1. ECONOMIC & SOCIETAL CHANGES in the Gilded Age

2. ECONOMY Industrialization leads to a growing economy Causes:
technological innovations
Investment
abundant natural resources
creative business models
growing market
available labor force
Nation-wide transportation/communication network

3. ECONOMY Industrialization Results: mass production of goods
higher standard of living
creation of more jobs
national economic development

4. ECONOMY The growth of Railroads promoted western settlement
Led to large scale farming and economic development in the west

5. ECONOMY
Farm issues
Resentment of big businesses monopolies led to the creation of
The Grange Movement
The Farmers Alliance
The People’s Party

6. ECONOMY Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise
Development of new market structures, such as monopoly
Businesses enjoyed the laissez-faire approach of government but pushed the limits of the free enterprise system resulting in the need for legislation to address abusive practices

7. The Pros and Cons of Big Business
National economic growth
Abundance of goods
Improved standard of living
Employed skilled and unskilled workers
Development of philanthropic endeavors

8. The Pros and Cons of Big Business
Some business models eliminated competition – monopolies and trusts
unfair influence over government and other national interests
Gap between the rich and the poor increased

9. SOCIETY
Women
aligned themselves to other social issues like the temperance (anti-alcohol) and abolitionist (anti-slavery) movement
Women’s suffrage
They want the vote, but instead focus on the social issues to eventually reach the political issues

10. SOCEITY
Minorities
State laws were passed that denied former slaves of their civil rights.
State and national legislation allowed discrimination and segregation
Lays the groundwork for organization that champion civil rights

11. SOCIETY
Children
Poverty and demand for workers lead to larger numbers of children in the workforce
In 1890, 18% of the workforce was made up of children
education for children was not required in all states
In this era legislation was passed to protect children and future workers

12. SOCIETY Urbanization & Poverty
Relief for the poor comes from religious and private organizations – not the government.
Social Gospel
A movement in American Protestant Christianity to bring the social order into conformity with Christian principles as a means of reforming society.

13. SOCIETY Philanthropy of Industrialists
Belief that those who profited from society owed it something in return
Use of great fortunes to further social progress – education, medicine, arts, etc.