...The Gilded Age ‘ The Gilded Age was a time of huge social change and economic growth in the United States. This time period brought a rapid development in urbanization, industrialization, the building of the railroads, innovations in science, and the rise of big business. New products and technologies improved middle-class quality of life for Americans. The rise of the Gilded Age in American History helped the American economy long-term to this present day. Economic development in the United Sates was made through the impact of transportation innovations. The Gilded Age brought upon positive changes in America there was a demand of manufactured goods that increased, therefore, needing an efficient way to keep up with high demand. This brought upon the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, connecting the Pacific and Atlantic lines, which would be used for centuries to come. The Pacific Railway Act passed on July 1, 1862 provided what was needed for the construction for this production. In the act it states: The question of "internal improvements" was constantly before Congress in the 19th century: Should Congress assist in improving the country’s transportation system? One such improvement was the dream of constructing a railroad that would cross the entire country. Railroading became a highly profitable business venture during this time period. The expansion of the railroads meant that goods and products could be more easily exported around the country...
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...Captains of Industry? Or Robber Barons? [pic] Overview: The thirty years plus, following the end of the Civil War, is often referred to as the “Gilded Age”. This was a term coined by Mark Twain, the most renowned American writer of the period. It refers to a superficial period of intense economic growth. During this time, businessmen created large business organizations known as trusts. The ingenuity of these entrepreneurs earned the titles of “Captains of Industry”. Yet, their ruthlessness in building wealth at the expense of their competitors, workers and consumers often earned them the title “Robber Baron”. This DBQ (Document Based Questions) asks you to decide whether these businessmen were “Captains of Industry” or “Robber Barons”. Background Essay During the post-Civil War period, an era commonly referred to as the Gilded Age, the economy of the United States grew at a fantastic rate. With the exception of a recession during the mid-1870s, and another during the mid-1890s, the economic growth was in unprecedented in United States history. Manufacturing output increased by 180 percent. Railroads, an important catalyst of growth, increased in miles by 113 percent. Steel production grew to over 10,000,000 tons per year by 1900. Every aspect of the American economy expanded from traditional activities to new enterprises brought about by the huge influx of cutting-edge technological inventions. The gross national product almost doubled during the period and the per...
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...During the eighteenth and nineteenth century, the Industrialization Era took place and changed the way America and Europe produced merchandise forever. America and Europe continually grew more urban and factories transformed the entire way the typical working man spent his work day. The Gilded Age followed the Industrialization Era and represented the large economic growth in America. After the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era occurred. The Progressive Era began in the late 18th century and political reform and social activism became the active goal during this time. During the Progressive Era, environmental protection was needed in order to save the Earth from the rapidly increasing urbanization. It was people like Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford...
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... The Post Civil War marked an economic transformation of the United States. With the unprecedented surge in immigration and urbanization, American society was now in transition. A transition that included the most influential third political party movement ever. Major aspects of industrialization during 1865 and 1920 that influenced U.S. society, economy, and politics One key to the rite of the industrial economy was the expansion of railroads. The First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States was built in the 1860’s. Linking the well-developed railway network of the eastern coast with rapidly growing California. Construction on the first transcontinental railroad began after President Abraham Lincoln approved the Pacific Railway Act of 1862, a landmark that authorized the federal government to financially back the construction of a transcontinental railroad. Lincoln felt the transcontinental railroad was a necessity, an idea whose time had come (HUL 2014). With the development of the transcontinental railroad spurred a major economic growth. The true economic impact of the railroad may never be known, but one thing is for certain: It was dramatic. The flow of goods over the line after the first full year of operation was around $50 million in 1869 dollars (Friedman 2010). Individuals felt the joining of America, economically, geographically and totally was complete. But with the development of the railroads came a rise in big businesses...
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...the rapid economic growth and prosperity in the U.S. which became to have the most dominant economic, industrial, and agricultural power during this time. The United States had accumulation of capital through a continuing series of investment that just soared dramatically. This economic soar was a turning point for American History and a relief for those who did not have jobs, it was an opportunity for those who did not have job to finally be able seek a better living and a decent job. Robert Higgs, a graduate student wrote a book of the American Economy during 1865-1914. In Robert Higgs book “The Transformation of the American Economy,” he states, “The Gilded Age, lasting from 1865 to World War I, was an era of economic growth never before seen in the history of the world. The standard of living of the modern age was born during this time of phenomenal transition. Lives lengthen. Wealth exploded. The middle class lived better than kings a century earlier” (Transformation of The American Economy). This statement in the book clearly speaks for itself. The economy during this time era was a tremendous upscale in history. The significance of the economic growth during this time meant no more living with the worry of not having a job or having to migrate from city to city just to find a job. This time period brought many people the chance to live a better life and with better pay so to say. Many companies and factories took a huge part of this economic growth. The fast-growing national...
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...expansion From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Golden Age of capitalism" redirects here. Other periods this term may refer to are Gilded Age and Belle Époque. In the United States and several other countries, the boom was manifested insuburban development and urban sprawl, aided by automobile ownership. Many Western governments funded large infrastructure projects during this period. Here the redevelopment of Norrmalm and theStockholm Metro, Sweden. The post–World War II economic expansion, also known as the postwar economic boom, the long boom, and the Golden Age of Capitalism, was a period of economic prosperity in the mid-20th century which occurred, following the end of World War II in 1945, and lasted until the early 1970s. It ended with the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1971, the 1973 oil crisis, and the 1973–1974 stock market crash, which led to the 1970s recession. Narrowly defined, the period spanned from 1945 to 1952, with overall growth lasting well until 1971, though there are some debates on dating the period, and booms in individual countries differed, some starting as early as 1945, and overlapping the rise of the East Asian economies into the 1980s or 1990s. During this time there was high worldwide economic growth; Western European and East Asian countries in particular experienced unusually high and sustained growth, together with full employment. Contrary to early predictions, this high growth also included many countries that had been devastated...
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...OUTLINE & THESIS STATEMENT Impact of Industrialization after the Civil War on American Society (Thesis & Outline) [Strayer University] [U.S History 105] ] Impact of Industrialization After the Civil War on American Society (Thesis & Outline) Part 1- Thesis Statement The Industrial Revolution marks a major turning point in human history; almost every aspect of daily life was influenced in some way. After the Civil War, industrialization took on an unpredictable change of events that had a major affect on improving American life. The Industrial Revolution affected farming, manufacturing, and legislatives and led to a increase in the wealth and prosperity of the countries in which it occurred.. First, new and improved methods of planting and harvesting crops, breeding and rearing animals, and fertilizing the land increased productivity. Second, arrival of steam-powered farm machinery meant to replace farm laborers were needed to work the land. Third, Homestead Act, a significant amount of land had been set aside for cheap to migrated families from the west. Farmer were able to own their own home and farm using on their own time and resources, once their obligations to the government were fulfilled in 5 years the land was theirs with no strings attached. Although the war was over and slavery was abolished, nothing changed much for African American. They still had to work for their masters, and were limited to the rights they had...
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...The Great Plains— To the Point Geography- West of the MS River *1800 Territory in the plains included North Dakota & South Dakota, Nebraska, and states such as Texas * Great Plains had very hot summers and very cold winters, very rainfall which droughts few sources of water very few trees - conditions not fit for farming *Before the late 1800s U.S. settlers did not settle the plains. Farming The Plains *Farming the plains was difficult * Gov’t encourage settlement by passing the Homestead Act -$160 acres -$10 registration fee - live on farm land for 5 yrs *Houses was made of sod because of lack of trees Farming Technologies - Cast Iron wingmill- allowed them to pump waterfrom wells. - Steel plow- to wooden plow would break in dry hard earth of the plains Cattle Industry Mechanical binder- tied and cut the grains or crops simultaneously - barbed wire- replaced wooden fences Rise of cattle industry -abundance of cattle in Great Plain -herd of cattle numbering about 2,500 were taken on long drive (cattle trails such as the chilsoln trail which was San Antonio, Texas to Abliene, Kansas) to Ship stations in Kansas and Missouri -African American Cowhand- Nat Love Decline Of cattle industry -overgrazing -overproduction costs the product to drop -weather (droughts, blizzards) -barbed wire led to development of cattle ranches ...
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...this occurs, competing businesses and giant government entities will stop at nothing to shut it down. The Sherman Antitrust Act, the Clayton Act, and the Federal Trade Commission Act make up the current US antitrust laws. The antitrust laws are supposed to promote and protect competition. The philosophy behind the laws is that trusts and monopolies will stagnate markets and prevent others from engaging in healthy market competition. A monopoly is defined as a situation in which a single company owns all or nearly all of the market for a given type of product or service. (Investorwords, 2010) Antitrust law legislation started with the Sherman Act that was passed in 1890. The intent of the law was put in place to challenge the unchecked growth of corporations. By 1888, large corporations gained enough market muscle to dominate entire industries. The Sherman Act outlaws all contracts, combinations, and conspiracies that unreasonably restrain interstate trade. This includes agreements among competitors to fix prices, rig bids and allocate consumers. The Act also makes it a crime to monopolize any part of interstate commerce. Criminal prosecution will be filed if the Sherman act is violated. If found guilty, the violator can be fined up to $1 million and sentenced up to 10 years in federal...
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...assets to annihilation the Confederacy. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation taking after the thrashing of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's at Antietam, the bloodiest one-day fight in American history. This opened the entryway for some African Americans in the North to enroll for military administration. The South's fizzling economy prompted sustenance deficiencies, mobs, and poor spirit. Conversely, the North's developing commercial ventures supplied Union troops, while advancements in horticulture helped keep up product generation. On both sides, ladies worked in plants, ran homesteads and organizations, and filled in as medical caretakers. Gift's attack on Vicksburg, Mississippi denoted the defining moment of the war, and his prosperity at Gettysburg put the Confederacy on edge for the rest of the war. In the North, voters reelected the president, and Lincoln took it as an order to end servitude forever. Lee surrendered to Grant's strengths at Appomattox Courthouse, finishing the Civil War. Lincoln delineated his arrangement for restoring the Southern states to the Union, yet he was killed before he could complete his arrangements. 2.5 Reconstruction Area 5 portrays the phases of Reconstruction that took after the Civil War. In spite of the fact that the Civil War had finished, the fight over bondage and African American rights delayed between the president and Congress. President Lincoln's arrangements for Reconstruction called for tolerance toward the South and...
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...AVI-YONAHFINAL.DOC FEBRUARY 26, 2002 2/26/02 5:38 PM Book Review Why Tax the Rich? Efficiency, Equity, and Progressive Taxation Reuven S. Avi-Yonah† Does Atlas Shrug? The Economic Consequences of Taxing the Rich. Edited by Joel B. Slemrod.∗ Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2000. Pp. 524. $57.95. In Greek mythology, Atlas was a giant who carried the world on his shoulders. In Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged, Atlas represents the “ prime movers” —the talented few who bear the weight of the world’s economy.1 In the novel, the prime movers go on strike against the oppressive burden of excessive regulation and taxation, leaving the world in disarray and demonstrating how indispensable they are to the rest of us (the “ second handers” ). Rand wrote in a world in which the top marginal federal income tax rate in the United States was 91% (beginning at taxable income of $400,000).2 This is an unimaginably high rate by today’s standards, when the dominant view in Washington is that a marginal rate of 39.6% (the top † Irwin I. Cohn Professor of Law, University of Michigan. I would like to thank Yossi Edrey, Allen Graubard, David Hasen, Judy Herman, Don Herzog, Jim Hines, Bob Kuttner, Doron Lamm, Jeff Lehman, Kyle Logue, Dan Shaviro, Joel Slemrod, Dennis Ventry, and Larry Zelenak for their extremely helpful suggestions. All errors are mine. * Paul W. McCracken Collegiate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy, University of Michigan. 1. AYN RAND, ATLAS...
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.................................................................................................................. 11 Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee .................................................................................................................................... 15 Prostitution in the West: .................................................................................................................................................... 17 The Gilded Age ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 The Duties of American Citizenship ................................................................................................................................. 21 The Gospel of Wealth ....................................................................................................................................................... 28 The Richest of the Rich, Proud of a New Gilded Age...
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...Español | Français | Русский | USINFO > Publications An Outline of the U.S. Economy Related Item USA Economy in Brief CONTENTS Continuity and Change This volume was prepared for the U.S. Department of State by Christopher Conte, a former editor and reporter for the Wall Street Journal, with Albert R. Karr, a former Wall Street Journal reporter. It updates several previous editions that had been issued by the U.S. Information Agency beginning in 1981. How the U.S. Economy Works The U.S. Economy: A Brief History Small Business and the Corporation Stocks, Commodities, and Markets The Role of the Government in the Economy Monetary and Fiscal Policy American Agriculture: Its Changing Significance (Posted February 2001) Labor in America: The Worker's Role Other Language Versions: Foreign Trade and Global Economic Policies Afterword: Beyond Economics Glossary Executive Editor: George Clack | Editor: Kathleen E. Hug | Art Director: Barbara Long Illustrations: Lisa Manning | Internet Editor: Barbara Long This site is produced and maintained by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs. Links to other internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein. Home | About USINFO | Site Index | Webmaster | Privacy Topics | Regions | Resource Tools | Products | | Continuity and Change How the U.S. Economy Works The U.S. Economy: A Brief History Small...
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...The United States of America (USA), commonly referred to as the United States (US), America, or simply the States, is a federal republic[10][11] consisting of 50 states, 16 territories, a federal district, and various overseas extraterritorial jurisdictions. The 48 contiguous states and the federal district of Washington, D.C. are in central North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is the northwestern part of North America and the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also has five populated and nine unpopulated territories in the Pacific and the Caribbean. At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km2) in total and with around 316 million people, the United States is the fourth-largest country by total area and third largest by population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries.[12] The geography and climate of the United States is also extremely diverse, and it is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Paleo-indians migrated from Asia to what is now the US mainland around 15,000 years ago,[13] with European colonization beginning in the 16th century. The United States emerged from 13 British colonies located along the Atlantic seaboard. Disputes between Great Britain and these colonies led to the American Revolution. On July 4, 1776, delegates from the 13 colonies unanimously issued the Declaration of Independence. The ensuing war ended...
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... E N T S CHAPTER 1 Early America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 CHAPTER 2 The Colonial Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 CHAPTER 3 The Road to Independence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 CHAPTER 4 The Formation of a National Government . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 CHAPTER 5 Westward Expansion and Regional Differences . . . . . . . 110 CHAPTER 6 Sectional Conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 CHAPTER 7 The Civil War and Reconstruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 CHAPTER 8 Growth and Transformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 CHAPTER 9 Discontent and Reform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 CHAPTER 10 War, Prosperity, and Depression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 CHAPTER 11 The New Deal and World War I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 CHAPTER 12 Postwar America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256 CHAPTER 13 Decades of Change: 1960-1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 CHAPTER 14 The New Conservatism and a New World Order . . . . . . 304 CHAPTER 15 Bridge to the 21st Century . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320 PICTURE PROFILES Becoming a Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Transforming a Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....
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