1. The Gilded Age October 2, 2014

2. Gilded Age Underneath glittery (gilded) surface was poverty, unemployment, & corruption In cities… Unsanitary; filled with crime Overcrowded – More jobs in the cities White collar: Implies that worker wears “white shirt” and tie to work; non-manual; office work – Example: engineer, accountant, lawyer, doctor, teacher Blue collar: Implies workers use manual labor; non-office – Example: Auto mechanic, factory worker, driver In the West… Native Americans keep being pushed WEST & off their land – Reservation: land specifically reserved for them Minnesota (Dakota Tribe) 39 Native Americans die – largest public hanging in U.S. history

3. In the South… Jim Crow laws: Separate whites and blacks 1896: Plessy v. Ferguson – States “separate BUT equal” is OK Poll taxes & literacy tests are used to keep African Americans from voting Many African Americans don’t have money to OWN LAND…Sharecropping 1.Landowner provides land in exchange for SHARE of Crops 2.Farmer gets seeds & tools from store 3.When plants harvested – percentage goes to landowner 4.Crops that are left, pay for amount OWED for seeds & tools RESULT: NEVER earn enough to BUY OWN LAND