Gilded Age

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Gilded Age

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Businesses became wealthy; corrupt government officials supported business-first policies.

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Electricity

Back

Made manufacturing more efficient; light bulb led to more hours of work and more production.

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Railroads

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Provided farmers and ranchers access to distant markets; allowed Americans to settle the West; Bessemer steel provided stronger and cheaper materials to build.

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Monopoly

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Total control of an industry by one company; restricted by laws passed to protect competitors and regulate consumer prices.

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Labor unions

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Fought for better pay, improved working conditions, and the end of child labor; resulted in increased federal involvement.

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Urbanization

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Rapid industrialization led to people moving to cities for employment; caused sanitation problems; taller buildings built because of cheaper steel.

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Political machines

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Controlled political parties; exchanged jobs/infrastructure for votes; justified corruption by helping community.

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Immigrants

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Moved to U.S. for better economic opportunities; some worked in factories, while others farmed; forced to assimilate.

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Nativists

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Wanted restrictions on immigration; encouraged assimilation; viewed immigrants as competition for jobs.

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Chinese Exclusion Act

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Passed to prevent immigrants from taking jobs from settlers out West.