Gilded Age
Context: By the 1890s, a significant number of Americans grew increasingly concerned about the way their nation and society had changed over the course of the Gilded Age. The political changes and confrontations of the Reconstruction period, rapid industrialization, unprecedented urban growth, and global migrations had brought about political, social, cultural, and economic changes on local, national, and global levels. A new generation of political reformers and other civically engaged Americans responded to these new circumstances with “progressive ideas.” But did their solutions succeed, and did they stay true to the American promise of equal opportunity, justice, and liberty?
Prompt: First, identify the main principles of the progressive movement, discuss their concerns, and explain how progressives sought to bring about urban, labor, and other social reforms. In the second part of your essay, evaluate whether progressive initiatives improved American society and the nation. If not, how would you characterize the change they brought about?
The following course materials apply to this assignment:
Michael Schaller et al., American Horizons: U.S. History in a Global Context, Volume II: Since 1865. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012)
Michael Schaller et al., Reading American Horizons: U.S. History in a Global Context, Volume II: Since 1865. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012):
16.1 Frederick Jackson Turner, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History” (1893)
16.3 Remembering the Hop Alley Riots,”The Pest of the Pacific” (1880)
17.2 Visual Document: The Female Slaves of New York–’Sweaters’ and Their Victims (1888)
17.3 Emma E. Brown, Excerpt from Children’s Labor: A Problem (1880)
17.4 Visual Document: Puck, The Protectors of Our Industries (1890)
17.5 John Brophy, Excerpt from A Miner’s Life (1964)
17.6 The Manufacturer and Builder, Excerpt, “The Homestead Affair” (1892)
17.7 The New England Magazine, Excerpt, “Editor’s Table” (1893)
18.1 Wiktorya and Antoni Osinski, Excerpt of Letters from Poland to Children who Immigrated to the U.S. (1902-1908)
18.2 Visual Document: Judge, The Inevitable Result To The American Workingman of Indiscriminate Immigration (c. 1890)
18.3 Immigration Commission, Excerpt, Reports of the Immigration Commission: Emigration Conditions in Europe. Reports of the Immigration Commission: Emigration Conditions in Europe, Presented by Mr. Dillingham (1911)
18.4 Visual Document: Harper’s Weekly, The Chinese Question (1871)
18.5 Visual Document: Tecumsah (Neb.) Chieftan, Homeless Children (1893)
18.6 Mary Elizabeth Lease, Excerpt of Speech (1896)
19.3 Albert Beveridge, Excerpt, The March of the Flag (1898)
19.5 Letters from Black Soldiers in the Philippines (1899; 1900)
20.1 George H. White, Farewell Address to Congress (1901)
20.2 Visual Document: “Bull Moose” Party Campaign Poster (1912)
20.3 Helen Keller, Excerpt, Strike Against War (1916)
20.4 William G. Shepherd, Excerpt, Eyewitness at the Triangle Fire (1911)
20.5 Jane Addams, Excerpt, Women and Internationalism (1915)
