

8. Summary
Write a 2-3 sentence summary of the Gilded Age