D1: Raise Less Corn and More Hell: Crises of the Gilded Age

Three Kings of American industry, Andrew Carnegie, Pierpoint Morgan, and William Rockefeller. Photographer. Encyclopdia Britannica ImageQuest. Module 2

This discussion addresses the following outcomes:

Identify the major changes in the American economy, workplace, and labor patterns as a result of industrialization (CO#1, CO#2)
Explain the criticisms of the Gilded Age economy as expressed by the Knights of Labor, the Farmers Alliance/Populism, and others, as well as their proposed solutions (CO#1, CO#2, CO#5/Gen. Ed. Outcome 4.2)
The period of the 1870s-1890s, often known as the Gilded Age, witnessed massive economic and technological transformations in the United States. These transformations affected social and class relations as well. While this Second Industrial Revolution created significant new wealth, it also engendered considerable conflict. Laborers and farmers protested the new state of affairs and organized political movements to represent their views. Their effect on the American political system may have been limited, but was certainly felt.

Before you beginning this discussion, be sure to read the Module Notes, review Chapter 16 Capital and Labor (Links to an external site.) from Module 1 and read Chapter 18: Life in Industrial America (Links to an external site.) in The American Yawp. Please also view the following video: The American Industrial Revolution (Links to an external site.).

Using the primary and secondary source materials above as evidence, consider the following in a post of at least 250 words:

How was work and the workplace in the Gilded Age different from previous eras?
Then select one group from the following: Knights of Labor, Populists, or Anarchists.
What were their major criticisms of the American political and economic system in the Gilded Age?
What solutions did such groups propose? If these proposals had been implemented, how do you think they might have altered American politics and economy?
Then, over the course of the week, respond to the posts of at least two of your classmates.

Your initial post must substantively integrate evidence from the assigned readings, including at least two full citations in proper APA (Links to an external site.) or Chicago (Links to an external site.) style.

Your initial post is due by Thursday at 11:59 PM. Your responses are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM.

Consult the Discussion Posting Guide for information about writing your discussion posts. It is recommended that you write your post in a document first. Check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors. When you are ready to make your initial post, click on "Reply." Then copy/paste the text into the message field, and click "Post Reply." This is a post first discussion forum. You must submit your initial post before you can view other students posts.

To respond to a peer, click Reply beneath her or his post and continue as with an initial post.

Evaluation